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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
World
Seren Morris

Jack Grealish FaceTimes fan after dedicating ‘Finlay’ World Cup goal celebration to him

Jack Grealish FaceTimed the fan he dedicated his World Cup goal celebration to

(Picture: England National Football Team)

Jack Grealish FaceTimed his fan, Finlay Fisher, after dedicating his World Cup goal celebration to the 11-year-old.

After scoring the sixth goal against Iran in the World Cup match on Monday, Grealish did a dance especially for his young fan.

Grealish, 27, first met Finlay after the football fan wrote to the Manchester City player to share his experience of living with cerebral palsy, like Grealish’s younger sister.

In the letter, Finlay told Grealish: “It makes me really happy when I see you, a famous footballer, know what it’s like to live with people with cerebral palsy.”

Grealish replied to Finlay and sent him a signed football shirt, before surprising the young footballer after a tournament.

He told Finlay he’d dedicate his celebration to him, if he were to score a goal, and asked what he’d like to see him do.

After initially suggesting doing the worm, which Grealish said he couldn’t out of fear of getting injured, Finlay asked him to shake his shoulders and arms in celebration, in a signature move he’s since named “The Finlay”.

Jack Grealish celebrated his World Cup goal with a move called ‘The Finlay’ (The FA via Getty Images)

And when Grealish scored in the last few minutes of the game, he did just that, keeping his promise to his young fan.

Following the match, Grealish FaceTimed Finlay from Qatar to catch up.

He told him: “I was buzzing to get a goal and then I could do my little celebration just for you, you were always in the back of my mind, mate.”

Finlay has been interviewed by a number of outlets since the match, including the BBC and Sky News.

Speaking to Sky News, Finlay shared that, of all the Man City players, he wanted to meet Grealish because he can relate, knowing what it’s like to live with cerebral palsy, as his sister has the condition.

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