Mackenzie Kinsella flew from Australia for the derby, which was postponed due to the weather
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Updated 17:07, 09 Dec 2024
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Mackenzie Kinsella meets James Tarkowski Michael Keane and Jarrad Branthwaite of Everton
Mackenzie Kinsella meets James Tarkowski Michael Keaneand Jarrad Branthwaite of Everton at Finch Farm on December 09, 2024 in Halewood, England. (Photo by Tony McArdle/Everton FC)
James Tarkowski has offered to buy tickets for an Everton fan who had travelled 10,000 miles for the Merseyside derby before it was postponed. Mackenzie Kinsella, 15, from Sydney, travelled to England last week to watch the final league Merseyside derby at Goodison Park, but Saturday's match was postponed due to Storm Darragh.
The teenager is an Evertonian thanks to his Tuebrook-born mum and he has been to Goodison before - including last Wednesday's 4-0 victory over Wolves. However, he spent around £1,400 on flights to time his trip for the Merseyside derby, wanting to be part of the history of the final Everton v Liverpool league fixture at Goodison.
To make up for the missed game, Everton captain Seamus Coleman invited Mackenzie to the club's Finch Farm training ground today to meet his heroes. While he was there, centre back Tarkowski said he would buy tickets for Mackenzie to attend the club's away game at Arsenal on Saturday, December 14.
READ MORE: Teen Everton fan says 'I couldn't dream of this' after travelling from Australia for derbyREAD MORE: 'The little things' - Seamus Coleman explains how Everton really feel about Liverpool postponement
About the offer, Tarkowski told the ECHO: "Hopefully it's a little sweetener. I think he's got some arrangements to sort out but hopefully we can sort that out and get him down to London over the weekend."
Reacting to that, Mackenzie said: "What a guy. I'll definitely be taking him up on his offer. I'd love to go, I'd love to head down to London and see them play. I wouldn't miss Everton for the world."
At Finch Farm, Mackenzie met several members of Everton's first team and spoke with Coleman, Jordan Pickford, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Ashley Young, Michael Keane, his favourite player Beto, and others.
About that, he told the ECHO: "It's very exciting, very overwhelming. I'm shocked, it's so surreal and a bit of a pinch me moment to see them all and meet everyone that I've grown up watching."
He added: "I got some gloves from Pickford - England's number one. That's amazing and I've got a signed shirt as well - gifted from Seamus and signed by everyone, so that's amazing. I couldn't dream of this, to be honest. It's so surreal it's happened."
Mackenzie will be staying in Tuebrook until Monday, when he flies back to Australia. He is planning to catch up with family in Merseyside, as well as being Tarkowski's guest at The Emirates on Saturday.