Day with Larsson is a dream come true for teenager
A 13- year- old Paisley cancer patient is as high as a kite after being picked by Celtic legend Henrik Larsson to walk out with him ata star- studded charity match.
Mitchell Connell may be a Buddie by residence but he has been a Celtic fan all his life and watched lots of footage of Henrik playing the beautiful game.
The St Andrew’s Academy pupil was given the honour of accompanying the Swede out at Sunday’s Henrik’s Heroes v Lubo’s Legends game through charity man Les Hoey MBE and his Dreammaker Foundation.
Diagnosed in June 2015, Mitchell has been receiving treatment for two strains of cancer and his mum Kirsteen says Sunday’s game was the best medicine for him.
Kirsteen, who is well-known in Paisley for making wedding tiaras, said: “Mitchell’s dad has all the old videos of Henrik Larsson playing and has always talked about him and Jinky Johnstone.
“Mitchell was only two when Henrik left Celtic Park, but he had his first strip then.
“Being asked to walk Henrik out at Parkhead was just a dream come true and Mitchell admits he was as high as a kite.”
She added: “Mitchell had an absolutely phenomenal time. I have a fantastic picture of Mitchell with Henrik and it sums up the whole day.”
Mitchell was told he had blood cancer after he developed a lump on the side of his head in 2015.
After being checked out, doctors told his mum it was a tumour and not a bruise.
Kirsten said: “Mitchell responded to treatment very well and the tumour shrank within a week, so he’s now at the maintenance stage. As the condition is a blood cancer, we have to make sure we are on the ball at all times.
“Mitchell has suffered from neuropathy and myopathy in his hands and feet as a result of his condition as the muscle has wasted, so he tires easily.”
Mitchell, who went to St Charles’s Primary School, has also been asked by Les and the Dreammaker family to be their mascot at their charity fun day and football game with legends including Rudi Vata, Bobby Petta and James English at King George V Park in Wishaw on June 4.
The match at Celtic Park raised money for the Celtic FC Foundation.