Liverpool fan Max leads team onto pitch at Anfield

IT WAS a day to remember for Max Hutchinson (11) from Carlow when he led out Liverpool football team alongside captain Virgil van Dijk at Anfield on Saturday for their first home Premier League game of the season.

Max, an All-Red Junior Liverpool member, was shocked when he received an email from the club a couple of weeks ago outlining that he had been selected as a mascot, with his dad, Mark, needing to be convinced that it was not a scam.

“I genuinely didn’t believe it was true. I rang the club and got through to them and they confirmed it was true,” said Mark.

“I never thought he would be so lucky. It says that, as a junior member, you get the chance to be a mascot, but there are millions of kids all over the world who are signed up to it, so it was a genuine shock when he was selected,” he added.

Max and Mark, along with mam Aisling, travelled to Liverpool on Friday night ahead of the Saturday morning game against Nottingham Forest.

A Liverpool kit for Max to wear onto the pitch was due to be posted to Carlow. However, it wouldn’t have arrived on time so he was presented with it at Anfield, meaning that he had to get changed at the stadium, which only added to his excitement.

Max was introduced to some former Liverpool players and was then brought down to the club’s museum, where he had his photo taken with the Premier League trophy before making his way to the tunnel ahead of kick-off.

“He got to meet every single player in the matchday squad and Liverpool posted a video on social media where Max is high-fiving all the players as they walk out. The excitement and joy on his face was just amazing,” said Mark.

As Mark and Aisling waited in their seats for Max to walk out, they weren’t too sure which Liverpool player he would be with, as there were three other mascots there on the day. It was a huge surprise to see him lead the team out alongside captain Virgil van Dijk and their phones soon lit up with messages from friends and family back home who had spotted him on the telly.

To make the day even more special, Max and Virgil had a kickabout in front of the Kop before the game began and he even had his picture taken with Liverpool legend, Steven Gerrard afterwards.

“We are so thankful to the club. For Max to get the chance to walk out onto the famous pitch and kick a ball with the Liverpool captain was amazing. I can’t thank everyone at Liverpool enough; they were just brilliant,” Mark said.