Dwight McNeil is perhaps one of football’s most reserved characters.
A person who likes to keep himself to himself and just go about his daily business in the best possible way. But on the inside is a man determined to do the right thing.
So much so that McNeil approached Everton ahead of the festive season getting started and wanted to do his bit to help those in need. Along with his girlfriend, Meg Sharpley, the winger decided to support three different charities in the lead up to Christmas.
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All three of those charities were Merseyside-based and through the work of McNeil and his girlfriend, thousands have since benefited. The first charity to benefit was Mission Christmas, an appeal run by Radio City whereby they ask people to buy an extra present to give to a disadvantaged local child to make their Christmas morning special.
The Whitechapel Centre – the leading homeless and housing charity for the Liverpool region - also benefited as a result of McNeil’s generosity. As well as buying items that the Whitechapel have requested for their gift bags, the couple are also making a contribution towards the 100 Christmas dinners for homeless people in the city.
The final charity to benefit was Everton in the Community, the club’s official charity. It is well documented the work the people involved with the charity do across Merseyside, but McNeil was determined to play his part in helping.
In addition to making a donation to pay for a festive box of biscuits for every family who uses the pantry outside the Blue Base this Christmas, McNeil also bought gifts and paid for meals for children who were set to attend the Blue Grotto event at the facility.
And it is here where we chat, with McNeil, along with Sharpley, taking part in a number of activities with the children present. A visit to see Blue Santa is also on the agenda.
Over 140 children attended the event over two days, and for McNeIl it is important to feel part of a community he now serves.
“I know how big the community is here from playing here previously,” he tells the ECHO. “When I joined I thought it was important to try and give something back to the fans from day one because they are the ones behind us week in week out.
“I thought it was important to try and give back and learn more about the community at Everton.”
Over the past month, not content with the donations they have made, both the winger and Sharpley have spent time visiting some of the places that will benefit as a result of their generosity this Christmas.
“We have said how everyone is so nice. They are so welcoming. You want to do everything for them, but they want to do everything for you as well,” he says when reflecting on the trips.
“It is a nice place to be and we know that some people are struggling here and they still keep strong and they are still marching on. Everyone is together. It was something we wanted to get involved with and something with what we wanted to give back to.”
And it is at this point in our conversation that Sharpley, who is a regular at Goodison Park watching the England under-21 international in action, opens up on her first visit to Goodison back in July that left her in awe of Blues supporters.
“Coming from Burnley, which is my hometown, and obviously they have a fanbase which is amazing as well,” she tells the ECHO.
“Coming to Everton, the first game I came to was a friendly [against Dynamo Kyiv], and I was used to friendlies being quite low key and not very many people there, but oh my goodness it was like an end of season game.
“It was like a final or something and it was just amazing to see this fanbase and the community. I think what Dwight mentioned is so important to get to know what you are dealing with and what they are going through.
“We have been to Liverpool once or twice maybe in the past, but other than that, this is the first time we have been in and around Liverpool.
“Like Dwight said, you just get greeted by a smile. Everyone is friendly and it is just amazing and so nice. But yeah, the fanbase is just mental, in a good way.”
Footballers, and those associated with them, are incredibly privileged people. Most footballers are paid to do what they love, and it is easy to see why so many, given the social media aspect of modern day life these days, struggle to keep their feet on the ground.
But in the case of McNeil there are no such problems. He takes pride in remaining grounded and not forgetting his roots. And if he does start to get ahead of himself you can guarantee that Sharpley will be ready to bring him back down to earth.
“We went to the Cash For Kids last week and we were just saying how privileged and lucky we were growing up and we don’t really know what it is like unless you get yourself involved,” Sharpley says when looking back on the last few weeks.
“Once we have done that we have become more aware of how much people are struggling at the minute, everything that is going on with the energy crisis, the bills are going up.
“But they are also there hanging in there fighting and it does make you happy at the same time. You are helping but also brings that bit of sadness to you because of what people are going through.
“We just turn up and being there brings a smile to their faces as well. We are just trying to do our part the best we can. It is so easy to ignore it. We could sit here and just ignore it and just carry with life and pretend it is not happening.
“Everyone has their own stress and stuff so it would be easy to ignore and do nothing, but it is so important, especially in your position Dwight, to bring yourself back down to earth and realise what is happening in the country. So it has definitely been something that is really important for us to keep ourselves grounded.”
McNeil joined Everton from Burnley during the summer transfer window. But when his side return to Premier League action on Monday against Wolves, they do so just a point above the relegation zone.
But while results in football can never be guaranteed, McNeil is determined to do all he can to ensure Blues supporters, who are going through so much in these tough times, have something to shout about in the second-half of the season.
“It is that togetherness within the group and with the fans as well I think, especially last year the place the club was in, how go the fans were and they got them over the line,” he says.
“This year we want to try and give it back to the fans because it is what they deserve. We know it is an important second-half of the season.
“We want to give as much as we can back to the fans and finish the season strong because we know we have got a good team. But it is now all about proving it to everyone else. We want to do it for ourselves and the fans as well.”
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