One empty seat in a sea of blue as 40,000 say farewell

HE SHOULD have been there, dressed in Everton blue, relishing every minute of the build-up to the Premiership clash.

Instead, 40,000 football fans - along with the players he worshipped - applauded Rhys Jones's memory. They rose to their feet as one for a minute's celebration of his 11 years, a short life which ended last week, gunned down as he played in a car park in his home town of Liverpool.

Moments before kick-off, the image of a smiling Rhys standing proudly in his Everton shirt - he was a season-ticket holder along with his parents and older brother - was beamed into the ground on two large screens.

Then his father Stephen, mother Melanie and 17-year-old brother Owen took their places on the touchline beside Everton's Scottish manager David Moyes and Blackburn coach Mark Hughes. Clinging to her husband's arm, Melanie was in tears as the entire stadium joined in the celebration of her son's life.

Supporters throughout the stadium wept quietly as the applause rippled around the terraces. Others with young children tried to explain to them what was happening and why it was taking place.

It was an unprecedented show of emotion shared by home and away fans alike.

Before the one minute of applause began, the stadium announcer called it a "tribute to a young boy who loved life and loved Everton Football Club".

It was staged so that police could appeal for new witnesses to the shooting, which took place in a busy part of the Croxteth district, yards from Rhys's home.

But it became a tear-stained symbol for the national despair at the rise in youth crime - and the increasingly flagrant use of firearms - which last Wednesday cost an innocent young boy his life.

The idea of a tribute to Rhys was first mooted by the Everton players themselves, many of whom have children of their own.

Ian Ross, a club spokesman, said: "Footballers sometimes get a bad press but this was an instance which touched the hearts of everyone at Everton Football Club, and the players and staff alike wanted to show their support at this terrible time for the family."

Earlier, outside the ground, Everton supporters bowed their heads as they entered Goodison Park.

Bursting into tears, one female fan said: "I am a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother and I can understand how the family are feeling.

"Everyone here is in total sympathy with them. This is a very sad day, but I think the parents will be happy with the way the tribute is being paid."