A five-year-old Everton fan whose passionate celebration was seen around the world has enjoyed a surprise meeting with his goalscoring hero at Finch Farm.
Young Evertonian Lucas captured the hearts of supporters after cameras caught his raw emotion while celebrating Thierno Barry’s decisive second-half goal in the Blues’ opening-day 2-0 victory over Crystal Palace at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Footage of Lucas wildly celebrating the strike was shared widely across social media, eventually catching the attention of Barry himself.
The Everton forward responded by inviting Lucas and his family to visit the club’s Finch Farm training ground.
Dan, Lucas’ father, said:
“We can’t believe how it’s all escalated. At the match, I was inundated with texts from friends and family, and I thought it was just the lads commenting on the goal, but no; it was mum, dad, uncles, friends, friends of friends – and it carried on for the full week, with constant text messages and comments from as far away as Australia and America.
“It was only when we got home from the game that we saw the pictures and it was amazing.
“Everyone says that’s how it should be as a football fan, and the fact it was so raw.
“The passion was just unbelievable. You could see it in his face.”
Lucas arrived on Friday morning alongside his mum Hannah and dad Dan, where the five-year-old enjoyed a kick-about and was taken on a tour of Everton’s training facilities.
However, the highlight of the visit came when he was surprised by Barry.
The striker met the starstruck youngster and presented him with a signed Everton third shirt, bringing together the young supporter and the player responsible for the moment that made him a social media sensation.
Dan added:
“It’s just been brilliant. The Club got in touch while we were in Ireland to say we’d been invited in and we knew Lucas would be absolutely made up.
“We decided not to tell him just to keep it a surprise, and it’s just been the best day – a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
“The fact he’s been in to see everyone and getting to see all the players coming in has been incredible.
“Not everyone gets to do it, so he’s the luckiest little boy!”
