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Everton's Seamus Coleman makes classy gesture to Aussie fan whose derby dream was crushed

Everton captain Seamus Coleman has made a touching gesture to a fan from Australia who was denied a chance to see the last Merseyside derby at Goodison Park in cruel circumstances.

Toffees fan Mackenzie Kinsella, 15, used his savings to make the exhausting trip from Sydney to Liverpool to watch his team take on the league leaders on Saturday.

However, the game was called off hours before kick-off early on Saturday morning as Storm Darragh hit the UK.

That left the youngster devastated after making the 10,000-mile trip all the way from Down Under, only to be met by the first fixture cancellation of the season.

A 'risk-to-life' warning was sent out by the Met Office, with high-speed winds topping 90mph as the storm ravaged through the British Isles. One man was killed after a tree fell during the adverse conditions.

Police had no option but to recommend that the game was cancelled, much to the disappointment of fans of both clubs and the Premier League in general, as the Merseyside derby remains one of England's most cherished encounters the season.

The game will be rescheduled for a date later in the season, but for die-hard supporter Mackenzie, the chance to see the last one at Goodison before their move to Bramley Dock in 2025-26 may have disappeared.

His mother Rita had said there was 'no chance' he could save up enough money to travel to the UK to watch Everton. He proved his parents wrong by putting his funds away for safe keeping and arrived for their 4-0 win over Wolves in midweek.

"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."

However, after being denied his dream of watching the derby, Coleman pledged to make it up to the youngster by inviting him for a special visit to the club's training ground at Finch Farm.

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