Thankful for being an Evertonian

Lucky enough to have the time and money to watch the Blues home and away between 83-89

Witnessing CWCF first hand in Rotterdam having sacrificed going to Munich.

Going to every FA Cup tie in 1984 and in 1977

Gareth Farrelly and Barry Horne for obvious reasons

Andy King, Graeme Sharp and Peter Reid because they played like we would all like to have done given the opportunity.

Not being a glory hunting Norwegian (without the glory).

Not having to explain why it's so good to be a blue, it just is.

Happy thanksgiving to all our American friends.

51 years of wedded bliss to the sweetest centre half from Liverpool. With the bonus of her also being a true Blue.

Promotion to the old First Division — memories of that are as bright as ever.
Glad not to be a Red.

ps: Happy Thanksgiving, Jamie!

I went to every game in 1962-63 season except for the six we lost.
Derek Temple's goal in the 1966 FA Cup Final
Golden Vision and his goal agains Spurs at Easter 1963
I'm not a red
My dad and his stories of Dixie.

Thanksgiving: the only day of the year when it is acceptable to eat 4 full plates of food. And you wonder why us Americans are fat.

Thankful I'm not a kopite.

Thankful I got to go see a match in person.

Thankful for Moyes.

What Fergus said.

Plus 1969-70.

And copping a sly feel off some bird in Gwladys St in 1963.

Ray, I think that bird you felt was my mum! I don't know who my dad was — how far could you go in Gwladys St in those days?!

I'd celebrate knowing what "awe" really is:

Looking upon the Goodison Park pitch from a packed Gwladys St stand for the first time as a 3-year-old in the early 60s. In 50-plus years of seeing sights and having experiences that would send a shiver down your spine, nothing has come close.

Thanks, dad!

To John Jones taking me to my first match in 1951.

Roy Vernon,
Alex Young,
Alan Ball,
Brian Labone,
Howard Kendall,
Mikel Arteta...

And ALL Everton Supporters, THANK YOU.

Brent Stephens @717:

SON!! I've found you....

Not far enough, Brent, but enough to take your mind off the match.

Kevin Sheedy's left foot against Ipswich (twice), in '85. And the shite in '87.

Just off the top of my head. Could probably go on for days.

Oh, and me arl fella telling me to bless myself when I turned the corner onto Goodison Road, for the first time. "It's like goin' to church lad".

Z cars

Thankful I got to go to matches with my dad and brothers.
The 100 times my brother took me as a 10-year-old and after, on his 750 F1 through the tunnel, and coming home to get the Football Echo and dinner with mum and dad and warm up by the fire ....
1977
1984
1985
ECWC final
1986
1987
1995
Floodlights
Being off on Thanksgiving :-)

Roy Vernon with the Charity Shield 1963, the peerless Ramon Wilson and some other fella with the World Cup at the Charity Shield 1966, and Sir Trevor slotting home the 3rd against Bayern in 1985. And Bally.
Thanks Dad.

If I may, there are two for me: the first Saturday home game back on our return to the First Division against Preston NE. Standing among 76,000 others on a really warm day at Goodison, Cyril Lello's goal to win 1-0.

The other: watching Colin Harvey's go in against WBA to win the title in 1970.

Jamie, I too give thanks for Fox Socccer, if only to watch Warren Barton and see what life looks like after death. Death.

Jamie. Thanksgiving here as well, watching Houston and Detriot in overtime. Only the Shite to watch on the other side and that ain't happening.

You say you were chosen 6 years ago. What happened that you became a Blue?

On topic, I too have been very lucky to be able to pay my way around the UK and Europe in the eighties, best time of my life, and so many great memories.

I'm thankful Landon Donovan decided to go play for Everton and introduced me to a club that has taken hold of me and has literally become an obsession. I can hardly explain it to anyone who asks me why I can't miss a single match or why I like a team who isn't United, Chelsea, or you know who. And I'm thankful for getting to see Everton play once!

Elland Road in 95
Big Dunc's first goal against the Shite
Lee Carsley's goal against the Shite
Dan Gosling's goal against the Shite

You can tell I just missed out on the 80s and that I hate the Shite.

I just love the way our American friends have become as obsessed as us with the Blues. Even Jamie's whole family. Once Everton touches you, nothing is ever quite the same again.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Graham Stuart telling me to fuck off after I commented, "It could've been you mate" before Rideout buried it, but still loving him.

Saying well done to Big Dunc and him replying "Thanks, wee man". I'm 6"2....

48 years old: Rotterdam (85),
Sharp (85),
King (78),
Carrow Road (87),
The car and me mates the same mates going back and forth to semis and finals (84-89),
Stoke away, at half-time no team talk needed just opened the windows (84),
Barry God Be Praised Horne - Park Stand being built and designed on the cheap (94),
Gareth Farrely God Bless You (98),
Afterward, on the pitch, 'We want Johnson out' (98),
Manure
(95)
Duncan takes care of the shite (94),
anytime anywhere (ongoing), Tricky Trevor, Brace, Teta, dressing like a fashion God (1979-1988),
Minivan to Villa park league Cup semi (84)
High Street Kensington for all kinds of reasons (19 August 1978),
Duncan McKenzie, Big Bob latch (29 April 1978),
Bayern Hone and Away ((85)
'Oh Everton don't lose your heads now' , Highbury (14 April 1984
... and so many many many more besides, maybe most of all, Aways

Sitting in the Ozarks in Missouri spending a few days away from Chicago, lake nice and quiet, red wine, and wonderful memories and looking forward to bright skies ahead.

Oh, done the bizz too, Thanksgiving turkey consumed, reminding my Yankee friends that we wanted the Puritans to fuck off in 1620, boring Proddy bastards, Xmas bah humbug, bastards.

A Little off topic Jamie, but I would be interested to hear your story on how you found Everton 6 years ago.

To be thankful for:– Just for being an Evertonian and everything that goes along with it. Good or bad, it's all character building. When I look at my friends here in Ireland who follow the Shite, but even more so when I listen to them talk about football, I am so grateful I didn't end up such a delusional twat.

These days I just try to avoid ever talking to them about any sport that is played on grass. It's easier.

Happy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving, an American holiday based on Native Americans coming to the aid of European settlers who where on the verge of starvation. Didn't work out too well for the Indians in the end though... God Bless America.

Up the Toffees.

August 1961... the brother taking me to see us play Sheffield Wednesday. Bright sun, pitch the colour of a snooker table, the smell of Capstan Full Strength in the Boys Pen... (may have been Players Navy Cut) and a resounding four-nil defeat. I couldn't wait for the next game.

Fast forward to 1968 I think and the best goal I've seen at Goodison Park (with the exception of Fargas for Hungary v Brazil in 66): Gerry Humphrey's screamer from the corner of the box past Springett of Sheffield Wednesday.

I think we played Wednesday in the cup in 1966... anyone recall it?

Alan #784. I too remember the boys pen, circa 1960-61. Do you remember that guy in Gwladys Street who you could see groping that girl – I remember her saying "get off, Ray".

Thought I vividly remembered 1966 at Wembley, until I watched a recording again a few weeks ago – I couldn't believe the tackles that went in and no moaning from those on the receiving end. And Gordon West throwing every ball out to feet, even ones over the half-way line.

Thankful for those memories and many more like them, and being able to recall them still (in a fuzzy sort of way!).

"All right, coming dear," – my wife calling, what's her name now?

That 'liquid lard'.

Look anything like this?

http://www.evertoncollection.org.uk/asset_arena/6/95/20/102596/v0_medium.jpg

Brent... you could be onto a winner here. Get your lass to say that it was some bloke with platinum blond hair and a shell suit... and wait for the compo check to arrive!

Talking of bad tackles (no pun intended) there is, out there, the full Match of the Day programme of the opening game of the 67-68 season when we pasted Man Utd. Bloody hell, even the Golden Vision was tracking back and there is a tackle by Kendall on Georgie boy that just gladdens the heart.

The 66 FA Cup Final v Sheffield Wed is still as clear today as when it happened.
Maybe the fact that, after us going 2-0 down, a Priest who was standing next to me, took out from under his cassock, a half-bottle of scotch... after taking a swig, passed it to me, and whatever he said afterwards worked.

"Capstan Full Strength in the Boys Pen..... (may have been Players Navy Cut)" – Feck me, that's a blast from the past.

Norman, that half bottle of scotch the priest tool from under his cassock – you sure it was scotch and not a similar-coloured liquid that used to find its way into a bottle at matches, if not down the leg of somebody in front?

Eugene, nice one of the "liquid lard"! Have you got one of the "turkey"? and the "potato"?

Blimey Alan (784) – you've brought back some memories for me there. That Sheffield Wednesday game was my debut at Goodison Park, I was four! My Old Man took me and my older Kopite cousin who was about 9 I think. Took the rise out of me all the way home! Didn't matter though – I was bitten.

And the Man Utd game – we won 2-0 I think. I remember being below the main stand and our lot giving Kenneth Wolstenholme some serious stick as he stood there speaking into his microphone. I learned much later that he was a closet Man Utd fan.

Great memories – thanks a million!

Brent, if it was, it worked.

Alan McGuffog @787

Take no notice of what our Brent says, lying little get. And I've never had a shell suit...

Andrew @ 781 -

Too true.
HELP! HELP!
TYVM now we'll kill most of ya and take your land. And while we're at it kill about a million buffalo...

Stephen Rogers @766 -

Told the story many times. Wanted to follow an English team forever. Loved the passion of the fans. Researched for months about each team. Chose Everton b/c of the history and ties to Ireland (I'm American make no mistake but Irish in heritage), and the fact that they've not won in many a year - much like my beloved Red Sox here in America hadn't for OH so long before 2004.
For an entire year I would not allow myself to use the term "we" when referring to Everton until I had followed them and was assured I'd made the correct choice. I now "rank" Everton at the top of the sports pyramid. I never miss a match (although due to kids many are indeed watched delayed or miss the occasional tie not televised here in the US).
I would give an arm to see them win the league. I love the Club full stop. Someday I'll be that silly Yank walking around Goodison wide-eyed and full of joy on my first visit. Probably get pick-pocketed by some little Scouser and won't care a bit. I can't wait. It's part of the "retirement trip" my wife and I have planned - which unfortunately is probably at least 20 years away b/c I'm 43. If I'm told I have any terminal illness, the very first thing I will do is book a flight and buy a ticket for me and the whole family - and I'm quite serious about that. Let's hope I just make it when I finally retire, and no such diagnosis befalls me...

Eugene -

I think if you shape the gravy with your fork you could get it to have the mustache eyes and nose come out ok... but that's about it. I'll try later tonight with the "reheat" portion of the Thanksgiving feast.

Then I'll proceed to carve into it with the side of my fork while in my right hand, knife still in position on the table, napkin not put in the lap but still lying on the table folded up in true American eating fashion -
All manners with napkin on lap, knife in right hand and fork in left thrown aside.

You Brits eat so damn proper... just dive in already!

Paul Ferry -

The wine in hand in the Ozarks - I've had a few of those moments along the way.

Simply the best.

Finally, Dick Fearon -

51 years. Well done sir! I'm at 16 myself and am not looking to "trade her in" - ever. A saint of a woman if ever there was one my wife. I hope to hit your mark someday. Inspirational and well done.

Jamie's nicer than me Flanagan. But in the spirit of his post, unlike you I waited a day in respond. You can shove it.

That scenario was a made up one to begin with and it was slaughter all the way in both directions almost to the very end. The natives needed no lessons in brutality from the Europeans. They'd been carrying on that way for millenia.

But you keep learning American history from the movies.

I've said it several times here, but happy to repeat myself. An 8 second clip out of nowhere on ESPN showing our Joe Max Moore heading one in somewhere in England and the fans losing their shit. Over a U.S. player!! Hard to explain what that meant to an American in the late 90s.

Had no idea what club it was, but the were cheering for an American field player. Then McBride on loan (Oh, Everton), Howard in (Yeah, Everton), Dempsey bid on (Sign him up), and finally our best player yet, LD, and the way he was received.

Did it for me. Everton's my Club and will be forever.

James - it could have been me. Home match vs spurs I think, when I expressed fairly loudly in the gwladys street "mark my words joe max Moore will never score for everton". Seconds later he scores I get dived on by about 70 scousers, and called mark my words every home match until I moved to the top balcony 5 seasons later.

The first line of the first response said it: "Thankful for being an Evertonian" - Absotively, Patrick & others who echoed that thought. I always consider it a great privilege to be an Evertonian. How blessed are we that were chosen?

Jamie C @827
It is a good idea not to live in each others pockets and she really was a centre half in a women's team. I was referee for her first game and I had reason to red card her for disputing a decision.