One Direction attend soccer club training session

One Direction star Niall Horan fulfilled a "boyhood dream" by attending a training session at a top British soccer club on Wednesday (10Apr13).

The singer and his bandmates met with players and coaches of Newcastle United at the team's training ground ahead of their second show in the city on Wednesday night (09Apr13).

Horan, who is a fan of U.K. club Derby County, told fans about the experience and revealed the visit was a dream come true for him. He also thanked the team's manager, Alan Pardew, for his hospitality, and was full of praise for soccer player-turned-coach Peter Beardsley.

In a series of posts on Twitter.com, Horan writes, "Massive thanks to Alan (Pardew) and the staff and players (at) NUFC (Newcastle United Football Club) for the training session today! Was incredible! Boyhood dream...

"Peter Beardsley! What a top guy!... What a player! The man is a footballin (sic) genius... Did a bit of scouting for Derby when I was there! Couple of lads we could snatch in the summer... That was one of those things when ya (sic) just go 'I cannot believe where we are!' Like just dreams are made of stuff like that!"