Like many youngsters, Jack Gillies has a dream to not just be a pro footballer when he grows up but play for Manchester City.

And he has a reason to be specific – it was the club that made his granddad Neil Young famous.

And although he’s only eight, Jack appears to the experts to be something of a chip off the old block.

Jack was close to Neil, who died earlier this year from cancer, aged 66, and even showed him how to work a computer so he could watch footage of the famous Wembley goal of 1969 that won the FA Cup for the Blues.

"He couldn’t work the computer but I showed him like he taught me to use my left foot when playing," said City-mad Jack, who plays for Macclesfield Boys and twice a week trains with the academy at Premier FC in Wilmslow.

After the death of Neil, Jack – along with his cousins, parents Jon and Melissa and other members of the family – were given the VIP treatment at City’s Premier League game against West Bromwich Albion at Eastlands.

There, he met current players and the legends of yesteryear as well as going into the dressing room ahead of kick-off.

Jack said: "It was fantastic meeting my favourite players.

"Tevez, Dzeko and Adam Johnson are the best.

"When all those people had a minute of clapping for my granddad I had butterflies in my stomach.

"If I do work hard and make it as a player I want to play for City, no one else."

Jack’s mum Melissa, the youngest of three children from Neil’s first marriage to ex-model Margaret, said: "I went to America to work as a nanny when mum and dad got divorced after 22 years.

"Jon and I met in New York and got married and have two boys Jack and Ben.

"Jack didn’t play much football in America but here in the last three years I have not been able to stop him.

"My sister saw him playing in the garden and said he reminded her of dad, so we took him along to Macclesfield where he plays every week.

"He’s just football crazy and, of course, supports City.

"It’s his dream to be like his granddad.

"Neil absolutely adored Jack, teaching him to kick with both feet. After he came back from the West Brom game, which was so emotional, he told me it was so sad but also the best day of his life which made me burst into tears."

Richard Nelson, his manager at Macclesfield, said: "He’s a cracking little player. Unlike other lads he can see the simple ball.

"If he sees a gap he bursts into it.

"He has without doubts bags of potential.

"Once I found out he was Neil Young’s grandson I got him using his left peg a lot more."

And at Premier Football Coaching, the academy director Lee Waddington said: "He has a very direct approach.

"You never really know how youngsters will develop but Jack is a smashing player and let's hope he can emulate his granddad."