Katy Hosford surprises Swans Women fan Arabella with Swansea.com Stadium mascot experience

Swansea City Women’s captain Katy Hosford surprised superfan Arabella by inviting her to be a mascot for Sunday's fixture against Wrexham Women at the Swansea.com Stadium.

Hosford visited eight-year-old Arabella - who the Swans team have recognised from her attendance at numerous home and away fixtures over recent seasons - at her home in Baglan.

Arabella plays football for Trefelin Development Centre and Hosford is her favourite player, with the youngster having the forward's number 11 on her own football jersey.

And the Swans skipper was on hand to deliver in person the news that she will lead out her team in the televised Genero Adran Premier fixture on November 19.

Hosford was delighted to reward Arabella's incredible support of her heroes, and was moved to see just what the visit meant to the her.

“I think whenever we have the opportunity we should be giving back to people like Arabella,” said Hosford.

“It was so good to be able to surprise Arabella. She has been such a great fan of ours for a while now and I know how much it means to her to just get a picture with one of us at the end of a game.

"So it was so nice to see how excited she was to be asked to be our mascot on Sunday.

“I’m really looking forward to having Arabella as my mascot when we lead the team out. I know how excited she is already and how grateful her parents are, so I’m sure it will be great to give her that experience of walking out in the stadium.”

Arabella’s father Richard Williams is every bit as excited as his daughter, and spoke of his hope that Swansea's move to semi-professional status will provide further inspiration to aspiring young female footballers.

“I’m as excited as Arabella,” said Richard.

“It’ll be a good day out for Arabella, and it’s great to see that women’s football is getting the recognition it deserves. It’s good for the girls to have someone to look up to.”