Message makes day for Lily Mae

A LITTLE girl received the ‘best Christmas present’ ever after her favourite Stockport County player returned her festive greetings.

Football-mad Lily Mae Ryder, six, sent a sweet video message wishing her hero Sam Walker a Merry Christmas on Christmas Day.

The youngster was thrilled when Walker waved at her from the pitch at Edgeley Park the following day.

At full-time, the midfielder ran to the changing room before emerging with a signed Stockport County shirt for Lily Mae.

Her parents, Natalie and Leon, said it was their daughter’s favourite Christmas present ‘by far’.

Natalie, 36, from Edgeley, said: “My little girl goes to football games with my husband every week and Sam Walker is her favourite player. She absolutely idolises him.

“She was a bit bored on Christmas Day waiting for family to arrive, so she decided to record a Christmas message for him.

“Her dad sent the video to him and I think Sam actually replied at the time saying he’d got a Christmas present for her.

“She was a mascot in December and I think he remembered her.

“They only managed to just make the end of the match on Boxing Day, but Sam waved at her.

“He disappeared into the changing room and then came back out with a signed shirt and gave her a cuddle.

“She’s been smiling from ear-to-ear ever since. It’s her favourite Christmas present by far.”

Natalie shared a picture of Lily Mae looking thrilled with her shirt on Facebook.

She wrote: “Sam thank you so much you don’t realise how happy Lily Mae is right now.”