Devastated fan who travelled 10,000 miles for postponed Merseyside derby gets shock invitation from club captain
An Australian teenager left heartbroken by the postponement of Saturday’s Merseyside derby has received a special invitation from Everton captain Seamus Coleman. Mackenzie Kinsella spent ‘all his savings’ on a flight from Sydney to Liverpool to watch the last ever derby game at Goodison Park – only for the game to be called off. Everton vs Liverpool has been called off amid weather warnings from Storm DarraghGetty Everton confirmed on Saturday morning that their 12:30pm showdown with Liverpool was off due to Storm Darragh. The 15-year-old Mackenzie had made the 10,000-mile, 24-hour trip across the world to watch his beloved Toffees. It his dream to watch his Scouse mum’s team play one last match against their old red rivals at their historic home ground before their move to Bramley Moore Dock. The teen said in the build-up to the game he was looking forward to a ‘special’ match, but – unless the game is rescheduled for within the next week – now looks set to fly back Down Under having missed his chance. However, Everton captain Coleman has ensured it won’t be a wasted trip for the young fan, by inviting him to meet his idols at the club’s training ground instead. “Hi Mackenzie, it’s Seamus Coleman here,” the Toffees skipper said via BBC Radio Merseyside. “I just wanted to send you a video message to say I know that you will be so disappointed today. “I know how hard you’ve saved up to travel from Australia for the Merseyside derby. I know you were looking forward to the experience being at the last Merseyside derby at Goodison. “So I’m sure that you’ll be very disappointed today. We all are, all us Evertonians are. We were all looking forward to the game. “We’d love to see you down here at the training ground on Monday, if that’s okay with you. “Hopefully you can see a few of the lads and hopefully it’ll make up for some of the disappointment and we can have a chat then. All the very best, Mackenzie, and take care.” Young Mackenzie Kinsella watched his beloved Everton beat Wolves midweek, but his Merseyside derby dreams have been shattered by Storm DarraghFamily Handout/BBC Coleman has invited the teen to meet his Everton idols at their training ground after his flight over from AustraliaGetty Mackenzie’s mum, Liverpool-born and diehard Bluenose Rita, thought the kid had ‘no chance’ of getting enough money to make the trip to Merseyside. But he managed to save up enough himself, touching down at John Lennon Airport in time to watch Wednesday’s 4-0 home win over Wolves – which happens to be his dad’s team. “You’ve got no chance, mate,” his mum told BBC Radio Merseyside when asked about her response to his derby dream. “We’ve just come back from England and there’s no way I can save that money in the time we’ve got. “When we came back [after Easter], he said it was his dream to go to an Everton vs Liverpool game at Goodison Park. “He saved up the money, used all his savings and said two weeks ago ‘I’d really like to go mum – will you let me go?’ I said, ‘I can’t stop you if you’ve got the money’. We’re very proud of him.” Mackenzie told the BBC he could have used his savings to eventually buy a car, but made this trip instead – it breaks your heart, doesn’t it? Preparations for Saturday’s early kick-off were abandoned after the decision was made to postponed the Merseyside derbyGetty Fans taking shelter outside a drenched Goodison Park on Saturday morningGetty “Everyone says I’m a lucky charm,” said Mackenzie. “I am sure it’s going to be special.” Poor kid. Luckily for him, though, captain Coleman has swooped in to save the day. Everton will bid an emotional farewell to Goodison Park – their home since 1892 – at the end of the season, ahead of the move to their new 52,888-capacity stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock. The new ground has already been battered by Storm Darragh this week, with pictures and footage emerging of the concourse being flooded by rain water with the new state-of-the-art draining system yet to be installed. The area around Goodison has fared no better, with heavy rain and high winds expected all weekend, meaning the game was deemed unsafe for supporters. Everton admitted on Friday evening that the derby was in danger of being called off, and confirmation came in another statement published on Saturday morning at 8:30am – just four hours before kick-off. “Following a Safety Advisory Group meeting at Goodison Park, attended by officials from both clubs, as well as representatives from Merseyside Police and Liverpool City Council this morning, it was decided that, due to the risk to safety in the local area due to strong wind gusts, and an amber severe wind warning that remains in place until 6am on Sunday, today’s fixture should be postponed on safety grounds,” the statement read. “We apologise for the inconvenience caused and thank supporters f
An Australian teenager left heartbroken by the postponement of Saturday’s Merseyside derby has received a special invitation from Everton captain Seamus Coleman.
Mackenzie Kinsella spent ‘all his savings’ on a flight from Sydney to Liverpool to watch the last ever derby game at Goodison Park – only for the game to be called off.
Everton confirmed on Saturday morning that their 12:30pm showdown with Liverpool was off due to Storm Darragh.
The 15-year-old Mackenzie had made the 10,000-mile, 24-hour trip across the world to watch his beloved Toffees.
It his dream to watch his Scouse mum’s team play one last match against their old red rivals at their historic home ground before their move to Bramley Moore Dock.
The teen said in the build-up to the game he was looking forward to a ‘special’ match, but – unless the game is rescheduled for within the next week – now looks set to fly back Down Under having missed his chance.
However, Everton captain Coleman has ensured it won’t be a wasted trip for the young fan, by inviting him to meet his idols at the club’s training ground instead.
“Hi Mackenzie, it’s Seamus Coleman here,” the Toffees skipper said via BBC Radio Merseyside. “I just wanted to send you a video message to say I know that you will be so disappointed today.
“I know how hard you’ve saved up to travel from Australia for the Merseyside derby. I know you were looking forward to the experience being at the last Merseyside derby at Goodison.
“So I’m sure that you’ll be very disappointed today. We all are, all us Evertonians are. We were all looking forward to the game.
“We’d love to see you down here at the training ground on Monday, if that’s okay with you.
“Hopefully you can see a few of the lads and hopefully it’ll make up for some of the disappointment and we can have a chat then. All the very best, Mackenzie, and take care.”
Mackenzie’s mum, Liverpool-born and diehard Bluenose Rita, thought the kid had ‘no chance’ of getting enough money to make the trip to Merseyside.
But he managed to save up enough himself, touching down at John Lennon Airport in time to watch Wednesday’s 4-0 home win over Wolves – which happens to be his dad’s team.
“You’ve got no chance, mate,” his mum told BBC Radio Merseyside when asked about her response to his derby dream. “We’ve just come back from England and there’s no way I can save that money in the time we’ve got.
“When we came back [after Easter], he said it was his dream to go to an Everton vs Liverpool game at Goodison Park.
“He saved up the money, used all his savings and said two weeks ago ‘I’d really like to go mum – will you let me go?’ I said, ‘I can’t stop you if you’ve got the money’. We’re very proud of him.”
Mackenzie told the BBC he could have used his savings to eventually buy a car, but made this trip instead – it breaks your heart, doesn’t it?
“Everyone says I’m a lucky charm,” said Mackenzie. “I am sure it’s going to be special.”
Poor kid. Luckily for him, though, captain Coleman has swooped in to save the day.
Everton will bid an emotional farewell to Goodison Park – their home since 1892 – at the end of the season, ahead of the move to their new 52,888-capacity stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock.
The new ground has already been battered by Storm Darragh this week, with pictures and footage emerging of the concourse being flooded by rain water with the new state-of-the-art draining system yet to be installed.
The area around Goodison has fared no better, with heavy rain and high winds expected all weekend, meaning the game was deemed unsafe for supporters.
Everton admitted on Friday evening that the derby was in danger of being called off, and confirmation came in another statement published on Saturday morning at 8:30am – just four hours before kick-off.
“Following a Safety Advisory Group meeting at Goodison Park, attended by officials from both clubs, as well as representatives from Merseyside Police and Liverpool City Council this morning, it was decided that, due to the risk to safety in the local area due to strong wind gusts, and an amber severe wind warning that remains in place until 6am on Sunday, today’s fixture should be postponed on safety grounds,” the statement read.
“We apologise for the inconvenience caused and thank supporters for their understanding. Whilst we appreciate this will be deeply disappointing for supporters, the safety of fans, staff and players is of paramount importance.
“Information relating to a rearranged date for the fixture will be announced in due course.
“All tickets purchased for the original fixture will remain valid for the rearranged fixture.”
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