Three-Quarters Time

Some kids are football mad, the ones who are not would still go because they love the crack, but it would be different nowadays, because the kids can't move unfortunately.

I'm actually thinking if you went the long way to Goodison, David, because I think I'd have sprinted down Mere lane, ran along Robson St, and then straight across Stanley Park, although I was that slow, I'd have still probably ended up getting into Goodison last!

Yes, we youngsters went to both grounds for three-quarters time whether we supported blue or red. Those were the days when we were proud of Liverpool as a city and we were pleased when either team did well though, of course, we wanted our own team to do better than the other. We even forgave Liverpool for pinching Albert Stubbins!

There was none of the stupid anti-Liverpool FC sentiment that is expressed nowadays on ToffeeWeb. What on earth is the point?

It's far more enjoyable in its own way than constantly having to prove that the club I support has to be admired by every man and his dog and all others are only there to make my club look like Werld Champs or whatever it is that Kopites believe these days.

But success brought arrogance and contempt, privilege and a spitefulness that has grown into sheer angry bile towards anyone Blue in the city. Less banter, more spite.

Growing up during their successful years was difficult enough but in general it was good humored banter, but now the banter has changed to ridicule, even in families, it's not fun any more. When the banter goes, it becomes retaliation and just gets plain nasty.

I will say this, growing up as a Blue, I was always told we were better than the other lot, on and off the field, we were classier than them. I still believe that, I still see that. Evertonians are born that way.

I believe, even before they got us banned, any good natured banter between us and them went as soon as Emylyn Hughes decided to start the singing "Liverpool are magic, Everton are tragic" from the steps of St George's Hall at their trophy homecoming in 1977 with all the media there.

Plus classy dudes that they are... Terry MacDermott urinating from the balcony onto a nurse below.

I actually do believe they have an inferiority complex with us, as much as we have a superiority one! And they call us bitter!

I have seen, and been in, many drink-fuelled good natured banter that disintegrated into sheer nasty vindictive at the drop of a hat and almost every time was the result of a comment that became personal or vindictive without call.

Your Dad was right; we are better than them and they do know it and, for all their success, they never will be. That's what they cannot handle. You see, it's easy to support a club when winning, it's a million times harder when you're not, and harder still when your club is run badly.

It's easy to see where the chant “Kopites are gobshites” comes from. I always find it odd that they choose to ignore our past, almost as if it never happened, and forget their roots. Success has blinded them, a little humility would help their cause.

Many times, when I talk football with supporters from other teams, they are relieved I am a “humble blue” rather than a “redshite twat” – their words not mine, often coming from Man Utd and Man City supporters.