Skip to content

Football fan Finley's Fifa 20 joy spreads online

Ian Stimson Finley Stimson eating breakfastIan Stimson
Finley tucks into his fried breakfast ahead of the match day final

A nine-year-old boy who made it through to a computer game cup final received VIP treatment from his dad - to the delight of thousands on social media.

Finley Stimson lifted the Carabao Cup - albeit a plastic one - after his beloved Peterborough Utd beat Spurs 2-1 in the Fifa 2020 video game.

Dad Ian tweeted every twist and turn, including Finley's pre-match breakfast and "tunnel walk" from the garden.

He said the reaction on social media had been "unbelievable".

Ian Stimson Finely lifting the trophyIan Stimson
Finley Stimson lifted the trophy in the Royal Box, also known as the landing

Allow Twitter content?

This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read  and  before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

Mr Stimson's tweets during Sunday's virtual cup final received thousands of likes and retweets.

BBC Match of the Day congratulated Finley, while Peterborough United invited him to meet the players.

"There was clearly a lot that had gone into the day in terms of preparations and it was great that it paid off," it said.

Allow Twitter content?

This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read  and  before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
Ian Stimson Finley Stimson pictured with professional footballersIan Stimson
Chelsea's Pedro and Eden Hazard flanked cup winner Finley Stimson in his dad's cheeky homage to Sky Sports' Premier League coverage

Allow Twitter content?

This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read  and  before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

Mr Stimson, 36, who lives with his wife and son in Peterborough, said Finley had only been playing the game for about four months when he told him his side was in the cup final.

The TV sound engineer, who used to work on Sky Sports and presents football podcast Miles Offside, said his fellow podcast hosts suggested the pair got "suited and booted" for the event.

Ian Stimson Finley tucking into his half time snackIan Stimson
Segments of chocolate orange were served at half-time

Allow Twitter content?

This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read  and  before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

The lifelong Peterborough supporter said he also hoped it would cheer up his son who had missed playing with his friends and cousins during lockdown and was about to change schools due to moving house.

However, preparations meant Finley had to wait a week before logging in to play his final while photographs were taken and video sequences planned, acted out and edited.

Allow Twitter content?

This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read  and  before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

"It's been so nice to do something creative and out of the ordinary together," said Mr Stimson.

"Close to 50,000 people have seen his first goal - he can't believe the numbers.

"There's been a universally positive wide-ranging reaction from fan banter to really heartfelt stuff."

Find BBC News: East of England on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. If you have a story suggestion email [email protected]