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My uncle, Tommy Donnelly, was a fanatical Red -- he idolised the great Billy Liddell and would go and watch his beloved Liverpool whenever and wherever he could. Uncle Tommy was over the moon when Liverpool were eventually promoted to Division One in the Spring of 1962 and, it was not long after this momentous event, in the September of 1962, that the Reds were due to play their first 'top flight' derby match against Everton at Goodison Park which, by all accounts, was going to be a wonderful occasion -- one that Tommy couldn't let pass without leaving his mark.
The night before the match, my uncle walked into his local pub, his hands covered in red paint. When my dad asked what he'd been up to, uncle Tommy's answer was simple: "You'll see in the Echo tomorrow!" He then laughed and bought a pint.
It transpired that on the eve of the match, my uncle and his friend had successfully completed a covert operation, which they had planned together meticulously. They'd sneaked their way into Goodison Park and, under the cover of darkness, proceeded to paint the white goalposts a beautiful shade of Liverpool red! The 'expert' repainting of the goalposts was not noticed until the groundsman arrived the next morning. Unsurprisingly, the Evertonians were not best pleased with their new, 'improved' goalposts and it was all hands on deck to restore them to their original colour -- although it is rumoured that the paint was still wet when the game kicked off! But with security the way it is today, this heartfelt, unique display of devotion to the Reds, would be nigh on impossible!
There is a photo of uncle Tommy blowing the bugle he used to take to games. He would always travel to Anfield from Fazakerley, and all the way back again, squashed in the boot of this friend's car and, after a Liverpool victory, could be heard from far and wide blowing the bugle in celebration, as they all returned from the match. However, the family would fear the worst when the front door openned when there'd been no fanfare announcing his return -- as that would mean there had been a Liverpool defeat. Unfortunately, uncle Tommy is sadly no longer with us and our family misses him dearly.
Ali Maffitt
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