Derby County fan, 3, walks with players after stroke

Reuben regained movement in his right arm and leg recently

A three-year-old boy who was left unable to move his right arm and leg following a stroke joined his favourite football team on the pitch after learning to walk again.

A stroke hit the left side of Reuben's brain on 1 May, affecting movement in his right side and taking away his speech just days after Derby County secured promotion to the Championship.

On Saturday, he walked out on to the pitch at Pride Park behind the players ahead of Derby's friendly against Spanish side Real Valladolid.

At the end, Reuben was taken to the East stand by his favourite player, Eiran Cashin, where the youngster was given a standing ovation.

Reuben walked out on to the pitch along with his father, his sister Ivy, and the mascot Rammy, just in front

Reuben's father Liam said: "It was "fantastic."

Liam said Reuben, who was two years old when he suffered the stroke, started to regain movement in his right arm and right leg a couple of weeks ago.

Reuben was wearing a brace on the back of his leg to support his knee as he walked out on to the pitch.

He was joined by his father, his sister Ivy, and the mascot Rammy, just in front of them, during the friendly.

Liam told BBC Radio Derby they took the match ball out on to the pitch then watched the game.

He said: "At the end, Cashin spoke to Ivy and Reuben and asked if they wanted to thank the fans.

"He walked them over the East stand, which was packed, and all the Derby fans stood up and started clapping."

Reuben walked out with his father Liam, who carried the match ball

He added it was hard for him and his partner Holly to "hold it together because it was so emotional to see all of that support".

"It warms the heart - it is difficult to put into words," he said.

"Holly turned around to me and burst into tears.

"My dad was there - I looked over and he was crying.

"To think where we have come to to where we are now. We didn't think this was possible."

After the game, Reuben's favourite player Eiran Cashin took him to the East stand

Liam said they had aimed to get Reuben to the first league game, but he beat that goal at the weekend.

"He is demolishing those barriers that anyone sets for him," he added.

On X, formerly Twitter, Derby County player Cashin said it was "a pleasure to meet Reuben and his family".

"What an incredible, brave boy!! Never stopped smiling the whole day," he added.

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