Everton Boss' Christmas surprise for our staff

Posted 10th December 2014

A group of dedicated Merseyside nurses got the festive shock of a lifetime when Everton boss Roberto Martinez gatecrashed their surprise tour of Goodison Park.

The Blue-nosed heroes, who had been invited to the Club's stadium under the pretence that the Trust had put them forward to attend a corporate event, had no idea of the surprise that was in fact in store.

Expecting to be attendees at a conference, the 28 special guests were actually whisked off on a stadium tour by Everton legend Graeme Sharp.

And if that wasn't enough, as the party reached the first team dressing room they were greeted by the Toffees' chief who stepped out from his office to break the news that they were Everton's latest Blue Heroes.

After much excitement and shrieks of delight, Martinez told the devoted nurses that they were all invited for a special three-course dinner in the Club's premier Dixie Dean Suite to reward them for their remarkable dedication to caring for the region's most vulnerable.

Each of the heroes was presented with a special gift from the manager and a Blue Hero award.

Watch the video of the day here

Martinez said: "It's one of those days that we, as a football club, are so proud to be able to give some good feeling back to many, many special people. What they do on a daily basis is so important and so vital for everyone in the community, for everyone in the city and Merseyside as a whole.

"For us to highlight many Evertonians that are special with their commitment and time on a daily basis and affecting so many families in the right manner and in special times is wonderful. Working in a hospital is a significant time for anyone, it always shocks you when you have to be in a hospital and people like the Blue Heroes that we recognise today make that time different and what they give back is quite unique.

"We've been delighted to be able to recognise them for what they do and wish them a very special Christmas."

The surprise was the latest in the Club's Blue Crimbo campaign, which sees Everton recognising some of the most deserving members of the local community.

Each hospital in the region was invited to nominate Evertonian nurses who deserved special recognition - or those who will be spending this Christmas caring for people in need.

Among the 28 nominees was our very own Mandy Cunningham, senior ward manager at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre. A lifelong Blue who proudly displays an Everton calendar on her ward, Mandy will be on call this Christmas Day.

She said: "We didn't even know what we were coming to Goodison for so it's been such a really big surprise. Everyone has made us so welcome, it's been a lovely experience.

"Working over Christmas and on Christmas Day is part of the nursing role so we all try to do it fairly so that we can spend as much time with our families. We all have to take that into consideration but patient safety and patient care comes first.

"Roberto was so charismatic and lovely. He thanked us all for our hard work and achievements over the year. The food was wonderful, everything was. I couldn't have wished for anything more."

Also recognised from the Trust was Eileen Lavelle from Outpatients and Chris Corcoran from Radiotherapy.

The nurses were kept in good company throughout their special dinner with Everton legends Graeme Sharp, Ian Snodin and Graham Stuart alongside them.

Bac