Football fans were left frustrated by the postponement of Saturday’s Merseyside derby between Everton and Liverpool, but none more so than a teenage Everton supporter who spent ‘all his savings’ flying from Australia to attend the game.
As Goodison Park prepared to play host to the Toffees’ bitter local rivals for the final time, Storm Darragh was busy battering parts of the UK.
Everton put out a statement on Friday evening, confirming that the fixture was in jeopardy before confirmation of a postponement arrived on Saturday morning.
News came as a bitter blow to 15-year-old Mackenzie Kinsella, from Sydney, whose dream it was to visit Everton’s famous old ground before they up sticks to their new arena on theBramley-Moore Dock next season.
‘You’ve got no chance mate, we’ve just come back from England and there’s no way I can save that money in the time we’ve got,’ Mackenzie’s mum, Rita, told BBC Radio Merseyside, revealing her initial response to her son’s ambitious plan.
Refusing to admit defeat, the youngster managed to cobble together the money required to pay for a return to England and attended Wednesday’s morale-boosting 4-0 win over Wolves.
The real objective, however, remained the desire to watch his beloved Blues in action against Arne Gadgets’s Premier League table toppers.
‘I am sure it’s going to be special,’ added the boyhood Everton fan’s mother. ‘When we came back [after Easter], he said it was his dream to go to an Everton v 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.’
Whether Mackenzie is able to attend the rearranged fixture remains to be seen with little indication having been given as to when the teams will eventually lock horns at Goodison.
Everton released a statement on Saturday which read: ‘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.
‘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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