Madeleine McCann‘s mother was among the mourners paying their final respects at the funeral of Everton chairman Bill Kenwright.
The former Coronation Street star died in October just months after having an operation to remove a cancerous tumour from his liver.
Mourners gathered at Liverpool Cathedral on Monday to mark the 78-year-old’s life – including missing Maddie’s mother, whose family was supported by the club when the three-year-old vanished 16 years ago.
Kate, 55, was snapped arriving at the service sporting a blue Everton scarf, with another the same colour tucked underneath.
The McCanns have always been fans of The Toffees, with Maddie pictured wearing a club shirt in one of her last known pictures.
Madeleine McCann’s mother’s, Kate, made a rare public appearance to honour the life of Everton chairman Bill Kenwright
Former Toffees chairman Kenwright died aged 78 in October. In 2007, Kenwright supported a campaign to distribute Everton shirts emblazoned with Madeleine’s face on them
One of the last known pictures of Maddie before she vanished in 2007 showed her sporting the Everton football kit
Kate and her husband Gerry appeared close with Mr Kenwright, who had been Everton’s chairman for 19 years before his death.
In 2014, the McCanns were pictured alongside the former actor while watching Everton play at their home ground, Goodison Park.
Three-year-old Maddie vanished in 2007 while holidaying with her family in Praia da Luz, Portugal. In the days after her disappearance, Everton rallied behind the McCanns.
Former captain Philip Neville, who now coaches US team the Portland Timbers, begged for her safe return.
‘As a parent it is so hard to imagine the terrible time Madeleine and her family must be going through at the moment,’ he said at the time, the Manchester Evening News reported.
‘I just want to appeal for Madeleine’s safe return. If anybody knows anything at all about the whereabouts of Madeleine, please contact the police.
‘My thoughts go out to Madeleine and her family at this extremely distressing time. I, like everyone across the country, just want Madeleine to be back safe in the arms of her parents.
‘Everton has fans all over the world and I know that they, along with everyone connected with the football club, are hoping and praying for Madeleine’s safe return.’
Kate and her husband Gerry appeared close with Mr Kenwright, who had been Everton’s chairman for 19 years before his death. They are pictured in 2014 at Goodison Park.
Kate McCann joined footballing royalty to pay her respect to Kenwright during his funeral at Liverpool Cathedral on Monday
Later, the club marked the one-year anniversary of Maddie’s disappearance by lighting up the stadium.
The following year, Everton went a step further, launching an international campaign to ‘re-energise’ the search for Maddie.
Travelling to Portugal, the Toffees printed thousands of T-shirts with the message: ‘We’re Still Looking For You’ on them.
The club printed 3,000 of the new shirts in English, with the same number created in Portuguese.
Speaking at the time, the late Mr Kenwright said: ‘This is just our way of reminding people – not just in the UK and Portugal but across the globe – that this child is still out there somewhere.
‘If we can, perhaps, jog someone’s memory or breathe a little fresh life into the hunt for her then it will have been worth it.’
Former club manager David Moyes added at the time: ‘Everyone connected with Everton Football Club simply wishes to see Madeleine reunited with her family.’
In May, the McCanns were pictured during a poignant memorial in Rothley, Leicestershire, to mark the 16th anniversary of Maddie’s disappearance.
Kate and Gerry McCann with their daughter Amelie at the prayer service in the village of Rothley to mark the 16th anniversary of the disappearance of their daughter Madeleine
Theatre impresarios Mr Kenwright was diagnosed with cancer in 2015. Earlier this year, he underwent an operation to remove a tumour in his liver.
After spending time in intensive care, he returned home in October and was expected to make a ‘lengthy but complete’ recovery. But later that month, Everton announced he had died.
Mr Kenwright’s partner Jenny Seagrove and daughter Lucy said they were ‘devastated’ by his death.
They said he died ‘peacefully’ surrounded by his loved ones after a ‘long battle with illness’.
