The former Manchester United player was reunited with a supporter who inspired his sending off at Goodison Park in April 2005
Gary Neville of Manchester United is sent off by referee Phil Dowd during the Barclays Premiership match between Everton and Manchester United at Goodison Park on April 20, 2005. Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images
Gary Neville of Manchester United is sent off by referee Phil Dowd during the Barclays Premiership match between Everton and Manchester United at Goodison Park on April 20, 2005. Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images
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Gary Neville has been reunited with an Everton supporter whose pitch-side antics led to the defender being sent off at Goodison Park.
Neville was sent for an early bath 21 years ago this week after the red mist descended when a Blues fan withheld the matchball from him before throwing it at his midriff. Neville responded by kicking the ball back at him - though he missed and, according to the conversation, instead struck a boy in the crowd. Everton went on to win the game against Manchester United 1-0 - a result that was crucial in the club qualifying for the Champions League.
The supporter was introduced to Neville in the latest edition of the Overlap, the Sky Sports show hosted by Neville alongside Jill Scott, Ian Wright and Roy Keane.
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The programme opened with Neville meeting the supporter before learning how they were connected through events in April 2005. Neville’s dismissal came in the 72nd minute, with Everton leading through Duncan Ferguson’s second half goal. Paul Scholes was later sent off for two yellow cards.
When told who the guest was, Neville embraced him and then responded: “You a**hole.”
He then introduced him to his co-hosts before the pair explained to them the story of that night in L4.
Neville said: "Some guy, him, picks it up and literally launches the ball at me, it hits me in the stomach and bounces at my feet and I just boot it back at his head. But I missed him and hit a kid.”
Recounting his version of events the Everton fan, who is not named, described it as a “rocking Goodison” where emotions were running high and said: “You came over to take a quick throw-in - it wouldn’t happen now because of multi-ball - I kept the ball and you were saying: “Give us it, give us it.” I was [teasing him] and then somebody put the board up to make a sub and then I threw it at you and it hit you.” He acknowledged he deliberately threw the ball at Neville.
The former England international, laughing throughout, conceded: “What a story that is.” Keane, who also played in that game, accused Neville of over-reacting while Wright admitted he would have laughed at the incident had he been watching.