TOFF LUCK
Gutted Everton fan spent 17 years saving for 10,000 mile trip for Merseyside derby before Storm Darragh KO’d match
Nathan Hamlin wasn't the only Toffees fan to make a monumental effort for nothing
AN Aussie Everton fan was left gutted after Storm Darragh ruined his "bucket list" dream of watching his favourite team.
The Toffees were scheduled to host Liverpool for Saturday's early kick-off at Goodison Park, but the extreme weather conditions led to a postponement.
3
3
Nathan Hamlin and his mum flew all the way from Perth for the 30-hour trip to Liverpool, which required a total of four stops, but found out two hours before the game that it was all for nought.
Storm Darragh has caused disruption throughout the entire country as its 90mph winds caused power cuts, trees to be uprooted and events as well as travel to be cancelled.
The game was postponed due to health and safety concern and Everton confirmed all tickets purchased for the original fixture will remain valid for the rearranged fixture.
However, that may be of no help for Hamlin, 32, who waited at least 17 years to watch his favourite team in action up close and in person.
Read More on Football
This unfortunate development means he may have missed his last chance of ever seeing a Merseyside Derby at Goodison Park as the club moves to Bramley Moore Dock for next season.
Hamlin told : "It's very upsetting due to the fact my mother and I have flown about 30 hours in total.
"Perth-Singapore, Singapore-London, London-Dublin, then Dublin all the way over to here.
"It's been a bucket list item that I've always wanted to cross off, and the fact that it's the last opportunity that we're going to get to have a Merseyside Derby at Goodison, that was the clinching reason why I came.
Most read in Football
Asked if he's ever watched Everton play in person before, Hamlin responded: "No, I've spent probably the last 17 plus years - I'm 32 now - as an Everton fan watching online, watching over [the] product in Australia.
"To actually get to go to Goodison, to get to see a game in person was exactly why I came and it's been very unfortunate.
93mph Storm Darragh: Travel chaos, thousands without power and Merseyside Derby called off
"I understand the weather - I totally get it. I'm a health and safety advisor, so I totally get the reason as to why you called it off.
"It's just upsetting to be coming this far and only finding out a couple of hours before that you can't go to the game."
This comes after Everton captain Seamus Coleman made a touching gesture to another Aussie fan who blew “all his savings” on a flight to attend the last Goodison Merseyside derby.
Mackenzie Kinsella, 15, had made the 10,000-mile 24-hour trip from Sydney to watch his beloved Blues face Liverpool.
It was his “dream” to watch his Liverpool-born mum’s Toffees play against their red neighbours at the historic old ground before the switch to Bramley Moore Dock.
However, after Storm Darragh forced safety officials to postpone the game, he will miss out unless it can be re-arranged to take place within the next week before he jets back Down Under.
Coleman tries to make it up
After news of his heartbreak spread following the postponement, Coleman attempted to make it up to Mackenzie by inviting him to be a VIP guest at their Finch Farm training ground.
In a video message to the youngster, who is staying with an aunt in England, the Irish ace said: “Hi Mackenzie, it's Seamus Coleman here. I just wanted to send you a video message today to say I know you'll be so disappointed today.
“I know how hard you saved up to travel from Australia for the Merseyside derby. I know you were looking forward to the experience of being at the last Merseyside derby at Goodison.
“So I'm sure you'll be very disappointed today. We all are, we were all looking forward to the game. But we'd love to see you down here at the training ground on Monday if that's OK with you?
“Hopefully you can see some of the lads and that will make up for the disappointment on Saturday. We can have a bit of a chat then. All the very best Mackenzie and take care.”
Mackenzie’s mum Rita, an Everton diehard, admitted that she thought he had “no chance” of earning and saving enough cash to pay for the trip.
Fan spent all his savings
But he proved them wrong and after spending £1,400 he landed at John Lennon Airport in time to see his team thrash Wolves, who his father happens to support, 4-0 on Wednesday.
Speaking to BBC Radio Merseyside about her initial response to his derby dream just after Easter, Rita said: “You've got no chance mate. We've just come back from England and there's no way I can save that money in the time we've got.
“When we came back [after Easter], he said it was his dream to go to an Everton vs Liverpool game at Goodison Park."
READ MORE SUN STORIES
Mackenzie’s nan Jo had previously explained that the person who sits next to her son Michael had to work today, which resulted in his ticket being available.
Rita added: “He saved up the money, used all his savings and said two weeks ago ‘I'd really like to go mum - will you let me go?’ I said, ‘I can't stop you if you've got the money’. We're very proud of him.”
3
Topics