EVERTON honoured super-fan Paul Stratton for his heroic efforts helping Ukraine by handing him a scoring cameo against Dynamo Kyiv.
Manager Frank Lampard brought on the Liverpool council worker to round off a 4-0 ‘peace friendly’ win at Goodison Park with a penalty.
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Stratton’s fellow supporters voiced their approval as he was given a unique thanks for travelling to the Ukraine border to do whatever he could to help following Russia’s invasion.
The ex-police officer carefully rolled home a spot-kick, ran behind the goal at the Gwladys Street End and sank to his knees to celebrate as he kissed the club badge.
Toffees’ team-mates then rushed into congratulate and hug an emotional-looking Stratton.
The Liverpool Echo reported how Stratton responded to Ukraine’s suffering in March by replacing his week off to “watch Netflix and eat Pringles” with a trip to Poland.
There he spent four days helping refugees who were fleeing neighbouring Ukraine.
The Echo said he was “accompanied by a Polish phrasebook and a network of former police and army colleagues”.
His efforts earned him a moment at Goodison he will treasure – months after seeing such harrowing events and personal tragedy in Poland.
Earlier in Everton‘s impressive display, Dominic Calvert-Lewin headed a fourth-minute opener after a long ball from new centre-back James Tarkowski.
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And ex-Burnley winger Dwight McNeil netted twice on his debut.
But possibly the biggest, and certainly the most poignant, cheer was for Stratton’s introduction.
Striker Calvert-Lewin and Lampard greeted him warmly as he came on for a well-deserved place in the spotlight – and netted to boot.