Until now soccer fan Mark Brealey's greatest footballing moment was scoring for his church team in a local cup final.

But all that changed when he went on holiday to Cuba and met his idol, Diego Maradona, at a party.

Now the former Telegraph & Argus reporter is planning a return to the island to play in a match against the famous but controversial Argentinian, one of the world's greatest ever players.

Mark, who lives in Saltaire, met the World Cup winner while visiting former T&A colleague Andy Cawthorne, now Reuters' bureau chief in Cuba's capital Havana.

Maradona, 39 - a friend of Cuban premier Fidel Castro - was once banned from football for taking cocaine and is now living at a Havana health spa while trying to overcome heart problems.

Mark, 32, who met the star during a party at an Argentinian cameraman's home, said: "Maradona's been a complete hero for me ever since the 'Hand of God' match against England during the 1986 World Cup and I've had a number 10 Argentina shirt for years.

"I went from hating him for the 'Hand of God' goal to loving him just a few minutes later when he danced through the whole England defence to score the best goal ever.

"Andy's met him a few times and had said he'd try to fix up a meeting. Just before I came back we got a call to say he was at this barbecue.

"It was one of the most memorable evenings of my whole life but I keep having to look at the photos to remind myself it actually happened.

"I'd been prepared for indifference at best or rudeness at worst but by the end of the evening we were like two old friends talking about football at the pub.

"He was laughing and joking with everyone and I found him to be a very natural, genuine, warm and sincere person who, although I'd only just met him, made me feel as if I was important to him.

"I play for St Peter's Church, Shipley, in the Yorkshire Christian League and until now my greatest footballing moment was scoring twice in our 3-1 win against Ossett Logos in last year's cup final but meeting Maradona has topped that.

"Andy's played in a couple of matches against him - they have games between the local journalists and him and his friends - and I'm now hoping to go back out to Cuba soon to play in one of them.''

The radio producer, who was manager and top scorer for the T&A football team during his time at the paper, added: "I had to talk to him through Andy because I don't speak Spanish and asked him if that second goal against England was the best he'd ever scored.

"He stood up - all 5ft 4in of him bare-chested, in his black Versace swimming shorts and with a Cuban cigar in his hand - and just shouted 'Si!' He talked me through the goal and how he'd gone past Fenwick, Butcher, Reid and Shilton - I helped him with the pronunciations.

"I asked him what it was like to lift the World Cup and he said it was the best feeling in the world.

"I told him I'd always thought he was even better than Pele and he seemed genuinely pleased that after all these years and all his problems he was still held in such high esteem by supporters around the world.

"I support Derby County, although I also follow Bradford City, and he signed my shirt for me, which I'll never wear or wash again.

"I said I'd always dreamed of him playing for Derby - it's said to be his dream to manage Barcelona but he said 'I'll be the manager and you can be the assistant'.''