Hull City winger's gift to bullied young fan

A young Hull City supporter who "wanted to hide from the world" after being bullied has been surprised by a player's kind gesture.

Ronnie, six, known as Tiny Tiger on social media, received new loan signing Yu Hirakawa's shirt after their team's 2-1 home win against Swansea City at the MKM Stadium on Saturday.

Earlier, mum Michaela, 35, posted on X that Ronnie - who has autism and ADHD - had been badly affected by bullying.

As well as the shirt, the Japanese winger offered some words of comfort to the youngster.

Michaela said: "After the week he'd had, to see him standing there and getting that shirt from him was just really special."

She said she made the post "to share awareness that we have to be kind" to neurodiverse people, adding she "wasn't expecting anything like the reaction or Yu to even respond".

Hirakawa, on loan to promotion-chasing Hull City from Bristol City, is believed to have seen a photograph, which was shared by Michaela, of Ronnie dressed in his honour.

Michaela said: "Yu didn't just give him a shirt. He took some time to actually speak with him, put his arm around him, offering some words of comfort."

She said that in the video Ronnie "looks a little bit like a rabbit in headlights" but that "him standing there and not running off and really listening and nodding just shows that it was in tune with Yu and [that he] was really appreciative of that gift".

Michaela added: "One of the quotes that kind of stuck with me - is that tigers all have different stripes, and it just really sort of hit home that we do and we need to spread awareness of that."

When first attending match days, Michaela said she realised Ronnie "wasn't coping and wasn't enjoying it", before working with fan services at the football club to ensure her son has a supported experience.

Michaela added: "I just want to say a massive thank you. I know at the minute that the players and the club, the team as a whole, are doing really well. The addition of Yu has just brought such excitement to the club.

"But also behind the scenes, there's lots of people working behind there to make sure fans do have that good matchday experience."

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