Why do you support Everton?

I too am a Southerner, (halfway between London and Brighton), yet never found myself drawn to any 'local' teams. As a nipper I flirted with Arsenal and Chelsea but that was due to them being the teams my brother's supported. All my school mates were going along the route of big 1st Division teams, (back before Sky invented football!), such as Man Utd, Liverpool, Spurs and the two named above yet I just didn't feel anything towards any of them. I just felt that Everton were right for me. Granted blue is my favourite colour, but I have no way of explaining why this team I couldn't even find on a map without my Dad's help ended up being the one for me.
It's got to be something mystical!

"Evertonians are born, not manufactured. We do not choose, we are chosen. Those who understand do not need an explanation. Those who dont understand do not matter."

I suppose I'm saying, you can look for reasons but this was our destiny. To support The Blues.

God knows what we must have done in a previous life to deserve it...

I'm from a small town in the Lakes - back when I was growing up (1960's), the only teams we heard about were Man Utd, Arsenal and Leeds. I started showing an interest in football and when the school I was at arranged a trip to Liverpool. Shopping or go to a match. I chose the latter - Liverpool v Leeds I think. I loved it.
When I applied to college - I picked the ones that had good football teams - Liverpool, Sheffield and Nottingham. That will tell you the era!
Ended up in Liverpool - went to a few Liverpool games with friends as I had no choice. and it didn't feel right
Eventually after a couple of months - another friend said he would take me to a game - but at Goodison. The second I walked through the gates, I knew that was where I should be. That was 1975 and I haven't looked back since.
Magical, maybe - but I do believe that the phrase Evertonians are born was meant for me

I too became a fan in 1966. I lived in the Wolverhampton area and all my Uncle talked about was Billy Wright. Well I had just watched England win The Cup and there was alittle fella with curly red hair, just like me. I was 10 years old and probably as tall as Alan Ball. Then Everton bought him and I got a pair of white boots. He was my childhood idol and I have been a Toffee ever since.

Two words, Alan Ball. Like Mark (6), I too identified with him straight away, I cried went he left and I cried when he passed away.

I'm another southerner, I became a fan in 1984, watching the cup final against Watford did it for me, even if my father was an avid RS and said wait another fortnight and watch the reds in Europe. A factor that made me curious to watch Everton, aside from it being a final, was at school I had so many duplicate Everton players for panini collection to swap with school buddies. I could reel some of those names of the top of my head so I thought i'm gonna try and watch these players the next time Everton are on tele. My mind was made up after that 90 min, and that Sharpy double no going back and then rest was history!! I loved the colour blue in any case!
A case of my blood will ALWAYS be blue.

Very similar story to Adam Sadler (and from the Midlands), however I was a bit younger and demonstrated once a blue always a blue as I had to endure immense ridecule from schoolmates as a teenager in the late seventies. EFC has been a part of my life for 44 years and always will be.

Very similar story to Adam Sadler (and from the Midlands), however I was a bit younger and demonstrated once a blue always a blue as I had to endure immense ridecule from schoolmates as a teenager in the late seventies. EFC has been a part of my life for 44 years and always will be.

I'm from Ireland. Picked Everton when I was 4 which would have been 1981. I picked them because my 2 brothers and father supported Liverpool and I wanted to be different. So glad I made the right choice :-)

Back in 1985 (yes that amazing year for EFC!) I was 10 years old and was collecting the Panini football stickers along with a lot of my friends. I had managed to collect all the players and only needed the silver to complete the team. One day I was walking to our local shops to buy some more stickers and I bumped into a schoolfriend. I told him where I was at with my collection and that I only needed the silver to complete Everton. He very generously pulled out his 'swaps' and handed me the gleaming silver sticker with the Everton badge on. This moment changed my life forever. Everton was the first team I ever completed in my album and the team I was destined to follow for the rest of my days.

Art #6, same here. And his white boots helped a lot! I had to have a pair. Utter legend, Bally.

Why? Because EFC is America's Team.

Joe Max, McBride, Timmy, and Landon.

Pulled me in for good and ever (You'd have to be American to understand).

Brilliant, absolutlely chuffed to see this thread, makes me emotional. I'm an exiled scouse however (Brighton) but my kids were born and raised in Brighton but are mad blues. One of my favourite stories if of my daughter (now 18 and proud to be the only football loving blue nose in her crowd of mates), when she was11 in her new secondary school, she was being taunted for supporting Everton. She went around and asked everyone the question - 2 how lng have you been supporting Arse, Gonners, manure, Chelski, Shite" and got the same anwser, a couple of years, since I was 9 etc. Her response ... "Well, I've been supporting Everton since 1878, my dad and grandparents and great grandparents supported them, and my great great grandfather was a builder on the anfield road at the time our first home was built (yeh, I'll tell you about that later) and helped build it. So feck off the lot of yer!". She is a proud southerner.

Really nice story Denis #14. You must be a proud Dad.

I had no choice really. My Dad and older brother are Manure fans.
My Grandad and Uncle both Everton fans.
As my Dad got his way with my brother my Grandad and Uncle were left to influence me.
I was born in 1981 in Cambridge, I can't really remember a lot until the famous Wimbledon game. Listening to it so nervously on the radio, I still rememeber the commentators telling everyone at home how it looked like Everton were relegated etc.

I can't ever recall complaining about being an Everton fan, i used to love wearing the kits my Grandad bought for me every Christmas.
With all my friends supporting Spurs, Arsenal and the other glory teams I have got a lot of stick over the years (Still do) but I am proud to be an Evertonian.
I find it hard to take that some 'local' fans (very few tbh) can look at us as if they perhaps love Everton more than we could ever do.
My Uncle died in a car crash when I was 15, he never got to see Tim Cahill play.
My Grandad passed away last year from cancer. On his last day alive I was with my Norwegian girlfriend watching Everton play at Villa Park.
His last words were "How did Everton get on". I cried like a baby when my Dad told me this.

So now I live in Norway which is the plastic fan central I take great pride in knowing who I am as a football fan.
I will be having kids in the near future and they will have no choice but to support Everton, as when they do I will tell them how much it meant to their English family and how much it means to me.

We have some really bad times as an Everton fan but I wouldn't have it any other way, we can all share that in common.

My Daughter is 9 and got her first Everton strip when she was 18 months old, not bad for someone living in Norfolk. Last winter she waswearing her Everton hat and scarf to schooland naturally got picked on by the glory hunting kids. Her response "shows what you know".I was so proud.

There was something I read ( James Michener ? ) or something I heard in a film (Errol Flynn) that may or may not be true.

But hey, when, or so we are told, given the choice between printing the ( mundane ) truth or the Legend...print the legend.

When asked about his credentials for being in Texas or Texan ( Texican ? ) or at the Alamo.

I wasn't born in Texas, but I got here as quick as I could.

Well that sums up all the none locals.

My story as a local is I came from a ' mixed ' Family but the thing was none of the RS ( my Dad's) side took it seriously or even went, It was just what they were. Like none Church goers putting C of E on forms.

This is pre Shankly so no wonder. That and the fact that back then Saturday Morning was part of the working week plus cash and time was tight.

But the In-law side, the Owens of Garston, they were.

We would Go as a Family on Highdays and Holidays especially, which at the time always seemed to be to Goodison on Boxing Day.

My first view was overwhelming.

BIG, the towering walls of the Gwladys Street, the flood lights.

BIG, GREEN, the pitch ( I was 7 or 8 )

BIG, BLUE, the ground and the stands.

BIG, LOUD, the crowd.

I was hooked.

Other factors, not long after I started Junior School. The first day bigger kids came up to me and my 2 mates and said to one, what are you red or Blue...Blue was the answer... ok, your in. Then on to me, I'm not daft, Blue, quick as a flash.

And maybe last but not least, being a bit of a rebel ( without a clue ) I think it annoyed the shit out of my Dad and Grandad.

I wasn't born in Goodison but I got there as quick as I could.

My mum and dad are from Belfast but moved to Liverpool for work in the fifties. I was nearly born there but my mum wanted to have me in Belfast. I can't remember not supporting Everton even when all the other kids at school went to follow Leeds (where are they now?) I cried and hid in the front room when West Brom beat us in 68 but I strolled around in my kit in 1970. I now live in Australia and have stayed up too many Saturday nights to remember to watch us live. I constantly live in hope that one day we'll pick up another title. until then coyb.

I've lived in South Africa all my life but have been loyal Everton supporter since 1986. I was 10 years old and in those days, only tone English Football match was shown on live national TV - and that was the FA Cup Final. It was the first game of football I'd ever watched on TV. Being 10 years old a keen football player but without much knowledge of England or the English game I was faced with some very simple choices. Blue or red? Everton or Liverpool? I far preferred blue over red and the name Liverpool just sounded a little weird to me. The 'ever' in Everton had that ring of destiny and just sounded like a really cool name. Their main striker was one strange looking guy and the fact that the blue team scored first was an added incentive to go with Everton! Of course we ended up losing that final - but I'd made my choice and I have and always will be supporting the Toffees for'ever'!

I have grown up in small town in Co Mayo Ireland, I was 11 in 1984 and watching match of the day, before we became the last or second last team to be on. The team back then was great, Southall was immense in goals you did not think he was not going to let in any goals, Kevin Sheedy was irish and great player, Gary Stevens was another great player, along with sharpy up front. I was hooked from then on, there was not going to be or will not be any other team i will support.

I remember first i time went to goodison park even though a lot on here run down state of stadium, it was just brilliant to be there, I have been to other grounds which are new and facilities are good but the atmosphere there is brilliant. Everton bring out all the emotions in you from being proudest supporter to levels of frustrations that nothing else can compare to. I remember listening in on to relegation battles especially when we stayed up on goal difference beating wimbledon, I am not a person to cry but is one of few times I can remember crying about anything apart from birth of my children.

We need to keep the faith in supporting our team, I know it would be great to have millions to spend on players, but we just dont have it, We as fans have to stay right behind team especially at Goodison as, if we don't get behind the team fully, there will be several points lost due to crowd intensity which is not always there. I know am waffling on a bit now but I will always be proud and loyal Everton supporter. COYB.

I am a southerner, who has grown up with his twin supporting the red half. i think I got drawn to Everton in the early 80's. My bro liked Liverpool, but I could never get my head round that. Everton had something different, something special.

In truth, it still does. Yes, there have been alot of lean times, but the passion with which I feel about Everton overshadows just about every reaction I see from other supporters from other teams! Everton are part of me, and I agree with the statement earlier, we are born not chosen.... you don't choose to support Everton, you just do.

Interesting post - in fact, though I read Toffeeweb most lunchtimes, it was this one that inspired me to sign up so that I could post a comment of my own!

I was brought up in Hertfordshire, not too far out of North London, and almost everyone at school was Spurs fans, with a few Gunners creeping in every now and again. I don't think I met a fellow Everton fan till senior school.

It's a question I've often asked myself, and I'm not sure even I know the answer. My theories are (in no particular order):

1. I was about 8 years old when I first got into football and this coincided with the golden period of the mid-80's. In this sense, I guess I am a glory-hunter!

2. My best friend when I was growing up supported Liverpool, and we had that kind of competitive friendship where we would never have supported the same team. I'm not sure which of us chose first.

3. I like the colour blue (though not sure if this is because I'm an Everton fan).

4. the name 'Everton' has some kind of mystical quality that you just don't get with teams that are named after a city or a town (you've got to remember that I'm talking about child-like logic here!).

5. Everton mints are pretty tasty!

As I say, it could be all or none of those reasons, but I've been a bluenose for over 25 years and there's no changing now - my wife periodically suggests that I should change allegiance and support a 'better' team, but I'm stuck with Everton till I die, and that's just how it is!

My Dad moved to Liverpool from Belfast when he was 19 in the late fifties. He wanted to see the big games so started going to Goodison (1st division) instead of Analfield (2nd division). He became a firm Evertonian but moved back to NI in the sixties and I was born. Fortunately the family returned to Liverpool when I was 7 and he took me to my first game where I was scared to death on the Top Balcony. We left Liverpool when I was 19. I was lucky enough to live there and have season tickets through the glorious mid-eighties from 83-87.
Now living in Oxfordshire I have totally ensured my three boys are all blues and take them to at least a couple of games a season. Not many blues where I live here but if I do see one a shout out the car window is always in order... "EverTON, EVERton...."

Great post and some great stories about why people became Everton fans.
A related Q might be why do we REMAIN as Everton fans, especially the "non Scousers". God knows it is not an easy ride and it would be a lot simpler to pick another more successful team. For me, Everton embody a fantastic footballing tradition, great and loyal supporters (I can't believe how much money some supporters must shell out following the team around) and yet have not sold out (ok nobody will buy us) to some Billionaire. We have that underdog tag and I love that.

I am originally from Ireland but have lived in Oz for quite a while. Last year I was in a large shopping centre in Sydney with my young daughter when I spotted a guy in an Everton shirt. I immediately went over and started chatting to him (BTW, he was a scouser) like a long lost friend. My daughter couldn't understand how I just walked up to a complete stranger until I explained what it meant to be an Everton fan. You couldn't do that to someone in Manure or RS shirt eh?

I'm from the US. I started watching Football a few years ago and I needed a team to support. I watched a Liverpool game thinking 'that might be a good team to support'. By the end of the game, I hated Liverpool. I found out that Liverpool's rival were Manchester United and Everton. I didn't want to be a bandwagon jumper so I decided to support Everton.

For me, a son of Bournemouth, it was Alan Ball, the Royal Blue Jersey, 1970 and all that.

It took me 30 years to make it Goodison but it was worth the wait. Before long I had a Season Ticket and next moved up this way (allegedly for work so don't let on!).

I've loved every minute of being a match going Blue (yes even the lows in a strange way) and have developed a completely irrational dislike for the colour red, no idea why!!

Ciaran #23; your point about remaining an Evertonian strikes a chord.

I was born in Runcorn, and my Dad is a blue. However I grew up in Milton Keynes (long story). I was very isolated being an Evertonian. In fact, back then, I was the only one I knew. That led to alot of stick off of my school mates. Bear in mind this was during the nineties and early noughties ( I finished school in 2002) and MK was only 30 odd years old (no MK Dons). All my mates supported either Man Utd, Liverpool, Chelsea or Tottenham. You know the type, Couldn't locate thier club on a map but think thier better than you because their club is doing better.

Anyway, I digress. My point was; during the 93-94 season, I came close to throwing in the towel and calling it a day. My logic was; if I supported the same club as everyone else I would get less stick and be happier. I honestly can't remember why, but I didn't. I stuck it out and grew a thick skin. I couldn't stop supporting Everton because it felt so right. Like your right arm, It's was just there. It defined me rather than held me back. Even now I struggle to put it into words.

Looking back, the thing that strikes me the most was knowledge. I knew far more about my team and football in gerneral than my mates (and their respective teams). A good example: One day in middle school I was getting the same old crap off of an Man Utd fan. I decided to retort with 'yeah, but we beat you 5-0 in 1985'. The next day, the lad came to me and said 'my dad says you have never beat us 5-0'. Even then the ignorance struck me. It wasn't untill secondary school, when I met an Orient fan, did I ever come across anyone with the same passion and knowledge for football.

We are different. So it's true. Evertonains are born, not manufactured.

Well I was living in Swindon in 1970. My mates and I would watch the Town but they all supported a first division side (and mostly London ones) but, being a glory hunting git, I chose the league champions that year.

To be honest I had no idea where Everton was but I'd heard of Alan Ball (from the two world cups) and the blue strip appealed. I also remember the squad picture that year and they all appeared to being having a laugh (except Harry C, which appears to be the way it was with him).

Dave #27
Definitely agree on the football knowledge of Everton fans. All the ones I have met have a great interest and understanding of football in general as well as Everton. Interesting fact is that Everton fans have won the FPL best fans for the last couple of years (worked out by the average score per fan per club).

I'm from Carlow in Ireland. Before I was 9 I would have said I like Liverpool, really only because my eldest brother followed them. Then one fateful august day, my dear mother went off to get us new bags for back to school for me and other brother. To have different ones she got him a man utd bag and me an Everton bag. I loved it. I was hooked. Thanks Mam.

I used to support Manchester United from the ages 7-10, but I didn't know a thing about football back then except for 'Ruud Van Nistelrooy'. From 11 onwards (the last 4 years), I decided to not go and follow one of the big four because I found that quite mainstream, so I chose Everton because of Tim Cahill, who is a national idol down here in Aus.

This is gonna sound like Jay from The Inbetweeners, but in my senior year in high school I went to the city to hang out with my cousins. Anyway, went to a shin dig and hooked up with a scouse girl (she was the aunt of our mate whose party it was, but was our age) and she was an Everton supporter. I took whatever link I could get to not go for a big four club.

I'm a 56-year-old Evertonian from Ballymena, Northern Ireland. I always use the phrase "life-long Evertonian" when referring to myself, but in fact my earliest memories of supporting the Blues come from around the time of the 1963 League Championship winning team (I was 9 years old!) and the period immediately after that. My favourite player of all time also comes from that era - Alex Young, the Golden Vision, the man whose artistry as he glided across the pitch embodied all the style, class and dignity of our great club which Evertonians of all ages and eras hold so dear.

Following Everton has given me so many memories - from the wonderfully ecstatic to the excruciatingly painful - it's what being an Evertonian is all about! Throughout it all I have always felt intensely proud and privileged to be an Evertonian. Every time I go up the steps to take my place in the Lower Gwladys I look around the Old Lady and drink in the atmosphere and the history. I think of some of the moments I have savoured there and some that I would love to have witnessed - Dixie's sixty goals in 1927-28, Alex Young in his pomp, the Holy Trinity of Ball, Harvey and Kendall, the great team of the 1980's (and Kevin Sheedy, my favourite player from that era, not just because he was Irish but also because he had the sweetest left foot I have ever seen), the Bayern Munich game in 1985, the last day survival against Wimbledon - the list just goes on. In my part of the world where almost everyone claims to support either Man Utd or Liverpool, I take great pride in informing the RS supporters that we were the first team to bring the League Championship to Anfield before they even existed. That usually shuts them up. If you know your history . . . .

Nowadays I try to get to a home match at Goodison at least once a season. I do my best to watch every single game home and away using an online stream. Indeed regular match-going Blues should be in no doubt that far-away Evertonians go through exactly the same agony and ecstacy as those who are lucky enough to be at the games! Our love of Everton is unconditional - despite the disappointments of last season after such promise and regardless of what next season brings - Once A Blue Always A Blue! The T-shirt I wear with pride says it all:
Evertonians are born, not manufactured
We do not choose, we are chosen
Those who understand need no explanation
Those who don't understand don't matter.

Excelent post Alun. The 1966 cup final did it for me. At 2-0 down I decided to support the underdog.
Dessie, great stuff.

This is a question I have been asked a lot, and I usually give the response that centres on the many journeys our family made to Liverpool in the early '70s when I was about 5 years old. But it isn't really that. Supporting Everton just always has been who I am.
No-one supports Everton lightly, especially outside Liverpool because of the nonsense that we have to take off ill-informed Liverpool 'supporters'.
I am a teacher and when the kids discover who I support I can expect some flak especially from so-called 'Liverpudlians'. My usual response is to ask them 'How were Liverpool formed ? It's something they keep quiet...' The usual comeback is 'I don't support them like that...' that usually finishes the exchange. But I digress.
In my Everton odyssey there have been defining moments - three that stand out are:
1 Andy King's goal in October '78
2 Visiting Goodison for the first time and going into the Toffee shop
3 My first match at Goodison on my brother's ( he is also a blue)18th birthday - 20th September 1980 - Everton 5 Palace 0 with a Bob Latchford hatrick at the Park end when I was at that end !

I come from Exeter, and I did try supporting Exeter City, but I never felt welcome there, but I instantly felt at home at Goodison. ( To be fair to Exeter, the mood of the club has changed in recent years, and I have a soft spot for them ).

The geographical accident of birth should not limit one's allegiances. I feel no affinity for the England team - never have really. Why should I ? I didn't choose to be born in England. Likewise for my club.

There are some lovely quotes above, but the one that I like is from Alan Ball which goews something like
' Once this club gets under your skin...'

Everton got under my skin and will always be there.

Thank goodness !

Great item Alun, good content and funny.
Denis # 14, the 1878 comment from your daughter made me realise the same thing.
My grandad was born a blue in 1911 due to his dad being a blue, which must have meant he was there at the start.
Never thought of what it must have been like starting off with a new team in a new national competition.
Here we are, 133 years later spending , i think, 130 of them in the top flight.
What a club !!

Mike Bates (2) Unfortunately that is bullshit. Evertonians aren't manufactured but they sure as hell aren't born. I'd know. Born in Ireland to support Liverpool or United, somehow still chose Everton and later moved over here. Now I'm a season ticket holder and I'm an adopted Englishman and proud of it. No one's born an Evertonian. I CHOSE and I'm so glad I did because I doubt anyone's more passionate than me.

Great thread, thanks Alun.

I'm from Somerset (now living in Bristol) and like many on here fell in love with Everton in the early 80's, specifically during the 1984 FA cup win over Watford. Once you get the blue in your blood you can't get it out again......

Very interesting article!
I'm a non "scouser", about as opposite as you can get.
Born and bred in London (if you go by location, Crystal Palace or Millwall would be my local).
I was around 6 or 7 when my best friend at the time, used to brag that his dad played for Everton. Thinking back on it, his surname was Latchford, however i'm pretty sure it was just a coincidence!

Started supporting from then on, and 27 years later, i'm still blue through and through.
Try to get to a couple of games every season and always get the new kits. Much to the disgust of the wife, our bedroom is littered with Everton merchandise.
Marc

My dad used to work the gates at Goodison and Anfield. He was a blue, all the rest were reds. All my mates were reds pretty much. Would have been easier in the lates 70s when I used to go to the game with my dad to support liverpool, but it never occurred to me. I was taken by the blue shirt.
When I was at my grans one saturday afternoon, my Dad took me shopping for a sports bag for school, Off we went down Lower Breck Road, I wanted an Everton one. None in the shops, So he said, ok, get a England one. My Grandad was Irish, and did his best so I asked for a Ireland one. No way, you're english lad. So he gave me the money to buy one, and I came out with a Manure one, just to piss him off. He had the last laugh as I got fucking twatted in school on the monday. Ho hum.

Firstly, thank you to everyone who spent some time to respond to my question ?Why do you support Everton?? There are some great stories and musings on becoming and being a Bluenose here. I have really enjoyed reading them. I know I shouldn?t single anyone out, particularly as there are some very inspirational stories, however, and on a lighter note, special mention for Steve Bryant, (Everton were the 1st completed team in his Panini sticker book! Brilliant!). And kudos to Roman Sidey, who became an Evertonian quite literally through carnal desire. Mind you Roman, your comment was open to interpretation so one question, ?did you?? (I think the kids would write ?lol lol lol? at this point?.?lol?).
And if you did, where is she now? Being an old romantic I was really hoping you were going to write that ?that lady is now my wife!?

I digress.

The thrust of the question was reasons non-Liverpudlians would support Everton. Well I?ve dug out my Spectrum ZX and produced the following meta-analysis from all the comments: -

? Alan Ball (5)
? The Kit (Colour Blue) (3)
? The name ?Everton? (3)
? Goodison Park (3)
? FA Cup final 1984 (2)
? FA Cup final 1966 (2)
? League Champions 1970 (1)
? The mid 1980?s Team (1)
? FA Cup final 1986 (1)
? To oppose an older relative (1)
? Because of an older relative (1)
? To oppose a friend (1)
? Because of a friend (1)
? First team completed in Panini sticker collection (1)
? Our USA players (1)
? The mints (1)
? Fathers influence (1)
? Because they weren?t Liverpool (1)
? Being bought an Everton bag by mum (1)
? Tim Cahill (1)
? To get my wicked way with a lady (1)
? Alex Young (1)
? Andy King's winner against Liverpool (1)

Are there any lessons here for the evil Overloads on the Everton Board? Well, yes I think there are: -

? The obvious message to Davie, BK and all our current Blue heroes is ?Please please please! Win a bloody trophy for crying out loud!!? Any trophy. No more half hearted performances against Brentford or Reading please. Thank you.

? Making the most of our foreign icons. Do we use Felli, The two Timmies, Bily and King Louis as ambassadors for Everton in their mother (or father) lands? Felli for example, would be fantastic to break into the Belgian market (or marché). And not forgetting Morocco. OK they may not be huge markets but they are markets none the less.

? Produce (and keep) the next Alan Ball.

So there you have it. A strategy for maximising future generations of Evertonians whereever they live. ?Simples?.

I'm from Glasgow and have supported Queens Park all my life, its been in the family since the year dot, and was a ballboy at Hampden from 1980-1982 and Alan Irvine was playing for them at the time in my first season in 80/81, and was my favourite player, so with being a ballboy got to know him pretty well, then in the summer of '81 he signed for Everton and he sent me some Everton merchandise,programmes etc and at that time I didnt have an english team, while my mates did, so decided Everton were going to be my english team and have followed them ever since, so thats 30 years this year being a true blue.

This might sound a little silly, but basically every team I like bar Real Madrid wears blue. Everton, Rangers, Napoli, Marseille, etc

My dad beat me sensless until I offered my undying love for all things Everton....... Not really.

My first kit was a Liverpool one, it lasted less than 3 hours. My mum bought it for me and when my dad came in, he told me to take it off and threw it in the bin (my mum just did it to wind my dad up) and went out and bought the new Everton kit. That was it, I was a blue.

Parental pressure because I was that young I didn't know what was going on.

Also I am a scouser so ignore what I have just wrote, as this post doesn't apply to me...Doh!

Alun, I come from a family of Evertonians, on both sides. I am 4th or 5th generation. There was a story in my family on my mum's side that my great grandad was one of those who crossed the park, but who knows, it could well be family folklore and hyperbole.

A few years back my mum told me a family tale about her great uncle who emigrated with his sister to New Zealand, and made a packet of money on something like the railways. This would be the later part of the 19th century. Anyway, the story goes that he sent a whole load of cash over to his brother, (my great grandfather, or great great - you see this story gets a bit shaggy!) with the intention that he and the rest of them use the money to travel down under to join them there. Instead he, my great grandfather, used the money to plough into the local church football team to make it really successful. At this my ears prick up... my mum's family were from Scotland Road and Everton, and this was beginning to sound like we had some historical claim to the old St Domingo's, and maybe a long lost part ownership of Everton. Kenwright Out even.

Calm down. Sadly the church in question turned out to be Our Lady's Eldon Street, which I don't think is even there any more. And its footie team gone too I guess - with or without NZ railways money.

But I was born into a family of blues and although it was maddening at times, I am proud and pleased that my daughters are also carrying on the family tradition.

David Crowe - sorry mate but I was born an Evertonian. My family have been blue for years and that was that for me. I wouldn't have had it any other way, I just wish we would have won more.

But it doesn't really matter how you became an Evertonain, as far as I see it the more the merrier. As far as i can see, your support is more important than your heritage.

Im a 51 year old from a small mining village on the Notts Derbys border and my 1st memories of Everton are after the 1968 Cup Final crying behind the settee all night when we lost .The reason i was a supporter as told by my Dad was just seeing them on telly late 67 and taking a shine to them for no apparent reason.Throughout the years my love of the Blues has been passed on to my 4 children 3 Girls and 1 Boy who travels to the games regular with me , my Mam who obvoiously dont go always wants them to win same as my Dad .Also got to mention my girlfriends son who goes to a special school and his name is Keegan cos shes a Redshite but he was a Forest fan now hes a fanatical Blue who weve took to 2 matches and has got a %100 record

I was bought up in Lanarkshire and, like my dad, was a Celtic fan. I'm not sure why, but late in 1977, aged 14, I turned to Everton. To this day people ask me why Everton and not one of the usual suspects and I can't explain. At that time we got only very brief TV highlights of a couple of English games after the Scottish football and there was very little press coverage, so I depended mostly on the old Radio 2, I think, for news of the Blues. Probably the long unbeaten run at the start of the 77-78 season had a bearing on my decision, but my first memory of being an Everton fan is the 6-2 hammering by Man U on Boxing Day which was followed by a 3-0 loss to Leeds a day or two later!However, I was hooked and saw my first game at Goodison a year later when Everton beat Brighton 2-0.
My oldest son, Daniel, who is 11, is a Blue also and we get to Goodison two or three times a season. Inevitably, there is a mixed bag of results. This season we witnessed the 4-1 hammering by West Brom, but also the 2-0 win over Sunderland and the Man City win in May when the atmosphere was out of this world.
I treasure the trips to Goodison - leaving the M6, picking up the local radio signal and the pre-match chat, parking at Aintree, the train to Kirkdale and the walk to the ground with so many fellow Blues. So different from back home where we are out on a limb.
The game can sometimes be good too! And waiting behind to get autographs is always worth it even if it means getting home even later at night (between 10 and 11pm).
Daniel and I also follow Motherwell, our local team, but the Blues come first. I have no family connection with Liverpool at all, but I hope my long and loyal service has earned me my place in the Everton family!

I was born on the Isle of Wight so a fair distance from Goodison.

In 1968 my brother told me that we would support the team that won the Fa Cup Semi Final between Leeds and Everton. I was Four he was older so I did what I was told!
Thankfully Everton beat Leeds thanks to a Johnny Morrissey penalty. Funnily enough I now live in Leeds!



After that it was Everton all the way and not even early life trips to Fratton park across the Solent would change things.

My earliest, clearest memory though was beating Southampton 8-0 in 1971 with my favourite player Joe Royal scoring 4. I can still visualise my dad telling the result.

My first game at Goodison was 3 years later to see the blues lose 3-0 to an already relegated Southampton who featured Channon and Osgood in their team. I was lucky enough to see Royal and Latchford up front in the same game.

My first season ticket was bought in 1983 so I was very lucky to see the next few years home and away when we were at our best.

I Love it!

Roll on the 13th August.

Born In Leeds.....Lived most of life in Manchester.....Brother a Kopite..................................................... .....= Me always a blue!

Strange but I don't remember why, It just happened as everyone else in Dublin it seems were supporting United, Leeds or Liverpool.

But I do remember the heartache as a young boy; 1980 - my dad had let me stay up late to watch the semi-final replay highlights versus West Ham.

We were rarely on the TV back then so we deliberately avoided the result earlier. I was sure we were going to win; they were 2nd division opponents after all.

Unfortunately, "Lampard Snr wasn't it", didn't read the script and scored with a flying header. Imre Varadi then missed a golden chance and we were done.

I cried myself to sleep that night but knew then; it was always going to be Everton for me.

So, how did I become an Evertonian. I am from East Anglia, the year 1984, my first year of Primary School. We needed a blue P.E. shirt and my mum was given a 'home made' E.F.C shirt. Was like the 1970's style shirt with an Everton badge sewn into it. All I can remember is thinking who is this team and it was my school teacher telling me its a team called Everton...cool I thought, as the years went by and I got a little older, I was bought the 1986 E.F.C. strip and wore it everywhere, even under my school shirt much to the annoyance of my teachers, ever since them I have stuck with them. Had many happy memories of watching Everton play Norwich at Carrow Road, sitting in the Barclay end cheering on the toffee's in amongst the Norwich fans. And thats the story!

There aren't that many Swedish Toffees, but there area few of us around and most of us are long time Everton supporters, it seems to me.

I'm 31 years old and have been an Everton supporter since 1986 - but as an six year old I wasn't aware that Everton were one of the top teams in Europe when I decided they were MY team from now on.

For me it has got do do with a comic book my parents bought me


It was called "Buster" and I think it was originally made in the UK. THere were a lot of football comics such as Hot Shot Hamish, Roy of the Rovers and Billy's Boots. And it also ran a Swedish comic called �shöjdens BK in which a small village team reached the top flight. In the episode that featured in this particular issue the two protagonist s, brothers, had been sold to England and Everton and they were playing in the Merseyside Derby at ANfield and I immediately caught on. Of course I wanted Everton to win the game in the comic and from there on I've been a die hard Everton fan.

Type or paste your comment here. No txt-speak, please try to use proper grammar, all-lowercase posts are likely to be deleted

I am from Ayrshire and have been a fan since the 70's. My reason for following Everton is because they wear blue and white , just like my favourite scottish team --Kilmarnock FC.

However my reason for being everton daft is due to one Emlyn Hughes , erstwhile captain of the dark side.

After Liverpool had won their first European Cup, there was a civic reception in Liverpool. I remember the players appearing on the balcony of the town hall on the BBC news, and a clearly drunk EH lead the community singing on the balcony and along with the rest of Liverpool FC sang the charming ditty---'Liverpool are magic, Everton are tragic' etc. etc.

That did it for me. Everton had nearly been relegated, but Liverpool could not be dignified to their neighbours on the other side of the park. Not are they poor losers , they cant win in a dignified manner.

I've been loyal ever since and try to visit Goodison 2 ton 3 times a year, obviously more during the eighties and the good years. I love the city , the people, the clob, and goodison. My daughter is equally a true blue and loves going to the home of footbvall in the city.

thank you Liverpool F C for making me a true blue--I have never ever regretted being an EVERTONIAN.

NIL SATIS NISI OPTIMUM

This is a question I get asked all of the time, I kind of get fed up of telling people and usually end up giving a different response everytime.

I live in Mid Essex and started supporting Everton in 1984 just before the best spell in our history. The first reason was because I hated Liverpool FC with a passion even as an 8 year old, they were winning trophies all over the place and I always favour the underdog.

The second was a feature on Everton in my treasured collection of Roy of the Rovers comics, I loved the name and the look of the ground (now it may seem hard to believe but in those days Goodison was amongst the biggest and most modern in the country).

Everton were about to play Southampton in the FA Cup semi final at Highbury and I asked my dad if he could record the highlights on our old beta max video player. I cant actually remember the match itself, however I can remember watching the highlights on the Sunday afternoon and seeing Heaths late header crash into the North Bank net. That was the first time I got goosebumps from watching football and from that moment I have been hooked.

The following season I went to my first Everton match at Ipswich (2-0 with sharp both goals) and watched Everton sweep all before them, unfortunately losing to Man Utd in the FA cup final.

I have had lots of ups and downs in the 25 years plus I have been supporting Everton, I have been to hundreds of games and spent countless money but it has all been worthwhile because no matter what happens from here on in I have tons of great memories.

I do come across quite a few Everton fans down here in Essex, although we cant compete withour neighbours or Man Utd I see a lot more Everton fans than teams like Man City, Newcastle and Aston Villa, most are around my age and have the connection from the great 80's teams.

I have tried to pass it onto my kids however my two boys have opted for a North London rivalry, my 5 year old daughter is taking an interest and spreads the Everton word at school when football is discussed.

If we could have another period of domination I am sure our numbers would swell further and dilute some of these plastic Liverpool fans that live down here. Sorry probaly waffled too long, but was thinking of starting a similar thread some time ago but never got round to it. Keep the faith!!

Lots of nice things being said here but I bet there are a few turning their nose up and thinking "Yeah, but they're not REAL blues". Just a statement of opinion but one I'm quite confident in.

I emigrated from Liverpool and over in Aus you get lots of blokes supporting Premier League teams. I can honestly say, hand on heart, that when you meet an Evertonian they're something else. Evertonians just seem to know their history and, for me, are more likely to be proper supporters than those who support the more successful teams.

Thing is, no-one would choose to have supported us over the last 20 years unless it was embedded in them. Who gets up at unGodly hours of the morning to watch a team that wins fuck all? Talking about blokes trying to get supporters groups going and pushing the "soccer" agenda in a country dominated by other sports.

I wouldn't have thought it before I moved, but some of the most committed and dedicated supporters are outside of Liverpool, because in Liverpool you can kind of take it for granted.

I'm a proud southerner too but my parents came from around the Stockport area. I didn't get into football until I was 11. My grandfather, although born in Northampton played for a successful Man City team in the 30s. My dad supported Man Utd. My parents had just divorced and the 85 FA Cup Final was on. Supporting the rivals of my grandfather's team was not on. I supported Everton that day and every other day since.

My grandfather was my mum's father, which I suppose meant I favoured my mum's side more :P