A ballboy who rose to fame when Lee Johnson picked him up as they celebrated Bristol City’s epic win over Manchester United has been given a special surprise by the Robins' semi-final opponents.

Ten-year-old Jaden Neale was celebrating wildly after Korey Smith scored a last-minute winner against United in last month's Carabao Cup quarter-final. Head coach Johnson dashed towards him, picked him up and joyously swung him around.

It was one of the pictures of the shock quarter-final win, and it elevated little Jaden to fame.

The Parson Street Primary School pupil, who plays for Bristol City Academy, was interviewed by local and national media, as he became the face of that famous win.

Now, Jaden and his family have been invited by Manchester City to travel up to the Etihad for the semi-final game next Tuesday on an all-expenses paid trip. The youngster will meet manager Pep Guardiola and his players, will sit in on interviews and have a stadium tour.

The events of the past fortnight have represented an upturn in fortunes for Jaden's family, who have been through a lot in the last few years.

His older sister, Chloe, was diagnosed with juvenile dermatomyositis when she was five. The rare muscle-wasting disease left her in a wheelchair.

And it would only be six weeks later that Jaden’s mum, Laura, was told by doctors she had aggressive breast cancer and had to start chemotherapy immediately.

Chloe would eventually get better after treatment, but she still relies on medication everyday to make sure she is stable.

“There is not a cure for it anywhere in the world, and the doctors don’t know much about it,” Laura said.

“She is on medication at the moment and has to have regular hospital visits.”

(Image: Family)

After being diagnosed with cancer herself, Laura underwent eight cycles of chemotherapy over six months, before having radiotherapy and a double mastectomy.

It took a real toll on the Bristol family, especially with three young children.

“I had to give up my job and it was a really hard time," said Laura. "I had to care for my daughter when I was sick, and it was tough for us for quite a few years.

“Last year, Jaden’s uncle killed himself. That was really hard and traumatic for him. Now he celebrates each goal for his uncle.

“Jaden’s tough, but it has been a very difficult few years.”

(Image: Family)

Laura will accompany Jaden, his older brother Lewis and his dad Michael to the Etihad next week as guests of the runaway Premier League leaders.

Once there he will be given the ‘blue carpet treatment’, including meeting the players and manager Pep Guardiola. He will also sit in the players' pre-match interviews and get a tour of the stadium, including the dressing rooms.

The honour is usually reserved for academy players at Manchester City, but Jaden was the exception.

(Image: Family)

“He is a massive Bristol City fan, so you can bet he will be the only kid there with a Bristol City kit on,” Laura said. “Manchester City got in touch with Bristol City and it went from there. It’s just a really nice thing to do for him, and we’re very lucky.

“Football is his life. He loves playing for Bristol City, and he is always making stadiums out of Lego. He can’t wait to meet the players.

"It is just amazing for him, and he is definitely going for a Bristol City win.”