Ben Anderson grew up with the running joke
An Everton FC fan has shared the incredible moment that his mum's promise came true after 30 years. Since childhood, Ben Anderson, 39, has been a supporter of the Blues and like many football fans through the generations, he has fond memories getting the newest kits to wear and train in as a kid.
Growing up, Ben and his brother Jamie often got the latest EFC kits for their birthdays from mum June and dad Phil. But the family from Woolton Village have long had a "running joke" when it comes to their size and fit.
Often wearing tops that were a few sizes too big, June would tell her boys the typical mum line that "they would grow into them." Now 30 years on, Ben said his mum's promise came true, after she discovered the retro top tucked away in the loft.
The dad-of-one told the ECHO: "My grandad was an Everton fan, his dad was, my dad is, my little lad is an Everton fan - so it's gone through our family. We have a video of my ninth birthday and I was just getting a footy kit with number nine on the back.
"I always had my own name, I never got any Everton players names on the back. It was always Anderson number nine because that was just kind of my number.
Ben Anderson from Woolton Village took to TikTok to share a childhood video of his 9th birthday when he received an EFC top that was far too big. Now 30 years on, it fits him and he wore it to the new Hill Dickinson Stadium. Pictured, Ben opening his present back in 1995
Ben opening his present back in 1995(Image: Photo courtesy of Ben Anderson/TikTok)
"It's always been a running joke in the family were my mum used to always buy kits that were too big, because we'd grow into it. We used to play football when were kids so getting an Everton top and going training in that when was just kind of the norm.
"It was either the home or the away kit and I think my mum has still got quite a few of them in the loft, if not all of them. A couple of weeks ago, she found the one from my 9th birthday in the loft and I was like get that down because I remember it being really big on me.
"I thought it might fit me now. When it did fit me - I was like we're going to have to put that in the wash and I'll wear it for the first game."
Like many families in the '90s, Ben's birthday was recorded on VHS, capturing the moment he opened his gift and saw his new Everton kit for the first time. In the footage, we see Ben's excitement as he tries on the oversized EFC top, next to his brother Jamie and mum June.
Immediately trying it on, at the time the large top came down to his knees - but 30 years on, Ben decided to wear it on his recent visit to the new Hill Dickinson Stadium at Bramley Moore.
Everton’s friendly against Roma on August 9 concluded their preparations for the new campaign, with the game also acting as the club’s final test match at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Ben Anderson from Woolton Village took to TikTok to share a childhood video of his 9th birthday when he received an EFC top that was far too big. Now 30 years on, it fits him and he wore it to the new Hill Dickinson Stadium. Pictured, Ben opening his present back in 1995
The retro top had been tucked away in the loft for years
Ben has since posted a "then and now" video to Instagram and to TikTok sharing the old footage, as well as new photos of him and his family outside the stadium.
On the video, the caption reads: "Did your mum ever say "don't worry you will grow into it' when something was clearly miles too big.
"I got this shirt on my 9th birthday. Who knew it took 30 years for me to grow into it and I would wear it to the opening of the new Everton ground."
Ben Anderson from Woolton Village took to TikTok to share a childhood video of his 9th birthday when he received an EFC top that was far too big. Now 30 years on, it fits him and he wore it to the new Hill Dickinson Stadium. Pictured, Ben opening his present back in 1995
Ben's mum told him 'he'd grow into it'(Image: Photo courtesy of Ben Anderson/TikTok)
Ben said: "I posted it on Instagram first. I started getting all these followers and then I clicked onto the video and everybody was commenting and liking it. My girlfriend said why don't you put it on TikTok - then it just kind of blew up and everybody got onto it."
So far, the TikTok video has over 73K likes and hundreds of comments, seeing many from across the city and beyond share similar memories and say the EFC supporter actually "got his money's worth" from his mum's idea.
Ben said: "Quite a few comments said 'my used to do that for me' and there were couple of comments from mums who are now saying 'I do that for my kids with their school uniforms.'
"Everybody was saying it was lovely, even the Liverpool fans were getting onto it. It was cool to see that and especially some of the comments saying they don't have the childhood memories and the videos and it's a blessing that we've got the videos still in the family to re-watch.
"Others said your mum must have worked hard for that top and when I was telling my mum and dad about it my mum said that every time they got an Everton top they used to always go overdrawn, but that 'you had to have the Everton tops.'
Ben Anderson from Woolton Village took to TikTok to share a childhood video of his 9th birthday when he received an EFC top that was far too big. Now 30 years on, it fits him and he wore it to the new Hill Dickinson Stadium. Pictured, Ben outside Bramley Moore with his retro top
Ben Anderson, 39, wore the top to the Hill Dickinson Stadium
"Finding that out now, you don't realise that when you're nine-years-old." Ben said it was "unbelievable" visiting the new ground and that there were "no bad seats."
He said it was also special for the family to see the personalised stones they had paid for on Everton Way, one with his grandad's name on it. Ben added: "The top, it's a bit nostalgic.
Ben Anderson from Woolton Village took to TikTok to share a childhood video of his 9th birthday when he recieved an EFC top that was far too big. Now 30 years on, it fits him and he wore it to the new Hill Dickinson Stadium. Pictured, Ben outside Bramley Moore with his retro top with his brother Jamie, dad Phil and mum June
Ben outside Everton's new ground in his retro top with brother Jamie, dad Phil and mum June
"I love the way it's kind of a little bit worn. The sponsor, NEC, was coming off a bit and my girlfriend sewed it.
"And it's cool because you can buy retro tops at the minute. When I was nine, I wouldn't have thought I'll be wearing this at the new ground, on the first full capacity Everton match."