A FIVE-year-old Warrington Wolves fan with cerebral palsy will enjoy a special surprise from the club at the game on March 18 after a photoshoot of him in the team kit went viral.

When Leon Hoey was born his mother, Annmarie Dougan, 29, was told he might not survive and Wolves star Matt King even visited Annmarie in hospital to hold baby Leon.

Five years later Leon is a huge Wolves fan just like his mum and when photographs of Leon dressed up in the team kit went viral, the club arranged a surprise for him at the match against Castleford Tigers.

“To get the photo of him stood still in his kit like that took ages because Leon has trouble standing up,” said Annmarie, who is from Longford.

“He woke up one morning and said, ‘I want to be a rugby player.’

“Why should I stop him from having his dreams?

“I just want to prove that no matter what disabilities he’s got, if he wants to be like his heroes, Warrington Wolves, he can be. 

"I want other little boys and girls to feel the same.”

Wolves legend and under 19s team coach, Lee Briers, spotted the pictures of Leon on Twitter and has arranged to take him for a spin in a new BMW i8, provided by Halliwell Jones BMW.

Lee will then take Leon out for tea (they have decided to go to McDonald’s) before dropping him off at the stadium to meet Wolfie and the players.

The biggest surprise is that Leon will be mascot for the game and will present the match ball.

Lee said: “It will be good to help him – we are in quite a privileged position and we are lucky to do a lot of work with the Warrington Wolves Foundation.”

Annmarie will watch with Leon’s sister, eight-year-old Kelsey, and she said Leon will be nervous at first in front of the crowd but that he always enjoys the ‘rough and tumble’ of going to watch the Wolves play.

Leon plays frame football in Oldham and the Warrington Wolves Charitable Foundation has invited him to join their football team for youngsters.

Claire Gamble, fan engagement executive at Warrington Wolves, said: “We picked it up on social media – we are all about making people’s day and it’s all about a special experience.

“It’s nice to give something back, we can’t wait to fulfil Leon’s dream and get him out on the pitch.”

Annmarie said Leon is thrilled: “Warrington Wolves has made his dreams come true.”