Spotlight on teenager, Finlay Costello-Smith, who is sporting a PHENOMENAL haircut for Wirral Hospice St John’s

A number of significant events recently came together for teenage Everton FC fan, Finlay Costello-Smith, to raise some funds to honour both of his late grandads, Patrick Costello and Bob Smith.

Both Patrick, in 2007, and Bob, in 2013, had lived their final days at Wirral Hospice St John’s. In 2013, Finlay’s mum, Mary, completed the BTR Liverpool half-marathon in their memory, just days after father-in-law, Bob had passed away. She raised a much appreciated £900 for the hospice.

Mary speaks glowingly of the care and support shown to both men at the hospice and how it holds a special place in all of their family’s hearts. Finlay adored his grandad Bob with whom he enjoyed really nice times as a younger child and although he was very young when grandad Patrick died, both men’s memories are kept well alive by the Costello-Smith’s and their close network of family and friends.

The month of March is significant as both men had died in that month and Finlay, now 14, had decided he wanted to do something to remember them.

Now, we all know that COVID-19 has closed schools around Wirral to all but a few children. Finlay is one of those ‘home-schooling’ and most markedly missing his mates (although we know modern technology can help us all to stay in touch, and Finlay is no different).

However, not being in school also gave him his chance to get a haircut that may have, in normal times, gone against school rules!

As we mentioned Finlay is Everton mad and one of his favourite players is Brazilian star, Richarlison. Finlay’s had a little bit of time to ‘gen’ up on a few of the Brazilian stars of the past and he’s been particularly drawn to their former national team superstar, at the time the world’s best player, Ronaldo* who was known by his countrymen as, O Fenómeno, The Phenomenon.

(*Not to be confused with the contemporary great, Cristiano Ronaldo, a superstar himself in the modern era. Nowadays, the older Ronaldo (pictured here), has picked up a bit of a reputation for liking his food so he’s become known as ‘fat Ronaldo’ which clearly distinguishes him from his younger namesake).

Older readers might remember that in the 2002 Ronaldo had helped Brazil to win the World Cup Final (the third final he had played in and his second victory) scoring two goals in the match. They might also remember that he was sporting, what has become, an iconic hairstyle!

Ronaldo had had all of his hair shaved off, except for an ‘island’ at the front (also in the picture here) telling the press afterwards that it was to deflect them from focusing on a small injury he was carrying.

So Finlay has taken the opportunity to have a severe ‘Ronaldo’ cut and to get family and friends to sponsor him, in order to raise funds for the hospice. Mum, Mary, picked up the shears on 29^th March and now Finlay can emulate one of the greatest players in football history.

Finlay was also thrilled when his Just Giving page was picked up by his current idol, Richarlison, and featured on the player’s Instagram page.

So far Finlay has gathered a hair raising £700 (plus) via Just Giving and the page is open for a while longer if you click here

So we say to lifelong Evertonian, Finlay (in memory of his grandad’s and the specialist care his Mum remembers Wirral Hospice St John’s delivering to them both) the Everton FC motto, Nil Satis Nisi Optimum young man, meaning, nothing but the best!

Author: Billy Howard