Keiran scores with a dream training trip to Barcelona

1:10pm Friday 29th August 2008

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ONE week Keiran Jones was playing football in the street with his friends.

The next he was testing his skills alongside Thierry Henry on the beach in Barcelona.

“We met Thierry Henry at the beach. We had a big party and played football with him and then we got our pictures taken with him. He taught me a trick or two.”

Keiran Jones

The 11-year-old from Elaine Street, Padgate, was the lucky winner of a nationwide competition that saw him jet out to the Spanish city to meet one of the world’s biggest football teams.

The Manchester United fan’s journey started on a visit to Asda Westbrook.

Keiran said: “There was a shootout competition and I had to kick a ball through four holes and there were three round holes and one in the top left corner which meant you won the star prize. At the time I got a ball and a picture taken.”

He was then entered into a national draw with the top prize being the trip to Barcelona, but thought nothing more of it until he received a call a week before his trip telling him he had won.

“I was shocked,” he continued, “I went telling my friends and had lots begging me to take them.”

He jetted out with stepdad Dave Merrin and was treated like footballing royalty throughout the trip.

First up was a skills session where he learnt some nifty tricks that he has been impressing friends back home with since.

Then he got to see Barcelona’s finest in action with tickets to see the team’s Champions League qualifier against Polish side Wisla Kraków.

And the next day was even more action-packed for Keiran .

He added: “We met Thierry Henry at the beach. We had a big party and played football with him and then we got our pictures taken with him. He taught me a trick or two.”

But due to his Olympic commitments a dream masterclass with Lionel Messi couldn’t go ahead with the Argentinian, but he still got a signed shirt from the football star.

Keiran put his win down to the help of his manager at Monks Under 12 football team, Mike Garcia. And when he starts school at Sir Thomas Boteler High School he will be hoping his new found expert skills will help in with the school football team.