11-year-old diagnosed with rare brain disease meets players and watches training during visit to Macron Stadium
Lifelong Bolton Wanderers fan Nolan James-Crook was a special guest at Macron Stadium on Friday to meet the players and get a behind-the-scenes look at training.
Nolan, aged 11, was diagnosed with H-abc, a brain condition which results in the progressive decline of white matter in the brain, in 2013.
An ever-present for home games at Macron Stadium so far this season, Nolan and his family were greeted by Jimmy Phillips, Peter Reid, Nicky Spooner and Community Trust ambassador Tony Kelly on Friday morning before heading to meet the playing squad in the tunnel and pitchside.
Naomi James-Crook, Nolan’s mum, said: “We all had an amazing morning. Nolan was overjoyed at meeting the players and it was really nice of the club to invite us all down. It was a fabulous day and Nolan hasn’t stopped smiling since.
“He is a cheeky lad who does not take life too seriously. He is a sociable character with lots of friends and he never ever lets his condition get him down.
“He is a huge fan of Bolton Wanderers and makes sure he gets to every home game and he is into motorbikes and cars as well, he's a lovely boy and we are so proud of him.”
Interim manager Jimmy Phillips added: “It was great to see Nolan and his family. After seeing the story we were all keen to invite him down to training to meet the players and staff.
“He has an infectious personality and is an absolute credit to his family. He’s a Bolton Wanderers fan and of course very much one of us.”
Nolan's GoFundMee page is helping to raise awareness and funds for treatment of H-abc - https://www.gofundme.com/nolan-habc-researc