Watford game moved to Friday 12 May

Wednesday, 12 April, 2017 44comments  |  Jump to most recent

Everton's home game against Watford has been moved to a 7:45pm kick-off on Friday 12 May.

As a consequence of the Premier League having to accommodate a previously postponed fixture between Chelsea and the Hornets, the game at Goodison has been switched from its original date of 3pm on Saturday 13 May.

The match is not scheduled not be broadcast on live television in the UK.

Tickets are now on sale to Foreverton members. They will go on general sale from 8am on Thursday 13 April.

 

Reader Comments (44)

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Barry McNally
1 Posted 12/04/2017 at 22:38:05
Absolutely ridiculous – surely the Chelsea v Watford game could have been played earlier in the season. Everton v Watford not even on TV, shower of wankers.
Michael Spear
2 Posted 12/04/2017 at 22:55:25
Too bloody right, Barry@1. I live in Watford and travel up for all the home games, so that's another night away from home to see what is the last home game of the season.

So when is their game against Chelsea being played? And will an extra 20 hours make any difference to either team's chances?

Oh, the joys of being an exiled Evertonian... (good job I hadn't already booked my train ticket)

Simon Bradley
3 Posted 12/04/2017 at 22:57:22
Inconvenient, for the fans! And a silly decision.

Looking on the bright side of things. Goodison under the lights!

5-0 Everton. Rom hat trick, Davies & Mirallas.

Phil Bellis
4 Posted 12/04/2017 at 23:14:58
But past bed time for the players' wee ones to be paraded on the "lap of thanks"
Barry McNally
5 Posted 12/04/2017 at 23:35:01
Chelsea v Watford is on Monday 15 May, must be on TV but there are games on the Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of that week so there is no reason it couldn't have been played in one of those nights.
Frank Wade
6 Posted 13/04/2017 at 00:50:34
I certainly didn't see this coming when I booked 3 flights from Dublin on Friday evening arriving Liverpool at 21:50.
Derek Thomas
7 Posted 13/04/2017 at 02:08:16
All down to Sky wanting to have Chelsea parade the Premier League Trophy around... they should hopefully have it won by then. I hope Watford 'forget' to read the script. 0-1 to Watford; Cleverley to score.

Alas, the man who pays the modern day 'footballing piper' not only calls the tune, but when it is played too.

Paul Hughes
8 Posted 13/04/2017 at 08:03:11
What a pain in the backside! I just love driving through the Friday rush hour traffic around Manchester to get to to the match.
Alan Williams
9 Posted 13/04/2017 at 08:30:37
Well, told my son last night he can't go the last home game, not happy. We had booked hotels for the weekend but can't arrive in Liverpool until late Friday night due to my son's school, plus would you gamble with the M6 North on Friday afternoon!! Cancelling all Hotels this morning along with putting both Watford & Chelsea home game tickets on StubHub.

I'm sorry, EFC but you have been bullied into this decision; thousands of fans always have a couple of pints on the last game, Friday night ruins that experience.

Five of my other mates today putting their season tickets on StubHub too as they are at a pre-arranged Chester Races meeting which is also on that day.

We all move our lives around weekend games and Saturday/Sunday is achievable but Friday night just doesn't fit at all, it's not even on TV.

We have all been inconvenienced so Chelsea can be on TV on Monday, how is that acceptable for EFC & Watford fans? If the game was on TV I would get that as they pay the money but it isn't.

Lee Gorre
10 Posted 13/04/2017 at 08:35:02
It's effectively on Sky because Sky are dictating the timing of the fixture so they can show one of their beloved top 4 on Monday. If Everton had a say in it and could have refused to move the fixture then they should be ashamed, but they won't be as, like every single Premier League club, they don't give a shit about fans as long as the money keeps rolling in.

We've been well and truly stuffed this year with Friday night games.

Tony Abrahams
11 Posted 13/04/2017 at 09:05:09
It's about time the fans in this country got together and did a boycott across the board. Home games are easy for me and loads of others but when you see the time, money and effort that goes into watching football in this country, then the way the clubs can just change fixtures at the tip of the hat, is just scandalous.

Money talks, but it doesn't have to do much travelling to get the football, so it's time the fans in this country really united to show both the football clubs and the television companies what the late great Jock Stein said about the crowd is so true!

Chris Williams
12 Posted 13/04/2017 at 09:13:16
The Watford fans are really pissed off too apparently. No trains back after the game finishes seemingly so unless driving or on a coach they're buggered.

Then they get to play Chelsea on the Monday.

When you sup with the devil .

James Lauwervine
13 Posted 13/04/2017 at 09:58:08
An absolute disgrace. Just found this out this morning when I called to book tickets. I was going to bring my three sons and travel up on the Saturday morning (I live in Oxfordshire).

I had accommodation arranged for the Saturday night. Now that's fucked and we won't be coming. Sorry, sons, but no-one gives a fuck about the fans.

Dave Abrahams
14 Posted 13/04/2017 at 10:29:58
Let's be honest, Everton could and should protest but, as Chris (#12) says, 'When you sup with the devil' you let him piss all over you.

It stinks and will carry on stinking while the TV money rules the game. It is easy for me, I live five minutes from the ground. I'm thinking of the many fans who come from all over the place. Everton should be thinking about them as well, not only thinking but paying compensation.

Chris Williams
15 Posted 13/04/2017 at 10:46:36
As Bill Hicks once commented, "If you suck the devil's cock, sometimes you have to swallow."

This happens every season several times and this time Sky are shouting about 17(?) premier league games in ten days or some such bollocks in their battle with BT.

I think I read that viewing figures are dropping this season on Sky, so maybe it's peaked. We'll see in due course I guess.

James Cadwaladr
16 Posted 13/04/2017 at 11:03:54
Extra game under the lights. Good. Better atmosphere for the end of season send off. I don't see the big deal.
Martin Nicholls
17 Posted 13/04/2017 at 11:43:59
EFC should clarify their own role in this. Are they bound by terms of the agreements with Sky etc to change kick-off times even when the game in question is not being televised? If not then they should have put their (and Watford's) fans first by refusing to change.

Whatever, they and Watford should jointly and publicly invite Sky to fully compensate any fan (eg, Frank #6, Alan #9) who can show that he/she is out of pocket as a result of this decision.

Brian Harrison
18 Posted 13/04/2017 at 12:40:30
Does anyone believe that they would have done this to any of the Sky top 6? Absolutely not. Everton should have said that they were not prepared to change to a Friday night for their last home game of the season.

This is not on the television so I don't know why Sky are allowed to call the shots because of the Chelsea v Watford game. So as far as I can see, Everton are in their rights to say No and stick with the normal Saturday kick-off.

As many have said, people bought tickets for this game because it was on a Saturday; now, many will not be able to attend...who compensates them???

Graham Mockford
19 Posted 13/04/2017 at 13:07:41
Martin / Brian,

In the end, the Premier League has the final say in when a fixture is played. A club cannot refuse to play a fixture.

I'm not sure how the contract between Sky and the Premier League works in terms of scheduling but you can bet for £4 billion they get quite a say.

He who pays the piper...

Barry McNally
20 Posted 13/04/2017 at 13:14:35
I delayed buying my flights from Dublin pending the results of the Liverpool and Man Utd games thinking, if we got 4 points or more, the match with Watford could be moved.

I then booked my flights after the Anfield debacle even though I was well pissed off with Everton and now my flights are worthless. I will be very disappointed if I find out Everton could have refused to change the date.

Brian Harrison
21 Posted 13/04/2017 at 13:23:31
What I can't understand is why the game could not have been moved to an early kick off on Saturday. We very often used to play 2 games within 2 days over the Easter period, so why not on this occasion.

Obviously Sky are trying to orchestrate the fixtures for that week with a game virtually every day, so even though it looks like the title may be over they are hoping the top 4 places aren't settled by then.

I would like to hear Everton's version on why they have moved this fixture forward.

Graham Mockford
22 Posted 13/04/2017 at 13:25:58
Brian,

Again, there isn't an Everton version. They don't get to decide when a game is played. They could make representations but ultimately it's the Premier League's call.

Brian Harrison
23 Posted 13/04/2017 at 13:40:18
Graham,

I fully understand that we have to abide by what the Premier League say. But why have they asked for it to be moved? And I ask again: Why couldn't it have been moved to a 12:30 kick off on Saturday?

I mean, this same Premier League made Leicester play us on a Sunday afternoon a couple of days before playing Athletico Madrid in midweek.

Now I could well understand if they had moved that game to a Friday, so again I ask: What was the reason for moving this game? I think as paying customers, we do deserve an explanation.

Gordon Crawford
24 Posted 13/04/2017 at 13:58:49
Vaseline anyone?

It's a disgrace as always. I'm hoping we will lose this 'small club' mentality at some point. It's about time we stood up and said No to Sky and everyone else.

Football is about the fans. Without the fans' support, there would be no money, no Sky Sports etc. Stuff the lot of them.

Jermaine Jennings
25 Posted 13/04/2017 at 13:59:23
This is unacceptable, my train tickets were already booked as I was coming from London. Not happy at all....
Jay Griffiths
26 Posted 13/04/2017 at 14:03:00
Before going to the derby 2 weeks ago my son and I walked down Priory Road. Ran my phone video all the way. I happen to work with a complete bellend who constantly states there's loads of scousers in their ground. I know, how full of shit is he! The amount of coaches from Wales, Ireland, Scotland and from all over the country is insane. Ran all the way to Arkle Lane almost. Tie the plane's, trains, boats and cars into this equation and then the figures are astronomical.

Now how many of their games have been suddenly moved to a Friday?

Same goes for Chelsea, Man Utd and Arsenal? Does the league accommodate them due to the influx of transients? Should be rhetorical I know.

I know we have some loyal travelling fans who travel almost every home game. The numbers in comparison just don't give us leverage with the Premier League. In short, we've been rubber-dicked.

Graham Mockford
27 Posted 13/04/2017 at 14:31:02
Gordon

There is no small club mentality. We cannot refuse to play a fixture.

In the end it's not just football fans paying for football, in fact over 1m watch every televised game in the UK and as many as 100m may watch worldwide. That's where the the 80 odd million comes from that funds the club.

You might not like that but it's the reality of the current football business model and no amount of stamping your feet changes that.

Graham Mockford
28 Posted 13/04/2017 at 14:39:17
Brian

I suspect the moving of the fixture is related to the televising of the rearranged Chelsea-Watford game to the Monday.

Only giving Watford one day to recover versus Chelsea's two could be seen as giving Chelsea an unfair advantage when potentially it could be a title decider.

All Chelsea's games in May will be televised on the basis Sky would not allow a title winning game to be televised.

It will all be down to maximising TV audiences which is unfortunately what we are signed up to by taking 80+ million a year TV revenue.

John G Davies
29 Posted 13/04/2017 at 14:50:07
Jay (#26),

It wouldn't make a bit of difference if you played their games at 3am. The motorways would still be full. You try getting off at the Rocket on the M62 any time 3 or 4 hours before kick-off.

We play a little game when we're stuck in traffic, winding the windows down and get chatting as if we're going the game. We've had them from as far as Devon for midday kick-offs, been on the road since 5 am.

A middle-aged couple both with their bellies bursting out of team shirts, sitting with packed lunches on their knees. Other assorted loons, from the length and breadth of the country, fill the queues of traffic on a regular basis.

James Hughes
30 Posted 13/04/2017 at 14:51:20
Same thing when the Palace game was moved to the Friday. I had organised to travel home for the Saturday and go the game. Now had two options: cancel the hotel on Friday and annoy the missus; or go home for the game.

The hotel in Yorkshire was very nice and I caught the second half on TV.

I just don't see the point of Friday games as it's the busiest and, if using public transport, the most expensive day to travel. Getting up the M6 on a Friday is never an easy trip at it's best.

Peter Lee
31 Posted 13/04/2017 at 15:35:38
For some people it is an inconvenience, we live with it and grumble. For travelling fans it can be an expensive experience.

The answer would be for the Premier League to set out dates when they would confirm all fixtures and kick-off times for a period of games, say, six weeks ahead.

Travelling fans could then choose to gamble on no change before the announcement or wait until afterwards potentially facing more expensive travel costs. This isn't ideal but it it does give certainty, the lack of which pisses everyone off.

I can't see a way of avoiding clashes with other arrangements for celebrations, etc done months ahead sadly.

If this is a goer, is there a national forum to push it? For £80 mill, we are stuck with TV calling the shots.

Alan Williams
32 Posted 13/04/2017 at 15:38:40
EFC did have a choice, and to quote our club: “It wasn't an easy decision and I can only apologise for the disruption and disappointment.”

I'm not going to name who sent me it as they were very kind enough to reply to me personally, of which I'm grateful. I've cancelled my hotel and sold my tickets on StubHub in 40 minutes!! No cash lost... just a lads' weekend, which is priceless.

My parting shot to the club was: “How far does football need to pull itself away from the fans before it realises what it had?”

Peter Lee
33 Posted 13/04/2017 at 15:50:32
Interesting, Alan, the club has got much better on communications in many ways but a statement on this could help, provided it wasn't calling the shots on this.
Roger Helm
34 Posted 13/04/2017 at 15:51:27
Bad for the fans who attend; good for the fans who can't make it to Liverpool and have to rely on watching TV.
Robert Elliott
35 Posted 13/04/2017 at 15:52:54
Would be, Roger.... if it was going to be on TV!
Danny Broderick
36 Posted 13/04/2017 at 17:27:31
In fairness to the club, I tried to buy tickets on Monday, and they warned me that the match might be moved. I called back twice later in the week, asking if they knew when the game would be played, and I was eventually told that it would be Friday night. Because the club had warned me, I held off buying tickets, so I feel like they helped me out a bit.

I appreciate it's not great for anyone travelling who has already got a ticket. We've seen various fan clubs getting together to get the £20 is plenty agreement. It would be good if dates of games could not be moved once we are within 4 weeks of the kick off. Maybe the fan clubs could campaign for that?

Tony Abrahams
37 Posted 13/04/2017 at 18:10:11
Graham, you are of course correct with the continued use of the £80 Million, but I'm sure if fans right across the country were really prepared to unite, then we still might get stuck with terrible kick-off times, but I'm sure we could bring the price of a ticket down?

I find it both insulting and astonishing that since away fans now only have to pay £30 for a ticket that some clubs have actually reduced away allocations, the very same clubs that receive £80 million each off sky.

Graham Mockford
38 Posted 13/04/2017 at 18:56:44
Tony,

I certainly agree, match going fans are pretty low in the pecking order.

The problem is of course attendances are at an all time high. The other lot showed, however, that fans can still have a voice when they got their club to U-turn on price increases.

To be fair to our club, they have taken quite a proactive approach to reducing the cost of tickets in the last few years, which probably explains why we now sell out every week.

Tony Abrahams
39 Posted 13/04/2017 at 19:13:49
I agree about Everton, Graham, I just think that it's about time everyone really got together in this country.

Liverpool's owners said they won't do the Anfield Road, because if the fans are not prepared to pay the money, then its not really financially viable?

This concerns me because they don't seem to have a longer term vision, and they may end up selling the club too soon!

James Doran
40 Posted 13/04/2017 at 21:53:46
Tony,

Why does the prospect of LFC's owners selling the club soon concern you? Or have I misinterpreted what you said?

Cheers,

James.

Damian Wilde
41 Posted 14/04/2017 at 11:37:52
Dusgusting this, last game too!!! Grr.

ust tweeted the club, expressing my views. A disgrace.

Dave Ganley
42 Posted 14/04/2017 at 12:49:34
Yeah I will get in touch with the club too. I can't go now it's been changed to a Friday night.

They seem to think that everyone can drop plans at a moments notice just to satisfy Sky, the Premier League and Everton caving in to demands.

Fucking last home game of the season and I can't go. Friday night... my arse – for the last home game of the season!

Tony Abrahams
43 Posted 14/04/2017 at 21:01:14
I just hope they stay there for years, James. Liverpool haven't won a cup for a very long time, by the standards they have usually set themselves in my lifetime, and they no longer seem to spend as much money in the transfer market as they used to.

Maybe this might change now that the new stand is up and running, but I thought they should have spent a bit of money after Xmas, when they were still in with a chance of the title, and I'm hoping this prudence, can keep their-trophy-room empty for years to come, whilst "Moshiri's millions" can finally re-open our own!

Mike Keating
44 Posted 15/04/2017 at 11:27:55
I'm afraid Graham is correct – just follow the money. Murdoch hijacked the TV rights in 1992 (courtesy of a tip-off regarding ITV's bid from Alan Sugar) and saved himself from bankruptcy. Football baled him out and the fans have been paying for it ever since.

Nevertheless, I'd be interested to hear what Graham makes of the apology Alan @ 32 got from the club.


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