Column What Makes an Evertonian? Charlie Skinley 23/10/2007 32comments | Jump to last Following an excellent article recently on ToffeeWeb (by Jarrod Prosser), I got wondering on what makes an Evertonian. The article was basically saying you don't need to be from Liverpool to be a blue and that we should respect, or at the very least, understand that other blues may well have a differing outlook on all things Everton. The responses this article got were excellent and really interesting. It was the notion of you are 'born an Evertonian' and the differences of opinion that really started to make me think. I have just read an article from a regular contributor on ToffeeWeb whose views are so different from mine I so often find myself shouting in disagreement at my monitor, as I'm sure he does at contributors who hold similar views to me. Yet here we both are viewing the same website, supporting the same team and for all we know possibly sitting next to each other on match days at Goodison. When I thought about it I was actually intrigued at the huge differences there are between Evertonians at the moment, here is three of the major ones: Moyes ? Done an amazing job with little funds vs We have not moved forward under him Kenwright ? Saviour vs Villain Kirkby - Will allow the club to compete vs Will destroy the club And yet, despite these differences, the fans make Goodison (on its day) one of the most intimidating grounds in the country and our away fans are held in high regard ? even Jose Mourinho complimented the Everton fans on several occasions both home and away. The above are a few of the big dividing issues and it is certainly not my intention to debate them now; there are other differences that could also be included. Some may say that all football club supporters have these differences, but do they and do they have to contend with them all at the same time? What I have noticed is there are many Evertonians who have total opposing views on all of the above; if this was a political area it would be equivalent to being a Miner or a Thatcherite!!! But yet here we are, still debating whether Clattenburg was Liverpool's man of the match or whether it was Moyes tactics that actually lost us the match ? intriguing! So are we different to other Premier League supporters? I honestly don't know what it is but I do feel we are. Is it because a number of supporters remember when we were the best in the land and others don't? I don't know! Which brings me to my next question: Do you need to be born a Blue to be a proper Evertonian? I probably originally leaned towards the answer being Yes. However, after reading Jarrod's article and the associated heart-felt replies I now think that clearly is not the case (although I'm sure it helps). When I think about it, despite being born into a fanatical Everton family I never took an interest in football until I was 15 ? first match and I was hooked (although I sometimes wish I never went to that first match!). Whether you are an Aussie who watched Everton for the first time because of Cahill or your dad's a red and you wanted to piss him off, does that make you any lesser of an Evertonian? ? I think not. So, what does make an Evertonian? For me its the passion, quite simply for me being an Evertonian is my religion. So come on then, let's have your thoughts........ Miners and Thatcherite's a like! Reader Comments Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer Michael Kenrick 1 Posted 24/10/2007 at 06:53:36 Report abuse Great article, Charlie, with some great questions. I know I often feel I have the answer to everything but on this I have no idea! One thing I really liked was your ability to embrace all sides of the issues. I think that has been for me the biggest positive of ToffeeWeb ? the huge diversity of Evertonian views out there. It’s brought home that truth to me: I can’t answer your question but I do know that Richard Dodd is just as much an Evertonian as Tony Marsh. And that’s why people like Andrew Callan really, really piss me off. Yes, he too is an Evertonian... but calling other Blues "Kopites" is for me the ultimate unforgivable crime against all that is Blue. I don’t know why that riles me so much but I just hate it when fellow Blues use this website to call each other "Kopites". Great post! Arther Scargill 2 Posted 24/10/2007 at 07:27:28 Report abuse ?Anyone who doesn?t criticise Moyes and is for the Kirkby move is a Kopite scab? (C/O T Marsh) Kevin Sparke 3 Posted 24/10/2007 at 07:32:25 Report abuse ...Nice article BTW Jimmy Crack 4 Posted 24/10/2007 at 08:29:13 Report abuse Fantastic article.I think a true Evertonian is one who still supports the club despite all its many faults. They don’t have to like everything they’re doing, in fact they probably don’t. But they would stand by the club no matter what. Through every loss, relegation or even going into administration (god forbid). I know I would. Ciaran Duff 5 Posted 24/10/2007 at 08:25:06 Report abuse I think one vital constituent of an Everton fan has to be the ability to deal with pain (and lots of it). The loss on Sat was just a classic vignette in the Everton journey. Different people deal with pain differently. Some like to wallow and enjoy it while others seem to use blind optimism to get them through. Maybe that accounts for the diversity of views on this site.For me, it would be no fun to follow a team like Manure or Chelski with tons of money. As I say to my Manure mates "follow a REAL team, not a corporation". Victory needs to be earned and when it does come (oops I’m starting to get optimistic here) it will be sweet. Dave Brown 6 Posted 24/10/2007 at 08:59:56 Report abuse I wake every morning and the first thing I do is think of my beloved team. I check teletext every morning before i go to work, when i come home from work and before I go to bed to see if there is any news about Everton. I have spent thousands of pounds travelling to Goodison whether on my own or with the local supporters club, and have only recently stopped going as I am being paid to play rugby on the weekends. As soon as I retire from playing I will be back every week. I have no affiliation with the city of Liverpool other than the fact I support Everton. I have done for 23 years and even in the darkest days my support has never waned. The fact that I am from Cardiff may make me a non-evertonian, but in my heart I am - and I think that’s what counts. NSNO lee rogers 7 Posted 24/10/2007 at 09:58:47 Report abuse i was born in north wales my grandad was a blue so i had no choice even now when he watches the derby in the legion and if a red nose tries to sit near him he gives them a big f.o tablet my first game was man c everton at main road good old dai davies in goal saved a pen we won 3-1then i was hooked bob latchford if your read this i love you my hero Dave Brown 8 Posted 24/10/2007 at 10:25:58 Report abuse my first real memory is losing to Man Utd in the 1985 cup final. my old man is a man utd fan so couldn’t support them. Wanted something pure for myself. Plus Big Nev was in goal. My all time hero.997725 Dana Barrett 9 Posted 24/10/2007 at 10:56:06 Report abuse Its strange, but many years ago (i wont say how long ago but teams like ipswich and notts forest had very good sides) i went taken down to my local cornershop in a little village in Buckinghamshire and was stuck for something to be purchased for my good self. My grandfather was getting a little impatient, when i happened to notice some distinctive black and white sweets on a nearby shelf. Everton mints naturally. - After that i discovered i had both a partiality for the said mints themselves and of course the team itself. At the time gordon lee would have been manager and i dont remember those days too fondly. The following years albeit brief as they were made me grateful that i had picked the right sweets at least. Thank god they did not have red shite sherberts! Arthur jones 10 Posted 24/10/2007 at 11:04:14 Report abuse An excellent article , some of my biggest arguments are with fellow blues , RS suppoorters who are also mates don’t even bother taking the piss after travesties like saturday because they know by now that I take absolutely no notice of whatever drivel they wish to spout . I disagree with my blue mates on occasions and them with me but at the end of the day we are Blues who drink in a predominately RS pub , united by the fact we are Blues and would never be anything else . If this is a blinkered view then so be it , jacqui moore 11 Posted 24/10/2007 at 10:47:00 Report abuse Absolutely brilliant article. Once again I do not have the answers. What I do know is that being an Evertonian puts you in good stead for life.Why, because life is full of ups and downs and that is certainly what Everton put you through.It’s how you react, and being part of a family you stick together no matter what the different views are. I think sometimes being an Evertonian you become even more passionate when the team are doing badly. Defiant to everyone around us (especially the RS).Proud to be blue until the day I die no matter what. magicjuan 12 Posted 24/10/2007 at 12:02:33 Report abuse As well put as the article is, for me since the ’vote’ the question has now become what is Everton FC?Are we the same club? Are we trying to be too similar to other clubs, ie chasing the corporate dollar? Has the image changed?How do others see us?I feel that the change with the ground move has changed things Peter Nickson 13 Posted 24/10/2007 at 11:49:59 Report abuse I’ve got a season ticket in the top balcony. My dad sits next to me. Tomorrow I’m taking my eight year old son to the Larissa game. My Dad who’s nearly eighty didn’t feel up to an evening kick off, but my mum - a mere youngster at 76! - said she would like to go. So the three of us are going. My mum tells the story of how she sat on her dad’s shoulders in ’33 when Dixie brought the FA cup home. That image of my mother as a 2 year old on her dad’s shoulders during the depression years always brings tears to my eyes. Although I now live in south Cheshire, both sides of my family originate from Kirkdale. Times were tough. The game on thursday will be to me and many Evertonians much more than a game. It will be replete with memories, associations, feelings and history. So what makes an Evertonian? It’s more than watching or even winning football matches. For me it’s a part of what I am and my life story. I guess for Evertonians everywhere, the answer is the same, although the details of the story might differ. Peter Venkman 14 Posted 24/10/2007 at 12:02:42 Report abuse As stated, of course you dont have to be from liverpool, merseyside or indeed the north in general to follow this team. I was born in hoboken, new jersey but have followed everton for nearly 25 years now, my good fortune being just in time to see and appreciate the great side that howard assembled even if that was short lived. I was not born a blue, my parents had no interest in football whatsoever, I just chose to follow them when howard was in the process of building a great side. As some have stated before me i dont see the club as the end all and be all part of my life. Sure i read comments most days of the weeks on here but (unlike my co workers) try to keep things to a minimum. Daniel Lim 15 Posted 24/10/2007 at 13:13:57 Report abuse I am not sure if I am answering your question, but I would like to say this: Evertonian is a word reserved for a person with conscience. If what happened on last Saturday were in favour of us, I would not come out and defend people like the wrestling RS, the flying RS and the 12th man (which one of my RS friend did). That’s simply because I know what is right and what is wrong. I would think that all my fellow Evertonians have class as well. Iain McWilliam 16 Posted 24/10/2007 at 13:22:12 Report abuse I can’t say I was born an Evertonian, but I was born into a family of Evertonians that goes way back. I went through primary school not really caring too much about footy, I was more into cricket (it was the time of Ian Botham and the Ashes you see). At that point my grades were ok apparently and I was looking forward to a high flying career in finance (operating the till at Tescos)...but then my dad took me to Goodison and I was immediately hooked. My grades went to shit, I developed a persecution complex, an irrational hatred for anything red, and a deep sense of injustice in the world.Despite these mental defects that supporting Everton has caused and the pain of numerous injustices against us (still can’t watch any clip of the ’86 cup final as that was the worse day of my life) I still support them.In short, I think we have to take more shit than most and that makes us more passionate than the rest, regardless of where you are from or which manager you like. Michael Phillips 17 Posted 24/10/2007 at 13:15:37 Report abuse I was born in North London in the ’60s and my parents had no interest in sport, but I once saw Everton on the telly and decided to support them (I think it was probably Alan Ball that made me want to support them). When my neighbour who was a red because his family came from Liverpool asked who I followed He told me they were doing well. We then won the League in 1970 and I have been a blue ever since. I used to go to the odd game in London in th 70’s but started again at the 95 Charity Shield. After that I went with a colleague to Wimbledon in 96 and my 5 year old son begged to come along. At 4-0 down he had worked out that if we scored 5 goals we would win (Yeh Right!), but he was hooked. We now make the journey to Goodison fro Essex a couple of times a year and will be at the Larissa game tomorrow for our first ever European game. I still can’t say why I’m an Evertonian but ’Once a Blue always a Blue!’ Chris Oakland 18 Posted 24/10/2007 at 14:06:26 Report abuse One thing about supporting this team you develop a "siege mentality" . I do at least. I wont disclose my whereabouts but im a long way from Goodison Park but no less an evertonian. All this talk of - other clubs and their supporters in Norway or Chile. Ive never been to oslo or santiago to verify this but its well known across the globe that the biggest clubs have fan bases worldwide. That includes us which incidentally brings me to my last point. Last year i was on holiday over in Utah and went for an evening mass at a local church. Imagine my horror. - Here tonight -on a nearby sign- liverpool supporters all welcome. With increasing apprehension i arrived and to my relief i found the "supporters" were to do with a local ecclestastical group from Salt lake city which while had the same name, had nothing whatsoever to do with the Red Shite. Paul Kellett 19 Posted 24/10/2007 at 15:24:54 Report abuse We’re all in this together ! I hear my daughter singing from her bedroom from her sountrack of High School Musical... and thats just where we are as blues... we may have our differences but we all want the same common goal. As for me and why a blue ? Bob Latchford is the answer..... In the days when football replica kits where just blue shirt, red shirt, white shirt I got a blue shirt for my birthday when I was around 6 years old. More importantly Mum had sewn a white number 9 on the back. I asked Dad what team this was and who was number 9. Big Bob Latchford of Everton came his reply... that was it ! My dad was a Preston North End fan and living in Preston I guess he would’ve wanted me as PNE ( I mean I would be gutted if my 5 year old wnated to support anyone other than us) ...but in the 70’s he completely respected my choice on the basis that I didn;t just want to support a winning team like all the other kids in the street wanting to be Kevin Keegan and wearing their red shirts..But because I wanted to follow big Latch and that under achieving team of the time he was proud that I stuck with them. My dad passed away before I could see Everton ever play Preston...but when they did in the cup a few years ago... I wore both shirts ..one for him and one for me... Blue of top though ! 30 something years later here I am ... season ticket for the last 20 and yearning for success. I love the debate the issues give, but remember what I said at the start.. doesn’t matter were you are from or how you came about supporting this great club... WE’RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER. dean 20 Posted 24/10/2007 at 16:48:21 Report abuse nice article, but I would like to suggest that whatever makes an evertonian, makes every other supporter in the country as well.We are not special, we have no "divine" right to anything.Everyone needs something to believe in, be it a god, or footballer, a brand or all of these. I can’t blindly follow and spend all my cash because my head rules my heart (mostly) but I have no problem with people that do.When Everton lose, I feel like dying, when we lose to Liverpool, i feel even worse, then England lose at football, rugby and motorsport and I’m tying the noose........Then I realise that I’m just being a neurotic idiot who places too much importance on something that means so little. Andy Ellams 21 Posted 24/10/2007 at 16:48:04 Report abuse I come from generations of Evertonians all from the City of Liverpool. Although I was the last to be born there in my immediate family and now live in Bedfordshire, does this mean my daughter who is just starting to show an interest in all things blue is going to be any less of an Evertonian ? Not if I can help it. Chris Masey 22 Posted 24/10/2007 at 17:01:48 Report abuse All Evertonians have different levels of expectations and thats what makes the power of debate so interesting. However, we are all united by one goal, winning football matches. Some will accept three points. Some will only accept three points with a great performance. Personally, I just want to see the players put in 100%, as I do with my commitment to the cause, and I only get frustrated when I don’t think this is happening.When we start winning again, there will be some more positivity. We’ve been unlucky in recent weeks, and I can sense its going to change, so keep the faith boys. Lue Glover 23 Posted 24/10/2007 at 17:13:29 Report abuse Nice one Charlie, I’m still bleeding after Saturday but I know that there are thousands like me feeling the same, win or lose, hoofball or football, we’d follow the team anywhere. I always smile when I see a fellow Blue, especially if it’s away from the north west, I always want to go up and say hello but I always worry that some poor bloke might think that someone’s nan is looking for a toy boy.....Yes, it is a family, we argue about this and that, we feel strongly about who DM picks and what he does but deep down it doesnt matter because we’ll still be there next week, feeling the pain and the joy, preferably more joy than pain. Come on Everton, turn on some magic tomorrow night, we all need a tonic after Saturday.And here’s a message to the delightful young man who was sat next to me in th GS, bless ’im, he sat there trying hard not to swear until I stood up and said something unrepeatable aimed at the ref. The look of relief on his face was a picture! He also gave me a great big hug when we scored! What a sweetie.Come on you Blues. Charlie Skinley 24 Posted 24/10/2007 at 19:44:43 Report abuse Thanks for all the replies, some bloody good stuff in there.Lue, your response made me laugh and has put a big smile on my face (first since Saturday)!! Kevin Tonks 25 Posted 24/10/2007 at 22:36:59 Report abuse Living in Ireland in a world of Man UTD and Liverpool fans its an honour to support the blues!!we are distinguished by being great ambassadors for the club , we have a great knowledge of other clubs Saturday was a painful day but we will all wake up tomorrow again ready to back the mighty blues! Santosh Benjamin 26 Posted 25/10/2007 at 00:09:55 Report abuse I am from India and was not born an Evertonian.I happened to live in Liverpool for a couple of years in my childhood days and became an Evertonian then....has been 20 years now and there have been a lot of ups and downs but there is nothing im more proud of than the fact that im an Evertonian.I love the attitude that most Evertonians have on here and Charlie,your article and the responses really struck a chord...well done.My reaction on Saturday like many other times when the forces are against us is usually one of anger followed by sadness.I hope we can win against Larissa and get back on track.I will breathe Blue till i die....come on you Blues!!! Laurie Hartley 27 Posted 25/10/2007 at 12:49:06 Report abuse It could be genetic? My dad (God rest his soul) was an Evertonian from when he was a little boy.It could be brain washing? I didn’t know about the reds until I saw that they had been promoted from the second division when I saw an article in the Football Echo. (My dad used to call them the scabby heads).It’s not where your born! Birkenhead in my case 58 years ago. There were a lot of Evertonians in Birkenhead and North Wales in those days. From what I read on this board there still are.Its not where you live - Melbourne for the last 34 years.You’ve got to be loyal, you’ve got to have fortitude, you’ve got to be passionate, you’ve got to be one eyed and perhaps a little bit mad.And last but not least - you have to be an optimist.We will be great again!Come on the Bluuuues! Chris R 28 Posted 28/10/2007 at 09:49:40 Report abuse I come from a small town 40 miles north of Newcastle. Whilst most of my peers took to supporting Newcastle, it is part of my personality to want something diferent, to be different. As a child of 8 I didnt really think about the best team with the biggest stars, I just relt a natural affinity to a club who often just couldnt quite match the liverpools or Man Us for sustained sucess (even if they did for a brief period in the 80s). Like all relationships the bond grows with time and history, events. I remember listening on a car radio as my parents shopped aged 14 as we went two nil down to Wimbedon. I screamed down the car park limpar went down like a scak of spuds and as horne and stuart grabbed victory.I know that as a non local there will always be something that I cant identify with amongst Evertonians. All I know is that it feels natural, I couldnt support any other. ITS OUT OF MY HANDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Don Maddocks 29 Posted 29/10/2007 at 00:34:20 Report abuse I was born in Hampden Street, Walton, within the sound of Goodison Park in 1936...My first match was just after the war...and it was against Arsenal. Everton’s team included all the greats, Sagar, Jones, Lello, Moore, Farrell, Fielding, Parker, Hickson, Eglington etc., and with my dad at my side (who was on Everton’s books at one time) in the Paddock, I was Blue struck and have never recovered. The first thing I look for in news items, will be anything connected to the Blues...My favourite player of all time was the Golden Vision - Alex Young, how I remember how the crowd would grow in expectation when that guy got the ball..I have a downer when my Blues do not win, and I am on cloud9 when they do..I cannot ever see how I could support another team and I shall be asking how they got on, when I am on my death bed. That is what being an Evertonian means to me... JL Slap 30 Posted 29/10/2007 at 11:47:30 Report abuse Just wanted to throw my two bobs worth on here.I absolutley love football as a game, I still play on sat & sundays, I’m one of them saddo’s that watches Championship, Italian, Spanish games (Eurogoals on Eurosport - top show) every world cup game even Ghana v Mexico would keep me off work or at least online!!! My point is my Dad was a red but my Mother is a blue, given the choice when I was 6 (as I was) or given the choice now I’m 27 I would always choose Everton, ALWAYS.If you wanna know how special you are to be an Evertonian listen to other fans from other clubs either online/radio phone-ins or the boozer. It is glaringly obvious that there is something about being an Evertonian which sets us apart. Our History, our away support, our success, our failures....I dont know but its definitly there, that loyalty to the greatest club in the world never wavers.Dixie Dean, Goodison, School of science, Brian Labone, the 80’s, Big Dunc, beating the shite, Latchford, Big Nev..........COYB Paul Gregus 31 Posted 29/10/2007 at 20:47:17 Report abuse I’m from Liverpool, born and bred. Evertonians are born not manufactured, no truer words spoken. My Dad is an RS with a european cup tattooed on his arm from Rome in the 70’s, he went everywhere with them. I’m his eldest lad, i was five and told him i wanted to support Everton, did he try to change me, no, he took me to my first Everton game. I now have a daughter, would i take her to a Liverpool match - not a chance. She’s a blue and has got no say in the matter. How times have changed !!!! Kevin C 32 Posted 30/10/2007 at 09:43:18 Report abuse Hi. I’m an Evertonian from Malaysia. Supported Everton since I was 8 years old. Now I’m 34 and still hold Everton in my heart with the highest regard.I’m a Malaysian/Chinese and I call myself an Evertonian like the rest of you. My wife knows that my most favourite sports team is Everton. My 2 little girls 5 & 7 knows that their daddy is watching "Everton" games on Saturday nights in front of the TV. I asked them "how you know that’s Everton?""Because Daddy has the same shirt with CHANG in the middle" was their response. I love Everton. And while all my mates love Liverpool, Chelsea, MUtd, I will always stick by being an Evertonian forever. Chris A 33 Posted 30/10/2007 at 13:28:38 Report abuse what a cool thread.I’m an Australian-Greek living in Sydney and didn’t care much for football. It was 1985 and I was a keen rugby league Player. I referred to football as many Australian did at the time as ’wog ball’A good friend at the time played football and was obsessed with man. united. I can still remember the look on his face when I told him i had no idea what he was talking about. He talked me into watching this great team Man United... I watched the game as a neutral... didnt know anything about English football... I don’t know why... but after whiteside scored that spectacular goal, i felt it there and then ! i was a blue through and through.. and i still cant explain why how.Just was in awe off that team that day... and realised it after they went down 1-0 lolhow funny ! © ToffeeWeb