ANFIELD TO PAY FITTING TRIBUTE TO RHYS
Paul Eaton 28 August 2007
Liverpool Football Club will tonight pay Rhys Jones the ultimate tribute by playing his beloved Everton anthem at Anfield before the clash with Toulouse.
The Z-Cars theme tune 'Johnny Todd' - the song which traditionally greets the arrival of the Everton team onto the Goodison Park pitch - will be played prior to 'You'll Never Walk Alone' ahead of this evening's 8.05pm kick-off.
Following a suggestion from Liverpool Echo feature writer Tony Barrett to mark the youngster's tragic death in such an unprecedented way, the newspaper was inundated with requests for the unique tribute to be staged.
Anfield chief executive Rick Parry spoke with Rhys's family who agreed they would be delighted if the Reds paid tribute to their son's memory in such a fitting way.
After the two songs there will then be a minute's applause and the Liverpool players will show their respect by wearing black armbands during the game.
Rhys's parents Stephen and Melanie will also be at Anfield for the game.
The youngster's uncle Neil Jones admits the family have been overwhelmed by such a show of support from the Blues' city rivals.
He said: "When I told them about the proposed tribute at Anfield, Melanie said playing Johnny Todd at Anfield would be a unique event, a complete one-off, just like Rhys, and a fitting tribute to him as it was his favourite tune.
"She's also pretty sure he'll have a little mischievous grin on his face at the thought of being the cause of it."
I bet he will
R.I.P. little fella
Paul Eaton 28 August 2007
Liverpool Football Club will tonight pay Rhys Jones the ultimate tribute by playing his beloved Everton anthem at Anfield before the clash with Toulouse.
The Z-Cars theme tune 'Johnny Todd' - the song which traditionally greets the arrival of the Everton team onto the Goodison Park pitch - will be played prior to 'You'll Never Walk Alone' ahead of this evening's 8.05pm kick-off.
Following a suggestion from Liverpool Echo feature writer Tony Barrett to mark the youngster's tragic death in such an unprecedented way, the newspaper was inundated with requests for the unique tribute to be staged.
Anfield chief executive Rick Parry spoke with Rhys's family who agreed they would be delighted if the Reds paid tribute to their son's memory in such a fitting way.
After the two songs there will then be a minute's applause and the Liverpool players will show their respect by wearing black armbands during the game.
Rhys's parents Stephen and Melanie will also be at Anfield for the game.
The youngster's uncle Neil Jones admits the family have been overwhelmed by such a show of support from the Blues' city rivals.
He said: "When I told them about the proposed tribute at Anfield, Melanie said playing Johnny Todd at Anfield would be a unique event, a complete one-off, just like Rhys, and a fitting tribute to him as it was his favourite tune.
"She's also pretty sure he'll have a little mischievous grin on his face at the thought of being the cause of it."
I bet he will
R.I.P. little fella
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