WATCH: Rhyl Evertonians become engaged in front of hero Duncan Ferguson

John Marchbank proposed to Kelly Walker at a charity event at the Devonshire Hotel, Liverpool on Friday, September 30, at which Everton legend Ferguson was the special guest.

The couple have known each other since they were children, and go to as many games as possible, with John organising a minibus from Rhyl to every match.

They are dreaming of having their wedding at either Goodison Park, Everton’s current stadium, or Bramley-Moore Dock, their new ground, which they are due to move into in the summer of 2024.

Kelly, who works at McDonald’s, said the gesture from John, who co-founded Rhyl’s K-Fest festival, caught her totally by surprise.

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She said: “We’d gone along and met Duncan first, and had our photograph taken, but John told me we were going back in, for him to sign his shirt, and he proposed in front of Duncan.

“I was totally in shock; I really didn’t expect it all. John is Duncan-obsessed; he always does silly things – last time we saw him, he got him to sign his leg, and had it tattooed over.

John proposes to Kelly in front of Duncan Ferguson (Image: Newsquest)

“I was thinking: ‘Oh God, what’s he going to do this time?’, but I really didn’t think it was going to be that; it was a proper surprise.

“Duncan was brilliant, he was in on it all, but he played along. He was a good laugh, and had loads of photographs with us. I think John’s trying to invite him to the wedding!

“We’re looking at the summer of 2024 – it’ll obviously be in pre-season, because we can’t have anything while there’s football on!

“John’s after getting Bramley-Moore, or Goodison, but I don’t know how that would happen!”