Slideshow: Ashley Young Visits Baldock

ASTON Villa and England international footballer Ashley Young was a special guest in Baldock. Young from Stevenage visited The Arena, home of Hitchin Town Community FC, last Tuesday. Children from Stonehill in Stevenage and Fearnhill in Letchworth GC at

ASTON Villa and England international footballer Ashley Young was a special guest in Baldock.

Young from Stevenage visited The Arena, home of Hitchin Town Community FC, last Tuesday.

Children from Stonehill in Stevenage and Fearnhill in Letchworth GC attended the study support centre located at The Arena and interviewed him as part of the 'Playing for Success' initiative run by LearnIT@Hitchin Town FC.

Ashley stayed for more than three hours as he answered questions, had pictures taken, signed autographs and displayed some of his skills for the children and staff at the centre.

He also donated his Aston Villa shirt from the recent game against Reading, in which he scored, for the centre to display.

Mark Burke, community and development manager, said: "It was a pleasure having Ashley visit The Arena; he was an absolute gentleman and could not do enough for the kids.

"In this day of negative media coverage of Premiership and international players, it is refreshing to know that there are some great role models still in the game.

I am pleased to say Ashley Young is one of them, all credit to him.

I would like to thank him and wish him every success in his career.