What Jack Grealish fan Finlay said about England World Cup goal scorer’s “waggle dance”

After the 27-year-old Solihull-born footballer scored the sixth goal for England against Iran at the Qatar World Cup he did a “waggle dance” to fulfil a promise
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The Jack Grealish fan for whom the footballer did a little dance after scoring the final and sixth goal at the England vs Iran match at the FIFA World Cup has reacted.

Grealish had promised Finlay he would dance for him when he scores his next goal after he met the young boy who had written to him. Finlay is a massive Man City fan and especially follows Grealish because of how he takes care of his sister, Holly.

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Finlay, just like Holly, has cerebral palsy and in his letter, the boy wrote that he wished there were more people like Grealish. Finlay wrote in the letter: “I wish there were more people in the world just like you who treat people with disabilities the same as anyone else.

“It makes me really happy when I see that you, a famous footballer, knows what it’s like to live with people with cerebral palsy. You’re my hero and the best big brother to your sister. My dream is to meet you and give you a high five. Imagine meeting your idol!”

The Man City footballer made the boy’s dreams come true when he met him. He also told Finlay he can select his next goal celebration and Finlay chose the worm but after negotiating Grealish agreed to do an easier dance. His next goal happened to be the one for England against Iran in the World Cup and the footballer kept his promise by dancing for Finlay.

Jack Grealish of England celebrates after scoring their team's sixth goal during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group B match between England and IR Iran at Khalifa International Stadium on November 21, 2022 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)Jack Grealish of England celebrates after scoring their team's sixth goal during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group B match between England and IR Iran at Khalifa International Stadium on November 21, 2022 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)
Jack Grealish of England celebrates after scoring their team's sixth goal during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group B match between England and IR Iran at Khalifa International Stadium on November 21, 2022 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)

What Finlay said

The young boy, now 12, told BBC Radio 4 after Grealish’s dance: “At first I didn’t think he’d remember but then, then he did it and I’m just like so happy. I thought that he’d actually forget but he stuck to his words and stayed true. I was just amazed.”

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The boy calls the dance “The Finlay” and said he just made it up. He was also sure that his hero would score a goal during the match. “I knew, I had the feeling.”

Finlay told how he did the little dance at home after Grealish scored too and thanked the footballer saying a “Big thank you”.

He added: “Thank you so much for everything you did and to all the other people who are there and ... thanks to all the other people who are in City and the community who help me.”

This is what Grealish said after the match

“I said to him the next time I score I will do the celebration for you,” Grealish told ITV. “I don’t know if he’d rate my dance moves because I’ll be honest, I ain’t the best dancer unless it’s later on in the night!

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“I had to do it and I’ll think he’ll be buzzing at home that it happened in a World Cup instead of the Premier League.”

Grealish’s sister attends the match

He told ITV: “My little sister was here in the stands and I’ve seen her and given her a hug.”

“All my family are buzzing and it’s nice to have them here and to score a World Cup goal is something that you dream of when you’re a little kid, so to do that today was unbelievable.

“I don’t think it’s really kicked in yet and I don’t think it will until later on,” he added.

The Three Lions beat Iran 6-2 on November 21. Jude Bellingham, another Brummie, was the first scorer from the England side.

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