Notts County were delighted to welcome 13-year-old McKinley Chambers as guest of honour to Easter Monday’s home fixture against Portsmouth.
McKinley, who has type 1 diabetes, collapsed and fell into a diabetic coma after playing football in his local park last Sunday. While he was unconscious, callous thieves rifled through his pockets, smashed his phone and stole his bike.
The players first met Notts-mad McKinley during last week’s Easter visit to the QMC, where he spent two nights under observation after the attack. The club then contacted his mum, Charlene, after learning more of McKinley’s ordeal.
They then enjoyed the game in style with pre-match hospitality in the 1862 Suite.
Charlene said: “It was amazing. It was lovely to see McKinley smiling the way he was.
“It made me cry, just watching him and seeing him smiling is what it’s all about, especially because a week ago we almost lost him.”
The chairman added: “I’m delighted to have welcomed McKinley and his family to Meadow Lane.
“Hopefully his experience on the pitch – and putting a penalty past me - is a positive memory he can look back on fondly after his horrible ordeal.”