CD Everton — The Ruleteros Society

The pioneer of Anglo-Chilean Everton relations, John Shearon,
recounts the key points from the inaugural meeting of the Ruleteros Society.

The Ruleteros Society — Official Launch

Valparaiso Restaurant, Hardman Street, Liverpool
2 July 2002

Attendees:

Mark Denny, Frank Hargreaves, Ian MacDonald,
Keith Wilson, Gerry Allison, Steve Bickerton,
Tony Heslop, Chris McGinn, Adrian McGrath,
John Shearon

Apologies:

Mike Owen, John Sinnott, John McGrath, Tommy Roberts, Robert Sawyer, David Jones

Background:

In response to the interest shown in developing firmer links between the Supporters and Clubs of Everton FC (England) and CD Everton (Chile) a group of English Evertonians decided to set up the Ruleteros Society.

Location:

The Valparaiso was chosen as the ideal location for the launch for the Society, as Liverpool's only Chilean Restaurant.  Owners, Ann and Julio Arellano kindly offered the use of the Function Room at the top of the restaurant, which was decorated with assorted flags and pennants for the evening.

The Evening:

The main aim of the evening was to have a good time — therefore there was no structured agenda for events, more a rambling conversation between all those present of things Everton, in general, and Ruleteros in particular.  Over the meal and drinks we touched on the following topics:

Club Structure – CD Everton:

Directors:

A Board of Directors, made up mainly of businessmen from the local community, runs the CD Everton Club.  There are 5 principal directors out of a pool of approximately 20.  The control of the Club rotates between the various factions within this group every 2 years or so (see elections below).  The current President is Jimmy Hudson Reinoso, a pharmacist whose name betrays his British roots.

Supporters:

The supporters are organised into two distinct groups:

Butaca – These are members who purchase their seat for the year (equivalent to our Season Ticket holders, but with the right to elect the Board Members) — approximate cost per annum: £120.

Socios – These are members of the Club who have the right to vote in the Board at election time.  They pay approximately £2 per month, which enables them to buy a match ticket for £1 (instead of the normal £2).  There are about 12,000 Socios listed, but only 800 are up to date with their payments.  (I am Socio No: 11,837 – paid up till May 2003).  Children enter free.

La Barra de Los Ruleteros:

This is the supporters club which is responsible for organising and financing away trips, general fund-raising, activities at home games – songs, chants, flags, drums etc.  They meet every Tuesday at the Club's HQ (CD Everton have given them an office which serves as their base).  The Club has a sports hall attached to the HQ and, for several hours every Saturday night, any funds raised from 5-a-side, basketball, etc are given to the Barra.  CD Everton also provides them with about 30 tickets for home games, which are distributed amongst those who normally couldn't afford to attend games.  These in turn help with the enormous flags and banners provided by the Barra.  (The £1000 needed to buy the main flag behind the goal was obtained through raffles, dances, suppers etc.)

Club Finances:

Without going into too much detail, CD Everton operates on a relatively small budget (£20,000 per month) with an operating deficit of some £5,000 per month.  With performances on the pitch not what they should be, attendances have plummeted, which has exacerbated the difficult financial situation of the Club.  A short-term solution has been found in the form of Uruguayan businessman, Pablo Tallerico.  He provides £5,000 per month to the Club — in return, he receives all profits from shirt sales (not a lot) and a percentage of the future transfer fees of any of the squad (70% for players he owns the contract on; 30% for those owned by the Club).  One concern is that the squad is being populated with more and more of his own players at the expense of local-grown talent...

Everton FC Involvement:

A number of possibilities are being considered:

• The comparison between the Home Farm and CD Everton was drawn - could we possibly establish a similar link?
• Future matches – CD Everton celebrate their centenary in June 2009
• Kings Dock inaugural game?
• Megastore involvement in merchandising CD Everton goods
• Sanctioning the use of the Everton FC logo (this has since been agreed with the Club)

Additional Aims of the Evening:

We hoped to broaden the membership base and establish a means of obtaining future funds, which will be needed to finance the various initiatives already planned — the exchange of gifts between supporters clubs and publicising of the existence of CD Everton and their supporters club amongst the many existing supporters clubs of Everton FC.  A membership fee of £10 per annum was discussed — depending on membership numbers — this should go some way towards financing future projects.

The gifts presented to the Ruleteros Society by La Barra de los Ruleteros were displayed — CD Everton shirt and commemorative plaque.

Immediate activities:

While in Chile, I was asked by the Barra if it was possible to obtain a history of Everton FC in Spanish.  As far as I know, no such tome exists — yet.  With the myriad of talent available within the Society, it was agreed that this would be one of our first projects.  We also agreed we need to respond to the plaque presented to us by the Barra with one of our own.

Future events:

It is hoped that a similar event will be held at the end of the present Chilean season — end of November / beginning of December.

Those interested are welcome to attend more frequent meetings (hopefully monthly) prior to future Everton FC home games (venue to be decided — possibly The Top House).

Further information:

www.the-ruleteros-society.org
www.algorta.demon.co.uk - The Other Everton

John Shearon

6 July 2002