Everton FC v Wolverhampton Wanderers FC - Premier League
Everton made it a trip to remember for Mackenzie Kinsella by inviting him to the training ground (Image: Getty)
A 15-year-old Everton fan, who travelled all the way from Sydney, Australia, to watch the Merseyside derby, saw his dreams come true when he met his footballing heroes from the club's first team.
The young fan, Mackenzie Kinsella, had flown over to witness the final league Merseyside derby at Goodison Park, but due to Storm Darragh, the match was postponed.
Despite having visited Goodison before, including for last Wednesday's 4-0 triumph over Wolves, Mackenzie had spent around £1,400 on flights to specifically attend the historic Merseyside derby. Following the game's postponement, Everton captain Seamus Coleman invited the fan to the club's Finch Farm training ground yesterday.
There, he was greeted by Coleman and presented with a home shirt. He also got to meet Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Michael Keane, Jarrad Branthwaite, Armando Broja, Nathan Patterson, Ashley Young and other first-team players.
Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford gifted him a pair of signed gloves, and he even got to chat with his favourite player, Beto. To top it all off, Mackenzie was invited to watch the start of the day's training session where he met manager Sean Dyche.
At Finch Farm, Mackenzie expressed his delight to the ECHO, saying: "It was amazing. It's not every day that happens. I'm shocked that it's come this far from simply missing a game, but I'm glad it did.
"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.
"It's exciting. I was shocked when Seamus invited me to training, because I'm just another fan really. All I really did was just come from Australia - I'm watching the same players play the same game as everyone else.
"I was kind of shocked that it got this much attention, but I'm very glad it did. I cannot complain at all. I'm definitely going to try to make it to that game.
"These are all the guys you're watching week in, week out. It's amazing to meet them, talk to them, get photos with them. It's something I'll definitely cherish forever.
"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."
After the encounter, club captain Coleman told the press: "It's an exceptional story - to be so young, 15-years-old. I was speaking to him, it's his first time travelling on his own and making that long distance journey was amazing. I'm sure he was so excited on the way over and then obviously so disappointed Saturday morning.
"Like Everton always do, we reached out to him and he's down here today. We're really grateful to meet him. It's disappointing for him but I'm sure he'll have a good day and all the lads will make him feel welcome."
"It's not because the cameras are in front of my face, you do acknowledge it, you do feel sorry for them, you understand the lengths people go to to support the football club. It's not getting any easier - coming all that way as well - so your heart definitely did go out to him.
"A lot of people were disappointed it was off, but him especially. We reached out to him and wanted to make his journey somewhat worthwhile.
"That's what he was keen on. I'm sure he was very excited for that, like many people were. I think, for the right reasons, it was called off. It's very disappointing for him, but I'm sure he'll be at the next one."
He added: "I think it's so important that football clubs and football players don't lose touch with that. We can be in a bubble of our own life in terms of training, playing, results.
"But 40,000 people in that stadium have all had a journey, all had to spend money, all made sacrifices to get to that game and I think it is important as football clubs and football players. The business is growing all the time - that we still have that goodwill factor."
During his stay in Merseyside, Mackenzie has been soaking up the cherished family reunions while residing with his nan Jo in Tuebrook. The Liverpool local climate hasn't put a damper on his spirits.
Speaking to the ECHO, he enthused" "It's been great being in Liverpool. I love seeing my family - it's always good to see them when I can. At most, I'm seeing these guys once a year. It's always good to see them when I can.
"My mum moved over to Australia in 2000 for the Olympics, she loved it so much she stayed there. My love of Everton is from her, but also seeing what it means to my uncle and my family and all my cousins."
Everton's spirit runs deep in Mackenzie's veins, sparked by memories such as a favorite one involving Tim Cahill: "It's massively impacted it. I remember Tim Cahill, I have a decent little memory and I can remember my mum going mad at like 7am for a Tim Cahill goal and things like that."
In a heartwarming act, centre back James Tarkowski has stepped up, offering to buy tickets for Mackenzie to witness Everton's imminent away game against Arsenal. Sharing with the media, Tarkowski admitted: "I was gutted for him, but I've just spoken to him there and he seems to be happy to come and meet us, so maybe it's worked out for the better for him.
"I think he's got a few family arrangements to sort out first but for someone who has travelled halfway around the world at his age, gutted to miss the game at the weekend - hopefully he can get down Saturday and put in a good performance for him."
Mackenzie reacted to the invitation, saying: "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."
He also confirmed his determination to attend the rescheduled derby, telling the ECHO: "I'll definitely be at the rearranged derby. I'll find a way. It's a shame it didn't happen, but all this has happened instead. Whenever the derby is, I'll be there, I want to be part of the history."