10-year-old Joel Shaw was left speechless when Preston North End’s Alan Browne came to see him at his Grandparents house last week.
Joel, a season ticket holder at North End has recently started Chemotherapy and had been feeling the effects of treatment both physically and mentally.
In a bid to raise his spirits, Joel received a visit from his favourite player, Browne who handed him over a signed pair of boots and a Christmas selection box to match.
“Joel has been a keen supporter of PNE since he was six-years-old,” said his father David.
“He's a proud season ticket holder and of course has the full obligatory PNE kit he's always wearing.”
North End learned of Joel’s support and hardship from former PNE player Duncan Crosbie who contacted the club recently, and after finding out who his favourite player was, it was only right that Joel was able to meet North End’s No. 8.
“I'm always hearing the players’ names mentioned and Alan is without doubt his PNE idol - he's always chanting the Alan Browne song - and how he never gives the ball away," continued David.
“I could tell Joel was a little stuck for words being sat right next to Alan, and he wished he'd asked him more questions, but that aside it was job done, because it gave him a huge boost and that's what it was all about, especially having a signed pair of boots.”