Guitar's hug for a hero strikes a global chord

One of four lads who won the Standard Chatered Mascot Competition and the chance to escort top players onto the pitch for the Liverpool vs Thailand friendly match on July 28, Guitar broke with normal mascot protocol and threw his arms around his idol. Cameras caught the action and a photo was duly published on the LFC Thai Facebook page, drawing nearly 100,000 “likes”. Then the editor of the team’s official site tracked down Guitar and gave him even more play online. 

Guitar’s show of affection has become one of the defining images of the club’s fourth visit to Thailand. “Such a fantastic, inspiring and generally heartwarming feel-good story,” fan Wozzer93 writes on the club website. “It also shows the quality of person Stevie G is. Most footballers look really awkward with the mascots, but he acted beautifully in that moment.”

“Stevie is a very good footballer and he inspires me,” Guitar told the Liverpool Thai website. “Before we went out I gave him a high five, and then he placed his hand on my shoulder. I could barely move with excitement!

“When we walked onto the pitch I gave him a wai to make him feel proud – and then I gave him a hug. It was so warm and comforting.”

Lots of Liverpool fans on the official site would love to see him flown to Britain for an appearance at the club’s home stadium. “Come on, LFC,” said one, “fly him over for a weekend to see his idols play on the hallowed turf of Anfield!”

 

Footrace to fame

Before Thailand’s “boy who hugged Gerrard”, there was “the running man” of Vietnam. This was young fan Vu Xuan Tien, who ran after Arsenal FC’s bus for kilometres while it carried the team from Hanoi airport to their hotel. The players finally spotted him and got the driver to stop and let him onboard. 

Vu got a nice ride, photos with all the players and a sheaf of autographs, including that of manager Arsene Wenger. The “Running Man” video went viral, showing the Gunners chanting “Sign him up!” as he kept pace with their bus. Even British Ambassador to Thailand Mark Kent – a die-hard “Gooner” – repeated the suggestion in a humorous tweet. Kent’s last posting was in Vietnam and he’d even recommended that Arsenal visit the country if they ever had the chance. 

Arsenal did – and then flew Vu to London to watch them play in the pre-season Emirates Cup they host at their own Emirates Stadium. “It was a dream come true for me to be invited onto the bus and to meet all the players, including my idol Mikel Arteta,” Vu said – and being whisked off to England as well completely floored him. “It’s unbelievable!”