Process to elect Everton' Fan Advisory Board begins today

We defer to football people too much. No-one understands Everton like people who have been supporting them their whole lives.

I've dedicated my life to this club to a far greater extent than I have my profession. We are experts by any definition.

Actually tapping into that understanding is important. It's more than just window dressing.

ps: I hope you are feeling better.

But we should find someone on ToffeeWeb who qualifies and rally behind them so we get the inside scoop. I'd second Rob, not sure who on here has season tickets. Maybe Dave Abrahams?

If you want Christine to do a real Joan of Arc, she can cut her hair fill in for Mina.

And I believe TW should put forward one candidate for one of the unreserved positions. We couldn't do better than Rob Halligan, the Emperor of the Traveling Blues. Big Rob, step up. We will unite behind you. (Kieran, amen to Dave Abrahams as well.)

Bernie #10, it would be unlikely for an international supporter to also be a season ticket holder. Unless they have a private jet.

I think Christine Foster would be a great candidate for the global representation. She gets my vote too. Although living in New Zealand would make any voting or decision making processes limited to emails or postal communication.

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

For a number of reasons, I would have to decline: first and foremost, I don't have a supporter's number – a prerequisite to apply – and you have to have had one by 1 May, already gone. (I'm not even sure what this number is?).

Secondly, New Zealand is at the bottom of the planet, communication is never great at the best of times, but I truly believe I would be hypocritical to throw my hat into the ring.

I have said it before that the Fans Advisory Board and more specifically, the ESSG, was a sop by the board to say they are truly interested in what the supporters think. Prior to this board, they didn't exist as an entity and materialised as the brainchild of the board itself, I believe... (?)

Lastly, as regular meetings are held with board members, I doubt I would be welcomed by the chairman as my dissent from his activities over the years, make working in cooperation with him, or even being in the same room, difficult (to say the least).

But it fills me with immense pride that I would be even thought of as being a representative of those brilliant fans of the weeks gone by... absolutely bursting with it!

Thank you, everyone... I really mean that! :-)

So I hope that this supporter representation is going to have teeth and influence. Within reason obviously, but be taken seriously and not just nodded at by the board and fall into the "be seen to do something" tick-the-box category.

They can't ignore what we've witnessed these past few weeks. In honesty, minus the flares and incredible scenes at Goodison (Chelsea) and Leicester, they shouldn't have been ignoring the passion of the following all season for those of us who have followed in person and from afar. For years in fact. 30 years, which I only quote because of the decline and neglect.

"Everton expects success. We've a very good crowd and our crowd are very loyal. But of course, they pay money and they expect us to do well. If we don't do well, then something should be done about it and something will be done about it."

Well, WE, the fans done something about it. Live by that. Live Everton.

It should be tattooed on the heart of everyone at Everton FC because it epitomises exactly what has been lacking from the imperious hierarchy on down, throughout all these awful Kenwright years.

Derek @15, it would be disingenuous not to recognize the challenge to Kenwright's wily ways, as presented by brave shareholders who tried to stand up to him and demand answers at a series of Annual General Meetings up to 2007. They were subsequently silenced by his decision to suspend such meetings, until the shareholders found the power to force their reinstatement.

But he would find another way to dispense with such embarrassing confrontations: the commitment of the club to hold such meetings annually was removed from the Articles of Association back in February.

I also support Rob Halligan's nomination and either Mike Gaynes or Jamie Crowley to give an American voice to the proceedings.

I am sceptical of the way that this whole process was set up, against a background of recommendations on Fan Board involvement, as a response to fan protest, the evolution (on-going of #27 years), and the fans' selection of Frank Lampard.

The ESSG has been active on Twitter, calling – in a PR fashion – for togetherness, with a pro-Board slant. . . and taking a battering on Twitter, from myself and others. It looks like there is urgency to push the process on as a response to spontaneous effective Fan involvement in the relegation dogfight.

I think it would be good for all Everton protesters, protest groups, #27 years, etc to wheel in behind Christine. A genuine, worthy Supporter. Of course, with Christine's agreement and permission.

If not, my vote goes to Michael Kenrick. Representation of shareholders and their access is also important. Not having thatched is counter-productive to the so-called claims of fan - board representation. When your on money is on the line, the questions have an edge.

Although some clubs in Germany have slightly gamed the 50+1 model, such as RB Leipzig, as an example Dortmund have 140,000 members whereas RB Leipzig have just 20 and most just happen to be Red Bull employees as they have a very prohibitive joining fee. Also, there are a couple of exceptions: Wolfsburg are owned by Volkswagen and Bayer Leverkusen are run by Bayer Pharmaceuticals.

It is also worth noting that the 50+1 model hasn't made German clubs very successful in the Champions League, Europe's top cup competition, as – apart from Bayern Munich – only Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen have got to the Champions League Final in the last 20-odd years.

Also, it hasn't made the German league anymore competitive, with Bayern winning 9 titles on the trot.

Anyone who has ever read ToffeeWeb knows that with their views on our saviour, this would be nigh on impossible.

I know there are many different opinions and that includes Lyndon and Michael as well. But I think quite often a consensus of opinion evolves around many issues.

Most of the time, after many blue-blooded Evertonians have contributed to each issue, after considered thoughts and natural instinct born out of a lifelong devotion to the club.

When Lyndon does one of his reflective articles on the state of affairs, I often feel he has the finger directly on the pulse of majority opinion on the site.

I don't know how it would work in practice but I do think it would be a force for good for Everton. It would deliver popular, considered and intelligent opinion of thousands of Evertonians near and far, then focused into a consensus viewpoint.

And there's the rub. It's Tony Abrahams's world of Everton Unity whereas, in truth, I don't see a whole lot of unity reflected in the broad range of comments and opinions that past through this particular organ (sounds disgusting!).

Yes, we all get behind the team during the game (well most of us!) And to be fair, Tony (on a different thread) recognizes that unity is a rare beast only seen briefly among the match-going crowd.

Diversity is the woke in-thing, of course, but it's quite a human skill to be able to put your arms around and embrace it all, then recast it for the benefit of the club hierarchy.

Perhaps the biggest obstacle is that I share a big chunk of Jerome's scepticism: is the ESSG edifice just a club-sponsored move to appear to be more friendly by ostensibly providing fans with "a voice" – but without any real end-product? If my readings of the Fans Forum Meeting Minutes (freely available to all with a supporter number and an abundance of patient fortitude, via the Everton website) is anything to go by... no, it's not really a job for me.

By the way, a supporters number is also your reference number, a number allocated to every season ticket holder and member.

Perhaps we (TW) won't have any but, whoever is eventually appointed, let's hope he/she represents the majority's views, and not just appear to go through the motions with little or no change, which is drastically needed in my humble opinion, and has done for far too long now.

It's utility will depend on who gets nominated. Any of the above people would have a massive difference.

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Steve, unaccustomed as I am... Sorry, getting ahead of myself.

Seriouly, Steve, I feel humbled by your comment but, after my spoof "2022 ToffeeWeb Predictions" at the start of the new year, Bill would take retribution and have me locked up in Prince Rupert's Tower!

Tony, Paul or Rob.

I don't mind diversity, sometimes I've found myself a lot closer to someone with polar opposite views than I could have ever imagined, once I overcome my own arrogance, but this just feels like nepotism is going to be involved (to a certain degree at least?) and I've got no time for nepotism, especially when it's about something I deeply care.

I understand your own sentiments, Michael, I often listen to people with great ideas say something that I think is very intelligent but, because everyone wants to give their own two-pence worth, I sometimes think that intelligence gets lost amongst idiots!

The gamekeepers won't appoint a poacher; it'll be another gamekeeper – just an outsider gamekeeper.

I've been an appointed member from the public on an Advisory Board of a monolithic bureaucracy – you sit at the far end of the table, both literally and figuratively.

I paid for the taxi and wished them a good day out, but not that good.

I cannot wait for tomorrow night.

Give us a shout if any tickets come available, though, Brian, although I reckon there's also going to be quite a few Evertonians in the home end, because I'm hearing this game is now a complete sellout.

The 50+1 is good in principle but not flawless. There are so called get out clauses. You rightfully mention Leverkusen as they have been effectively sponsored for a given period of time by a company so they become effectively exempt to it after 20 years.

Also clubs that grew outside of the top flight and were already owned by a company like Hoffenheim as an example.

And ultimately, as with any politics, even if you are only a 49% stakeholder / owner, you only have to sway a few votes to get your way. German politics in general works like that. Merkel was able to become the most powerful and respected politician in Europe without really having a majority. She often governed with about 35% of the vote. They do it but we don't do coalitions in this country; that would never happen here. It's alien to us. I don't mean to mix politics with football, it's just to add context to the cultural differences.

More accountable? Yes. Perfect? No. The owners (even though 49% at best) will generally get their way through influence and vote buying. But the supporters do in general seem to have more say and influence and be less ignored than in the UK.

And you are right, German football has become a 2 horse race just like the Premier League.

Below that, it's anyone's game as I saw when Schalke were relegated last season. Fortunately, the Konigsblauen (Royal Blues, who take their name from the norther district of the working class city they come from) have come up at the first time of asking. Confirmed on the same weekend their U17s won the German Youth Cup in their category.

And Everton won at Leicester.

Come on blues. Everywhere.

Myself and 6 others are dotted about the Rookery Stand.

For any others making the journey, is there a waterhole to descend on beforehand?

Christine, I get it, your skepticism is understandable. I'd still like to see you give it a shot.

Dave #26, between my smart-ass remarks and Jamie's expletives, we'd probably start a war.

Jay #49, Lyndon would be an inspired choice for the international representative. Well said.

How about it, Lyndon?

There is nothing wrong with the initiative, in fact it would be brilliant if the bus had a new engine and a map, never mind a replacement driver!

Kenwright must have been delighted with them, because he said he was glad that we never went to Kirkby. Little substance indeed Christine!

He was also making one of his many puns; he and Knox would have to be among the most consistent wisecrack wizards we have on here.

More than one can play at the game Mike!

We should obviously have moore fan representation. I'm doubtful we'll see any genuine Gaynes from the F.A.B but there's always hope.

As for your nephew meeting both owner and our chairman Bill, may I please extend to him my deepest sympathies. I also hope he suffered no long term ill effects.

And Derek, I caught your comment on the other thread about re-reading my Goodison odyssey -- I do that too once in a while. Can't believe it's five years ago now. A lifetime, in more ways than one.

We need a mass clearout and a complete overhaul of the way the club has been run into the ground by Kenwright, he's ruined Everton FC and everything it stands for in his disgraceful tenure.

Anything less than removing the amateurs, liars and incompetents who have turned the club into an unambitious joke for decades will only result in putting off disaster.

The club has to be rebuilt from scratch, anything less will only result in the debacle we have had to suffer this season.