THE brother of veteran broadcaster Phil Easton has spoken of his shock and grief after Phil’s sudden death on Monday night.
The 59-year-old, who was also Liverpool FC’s matchday announcer, suffered a suspected brain haemorrhage.
Tim Easton, speaking to City Talk’s news editor yesterday, described his brother as “my best mate who never had a cross word to say about anyone he met”.
Mr Easton said Phil was gentle and thoughtful, and had died just days just before the pair were due to go on a “lads” holiday.
He said: “He loved Liverpool and he loved broadcasting in Liverpool. As long as he could make a living out of it and pay the mortgage and look after his kids and Fran, then that was enough for him.
“He just loved being part of everything that is Liverpool. The icing on the cake was when he was offered the announcers job at Anfield. It was almost like he’d won the lottery three times over, he said ‘I get paid, what do you mean I get paid’, just the fact he was asked was a honour as a Liverpool fan.
“He loved Liverpool but loved the fact we have three great clubs and the whole sporting thing was one of the things that drove him.”
Prime minister Gordon Brown, singer Chris De Burgh and television’s Jeremy Kyle were among the people leading the tributes.
The tribute from number 10 said: “Phil was an accomplished and talented broadcaster who was on the top of his game when we met just a few weeks ago. My thoughts go out to Phil’s family and his many friends on Merseyside during this terrible time.” On City Talk’s website, email comments had already filled 12 pages yesterday. One listener wrote: “Phil, you were not just a Liverpool fan, you were the voice of the fans on your show. You always talked and said what many thousands of us knew and know. And it gave me great pleasure to listen to you.”
Another said: “I met Phil a number of times at Anfield and at events in which he attended, and you could not meet a more genuine friendly person who always had a smile on his face especially when talking about the great Liverpool FC games of the past.”
Mr Easton had worked in radio for more than 30 years and was one of the first to join the original Radio City station when it was set up in 1975.
His show, The Great Easton Express, which he presented for 12 years, was one of the longest running on commercial radio.
He was also the first broadcaster heard on CityTalk 105.9 when Liverpool’s talk-only station was launched on January 28, 2008.
On Liverpool Football Club’s official website Rafael Benitez paid tribute to the inspiring pitch-side announcer: “It’s a big loss for all of us. For the club, the fans and especially the family, so I’d like to send my sympathy to his wife, family and all of his friends. He was really important because he could inspire the fans and I think he will be a big loss for them.
“Phil was someone who really loved the club. He was was very kind and good company. He will be sorely missed.”
The club had already decided to dedicate a page to Mr Easton in the next home match day programme which might be the FA Cup game on February 14, or the Manchester City game on Feb 22.
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