A football mad 14-year-old has been left devastated after Sunderland AFC fans were turned away and left in the cold during a meet the players event.

Heidi Craik and her son Thomas Ivory, from Boldon, visited the Stadium of Light during half term last month (February 23) in the hope of meeting some of the footballers at a free official signing event.

“All his life Thomas has wanted to meet the players and he was dead excited,” Heidi said.

Thomas, who plays for a post-11’s football team in Jarrow, went to the signing that he understood was running until 5pm. However, the event ended at 4pm, leaving many fans feeling let down.

Fans were told to simply stay in the line for the event, that was taking place within the SAFC club shop.

Heidi said: “We got there an hour early, so we’d definitely get to see them and people in the queue were telling us it was on until 5pm.

“Apparently, they (the players) had to get away. There were loads of disappointed children who are obviously their up-and-coming supporters who they’ve turned away.

“All the kids looked so disappointed waiting that long in the queue in the freezing cold.”

Thomas, a lifelong Sunderland fan, suffers from a neck condition that can be operated upon but would see him permanently disabled.

His mum added: “Before I thought he was going to have this operation, I had set up for him to be a mascot but then in lockdown I got turned down so he never got to be a mascot.

“So when this came up about meeting the players… I was happy for him but then he got turned down.”

Heidi explained that the family had plans to make a day of the event and head in to town afterwards but cancelled due to them having to wait in the cold.

She said: “We were going to make a day of it, we had to come back because Thomas was in so much pain with his neck.

“Well, it has put me off but it is Thomas’ dream and so I’m going to have to carry it on because time is limited.”

Sunderland AFC have failed to respond to requests for a comment.