Use your head and sign up now for the Everton FC newsletter Sign up now Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

The disabled Everton fan who was given a ticket to last night’s derby by generous Reds had an “absolutely brilliant” time at Anfield.

James Ireland, known as JJ, was too frightened to go to away games after he was told he “should have been drowned at birth” by Manchester City fans in January .

But he was given tickets in the Anfield Road end for the derby and had an amazing night - despite the scoreline.

Relieved mum Helen said he was “spoilt rotten” by the “fantastic” Liverpool fans and wanted to thank everyone involved for making JJ, who has cerebral palsy and ADHD, feel so welcome.

She told the ECHO: “When he got to the stadium he was very panicky and nervous but the stewards took him down to the front of the pitch and reassured him. They told him he didn’t have to stay if he didn’t want to and made him feel much better.

“He went on to have an absolutely brilliant time.

“All the Reds fans around him were patting him on the back and were made up for him being there. The Liverpool fans have been absolutely fantastic.

'He was spoilt rotten’

“When they were singing You’ll Never Walk Alone he got up and started to shout ‘Everton! Everton!’ and everyone around him thought it was great. They were so pleased he had the guts to do that.”

As planned, JJ was met by Liverpool fan Shaun Kelly outside the ground before the game and was given a match programme.

And he was also handed a goodie bag full of Everton merchandise by a female Liverpool supporter, who did not give her name.

On top of that, two young Reds fans in their early 20s gave JJ a card ahead of his ninth birthday on Saturday.

Helen said: “He was spoilt rotten!”

JJ is going to Wembley - in the Blues’ end - for this weekend’s FA Cup clash with Manchester United, and Helen said he feels much more confident about that after the success of last night.

She added: “I just want to say a big thank you to everyone for everything they have done for JJ, especially to Robbie Owen who gave him the ticket, Shaun Kelly, the woman with the goodie bag and the two lads who gave him the card.

“It is just brilliant to see the two teams come together like this and it has put a huge smile on his face.

“It was all great, apart from the score - he woke up this morning and said he did not want to go to school because his mates would take the mickey out of him!”