Fixture clash for home ties in Carabao Cup

Why would that not be possible?

"Issues" ... don't ya just love 'em? The phenomenon of recent decades, just came drifting down out of the ether, preventing what happened often in the past, when we just went ahead and did it.

Remember those FA Cup tie days when both were drawn at home, and each set of fans could hear if the other team scored. Hell, it was dangerous back then...

It WAS dangerous back then. People were at severe risk on those evenings, and people died elsewhere before the situation changed. It's not something we want to go back to.

Now if we're talking about trying to do what we did then with half the resources of yesteryear and trying to cut the "Costs" too, then that might put a different slant on things.

What do you mean by "Severe risk"?

The specific “severe risk” I was referring to was the crush outside the ground prior to kick-off for the replays against Burnley and Wolves. Without exaggeration, as an 11-year-old boy, I travelled half the length of Bullens Road without my feet touching the ground. It was exhilarating and scary at the same time, but I knew that if I didn't remain upright I was going to be in severe trouble.

The difficulties for the subsequent derby match were more around traffic, in days when there were far fewer cars than there are now. It was chaos that night. Traffic congestion leads to impatience which leads to foolish actions. It also leads to late arrival at the stadium which leads to crushing.

I'm sorry, but the days “when we just did it” have, fortunately, gone. It was a “just do it” attitude that led to people being allowed back up an Ibrox staircase to meet hundreds coming down it. It was “just do it” that led to a game at Bradford going ahead with piles of rubbish under a timber stand. And “just do it” could easily have been the words of command uttered to open gates at Hillsborough.

I'll get off my soap box now, but I think it is prudent not to allow two matches on the same evening.

Jesus Christ — it's a game of football — not a manned mission to Mars!

I looked at the performance of the players who played against both Rotherham and Huddersfield and came to the conclusion that sadly our squad has players not fit enough to cope with midweek & weekend games!

I agree in that sense, I'm just thinking they need to pick the same team roughly (maybe Bernard comes in for the Southampton game for example... and Kenny – just two examples).

But really it's stil pretty early season, the preparations are a great idea but tiredness shouldn't really be a massive factor in September.

Of course I've seen and been in the kind of thing you're describing in the past, just never at Goodison so far. I'm not advocating unthinking gung-ho but it seems that generally, the slant is first more why we can't do things now, rather than how we can. Progress?

Anyway, it won't be happening – we'll just have to see how we come out of the rearranged fixtures...

I think it's about as fair as can be.

Imagine the build-up Sky could give it, not to mention all the in-depth analysis and celebrity spin-offs they could do.

Hold on, picks up the phone: "Hello, is that Sky TV? I've a brilliant new idea for a game show!"

Problem solved!!

Could have been the 3rd round when we beat Sunderland 3-0

John #27 - correct and by coincidence they played Chelsea (and lost!)

We kicked off half an hour before them and after beating Sunderland 3-0, the famous Freddie Armstrong led a battalion of Evertonians over the park and entered the Anfield Road end to cheer Chelsea on to a 2-1 victory.
Here's hoping for a similar outcome!!

I seem to remember walking past the Park with all the Blues to the ground but no RS about. Possibly they kicked off earlier as I am sure we kicked off at 3pm.

I clearly remember there was hundreds of RS fans left their game early and came over to Goodison, or nearby anyway, for the usual bit of bovver that was the norm back in the 70s and 80s. Everton and Liverpool fans both joined forces and followed the Arsenal fans all the way back to Lime Street. About halfway down Scottie Road, it all kicked off good style.

As far as I can remember, this may have been the last time we both played at home on the same day.

I was at those games against Wolves and Burnley. I was around the same age as you, and like you was carried along in a similar fashion on the other side on Goodison road. A tidal wave cresting blue in the murk of a winter's evening.

Just to add the Wolves tie was bedlam around the turnstiles and in fact I was locked out as the house (over) full message went out. With thousands still in the streets.

I somehow don't think that will happen in the League cup tie against the Saints! Or ever again for that matter.

The game at Goodison was memorable for the headed goal by Davie Hickson, the winner. Davie had gone off with a bad cut to his head and had it stitched up, when he headed the winning goal he opened up the stitches and finished the game with blood all over him.

Sorry to go on about Davie, but he was my idol and I like to bring him alive now and again.

Then the crews of all four had a massive free-for-all ruck in Stanley Park.

I was getting off the bus from Goodison to Pier Head to be confronted by a couple of hundred RS who had been given a torrid time by the Tranmere boys. I got off the bus with my mate but most of the other Blues stayed on. The Reds must have thought twice looking at my Docs and Crombie!

Prenton Park holds just over 16,500. Spurs are playing at Stadium MK for their Carabao Cup tie, admittedly, that ground has a more generous 30,000 or so capacity.

The next time we were drawn at home simultaneously was February 1983 and Liverpool switched to the Sunday for their game against Brighton, who brought 5,000 travelling supporters. Everton meanwhile played Spurs on the Saturday (winners in the two previous seasons) who brought 7,000 travelling fans. You can imagine trying to control two 40,000 plus crowds with 12,000 visiting fans would have caused a lot of problems.

The dye was set back then 35 years ago and seems fair enough to me.

Someone will lose out just toss a coin, the only fair way.

Dave, when Hickson got the winner, wasn't Everton, in the second division then, Whilst our horrible neighbours, were in the division above?

Hurry up and get on board “Mr Usmanov” because it's about time the blue Phoenix rose again, and showed all's these “Johnny come lately's” how big a club, that Everton really is.

I just think it's important to keep football alive and well in Birkenhead, Everton FC have spunked tens of millions on bog average players in recent years, we and LFC could do more to spread the wealth a bit.

Tremendous Dave.
Bravo

I was one of Big Fred's battalion; it was great fun to pour scorn on the cup holders.

Rest in peace, big man.

You're so right. Freddie was an absolute diamond. In all the years I knew him, I never met a single person who didn't like him. He was a pleasure to know and will never be forgotten.

The people saying "just play the same night", perhaps the police actually know what they are talking about and don't want four teams in the city as there are far too many dickhead match goers nowadays who enjoy a bit of trouble.

This has been going on for some time now and the violence is creeping back. You should be able to take your kids the game without worrying about things like this.

People need to wise up, its not 1960 or even 1980 anymore when you would struggle to stay on your feet as a kid. Fucking dangerous and stupid.

I heard that shortly after having his leg amputated he managed to "escape" from hospital to get to the match and was returned afterwards by his "accomplices" with blood all over the show! As a result of that and even though there is always more demand than places, a couple of the guys working at Everton at that time made sure that Freddie got a disabled spot as often as possible before he even made a formal application. They were decent men who recognised another good man, and they preferred to try unobtrusively to do the right thing than to see their faces in some spurious glossy brochure.

Freddie was telling a story about something that had happened the previous night when a tiny little lady walked up behind him, smacked him round the back of his head with her handbag and said, "Is that you I can hear swearing, Frederick?"

While we were all doubled up in hysterics at such a sight, Freddie was cowering in the corner saying, "Yes, mam. Sorry, mam."

Great days.