Like so many ten-year-olds, Ralph Mullineaux is mad about football. But living with a visual impairment has meant the Manchester City superfan has faced challenges in accessing the game.
So when he received a letter in braille from his idol Jack Grealish, Ralph - who recently starred in a Guide Dogs TV advert - said he 'couldn't believe it'.
Heartwarming footage taken by mum Georgina shows the moment Ralph - who even wears his hair like Grealish - opened a letter to find a signed shirt and braille note from the England forward, who was recently part of City's historic treble-winning team.
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"I'm so happy, I really want to say thank you to Jack," Ralph told the Manchester Evening News. "He is my idol and I like how he's such a nice person and understanding of other people."
Ralph originally wrote to Grealish as part of his lessons in braille - but he said he didn't know if Grealish would go to the effort to write back in the system.
The England star has previously spoken of his close relationship with his sister Hollie, who has cerebreal palsy - something which Ralph said made him admire the footballer even more.
"He understands that stuff," the ten-year-old added.
Ralph struggled to play football in his early years due to his visual impairment, but discovered accessible routes into the game which have seen him playing on the England pathway for visibly impaired or partially sighted children. He now plays regularly, often in left wing, like his idol Jack.
"He has had an amazing year," mum Georgina told the M.E.N. "He starred in the Guide Dogs advert and that really boosted him and his confidence, and then he's really progressed with his football.
"Football is his life and his escape."
Ralph said he became interested in football through his grandpa, who owned a Manchester dry cleaning business and cleaned Paris Saint Germain's kit for them once. The familiy are originally from Lancashire, but now live in Cornwall.
"It has all been very exciting for us, we're huge City fans," Georgina said. "We're hoping Grealish will see this and we'd like him to know how much of a difference it makes."
Ralph said he wanted to thank Guide Dogs for giving him the opportunity to be part of their latest television advert. "I never thought I was going to be in an advert, but I kept going, and now I am in one, and I am on TV!"
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