Fans Comment
John Clucas

Champions League — Who's Laughing Now?
9 May 2005

THE FOLLOWING MAIL WAS FORWARDED TO RADIO5 LIVE AND TALK SPORT:

I know I can speak for many Evertonians when I say that I shall be desperately hoping for a Milan victory in the forthcoming European Champions' League final.  Mutual respect may have once existed between the supporters of both clubs but events from the 1980s have left a bitter taste in the mouth of many Evertonians which still exists today.  The demise of Everton from the mid-1980's was directly caused by one reason only.  The disgraceful behaviour of Liverpool supporters at Heysel and the subsequent banning of English clubs from European club competitions was a sporting disaster from which Everton Football Club never recovered.

The direct effect at the time on Everton Football Club was:

1. To lose it’s most successful ever manager in Howard Kendall who sought the lure of European competition.
2. To lose key players in the form of Lineker, Stevens, & Steven for the same reason.
3. To lose the ability to replace ageing greats such as Reid, Bracewell, Southall, Ratcliffe etc. for the same reason and not have the glamour and attractions of London as an alternative lure.

As someone who had previously respected the achievements of Liverpool FC, it was infuriating beyond words to be prevented from achieving similar success due to the actions of the very same supporters.  One of the abiding memories of my school years was to be accosted every Monday morning at the school gates by a certain fellow pupil who couldn’t wait to rub the usual general outcome of the weekend i.e. how Liverpool had won and Everton had lost.  It now seemed that after waiting for 20 years we would now get the chance to enjoy a period of success and dominance in the same way as they had but as we now know, we never got the chance.  And in an era now of billionaire backers the opportunity to see Everton once more dominate is I doubt one that I will never live to see again.

However, it was subsequent behaviour of Liverpool Football Club and Kopites supporters which has caused me bitter lasting resentment.  Both religiously remember and observe the Hillsborough tragedy but until recent events Heysel has been completely airbrushed out of the club's history and it was only the inconvenience of recently being drawn against Juventus that forced both to have to come to terms once again with their embarrassing past (when was the last occasion any memorial or minutes silence for Heysel had been arranged by Liverpool FC?).  If those campaigning for ‘Justice for the Hillsborough 96’ demonstrated a fraction of the sympathy for the Italian supporters they murdered at Heysel that they expect to similarly receive for the Hillsborough disaster, Liverpool supporters in general might receive a great deal more respect from many Everton supporters.  From recollection the only player or official from the club to apologise to Everton FC was Phil Neal.  It was entirely coincidental of course that his testimonial had been arranged against the current Everton side just prior to the start of the new season and he stood to lose out financially in a big way if the offer of participation were withdrawn.

Both club and supporters vociferously blamed everyone and everything for the tragedy except the actions of their won supporters.  The Italian supporters, the Belgian police, the infrastructure of the ground, even Southern Brits (despite the fact Liverpool have a huge national following their years of success – just listen to any national phone to hear the geographic diversity of their support) were all blamed, in fact anyone except themselves.  But it was how the dead Italians were barely cold in their coffins before the ‘wonderful’ Kopite following was bleating to be allowed once more to participate in European competition, without the slightest hint of shame of guilt about recent events, which turned my stomach.  Many supporters would have been thoroughly ashamed to show their faces but Kopites arrogantly drunk on their years of success (similar to Man Utd supporters following the Cantona episode) considered themselves to be above criticism and reproach.

Finally I would like you consider what would be the consequences were Heysel to happen in today’s era of litigation?  The reaction of the likes of Messrs Ferguson, Wenger, Mourinho and Abramovic etc. deprived of their Champions League participation would prove very interesting.  Similarly do you honestly think the money-men at Man Utd, Chelsea and Arsenal would simply stand back and turn a blind eye to the prevention of such income and brand exposure?  I think not!  The writs would have been flying thicker than during a ‘Posh and Becks’ tabloid saga and the lawyers would have had a field day. Liverpool FC could expect to be been hit with crippling claims for compensation so in the context of the time they should consider themselves as having got off very extremely lightly.

So it is now hugely ironic how Everton FC may now prevent Liverpool FC from playing at the top level of European football.  But after all, its something as Evertonians we know all.  The only disappointment in qualifying this time is that we may enter with a vastly inferior squad to the one we had last time we thought we would be taking part.

The best of British to AC Milan.

A very, very bitter Evertonian blue nose and proud of it.

John Clucas

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