Fans Comment
John Burgess

The Flower of Youth?
13 November 2004

I’ve no doubt that, come 9.30pm last Tuesday, I wasn’t the only Evertonian feeling profoundly disappointed with the result at Highbury.  For the first time in living memory, I was confident that we would be coming away with a win and a place in the next round of the League Cup — a step closer to our most realistic opportunity of entry into European club competition.  Instead, we found ourselves undone by a below-par performance and a team of ostensibly under 20s.

Don’t get me wrong: I’m not a doom-monger; I’m loving almost every minute of this season as we again push for a ‘magnificent seventh’... but I think we were firmly reminded just where we still stand overall as a club.  We have a team that is capable of competing within the Premiership and that’s about it.  We don’t appear to have a squad that can cope with the rigours of an extra domestic cup competition, let alone forays into Europe.  In light of the stark lesson Arsenal taught us on Tuesday, and I’m not talking about on the pitch here, I think that Everton fans should begin to mobilise — in a similar way to that which we witnessed during the summer of discontent — behind a campaign to get the planned new training ground/academy back on track.

With the great news regarding David Moyes’s new contract, and the likelihood of decent investment in the club, now would be an ideal time for Everton to push ahead with plans for the new training ground/academy.  Surely if the long-term future supply for the playing side at Everton is to be secured, we need to have facilities on a par with anywhere in Europe.  This would serve a dual purpose of helping to attract already established stars to the Club as well as impressing possible young recruits and, perhaps more importantly, their parents. 

I must admit I’ve never been in person to Bellefield but, from the pictures I’ve seen in the media, it certainly does not look like the most impressive facility in the World.  I for one would much rather be consoled during January with news that the proposals were back on track instead of a panic signing of an average player or two to ‘cement the push for a European place’.  We have consistently proved that the Club is capable of producing a good standard of player but it is patently obvious, now more than ever, that the nurturing of fresh blood will be crucial to our chances of ever competing, year-in, year-out, at the top.  We will probably never be able match fully the global brand of Man Utd (although I’d like to see evidence the Board is giving it a damn good try) or ever by taken over by an ‘I got rich suspiciously quickly’ Russian... but on the training ground, with a manager as talented as Moyes, I say we can compete.

Bearing in mind our own experience during the summer — and that of the Salford City Reds during the Glazier negotiations — I think that, if football fans have learnt anything this summer it is that, with good organisation, they can be at least heard, even if they’re not always listened to.  I think this is an instance whereby, by joining together, we can all ensure that we are heard, and the club is aware of our views on this vital issue. 

All together now....

John Burgess

That's a great idea, John.... but how are you actually going to make it happen?  The Shareholders have actively encouraged a rights issues tied to development of the new Academy.... nothing by way of a response from the Board.  The Club has often boasted of plans or planning permission (that story is from May 2004) or other key breakthroughs... nothing has happened.  (Of course, we are going to get slammed, as usual, for such direct and inconsiderate questioning of Bill Kenwright's management and leadership..., but, quite frankly, people need to realize it has so far been nothing but hot air from the Club on this issue.  Yes, start your movement: we will give you full support and as much publicity as you want here at ToffeeWeb.  — Editor

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