• Everton's Mason Holgate celebrates the goal by fan Paul Stratton during the friendly against Dynamo Kyiv at Goodison Park, Liverpool, on Friday July 29, 2022. PA
    Everton's Mason Holgate celebrates the goal by fan Paul Stratton during the friendly against Dynamo Kyiv at Goodison Park, Liverpool, on Friday July 29, 2022. PA
  • Everton fan Paul Stratton replaces Dele during the friendly against Dynamo Kyiv at Goodison Park. Getty
    Everton fan Paul Stratton replaces Dele during the friendly against Dynamo Kyiv at Goodison Park. Getty
  • Everton fan Paul Stratton, who travelled to the Ukrainian border to help fleeing refugees, scores a penalty during the friendly against Dynamo Kyiv. Getty
    Everton fan Paul Stratton, who travelled to the Ukrainian border to help fleeing refugees, scores a penalty during the friendly against Dynamo Kyiv. Getty
  • Everton fan Paul Stratton is congratulated by manager Frank Lampard. Getty
    Everton fan Paul Stratton is congratulated by manager Frank Lampard. Getty
  • Everton's Vitalii Mykolenko celebrates with teammate after friendly win over Dynamo Kyiv. Reuters
    Everton's Vitalii Mykolenko celebrates with teammate after friendly win over Dynamo Kyiv. Reuters
  • Dynamo Kiev's Ukrainian defender Oleksandr Tymchyk fights for the ball with Everton's Nigerian midfielder Alex Iwobi. AFP
    Dynamo Kiev's Ukrainian defender Oleksandr Tymchyk fights for the ball with Everton's Nigerian midfielder Alex Iwobi. AFP
  • Dwight McNeil of Everton celebrates scoring his second goal against Dynamo Kyiv. Getty
    Dwight McNeil of Everton celebrates scoring his second goal against Dynamo Kyiv. Getty
  • Everton's Dominic Calvert-Lewin celebrates scoring the first goal at Goodison Park. PA
    Everton's Dominic Calvert-Lewin celebrates scoring the first goal at Goodison Park. PA
  • Dwight McNeil of Everton after scoring against Dynamo Kyiv. Getty
    Dwight McNeil of Everton after scoring against Dynamo Kyiv. Getty

Everton fan who helped Ukrainian refugees awarded penalty kick in Dynamo Kyiv friendly


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An Everton supporter who travelled to the Ukrainian border to help fleeing refugees following Russia's invasion of the country was invited to the pitch to kick a penalty during a pre-season match against Dynamo Kyiv on Friday.

The team and the Goodison Park crowd gave a warm welcome to Paul Stratton, who added an unofficial fourth goal to the hosts' 3-0 win over the Ukrainian side by converting the penalty.

Stratton, who used his time off from working for Liverpool Council to travel to Poland and hand out supplies to people fleeing the war, came on towards the end of the 'match for peace'. In March, Stratton travelled to the Polish city of Przemysl - close to the Ukrainian border - with his brother to help refugees.

He was given instructions on the touchline by manager Frank Lampard before striding on to the pitch in full Toffees kit to take the penalty.

Stratton tucked away his spot-kick in front of the Gwladys Street End and celebrated in front of the fans before being congratulated by Everton's players.

Everton led 3-0 at the time, with Dwight McNeil scoring twice on his first Toffees appearance after Dominic Calvert-Lewin opened the scoring inside four minutes.

Everton host Chelsea on August 6 in their first league match of the 2022-2023 campaign after avoiding relegation last season with a 16th-place finish.

Updated: July 30, 2022, 8:04 AM