A dad from Belfast has expressed his gratitude to “humble” Man Utd star Jonny Evans for his thoughtful gesture which he said has given his daughter a “memory that will last a lifetime”.
Ciaran Brown and 14-year-old daughter Ava travelled to see the Manchester Utd vs Everton match at the weekend.
The Red Devils secured three points with an impressive 4-0 victory.
But it was a moment after the match that will stay with the father and daughter forever.
Northern Irish footballer Jonny Evans didn’t feature in the game, so the pair decided to travel an hour and 40 minutes to Carrington training ground on Monday in the hope of meeting him.
“We wanted to at least say we tried,” Ciaran explained.
“Thankfully Jonny Evans was one of the players who stopped as he was going home after training.
“When I told him he was the main person we wanted a photo with, he kind of laughed, as if he didn’t believe me.
“He was talking away to us. We got a photo and he signed her top. Then once he’d signed stuff for everybody he called us back over and said ‘there’s a wee present for you’.
“He gave her a top that was signed by the whole team. I just thought it was really nice.”
He added: “It caught her off guard, she was really happy and thankful, and then when she left, it set in more and she was just buzzing. She kept saying: ‘Is this his real top? Did he give his top to me?’
Ava pictured with the signed jersey
“It is a memory for her now from our trip away to Manchester.
“He’s from Belfast and came through Man Utd’s academy. We love Jonny Evans.”
The trip to Manchester was a Christmas gift for Ava and the kindness shown by Evans means it is one “she’ll never forget”.
Plans are already in motion to have the jersey framed and placed on Ava’s wall at home.
“That’ll be a new Christmas present for her. We’re going to get it framed and have the photos with her and Jonny Evans inserted in it,” Ciaran said.
“It’s just a nice memory for her that she can have on her wall and always remember it.
“She hasn’t stopped talking about it. She brought her top into school to show her teachers and mates.
“She won’t forget it any time soon. Money can’t buy it, it couldn’t have went any better.
“Getting to meet the players, having her top signed. He didn’t have to call us back over so fair play to him.
“He was so humble, wasn’t rushing anyone when everyone was asking him questions.
Ava with Man Utd capitain Bruno Fernandes
“Just taking that time can really make the difference to people and give them something to remember for the rest of their lives.”
The score line on Sunday naturally made it an enjoyable trip all round, with the pair happy at the early signs of Ruben Amorim as the new manager, describing him as “upbeat and positive” and someone who will improve “standards and expectations”.