'I feel so strongly about your support' - Aussie Everton fan who missed derby given special gift

Broadcaster Mike Parry has gifted his fellow Everton fan, Mackenzie Kinsella, a signed Wayne Rooney shirt after hearing about his 10,000-mile trip from Australia for the final Premier League Merseyside Derby at Goodison Park, only for it to be postponed due to Storm Darragh on Saturday. Appearing on Channel 5’s Jeremy Vine Show on Monday, Parry, who turns 70 later this month, told the 15-year-old: “Mackenzie, listen, I've been a lifelong Evertonian.

“So is my father, so is my grandfather. Dixie Dean was my grandfather's best friend, Everton is in my blood.

“I was so touched by your story, that over the years I’ve collected a lot of Everton memorabilia because, you know, I’ve been with the club so often.

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“Now, what I've got here, Mackenzie, is an Everton team shirt and it is signed by Wayne Rooney. Wayne Rooney, probably Everton's most famous and greatest player since Dixie Dean signed this shirt for me a number of years ago.

“It's been kept in my football room at home, but I feel so strongly about your support for our magnificent club. I want you to have this and be the keeper of the shirt a long time after I’m gone.”

Mackenzie, who has been invited to Everton’s Finch Farm training complex today by club captain Seamus Coleman responded: “Thank you so much, Mike. I’m so grateful for that. You know, Wayne Rooney is an absolute legend.

“So, you know, to be able to have his shirt, just amazing. I’m so grateful for that man, thank you.”

Speaking to the ECHO after the postponement, the Sydney-born youngster who inherited his love for the Blues from his Scouse mum, and watched them beat his dad’s side Wolverhampton Wanderers 4-0 at Goodison Park last Wednesday, admitted he was “heartbroken” to have missed out on witnessing a major piece of Merseyside football history after funding his long-haul trip from Down Under himself.