Shirt-grab Ted’s Wembley woe

A SOUTH Failsworth Primary School pupil is at the centre of an apparent shirt theft that has grabbed the attention of the nation.

TV cameras captured eight-year-old Ted Dockray catching Preston striker and hat-trick hero Jermaine Beckford’s jersey as he left the pitch after North End’s 4-0 League One play-off final victory over Swindon Town at Wembley.

Ted was at the showpiece event to watch his older brother Leo play in the Football League Kids Cup final, in which Oldham beat Crawley 1-0.

A woman in a pink T-shirt — believed to be 31-year-old Vickie Timbrell from Manchester — can be seen apparently snatching the shirt from Ted and appearing to walk away.

Ted’s family have hit out at Ms Timbrell saying he was “gutted” that the shirt had been taken off him.

But Ms Timbrell says she knows Ted’s family and claims it has all been a misunderstanding. She said she plans to meet with Ted’s family and talk about the incident which caused a social media frenzy.

An advert posted on Gumtree, advertising the shirt for sale for £1,500 was removed soon after it was posted on Sunday evening.

Football fans were quick to take to Twitter to condemn Ms Timbrell’s actions and demand she give the shirt back to Ted.

PNE bosses said they would give Ted Beckford’s spare Wembley shirt if he didn’t get the original back.

Lancashire Police says it will be examining the case but as of yet, no crime has been reported.