Royal Recognition for Dr Everton

, 31 December, 25comments  |  Jump to most recent
Dr David France, OBE ? One Big Evertonian!
Dr David France, OBE — One Big Evertonian!!!

The incredible devotion of Dr David France has been recognized at the highest level with the announcement that Everton's greatest fan has been awarded the Order of the British Empire in the New Year's Honours List. The award is for services to Football in the UK and Europe, elevating the son of a Widnes chemical process worker to heights rarely achieved by any Evertonian, living or dead.

The great man confided, on being notified of the award, how proud he was to achieve success in Europe — something well beyond the current Everton manager, that none since since Howard Kendall has achieved.

[Although his ever-loving spouse, 'Lady' Elisabeth France, who has witnessed this life of Blue Devotion, and suffered neglect in reciprocal proportion, was heard to mutter some disappointment that it was not a knighthood...]

The list of Dr Everton's accomplishments to glorify the name of Everton is legendary but bears repeating:

  • The Everton former Players Foundation, working to improve the lives of former players from eras when they were not so well rewarded
  • The Everton Collection which adds to the astounding lifelong accumulation of Everton memorabilia hailed as the greatest collection in the world
  • No less than 13 wonderful books on Everton, from Alex Young Golden Vision, to Dr Everton's Magnificent Obsession
  • Gwladys Street's Hall of Fame — another fantastic vision to recognize the efforts of players and other outstanding Evertonians from every decade of the club's existence.
Added to this, his remarkable vision and unbridled dynamism, pitted against some of the most intransigent and parsimonious of reluctant partners, has dragged them at times kicking and screaming into a new reality that embraces so much of the Club's unequalled history.

Through a series of breathtaking initiatives — from commissioning exquisite portraits of Everton's Founding Fathers, to commemorating Everton players who gave their lives in the wars of the 20th Century with beautiful polished marble plaques in England a& Chile — he has succeeded bringing alive Everton's history and making it current not just for today's internet generation but for Evertonians of all ages, and in perpetuity.

Our hearty congratulations go to David for this wholly deserved recognition.

Quotes or other material sourced from The Guardian



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