How Manchester United matchwinner Juan Mata made a young fan's day

Alex Nield woke up at 4 a.m. on Saturday. It was a big day: Norwich City were playing Manchester United and along with his father Jon, the nine-year-old had a long journey to make from Old Trafford to Carrow Road.

Alex's wheelchair was packed safely into the coach that carries many of United's fans with disabilities to away matches and which has been specially converted to hold wheelchairs. United subsidise travel by 50 percent, with former chief executive David Gill especially keen to assist the work of the Manchester United Disabled Supporters' Association.

Alex has cerebral palsy. He excels at maths, where he has a fascination with the number 8, and English. He dreams of being a footballer and even though he is unable to walk, can play wheelchair football.

Alex watches United home and away; his wheelchair carries the United badge and his name. On Saturday, he enjoyed the 200-mile, five-hour trip across England to Norwich. The atmosphere on board is always superb, with plenty of joking and laughter.

"We've only missed four games this season," said Jon. "We travelled to Belgium, to Germany, to Denmark. We were in Manchester airport before the flight to Denmark in February when Rod Thornley, the team masseur, saw us and told us that the players would be coming through the airport soon. We waited for as long as we could and United's security helped us. We saw Sir Bobby Charlton and Paddy Crerand, but we had to get on the plane and missed the players. Rod did give us a training ball, though."

Jon, an IT manager originally from Bury, Greater Manchester, has been unable to work since being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2014.

"At first, I struggled to walk and used Alex's wheelchair to help with my balance," said Jon. "Now, with medication that I received at Salford Royal Hospital, I can walk short distances."

Upon arrival at Norwich, Jon pushed Alex towards the turnstiles ahead of the early kickoff.

"Alex likes to get in early and watch the players warm up," said Jon. "We sat in front of the 3,000 travelling United fans by the side of the pitch".

Alex's favourite players are David De Gea and Anthony Martial, plus anybody who wears eight.

"He loved Anderson because he wore eight," said Jon. "I know Anderson wasn't the best player, but Alex adored him and met him once. Anderson was always smiling."

Juan Mata wears eight now. When the Spaniard scored the winning goal towards the end of the game, the United fans surged forward in celebration, surrounding the fans by the pitch and prompting Norwich stewards to move those fans in wheelchairs closer to the corner flags.

The goal kept United in contention for a top four finish and was the team's seventh win in nine games in all competitions. Whatever people say about Louis van Gaal, he's one lucky manager who seems to turn things in his favour when the criticism of him becomes intense.

The win brought relief and, at full-time, the players were keen to show their appreciation to the travelling fans.

"Marcos Rojo and Ander Herrera were the first to come over," said Jon. "Rojo threw his shirt into the crowd."

United players are not supposed to do that but Rojo is from a culture close to the ultras of Estudiantes in Argentina, in which players are proud to give their shirts to the fans.

"Alex really wanted a players' shirt," said Jon. "Then we saw Mata and De Gea walking towards us. The head steward was trying to keep us back from the players. Mata was looking up at the crowd rather than us. Alex was trying to get his attention by shouting. Mata turned away and began to walk back to the dressing room on the other side of the field. Our hearts sank."

It was Memphis Depay who alerted Mata that Alex had been shouting his name. The Dutchman pointed out the youngster, whereupon Mata turned and walked back about 40 metres towards him.

"This time, he came straight for us," said Jon. "He was talking to us for what seemed like 10 minutes, but was probably only 30 seconds. He explained to me that he couldn't hand me the shirt as the players were not allowed to, but to contact the club and he'd see what he could do."

Jon then asked Mata, who was about to be awarded the man of the match award, if he could take a photo of the United midfielder with his son.

"Mata agreed and I took my phone out, but I panicked and struggled to unlock the phone," said Jon. "Juan was waiting with Alex and I was thinking 'I'm going to miss this brilliant opportunity for a picture.' I finally got my camera to work and took two pictures. Luckily they both turned out well."

Unbeknown to Jon and Alex, the entire encounter was broadcast live on television.

"We just thought that the only people who saw it were United fans there," said Jon. "They were coming up to us and saying that what Juan did was a lovely gesture but they couldn't work out why he didn't give us his shirt. Everyone was stopping us on the way back to the coach."

Within minutes, Jon's phone started buzzing with messages from friends and family who'd seen what had happened. In fact, the only time it stopped was when the coach travelled through areas with poor mobile reception, as can be the case in the rural roads around Norwich.

Some were concerned as they had seen Alex receive treatment from the British Red Cross, but Jon explained that it was just to remove some dust from his eye.

"We finally got home after a long day and my wife, Alex's mum Victoria, wanted to know all about it," said Jon. "He was giddy with excitement as he told her. She'd actually watched the game on television, but went to put the washing out at the end and missed it. Her phone also started going with people who'd seen it on television."

And what did Mata say to Alex?

"His mother and I have asked him several times," said Jon. "He says he can't remember!"

Andy Mitten is a freelance writer and the founder and editor of United We Stand. Follow him on Twitter @AndyMitten.