Mike Gaynes's visit

I believe there's an “informal” arrangement Bill. Danny, Rob and a few others. I'm going myself but nobody knows me apart from them two so I'll be the one in blue!

A quick question, seriously, does the Harlech take card payments yet? Last time I was in, not that long ago before you start, it was cash only??

Oh, and I’ll be wearing me flat cap, sparking clogs and 3 star jumper and I’ll have our whippet wi us! UTFT

Mark, I think we met at the Brighton game last season so that's 3 now! The Harlech is cash only mate. Most if not all the pubs are on matchdays.

The Bramley Moore takes cards though if we end up there after the game. See you at The Harlech.

Yes Mark, something is being organised by Peter for the Luton match at the Harlech as I understand it.

I always take cash as a lot of the bars around Country Road are cash only on match day.

Wolves, Neil, although we may have met at Brighton as well - I don’t remember much of that day…

Mark, I think it was at Wolves that I met you and Neil for the first time. I think you;d travelled up with was it Ian?

Mark and Brent, yes that's right, it was Wolves. Although we might have met at Brighton too because Martin was there. I can't remember much of it either!

Ah, Martin it was, not Ian.

Martin was at both. In fact, I don't think Martin saw us lose last season. He picked his games! Palace, Brighton and Wolves.

He's coming to the West Ham away next month then he's away for a while.

Cash is king, Mark. I seriously wonder if our city would have survived the Thatcher years, if we had never had a black economy? I know life moves forward, but anyone who wants to get rid of cash, has never lived through hard times, imo mate, and therefore hasn’t thought things through properly!

Bring some money, but if they take card, then just use some of the money to pay for your taxi’s, to save the driver taking you to the nearest speed bank!

Martin has been absent from these pages for a while Mark, so tell him I send my regards, please mate👍

My sisters my taxi this Saturday Tony. Trains are on strike so I’ve promised her a full English at Maggie Mays if she’ll drop me off at the Harlech and pick me up from the Black Horse after the game.
Looking forward to a grand day out. I’ll pass your regards on to Martin - he’s having a break from TW - he’s not as thick skinned as I am.

Don't think the bar staff would be happy if the boss said after their shift we have only took card payments today, will you take a cheque for your wages?

I think cash would be better Mark. What Billy's said is spot on. If as is the norm round our way (and probably many other places as well.) you are going to tip the bar staff, and they'll want their wages at the end of the night, cash would be the way to do it.

The post-trip article Mike wrote last time, which was more than six years ago already, was an absolutely fantastic read. No pressure for volume II!

https://www.ToffeeWeb.com/season/16-17/comment/editorial/34817.html

Mike is staying with me for the first week of his trip. We had been planning to head up to Scotland next week, but unfortunately that has had to to be cancelled - a pity, we were looking forward to meeting up with Paul Tran.

I have grandsons’ football on a Saturday morning. We will leave Hightown after the earlier game of the two, about 12.15pm, and I’ll get Mike to The Harlech for around 1.00pm or just after. If I drive I’ll probably drop him off then go and park so, he may be on his own at first - I know a few of you will recognise him so look out for him, please.

I know The Harlech will be pretty full which is not ideal. If sufficient people want to go to the Bramley-Moore after the game I’ll make sure he gets there.

He is really looking forward to meeting up with many people who looked after him so well last time, and to meeting friends he hasn’t met yet.

I told him most places take cards now, so it looks like he’ll get away without buying a round like he did at the Midland!

Pete, even more reason to buy a round, if he has to pay by card. No more of this “Oh sorry lads, I’ve only got American dollars on me”.

“American Express, that’ll do nicely”.

I’ll be in there early doors as my sister is dropping me off and needs to get back to the outer territories by noon.
How will I recognise Mike? Will he be wearing his MAGA hat??
UTFT

Morning all - - I will not be able to attend the get-together for Mike this weekend - - although Treatment is going well I am still mainly housebound and under Doctor's instructions not to mix in big crowds - - please pass on my regards and Cosmic Blue Grooves to Mike and everyone at the gathering.

What a difference a win makes MOTD/Newspapers/Chatting to fellow Blues - - Up The Blues.

Keep well George, hopefully Saturday was a tonic.

We can do the pavement. Wet weather plan can be to get wet. The Harlech isn't too bad to be honest.

Bramley Moore after would be good as I want to check in and have a look at the Fifth Grace on the banks of the Mersey.

George, Mike will receive your regards, and we will have a drink to your good health.

Anything further than Kirkby, is no man’s land!

I see Duncan Ferguson has got himself another job, this time up in Scotland, so hopefully he does well with Caledonian Thistle.

Tony - I agree, but in the other direction...
If you want a giggle, google "basic instinct Asda interview" or check it out on Instagram if your on there @ stevostonko

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CvUGzD8g5g-/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

It looks like Danny will be at The Bramley Moore after the Luton game.

John Rafferty is going, so Mike and I will be there.

Is the Bramley Moore walkable from the ground??

Mike, people walk from John’o Groats to Lands end but I wouldn’t recommend it!😁

Actually Mike, talking about walking, I was hoping to meet you tomorrow but I’m waiting for a knee replacement and I’m really struggling to walk at the moment ☹️
I won’t be able to go the match either.
Double disappointment.

It's just over 2 miles away Mark. You can probab do it in 40 minutes depending on your pace!!

I’m meeting Pete Mills and Mike later on today. Apparently Mike is treating us to a lavish slap up meal at the Vila Romana restaurant in town. Although, obviously Mike doesn’t know yet that he’s paying the bill! I will also be at The Harlech tomorrow. Will try and get there around 12.45.

I'm jealous of you lot getting to hang out! Would be a dream (nightmare 🙃!) to meet in real life. I'm generally back at my parents on the Wirral in the summer during the close season so no Everton. Have fun and here's hoping for Mike to see 2 wins!

Mark, you can walk to Kirkdale station(10 to 15mins), train to Sandhills, then 10 to 15min walk to the Bramley Moor.

Cheers Bill - that sounds like a plan! 👍

Do Merseyrail allow whippets on trains??

Lovely. I come on TW for the first time in several days and discover I have my own thread going on without my knowledge. Must be like a teenager logging on to social media and finding all her classmates gossiping about her.

I was on my 40th hour without sleep by the time Dom put in the second goal at Villa, and Pete dragged me out on a 100-mile hike yesterday with his delightful pals, so this is my first chance to check in. (Also watched his grandson slot in a couple of lovely goals at Marine last evening.)

Definitely looking forward to the meetups tomorrow at the Harlech and the Bramley Moore. (But if Mark M is looking for a MAGA hat, we'll never meet.)

George and Ray, wishing you both the best with your health challenges. Stay strong, gents, and I will hope to finally meet up with you in celebratory form when the new ground opens. We will toast you tomorrow.

Rob, regarding dinner tonight, I told Pete I had every intention of picking up the tab for the festivities, and he expressed his doubts that you would permit it. So I threatened to take you out in the car park after the tiramisu and thrash whatever parts of you I could reach. I'm glad you didn't force me to do that. I've raised the limit on my credit card so you can order the best wine in the cellar for Jean.

Gary #14, cheers for the positive review. Part 2 was actually in December 2018, when I dropped in off the back of a European choir tour to see what turned out to be the Pickford Derby at Anfield, thanks to the generosity of the Abrahams family. The reviews for that diary weren't as positive thanks to the outcome, so I'm holding any Part 3 narrative on this trip to see whether I can produce six points from these two matches. Otherwise nobody will want to read it.

Looking forward to meeting new friends and hugging old ones. (Remember to re-introduce yourselves... it's been a minute, hasn't it?)

(But if Mark M is looking for a MAGA hat, we'll never meet.)
Is the right answer Mike! Glad to hear that!
Have a great evening and see you tomorrow, by eck!

Would have travelled up to meet you Mike as a true Evertonian but am on holiday in Tenerife. Have a great holiday on Merseyside and look after yourself!
Very best regards!!

Hi Mike, hope you are ready for today and bring us another win. Sent you an email. Hope to see you soon. Have a wonderful day

Anyone expecting Mike to buy a round today at the Harlech, may have to wait for a while. His credit card took a bit of a hammering last night, as he insisted, (after threatening me with physical violence if I wouldn’t let him foot the bill,), on paying for our restaurant bill. Me and Pete, and our other halves, therefore happily stood aside as Mike, almost weeping upon seeing how much the bill was, was forced to sign by the waitress!

Seriously though, we had a great night. It was great to see Mike again, and also meeting Pete’s wife Sheila, for the first time.

P.S……………..The bill wasn’t really that big!!

Rob 38. I appreciate TW isn’t a site for photos, however if you were able to take a few of Mike and the other TW’s in attendance in the pubs/at the game etc perhaps Lyndon could find a way to host them?
A photo record of Mike’s visit would be a fitting way to complete the event.

Mike, I didn’t take any photos last night, in fact nobody did. To be fair though, there were only Mike, Peter and myself there, along with my missus and Pete’s other half. No doubt there will be many taken today, and if you’ve seen mikes thread on his first visit over here, there were a few pictures on there.

Nerd Alert!! Anorak Alert!!

OK, who did the headline?

It is Mike Gaines' visit. If the word ends in an s you just add the apostrophe not another s.
I know. I'm sad. Yes, I went to school in the 1960s and we got marks deducted for things like this.

Hope you have a good day Mr G. Your golfers are taking one heck-ov-a beating so hopefully our Blue boys can cheer you up.

That is likely to honor the Yank. Jealous as fuck Mike but if you get us a couple of wins, I’m over it.

I’m already in the Harlech - black Efc shirt under the corner telly…

MAN DOWN!!! The rail strikes have stranded one of our finest down in Euston! I’ll have a Pinot Grigio for you Danny! UTFT!

Mark (43), stay there, I’m waiting for Tony to pick me up he’s watching his son and my grandson playing football, won’t be there ‘til after 1-00pm!

Will do Dave - it’s filling up….

Mark (46), Put your handbag in a big space next to you, that’s my place sorted !

I did mate but some tw@t in a wheelchair asked me to move it….

Mark (48). I know him, did he put the bite on you for a bevvy as well!

He’s from Harrogate - feckin wool!

Mark (50) They are all feckin’ at it from Harrogate, and St. Helens to be honest!

Mark, I am amazed Danny made it as far as Euston. I thought the tubes were out as well.
I would have loved to have met Mike and the rest of you, hope you have a great afternoon.
We won both games Mike attended last time and I believe that run will continue

So pleased to hear that you are in Blighty Mr Gaynes...have fun !

Great to meet Mike and the other legends before the game but feck me what a let down from the team!
It’s Luton FFS!
Luton!

Mike, it was great to meet you yesterday even if it was briefly. I meant what I said if you fancy a change of scene one evening this week (or even lunch) let me know and we can sort something out. Message or call 07735842106.

I have been dealing with a very disappointed grandson.

At least Europe won the Ryder Cup, Tommy Fleetwood getting the winning point, so one Evertonian did well this weekend.

In one respect disappointed for Mike that he witnessed, first hand, yesterday’s debacle. In another pleased that he is experiencing first hand the disappointment the rest of us have endured for years (84-86 & 95 excepted) If he has any sense he’ll be back in the USA before we kick off against Bournemouth.

If there is a God I trust he ensured Mike and Rob Halligan “got lucky” at the Grafton on Saturday night.

Getting lucky at the Grafton was finding a taxi in the 2am rain and getting home in one piece, alone. Wasn’t easily achieved in there when you’re a fine looking chap with seven pints downed.

No offense Mike Gaynes but I’ve little sympathy as forest fires precluded you from watching the horror of Inchy’s lads in Minnesota terrorizing Everton at the ToffeeWeb get together in Minneapolis with Neil Copeland and Jonathan Oppenheimer. But now you’ve had your baptism of horror so welcome to the club mate. Lol

Apologies all for not posting till now, but the Mills' jet set lifestyle has had me constantly on the move and I just haven't had the opportunity.

Except for the 97 minutes at Goodison and the 40 subsequent minutes waiting for a bus in the rain, I've had an absolutely wonderful time. Meeting up with the Halligans over great pasta, plus Bill, Stephen, John, Sir John Sr., Patrick, Keith, Neil, Murph, of course the Abrahams (all of them, because I sat with two generations of Abrahams at the game), and all those I haven't mentioned (apologies) for Guinness and hugs on Saturday has been pure joy. The Harlech was a madhouse and the Bramley Moore a warm refuge, and I've been fed and wined to the brim.

And I did see some excellent footy this weekend. Peter's grandsons stormed to four wins and both had hat tricks, and the elder had two in a minute with his wrong-foot. The younger one ripped two first time shots in the game, one off each upright, and afterwards I challenged him to hit the crossbar from 18 yards just to complete the set. He did it first time. Seven years old and already a better shot than Calvert-Lewin.

I'll complete this grand week with a couple of days in Herefordshire with another pal-I've-yet-to-meet, Brian Viner, and I'll post our apres-Bournemouth plans as soon as we make them. Still hoping to meet up with some of you I know (Brian, Andy, Derek) and some I don't yet (commiserations on the train strike, Danny!).

Stephen, thanks again for the dinner invite. I won't be able to connect with you this trip because of previous commitments, but let's plan to do it when I come over to see a game at BMD.

Tony A., cheers again for the ticket. We'll get it back to you.

Kieran, not sure Inchy's lads have much to brag about, given that they've won sweet FA and probably would have been relegated years ago if the MLS had relegation (hiya, Jonathan/Neil, how are ya?). I have a close friend who's a Minnesota season ticket holder, and he says Inchy's not a great manager but is so ingrained in the community there that he's almost immune from the sack.

Everton 3-1 Cherries for my last game at Goodison. COYB.

I’ glad you are enjoying your holiday Mike, pity about the game on Saturday and the weather, but hold onto the memories of Pete’s grandsons, Charlie and Sam, and their goals, the older one has a great left foot taking perfect aim right into the bottom corner each time.

Nice to see you again those five years since the last time have flew over and it was great for me to see Patrick Murphy, I’d never met him before but had loads of chats on ToffeeWeb with him, I told him I’d thought he snuffed it because of his long absence on ToffeeWeb but he told me with a smile he writes under different names now,so he could be anyone, maybe Darren Hind even !

Dave, your son and grandsons were an absolute delight to chat with at Goodison. Congratulations on such a splendid family. And giving you a hug at the Harlech was wonderful. You look great, mate. (Glad your fall wasn't serious.)

By the way, it's Pete's younger grandson Sam, the one who hit the crossbar on demand, who has the lethal left foot. I call him Little Sheeds. Charlie is the righty with the searing pace. Had a nice lefty touch for a goal on Sunday.

Mike,

It was a pleasure to briefly meet you outside the Harlech, on my way to the chippy. You did bring the Seattle weather with you though!

Paul, the pleasure was mine. Hope for a longer conversation on my next trip in. Take good care, sir.

Wish that I could have been there to meet you in person, Mike, but am stuck up here still hiding behind the couch since the 20-21 season!!!!

Have a great time and I sincerely hope that the boys give you a storming win to watch v the Cherries... safe trip back too.

Hi Mike - I really enjoyed Brian's "Looking for the Toffees" book; reminded me of "The Boys of Summer", even though that's about a baseball team.
3-1 tomorrow sounds about right. No rain forecast either.

Think of me golfing down south in 20 degrees and sunshine. And picture me quietly getting my phone out in the bar about 5 o'clock to check the final score. If it's bad, I have a quick fruit juice and sod off home pronto; if good, it's time to get the Guinnesses in and tell my lad Dan he's driving us home!

Have a great day!

Really happy that you got the result and performance that your pilgrimage deserved, Mike. Just wish I'd chosen today instead of the Luton game to meet you but them's the breaks!

Safe journey and see you next time at Bramley-Moore Dock!

MEGA!! 👍

Although my visit was fleeting, it was good to see Mike and Andy and all you other fellas.

A great day all round and having a swift one under the shadow of our new home was something in itself.

Sorry I couldn't stay longer, bro, but next time. 👍

I've added a couple of photos above from Brian. Feel free to fill in some names for those who are curious what everyone looks like!

Lyndon (68), thanks for the photos, Lyndon.

Starting with Stephen Vincent in the blue shirt and going round the circle, John McFarlane is next with Peter Mills, Peter Moore, Mike Gaynes – the star of the show, Andy Crooks from Belfast, Me and Derek Knox on the first photo then the same on the second photo. Brian Wilkinson next to Derek Knox who blocked me out of the photo, thanks, Derek.

Spot on Dave, Your Tony did a runner before we could get him on the photo.

Mike Gaynes, what a top top bloke, also met up with Andy Crooks and Peter Moore, or it is it Peter Mills for the first time as well, too many Peters. :-)

Everyone of those that met up at the Harlech and Bramley Moore, top people.

Don't worry Neil C, Jim L and Bill G, and Danny O, we will get you on the next photo shoot, after slipping our net after the Harlech.

Great photos.

Proof positive that Evertonians are so much better looking than their Kopite cousins.

Spot on Dave, if I was a woman I'd invite any one of those fellas to spend some significant time with me.

I was speaking to my nephew before and right out of the blue, he started saying how much he enjoyed your company, Mike G, so you have obviously made a lasting impression on the kid. 💙

Hey Mike, it was great to meet you at the Luton game and so pleased that you saw a top performance against Bournemouth. Look forward to your next visit, sorry I couldn't make it to the Bramley Moore after the Bournemouth game.

Brian, no-one mentioned a photo shoot to me!

Dave and Paul, getting worried about you both.

I'm just now seeing this and thankful, as it brought a big, big smile to my face after a shitty derby.

Mike, I hope you had a brilliant trip. Sounds like you did. Peter Mills putting you up is just so incredibly nice.

Thank you, Dave, for naming the folks around the table. I knew what a few looked like, but now know many more. It's very nice to put a face to all the posts.

Andy Crooks, well played traveling from Belfast. You look like a bruiser, but I know better from your posts.

Everyone who went to meet or be with Mike, you're sincerely wonderfully nice people. That kind of reception is fantastic. Reminds me most people are good and decent. Thank you for being so welcoming to my American TW compatriot.

Great read. Mike, you're blessed and the man. Happy for you.

Only just been made aware of the article by Andy Crooks who I speak with fairly regularly. I couldn't find it at first, but can only echo most of the comments, a great win followed by meeting some great Evertonians again and of course Mike Gaynes who I have met before on his last visit. It's a pity more people didn't turn up, for basically a very rare event !

Generally pleased as well with the way we are playing and that includes the derby, which was spoilt by the biased refereeing of Craig Pawson. I know we haven't had the run of luck needed, but it will come and the commitment is there to see.

COYB 💙💙👍

A huge time of flux, off the pitch. 12 points deducted we could do without! We have already thrown 9 away!

The loyal support from near and far is deserving of the improved performances turning into improved results, starting at the London Stadium with any luck.

Cracking to see the photos from the Bramley Moore boozer. A motley crew indeed. 🤣 UTFT 💙