Season 2011-12 Fan Articles

The Good Growd

By Éanna   Cullen  ::  16/12/2011   6 Comments (»Last) Everton vs Arsenal ? 10 December 2011

There is always a journey, before I reach the away ground. If only I could perch on the lip of my Bullens Road seat, enveloped in the warm hum and grumble of Mersey Blue. Up there, win or lose, I can roar and cheer, and pull my hair with frustration. All around me, the ground follows my lead.

But it is not a lead. It is the mass intoxication of fandom. The home crowd of 40,000 fellow-toffees bright-eyed, in our usual way, expecting to beat any team in the world, regardless of money, league position, or form. We once were world beaters, and will be again. Perhaps today?

In London they celebrate 125 years a club (we have 132) and erect statues to their celebrated players, a stomping centre back and a cheating basketball thief, who stole away Ireland's dreams of World Cup glory. Perhaps when I get there, I will get a chance to scream at him. Can a man wash away years of wonderful football and goals with one... actually two quick hand movements? For me, the answer is yes.
On the tube, the red scarves multiply, and I wonder what sort of fans they are. Will they look at my 2010 home kit as a call to arms? This year?s kit it tighter, and it's too cold today to go vestless. I don't think that they are that kind of fan.

The ground (I have been there twice before) is very civilised and clean, and maximises match-day profits, a wide concourse and visible plasma TVs. No two cans of Chang and a hot-dog as long as that guy's moustache; the bloke who painted the dripping clocks. Everything here is more up-to-date and efficient than the spaces under the stairs where the Good Crowd queue under supervision. Still, I would give a kidney to be in that line.

Today though, is one of double alienation for me. Not only will the Good Crowd be away from home, but they will be away from me too, because I have a ticket amongst the home supporters. I doubt very much that they will bother me, even in 2010 Blue. Their seats are cushioned and the TV replays even contentious decisions. Possibly to try and get some rise out of them. They cheer, only when they're winning, but maybe we would too? If we had those heady days back once more, and padded seats. Perhaps then, we would only cheer the positives.

Their form, is better. They have more money. Hell, they even have one of our players! But I'm an Evertonian, and we still expect to win every game. And that makes me proud, and patient, and a life time drinker of Chang beer.

A Gooner spoke to me about mid-table mediocrity. And I told him that it didn't matter; that I was well in, with the Good Crowd.

The match, if you saw it, was even enough, in every way we could make it so. But the sparkle of talent from their Dutch maestro did for us in the end.

And so we left, the Good Crowd from the away end... and me, from the home end, and the real fans from the noisy blue churn.

If only, we say, the toffees had that maestro. Then we would once more be Europe's greatest team.
See you in the Park End.

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