City players make it a true Blue Xmas for terminally ill fan Stephen
A LIFELONG Manchester City fan was given a Christmas to remember as players Fernandinho and Eliaquim Mangala turned up at his house along with Blues legend Shaun Goater.
As part of the Big City Christmas, the club wanted nominations for deserving fans to receive an extra special treat in the run-up to the festive season.
After Stephen Wilson was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer in June, his daughter Sarah got in touch with City and set about sorting out a huge surprise. With Stephen out of the house, former Blues striker Goater was the first to arrive to help finish off Stephen’s Bar, which the 60-year-old built in the garden of his Stockport home as part of his bucket list.
“I’m here to finish Stephen’s Bar,” 47-year-old Goater explained to a surprised Sarah, who opened her front door to ‘The Goat.’
Goater put a plaque on the outside wall of the bar registering it as an official City Supporter’s Club spot, before kitting out the inside with City merchandise and setting himself up as official barman to surprise Stephen. The surprises didn’t stop there as Fernandinho and Mangala - part of the City squad flying high at the top of the Premier League table – nipped over after training for a quick game of darts and to catch up on the highlights of their recent 4-1 win against Spurs.
“I think it worked, he looks surprised,” said Fernandinho.
Stephen was taken to a friend’s house while the bar was transformed.
“I was expecting to come home to a new banister on the stairs - nothing like this, it was totally unexpected,” he said. “It’s really hard to put into words how amazing it was. It really was a fantastic gesture by City, which has made our Christmas that little bit better under the difficult circumstances.”
Sarah, 28, has been watching City with her dad since she was five.
The surprise was beyond anything she could have ever imagined.
Sarah said: “I just can’t believe it. It’s been so overwhelming and I can’t thank City enough for what they have done for my family.
“My dad’s my hero and the reason I support City, so I wanted to do something to put a smile on his face. “I never could have imagined that all this would happen. It really is amazing and it’s put a smile on all of our faces at a very tough time.” Goater was delighted to have played his part in the surprise. He said: “They are such a beautiful family with amazing support around them. I’m so happy I could be a part of this amazing day, they really deserved it.”
I was expecting to come home to a new banister on the stairs! It’s a fantastic gesture by City Stephen Wilson