Fans were outside the shop waiting for the meet and greet seven hours before it started
The queues spotted today at Liverpool ONE
The queues spotted today at Liverpool ONE
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Huge queues were spotted in Liverpool ONE today as people waited hours for a meet and greet. Eager fans have been waiting outside the Everton Two shop in the shopping complex in the hope of meeting two football stars.
The event is part of a wider Easter programme being offered to young Evertonians while they are enjoying the school holidays. From Monday, April 6, to Friday, April, 10 Junior Blues aged 16 and under, along with their families, are invited to step behind the scenes, meet fellow Blues and “experience Everton like never before”.
During the week, Hill Dickinson Stadium is said to be “transformed into the ultimate playground”. With exclusive access, interactive activities and “unforgettable moments” throughout, Junior Fan Takeover Week aims to bring the stadium to life for the next generation of supporters.
Andrew Middleton, president of business operations at Everton, said: “Junior Fan Takeover Week is all about opening the doors of Hill Dickinson Stadium to the next generation of Evertonians and giving them moments they will never forget.
The Liverpool ONE queues
The Liverpool ONE queues
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“Young supporters are the heartbeat of our future, and we want them to feel a true sense of belonging from the moment they step inside our new home. It’s a rare chance for families to explore the stadium, get closer to the team and experience everything that makes Everton so special in a fun, welcoming and unforgettable way.”
Today’s event, will see the first 100 fans outside Liverpool ONE’s Everton Two get to meet Idrissa Gueye and Iliman Ndiaye. The meet and greet is being held after Everton’s open training session at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
This morning, Tuesday, April 7, at 7.30am, there was already queues of fans waiting outside - seven hours before the event actually started. The fans were then given wristbands in order for them to return closer to the start time. At 2pm the queues then restarted with hundreds outside the store on the top floor of Liverpool ONE.
Everton FC’s Junior Fan Takeover Week
Mini Tunnel Tours and Easter Egg Hunt
Family-friendly Mini Tunnel Tours will also run on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday throughout the week.
Designed especially for younger supporters with less walking and more fun, the Mini Tunnel Tour allows young Blues to experience what it feels like to be part of the team.
Fans will feel the rumble of the sirens and Z-Cars, sit in David Moyes’ seat in the dugout, pose in the press conference chair, and walk out through the new players’ tunnel just like the Everton squad.
Tours finish close to the main activity zones so families can continue enjoying everything taking place across the stadium. Mini Tunnel Tours are ticketed and must be booked in advance, with limited availability.
Free Activities Across The Stadium
Throughout the week, Hill Dickinson Stadium will host a packed programme of free activities for young supporters, giving families plenty to enjoy alongside the stadium tours and open training session.
Trinity Place Café in the East Stand will host Creative Corner and become a home for younger fans with interactive sessions between 10am and 4pm, Monday to Friday. Activities will include arts and crafts, face painting, balloon modelling and a special kit design studio, where young Blues can get creative and design their own Everton-inspired shirts.
The space will also feature a fun Game Zone, with foosball challenges, soft play and a range of mini competitions where supporters can test their skills and win prizes.
Additional football and sporting activities will take place in the East Stand concourse and outdoors in The Plaza, delivered by qualified Everton in the Community coaches.
These sessions will run Tuesday from 1pm to 4pm, and Wednesday to Friday from 10am to 4pm, featuring football challenges, skills sessions and fun competitions designed to keep young supporters active and entertained throughout the week.
On Thursday between 12pm and 2pm, Trinity Place Café will also host a Football Trading Card Swap Shop, giving young collectors the chance to meet fellow fans, trade duplicates and hunt for the missing pieces of their collections.
Supporters are encouraged to bring along spare cards and swap with others in a fun and friendly environment that celebrates the shared excitement of collecting and football fandom. All activities – aside from the stadium tours – are free of charge and open to junior supporters.
Andrew Middleton added: “Whether it’s sitting in the stands watching the players train, walking down the tunnel to Z-Cars on a Mini Tunnel Tour or taking part in the activities across the stadium, we want young fans to experience what makes Everton special.
“Hill Dickinson Stadium will be a focal point for supporters for generations to come – a place where families and friends come together, where lifelong memories are created around football and where young fans begin their own Everton journeys.
"Whether they dream of playing for Everton one day or simply love being part of the Blue family, Junior Fan Takeover Week gives them the chance to create memories that last a lifetime. It’s more than a week of activities – it’s the next step on their Everton journey.”
Further details about Junior Fan Takeover Week, including how to purchase open training tickets and book Mini Tunnel Tours, can be found here.