Other Games 2014-15

[PeterWithesShin]

Swansea City’s Jonjo Shelvey made one young fan’s dreams come true last week and proved there is still a place for kindness at the top end of English football.
It all started when he received a letter from seven-year-old Harry Jacobs from London. Harry, like Shelvey, suffers from alopecia totalis, a condition which has caused him to lose his hair at a young age.

The causes of alopecia are not entirely clear but stress is often a contributing factor. Harry decided to write to the Premier League star and explain the situation.

He wrote: “You are amazing and scored a goal from 47 yards into the top corner. So, so, so good. I know you play for Swansea. My name is Harry and I have alopecia like you. Do you like it? I think it is medium because I can’t get nits and don’t have to go to the hairdressers – which is good. I don’t really like it though. Can you come to my school please, but first to my house. I can take you to school then to meet my friends.”

His mother, Nic, added: “Harry has developed alopecia really rapidly. He is a mad footy fan and has got some comfort from the fact that you are a Premiership footballer who he can look up to and see that he can still achieve incredible things.

"I would really appreciate if you could write back to him. He is going through a really tough time at the moment and it would be a real boost for him to have a response from you.”

And what a response he received. Shelvey invited the boy and his parents down to last weekend’s game against Southampton, put them up in a hotel and allowed them to watch the match from an executive box.

Harry was given a full kit and was the official Swansea mascot for the day. He walked out of the tunnel hand in hand with Shelvey and was even allowed to take penalties on the pitch at half-time.

The former Liverpool midfielder later explained: “I know what it was like for me growing up as a boy with alopecia. It was quite tough for me with people calling me names and things. I felt for Harry when I got the letter and it was nice for me to share some of my experiences with him and to try and guide him along the right lines.

"The best bit though was seeing the look on his face walking out with the team. He said he had a great time - and that’s so special.”

It is a moment Harry is unlikely to forget in a hurry.

[Legion]

Brilliant.

[dave shelley]

I love stories like that.  I never knew that Shelvey suffered from Alopecia, I always thought it was a fashion choice like Paul Konchesky.  Kudos to the man.

[Goldie.7]

Keeper had no chance of saving his half-time pen....top corner, great story.

[UK Redsox]

Commentator - "Balotelli has scored just once in his last 19 Premier League games"

Michael Owen - "He's had 7 shots today but has a good scoring record"

[OCD]

Great story about Shelvey. It's a shame the goal they're referring to was against us though.

[CT]

Slow motion replays don't do Ballotelli any favours. A poor choice of signing by Brendan Rogers for them IMO.

But hey ho!

[andyh]

Slow motion replays don't do Ballotelli any favours. A poor choice of signing by Brendan Rogers for them IMO.

But hey ho!

Nearly as has bad as £25m for llalana.
£25 millions pounds for llalana ...friggin hell!

[olaftab]

Well Gerrard rises from ashes

[Smirker]

I love stories like that.  I never knew that Shelvey suffered from Alopecia, I always thought it was a fashion choice like Paul Konchesky.  Kudos to the man.

Mourinho & the Real Madrid fan was a good one.

[SamTheMouse]

Haven't seen much of Lukaku before, but on today's evidence he looks well overrated.

[spangley1812]

Boooooooooommmmmmmmmmm Jagielka with a stunner !!!!!!!

[SamTheMouse]

Fuck me, that was a bit tasty.

[Toronto Villa]

Haven't seen much of Lukaku before, but on today's evidence he looks well overrated.

A lot of people were comparing him to Benteke in that stretch he had last season where he was doing really well. My feeling is that he's quite one dimensional and much easier to account for than Benteke who can score goals and set them up in any number of ways. Benteke has two great feet, magnificent in the air and can literally score from anywhere in or around the box. Lukaku is a very good player, but he's no Benteke.

[paulcomben]

Arsenal are drawing 1-1 with Spurs after 79 minutes. Yep, you're right. Who really cares?