'Autograph Kid' Louis Harper signs off

He was tasked with getting his autograph book filled with signatures from Premier League football stars.

And, after completing his mission, the Express & Star's very own Autograph Kid Louis Harper has now handed over his efforts to be auctioned off for charity.

Wearing an Express & Star cap and sweatshirt, 12-year-old Louis queued through wind, rain and shine to secure the signatures of dozens of stars during last season, filling three autograph book. In all he got 122 signatures.

Players, managers and former stars all put their names to the book including Sir Alex Ferguson, Kieron Dyer, Mick McCarthy, Matt Jarvis, Roy Hodgson, Joe Cole and John Obi Mikel.

Louis, of Fancourt Avenue, Penn, a pupil at St Peter's Collegiate School, said: "I really enjoyed it and a really liked meeting all of the footballers but there was a downside too. Sometimes the people collecting autographs would cram you up the barrier.

"My least favourite was the Liverpool team because they all got straight on to the coach and it was a really cold night. My favourite was Martin O'Neill."

As well as getting a Wolves shirt from the Express & Star for his efforts, he was also handed £200 which he has used to buy a Wolves season ticket.

An anonymous football fan also gave Louis a signed book written by legendary goalkeeper Peter Shilton, which will be raffled off for charity at the same time as the autograph books.

By Victoria Nash