Season 2011-12 Fan Articles

The insane society of science

By Matt   Woods  ::  19/08/2011   24 Comments (»Last) This is a piece I have spent a long time thinking about. Events recently have strengthened my belief, that I should just throw it out there. So, here we go...

I contest that there is not a lot wrong with Everton. Everton is an unbelievable group of fanatical people who have a strength of spirit that is undiminished under extreme circumstances. The situation, which is out of Everton's control, the people's control, is the state of society. Please, hear me out.

I believe Everton is a symptom of how fucked the world is becoming, or has become. Everton is a ridiculously huge football institution, that has been huge from the start of the football evolution. Today, in complete dire straights, we are still mixing it at the better end of the Premier League. Everton Football Club is anywhere from £35M to £80M in debt. This is quite simply insane.

Everton is, and has been for years, living beyond their means. The thing that I believe separates Everton from some of the other top clubs is that we have not gathered wannabe hangers-on. We are not fashionable, we are simply an old-fashioned boys club. What Everton has, is everything that makes an absolutely magnificent football club.

Basically, undiluted legend, tradition, tales that are re-told in corners of small boozers. These tales are sucked up by little blue sponges, and imprinted as DNA. This is Everton; always has been, always will be. We pass the story orally, as an African village would pass tradition to its fast approaching young adults.

There is nothing wrong with Everton. The problem, is the insanity of the modern world. Please listen to these simple questions.

? Footballer earns £200k a week, sane on insane?

? Man Utd, biggest club in world, reputedly close to a billion in debt. Sane or Insane?

? Fifa, footy organisation in control of the destiny of billions of dollars, corrupt at the top, slippery execs, dodgy as fuck. Is this Sane?

? Lovers of football shafted by all these pricks week-in, week-out. Sane?

There is a wonderful book written by Erich Fromm, called The Sane Society. Written in the 50s, he diagnosed, that due to the economic model of the time, it was not natural to live sanely under the conditions that placed pure profit over the human needs of the people. Today, those conditions remain, but have grown to grotesque proportions.

Another book, written about the 50s, is the excellent 'My Father and Other Working Class Football Heroes' by Graham Imlach. In it, he beautifully recreates the era in which is father, Stuart, wins the FA Cup while in the summer goes back to work as a joiner to supplement his summer wage. Those older Blues will know that Stuart Imlach was Everton's first team coach in the Championship winning year of 69-70. He won the cup with Forest in 57. To read this book is a pure joy. It's sentimental, but just so real and touching. If you are of a certain age, you believe that it's your old man in there reading the pages to you. It's familiar... but now so distant.

There is nothing wrong with Everton. Clubs have ups and downs and in-betweens. What remains is the quality and passion of the people who follow them. We have been there from the start, and we are still as partizan as ever.

On this website the level of feeling often boils over because the desperation to sucede. This is a great thing. We are all winners, Everton are winners, we have a long and proven track record, and we will be winners again.

On the eve of our first home game, I wish all those lucky enough to be at Goodison Park have a fanstastic day. It's not Everton's fault that we live in an insane world, in fact, because of it, it makes us more distinct. Forget all the negativity, go the game tomorrow: be proud, believe... it's 11 against 11, it's a game of FOOTY!!!

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