PHOTOS:
Kayleigh with Joe Allen
Meeting Chris Coleman
Interviewing Danny Ward
Kayleigh, proud parents and organiser Gareth Rogers

 
Kayleigh Hayes will never forget her day of sheer joy at The Vale sporting complex when she was invited to meet up with the Welsh senior football team for a video diary event that saw her meet up with Aaron Ramsey, her footballing hero, local star Joe Allen, manager Chris Coleman and the rest of the Welsh contingent who were training for big matches to come soon.
 
Football-mad Kayleigh plays up front for the Fishguard Sports under 12s team and was absolutely 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 mam Fay and dad Barry, who was a very competitive midfielder with the Sports and neighbours Goodwick United AFC.


 

Kayleigh starts off the press session

 
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 hardened hacks from the national papers, and was invited by top sporting 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 international star alongside Ryan Giggs amongst Welsh players.

 

Kick about with the stars and an interview with Danny

 

Then it was out onto the training pitch at The Vale where she donned her boots to enjoy a kick around with Aaron Ramsey, Joe Ledley and Chris Gunter, when Welsh manager Chris Coleman walked across, shook hands with Kayleigh and asked if she was enjoying herself - and of course she answered in the affirmative!
 
She was also allowed to interview goalkeeper Danny Ward, the Huddersfield keeper now in the squad, and they were brilliant together as they were described by one onlooker as 'being like Ant and Dec'!

 

Real treats to round off a great day

 
Ask her about the undoubted highlight, however, and she would plump for meeting her hero Aaron 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 th
e whole team and officials - and he is going to send it back to her."
 
Equally delighted were proud 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 Sports and Pembrokeshire's flag with distinction and has loads of photographs to keep as testament to such a wonderful day."
 
The visit to The Vale ended on a perfect note for Kayleigh when they stopped en route home for a McDonald's meal in Cross Hands and there are reports, as yet unsubstantiated, that 'Minty' actually paid for it!