Chelsea prankster Jake Nickless has revealed Steven Gerrard helped him out despite previously making the former Liverpool skipper look silly.
It's 15 years since the Stamford Bridge prankster moved in for a handshake before leaving the Anfield icon hanging.
Gerrard enjoyed a wry smile at the time and later revealed in his autobiography that it was only time he enjoyed a chuckle before a big match.
And the now Billericay Town admits the Rangers boss was only too happy to provide a personalised keepsake of the moment that was captured live on TV.
Nickless told Sky Sports News : "When his autobiography came out I got my mum to send it to him and he signed it for me.
"It was all a bit of fun. I hope he didn't think I was trying to mug him off."
The 20-year-old - who has joined up with Jamie O'Hara's non-league side - admits the classic moment is still something that's he's reminded about on a regular basis.
He added: "It comes around every year. I can't really remember too much about it, my dad put me up to it and when I saw Gerrard in the tunnel it was just instinct.
"When Chelsea play Liverpool it appears on the big screen. I look a lot different to what I was at five, I had blue hair as well so I don't really get stopped too much.
"My friends tagged me this year on a Twitter page and that's when people realised it was me."
