A TEENAGER who has survived two kidney transplants had a dream come true when he met players from his favourite football team.

Andrew McIntyre, (pictured) aged 17, of Sandy Lane, Caldicot, travelled to Cardiff where players from Cardiff City FC were training.

Not only did he get the chance to see how the 'Bluebirds' prepare for their matches, he also got to talk to a few of his football heroes.

Andrew is a huge supporter of the team and a member of the Newport Branch of the Valley Rams Travel Club.

The visit was a huge boost for Andrew, who is in recovery after his second kidney transplant operation.

He said: "My aunty Alison rang the football club and asked if I could come along and meet some of the players and I was invited along to the training session.

"Obviously I was really chuffed to meet them. I have been a fan since my dad took me to a few games in 1993 and I started going regularly to matches about three years ago with my uncle Paul.

"I am now a season ticket holder and go to most of the home games when I can. They have kept me going through my illness and give me something to look forward to." Andrew is a pupil at St Joseph's High School in Newport where he is studying for a GNVQ in manufacturing.

His battle against kidney failure began at birth when doctors discovered that he had just five per cent kidney function.

They were baffled as to the cause and Andrew had to be tube fed until he had his first kidney transplant at the age of seven.

But mum Gale said: "Your body basically battles against a transplanted organ, and as time goes on the body rejects it more and more, and that is what happened to Andrew's first kidney."

Andrew then underwent a second transplant which was a success, although his family say he may need more operations in the future as rejection is always a problem. Gale said: "Andrew had his first operation aged seven and his second operation, which he had on February 5, has proved to be successful. The visit has cheered him up and helped to benefit his recovery and keep his spirits up."

On both occasions, the kidneys came from donors, and Gale has a message for the two families who lost loved ones to help her son live a more normal life. "Thank you," she said.

"I believe it is so important that people carry donor cards." Since the Cardiff visit, Andrew says he is now focused on getting well enough to go back to the matches and on studying AS-level manufacturing.