Liverpool boss to contact Mayfield teen's family

Liverpool Manager Brendan Rodgers will send a personal letter to the family of Mayfield boy Graham O'Connell who died suddenly on Monday evening. Friends of Graham, who was 14, had been contacting Liverpool FC through their Facebook and Twitter pages asking players and officials to remember Graham on the Liverpool scoreboard when they play Hearts in a match tonight. 

Yesterday Liverpool FC responded through their Facebook and Twitter pages saying: "We were saddened to learn of the passing of young Red Graham O’Connell. The thoughts of everyone at LFC are with his friends and family. We will be in touch direct with the family over the coming days."

A member of the Liverpool FC Press Office also confirmed that Rodgers would send a personal letter to the family saying that he felt that this was more of an appropriate gesture.

Graham, a lifelong Liverpool FC fan, died suddenly on Monday evening during a game of football with his friends. The Mayfield teenager, who was a student in St Aidan's Community College on Dublin Hill, collapsed near his home at the Steeples at about 5.45pm. It is understood he suffered from a heart condition.

His father, a local doctor and another neighbour rushed to the boy's aid following the incident and emergency services responded to calls for help but he was later pronounced dead at Cork University Hospital. He is survived by his parents David and Jackie and his sisters Edel and Karen.

Graham had been due to travel to Liverpool at the weekend to attend the Premier League match versus Arsenal. One message on the Liverpool FC Facebook page said: "Will ye do us a favour for one of your biggest fans Graham O'Connell who passed away recently at the age of 14. As a friend of Graham and a Liverpool supporter please put his name up on the scoreboard. It's what he would have wanted." 

Another post asking for the same had received 1115 'likes' from other Facebook users. Yesterday afternoon Liverpool player José Enrique retweeted a tweet asking Liverpool FC to do something for Graham. His removal took place last night and his funeral will be held today at at the Church of Our Lady Crowned in Mayfield and he will be buried afterwards in St Catherine's Cemetery, Kilcully.