Everton captain flies in Australian fan, 15, for historic derby

BBC News

12-02-2025

A teenage Everton fan from Australia has been flown over by manager Seamus Coleman for the final Merseyside derby at Everton's Goodison Park stadium.Mackenzie, from Sydney, had saved up and flown over for the derby, which had been due to take place last December but was called off because of bad weather. The disappointment was short lived, because team captain Coleman invited the 15-year-old to go to the club's training ground to meet the players and then paid for him to fly over for the rescheduled match."It's so significant, I've never been before. It's amazing to be back here," he said.
"I didn't think it was going to happen."I kept checking my bank account seeing if I had enough, checking the flights and at the last minute he swooped in and brought me over here."Mackenzie, whose mother Rita was born in Liverpool and whose Everton-supporting family still live in the city, turned down money for driving lessons to make the journey because he was desperate "to be part of history".He said he had been determined to make it to the Blues' final Goodison Park clash with Liverpool before the move to Bramley-Moore Dock. After the game was cancelled, club captain Seamus Coleman sent Mackenzie a video message in which he said he was "disappointed as well".But the fullback told Mackenzie he "would love to see you down the training ground".Mackenzei was able to chat with the first team squad and manager Sean Dyche, and got involved in a training session.The Toffees will move to a new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock for the start of the 2025-26 season.
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