Fan, 10, praises 'gentleman' Jack Grealish for giving him his football boots after Italy defeat
ITV News Northern Reporter Sangita Lal speaks to the 10-year-old Three Lions supporter who was given Jack Grealish's football boots after the Euro 2020 final.
A 10-year-old football fan who was given a pair of boots by Jack Grealish following the Euro 2020 final at Wembley has told ITV News of how he will cherish them as an important part of English history.
The Aston Villa midfielder was widely praise d after footage circulated of him giving his match boots to Olly Tyler following England's heartbreaking penalty shoot-out defeat to Italy on Sunday.
Jack Grealish gives his boots to Olly just moments after Italy clinched victory
Grealish came on as a substitute after 99 minutes but could not decisively shift the fortunes of the game, which finished a goal apiece, with Italy claiming a 3-2 victory on penalties.
Despite the heartache, he managed to find the time to pose for a photo with a young Three Lions fan in the stands, who later described him as a "gentleman" for doing so.
Speaking to ITV News, Olly, who plans to place the boots in a case for safe keeping, said: "It is a part of English history. England have only got into a final once in 55 years and it is just amazing."
Olly says Grealish was a 'gentleman' for putting aside his feelings from the game to go over to him
He added: "People like Jack give children like me, and so many others, a dream - just to be like them.
"If you meet your idol, like Harry Kane or Aubameyang or Sterling or Aguero, and they are really, really nice to you, you are going to want to play football more and be like them."
Olly had some tips for England manager Gareth Southgate.
"What we needed to do in a way was to get youngsters on," he explained, suggesting Jadon Sancho and Jack Grealish should have been played earlier in the final.
"If we just pushed them and sort of tested them and put them out of their comfort zone - we probably would have scored an extra one or two goals."
The loyal Three Lions supporter, from Romford, says he has been inspired by the sportsmanship of the team.
He said he cried his "eyes out", but was soon comforted by the "supportive" nature of other England fans.