Rhys Jones: Rhys pays final visit to Goodison Park

Sep 6 2007

Rhys Jones' funeral party passes Goodison park, Everton, as members applaud the family _320

Little Rhys Jones paid one final visit to his beloved Everton today as his coffin made its journey to his funeral service.

The football mad 11-year-old had visited the club’s Goodison Park countless times with his father Stephen and brother Owen, all season ticket holders.

They made the pilgrimage to the famous old ground today not to watch football but to mourn a lost brother and son.

The youngster was shot dead on a pub car park in Croxteth Park, Liverpool as he walked home from playing football on August 22.

Hundreds lined the streets outside the ground, many in blue Everton shirts, others in Liverpool tops, united in paying respects to the youngster.

As the cortege pulled up to the ground spontaneous applause broke out, many men and women clapping while tears streamed down their faces.

The hearse paused briefly outside Goodison, Rhys’s coffin in the blue of Everton with the club’s crest on its side.

Rhys no doubt dreamt of playing in the royal blue at Goodison where he worshipped his heroes.

Today the club honoured him, as players and officials attended the funeral service at Liverpool’s Anglican Cathedral.