Everton supporter Ava Rose Kench is set for a dream return to Goodison Park after her viral video touched the hearts of many
A young Evertonian whose love of Goodison Park sparked a viral social media video is set to enjoy a dream return to the stadium this weekend to lead out Everton Women for their historic fixture against Tottenham Hotspur. Six-year-old Ava Rose Kench melted the hearts of viewers in the clip, which showed her sobbing in her car seat after hearing that Goodison was being saved from demolition for a very special purpose.
Ava, who was overcome with emotion after mum, Jess, broke the news that the first purpose-built football ground in England, affectionately known as ‘The Grand Old Lady’ was to become the new home for Everton Women, also hit a nerve among the players.
It prompted club captain Meg Finnigan to reply with a special message for Ava, saying the squad was “incredibly touched” and inviting her to be the very first mascot to walk out with the team at their new permanent home.
Jess said: “It’s an amazing gesture by Meg and the squad to invite Ava to lead the team out for such a huge match. She was absolutely heartbroken when she thought that Goodison might end up being knocked down and you can see her reaction when she learned that it was to become the new home for Everton Women.
“As a family, we never expected the amazing reaction the video would generate, and there might well be more tears of joy come Sunday afternoon!
“This Everton team, and what we've seen with the Lionesses again this summer – it's inspiring all young girls and boys out there. We can’t thank Meg, the players and the club enough for what they have done and the memories this will create for our family.”
Ava will be joined on Sunday by a squad of mascots from local grassroots team, who will all be proudly wearing the kits of the teams they represent.
Six-year-old Everton supporter Ava Rose Kench
Six-year-old Everton supporter Ava Rose Kench
After starting their Barclays Women’s Super League home campaign against Tottenham Hotspur, Everton Women welcome London City Lionesses on Friday September, 19, (7.30pm kick-off).
Tickets for both fixtures are priced at £12 for adults and £6 for under-18s and are available by clicking here.
A ‘Family of Four’ package (two adults, two children) is available for £20. Click here to secure your family ticket.
Group bookings of 10 adults can be purchased at a discounted price of £6 per person by clicking here.
Hill Dickinson Stadium Season Ticket Members can claim one ticket for either fixture at the reduced price of £5. Season Ticket Members will be required to log in to their ticketing account and the discounted ticket type will be visible in the price list for that game.
Supporters will need to make sure each Season Ticket Member they are purchasing for is done under the correct ticket type and assigned to the right Season Ticket Member for the purchase to be successful.
All Season and match tickets can be purchased online, by phone via 0151 556 1878, or in person at the Goodison Park box office. Box office opening times can be found here.