Ashley Cole wins round seven-year-old Manchester City fan

A seven-year-old City fan came back from the Community Shield victory with his own prize – thanks to England star Ashley Cole. The Chelsea left-back handed over his shiny silver runners-up medal to thrilled Bailey McColgan, from Wythenshawe.

Bailey had just watched his beloved City beat Chelsea 3-2 in the clash at Villa Park when 31-year-old Cole walked over to the City seats.

Cole handed him the medal and said: “That’s for you.”

The youngster’s dad, James, 46, went to accept it on his son’s behalf – but Cole insisted on handing it straight to Bailey who was proudly wearing a City shirt.

Delighted Bailey, who lives on Crowland Road, will now not let the medal out of his sight – even taking it to bed with him.

The Newall Green Primary School pupil told the M.E.N. that Cole’s gesture had topped off his day. He said: “I just held out my hand and he gave it to me. It made me feel really happy. I think he must be a nice person because he gave me his medal.”

And Bailey – who has already been offered £500 for the medal by a friend’s dad – has written to the England player to say ‘thank you’ and to ask for his autograph.

His mum Karla Barlow, 31, a manager at Pret a Manger in Spinningfields, said: “Apparently these medals would go for quite a lot of money but Bailey said he wouldn’t sell it for a million pounds.”

James, who also works at the same branch of Pret, praised Cole for making a ‘young lad very happy’. He said: “The look on Bailey’s face was unbelievable. A lot of stuff gets said about Ashley Cole, but this speaks volumes for him. It paints football in a different light.”

Bailey added: “I’ve shown the medal to everyone. They all said it was very heavy and they that they like the look of it. It’s made me feel super.”