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Preston to present second Jermaine Beckford shirt to boy

The boy has his prized shirt snatched off him
Image: The boy has his prized shirt snatched off him

Preston will present a schoolboy with a signed Jermaine Beckford shirt after television footage showed a woman wrenching the striker's match-worn garment off him at the Sky Bet League One play-off final.

Beckford, who scored a hat-trick in a 4-0 win for Preston, handed eight-year-old Ted Dockray his shirt before cameras showed a woman apparently wrestling the top from his grasp.

The footage then went viral, sparking anger among many other fans and social media users.

But Preston North End have now said they will give the boy Beckford's spare shirt from the game and also treat him to a free stadium tour of Deepdale.

A club statement read: "The club are fully aware of an incident in Sunday's Play-Off Final win over Swindon Town involving Jermaine Beckford's match shirt.

"The club have been in consultation with the Football League and the parents of the child who is alleged to have had the shirt taken from him as seen on television cameras covering the match.

"Please note, no one involved in this situation is connected with Preston North End in any way, shape or form.

"The people seated in the area of the incident attended the Play-Off Final as part of the League One Football League Kids' Cup Final which was played earlier in the day.

"We are delighted to say that Jermaine is more than happy to sign and present the child involved with his spare match shirt from the game.

"The club will also provide a stadium tour for the youngster.

"If the shirt that Jermaine wore is returned to us, we will of course present this to the child in question instead.

"The club will not be commenting further on the matter at this time and would like the focus returned to Sunday's fantastic achievement and building towards what will be an exciting season in the Championship."

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