Graham Stuart says it was a joy to speak with Evertonian Roy Jones on Wednesday – and it is “incredibly important” for the Club to take care of its Blue Family.

Former player Stuart and fellow Everton Ambassadors Graeme Sharp and Ian Snodin have joined current stars and manager Carlo Ancelotti in personally contacting supporters as part of the Club’s Blue Family campaign.

Stuart, an FA Cup winner with Everton in 1995, called Roy, who is living with terminal cancer, hours after Roy’s son Gwyn got in touch with Everton in the Community [EitC].

Everton and it official EitC charity combined to launch Blue Family following the coronavirus outbreak and resultant suspension of football.

The initiative is designed to maintain and extend the Club’s reach and provide assistance and support for vulnerable, socially-isolated and at-risk members of the community of Liverpool and beyond.

Gwyn Jones posted on Twitter on Wednesday: “My father has terminal cancer. I only contacted EitC last night.

“Graham Stuart rang him this morning and talked to him for 40 minutes about Everton & life. Unbelievable gesture. Thank you so much for making his and my day.”

“We were having such a lovely conversation I had no idea how long it was,” said Stuart.

“We all have plenty of time on our hands and it was nice to speak to someone rather than being in my own company.

“We talked football and Everton and general life and his situation.

“If something good has come out of it that is great.

“As part of our EitC programmes, so many people come to Goodison Park, to the Blue Base, every week.

“They look forward to it and it’s the main thing in their week.

“All of a sudden that stopped for them and it is incredibly important we keep in touch with people, to make sure the Blue Family is looked after.

“There are an awful lot of isolated people out there and as a club we decided it was very important we did that [contact fans] every day.”

Everton has engaged with more than 1,000 supporters under the Blue Family umbrella, with Ancelotti, Chairman Bill Kenwright and CEO Denise Barrett-Baxendale heading the Club’s drive.by contacting potentially vulnerable fans.

Players including Mason Holgate, Michael Keane, Seamus Coleman and Leighton Baines have made personal calls and more first-team and women’s stars are poised to follow suit.

>>>DONATE TO THE BLUE FAMILY CAMPAIGN AND FIND OUT MORE BY CLICKING HERE<<<

“The Chairman, Duncan, Denise, Carlo and a lot of the first-team squad are involved,” said Stuart.

"But there are lot of people who do not get a mention doing a lot of very good work at Everton Football Club – people in the Fan Centre making lots of calls to make sure supporters are okay.

“The Club is giving out food parcels and mobile phone tops-ups.

“Of course we miss football but there’s a bigger picture and that is a lot of people are struggling at the moment.”

Snodin played more than 200 matches for the Club and claimed a league champions’ medal in 1987.

And he is drawing inspiration from maintaining regular contact with fans.

“It’s been so rewarding from a personal point of view,” said Snodin.

“I’ve had some lovely conversations with our supporters and it once again brings home just how important the Football Club is to people.

“We are one big family and stick together and that’s the message we are getting across.

“We get a list each morning of names and numbers, with a bit of background information, and all we have to do is call supporters and make sure they’re doing okay.

“They are all so grateful we’ve made contact but it’s been a pleasure and something me and the other two guys have found uplifting.”

>>>DONATE TO THE BLUE FAMILY CAMPAIGN AND FIND OUT MORE BY CLICKING HERE<<<