18 December 2023 , 20:40
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“What a fitting tribute it would be if we could win a trophy for him. No pressure, Dychey, no pressure, lad!”
Said with a smile on his face, Peter Reid was making a polite request to the Everton manager inside Liverpool Cathedral, of all places. Reid delivered one of many wonderful tributes to Bill Kenwright at Monday’s memorial service for the former Everton chairman - an occasion that again united the city’s two football clubs.
One of the most poignant speeches came from Margaret Aspinall, the former chair of the Hillsborough Family Support Group, whose son James was one of the 97 Liverpool fans who lost their lives in the disaster.
She became close friends with Kenwright and even reminisced about how he had given her his seat in the Goodison Park directors’ box when he was unable to make one Merseyside derby.
“On behalf of all the Hillsborough families, and indeed on behalf of our city, we’re all going to miss Bill tremendously. He was loyal, loving, generous … absolutely wonderful,” she said
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Everton face Fulham in a Carabao Cup quarter-final on Tuesday evening but Dyche took the entire first team squad - along with a large contingent from the academy - to Liverpool Cathedral for the 90-minute service.
Seamus Coleman delivered a heartfelt speech (PA)Club captain Seamus Coleman spoke on behalf of the current players and revealed how Kenwright - who died in October, aged 78 - had visited the training ground ahead of a crucial game against Newcastle in March, 2022. Everton were deep in a relegation battle but beat Newcastle and went on to survive.
“Without the chairman’s words, we would not have won that match,” said Coleman. "He wasn't just our chairman, he was our greatest supporter. He cared for the players and their families and he was always at the end of the phone through the good times and the bad times. He was a passionate and inspirational man.”
Peter Reid asked the current crop of Everton stars to deliver a fitting tribute to Kenwright (Julian Hamilton/Daily Mirror)It has been 28 years since Everton won a trophy - the 1995 FA Cup - and Andy Burnham, opening the service, joined Reid in urging Dyche and the players to win one in memory of the man whose consortium took over in 1999, who became chairman of the club in 2004 and was a lifelong fan.
Kenwright, of course, was a hugely successful West End and film producer and Rufus Norris, Artistic Director of the National Theatre, also gave a moving tribute, along with Jenny Seagrove, Bill’s partner for almost 30 years.
Marti Pellow and Mel C - both close friends - were amongst those who performed at the service, which was also attended by Sir Kenny Dalglish, Coleen Rooney and Tony Bellew.