A HEARTWARMING video shows a family of Luton Town fans brought to tears after their beloved team gained promotion to the Premier League just a day after their footie-mad grandad passed away.
Katie Richards’ grandad Paul McGuire sadly passed away on Friday night having gone into hospital for a heart bypass operation – but left the family with a final promise.
The 73-year-old’s touching final conversation with Katie’s dad before his operation saw him pledge that The Hatters would win in their promotion play-off match against Coventry City on Saturday.
Despite the heartbreaking circumstances Katie, 21, and her family were left overjoyed when their grandad’s prediction rang true and Luton clawed their way into the Premier League.
Video shows Katie at home with her partner and father as they watch Luton secure Premier League status for the first time in their history with a dramatic penalty shootout.
The family watch on as the final whistle sounds after Luton’s 6-5 victory on penalties, with the trio exploding into celebrations.
The on-screen text reads: “POV: Your grandad died three days ago and before he died he promised my dad he’d be watching and they’d win.”
Katie’s dad jumps up and down whilst clenching his fists as he falls to the ground overjoyed with emotion as he slaps the carpet shouting: “F***ing hell yes! Yes, yes yes!”
He then crawls and hugs his daughter whilst watching the euphoric scenes play out in their living room.
The three then hug each other whilst saying: “We’re in the Premier League!”
Katie uploaded the video to social media on Sunday with the caption: “He was deffo there in spirit.”
The clip has since received over 80,000 likes and more than 660 comments from users left touched by the family’s explosion of emotion.
One user wrote: “What a proud moment for you all…so emotional.”
Another commented: “We’re in the Prem baby. I’m so sorry about your grandad, my mum died two months ago and she was defo with us at Wembley?.”
A third replied: “As a Coventry fan, this makes me smile, congratulations!”
Another user said: “Congratulations, I’m sure it meant everything to you all and your grandad. Truly wholesome.”
Speaking today Katie said: “It’s been such an awful time for us as a family but we got a bit of joy on Saturday after Luton winning.
“My grandad died pretty suddenly on Friday, he went for a heart bypass operation on Sunday 21.
“The operation itself went okay, the bypass was perfect however my grandad didn’t make it out, his organs failed him and he couldn’t wake back up.
“Before he went under for the operation, my mum and dad took him to the hospital and my dad had a chat about the football with him as my dad is Luton Town born and bred, and has been a season ticket holder for 35 years.
“He said he’d be sitting up in his chair recovering watching it and he had a real good feeling they’d win, unfortunately he never got to watch the game.
“Me and my dad were meant to go and watch the game at Wembley, however being with family at this time was way more important.
“Going to a football match when you have to face people and explain is very hard.
“So many people knew my grandad and he will be missed so much but I have a real good feeling he was up there cheering them on.
“My family’s relationship with Luton Town is crazy. We’ve been supporters since forever and my dad’s been to basically every single game.
“We were so heartbroken by the shocking news and having to say bye to grandad when he was in ICU.
“Through the whole game dad couldn’t get it out of his head that one of his last conversations with grandad was about the game, we prayed and prayed for them to give us a win.
“Luton deserves this, they’ve played well all season, we’ve never seen them get into the Premier League and when I tell you my dads life is Luton Town.
“He adores them, this means everything for them. Even if we don’t stay up, we need the money as a club, we need a new stadium which we’ve been waiting for, for a long time.
“There’s just so many good opportunities to go to different stadiums and Premier League stadiums we’ve never been to or played at.
“We called the universe for some good luck and feel grandad gave us that on the day.”
