Touchline Dad
TOUCHLINE Dad is written by Peter Harvey, a newspaper editor with Trinity Mirror Merseyside. Father-of-three Peter, 39, worked as a writer for the Liverpool Echo during the 1990s and is the former editor of the Crosby Herald and Bootle Times newspapers (2001-2006). He is currently editor of the Advertiser Series in West Lancashire. Touchline Dad is a lifelong Liverpool fan.
Our Jack...
JACK Harvey is seven, going on seventy-seven. He's a dependable, no-nonsense defender for Marine FC's U7s playing in the Bootle and Netherton Junior Football League in north Liverpool. Jack played for Crosby Stuart U7s in 2006/7, helping them win every league game. He is being encouraged to appreciate both Liverpool AND Everton...for now at least.
The Gaffer
THE Gaffer is a true Blue. Although she's now swapped her Gwladys Street season ticket for looking after three children on a Saturday afternoon, she still gets steamed up thinking about Graeme Sharp in his skimpy shorts.
Not forgeting...
EMILY is five and has no interest in football. Her kicks come from Barbie girls and make-up, bangles and beads. Oh, and shoes. She changes them at least five times a day. Dabbles with ballet and swimming. Cross her at your peril.
And finally...
PADDY inherited a mini Everton kit from Sam down the road. No doubt 'Pads' will also get Jack's pass-me-downs, so that will narrow his allegiance to Real Madrid, Juventus, Republic of Ireland, England, Everton and Liverpool. Loves pirates, yoghurts and Josie Jump. He's got the second worst temper in the North West...
Marine AFC
FORMED in 1894 and based in Crosby, north Mersyside. The first team plays in the Northern Premier League and were champions in 1994 and 1995. 
They had a famous FA Cup run in the early 1990s, eventually being knocked out by Crewe 3-1 in the 3rd round. Roly Howard was manager for a record 33 years (1972-2005), although he will always be remembered by some fans as Kenny Dalglish's window cleaner. TV presenter Ray Stubbs once asked: "How's business, Roly?" to which Roly replied "Oh you know - ups and downs."
Snapshots
Crosby Stuart
THIS was Jack's first club. It was formed in the early 1970s in north Liverpool and is now one of the biggest and most successful junior football clubs in the North West. 
Former players include Michael Ball (Everton and Rangers) and Stephen Wright (Liverpool and Sunderland). The club motto is 'To Enjoy, Not Destroy.'
Football Crazy
"JACK stood before me in his Buzz Lightyear pyjamas, hands on hips. I kicked him hard in the shins. Instead of falling to the carpet and rolling in agony, he laughed. 'Do it again, Dad. Do it again. We’ll trick Mum.' I didn’t fancy chancing our comedy double act with The Gaffer, so instead Jack clambered into bed still wearing his new 'shinnies.' 'Maybe tomorrow, eh dad?' he asked as he closed his eyes to see his Premier League heroes greet him."
IT'S a bold and sensitive move by Anfield bosses to play Everton's famous Z-Cars theme at tonight's Champions League match in memory of murdered Rhys Jones, a keen Evertonian.
del.icio.us
Digg
Newsvine
Nowpublic
Reddit
Byasen wrote...
Thankfully, for the parents and brother of Rhys, the playing of Johnny Todd at Anfield last night was observed impeccably by everyone who was there. As I looked around, everyone was clapping, including the stewards and the police, and there was not one disparaging comment to be heard.
This was not because Liverpool fans are better than everyone else, or because Scousers are better than people from other parts of the country, but because at the end of the day, it was decent human beings being respectful of the pain that Rhys's family must be going through right now.
I for one, cannot imagine any pain more unbearable than that of a parent who has lost a child, especially in such tragic circumstances. The Jones family have shown great dignity since the murder of Rhys, which I imagine is a quality totally alien to the people who think it's 'hard' to carry guns, or think it's 'okay' to use them to take a life, and it's 'loyal' to keep quiet and not 'grass'.
Posted by: Byasen | August 29, 2007 11:31 AM