IT is every child fan's dream to lead their heroes out on to the football pitch. However, now some hard-up football clubs are cashing in on that dream.

Aberdeen FC fans have filled the club's website with complaints after it was announced yesterday it will cost (pounds) 175 for the honour of being the match mascot this season.

Dundee United started a similar scheme last year which costs (pounds) 325, Livingston FC have charged for several years for a mascot package, and newcomers Inverness Caley will charge like ground partners the Dons.

Aberdeen made the decision following the end of a sponsorship deal and the 12 mascot packages put on offer yesterday sold out within hours.

The Dons deny it will deprive less well-off children the opportunity to have a memorable day, and Dundee United said they continued to provide free mascot places as well.

''Fans who are members of our Young Lions club still have the opportunity to be the mascot for free, but we were inundated with requests from people prepared to pay for a package,'' a United spokesman said. ''People wanted to give it as a gift.

''We used to offer a similar package for auction at dinners and the demand was clear from that. Everyone seems to think the package is good value.

''As part of the paid-for package the child gets a strip to keep, a boardroom tour, hospitality for four people in one of the lounges, the chance to go to the dressing room and meet all the players and take photographs, and they have a cracking day.''

Ian Riddoch, Aberdeen's marketing manager, said the package had been introduced because Shell sponsorship of the Dons Youngstars had ended and it had helped subsidise the package for the mascot.

He said that, for the (pounds) 175, the mascot party receives four main stand tickets, a full Nike AFC kit, four players' lounge passes which can't be bought, the opportunity to meet the players from both sides, and a signed ball - as well as the opportunity for the youngsters to lead their heroes out at Pittodrie.

''There are at least six league games as well as the Scottish and CIS Cup games that the club is retaining to provide the opportunity for a child to be a mascot free of charge to deserving cases - terminally ill kids, kids from less than privileged backgrounds, free-to- enter competition winners or whatever,'' he said.

''Previously the only way a child could become a mascot was by being a season ticket holder and being drawn out as the mascot for a game in the Shell Dons Youngstars weekly mascot draw.

''This system could also have been seen as unfair as you needed to be able to afford a season ticket.''

Livingston started charging when they were still in the first division and demand outstrips supply, with most games this season already booked.

None of the other SPL clubs charge, although Dundee are reviewing the position.

They select the mascots at random from their young supporters and give them a variety of gifts from strips and match balls to tickets and goody bags.

Old Firm fans will be standing shoulder to shoulder at Glasgow airport after the opening yesterday of new Rangers and Celtic shops next to each other.

The Scottish football giants will go head to head as part of an expansion of shopping at the airport.

Stewart Wingate, customer services director at the airport, said the shops were popular with local fans and visitors.

He said: ''The Old Firm are a big part of the city's sporting culture and we're delighted to welcome them to Glasgow airport.''