Slaven Bilic takes young fan Alf Hill to meet Andy Carroll at Rush Green training ground

Five-year-old had been waiting four-and-a-half hours to meet the centre forward

Father Matt praises manager and player for making his son's half-term holiday

Super Slaven Bilic lived up to his nickname once again by giving young fan Alf Hill a half-term treat he will never forget.

East Stand Season Ticket Holder Alf was taken to Rush Green to collect autographs and selfies on Tuesday afternoon by his father Matt, only to be left disappointed when Andy Carroll failed to appear through the gates.

However, when the West Ham United manager learned of Alf’s predicament on stopping to pose for his own photograph, Bilic told the schoolboy to jump in his car, turned it around and drove him back into the training ground to meet Carroll.

“It was amazing,” decorating contractor Matt told whufc.com. “I finished work early and had told Alf that I’d drive him down to Rush Green one day this week as it’s his half-term holiday.

“We got there at one o’clock, only for the security guard to tell us that training would not be starting until two, so we had a long wait, but it was definitely worthwhile!

“All the players stopped on their way out and all of them were brilliant signing autographs and posing for photos, but Alf really wanted to meet Andy, as we’d missed Aaron Cresswell – another of his favourite players – as we were sitting in the car waiting as he left!

Footballers get a lot of negative press these days, but I have got to say that Slaven and the players were a real credit to West Ham and football in general Alf Hill's father Matt

“Then, at about five thirty, a car came down the driveway and I thought it had to be Andy, but it turned out to be Slaven. We asked if Andy was coming soon and Slaven said he was getting treatment and might be a while, but I could see his mind was working and he was thinking about something.

“Slaven said to Alf and the other young lad who was there waiting to get in his car and said he would take them in to meet Andy Carroll! We couldn’t believe it as Slaven turned the car around and took them into Rush Green, then inside the training ground building to meet Andy.

“Myself and my wife Katie had our two-year-old daughter Issey with us too, so we walked as quickly as we could up the driveway and got there in time to take photos of Alf with Andy. I was nearly in tears, and I’m a grown man!”

Matt posted the story on his social media channels on Tuesday evening, with his praise for Slaven catching the imagination of fans and the media alike.

“My Twitter and Facebook exploded and I got loads of calls from journalists,” he confirmed.

“Footballers get a lot of negative press these days, but I have got to say that Slaven and the players were a real credit to West Ham and football in general.

“Alf is quite shy, but is absolutely obsessed with West Ham and has had a Season Ticket with me and his grandfather Jon since he was three. He was so excited and you might say Slaven gave him the ride of his life!"