The female Preston fan who appeared to snatch Jermaine Beckford's shirt off an eight-year-old boy. Photo / YouTube.
The aunt of a young boy who had a footballer's shirt wrenched from him on live television said her family have no ill-feeling towards the woman who took the jersey.
Schoolboy Ted Dockray, eight, had managed to get his hands on Preston striker Jermaine Beckford's shirt after he threw it to a group of children in the Wembley crowd on Sunday, only for it to be taken from him by Vickie Timbrell, 31.
The moment during Preston's 4-0 victory over Swindon was captured by TV cameras, sparking ire from football fans who demanded that Ms Timbrell return the shirt to the young fan.
Hours after the incident the prized shirt was advertised on classified website Gumtree for £1500, but the advert has since been removed, and it is not known if it was genuine.
Today, Ted's aunt Claire Dockray called on people to forgive Ms Timbrell, who knows Ted and his family, and lives just a mile away from them in Failsworth, Manchester.
"We don't feel any bad feeling towards the woman and hope it calms down," she told a Preston North End fan page.
"[Ted] was a bit disappointed but he's fine.
"My family would never want any trouble for the woman over a football shirt.
"I'm sure it will be a happy ending for everyone involved."
The Preston star striker had thrown his shirt into a crowd of children after scoring a hat-trick during Sunday's play-off final against Swindon.
Football fans watched in horror as Ms Timbrell, who was wearing a pink top, snatched the shirt from the boy in the 71st minute of Preston's 4-0 victory.
The mother, who found herself at the centre of a social media storm, said she plans to speak to the family to clear the air when she returns from London today.
"People have made me out to be an absolute idiot," said Ms Timbrell.
"I will be speaking to the family, I actually know them, they're friends."
She also wrote on Facebook: "Can I just say thank you to everyone for all the support and texts. I'm not commenting on the c*** they've written because I'm taking this further.
"It's all wrong and twisted. My side of the story will soon come out."
Ms Timbrell told the Manchester Evening News today that she had reported the incident, and subsequent abusive messages directed at her on social media to the police.
"I'm going to leave it now. I've reported it to the police - the whole thing,' she said.
A spokesman from Greater Manchester Police told MailOnline that the force was looking into whether a complaint had been made.
A spokesman from the Metropolitan Police, which covers Wembley, was unable to confirm whether Ms Timbrell had contacted them.
Beckford, a Jamaica international, has called for the woman to return the shirt to the eight-year-old boy.
Ted was said to be 'in bits' and ran towards his father Martin after Ms Timbrell appeared to grab the shirt for her daughter.
The family had gone to north-west London to watch his ten-year-old brother Leo play in a schools' championship, in which Ms Timbrell's son was also appearing.
Speaking briefly today, Mr Dockray confirmed his family knew Ms Timbrell.
Mr Dockray said: "Her son was part of the school team that went down to play in the final."
When Mr Dockray was asked if their children went to the same school, he replied: "Yeah, they went down as the football team that played in the final see."
When asked if Ms Timbrell had straightened everything out with the family, Mr Dockray replied: "Yeah, more or less."
Speaking at his home later today, Mr Dockray said Ms Timbrell did not deserve the abuse she was receiving on social media, and said he did not know what had happened to the shirt.
"It is to do with Preston North End and the football league and the lady, I don't know if she still has the shirt or has handed it back to Preston, I don't know," he said.
"But she has got a young family herself and she doesn't deserve the abuse she is getting.
"We are not going to say anything, what happened happened and that's that.
Mr Dockray said he didn't know who had put the Gumtree advert up, and whether it had been real.
He said: "I couldn't tell you, we left five minutes before the end of the game anyway. I don't know who put it on or whether it was real advert, or whether it was the real shirt or a fake shirt, I couldn't tell you."
Mr Dockray added:'"Enough said really, I think it has blown over now."
Yesterday, Ted's aunt Helen Dockray spoke of his sadness to the Lancashire Evening Post.
She said: "Ted was clearly the last one to have his hands on that shirt. He would have worn it even if it was all sweaty and smelly. It is the happiness it would have brought the child that matters."
Beckford, 31, who made history by becoming only the third player ever to score a hat-trick in a play-off final, said: 'It was intended as a goodwill gesture.
"I assumed it would go to a good home from someone who was able to enjoy the game. Hopefully, it will find its way back to the kid who caught it."
The advert for the shirt was later posted from a Stretford address on Gumtree, but has since been removed. It is not known whether this was a genuine advert.
A spokesman from Preston North End said Beckford would be presenting Ted with his spare match shirt from the game on Friday, and the schoolboy would be taken on a stadium tour.
'The Club are fully aware of an incident in Sunday's Play-Off Final win over Swindon Town involving Jermaine Beckford's match shirt,' Preston North End said in a statement.
"The Club have been in consultation with the Football League and the parents of the child who is alleged to have had the shirt taken from him as seen on television cameras covering the match.
"Please note, no one involved in this situation is connected with Preston North End in any way, shape or form.
"The people seated in the area of the incident attended the Play-Off Final as part of the League One Football League Kids' Cup Final which was played earlier in the day.
"We are delighted to say that Jermaine is more than happy to sign and present the child involved with his spare match shirt from the game.
"The Club will also provide a stadium tour for the youngster.
"If the shirt that Jermaine wore is returned to us, we will of course present this to the child in question instead.
"The Club will not be commenting further on the matter at this time and would like the focus returned to Sunday's fantastic achievement and building towards what will be an exciting season in the Championship."
Olympic gold medal winning long jumper Greg Rutherford also waded into the row, saying he would like to give Ted one of his signed athletics vests.
He wrote on Twitter: "I know it's not the same. But if anyone knows this boy I'd like to send him a signed vest."
And Ted's mother Sarah said the brothers had a day out at Chessington World of Adventures in Surrey today after Leo's team won his final.
The Lancashire Police football intelligence unit is believed to be looking into the case.
It comes after a baseball supporter was caught catching a fly ball at a game on May 16 - and showed off by kissing her biceps as a group of boys stood nearby, disappointed that they had not caught the ball.
Eventually, the Kansas City Royals fan turned and gave it away to a boy wearing a white jersey and mitt - but later in the game, cameras caught her calling out over the aisle: 'Give me my ball back!'
- DAILY MAIL