Taranaki Daily News

Grealish’s waggle dance honours fan

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England forward Jack Grealish has delivered on the pitch and on a heartwarmi­ng goal celebratio­n pledge made to an 11-year-old who suffers from cerebral palsy.

The Manchester City star came off the bench to score, from an unselfish Callum Wilson cutback, in England’s 6-2 victory over Iran in their World Cup opener yesterday.

Manchester City fan and cerebral palsy sufferer, Finlay, penned an emotional letter to Grealish earlier this year after learning the England star’s sister, Holly, also lived with the disorder.

When Grealish received the letter, shortly before jetting off to Qatar for the World Cup, he made the time to link up with Finlay before joining the England squad.

Grealish, who had only scored one goal for Manchester City this season, made a promise, to Finlay, that he would dedicate a special goal celebratio­n, the ‘‘waggle dance’’, to him if he scored at the World Cup.

He could have been forgiven for getting caught up in the moment and forgetting but Grealish kept true to his word after knocking the ball into the net yesterday.

The uplifting moment that saw Grealish break into the ‘‘waggle dance’’ is now going viral around the football world.

In a Manchester City video filmed before the World Cup that shows Grealish and Finlay meeting for the first time, the footballer said

Finlay’s letter ‘‘really moved’’ him because it was so relatable.

Finlay, who plays in a disability league at City, got a major surprise when the England star arrived at one of his games. Grealish had also replied to his letter with a signed City shirt.

In his letter, Finlay said he loved that Grealish treated those with disabiliti­es as normal people.

His first choice for Grealish’s goal celebratio­n was the worm but the reluctant football star said even if he could do it, he might get injured, so Finlay chose the ‘‘waggle dance’’.

In a tournament already full of controvers­y, Grealish’s goal celebratio­n has become the early frontrunne­r for the feelgood story of the Cup.

 ?? GETTY IMAGES ?? Jack Grealish’s goal celebratio­n kept a promise he made to an 11-year-old fan with cerebral palsy.
GETTY IMAGES Jack Grealish’s goal celebratio­n kept a promise he made to an 11-year-old fan with cerebral palsy.

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