Jack Grealish has sent a signed shirt and a letter, written in braille, to Ralph Mullineaux, a young visually impaired fan who idolises the Manchester City star.
The winger has played a key role in City's historic season that has seen them capture the treble. Grealish has been a regular and soaked in the victory celebrations over the past week following their success in the Champions League final and remains a fan favourite.
Ralph has grown his hair out and wears a band so that he can look like his hero. His mother has praised Grealish on social media for his touching gesture, alongside a video of Ralph opening the package sent to him.
It read: "Thank you so much to man of the moment, @jackgrealish, who’s sent Ralph a signed shirt and a personalised letter - written in Braille! Grealish is Ralph’s hero. Ralph wears his hair like Jack so he can be just like him, and he even wanted to wear his hairband when he starred in @guidedogsuk latest advert.
"Ralph sent Jack a letter in Braille telling him how much of an amazing role model he is. As Ralph has a visual impairment, he really loves how Grealish understands disability and celebrates his sister who has cerebral palsy. Ralph was beyond thrilled to get a reply from his favourite footballer and for it to be in Braille, is just so special.
"It’s so nice to see how inclusive and kind Jack and the @ManCity can be. I really can’t believe how much has happened this year! Ralph was accepted onto the England Para Football VI Pathway programme, he’s starred in the Guide Dogs TV advert (who have helped him so much) and then this. I’m so proud of him."
Grealish's focus has now turned to international matters with England facing Malta on Friday night. The playmaker has been a regular for City but is by no means a guaranteed starter under Gareth Southgate, who appeared to make his feelings known on player's over celebrating in light of the scenes on the blue half of Manchester.
The England boss said: “There is a line. I'm always monitoring everything the players do wherever they are, at whatever stage of the season. But anything like that I would do privately so I don’t think that would serve any purpose me discussing that publicly, really.
“A few of our players would be teetotal. What is different is that everyone posts everything. I wouldn’t have liked a few of my nights out to be posted publicly. My generation would have been in a lot more problems.
"I have spoken with the players. We have talked about where the focus needs to be, where we need them to be and acknowledged what they have experienced and that’s for me to manage.”
