Prime Minister Andy Burnham was among those celebrating Everton’s 2-0 victory over Crystal Palace at Hill Dickinson Stadium on Saturday.
Everton shared footage of Burnham arriving at the ground for his first match since becoming Prime Minister, with the lifelong Blue accompanied by club great Peter Reid.
Burnham is an Everton season-ticket holder and would ordinarily watch from the South Stand. He instead accepted a place in the directors’ box because using his regular seat would have required nearby supporters to be moved to accommodate his security detail.
He attended the game with his wife, Marie-France van Heel, and daughter Rosie, while sitting alongside Reid as goals from Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Thierno Barry gave Everton their first opening-day victory since 2021.
Moyes reveals pre-match Burnham exchange
David Moyes also revealed that he had spoken to Burnham shortly before kick-off.
Former Everton striker Andy Gray had visited the manager’s office before the game when Reid called his former team-mate and passed the phone to the Prime Minister.
Burnham wished Moyes good luck before Everton secured an important victory to begin their second Premier League season at the Hill Dickinson.
His political responsibilities mean he is now expected to watch future matches from the directors’ area rather than his previous South Stand seat.
Burnham’s allegiance to Everton has never been hidden, and the club’s footage showed him posing for a photograph with a young supporter before entering the stadium.
The afternoon then ended in the manner he would have wanted, with Everton taking three points and giving their most prominent supporter something to celebrate.
