Young fan receives call from footballing heroes after video goes viral

A young boy who burst into tears as he received a Euro 2016 ticket for his birthday has received a special phone call from the Northern Ireland players.

Zak McGall, 10, from Ballymena in Co Antrim, was given the precious present by his father the day before the team played Ukraine. His family videoed the moment and it has since gone viral on social media.

Ten-year-old Zak McGall gets the surprise of his life when he opens his present - tickets to see #NIR at #Euro2016https://t.co/eGCS8lHQKY

— PA Media (@PA) June 20, 2016

Zak and his father Richard are back in Northern Ireland after watching the victory in Lyon last Thursday.

Striker Kyle Lafferty and team mates called him on Sunday.

Mr McGall said: "It makes me proud but it is a bit surreal.

"I am happy that a video clip of me doing something for my son has had this effect on the Northern Ireland team and the fans at this time."

He said the deaths of Darren Rodgers from Ballymena after a fall from a promenade in Nice and Archie Rainey during the game had been a low point.

"It is brilliant to be part of a good news story."

He said Lafferty was deeply affected by the video, which illustrated the impact the team was having on the children and supporters.

The star player also promised to send them a couple of signed shirts.