Captain Wayne Rooney led the Reds as they met young fans with serious and life-limiting illnesses at the special event, which takes place at the Aon Training Complex twice a season.

Fans travel to the club’s training ground from across the country and from as far as Northern Ireland and South Wales to meet their footballing heroes and receive the honour of watching the first-team train from the Jimmy Murphy Visitors’ Centre. 

The team were in high spirits following their successful start to the 2015-16 season and skipper Rooney enthused, “It’s great for the kids to see the players and for us to also see them as they are our fans; we’ve hopefully put a smile on their faces today.”

Massive Rooney fan Lewis, 10, from Lytham St. Anne’s, was thrilled to meet his idol for the second time after meeting the England squad two years ago: “I got him a card to say thank you - he remembered me and it felt really good,” Lewis said.  “I also got a card for Luke Shaw because he’s injured and gave it to Rooney to pass on.”

Lewis’s mum, Claire, explained just how important Dream Days are for young fans and their families: “When Wayne walked through that door I was shaking; it means everything to Lewis to have this opportunity and I keep telling him these don’t come round often, this is a one off thing.  Today will have given Lewis a massive boost; meeting Wayne Rooney has given him a focus on football; he watches every game, every team and he’s so into his football and he’s even started playing power-chair football for the Bolton team – he wants to follow in his hero’s steps and play for England.”

Manchester United Foundation works closely with ‘wish’ charities such as Starlight Children’s Foundation and Dreams Come True to organise Dream Days for children and adults with life-limiting illnesses at least twice a season.  Find out more: http://www.mufoundation.org/dreamdays

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