Carlos wrote...

Fabulous gesture. Well played.

Posted by: Carlos  | August 28, 2007 8:30 AM

Matt wrote...

A great idea, hope young Rhys's family can draw some comfort from the support of everyone across the City.

Posted by: Matt  | August 28, 2007 8:56 AM

-OT- wrote...

I appreciate that sometimes teams need to look beyond the rivalry of football, and I'm proud that Liverpool are gonna be doing that :)

Posted by: -OT-  | August 28, 2007 8:59 AM

Ian macdonald wrote...

Absolutely brilliant ,well done to those who have arranged this.There are NO barriers at times like this .Rhy's parents will have been given more strength for the coming days and years with this great gesture.Respect for this.How brave and strong have little Rhys parents been through all this in interviews to get justice for their son and our fellow little Blue.Our extended family is hurting like hell just now. Thanks once again to Liverpool FC.
Ian Macdonald
PS
Tony I owe you two pints for passing this on now.

Posted by: Ian macdonald  | August 28, 2007 9:21 AM

DannyD wrote...

Not sure that is the best or most dignified way of marking the death of this young boy. He was struck down by a bullet fired by another young boy a better tribute would be for a minutes silence of reflection and respect. The announcer should make the comment that during the silence we should all search our hearts and ask is this the way we want our children to be brought up, to die innocently playing on the streets by a child assassin.
If it was celebrating the life of a Blues player or official Z Cars would be a fitting tribute and a show of empathy but not in this case it is out of place. Same as the minutes clapping at Goodison they should only be used to celebrate the life of the person who has died, this poor child had only started out on his road

Posted by: DannyD  | August 28, 2007 9:27 AM

Leon McCowan wrote...

RIP young man.

Posted by: Leon McCowan  | August 28, 2007 9:37 AM

Toffee Dan wrote...

Well done. A great gesture and the perfect order. To use the Red's vernacular: Rhys will "Never Walk Alone".

It is my understanding that it was your proposal to suggest this - so all I can add is well done Tony.

Toffee Dan

Posted by: Toffee Dan  | August 28, 2007 9:42 AM

mrchimps wrote...

Well done, cracking effort to get this to happen.

YNWA Rhys

Posted by: mrchimps  | August 28, 2007 9:45 AM

Peter Evo wrote...

Great gesture, no problem for me Z Cars being played at Anfield, and one I know I won't be able to go through without crying. I've got Grandchildren older than Rhys. DannyD, while I respect your comments and not sure whether you are Red or Blue the tone of your post could be looked upon by some as slightly churlish.

Posted by: Peter Evo  | August 28, 2007 10:01 AM

Cally wrote...

Well done, give yourselves a pat on the back. We've just proved how sickeningly sentimental we are.

I could fully understand the sentiment if it was a tragedy on the scale of Hillsborough, or maybe even one of their players, but this just seems forced and false.

Cue more grief addict stereotypes from the rest of the country.

Posted by: Cally  | August 28, 2007 10:22 AM

Mark wrote...

Tremendous gesture by Liverpool Football Club and I commend them totally for it. To the guy who felt it may not be appropriate, I had similar feelings but it is his parents wishes and they knew the little boys best. Well done Liverpool and their fans, from an appreciative Blue

Posted by: Mark  | August 28, 2007 10:39 AM

DannyD wrote...

Evo to use a word like churlish in this context make me wonder about your intentions. A more fitting tribute to Rys is if his death was the last one on the Liverpool streets. Playing Z Cars and clapping are theatrical and emotional gestures and I am not sure that they will bring comfort to his family. What is needed is for every member of the Liverpool community to think hard about what is going on in the city and to do something about it. After Z cars and the clapping has ended what then do we wait for the next child to be taken from his life. There will be fans at tonight’s game who have information on or are part of the terror played out daily in the city, maybe a minutes silence to reflect might just turn one or two of them around. Play Z cars after but for me it is a time for all of us to reflect together and say enough is enough that is why the minutes silence is so important. It could brken up with the announcer reading the names of the innocents who have lost their lives in our city over the past decade or two If that is churlish I apologise to Rys’s family it is not meant to be I am sure they know that,

Posted by: DannyD  | August 28, 2007 10:41 AM

Ciaran wrote...

Well done to the Reds

Posted by: Ciaran  | August 28, 2007 10:44 AM

Shaun wrote...

DannyD, you talk about commemorating lives lost over the past decade or two. However important it is for us not to forget these people, it is Rhys who we are remembering.

This isnt some huge media gesture. We dont care what the media says. This is about making that family feel as if their little boy meant something, and that is fair and reasonable.

They have been robbed of their little boy, and no, they arent alone. But we know about Rhys, and we have learned about the boy.

This isnt about the lost of our city, its about Rhys Jones. The family said that they wished his life to be remembered by a minutes applause.

A minutes applause, and seeing his team come before Liverpool (in the sense of music anyway) is what will bloody happen.

Posted by: Shaun  | August 28, 2007 11:28 AM

Michael Gillespie wrote...

This is a fantastic gesture, a show of support, and rivalries are meaningless at times like this.
Z Cars is not being played as an Everton song tonight, it's being played as Rhys's favourite song. We should remember that. Save the arguments for somewhere else.

Posted by: Michael Gillespie  | August 28, 2007 11:41 AM

Sarah wrote...

I believe the thought behind this is to show that the whole of our city is united against the pointless and unnecessary gun culture that is becoming more and more apparent within our area.

It is also important for anyone with any information regarding this cowardly and truly devastating crime to do the right thing and come forward. Regardless of how insignificant you may feel your information to be, remember that it is all of the little pieces of information that create the bigger picture.

This is a fantastic gesture from LFC to help keep the tragic loss of this amazing little boy at the forefront of everyones minds and hopefully assist in finding the person responsible for this pointless tragedy. Regardless of being blue or red, this is a tragedy for the Jones family and for our city.

As for a minutes applause not being appropriate, the emotional reaction at Goodison on Saturday proved that it was indeed fitting to celebrate this little boys short life in this way.

To the Jones family - our thoughts are with you.

To anyone with any information - do the right thing.

RIP Rhys.

Posted by: Sarah  | August 28, 2007 11:45 AM

Ando wrote...

Fair play. Nice touch.

Posted by: Ando  | August 28, 2007 12:05 PM

andy johnson look-alike winner wrote...

WELL DONR TO TONY BARRETT AND LIVERPOOL FOOTBALL CLUB

Posted by: andy johnson look-alike winner  | August 28, 2007 12:24 PM

andrew wrote...

its not about red or blue tonight its about remembering the life of a child whose life was ended all to early.
hopefully his family will draw some comfort from the show of unity from two groups of fans who seem to grow more hostile each season.

R.I.P. Rhys
YNWA

Posted by: andrew  | August 28, 2007 12:48 PM

Ste Rich wrote...

Great news and great to see LFC going an extra step to show support and solidarity at this time, hopefully Rhys' family can draw on the support of the city to help them in some way.
YNWA

Posted by: Ste Rich  | August 28, 2007 12:54 PM

John wrote...

Reports are saying that this is the first time the Z Cars theme has been played at Anfield when players have run onto the pitch. Not so, Everton ran out to it at Anfield in the 1960s. I clerly remember it - the game Everton won 4-0 in 1964.

Before Everton adopted the Z Cars theme, it was played on the tannoy before the game with all the other records - it was released and in the charts.

Everton first played the tune to the players running out onto the pitch as a tribute to one of the Z Cars actors, (Bill Twentyman? A Evertonian), who visited Goodison Park as club guest about 2 months into the 1963/64 season, and they have played it ever since.

Posted by: John  | August 28, 2007 1:13 PM

Chris wrote...

Well done to Liverpool for this gesture and for responding to the wishes of their fans. It is great to see football used as a unifying force instead of just an excuse for an argument or a fight as it is by some people.

RIP Rhys

From an impressed Sunderland fan

Posted by: Chris  | August 28, 2007 1:15 PM

Jim McCabe wrote...

A fitting gesture, one which I'm sure Rhy's parents will gain some strength from at this time. Cally, if you really feel that this act of solidarity is, as you charmingly put it, sickeningly sentimental, you are completely out of touch with the views of most LFC fans

Posted by: Jim McCabe  | August 28, 2007 1:46 PM

sean wrote...

glad the club listened to the fans and did this.

well done tony. fabulous idea and you deserve credit for proposing it.

this will hopefully also ease tensions betwen the rival fans which has become silly over recent seasons.

Posted by: sean  | August 28, 2007 1:55 PM

barry wrote...

Not a Liverpool fan but i take my hat off to you's for such a kind gesture. Pretty much proves to me your the best fans in England without doubt, Always have and always will be amazed by you kind acts. YNWA
Baz.

Posted by: barry  | August 28, 2007 2:43 PM

barry wrote...

Cally take your hoodie off!!!!
Sickening.......................

Posted by: barry  | August 28, 2007 2:48 PM

Dave Coakley wrote...

I am a die hard Evertonian but all banter and slagging aside this shows class as a football club and as human beings.

I commend yourself and LFC for this heartfelt show of support and the class the club has shown.

Thank you,

Dave Coakley.

Posted by: Dave Coakley  | August 28, 2007 2:57 PM

Jim Reardon wrote...

On Behalf of all KEIOC "Keep Everton In Our City" we would sincerely like to thankyou for this kind gesture..

Jim
Chair

Posted by: Jim Reardon  | August 28, 2007 4:38 PM

B. Fowler wrote...

Well done Tony.

The whole thing is not about football rivalry, it's all scousers being united. It makes it even more special as today is Liverpool's 800th birthday. 2 clubs, 1 city.

If it could make Rhy's parents feel better, I could sing Z-Cars and wear a Toffee shirt all day.

Little man, RIP. YNWA.

Posted by: B. Fowler  | August 28, 2007 4:50 PM

paul wrote...

well done to tony barret and especially liverpool football club great gesture am sure his parents will be touched.

R.I.P RHYS
Y.N.W.A

Posted by: paul  | August 28, 2007 4:51 PM

John wrote...

The gestures from Everton and Liverpool FC's is more to do with countering gun crime in the city and hopefully beyond.

Posted by: John  | August 28, 2007 5:57 PM

alex wafer wrote...

Well in to everyone who had a hand in this decision being taken.

Yes, it's a tribute to young Rhys but perhaps more importantly it might increase pressure on people to come forward as witnesses and it also shows a united front against the stupid culture within which arseing around with guns is acceptable.

Posted by: alex wafer  | August 28, 2007 6:12 PM

alex wafer wrote...

Cally, no doubt there will be plenty of tears at Anfield tonight during Johnny Todd but if people like you get the idea this is a sentimental gesture by the club then that's their misunderstanding.

To my mind clubs with all their money and the power they hold over their support, especially the kids, could do a lot more to confront social problems and support communities. Liverppol FC like the rest could and should do more. This is a good start.

Posted by: alex wafer  | August 28, 2007 6:55 PM

Paddy Howlin wrote...

Watching this tonight made me proud to be from this City - regardless of which team I support. All credit for LFC in arranging this. It was a fantastic tribute in terrible circumstances. I'm sure it will have meant the world to Rhys family and thousands of Evertonians like myself who have young children who have been touched by this. RIP Rhys.

Posted by: Paddy Howlin  | August 28, 2007 10:36 PM

John wrote...

Fritz Speigl, an Austrian Jewish regugee from the NAZIs, was principal flautist with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. He composed the Z Cars theme, based on the tune of the Liverpool folk song Johnny Todd.

The version played tonight was the Z Cars theme, not Johnny Todd.

Posted by: John  | August 29, 2007 12:05 AM

Anthony Garcia wrote...

well done tony and Liverpool FC. It shows that despite the rivalry we can still come together and mourn the loss of a young boy who was tragically killed! Great gesture and YNWA Rhys RIP

Posted by: Anthony Garcia  | August 29, 2007 12:39 AM

Jim McCabe wrote...

Tony, your suggestion paid off big time last night. I was there & it was the most emotional moment at Anfield since Hillsborough (I was on the Leppings Lane Terrace). Cheers, mate.

Posted by: Jim McCabe  | August 29, 2007 2:06 AM