Lowery Legends 7-3 Bradley's BluesGoodison Park hosted an emotional but joyous occasion on Sunday - capped off by Bradley Lowery’s uncle Andrew Summerbell scoring in front of the Howard Kendall Gwladys Street End.
Olly Murs can also reflect on the day he netted at the ‘Grand Old Lady’ after coolly dispatching a penalty into the Park End net.
The singing star was one of a slew of famous personalities who graced the hallowed turf alongside a host of former Everton and Sunderland footballers in the Bradley Lowery charity match.
The squally weather did nothing to dampen the enthusiasm of 12,727 people inside Goodison with both teams leaving the tunnel to the familiar matchday accompaniment of Z-Cars and a throaty roar.
When the action got under way it was an ex-professional who took it upon himself to show the amateurs how it’s done.
Jamie O’Hara actually had a breather just before half-time and - interviewed over the PA system -admitted his competitive instincts had kicked in when he crossed the white line.
It showed. O’Hara opened the scoring for The Lowery Legends, speeding forward and trading passes with football freestyler Jez Lynch – probably not something he ever envisaged doing – before slipping the ball into the net.
O’Hara blasted in his team’s next goal, too, when he took aim from the edge of the box and sent the ball flying into the Gwladys Street goal.
Peter Reid’s 16th-minute entrance for Bradley’s Blues brought the house down but former 911 band member Jimmy Constable was soon putting The Lowery Legends three goals in front.
Murs had his moment after ex-Sunderland hardman Alex Rae couldn’t resist chopping down Soccer AM’s ‘Fenners’ in the box.
But a Bradley’s Blues defence containing Everton stalwarts Alan Stubbs and Tony Hibbert then watched on as Summerbell jinked his way round the ‘keeper and scored the day’s most popular goal on the stroke of half-time.
Stubbs demonstrated his quick feet remain in good order more than once, the former Toffees skipper playing in his customary centre-back position and stylishly jinking around onrushing opponents whenever the opportunity presented itself.
Hibbert also showed his penalty-area habits haven’t changed at all. Urged to shoot as he surged into the box, the popular full-back preferred to chop back onto his right foot and pass to a team-mate!
He let Murs pull rank when it came to spot-kick duties, too!
Nevertheless, Hibbert couldn’t resist having pop from 25 yards after the interval. The ball sailed into the Gwladys Street stand.
O’Hara then completed his hat-trick with a shot from a similar distance – before being replaced by former X Factor contestant Che Chesterton. It was that sort of day.
The sort of day when Lowery Legends manager Katie Price reigned supreme in the dugout over Reid. And when former Liverpool boss Roy Evans – assisting Price – was stood on the touchline wearing an Everton jacket.
Coronation Street actor Shayne Ward rolled in a penalty for Bradley’s Blues to make the score 5-2. And when another man of Soccer AM, Tubes, struck – with a fine finish, it should be noted – it was game back on.
But Lynch abandoned his freestyling for the more conventional pursuit of thrashing the ball high in the net to restore The Lowery Legends’ three-goal advantage.
Love Island’s Chris Hughes, already thrilled to be playing in the colours of his beloved Sunderland, gleefully scored his team’s seventh goal.
That wrapped up the scoring - but not the action, with Reid's assistant, Ian Snodin being sent to the stands in an aptly playful end to the game.
Hughes pointed out afterwards that the 7-3 scoreline couldn't have been scripted better, 1973 being the year Bradley's Sunderland won the FA Cup.
A unique and wonderful afternoon at Goodison in the name of a unique and wonderful boy.
Everton FC