IT is every young footballing fan's dream to come face to face with their sporting heroes.

And that is exactly what happened for brothers Michael, 12, and Mathew Grimes, eight, of Bushburn Drive, Langho, when they met up with Dutch international and Barcelona striker Patrick Kluivert.

The two youngsters, who play for Langho FC, rubbed shoulders with the striking superstar when he kick started their club's new season by presenting them with their new strip.

The lucky pair, who are also season ticket holders at Blackburn Rovers, were chosen as the first recipients of the blue and red kit after bosses at Langho had been in discussions with a Barcelona agent to arrange to presentation.

And the deal was finally signed sealed and delivered when Patrick took time out of a rain swept training session at the Blackburn Rovers Youth Academy at Brockhall to meet the two players.

Unfortunately the weather put a bit of a dampener on the occasion when the lads failed to get their idols' autograph because he was in too much of a hurry to get washed and changed before being whisked back off to his luxury hotel to rest in time for the club's match against Rovers on Sunday.

Paul Morey, who sits on the club's organising committee for such events said: "The two lads watched them training but they were really wet and cold so they were trying to get in and cleaned up as soon as possible."

The boys' dad, Mel, said Patrick's visit really meant a lot to them: "We all sit together in the family stand at Rovers and they were on about him all day on Sunday when we went to watch the match. They were telling everyone.

"Everybody made a real fuss of them on the day and I'd like to say a big thank you to Rovers who were superb in helping us arrange it.

"It was unfortunate they didn't get any autographs but the players were so cold they just wanted to get in and changed. But the lads were still buzzing afterwards. It made their day."

The visit of the 16-times winners of the Spanish league also had special significance for the Langho team, which adopted Barcelona's colours when the club was established 25 years ago.

Malcolm Goldsworthy, the club's chairman said: "Meeting superstars like Patrick and encouraging young talent may one day help us develop a player who will grace a stadium such as the Nou Camp or Ewood Park.

"We chose the strip of the most well known European team at the time to give us something to aspire to."