Jack Grealish delights young fan Finlay as England star delivers on promise of World Cup goal celebr

May 2024 · 2 minute read

Jack Grealish kept his promise to a young fan with cerebral palsy as he celebrated his first World Cup goal for England.

The England star scored his country's sixth in their opening 6-2 win over Iran and did a little special celebration dance inspired by a recent encounter with 12 year-old Man City supporter Finlay.

Earlier this month, the star met Finlay after the youngster sent his hero a fan letter.

He has cerebral palsy, a disease Grealish’s sister, Holly, also suffers with.

After the pair exchanged a heart-warming hug when meeting, Finlay asked Grealish if he could do his requested goal celebration next time he scored - dancing with both arms outstretched, moving up and down.

And sure enough, Grealish kept his promise.

After converting Callum Wilson's unselfish pass in Monday's opening Group B game in Qatar, Grealish ran with a huge smile on his face before stopping and copying young Finlay's celebration.

A few hours after the final whistle, Finlay responded to his favourite player's wholesome gesture in a video posted on Twitter.

"Thank you Jack!" the youngster said, wearing a Man City kit, "Come on England!"

He later told the BBC: "It's the best thing ever. I love you Grealish. It was amazing because he is my idol."

Grealish later shared a video of their encounter on social media and said of the subsequent celebration 'For you Finlay'.

Speaking after the match, the England said: "I met young Finlay about a month ago and got on really well with him, him having cerebral palsy like my sister as well.

"He asked me to do a celebration for him and luckily for him it came at the World Cup.

"It's what it's all about - for me it's just doing a celebration, but for him that will mean the world to him I'm sure, especially at the World Cup. So Finlay, that one's for you."

On how Finlay would rate his dance moves, he added: "I don't know how he'd rate my dance moves as I'm not the best dancer...unless it's later in the night. I think he'll be sat at home buzzing, especially as it was in a World Cup rather than the Premier League."

Speaking about the heart-warming celebration, England legend and talkSPORT commentator for the game Stuart Pearce said: "Great story to back up the goal.

"The players do so much outside of football that goes unrecognised."

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