It may have ended in defeat and disappointment, but thanks to the Cambridge Evening News, brave Jonathan Peacock (pictured right) – who has worked hard to overcome his disability – had the best day of his life at the Euro 2000 England-Romania match.

Seven-year-old Jonathan and his mum Linda were taken to Charleroi for the day by Evening News reporter Kate Ash and photographer Roger Adams.

And a surprise meeting with his England football heroes was arranged too. (Pictured below: Jonathan, mum Linda and David Beckham)

Jonathan, who lost part of a leg to meningitis, hit the headlines when his disability living allowance was cancelled because he was coping so well and was classed as having no special needs.The Evening News took the lead in fighting to restore his allowance and has seen the story followed up nationwide.

Campaigners say that through trying to fit in and by being brave, Jonathan has been penalised and readers of the Evening News have flooded the local paper with letters and calls of support.

The newspaper arranged the day in Belgium after tickets, a car, insurance and other help was supplied by a number of local firms.

Jonathan said he had an amazing day despite the team’s defeat – but did tell Alan Shearer ahead of the game that he was expecting a five-nil victory!

Photographer Mr Adams said: “Everything went so well in the end. When it started off there was only Jonathan actually going to see the match, and probably we were going to go off and get a meal somewhere.

“There was just a chance to meet some of the players, then myself and Kate were offered seats, from PSINet, which offered Jonathan his, then they changed them all for better ones and it really took off.

“Kevin Keegan had seen a fax with our original article on it and that’s what clinched it.

“We had to keep it from Jonathan at first so he didn’t get too excited. When we got to the players’ hotel the lady from the FA met us and asked him if he knew who was staying there. When she told him, he just stood there open-mouthed.

“Kevin Keegan chatted to him, even David Davies from the FA came to see him, and when you think all these players were just waiting to get on their way to the stadium what they did was really good.

“It was coming back that was tricky for us from the newspaper’s point of view as we had a deadline to meet. We got back at 5am and they needed to start making up the page at 6am. But we had some good support and it worked out well.

“Jonathan’s a phenomenal lad. His mum’s a single mum looking after him and two sisters on her own and that money was important to them.

“But he plays football and rollerblades. He does well to say his leg is missing below the knee and he has soreness there. He’s suffering quite a lot of the time.”

Kate’s front-page report on the trip revealed that Jonathan asked David Beckham if he smoked, and then – perhaps in training for a future career in journalism – asked: “Why did you give up in the Portugal game?”

David Beckham laughed off the incisive questions and gave Jonathan one of his training tops he had signed, adding: “I hope it’s not too smelly. I’ve only worn it once.

Thrilled with his day, Jonathan said afterwards: “I never knew I was going to meet the footballers.”

Jonathan was showered with gifts from the players, including a football, camera and hat.

The News’ comment column declared: “Now England’s dreams of Euro 2000 success are over, but Jonathan’s fight to regain the disability benefits recently taken away from him will go on.

“We will be keeping up the campaign to get the decision overturned, and we know our readers are behind us.”