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Swansea midfielder Jonjo Shelvey showed some class, this time off the field as he fulfilled a dream of a little football fan. Seven-year-old Harry Jacobs wrote to Shelvey recently requesting him to come to his primary school in Muswell Hill to meet him and his friends. Harry suffers from Alopecia Totallis, a condition that Shelvey is also affected with that makes victims lose their hair from a young age.
Read more about Alopecia here.
Harry wrote:
“You are amazing and scored a goal from 47 yards into the top corner. So, so, so good. “I know you play for Swansea. My name is Harry and I have Alopecia like you. Do you like it? I think it is medium because I can’t get nits and don’t have to go to the hairdressers – which is good. I don’t really like it though. “Can you come to my school please, but first to my house. I can take you to school then to meet my friends.’’
His mother Nic Jacobs added the following:
“Harry has developed Alopecia really rapidly. He is a mad footy fan and has got some comfort from the fact that you are a Premiership footballer who he can look up to and see that he can still achieve incredible things. “I would really appreciate if you could write back to him. He is going through a really tough time at the moment and it would be a real boost for him to have a response from you.’’
Shelvey is said to have been moved by the letter. The 22-year-old invited Harry and his parents to the home match against Southampton; paid for their hotel accommodation, and met Harry in the tunnel before kick-off and gave him a Swansea kit as well as an executive box to watch the match..
And if that wasn’t enough, young Harry was made one of the official mascots and walked out of the tunnel holding the hand of his hero. He even took penalties on the pitch at half-time with club mascot Cyril the Swan.
“I know what it was like for me growing up as a boy with Alopecia,’’ said the former Liverpool player. “It was quite tough for me with people calling me names and things. “I felt for Harry when I got the letter and it was nice for me to share some of my experiences with him and to try and guide him along the right lines. “The best bit though was seeing the look on his face walking out with the team. He said he had a great time – and that’s so special.’’
Premier League fans have been known to chant “Harry Potter is coming for you” referring him to Lord Voldemort from J.K Rowling’s books.
