Everton celebrity fan called out for ‘Shameful’ thing he did during game v Liverpool
Everton provided a moment that will live forever in the memory as they signed off Merseyside derbies at Goodison Park in euphoric fashion.
James Tarkowski’s last-gasp leveller against Liverpool (12 February) will go down as one of the iconic goals in the fabric of the great club – played on screens in museums, spoken about in the L-postcode pubs for decades.
Fans streamed onto the pitch, chaos ensued after the final whistle – it was a throwback to the derbies of old, up and down the country, and put paid to any external myth that the Merseyside derby was ever a ‘friendly’ rivalry. Unique, yes. Neighbourly, very rarely.
Celebrity Toffees fan commits footballing sin
Thousands of Everton supporters got to witness the moment close up as with only a handful of Goodison games left on the horizon, the last derby produced the most magical of moments.
But for one well-known Toffees fan, the cardinal footballing mistake of leaving early out of displeasure or devastation at events on the field was committed at his own peril.
Former England rugby star Austin Healey admitted he left the stadium as the contest approached its dying embers with Liverpool having come from behind to lead, as Alexis Mac Allister and Mo Salah scored either side of the break to cancel out Beto’s opener.
“Some Everton fans had seen enough as we headed into stoppage-time,” Lewis Steele and Simon Jones pointed out in their inside column for Mail Online (13 February).
“Former England rugby player Austin Healey called in to talkSPORT to say this was his last-ever game at Goodison due to work commitments but he left early as he could not take any more.
“Shameful, really, but he was not alone.”
Healey’s exasperated call into talkSPORT to tell the masses was probably his own way of attempting to come to terms with the fact he – and others – missed a moment millions around the world would have offered a limb to see, but he took it in good spirits and kudos for that.
Everton on right track for remainder of season
Everton are on a real bounce under David Moyes, and the fruit of their labours in managing to reappoint one of the club’s greatest-ever managers is a massive turnaround in form.
The Toffees are expressive, expansive, brazen on the ball and as a result, are scoring goals, creating chances and entertaining those watching on.
They took the game to Liverpool on Wednesday and would have been desperately unlucky to emerge from the final Goodison derby with nothing on the board to show for it.
A sour note was the loss of key performer Iliman Ndiaye, whose style of play goes right into Moyes’ hands with how the team have operated under his stewardship so far.
The signing of Carlos Alcaraz – another attacking midfielder with a touch of flair – could be absolutely crucial to ensuring Everton finish the season strong and give the Old Lady the send-off it deserves.