Seamus Coleman delivers Christmas surprise for young Everton fan
Thursday 22 December 2016 09:06, UK
Seamus Coleman paid a surprise visit to a deserving young Everton fan to deliver a 'BlueCrimbo' Secret Santa surprise.
Will McKenzie has endured the toughest year of his young life after his father, Stephen, suddenly passed away from pneumonia in April.
Coleman delivered the ultimate Christmas surprise with tickets to Everton's FA Cup tie against Leicester City and a newly decorated 'BlueCrimbo living' room, including a seven-foot blue tree, when Will returned home from school.
Will's close friend Owen nominated him to receive the surprise in recognition of the strength and courage he has shown in the months since his father passed away and to help him as he prepares for his first Christmas without his dad - who attended every Everton game together with Will.
Coleman said: "I was really nervous when I arrived, I think just because I wanted Will to be surprised and everything to go right and I was worried he might not recognise me. Thankfully he did and I think he was really shocked, especially as he just thought he was coming back home to go to the dentist.
"I got to spend some time chatting with his mum before he arrived and she seemed like a really strong woman. Then meeting some of his friends and his sisters, he clearly has a really good group of people around him to help him through the tough times and hopefully this will have helped put a smile on his face. I'm looking forward to seeing him again at the Leicester game."
After the surprise, Will said: "I just couldn't believe it when I walked in and Seamus Coleman was just sat on my sofa, it was amazing. I love Everton so much, I go to all the games and I usually get there early so I can be ball boy but to have a Premier League footballer in my house was something I never thought would happen to me. I still can't believe it!"
Ann McKenzie, Will's mum, said: "It's been a really hard year on everyone. Losing my husband, their dad - but especially with Will, he was his best friend and someone he did everything with so something like this is really special to all of us. To see his face light up I just know this will have meant the world to him.
"Thank you to everyone involved because this has made Christmas for not just Will but the entire family."
