Young Everton Fan Becomes First Virtual Mascot

Everton’s season has not been going as well as one would have hoped. Ronald Koeman struggled early in the season, and Sam Allardyce has not breathed much hope into the club either.

However, during their game against Newcastle United last weekend, Everton debuted the world’s first ever virtual match day mascot, and there was a heartwarming story behind it all.

Jack McLinden, a 14-year-old Everton fan, unfortunately has a number of medical conditions that prevented him from being able to walk out physically at Goodison Park. But in a world-first, McLinden was able to experience the fun of being a match day mascot all from his home. 

A connection from McLinden’s iPad and the robot that Phil Jagielka walked out with allowed him to experience it all, and McLinden was even able to meet the Everton players in the tunnel before the game. 

The robot had a speaker and a microphone, so Jack was able to hear all the sounds both in the locker room and as the players walked out at Goodison Park. Watch below and see what it all looked like on gameday.

This is a fantastic story for all involved, and hopefully all children who dream of being a mascot but can’t physically attend can have the same experience that young Jack did.