TO football fans, your favourite player scoring a 90th minute winner on Boxing Day sounds like the perfect Christmas present.

But imagine if you have just met your hero, had a kick-about before the game and even scored a penalty at half-time - because that is exectly what happened to eight-year-old Liverpool fan Daniel Pugh last week.

Daniel, like dad Robert, is a member of the Hereford branch of the Liverpool Supporters Club and last Wednesday was the away team mascot when Derby County took on Liverpool.

There was no Boxing Day lie-in for the Pugh family as they made their way from their Leominster home to Derby's Pride Park ground for 1pm.

They were met at the main doors by a club official who took them to the room where players relax before the game - and where Daniel greeted all of the Liverpool players when they arrived as well as manager Rafa Benitez.

Then the youngster, wearing a new replica kit provided by the club, had a kick-about out on the pitch with Derby's two mascots and club mascot Rammie the Ram.

Gerrard then led out the Liverpool players to warm up for the match and passed the ball with Daniel before having his photograph taken.

The rest of Liverpool's side, with stars including Fernando Torres and Jamie Carragher, also had their picture taken with Daniel as they left the field one by one.

His father said he was going to write to Derby to thank them for making the day so enjoyable.

"It was brilliant. They really did look after us and we had a great day," he said.

"They even invited Daniel to take part in a half-time shootout with the Derby mascots, which they don't usually do for away fans, and at the end a steward very kindly took Daniel's Happy New Year card to Rafa because he hadn't had chance."

But what really topped off the day was Gerrard's late goal. "When it was 1-1, Daniel said they've only gone and spoilt the day' but then they came up with the winner."