'We took radio to grandad's grave to fulfil final wish'

The family of a dedicated Everton fan who died last year said they took a radio to his grave so they could "listen together" to commentary of the final men's match to be played at Goodison Park.

Robbie Bentham's family contacted BBC Radio Merseyside ahead of the game on 18 May to say they would be tuning in from his graveside.

They said the 53-year-old's "one wish" had been to watch Goodison's last game and to see the Toffeemen move into their new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock this summer.

"He sadly passed away on 12 November 2024," said the family from St Helens.

During the programme, Robbie's family said: "We are listening at the cemetery at his graveside - we love you with all our hearts."

Following the family's message, which received a warm reaction on social media, Robbie's partner Shell Wilson appeared on the radio station's Total Sport Merseyside show.

"I was overwhelmed," she said. "Robbie would have been buzzing."

Shell said the family had listened to five matches at the cemetery since Robbie's death.

The 52-year-old said the final game at Goodison was a "bittersweet day" because Robbie was "so excited" about the idea of seeing the new stadium.

"He would go on Facebook and look at how the stadium was going on and he would send them to his mates - the Mancs and the Kopites - and he would laugh his head off saying 'we're getting a better stadium than you!'"

Shell said Robbie, who had three grandchildren, had a "heart of gold" and lived for his family and his "beloved Everton".

"He would be up at 7am singing Spirit Of The Blues and It's A Grand Old Team To Play For on a football day," she said.

"We got him a brick [at] the new stadium [and] we made the funeral directors take him [to] the Bramley-Moore and past Goodison," she said.

"He wouldn't have had it any other way."

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