Published: 02:00, 28 October 2025 | Updated: 02:00, 28 October 2025

Every father wants to ensure their child's requests are granted but there are occasions when such requests leave a father in an extraordinary situation.

So it was for Kieran Green, Grimsby Town's proud captain, who found himself outside a solemn Manchester United dressing room, waiting to speak to Bruno Fernandes – who, moments earlier, had been rocking on his haunches in disbelief – on behalf of his 11-year-old son, Deacon.

'All he'd said to me before the game was, "Dad, can you get me Bruno's shirt?". So what could I do?' Green asks, as we talk at Grimsby's training enclave about the tumultuous August night that reminded you of sport's wonderful possibilities: a 2-2 draw with one of the world's biggest clubs before a 12-11 victory on penalties.

'I'd never really swapped shirts with anyone before but that was the one Deacon wanted. Do you know what? Bruno was brilliant. I've got a mate who is at Newport; they'd played United in the FA Cup a couple of years ago and he told...