Paul Stratton was honoured for his heroic work helping Ukraine at Goodison Park

Everton super-fan scores penalty in pre-season friendly with Dynamo Kyiv after hero is honoured for his work helping Ukraine… while defender Vitaliy Mykolenko reveals his father is fighting in his homeland

  • Everton fan Paul Stratton was honoured for his work helping Ukrainian refugees
  • The council worker traveled to Poland in March to give out supplies
  • Stratton scored a penalty in the Toffees’ friendly with Dynamo Kyiv on Friday
  • Vitaliy Mykolenko revealed his father was part of a military group in Ukraine

Everton super-fan Paul Stratton was honoured for his heroic work helping Ukraine during the Toffees’ pre-season friendly with Dynamo Kyiv.

The Liverpool council worker was introduced as a substitute by manager Frank Lampard to take a penalty during the game at Goodison Park.

Stratton converted from the spot and received a standing ovation from the fans before being embraced by the Everton players. 

Paul Stratton was honoured for his heroic work helping Ukraine at Goodison Park

Paul Stratton was honoured for his heroic work helping Ukraine at Goodison Park

The Liverpool charity work traveled to Poland to help refugees who were fleeing Ukraine

The Liverpool charity work traveled to Poland to help refugees who were fleeing Ukraine

The Liverpool Echo reported that the ex-police officer traveled to Poland in March to help refugees who were fleeing from Ukraine.

The Echo said he was ‘accompanied by a Polish phrasebook and a network of former police and army colleagues.’

And Stratton was commended for his heroic work with a moment that he will never forget.

It was an emotional evening in Merseyside as Stratton was substituted to take a penalty

It was an emotional evening in Merseyside as Stratton was substituted to take a penalty

After scoring the penalty, the council worker ran behind the goal at the Gwladys Street End and fell to his knees before kissing the Everton badge.

It rounded off a 3-0 win for Frank Lampard’s side at Goodison Park ahead of the upcoming campaign.

Everton defender Vitaliy Mykolenko, who is from Ukraine, captained the Blues in an emotional night for everyone involved.

Everton defender Vitaliy Mykolenko captained the Toffees in the friendly with Dynamo Kyiv

Everton defender Vitaliy Mykolenko captained the Toffees in the friendly with Dynamo Kyiv

The left-back revealed that his father is part of a military unit in his homeland.

Speaking before the match with Dynamo Kyiv, he said: ‘My family is still in Ukraine, everyone – my uncle, my dad, my mother. They are OK. 

‘[My father] is military but he is in Kyiv. He is working in a military unit, but he is not going to the east of Ukraine. I am proud of him. I love them, my father, my mother.’ 

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