ONE hundred young gridiron fans spent a night at Wembley Stadium for a once-in-a-lifetime mass sleepover.

The guests were invited by American football team Jacksonville Jaguars, who are owned by Fulham FC owner Shahid Khan, because the franchise has agreed to play one home game a season at the Brent venue until at least 2016 and considers London its "second home".

The children aged 6 to 12 were hosted in the stadium's Great Hall by Jaguars’ mascot Jaxson de Ville, recently voted the United States’ favourite mascot, and were treated to a tour of the stadium, watched a film while munching on popcorn, and enjoyed a dance party with the American football team's cheerleading squad, the ROAR.

The Jaguars said 60 of the children did not have their own bed at home and so the club arranged for the beds that these guests slept on to be delivered to their home the next day and the remainder were donated to children’s charity Kids Company.

Fifty of the beds from the sleepover were delivered to the children's homes the next day
Fifty of the beds from the sleepover were delivered to the children's homes the next day

Evelyn Ashton, from Wembley, whose three children Devon Kuffour, 12, Angel Baptista, nine, and Jessica Kwayie, 11, all received beds delivered to their home by Jaxson and the ROAR, said: “It has been a really fantastic weekend and I think I was as excited as the children at the sleepover. It was really good and we can’t thank everyone enough for what they have done for us.

“It is going to make such a difference to them to have their own space. To have someone like the Jaguars come into our local community and help us is great. Thank you so much.”

Michael Townend, nine, from Neasden who also had a bed delivered to his house the next day added: “It was amazing to be in Wembley and get to go next to the pitch. The sleepover was really fun and the bed was really comfy.

“I was amazed the cheerleaders and Jaxson came to my house the next day. It was really exciting. I can’t wait to get in my bed to go to sleep to dream some big dreams – it is going to be great.”

The Jacksonville Jaguars play Dallas Cowboys on Sunday November 9 at Wembley Stadium, and team owner Shahid Khan said: “We believe that every child has the right to their own bed.

"It’s the last place they go at night and the first place they wake up in the morning. 

"It’s a place of comfort and security and that’s something that no child should be without. 

"We’ve seen the benefits of A Hope to Dream in Jacksonville and, with our partners Ashley Furniture, we were so excited to bring it impact in London, our second home."