Everton: I Love You, I Live You

We are cursed and blessed, but I wouldn't have it any other way. I raise a glass to you, sir!

As ever, great words, summed up that rotten season perfectly.

Please keep your 'Brysonesque'! jottings going next time round.

Ta, Lad.

Great post, Danny. I don't know if your positive outlook comes from your army background, facing adversity and no doubt very tense situations, or you're just naturally upbeat. Imagine if we come alive, your waxing lyrical would give George McKane a run for his money. God bless yer. See you next season.

One day, Everton will win the League Cup!

1984 and the Hansen handball. I was sat on the shelf right up in the top corner of the mostly Everton end. One day, we win that trophy.

I know this has been a shocking season from a football perspective but the atmosphere in those relegation battles was amazing as a fan in the ground.

I hope we keep that unified spirit and atmosphere into next season regardless of results because it does help the team and, as a fan, it makes matchdays a much better experience.

Here's to you having more adventures next season with a much-improved team and results.

"Does this mean I am technically a football hooligan?" — Don't go crediting yerself with that much intelligence!

Hope to see you again next season. Home and away.

Regards to Mrs Danny.

"This is Everton, mate. Not only do they let you down, they find new and inventive ways to break your heart."

An hour or so later…

Having followed them from London for the best part of 3 decades, I totally get the pain of the long train journey south surrounded by the away boys. Thankfully been back in Woolton for a couple of years now and enjoyed the freedom to leave The Crown when I want and not at the dictate of a railway timetable.

Brentford (away) was definitely the nadir of this awful season for me – rarely, if ever, have I felt so out of love with my beloved Blues. Palace at home obviously the highlight, but even that was, for me, tinged with disappointment.

That we felt such a sense of relief, that it led to the scenes of almost unbridled celebrations at the end, is an indication of how poor we have become as a team and a club. Very very big close season.

Hope to see you again for the next season.

Leaving the Lower Bullens following the Brentford debacle, a young lad asked his mum: "Why do we support Everton, mum?"

"'It prepares you for life, love," was her fabulous reply.

Thank you for writing this. And thank you for doing your share in getting this club over the line. You and thousands of other devoted, agonized, exhausted matchday fans are the reason we are still in the Premier League.

That exasperated redhead in the middle of the cover photo is you, isn't it? You're a much younger-looking fella than I would have imagined.

That energy you used on your travels was impressive, as was your ability to take everything in your stride and making loads of friends on your journeys up and down the country.

Well done, Danny. If there was a supporter of the season, you wouldn't be far away from receiving that award. Long may you continue your trips to every away game which includes you coming to Goodison Park.

ps: Are you anywhere on that picture at the top?

From a personal point of view last season was the best for over 10 years! Easy to say now that we are safe.

I know that's a bit of a warped take on things.

The pantomime villains in Moshiri, Kenwright, Brands, Benitez, the VAR and the refs. Worn me out, from frustration to anger to apathy.

Lampard uniting the fans. A fan base at the point of erupting in anger became united. The passion, desire and unity carrying the team over the line.

Games like Arsenal, Newcastle, Chelsea, Leicester, Man Utd and most of all Palace made it an unbelievable season. Having been lucky enough to see us win trophies, games like Wimbledon and Palace are the equal to or greater than winning a trophy.

The hairs still stand up on my neck and emotion rushes through the veins just thinking about the Palace game.

Thanks for being a positive poster.

Can I just say how much I enjoy you posting on this site. Always fair and always taking the time to articulate and reason out any disagreements. Here's to a great season and a cup win next year!

Seriously, thank you for your kind words all. I just brain dumped my thoughts.

I'm a humble person. It's how I was brought up. My mother installed the humility. My father infected me with Everontonitis as John Senior would describe it. There is no cure.

I am no bigger an Evertonian than anyone on here or than those I meet at the match. I seem to have adopted a knack for attracting attention from away fans, but I guess I just have one of those faces!

Unbelievable support from every single Evertonian in this most difficult of seasons. Every single one of us.

I rarely get to a game these days but had my own spells of going to as many as I could as a teenager on Merseyside and in 10 years in London.

Out here in West Wales, I prayed for Swansea and Cardiff to get back to the Premier League.

You have written some sound stuff this season, your train journeys and refreshments and post-match reflections paint pictures in my mind.

You must have one hell of a missus!

As I look back, I think the thing which really sealed our fate last season was the bumper £1.7M transfer fund. We just felt like we were stuck in mud from the off.

Frank is riding high at the moment but, cockney that he is, I reckon when the penny drops properly that there's no money, he ain't gonna be happy.

I reckon he's a spender, and if he's gonna be having his hands tied behind his back like Benitez, there could be trouble ahead.

Your positivity is always welcome and out of everyone on ToffeeWeb, I'd love to watch the match with you the most.

And Rob Dolby, I was thinking the same myself only this morning. This season has actually been brilliant, in a really fuckin weird way. I know the Palace game was the Big One, but I loved Alex Iwobi's last gasp winner against Newcastle!

I screamed until I was out of breath then paced up and down the living room genuinely hoping that a burglar would break in...just so I could beat the fuck out of someone!!! We were robbed that night and I honestly felt a sense of injustice, and I'm not one to usually whinge about refs either.

I won't forget Tony's taxi either. Through a labyrinth of streets and The Bramley Moor magically appears!

It was a pleasure to meet you. Hopefully next season again.

We're all fans but the diehard match-going fans really are the absolute backbone of the club and did as much (and probably more, in all honesty) as any player or manager to keep us in the top flight this season.

Being an Evertonian is a way of life and, despite decades of mediocrity, it seemingly galvanises the Evertonians to join forces to become even stronger in the face of general adversity and ridicule by the press and media pundits.

So as you've said hopefully never again – this season was far worse than 93-94 and 97-98.

Hope is on the horizon and the tides of fortune will hopefully be with Everton this pre-season and into the new season.

UTFT!

Like Dave Abrahams say,s if there was an award for supporters, you would be nominated.

Just as important (sort of) is the nomination for best TW contributions... and I would have you up there, Danny – talk about never giving in, never rising to the trash talk... always positive, funny, honest.

Proper Evertonian.

Like you, I just want the younger fans to sample success, I have been lucky to see live 2 FA Cups, 2 League Titles and the European Cup-Winners Cup in Rotterdam.

I was 20 in 1984 – the first time I saw us win anything. My son turned 19 in May so maybe next May 2023 we win the FA Cup when he will be 20. We can dream!

The same thing will happen next season unless we clear out the people dragging the club into oblivion... yet already people seem to have forgotten what caused all this.

Why is no-one calling for a total reorganisation at board level? It is the only thing that will move the club on; without it, we are doomed.

Please keep it up for next season. And tell your wife I will say a few rosaries for herself. 😉

I don't intend to miss anyone out, but in response to the comments.

Christine and Bernie, like me before and many of us, we are always there in spirit even when we can't be there in presence and are far away. I know you kick every ball and win every header.

Stephen, have one in the White Horse for me. That was always the true Woolton local for me.

Rob. Europe next year is a confirmed date. We're going.

Brian Murray; where did you get that toffeegirl t-shirt? Fantastic. It will go well alongside my I'd rather walk alone one.

Mike and the US gang; Baltimore?

Brent, Mike, Peter - just thank you for everything.

Tony - thank you; picking me up from South Parkway having flown in to watch the match. Thank you. And Dave, I hope to get to meet you next season or pre-season.

John Senior. Likewise. The Guinness is on me.

And my little Danny just barked a quick hello.

I have never attended South coast fixtures, but managed to attend games from Carlisle and Lancashire, to Bristol on the West coast, [taking in Cardiff], and from Newcastle to Norwich/ Ipswich. on the East coast. I have done all the top flight Yorkshire and Midlands grounds, but the only London venues I visited were Arsenal, Spurs. Fulham, and QPR. Regarding the Guinness, it will have to be a Diet Coke, [Doctors Orders]

If I knew how to upload a photo, I've got a great shot of the 3 O'Neill brothers and my son at the 2009 FA Cup Final but can't figure it out.

Any clues?

For many reasons, not least the relegation worries, the season will live longer in the memory than most. Here's hoping our team can improve and make next season perhaps slightly less memorable!

I tried to avoid the score to watch On Demand – like the old episode of 'The Likely Lads'. I made it to the front door and the wife says: "You won, then."

Didn't know wether to laugh or cry! The obsession seems to be getting worse with age (61).

Thank you for my mention, I'm sure Tony would have put a good post to you. I know he enjoyed your company but he is away on holiday at the moment and that is the reason I'm sure he hasn't responded to your brilliant post about Everton's traumatic but ultimately fantastic finish to the season.

It will be a pleasure to meet you when it happens.

You are correct about The White Horse, although I would be frowned on for going there these days, as the family owns the wine bar opposite The Elephant.

I always quite liked The Grapes as well and that hasn't changed an awful lot in 40 years.

It has been a horrible season in many respects, and one I hope is never repeated. Hopefully too, under Frank we can have a much-needed clear-out, and replace with astute buys, loans or promotions.

I hope Richarlison decides to stay another year at least… and apart from Pickford and Gordon, I'm not too bothered about the rest of them.

Of course, as per usual in the close season, we get linked with all manner of players, though not too many to get the pulse racing as of yet. Maybe we can unearth a couple of relatively unknowns who can become legends of the future.

The Future's Bright, The Future's Blue!

Depending on your preference, you can walk along the canal to reach Camden, which is probably my favourite part of London and there are bars galore there. A favourite is offset from the centre of Camden; the Edinboro Castle, close to Regent's Park.

Again, a personal view, but based on where you're staying, I'd also recommend the area around Great Portland Street Station. two hops on the Metropolitan Line. The Green Man, the Albany and a hidden gem around the corner, The Mason's Arms. The latter tends to be one for the locals who live in the probably very expensive apartments nearby.

Enjoy.

"Thanks Stephen, yes the Horseshoe is the one I recall."

So horseshoes are lucky after all? :-)

I have never had time to explore the canal basins etc. since the area was gentrified although I got a quick look at St Pancras on our last Wembley visit. Flying solo this trip and staying directly opposite Kings Cross Station in Birkenhead Street.

I have been an Evertonian for 76 years, seen them relegated and I cried at the Chelsea and Palace games a few weeks ago because we (with the help of Goodison) avoided the drop again.

And now, this weekend, I watched The Trooping of the Colour on television and – being an old Irish Guardsman – I cried again with pride. I'm so happy that I support the Toffees and The Micks!

When I went to join, the Infantry options at the Liverpool careers office were the Kings, the Irish Guards and the Irish Rangers. I leaned towards the latter because of my Grandad's Regiment, the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers were amalgamated into what is now the Royal Irish.

Killaloe

I got pointed elsewhere, but I still have my Grandad's cap badge and medals that I will put mine alongside.

I played football against the Micks a few times. Once in Cyprus and once in Northern Ireland. Half scousers, half Dubliners!!

Random fact; the first non-Irish Regimental Sergeant Major of the Irish Guards was from Liverpool!

Found out later that he was an Irish Guard and had the gift of the gab! He was also a staunch Evertonian! So I was a sucker.