Lukaku stuns inspirational Evertonian Hannah

, 17 December, 15comments | Jump to most recent

An inspirational teenager whose passion for Everton drove her to make a difference in the Walton community was given a festive surprise by Romelu Lukaku when she was named Everton's latest Blue Hero.

Hannah McLellan, of Huyton, spent an afternoon in the company of fellow Evertonians at the Club's Ladies Lunch event, after being led to believe her stepmum had won a pair of tickets on social media site Facebook.

The 16-year-old was entirely unaware that the Blues star in fact knew all about the tireless work she does to improve the lives of others and was ready to surprise her with an early Christmas gift.

Stunning the audience, Romelu told them a Blue Hero was in their midst, before walking to Hannah's table and presenting her with flowers and a pamper day for two.

Hannah said: "It's unbelievable. I didn't expect it at all. He walked over and said you have done so much and you are an inspiration and I couldn't believe Lukaku was saying that to me!

"I just love Everton. I love everything about the Club, especially all the community stuff that they do. I'm just so glad I can be a part of it."

The Belgian striker was delighted to be able to bring some festive cheer as part of the Club's Blue Crimbo campaign.

He said: "It was important for me to be here and congratulate Hannah for all the good work that she does and make sure she knows that it is recognised by so many people. She is an inspiration to all of us."

The teenager dedicates hours of her time to helping children learn to read at Gwladys Street School, the closest primary to Goodison Park.

On top of that, she is involved with Christian Action charity and gives up her spare time to help out at St Luke's Church — which is located next to the Blues' stadium — at their special events and on matchdays, often serving cups of tea to home and away supporters.

Reverend Canon Dr Ellen Loudon of St Luke's said: "Hannah is always up for taking on challenges and being part of community life. She's mad on Everton Football Club and being able to combine her interest in the team with volunteering and wanting to do good things is what makes her such an inspiring young person.

"Sometimes the people who make a lot of noise are often those who get the attention but it's nice to offer such an award to the more quiet, thoughtful people and Hannah is certainly one of those."

Reader Comments (15)

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Trevor Lynes
1 Posted 17/12/2014 at 19:00:14

A really well deserved recognition and its a feather in the cap of the club and Rom as a club representative.

Helen Mallon
2 Posted 17/12/2014 at 20:32:22

That is so good.

Brent Stephens
3 Posted 17/12/2014 at 21:14:29

Inspirational. Well done, Hannah. Nice one Lukaku and Everton in the community.

Colin Glassar
5 Posted 17/12/2014 at 21:57:59

I've seen at least one person on here complain about our players being involved in so many non-football activities. He said something along the lines that they should spend more time training.

Kevin Tully
6 Posted 17/12/2014 at 22:14:17

I don't know if another good deed was mentioned on here, but did you know the club wined & dined the Krasnodar fans who came to Goodison (all 14 of them) and gave them all free hospitality?

Credit where it's due.

Patrick Murphy
7 Posted 17/12/2014 at 22:19:31

Colin, I certainly mentioned the increased amount of off-field PR activities from both the players and the manager during the last 18 months or so. I also said that I wasn't against all of it and certainly this particular event I would not object to in the slightest.

But Everton FC is a football club first and foremost and the priorities for the players and manager should be what happens out on the pitch, especially when things aren't going swimmingly. Everton in the Community is a fine charity and deserves our support, but not at the expense of losing sight of our core business.

Brent Stephens
8 Posted 17/12/2014 at 22:35:01

Patrick, that assumes that the two are currently in conflict, that one is detracting from the other. Do we know that?

Jamie Barlow
9 Posted 17/12/2014 at 22:36:07

It's great that Everton do things like this. I've no idea whether it happens as much at other clubs. I don't understand what it's got to do with the football side of the club and how it affects what happens on the pitch. It's not as if they do these things while all the other lads are at the training ground.

Great video as well.

Patrick Murphy
10 Posted 17/12/2014 at 22:54:41

Jamie - It must have an impact on some of the football side of the club at some junctures in the season, as I said I don't have a problem with much of it but I wish the club as a whole would focus on getting better sponsorship / business partnerships which would generate monies for the football side of things - being successful on the pitch would attract more income both for the club and the charitable side of the club.

Trevor Lynes
11 Posted 17/12/2014 at 23:50:56

Yes I also saw that those Russian fans got top treatment here and it must be a big plus for our club back in Krasnodor.Must say I have always been treated well on my visits to Ukraine.

Chris Williamson
13 Posted 22/12/2014 at 16:44:27

Patrick, I'm no expert , but I'm fairly sure professional football isn't a 9 til 5 job, otherwise they'd be paid a tad more. In my eyes, therefore, after a few hours training and getting conditioned each day there may be a few minutes left for the players to do something else, without it impinging on their football. It's so Everton that players do this sort of stuff. So many players elsewhere in other clubs would be at the bookies, buying & selling horses, going on a bender, jumping on hookers or slapping their missus.

Jim Knightley
14 Posted 22/12/2014 at 17:30:48

It is ridiculous to imagine that this charity work distracts us from training, games, or the business side of things! This is a fantastic touch, and we can all be proud of our club when it does things like this. Keep up the good work.

Liam Reilly
15 Posted 23/12/2014 at 13:31:57

I really can't believe some would complain about the club championing people like this young girl. Not that it's any way the most important thing here but there lies a blue for life and it should make supporters proud to be associated with the club.

He was hardly dragged kicking and screaming from training to do this.

Steve Austin
16 Posted 30/12/2014 at 02:02:45

One of the things I believe that makes Everton great is the work we do in the community. This young lady would be doing this anyway as that is the type of person she is. That she does it in the name of Everton makes all of us look good, club included.

The players do a lot more charity work than gets broadcasted by the media, or that they want to keep secret. As what was stated before, a few hours to kill. What do you do, play xbox, go to the pub, or go visit sick children in hospital?

As for the club and this event. Yes it is a PR stunt, but a PR stunt for a good cause, and a good person. So I say keep it up. May be bitter, but at least we are charitable.

Do the players suffer or the football on the field. Not a chance. Doing charity work doesnt make you give up the ball 30 yards from goal. And charity work has nothing to do with pulling a hammy.

Kev Wood
17 Posted 03/01/2015 at 10:21:26

It's great that the players have a link with the local community and do a little bit that doesn't just involve them waving a credit card about. Everton seem to do this sort of thing well. Some players will benefit massively from the confidence and social skills they will develop from this kind of activity. That being said, let's hope we get back to winning ways on the pitch from Tuesday onwards.

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