AN AVID eight-year-old Liverpool supporter had a day to treasure when he was his team’s mascot at Southampton on Saturday.
Thomas Lovell of Greenfield held the hand of captain James Milner as the teams walked on to the pitch.
Fresh from their win of the UEFA Super Cup against Chelsea in Istanbul on Wednesday, the European Champions did not disappoint in their Premier League match at St Mary’s.
Proud mum Karla Thomas said she was so proud of her son, who had won the chance to be mascot for the day through an automatic draw as Thomas is a Mighty Reds junior member.
Thomas Lovell's signed shirt
Karla said: “We joined last year as a way to try and get more tickets.
“We renewed our membership for this season and on Monday July 22, an email came through saying Thomas had been selected to be the team mascot for their away match at Southampton.
We weren’t going to tell him but two nights before I thought I didn’t want him going all quiet and not saying anything as he is quite a shy boy so we told him.
“It was fantastic. He behaved impeccably. We stayed in Reading the night before and my partner Will Benson drove us there and we paid for a ticket for him as Thomas and I had our tickets for free.”
Thomas Lovell with Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp
Thomas’ amazing day comprised of having a kick about with the team as they were warming up before the match, pictures taken in the goals and at the corner flags, appearing in the match day programme and on the big screen and getting a picture and autograph from Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, who Thomas said was lovely with him.
“It was an amazing day,” said Karla.
“Everyone at Southampton were brilliant with him. We are now going to make a scrapbook for him so he can remember this day for ever.
Thomas gets his shirt signed by Liverpool star Mo Salah
“He got to keep the kit he walked out in and the whole team and Jurgen signed his white Liverpool shirt.
Thomas, who has a two-year-old sister Ava, is a huge Liverpool fan which Karla says is down to her as she has always loved Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard but surprisingly it is Kenny Dalglish that is Thomas’ favourite.
A right winger, Thomas plays for Prestatyn Under 9s and Greenfield FC Youth Grassroots.
Thomas Lovell with match officials
He also can’t wait to get back to school, St Mary’s in Flint, to tell his teacher, Mr Bianco an avid Reds fan too, about his amazing day.
The icing on the cake for Thomas was Liverpool winning 2-1.
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