Young Tobias left ‘speechless’ by West Brom striker Jay Rodriguez
Generous Albion striker Jay Rodriguez stunned a 12-year-old in Birmingham when he bought him a new pair of boots.
Tobias Hurlock, who is an academy protégé at the Baggies, was shopping in the adidas store in New Street dressed in his Albion gear. He bumped into Rodriguez, who was also looking for new boots, and asked for a picture.
The summer signing duly obliged, before stumping up the cash for Hurlock’s new kicks.
And they obviously worked, because Tobias scored a goal against Nottingham Forest a few days later while playing up an age group for the under-14s.
“When I walked in the store manager asked me whether I played for the club or whether I was a fan,” explained Tobias, who is from Erdington.
“I said I played for the academy and he pointed across the store and said ‘So you recognise that man over there then?’
“It was Jay Rodriguez and he was looking at boots. I asked him for a picture and he asked me whether I played for the club.
“When I said I did he told me to go and choose some boots which he then bought me.
“I was very happy, it was amazing, I was speechless. It was a bit of a dream, I couldn’t really believe it. We were just talking like friends, he was really nice.
"When I met him again on Saturday he wished me all the best for my game the next day.”
