KAYLEIGH Hayes will never forget her day of sheer joy at The Vale after she was invited to meet the Welsh senior football team for a video diary event that saw her rub shoulders with Aaron Ramsey, her football hero, local star Joe Allen, manager Chris Coleman and the rest of the squad who were training.

Football-mad Kayleigh plays up front for the Fishguard Sports under 12s and was thrilled when she was told by manager Matthew Lamb that she had been chosen to be involved in one of a number of publicity sessions and she joined him, plus her mum Fay and dad Barry, who was a very competitive midfielder with the Sports and Goodwick United AFC.

One of the more nerve-wracking parts of the day came when she sat in the front row of the question and answer session, alongside TV reporters and hacks from national papers, and was invited by top pundit Ian Gwyn Hughes to ask the first question of Joe Allen, the Welsh star originally from Narberth.

“Who is your favourite player?” she asked with aplomb and was told by Joe, now with Stoke City and previously with Liverpool and Swansea City, that Zinadine Zidane was his top star alongside Ryan Giggs.

Then it was out onto the training pitch at The Vale where she donned her boots to enjoy a kick around with Ramsey, Joe Ledley and Chris Gunter, and Welsh manager Coleman walked across, shook hands with Kayleigh and asked if she was enjoying herself - and of course she said yes!

She was also allowed to interview goalkeeper Danny Ward, currently of Huddersfield, and they were brilliant together as they were described by one onlooker as ‘being like Ant and Dec’!

Ask her about the undoubted highlight, however, and she would plump for meeting her hero Ramsey, whilst she was thrilled that some of the players autographed her football boots and Chris Coleman offered to have her Welsh shirt, which has her name on it, signed by the whole team and officials - and he is going to send it back to her.

Equally delighted were parents Fay and Barry, who admitted that they both had a tear in their eye, when they saw how much Kayleigh enjoyed herself

“It was a memorable day for all of us,” said Matthew ‘Minty’ Lamb, “and Gareth Rogers, from the Wales FA, deserves every credit for organising such worthwhile events that will never be forgotten by those taking part.

“Kayleigh carried Fishguard and Pembrokeshire’s flag with distinction and has photographs to keep as testament to a wonderful day.”