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Jack Grealish explains heartwarming celebration after goal against Iran

Home> Sport

Published 20:43 21 Nov 2022 GMT

Jack Grealish explains heartwarming celebration after goal against Iran

He came off the bench, scored and then paid a touching tribute in England's World Cup opener

Jake Massey

Jake Massey

Jack Grealish has explained the heartwarming meaning behind his celebration against Iran today (Monday 21 November).

The Man City star came off the bench to score England's final goal in the 6-2 victory over Iran, dispatching from close range after Callum Wilson's selfless cut back.

After putting it away, the 27-year-old waved his arms by his sides in a daft fashion - but it turns out the celebration was actually surprisingly meaningful.

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Watch Grealish explain the celebration here:

Speaking after the match, Grealish told the BBC: "I met young Finlay about a month ago, and yeah, got on obviously really well with him.

"Him obviously having cerebral palsy like my little sister as well, so you know, he asked me to do a celebration for him - and luckily for him it came at the World Cup."

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He added: "For me, it's just doing a celebration, but for for him that will mean the world to him I'm sure, especially me doing it at the World Cup - so Finlay, that one's for you."

Grealish dedicated the goal to Finlay.
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City and England fan Finlay wrote to his favourite player earlier this year, referencing Grealish's close bond with sister Holly, who also has the condition.

"I wish there were more people in the world just like you who treat people with disabilities the same as anyone else," the 11-year-old wrote.

Grealish followed up with a letter of his own and also made a surprise visit to meet Finlay in person at a football session run by the City In The Community programme.

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It was there that he pledged to dedicate his next goal to Finlay, and the young lad initially suggested Grealish celebrate by doing the worm.

Unfortunately, Grealish said he couldn't actually do the worm, so they reached the glorious compromise we all got to witness today.

In another post-match interview, Grealish told ITV: "I said to him that the next time I score I would do the celebration for (him).

"I don't know how he'd rate my dance moves – to be honest I ain't the best dancer, unless it's later on in the night – but, honestly, I had to do it and I think he'll be buzzing at home that it happened in a World Cup instead of the Premier League."

He added: "To score a World Cup goal is something you dream of when you're a little kid. To do that was unbelievable."

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England manager Gareth Southgate hailed Grealish for his gesture.

Southgate said: "He's a lovely human being. He obviously has a situation with his own sister and that would mean that he's very aware of the power he can have.

"He's a kind person, so we’re very fortunate. We work with a group of players who have a hunger to play, they're a pleasure to work with.

"They have humility, but they also think about this and it's unusual to have a group like we've got."

Featured Image Credit: BBC/Alamy

Topics: Sport, Football, World Cup

Jake Massey
Jake Massey

Jake Massey is a journalist at LADbible. He graduated from Newcastle University, where he learnt a bit about media and a lot about living without heating. After spending a few years in Australia and New Zealand, Jake secured a role at an obscure radio station in Norwich, inadvertently becoming a real-life Alan Partridge in the process. From there, Jake became a reporter at the Eastern Daily Press. Jake enjoys playing football, listening to music and writing about himself in the third person.

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@jakesmassey

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