Braiden Graham was hunting goals for Everton’s U18s in the FA Youth Cup, but Everton had another predator in the stands at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
The Toffees had deployed a falconry hawk in the stands of the Hill Dickinson Stadium as a deterrent for any unwanted rodents.
Fans in attendance were treated to an exceptional game of football as Everton’s U18s secured their spot in the quarter finals of the FA Youth Cup.
Graham scored again for Everton’s youth side as the in-form 18-year-old also provided the assist in extra-time for Ray Robert to hand the young Blues the lead.
The Friedkin Group have a real focus on sustainability and the use of the hawk provides Everton with an eco-friendly deterrent against pests.
Does David Moyes need to put more trust in Everton’s academy players? 😤
Surely some of these players can do better than Beto and Dwight McNeil! 😡
Everton striker Braiden Graham. Everton manager David Moyes.
Credit: Getty Images/Andrew Kearns – CameraSport/Visionhaus.
Although Everton’s youngsters were hitting the target on the pitch, the hawk had to watch the game with its services not required on the night.
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Everton’s use of a hawk at the Hill Dickinson Stadium to deter pests
Shea Pita and Rocco Lambert really impressed for Everton’s U18s in what was a dramatic game at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
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It was at the break, when the players had returned to the dressing rooms, that the hawk was eventually spotted in the stands.
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There's some really exciting youngsters currently at Finch Farm 🔥
Everton's Braiden Graham inspecting the pitch before the match during the Premier League match between Nottingham Forest and Everton. Everton midfielder Malik Olayiwola. Justin Clarke of Everton looks on during the pre-season friendly match between Accrington Stanley and Everton.
Credit: Getty Images/Andrew Kearns – CameraSport/Kevin Hodgson/MI News/NurPhoto/Matt McNulty.
One of the commentators for EvertonTV described the purpose of the hawk to protect the stadium from unwanted visitors.
“We had the rather unnerving sight of a large hawk as we made our way back to our seats,” he said.
“The hawk is in place to deal with any rodents or little creatures that find their way inside the stadium; pigeons and the likes of, they don’t last long once that hawk gets them in its sight. It’s a ferocious thing, it really is.”
The hawk was situated in one of the empty stands, with only the east lower stand opened to fans on Thursday evening.
Everton had hunters on the pitch as well as the hawk in the stands
David Moyes has demanded more from Everton’s academy players since he returned to Merseyside last year.
The 62-year-old was certainly shown some real quality from the likes of Graham and Pita during the game against Ipswich.
Questions will remain over their physicality as Graham did not look like a player who was ready to compete physically in the men’s game.
Harrison Armstrong has benefitted massively from loans in the Championship over the last 12 months.
The 18-year-old midfielder has developed physically and he is now making an impact in the first team, which may be the perfect next step for a player like Graham.
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