The young football fan behind Jack Grealish’s goal celebration at England’s World Cup opener has said he “can’t believe” his hero remembered to do it.

Finlay Fisher wrote to Grealish, whose sister has cerebral palsy, to say it was his “dream” to meet him.

Before flying out to Qatar, Grealish, 27, visited the 11-year-old at a City in the Community event in Manchester, where the schoolboy made him promise to adopt his new goal celebration when he next scored.

Finlay, who also has the condition, told Sky Sports News he “honestly couldn’t believe it” when he saw his favourite player copying the move after scoring against Qatar on Monday.

He said: “At first I thought he’d forget the celebration, and then I was like ‘oh no’.

“And then when he did it I was so happy, I was so excited I was like ‘come on!’

“I can’t believe that he did that for me. It’s just extraordinary.”

Germany sees major supermarket pull sponsorship because team abandoned OneLove armbands at World Cup

World Cup’s greatest shocks – where does Argentina’s loss to Saudi Arabia at Qatar 2022 rank?

World Cup: The FA and FAW retain plans for LGBTQ+ support in Qatar despite OneLove armband climbdown

The Manchester City star has spoken of his close bond with his younger sister, who has the same diagnosis, which affects movement and coordination.

Asked how it made him feel, Finlay said: “His sister has cerebral palsy so he knows what it’s like and he can relate to me.

“It’s really nice that someone that big can relate to you and it really brings awareness to cerebral palsy.”

Grealish tweeted after the match: “For you Finlay” after scoring England’s sixth goal in Doha on Monday. The final result at the Khalifa International Stadium was 6-2.

England manager Gareth Southgate praised Grealish for the move, describing him as a “lovely human being” who is “very aware of the impact he can have”.

Fan’s father is United fan

Finlay’s father Dan, who is a Manchester United fan, said it was “crazy” and “incredible”.

“It’s gone from just a letter to Jack Grealish to this mad thing that’s on every news site,” he said.

He also revealed Finlay nearly missed the match in hospital after hurting his ankle.

Read more:
World Cup’s greatest shocks topped by Saudi v Argentina
Welsh FA to address FIFA over confiscated rainbow bucket hats

Reflecting on meeting the star, Finlay added that Grealish was “a laugh” and although it was nerve-wracking to meet his “idol” he “didn’t just need to come and see me – he wanted to come and see me in his spare time”.

Asked if he had a message for his favourite player, Finlay added: “Thank you and it’s coming home, come on!”

Related posts:

Easing of lockdown restrictions in England to be delayed by four weeks – govt source ‘We stand with you Marcus’: Hundreds of messages of support cover vandalised Rashford mural Dognappers could face up to five years in jail after rise in pet thefts Flood barriers breached and ‘danger to life’ warnings issued as bad weather continues Man who used dating apps to sexually exploit seven teenage girls sentenced to 25 years 600,000 people to be invited for spring COVID-19 booster jabs next week Woman arrested after Ireland’s foreign minister taken off stage at event in Belfast Six arrested in ‘biggest-ever’ bust targeting people smuggling Nadhim Zahawi made chancellor after Rishi Sunak resigns – as Steve Barclay replaces Javid as health sec Truss and Sunak feel heat over cost of living amid calls for daily COBRA meetings as crisis worsens England and Wales kick off their World Cup – but could be punished for armband gesture ‘Frustrated’ England and Wales decide not to wear OneLove armband after FIFA threat