Mascot role means match day joy for Alex (From Stroud News and Journal)

At the end of what has proved an eventful few weeks for Alex Davis from Stroud, the plucky youngster has been invited to lead out the Forest Green team as their mascot on Saturday.

In February, Alex became the first child in the world to undergo an operation to remove the left lobe of his lung. The following day he met the Queen during her royal visit to Great Ormond Street Hospital For Children in London.

This Saturday, however FGR are rolling out the red carpet for the brave eight-year-old.

And after leading out the team he will join family and friends to watch the match from a hospitality box laid on by the club's marketing and operations manager, Colin Peake.

"He is over the moon," said his mother Kim Davis.

"We are keeping our fingers crossed he will feel well enough."

Alex will be following in the footsteps of his grandfather Derroll Loveday who used to play for the club in the 70s.

"His grandfather will probably walk with Alex onto the pitch," said Kim.

"I used to watch my father play at Forest Green when I was seven, now I can't wait to see Alex out there on Saturday, we are all terribly excited."