Simon Williams wants to thank Everton staff for what they did
Simon Williams outside Hill Dickinson Stadium on Saturday
Simon Williams outside Hill Dickinson Stadium on Saturday
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An Everton fan who travelled 251 miles from Exeter to Liverpool wants to thank staff for what they did during Saturday's match against Fulham. Life-long Everton FC fan Simon Williams, 48, who lives in Exeter, travelled to Liverpool on Friday (November 7) with two friends to visit family, who live in Widnes, and watch the game.
On Saturday (November 8) Simon, a forklift driver, said he thought he'd "go out on a whim" and try and buy tickets from the box office at the stadium. The three friends walked from the Adelphi hotel in Liverpool city centre, where they'd been staying, to Hill Dickinson stadium on Bramley-Moore Dock - however were told there was no tickets left.
Simon, who'd planned to go to the match with his friend Susie while her husband, who who doesn't support Everton, waited for them in the pub, said: "We thought we'd be able to get tickets at Bramley-Moore. After we were told they were sold out we went to The Terrace bar at the ground and tried to find resale tickets online.
"I went onto a website and purchased two tickets for £278. Lots of emails came through from the website but no QR code.
"We [Simon and Susie] went back over to the ground and asked for help from a steward. We were told that the site was not an official website."
Disappointed and "looking a bit lost," Simon and Susie walked back towards The Terrace, where her husband was waiting for them.
Simon Williams with his friend Susie
Simon Williams with his friend Susie(Image: Simon William)
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As they walked through the ground a member of Everton staff asked if they were ok. Simon said: "She was called Sheila and she was with someone called Paul. I explained to her what happened.
"I apologised for the trouble and told her I was going back to the Terrace to watch the match from there. As we were walking back all I heard was Everton fans cheering from inside the stadium."
Just after half time, Sheila and another member of staff, Ricky, came into The Terrace where the friends were "having a pint" and watching the match.
Simon told the ECHO how Sheila said she'd got them two seats and to follow her into the stadium. He said: "I joked and asked if they would be half price because it was after half time but she said no, they are free hospitality seats and marched us from the pub into the seats. It was amazing, she even gave us a gift bag with all sorts in it."
The 48-year-old said he was "made up" with the kindness and wants to thank the members of staff who helped them.
He said: "We don't get to come up often and for someone to do this, well I just think they deserve some recognition. It was so lovely, I couldn't tell you the amount of times we thanked them."
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