Youngster's moment with Murray (From Watford Observer)

Young tennis fan Henry Woods Caplan's brief encounter with Olympic gold medal winner Andy Murray

4:56pm Wednesday 8th August 2012 in News By Ben Endley, Senior reporter

It was only for a brief moment but 11-year-old Henry Woods Caplan will always remember the time he stole a hug from Olympic gold medal winning tennis star Andy Murray.

As the Scot celebrated an emotional straight sets victory over Roger Federer the Abbots Langley youngster dashed from row Z into the box near the front of Wimbledon’s Centre Court which was reserved for the Swiss legend’s family and friends.

Leaning over the barrier as Murray approached his own family and girlfriend Kim Sears, the tearful former Mount Pleasant Lane school pupil embraced his hero while thousands roared their approval.

Murray described the victory, just a month after the 25-year-old was reduced to tears following his Wimbledon final defeat to the same opponent on the same court, as the biggest win of his life At the time, neither Henry nor his mother Victoria Woods, of Balmoral Road, Abbots Langl;ey, had any idea this gesture would become one of the iconic images of the Olympic Games so far.

Since the match, which he attended with his father while on a contact visit, the image has been circulated around the world and led to appearances for the youngster on ITV’s Daybreak and Channel 5.

Ms Woods, 42, told the Watford Observer: "I only heard about it from a friend who saw him on telly.

"I asked him why he did it, he said he was just so excited he wanted to give Murray a hug.

"Since it happened he has been so overawed with everything that has gone on and he didn’t expect this to happen.

"He was just being Henry and wanted to give Murray a cuddle, I don’t know how he got into Federer’s family’s box but hopefully, under the circumstances, they aren’t too annoyed."

The youngster, who is due to start at Parmiter’s School on High Elms Lane in September, is passionate about all sports but particularly tennis according to his mother.

"I’m proud of him to be honest. If there was a child who was going to do that it was him, he’s very, very passionate about his sport and he was supporting the people he supports," she said.

"He loves all sports, it is something he is very much into so it was great for him to meet his hero."

Talking to Daybreak hosts Dan Lobb and Kate Garraway on Monday, Henry said: "I thought I needed to give him a hug.

"I said ‘Andy, Andy give me a hug’. He said ‘anything for my fan’."

Henry still has tickets for Saturday’s men’s football final and Victoria says she will be hoping for a more sedate celebration from her son.