West Ham game set to go ahead on Sunday

People who feel affected by last week's events have the opportunity to take time out. That is understandable. But for many, the enforced loss of their leisure activities will simply antagonise them even more against an establishment that seems to be distant and aloof.

On the other hand, postponing the Arsenal game means we may have Pickford and Calvert-Lewin available for the rearranged fixture. Every cloud...

The intervening months were given over to cricket. However did we survive?

Also, with the enforced break, it will have given Gueye a bit longer to get to know the style of the team, and it will have given Calvert-Lewin a further week's training.

I think after you have played 10 games it gives a good idea of how the season will pan out, and with the break for the World Cup in November, it's imperative that you aren't in the bottom 6.

Many owners of teams who are struggling will see the World Cup break as an ideal time to ditch a manager and give his new manager 3 to 4 weeks to work with his squad and asses what will be needed in the January transfer window.

We will be stronger for this game, Calvert-Lewin, Doucouré, Garner all back and in contention. It's good news that Frank will have options and a selection headache. Also that players will be focused as there are alternatives waiting for their chance to impress.

Looking forward to the game, it's a great opportunity to get our first win and I'm much more confident than I have been for a long while.

Regardless, the first win against a London club.

I too can see the London fixtures potentially being called off for policing and security reasoning. I can see the logic in that if it happens.

And if so, it stops that shower doing their thing. Always outraged, never embarrassed. Chelsea v Liverpool is probably a fixture where there are the fewest amount of away coaches as many use the tube to get home or head to Paddington for the Great Western train to Exeter and Plymouth.

A sly dig and I appreciate we have great following from the South West as well as London, Wales and all over the globe. And coming from someone who heads back in the opposite direction when I visit Goodison. Forgive my childish petulance and stereotyping. Sometimes I can't help myself when it comes to them.

Blue boys are on the rise.

Thanks, Michael, for giving us a thread where we talk about Everton and football matters again and leave HRM to rest in peace.

Hopefully getting our first win against our old boss. It won't be easy as they are in the same predicament as us but we must believe.

Assuming it does go ahead, and there is a minute's silence – or even the playing of God Save The King – I really hope all of our fans can avoid copying the embarrassing RS morons, and show some respect, whatever your political beliefs. It'd be no better than booing the taking of the knee.

Interesting to see that we have 3 Goalkeepers, 10 Defenders, 7 Midfielders and 8 Out on Loan and 0 Forwards on the Team Tab. Interesting.

I thought this would just affect maybe London clubs, but they are saying Man Utd's home game might be affected as the Manchester Police is the biggest outside London and they will have many of their officers policing the Queen's funeral.

I think in fairness to fans and clubs alike they should be making that decision now not delaying. They must be well aware of numbers of police required at grounds and also to police the funeral.

My Young Lady says that according to her tablet, the Premier League are considering the possibility of reversing the fixtures of some London-based clubs. For example, what should have been a Chelsea vs Leicester City game would be Leicester City vs Chelsea, thus easing the strain on the police force.

Totally agree, Brian. The Met will need to call on the resources of other forces from around the country. If they are going to do it, just make the call early.

Getting a full squad fit again is always a help and, apart from Pickford, that's looking like a possibility at the moment.

It won't be easy (never is) as the Hammers, despite also starting slowly, still have the weapons to be very dangerous.

It's already turning out to be a strange season and with the unfortunate events of late, Covid, the Queen and then the World Cup break, one can only speculate what's coming up next.

Without getting too far ahead of ourselves, I do think that Lampard is slowly getting the response he wants from this squad and quite possibly we will be in a good position come the New Year.

Always enjoy reading your post John and a perfect gentleman.

Here's hoping our game go ahead.

The last time I got to meet Danny was against West Ham, when he turned into Phil Spector, and brought his wall of sound with him, in the Crown :-)

All good banter though.

Ironically the only ones that don't seem to take to me are our city cousins! I can live with that.

Has logic gone completely out of the window now?

I know people see only what they want to see but it might be worth another check.

I see 7 Forwards.

But maybe they are not really there?

'Premier League football's return faces a problem with a lack of TV TRUCKS - with Sky News' needs for covering the death of the Queen putting a strain on Sky Sports' resources...

Why do we need Sky TV trucks for a football match to take place?

Football took place for well over a hundred years before Sky came to the party. If they haven't the resources to screen the games, it is they that are in breach of the contract.

Fans could maybe do something radical, like turn up and watch the games. After all, it is really only 'Live' when you are there. Despite what their current advertising campaign tries to point out.

You obviously have your view, mine is the polar opposite, so I'll give that a miss thanks.

For me, it's a difficult game to call though, as West Ham have some game-changing players, but can often blow hot or cold. Depends on which team turns up.

With our midfield and defence playing well, however, we should be able to cut off the supply to their danger men and put them under some pressure.

I still worry about where our goals are coming from though.
I think there will probably be only 1 goal in it: 2-1 or 1-0 to Everton.

Nearly every time, after an international break or whatever, yes we let ourselves down but I'm hoping this new strong Everton mentality is us from now on. We are slowly weeding out all the weak as well as bad players.

To me, the likes of Schneiderlin, Sigurdsson, Keane, Gomes etc are a thing of the past. Strength is almost as important as talent in this league.

If our game does take place, I expect a defeat. I watched West Ham in the Europa thingy last week – they look to be rediscovering their mojo with Antonio looking a real threat.

Without Pickford, we would be in the Championship and we would have lost to the classless ones. I am happy to wait on our talisman to return.

Not sure where others lie in regards to the National Anthem and Abide With Me, but I can say the cup finals I have been to, I have never had cause to boo the national anthem, and certainly not the cup final hymn Abide With Me.

Yet the media justify their reason, I do not claim to be a full royalist, but I would never boo our national anthem, and would feel a bit more comfortable if the media got it right, instead of labelling Everton as scousers and therefor it must be Everton as well as the Red shite that disrespect the National Anthem.

If you're not happy with it or Abide With Me, then just don't sing it, or boo, if you are a Blue.

If we can show the strength and performance we saw in the derby match, I don't think many teams will relish coming to Goodison.

Earlier checked a number of times and after midfielders got list of “out on loan”

Figured something wrong

On holidays and maybe due to wifi access was limited.

Checked now and see them.

Brian, I've never understood them. Friends and even close family, they've always confused me. And don't start me on the London reds that I mingle with and end up having to educate on their own alleged lifelong club (sigh).

Funny you should mention people's reaction to the National Anthem being sung and the hymn Abide With Me. Both were sang in church on Sunday at St Philomena's RC. I sang the hymn but stood silently for The National Anthem, a long time since I heard God save our gracious King.

In the past, mostly at football occasions, I have remained seated while it has been played, but on Sunday I'll stand out of respect for the King's late mother; I think that's only right and proper. I've never heard the National Anthem booed at Goodison Park or Wembley when Everton have played.

"If the West Ham game goes ahead should we all wear a black tie?"

Bill, I intend to wear a bit more than that. Or a longer tie than usual.

Or I know, you will leave it untucked and just long enough to dangle an obnoxious 'Have IT!' just above your endowment.

For the cup finals I have been to, I have always felt proud and at the same time emotional for the abide with me hymn, always looked upon that as a cup final hymn.

Pretty sure had you heard us boo, it would have been plastered everywhere, naming and shaming our club, but they can do no wrong over the park, everything they do is a means to an end, and justified.

Worst alibi ever was Mr Shields, maybe he did, maybe he didn't, but after one of the greatest come backs in a final, he claimed to be tucked up asleep half an hour after the game, not sure about anyone else but my adrenaline would have been fever pitch, well after half an hour of the game finishing, had that been Everton.

"Or I know, you will leave it untucked and just long enough to dangle an obnoxious 'Have IT!' just above your endowment."

I consider it more of a liability than an endowment. Not sure what the weather forecast is like for the day – a smaller tie if the forecast is "cold", maybe just a dickie bow.

Everton's game goes ahead.

According to BBC 5 Live.

The games should have gone ahead last weekend with a proper celebration and respects paid to the passing Queen.

Football in the modern era has become far too much of a sideshow and far too involved in politics and then the games constantly called off willy nilly for everything or anything.

I could understand it as first with the pandemic but even at times last season, certain clubs were taking the piss because they didn't want to play on Boxing Day.

It should be an absolute last resort that a professional top-flight game of football is postponed, these days it seems that a manager can have a broken nail and the game's off.

Brent's Union Jack thong?

Is that the one that goes "God thave our noble Queen" ?

The National Anthem was roundly booed at the two Merseyside FA Cup Finals, especially the '86 final when the Anthem was drowned out by unanimous chants of 'Merseyside'. I suspect this was probably more anti-Thatcher rather than anti-Monarchy.

There again, maybe you could rent it out to Speedo Mick for the day?

Danny @9 - I'm surprised that the RS use the tube to get home from matches in London. I know that the new Elizabeth line was prohibitively expensive, but I never realised it went all the way to Oslo.

On the issue of any minute's silence or anthem for the late Queen, I hope that all Evertonians act respectfully regardless of what personal views they hold. We have always had a good reputation for showing due respect whenever or wherever a minute's silence has been called for; something that sets us above the RS.

It's a no-win situation... standing proudly to attention could have its own drawbacks!

Also, The M6 closure is suspended for this weekend, so good news for our many fans in North Lancs.

I'll see you in the Northwestern and we can talk about your militant youth again!! Would you believe the new PM from Paisley who grew up in Leeds marched against Nuclear weapons and stood outside Greenham Common?

I do remember our very good rendition of the National Anthem and Abide With Me at the 1984 Cup Final.

I'll put the others down to that lot.

Sorry in advance. Bitter with reason. Twisted with a cause. And Proud – always Proud. Gobshites, every single one of them. Even my cousins.

I do believe we are different, but in a roundabout way, both sets of fans have genuine anger, with injustice at the forefront of their feelings.

I was gutted when the ban came and have never forgiven ‘them' for it. But, I have long since learned to control the bitterness towards those fucking red shite hooligan murdering gobshite twats.

Where did I put my pills?

Chelsea are playing Salzburg, who will bring a single coach-load of fans. Arsenal are playing PSV, who will bring a small army. One will need loads of extra police, the other won't. I think that is the logic.

And why would all them ex-reds want to bring it up anyway? Half the reason I just about watch MotD and that's it.

I put those Bucharest banners down to sheer ignorance. Do they not realise they are gloating over something that came about because of their actions that resulted in the death of 39 football supporters?

You would think they would have more class and know better. I know we shouldn't tar everyone with the same brush, but you think some would have a word. I certainly would if it was an Evertonian.

At the 2009 Semi-Final, I was in a bar near Wembley predominantly occupied by like-minded ticketless Manchester United fans alongside a few Evertonians. During the match, they started unsavoury Hillsborough chants. An Everton fan walked up to one and gave him the riot act. They backed down instantly. In fairness, I wouldn't have messed with him.

The difference. We stick up for them when it comes down to it.

They don't replicate the sentiment. Same city. Different worlds.

I am not convinced that, had that happened at an Everton game, they would have done the same.

I was like yourself in my younger days but incidents mainly bereavements, put a different slant on my outlook, and though football remains a part of my life it's not as important as it was.

Hi Brian [17] I am looking forward to meeting you, it's always nice to put a face to a name, you flatter me and you might leave the Bramley Moore, thinking "What a let-down.

Hi Ian [21] as with Danny and Brian, I thought that I had posted a message to you, what I wrote was, "If I got home from a game and learned that the Premier League and television company's had reached a stalemate, and football would never be screened again, it wouldn't bother me. I get my 'fix' at least twice a month", as it stands the TV company's have 'paid the price' therefore they 'call the tune'.

I must apologise if I have inadvertently offended anyone, because I know that there are some who for one reason or another can't attend games, and they have my sympathy.

"Would you believe the new PM from Paisley who grew up in Leeds marched against Nuclear weapons and stood outside Greenham Common?"

She's changed sides more than a Kaleidoscope!

It ordinarily wouldn't bother me, but the genuine hatred that a lot of fans have for each other is eventually going to lead to fatalities which is a scary thought, but something quite a few people can see coming.

I thought that was rule number one for at least 50% of politicians, Derek?

Obviously this came to light because no-one could travel at the height of the pandemic. Our count was 26,000 from this area.

Personally, I find that situation very sad and, as much I dislike them, I could never imagine myself turning to violence.

Perhaps it is a general reflection of some of things that have been happening in the city recently?

The reason for that, probably, is that because they are a "global brand", many of their "supporters" have no real affinity with the city, only with that team.

Although we, like many other Premier League teams, also have an international following, the great majority of our supporters that attend Goodison do have an affinity with the city as well as with the team. If you know your 'istory etc.

Not the fact that we may or may not have won it that season, chances are odds were in our favour with that team.

Had it been another team that caused the death of 39 fans, I would feel a bit aggrieved in the Red Shite's tasteless banner, but when it was down to their very own supporters, and the lack of shame they feel, when they hold the banner aloft, I just cannot understand how fellow Liverpool fans can stand by the banner, even more so how those in charge at Anfield, say nothing about it.

If that happened to my club, I would be ashamed and embarrassed, if one of my fellow Evertonians paraded a flag like that.

I never felt comfortable with the 58 banner we had, and the song Evertonians sang about the event, so yes we are hypocrites ourselves, but the events in 58 which was a dark day in football, had absolutely nothing to do with our supporters.

It's time their football club stepped in, and put a stop to that flag being allowed to be paraded.

The problem is that they see that as just banter and cannot see why it's an issue. I work with a red who follows them home and away and I asked him his thoughts about the SB banner. He said it's just a bit of fun, nothing serious intended.

When I reminded him of the events that led to SB winning in 86, he just shrugged and said so what it was ages ago.

I have always considered this lad to be a decent supporter so we stand no chance with the real morons amongst them.

This so-called half-decent fan you know who just said it happened ages ago sums up what they are. Arrogant self-entitled nasty spoilt bastards. Different breed.

Pickford
Patterson
Coady
Tarkowski
Mykolenko
Doucouré
Gueye
Onana
Gordon
Calvert-Lewin
Iwobi

This team would be balanced, have character, massive workrate and some quality.

I was that incensed that I sent an email to their football club, about the tasteless banner, and about it being more than banter, and that the club should step in, to remove it before the Anfield Derby.

I await a reply, but will not hold my breath

Despite my rantings, it actually saddens me to see how the relationship between us and our cousins has changed. Don't get me wrong, there was always rivalry. I've always despised them since I can remember, even if I've often respected them in footballing terms. But it has definitely become more sinister than the days when me and a collection of blue and red mates would go to the derby together.

Yes, there was an obvious turning point, but I also believe the lack of local connection does make a difference and has changed the dynamic. I live in London and my son has lived here since he was 10. But our roots and family are in Liverpool. That is different.

I mean no offence whatsoever to those who have adopted Everton. I'm just trying to make sense of how the relationship with them has changed. A feeling of bitterness from us compounded by their continued arrogance and refusal to accept they've done any wrong. Heysel, Athens. Okay, they apparently got a pass for Paris as that wasn't their fault, yet the stewards had to close the gates at Goodison at the last derby. Is it just coincidence or a bad smell that follows?

The Bucharest banner needs calling out for what it stands for. They get offended at chants against them so why not call them out for that disgraceful gesture put down as banter?

The polite version, but every single one of them.

It's my opinion that control of the media is the very first priority of any cabal, from world domination to mere football clubs, that seeks power to improve what they see as their best interests.

Goebbels did it, as did Stalin and every other psychopathic murderous dictator, and Trump and Johnson did it (and continue to do it given the craven capitulence of proper journalistic scrutiny in establishing the truth). Courtesy of the Beeb's decades long love-in with Liverpool FC, our football profile as the English nation is forever tainted by the skewed opinions of their proponents.

It's really easy money and "status" for those proponents and gobshites, and there's still plenty of them as a result of Hughes, Hansen and their like.

By way of contrast, I suppose I have to recognise a mark of respect (Keane and Neville aside) to the many Man Utd players who, despite winning way more than Liverpool during the history of the Premier League, have largely eschewed being a gobshite on easy TV money for spouting unchallenged shite.

I think you can add Putin to that list of propaganda specialists. The master of "nothing to see here, we are not up to anything whatsoever". Although I think his day of destiny is coming.

Come to think of it, Blair wasn't too bad either at orchestrating the media.

Hughes. You've just triggered a childhood memory of how much I disliked a football player. Thanks.

One defence I will make to a former Red and trust me I cannot stand him, but out of all former Reds, I give credit to Mark Lawrenson, sorry Blues, but credit where it is due.

Mark Lawrenson was on some tv and mentioned Heysel and says it is not right how it seems to be airbrushed out of history and he had a good old 7-minute rant on it. He openly admits to the shame it brought and that it should never be forgotten, then again had a pop saying it's shocking how it is hardly ever mentioned. Much as I dislike the guy, I doff my cap for one of them speaking out about it.

Random one, but what did we ever do to Chris Sutton? He has an Everton voodoo doll that he seems to continuously be putting his pins into. Seriously dislikes us for whatever reason.

Off to bed before the dogs get me up in the early morning. They are feeling a win at the weekend.

Only ones I ever see stick up for us is Ian Wright, and Brian Clough, never tries to belittle our club.

Okay, Thomas it is. Just.

Anyone know something on Townsend and Holgate injuries progress?

Have read somewhere that the Hammers playing in Europe on Thursday will make it easier but I wouldn't trust myself for that. I'm confident as I haven't been in a long long time, but West Ham are a solid unit and not easy to pass through.

We'll have to work hard, have someone follow Rice everywhere (Iwobi?) and hope Calvert-Lewin plays at least 60 minutes if possible. Hope I'm not too optimistic on that.

Anyway, it's good having first-level options: Doucouré, Calvert-Lewin, Allan, Garner, Gueye, Iwobi, Onana, Gray, Gordon, McNeil. Good for Frank finally having team selection dramas.

We have a nice mix of players in our squad. I like your team, Mike @77. Leave Gray on the bench and in the second half when they'll get tired, bring him in. Doucoure can be sometimes difficult to defend (that penalty on Chelsea) but he has experience, real hunger and aggresiveness and maybe with Gana and Onana he's found the best partners to be the best he can.

Gray, Allan, Coleman, Vinagre, McNeil, Garner, Davies, Rondon and Maupay for the second half looks pretty good.
Apart from talented players I believe Lampard has a group of good-spirited players in the dressing room and good leaders; that's the most encouraging thing.

COYB!

I think I lucked out with RS contact. My RS high school mate roped me into going to Anfield and the Kop no less a few times in the 90s for European games.

My “mate” decided to tell everyone I was an Everton fan after the RS went behind. They lost both games actually. But no one said much to me. In fact, it was mostly grandads with grand kids in the Kop and elsewhere there were an awful lot of Indian and Middle Eastern students plus Norwegians. So quite a mellow crowd.

In hindsight, I wonder if the yobs shied away out of shame in the 90s post-Heysel but now they've resurfaced? At that time, I thought by far the nastiest fans were Newcastle, although Man City and Leeds Utd had some scary characters as did Spurs which was weird cause I'd always pegged them as Fairweather fans.

Luckily now in the US I only know two RS fans. One is Samoan and the other British/Indian. Both are amiable enough. But I've seen plenty of videos of the RS fans smashing up busses and worse to know the younger generation back home are of a different sort.

I disagree on Townsend. I think he just always goes for the underdog. If we are plaguing the Sky lot, he loves us, if we are playing “lesser” teams he doesn't.

The one I can't stand is Stewart Robson (who?) he is always slagging us off. Even Beglin feigns fairness once in a while compared with him.

Also at risk of upsetting Michael, another RS Paul Walsh always seems to give us a fair appraisal. Although he hasn't been on much lately. Maybe cause he's too fair-minded.

It is still not beyond possibility, as the VAR outcomes have taken longer and more ludicrous than the scenario you suggest.

Thanks for that, still laughing an hour later.

Good shout for a starting 11; that is except for Pickford. He's got a wonky thigh.

It'll have to be Begovic… he's all we've got left.

They hate it if we ever mention Heysel, become really offended, and this is when the bitter shouts begin. But it's alright for them “to think” they are getting at Evertonians by producing such a highly embarrassing and insensitive flag… especially because Heysel is something Liverpool FC have always tried to brush under the carpet.

They could justify just about anything as long as it airbrushes history and they get to self-appreciate after singing their song.

I'm getting worse as I get older. Between them and the BBC Breakfast programme, I'm becoming bitter and need to ignore both. I'm going to take 30 minutes and talk to the dogs.

BBC Breakfast always reminded me of Blue Peter in its insufferable presentation. I stopped watching it years ago, for that reason.

Condescending piffle for kids.

Certainly in the early ‘60s there was no segregation of fans and remarkably there was very little trouble. Whereas now it's almost unthinkable that either set of fans would go in each others grounds without it being a derby game.

Certainly the hooliganism at games that arose in the ‘70s where fighting between rival fans was a weekly occurrence. From that time onwards, the atmosphere between clubs became a lot more tribal than ever before.

It was about that time the relationship between the 2 clubs seemed to change as well, and has just got steadily worse over time. But thankfully I have many friends who support both clubs and when we meet for a drink there is none of the animosity.

Yes, we still have great banter over football but it's all good natured. But we are all over 70 and have seen both clubs win many honours and there is still an appreciation of each other's great players and teams.

If you go onto YouTube and enter “Lawrenson Heysel rant”, you can see the whole 13-minute interview.

Do you mean the Football Association or the other FA? He'd be well suited to the latter, come to think of it, the other do FA as well!

I just watched it, fair play to Lawro.

Partly as it pays homage to my Grandfather as it was his local, where I used to take him for half a bitter. Not to mention I find it easier walking that way to get into town easier once I've had a drink and let the traffic pass. A red pub and on Everton home days, often frequented by away supporters.

He had a season ticket in the Upper Bullens for many years. His wife, my step-Grandmother was a massive red. She had an old fashioned ruby coloured chair in the corner of the front room that, to me as a kid, looked like a throne. She called it her Bill Shankly chair. I never sat in it. But we shared many a discussion about Everton and Liverpool at 14a Arkles Lane. My mates, mostly Everton but on Derby Day a mixture, were warmly received, fed and watered after each match in that bottom floor flat.

At the Forest match, after mingling with the Forest fans in the Arkles, I got picked up by an Uber driver who was a Kopite and we had a good conversation on the way to Lime Street.

I am starting to think I am from the last generation that has that type of link with our cousins Brian. But also the first one that started to feel the bitterness because of what we were denied and because of them. So that probably explains my Jekyll and Hyde approach to them.

Although, let's not let the way the club has been run since our last title win off the hook completely. Manchester United, who were 2 titles behind us in 1987 and hadn't won the league since 1968 didn't let it hold back their forward thinking strategy.

And don't start me on "lifelong" Liverpudlians I regularly bump into here in London and on my travels and ask me why I support Everton when I come from Liverpool. I tend not to respond.

So, don't get me wrong when I rant, I still have faith in individuals. It's just the relationship between the collective sets of supporters that has changed.

Many of my cousins and friends are tainted and unholy but tolerable. My oldest sister doesn't really follow football but leans Everton's way. Her husband is Red and they have 3 sons. One is a Goodison season ticket holder the other 2 follow Liverpool. Both my sisters have married Kopites actually. My youngest has one of each persuasion. The rest of my siblings are all true blue.

Although the elder statesman of the family, even by their standards, I am considered some kind of radical. They are sensible, I'm the deluded fool!

Poor dogs. It's only Tuesday. Roll on Sunday and a win.

It's rare for me to even speak to any Liverpudlians on derby day now, which shows how much times have changed since those times.

It seems like it's getting worse, because Liverpudlians have now began to replicate what Evertonians have been doing for years. Drinking by their own ground and then marching en-masse over to the other ground full of ale, is nothing but a recipe for disaster, especially when the hatred now runs very deep.

I'm just glad Everton are playing this Sunday, and can't wait for the day when our team becomes that good, that the only thing to concentrate on, will be making sure you can get tickets for as many games as possible, even though this has been a closed shop for years, because Everton have always had such a very, very loyal away following.

I didn't understand why football, but not rugby or cricket was cancelled. Sorry not a royalist and not too much of a sentimentalist.

Heysel's airbrushing is a disgrace and Liverpool ought to be ashamed the way they have eradicated it from everything. Didn't hear Mark Lawrenson, but think that he is absolutely right.

The memory is fading but I think the coach company was Amberwood. The pick-up and drop-off was at their yard between Speke and Hunts Cross. We used them for most away games.

I'll never forget those seemingly endless trips to Sheffield Wenesday. League, FA Cup and replays. I think it was the 87-88 season but haven't checked my facts.

If it's the same coach company, Amberline, used by Barnes travel (on County Road, we called it Amber Loon). I went to the marathon Sheffield Wednesday cup games and the coach didn't get to Hillsborough until half-time in the deciding game with us five-nil up.

Got our money back but I was more excited to see Bracewell's first game back after that caveman Billy Whitehurst crippled him. Never the same again for the lad.

The national anthem certainly was booed by both sets of fans at the '80s Wembley games.

Many Blues I know, who were also there, seem to have selective amnesia about this.

I certainly won't be joining in any rendition of the anthem dirge on Sunday, but I won't boo any minute's silence.

My most epic journey with them was the trip to Norwich to see us clinch the title in 1987. What a day, albeit a long one. I was given the day off school, which was a good thing because I don't remember what time we got home and the adults decided we were all adults and could share a few beverages on the long trip home!!

I remember us having a similar round of encounters with Middlesborough around the same time.

Somewhere in the '80s it changed, jealousy of our winning perhaps but the retorts became bitter, a little nastier. I noticed it more because I lived overseas and only got back every few years.

But with advent of the Premier League came entitlement and arrogance, not only in the pubs but on Sky. I think that was a real line in the sand.

Fast-forward and I have 4 great kids, all blue except one,
who must have been dropped. When I was in France a few years back, I went over to catch a few games with them at Goodison and stayed with my red sister. A few glasses of wine later and the bile was flowing.

She apologized the next day, but the damage was done... It will never quite be the same, true colours and all that. "Like wow... what happened to you?" I thought.

There is little respect for red or blue in the city now, there are good and bad in both sets too, but the rants and venom are unjustified. It's really sad... but I won't sink as low, I wouldn't be them.

I also remember Evertonians booing the national anthem at Wembley at those finals. The over-riding sentiment was very anti-establishment at that time.

Steaua Bucharest won the European Cup in 1986, a competition we were prevented from entering due to the ban from European competitions on all English teams following the Heysel disaster.

The flag has been displayed on the Kop and at derbies by some ill-advised RS supporters. It is intended to mock us, but rather it mocks the death of 39 football fans.

Sick people having a go at us being banned from European Cup after the Heysel Disaster. Steaua won the cup the year we were banned in 1986. Would have been that glorious Everton team if it wasn't for Heysel.

It is massively disrespectful to the 39 people who died at Heysel, and a cheap, classless shot at Everton.

Banner has been used for many years, so why only now will they do something about it? Did they think it was okay?

Shame on all of them.

Possibly the worst ever final along with the 1982 FA Cup Final... both soul-destroying games to watch. I am surprised the beautiful game survived to this day!

I'm surprised you say you remember us booing the national anthem in the '80s – FA Cup in '84, Charity shield in '85, cup in '86. I never heard anything like that at all.

Maybe it was where I was and I was 3 sheets to the wind each game?

I know I have a reputation for being overly optimistic, but I was convinced we would have won the European Cup in that period.

I genuinely can't look at them or talk to them in the same way about football as I used to. And it saddens me to say that given my roots, background, family and friends.

Like yourself and your mates, my mates and I, 5 Blues and 5 Reds, would attend matches at both Goodison and Anfield. We Blues would hope that Arsenal would beat Liverpool, and the Reds likewise hoping that Tottenham Hotspur would beat Everton.

There was an obvious rivalry, but it certainly wasn't as vicious as it is today. I believe that the Heysel disaster and the bans that followed, plus the fact that Liverpool had their suspension lifted early, was the cause of what can only be termed as hatred in some quarters.

Hi Christine, [113] this is my first post to you for some time. There is a Get-Together arranged following Sunday's game, and I intend to propose a toast to absent friends, and when doing so I will be thinking of your Uncle Tommy among others.

My dad used to call them "fucking mutants" which sums them up perfectly.

I played football to a decent standard and consider myself to know a thing or two about the game through my own eyes. They don't like facts so revert to insults.

I do know one thing and I would ask those in the City to confirm or deny, but they are absolutely envious of the new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock. Everton will soon be front and centre of one of the most famous waterfronts in the world.

Let's get to Sunday and focus on the blues.

Like Christine I was basically a lone blue in a family of reds, I was 7 in 1953-54 when we got promoted and they got relegated. I went to Wembley in 1965 to watch Liverpool win their first FA Cup Final as my family went, and they came in 1966 to see us win.

Heysel changed everything and the friendly derby concept disappeared.

Tasteless, classless and insulting... not to mention typical of them.

And splendid, Les! Really nice to see human beings respond to a nice tap on the shoulder.

I stroll down for a pint in The Bramley Moore once a week (30 mins from Pier Head). Amazing how quickly The Everton Stadium is being built.

Those of the gang meeting up on Sunday who've not been there for a while will be pleasantly wowed, I think.

The kopites in town have gone from "never get built" through "it'll be crap" to "be under water in 20 years".

I tell them they'll have a great view of The Everton Stadium from their ground's loft conversion.

Good man, Les (115) Google "Bucharest flag Anfield" for some relevant articles.

For Liverpool, in particular, their base became less city-based and more from all over, Ireland, Scandinavia etc. This changed the closeness of Everton and Liverpool supporters.

I will be thinking of you all at the get-together after the game, and it's humbling to know my Uncle Tommy will be remembered. Thank you so much for that.

I hope to make a get-together in the not-too-distant future and thank you personally.

I hope you make it sooner rather than later, I fear I'm running out of time – in cricket terms, 84 not out. I'm holding on until I have my season ticket transferred to The Everton Stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock.

I am claiming naming rights, and if God spares me I'll be going to "Trinity Park", I don't think that there's need for an explanation.

No explanations needed, John. The Trinity Walk will be gracing a stadium worthy of all that is great about those who wore the shirt, player or supporter! What a proud day that will be!

On this weekend more than most, Royal Blue Mersey. Spirit and rising.

Forever.

Oh yes, there was. I was at two of them mentioned and '89. I've never booed anything except at the pantomime when I was about 8.

I have no affiliation with that awful dirge of a song. but just let it go by in silence.

I have absolutely no comprehension of why LFC fans booed Abide With Me besides them being fuckin thick.

Maybe I'm thick? What is it they don't like about a song which is an FA Cup tradition... it's a hymn, isn't it? Do they all hate Christianity now?

I have just read a Hillsborough group have asked LFC fans to respect the anthem tonight. Seems a reasonable comment until it goes on to basically say, "because this will come back to bite us on the arse". Missing the point by a country mile.

They then go all sensible again and say respect goes both ways. King Kenny thinks it was a great statement.

I got a reply today saying it will be passed to more senior personnel and will be looked into, so will probably get my reply soon as well.

Disgusting that it has taken so long and some Evertonians to bring it to their attention re their Steaua Bucharest banner.

Also should have made my point clearer, the Hillsborough group were saying respect the anthem – otherwise, this comes back to bite us on the arse.

There again, if people said we did, I will put it down to the old grey cells and accept it happened.

I was at those matches and my recollection is similar to yours. Maybe the memory is fading. I too recall the "Merseyside" chants.

Maybe I have blue-tinted glasses but if there was booing on our side, was it not aimed at the cousins' usual and predictable YNWA rendition over the national anthem?

When I was a kid, people would equate Liverpool v Everton with Celtic v Rangers with the caveat that the former was the friendly, family-dividing rivalry.

It seems more recently that those who don't really know have hijacked this and tried to refashion it as being the same. For instance, the fellow who got me into Everton was my parish priest. He never ever suggested there was a Catholic v Protestant element.

Indeed, most of the RS I knew in the '80s were Catholic but, in recent years, I've heard a lot about Everton being Catholic and Liverpool being Protestant – even though Everton was literally founded by Methodists!

I think there's a lot of revisionism going on, fueled by injustice – Heysel but above all the media creating hate where before there was only bitter rivalry.

Very true, how I remember it too – there was never any malice towards, or between each set of fans and I don't even remember detesting them myself, as I do now. Like you succinctly alluded too, the media have played their part stirring up that friendly rivalry into a fervent feud.

Having said that, I still have a few friends of a similar age to me that don't fall into that category, but rarely go to matches either, one even sends me jokes/cartoons that would be more like an Evertonian taking the piss out of them.

Of course, that squad more or less fragmented and Howard Kendall went to Bilbao, but I think he thought he was going to get the Barca job, hence selling Gary Lineker to them believing he would follow.

It has certainly left an indelible stain in our memories, and one that we can never forgive thanks to our neighbours across the Park.

Yeah, mate, it sucks. My first serious introduction to football was when Bryan Robson got his biannual injury in Mexico and the Everton players kicked in and saved the day.

Reid, Steven, Stevens and Lineker came within a sober VAR of beating Argentina, little did I realist as an 8-year-old, that's as good as it gets ….

I remember the days of mainly half-Everton, half-Celtic bobble hats whereas many of our neighbours would don half-Liverpool, half-Rangers. But even then, it would get mixed up.

Back in those days, my best mate who lived next door followed Rangers, I followed Celtic. We both went to watch Everton home and away religiously.

Then in the 90s, many from outside the city assumed we were aligned to Rangers, but that was mainly based on the colour of shirts and influenced by the Walter Smith and Duncan Ferguson connections.

The reality (in my humble opinion) is that Liverpool has always been a mixed city. Unlike its Glaswegian and Northern Irish cousins, a beacon and example of how to cross the sectarian divide. We've collectively celebrated St Paddy's Day as well as the 12th July with all roads leading to Southport. Well in my lifetime anyway.

My mother told me the story of how her Belfast-born Dad (my Grandad) once lambasted her for attending a Lodge parade. She never did again.

I might be biased but, as a city and people, we've mostly always risen above the bigotry and showed other parts of the country how divides can be overcome and rivalries maintained whilst respected. And that used to be reflected in the football relationship. As mentioned, maybe it's been influenced by events (guilty as charged) or it's been hijacked by outside influences.

Maybe I have a romantic view, but Liverpool has never been divided along religious or football lines in the way Glasgow or Belfast has been. It's a misconception. I always used to say that we have the largest Catholic percentage of population for a major UK city outside of Londonderry / Derry (depending on your persuasion). I don't know if that's still true. So you inevitably had Everton and Liverpool fans who would claim Celtic or Rangers on either side when it was trendy to do so.

If you pushed me, I would say Everton's heartland is the northern part of the city. Being from the south of the city, I always felt outnumbered by Reds. But everywhere you walk in the city, it's always been mixed.

Our city is an example. it's a shame that it changed. There are a number of reasons, but I'll leave it there. The boy was looking at me and daylight was breaking. It was time to go out!!

Maybe rotten to the core? :-)

While we seem more aligned to Rangers, not saying that just because we have an ex-Rangers right back, and have had several players from them in the past.

I think, getting back to Nathan Patterson, we have, despite many moaning on here that he was a waste of money along with Mykolenko, one of the most exciting players who has adapted quickly to the Premier League. That goes for Mykolenko too – our main problem will be hanging on to them both!

The Celtic - Rangers thing will depend on generations I believe. And like I say, you can't really divide the City of Liverpool like that.

Celtic and Everton sing Grand Old Team.

Liverpool and Celtic sing that dreadful song.

To hell with Liverpool and Rangers too as the song goes.

We cross the divides!!

I don't really want to become involved with this discussion but, in the 1950s & 1960s, it was basically accepted in and around Ormskirk that Everton was an Irish Catholic Club, whilst Liverpool was Scottish Protestant – but no violence to speak of.

As for bigotry, I have been in Liverpool several times when I was a teenager, and witnessed the Orange Day Parades. I was shocked at the violence I saw. Though I am Catholic, both sides were as bad as each other and both sides called themselves Christian!! There was certainly bigotry in the city.

I guess it's a sign of how our City evolved over time ahead of others?

Great post, Dave @632. Like anyone coming into a new role, they will bring their own staff in.

I can actually imagine the new King being much more thrifty. I seem to recall many years ago him being obsessed with not throwing toothpaste away until every ounce was squeezed out of the tube.

And although we slated him for apparently talking to plants, he was an environmentalist before it became a thing and was dismissed as being a tree hugger.

As you say, job transition is a fact of life, but the important thing is you help people to find alternative employment. Resettlement as we called it – one day, your time is up, but help people to move on.

In particular with those two bunches of bigots and bampots up in Glasgow? Puzzles me.

I went to the Milk Cup Final and all of the Charity Shields but couldn't get a ticket for any of the FA Cup Finals. I was in east London at the time, so should have bunked-in like thousands of others.

However I don't recall any booing of the anthem. I do remember chants of "Merseyside" but think they were followed by "Are you watching, Manchester?" I thought we were telling Manchester and London how dominant we were.

I used to go to Anfield occasionally with my old mate, an RS, and stood on the Kop a few times. I can also recall taking him to Goodison, and there was never any problem. Just a few funny comments along the obvious lines of "You've come to see some proper football".

Over the years, I have developed a hatred for many of their horrid gobshite fans but I know there are lots of decent ones too. Like my father-in-law, on his death bed in Arrowe Park as I write. Many of that generation were happy for the "other" team to do well, as long as they didn't win the derby.

He once took my pint off me when I laughed as United scored their 3rd goal in a 3-1 victory over Liverpool. It was bad manners on my behalf. It stayed on the mantlepiece.
A lesson for me.

We used to go to Tranmere when I was visiting, as he had 2 season tickets. Pat Nevin and odious Aldridge were in the team. Peter always hoped Everton would win. I think he knew I couldn't be quite so even-handed.

I think we have a really good balance and I am excited to watch the progression of Onana and Garner as well as Gordon. If we can add another striker, then we will have genuine competition all over the park.

Obviously it goes without saying we need to get our first win which will give us something to build on, as winning breeds confidence, just like losing brings doubts. Also, players who have been out injured are getting closer to being back in the first team.

I think a win on Sunday is imperative with it being followed by an International break, we don't want to go into that break without a win on the boards.

Alan @152, from my recollection, it was just an '80s thing.

I consider myself a huge Evertonian but I have affiliation with other clubs. I occasionally follow Celtic. I go to watch Schalke once or twice a season. I keep an eye on them and always enjoy taking in a visit to their academy to watch the youth teams in the morning. I have a soft spot for Roma.

Nothing replaces Everton or ever will, but I like to follow football.

I watched Ajax last night. Another fantastic goal by our summer target and hopefully January signing. Looks a real talent. As did their team.

I remember being in the Kopite end with dad and three brothers and about five other blue family and mates. 1979 semi-final and all hell broke loose when Jimmy Greenhoff scored the winner.

Scary as a kid but I was with handy company, let's say. We danced long into the night.

Personally I don't recall any of that and replied to that effect.
Just to be on the safe side, I contacted my brother and a few others and, to be honest, all are adamant it never happened.
Maybe I wasn't as pissed as I thought?

Anyway, it was sad last night that people had to come out before the game to ask them for silence. Even sadder some couldn't help themselves.

Freedom of speech is a right, however, there's a time and place. Can you imagine someone not liking your mam and shouting the odds at her funeral. I would imagine nobody there would support freedom of speech.

Arseholes.

Unbeknown to me as the volume was turned down for music, they didn't.

Not all of them, but enough to make a noise. Freedom of speech should not be confused with showing respect despite having a different view of the world.

I'm looking for someone who could accommodate a grumpy old man whose family have forbidden him from walking via Sandhills to the Bramley Moore, by sharing a taxi with him on Sunday.

I also can't recall any booing of the National Anthem in the 1980s although I recall the chants of “Merseyside, Merseyside, Merseyside” at the 1984 League Cup Final which any have drowned out the sound of the National Anthem that day.

I'm not saying there wasn't any booing at the other finals, just that I can't recall any.

I'm not dismissing the probability that some Evertonians may have. My blue-tinted glasses aren't that naive. But maybe the perception was skewed by virtue of the ends being mixed as they frequently were then, even at Wembley?

I remember a great rendition of the national anthem and Abide with Me by the Everton and Watford fans. I remember great spirit between both sets of supporters inside and outside the stadium.

We took over Rotterdam the following year, but in good spirit.

That very same year, our cousins meanwhile in Brussels... I'll stop.

Re. the Watford FA Cup Final, I remember the Watford team walking around Wembley to the chants of "Watford, Watford" by the Evertonians after the game.

Which is saying that it will probably be a pretty even game with a good chance it might end in another draw.

I can't disagree with that opinion, but hope we can get the bounce of the ball and grab a needed win.

Think I only ever missed one, and I know age can dull the memories, senses and perceptions but I would swear on a pile of Everton Programmes that I never witnessed any of it! And, I may add, I was relatively sober!

We went to Rotterdam and more or less went straight to Wembley – I think?

It doesn't quite seem the same these days, I personally think too much money has ruined it.

Those players back in the '70s and '80s were on a decent screw but nothing like the immoral amounts some of these prima donnas are on for basically kicking a modern-day pig's bladder around!

I'll have you know I stayed in Rotterdam all week, even had a whirlwind romance with a Windmill gal, then London on the Friday. All on a double giro.

We left on the coach from the Philarmonic after drinking all day. Fortunately, we all had carry-outs to get us to Rotterdam, they ran out by Birmingham.

Fortunately, the coach drivers had enough bevvy to sell and get us to Rotterdam. They had to stock up in Calais.

Got there early afternoon and enjoyed a few. The drivers stocked up to get us home. We had to resupply in Calais. I think it might have cost us more than a double giro but what a great time and memories.

Saturday was just a game too far and, had we had another 24 hours, we would have beaten Man Utd. However, I think, had we had another 24 hours, a visit to AA would definitely have been on the cards.

Yes, there will be some piss easy games in the early rounds but then the stronger European teams will emerge giving us Blues real competitive games. A traveling Blues army, nights at the Old Lady under the lights, and who knows... we could be the first team in the UK to win it!

Another Everton first and what a way to start life at our brand new stadium too as Winners... finally!

I do remember in 1966 when Princess Margret turned up in a red coat and was loudly whistled at to show our displeasure.

When the National Anthem was played, we substituted the word 'Team' for 'Queen' and continued singing after the band stopped playing. A confused Princess Margaret stayed at attention until we completed our rendition.

You are not losing your marbles mate. Evertonians definitely booed the Anthem. So did the Kopites.

I was in the posh seats (well, posh by my standards anyway) I was a guest of my old boss and his family. I had RS to my right and Blues to my left.

The booing for the Anthem was not ringing around the ground. I suspect most of the crowd didn't even hear the anthem because they were too busy with their own songs.

Nothing co-ordinated about most of the chanting that day, but I distinctly remember being made aware that fans both sides of me were having their "bit of fun" when my boss's daughter asked why they were booing God Save The Queen? A section of the crowd rather than the whole stadium.

I suspect it was done more in mischief than malice.

We went down to the Milk Cup final on a coach. I think 3 or 4 of us had tickets. Everyone on the coach got in.

Same in 1985.

I was living in London at the time and paid a small fortune for a ticket on the black market. I remember the ground being so full, I couldn't move – a real squash and quite dangerous.

Back in London that night I spoke to lots of fans who had got in by giving the guy on the turnstile a tenner. I think there could have been 10-20 thousand more fans in the ground than reported.

“Abide With Me was sung. It is the cup final's traditional hymn. A few people joined in, but the Liverpool end countered with YNWA which roused the Blues into chanting Ever-ton, Ever-ton, Ever-ton.

“Then the teams emerged, led by Howard Kendall in a black double-breasted suit and Kenny Dalglish in his tracksuit. They walked out of the tunnel at the Everton end, and it was from there the chants of 'Merseyside' began and circled the stadium. They were followed by 'Are you watching, Manchester?'

“The national anthem was played and booed by a good proportion of the crowd and the teams were introduced to the Duchess of Kent.”

In later years, when I saw matches re-arranged to support teams representing English football in Europe, italways made me look back to that 1985 cup final.

No excuses but a hint of what if had we been given a few days or even a week to rest and re-group. We still nearly done it.

Each to their own but back in the day, the European Cup Winners' Cup was the 3rd tier European Competition. One of the best nights of our Everton lives.

I'll take that Europa Conference League next season, thank you.

Dead right!

To quote Howard Kendall:

"Two Finals in 3 days is not too much. I wish we had another one on Thursday".

Instead of an FA Cup Final replay, we had to settle for the Trio against the RS that night.

Yes, we would have played for the European Super Cup if we hadn't been banned.

But the UEFA Cup always seemed higher in the pecking order than the Cup-Winners Cup for me.

Either way, let's just get into Europe again.

If we were winning them every 6 or so years maybe, but a Cup win would feel amazing for us all. Remember how it feels when we beat one of the Top 4, we all have a great weekend and bounce into work on Monday happy to talk about our win against Man City, Liverpool, Chelsea etc.

A cup win would be like that on steroids, finishing in the European spots is a good achievement over a season but it's not a "The drinks are on me" moment.

Yes, we was all getting ready to break into a bank in Monte Carlo until the neighbours put paid to that.

I certainly did not sing the National Anthem, always try to avoid singing it, but did sing "Abide With Me" as my dad, a red, loved to hear it sung and he died around that time.

The fact that it has been mentioned is clouding our judgement and putting doubts into our heads, but I am near as certain that it never happened in those two games.

Now I could say there was a guy riding a unicycle around the perimeter of the pitch, while balancing a dolly bird on his head. Of course it never happened, but no matter how bizarre, you build an image up in your head and think really, I do not remember that, but doubt has been planted and assume it must have happened.

In regards to the '86 final, our third on the bounce in FA Cup Finals, I can only assume that, if booing was heard in the Everton end, I doubt the booing was aimed at the National Anthem and possibly more to do with those lot singing YNWA over the anthem.

You remember lots of things at cup finals and I am certain in regards to Abide With Me, that is the one thing that hits you at a cup final, a very powerful and moving moment, followed by the roar after it has finished. That's certainly a thing that would stick with you, if there had been booing.

So stick to your original thoughts and like me, trust your own judgement.

One final thought on the '84 final and the friendly banter with Watford supporters, who were magnificent after their defeat.

I liked Elton John, did some terrific songs, more so in the eighties, so did not sit easy with the unsavoury chants sang out about his likings in love, if you know what I mean, but loved the way he strolled onto the pitch and then walked a little way towards the Evertonians and wave, suddenly the chants stopped and as one, everyone sang Elton John, Elton John, Elton John.

At that moment he shut up some unsavoury bigots, and had everyone eating out of his hands. Good for you, Elton, if ever a polite two-fingered Up Yours salute was done, that certainly happened that afternoon.

From a prestige point of view, the Cup-Winners Cup was superior, as back in the eighties, and nineties, the FA Cup was taken seriously.

Link

Get one cheap while you can!

I remember Elton walking around the ground, giving it the big ‘I am', heading to the Everton end and getting huge dog's abuse and quickly scuttling back away from us at double-quick time with his tail between his legs.

But then, I'm not an Elton fan!

1984. I posted previously but, as well as the great atmosphere inside and outside the stadium, I have 4 distinct memories that stick in the mind:

1. Graeme Sharp scoring right in front of the end where I was stood near the front, to the right of the goal as I looked at it.

2. Andy Gray scoring even though I couldn't see it. It didn't matter.

3. Kevin Ratcliffe lifting the FA Cup. The first trophy I'd seen Everton win and privileged enough to be there in person to witness it.

4. My Dad trying to scale the fence to pitch invade at the end. Me stood behind him wondering whether to follow but realising I couldn't. I was 2 weeks out of plaster after a broken ankle and still limping. So I was mainly thinking how was I going to get home if he succeeded. I can still pick him out on the footage.

Fortunately, the stewards "gently" encouraged him back into the crowd.

I'm not one for dwelling in the past though and feel the future will be much better than the past 27 years.

I was a big Elton fan having bought plenty of his albums over the years but I went off him when we, my wife, and another couple, saw him walking towards us in Cannes in 1979. He was walking right up to us on a narrow ish pavement accompanied by a gorilla of a security man.

“Hi Elton”! We said, quite excited to see one of our heroes. He just completely blanked us and minced on past. I never bought another track of his. A smile and “Hello” costs nothing. Little shit.

He deserved all the “He's fat, he's round, his arse drags on the ground” (and worse!) that he took at Wembley.

Alan 192. The Inter-Cities Fairs Cup was devalued by the 1 City 1 Club rule. The year Newcastle won it, they qualified by finishing 10th in the League.

I agree, that's the way I remember it. Back in the '50s & '60s all the players who came from Ireland joined Everton, and if you remember back even before Johnny Carey's time, there was 5 or 6 Irish Internationals on our team.

That's where the affiliation with Celtic came about, we were the Irish Catholic club, as were Celtic. Ronnie Whelan was the first Irish Catholic to play for Liverpool in 1979.

I too have been going since the 1950s and I haven't seen any religious or secular leanings either way. Stop making shite up to suit your own religious convictions. “Yes, I'm a Catholic / Protestant, so I support Everton.”

He doesn't hold me in high esteem, judging by our recent history.

That and the pulling power Lampard has is no doubt getting us a better class of player. Remember them scenes were shown all over the sporting globe.

Riddle me this then. You may know the answer.

Born in Widnes as a Roman Catholic. I went to St Bedes RC Primary School. 95% of my school supported Everton. The nearby protestant school St Michaels, 90% of the kids supported Liverpool.

You say there is no religious divide. How and why was that happening back then, 1968-73?

Did you go round with a simple question and do a head count at both schools before arriving at the percentage? Or are you talking bollocks?

[Asking for a friend.]

I don't know why you're getting your knickers in a twist, I'm just telling you about the Irish history at the club.

Which part of the "Irish Catholic players played for Everton" was wrong??

Once you've responded to James, I'll respond to you, probably with some made-up bollocks about Primary School statistics.😁

Brent, He*, if He exists, doesn't hold me in any sort of esteem judging by the way he's allowed my golf short game to disintegrate.

(* I don't think He does, maybe that's why!)

My mum's side of my family are all Catholic Reds, my dad's side all Protestant Blues.

How does that work?

Yes I went to Alec's funeral today, got back about half an hour ago. The church, SFX, was packed to pay their respects to a genuine funny character who gave plenty of people a lot of time, made them laugh and entertained them with his singing.

We all went back to the Anfield Hotel in Anfield Road and I think everyone enjoyed a splendid wake. The room in the hotel was supposed to finish at half seven, they sang the last song at eight o'clock but the singer was persuaded to carry on singing and he was still singing and most people were dancing when me and my wife left at 9:00 pm.

His lovely family did him proud.

I enjoy telling him that he broke our dad's heart, but that's just me being a dick. The derby, one time 'friendly' derby, is famous for cars full of red and blue scarf-waving fans, often from the same family, none of the rubbish you get in Glasgow, yet there are still people claiming that there is a religious divide.

Christy, you clearly state 'We were the Irish Catholic club as were Celtic', and I am clearly stating that we weren't. You should have stopped at 'players who came from Ireland joined Everton' with 'some' before 'players'. That would have been more accurate.

We have African players playing for us now. Does that make us an African team?

'They' seem to have way more, way worse. Individually; mostly decent. Collectively; words fail me.

'They' behave... which is what you're supposed to do anyway and collect fulsome praise – a lot of it self praise, or BBC/Sky praise, which is much the same.

'They' do something wrong and we're guilty by association.

They then have the cheek to call me bitter.

If I ever find an unlocked TARDIS or De Lorean, first stop is back to 1892 and pay that rent increase myself.

You say 'in the 1950s & 1960s, it was basically accepted in and around Ormskirk that Everton was an Irish Catholic Club, whilst Liverpool was Scottish Protestant'.

From what I can gather, since Peter Farrell, and Tommy Eglington signed in 1946, to 1970(-ish) Everton signed six Irish players: Corr for one season, 1946-47, O'Neill, Donovan and Meagan.

However, we also signed eight Scottish players, Lindsay, Collins, Parker, Scott, Young, Gabriel, Brown, Thomson. So, nothing there to suggest an Irish bias in our acquiring more Irish players than Scottish players.

I never said that it was actually so, only that it was generally accepted as so. Like I mentioned, I don't really want to get involved in this discussion (I was taught to keep out of politics and religion) but I was replying to an earlier post, that said Everton and Liverpool did not have religious connections and that bigotry was very low in the city.

I haven't checked any records for years but, out of the top of my head, I will add Clinton, Cummins and I think Moore to your list, and probably more.

As for bigotry, I just mentioned the Orange Day Parades that I had witnessed, to point out there was plenty of bigotry in my youth.

Can't speak for nowadays though, as sadly through ill-health, I can no longer fly to the UK. Just wanted to say what lots of people thought, back in the day.

It's been a good while since I laughed so much at a comment on here about a Tardis or De Lorean.

Good one, that.

Over the years, I have met people from Scotland, Yorkshire
and I even met a guy in Spain who thought Everton was an
Irish Catholic Club similar to Celtic.

I always asked, how they came to that conclusion and it was
always the same: football fans talking about the game in various parts of the UK.

For what it's worth, my father supported Everton as a boy growing up outside Dublin because of the Irish players they had in the 50s & 60s.

I guess there is the connection between Ireland and the city of Liverpool through proximity and immigration, regardless of religion. Liverpool even had an MP, T.P. O'Connor, who represented the Irish Parliamentary Party.

Funny you mention Liverpool's recent attachment to Celtic.

When I was younger, even up until Martin O'Neill was at Celtic, their fans had a good reputation even winning a UEFA award for best behavior. Rangers, on the other hand, had trouble any time they played English clubs, they had Gazza and his flute and Andy Goram posing with a UVF flag.

More recently, Rangers have toned it down but now Celtic fans hang effigies of Orangemen, boo the anthem and sing IRA songs. So naturally Liverpool have switched allegiance to align themselves with like-minded yobs.

However, the gist of it was that Everton FC drew on the local support from areas of Kirkdale, Vauxhall, Scottie from a huge Irish immigrant contingent who were all Irish Catholic, hence where the perception was.

If memory serves me correctly the board originally was from Methodist roots. As local Irish support grew, so did links to Irish players but we were pretty even-handed as to where we got our players.

My mum's family was from Scotland Road (13 kids), Catholic-Irish in background and 100% Reds. My allegiance to Everton came from my dad who grew up in Wallasey – he was a Blue and his brother was a Red. I went to Catholic Christian Brother school and my mates were a mix of Reds and Blues.

If religious affiliation was a factor in club support, I have never come across it, to be honest.

Arriving in Liverpool, he saw in Everton what he'd seen in Celtic and supported them. Me, his eldest, a Proddy (for what it's worth) fell under their 1960s spell too.

That was a very long time ago though – like when we occasionally won things.

The Everton - Liverpool divide has never been on religious grounds. It's a misconception, particularly those outside the City and I've had it mentioned both ways. I always correct it. We're not that way inclined.

All I have observed is that Everton's stronghold (not exclusivly) is in the heartlands of Vauxhall, Kirkdale, Walton and even Anfield. My cousin (a Red) who worked in Kirkby for years also said that seemed to be more Blues than Reds. So the north of the city. Whereas the south part of the city seems to be more visibly Red.

But still mixed and religion doesn't come into it at all. Not in my experience. We are way above that.

I actually went to the Barcelona v Steaua Bucharest European Cup Final in 1986 because I was studying in Seville. It was attended by 50,000 Barcelona fans, 200 Steaua fans plus me and my mate.

My abiding memory of the game was the poor quality of both sides and how terrible the game was. It was 0-0 AET and Barcelona missed all 4 penalties in the shoot-out. Honestly, Everton would have battered both these sides.

My other memories are nearly getting beat up twice. First was outside the ground before the game as we were mistaken for Romanians (we weren't even that badly dressed!), then nearly getting beat up again inside the ground after the final whistle by upset Barcelona fans who suspected we might be English – such was the contempt that our nation was viewed after the Heysel disaster because of the actions of our neighbours.

We only escaped both by claiming we were Irish! That was guaranteed to get you a good reception across Europe in the '80s.

In a small section of my immediate family, you can find Blue, Red, Orange and Green in whatever permutation you can dream up.

The RS seem to think they're some sort of Marxists – no, not that sort, rather the Groucho sort: "Whatever it is you're for – I'm against it."

They're a strange bunch.

The clip of those scenes at Wembley 1984 really does bring a tear to the eye. There were similar ones in 2009 as a sea of blue swarmed the team coach on its arrival.

Many Chelsea fans I know couldn't believe it. Just as those young supporters following a club in their hour of need up and down the country and marching down Goodison Road with blue torches did last season. A club that has never delivered them a trophy.

Derek @226.

Your last paragraph is telling. Excuse the stereotyping but they do stage and choreograph their so-called support. Marxist, socialist and revolutionary type behaviour from people who probably have highly paid banking jobs in the city of London and travel back to their Surrey homes after their trip to Anfield, laden with shopping bags from an expensive trip to the club store, and then slag off Scousers in the week claiming that they pay our benefits.

I live in London. I've bettered myself from when I was technically of no fixed abode and left a broken home. I travel to see Everton like many dedicated blues from all over the country and the world. But, like most other like-minded Evertonians, our support is passionate, persistent and genuine. Not a falsehood generated for the cameras and the media.

Bring on Sunday. Let's get the first win of many this season on the cards.

England fans were kicking off all over Amsterdam, probably because they never had hotels to stay in, so we decided to drive and ended up in Groningen, a place where I had had some great times in the past.

"If anyone asks, just say we are Irish," said one of my mates, but we got loads of paranoid looks from this group of fellas, who couldn't get their heads around why three young Irish fellas were in their part of the world, and they suddenly became very unfriendly.🤷‍♂️

Your second paragraph, sums up a high percentage of Liverpool fans, except you omitted two words: "love to" – Derek, they love to collect fulsome praise!

I was arguing with a few not long ago, it was actually friendly banter, and when I said this, one of them actually stopped me, asked me to repeat what I'd insinuated, and said that's true that, so they're not all like this.

I spent a lot of time in the Netherlands when I lived in Germany, near Heinsberg, for several years. The border crossing was in walking distance, our local pub was on the Dutch side of the crossing point and our closet major town was Roermond in the south of the country.

I like Holland and the Dutch. I think more than most European nations, we have a similar mentality in my experience.

I also admired Koeman. What a centre-back and what a bullet of a shot. I think that tainted my view on him as a manager in honesty. I should know it doesn't always translate, but I loved watching him and that Holland team of the time.

It wasn't a massive school. The girls were not into football and so I am simply remembering all the lads at my school had Everton bags, some scarves and the talk was always about Everton, never Liverpool.

My Dad was a teacher in the town at the time, Fisher Moore secondary. He put it down to the school being Catholic but it was never scientifically studied as to whether or not that was the reason and it could perhaps be that these things go in waves.

Perhaps a few years later there were more Reds in the school but, at that time, my school was certainly Blue and St Michael's were Red.

To answer your question, which was a little uncalled for, no I'm not talking bollocks, just stating a fact and not trying to add fuel to any religious argument. Just asked the question in case someone had a good angle on this.

Seems to me from the responses given that neither you nor anyone else does have a good idea as to why that was and so I'll bow out of the thread.

I also read that the Salzburg fans walked from the train station to Stamford Bridge in complete silence in respect of our late Queen.

I also submitted the following post, [161] Hi all, I know that this should have been posted on the get-together but not many have visited that thread. I'm looking for someone who could accommodate "A grumpy old man whose family have forbidden him from walking via Sandhills to The Bramley Moore, by sharing a taxi with him on Sunday.

It's not because I'm mean, although it would reduce the expenditure, having lived outside of the city for 55 years I'm not sure how these new taxis operate, is it by phone or can you still hail one?

We (not I but I'll use the collective) can't even respect another nation's national anthem at football matches, let alone the debate over respecting our own one.

Fair credit to those supporters you mention. And I'd like to call out the Rangers supporters for the display they put on last night. I know there are undertones, but it was a great spectacle.

Monarchist or Republican, I think recent events have demonstrated that the Queen and the Monarchy can bring this nation of 4 step-children who often disagree with each other together more than any politician will ever get close to achieving as they seek their own personal ambitions masked as speaking for the people.

I don't mind admitting but, despite decades of service, it's why I've actually only ever voted twice in my 50 years. I don't suffer fools and most politicians fall into that category for me.

That will be 51 years tomorrow by the way. Don't forget, 16 September is not just the date I entered this world, it is also Neville Southall's Birthday. Celebrations all around this weekend culminating in an Everton win and then final respects to a great servant of the nation on Monday.

Question of religion as basis for support still contentious

Whatever your views, we're all Blues and I'd hope encourage respect, non-discrimination and openness to all people. Bigotry should have no place. IMHO, both Everton and Celtic Football Club have always followed this mantra.

A toss-up between Coady and Tarkowski, and I know you're not one for controversy but I hope they keep the captain's armband and let Jordan concentrate on his goalkeeping position.

My Dad, Uncle and all the blues from Bramleys (The Albany) in Kirkdale came down in a van and when they opened the doors on arrival, the Watford fans thought it was a mobile off-licence as there was so much booze inside. Cue an impromptu party with them and the start of an amazing day.

After the game, back to the van for more beers, before I remembered I was not heading back to Liverpool but had to make my way back to the South coast (slowly) in my Daytona yellow Ford Capri. Happy days.

Good sentiments, Mike. Which is why I get a bit concerned when people try to make out Everton are something they're not, eg, associated with one or another religion. We're a club. Not a church.

Incidentally, it's not always easy to try and make your point without it seeming harsh or unfriendly. When speaking directly to someone, the inflection in their voice enables you to ascertain whether they're angry or not.

So, what might be energetic banter and good humoured in the bar, might seem harsh on paper. I hope that the comments, including mine, are not taken as angry.

As my youngest brother always says, and following our sometimes late-night arguments over Everton, only Evertonians can argue about something they all love and agree on!!

Chris, we now have at least 2 captains on the pitch in Coady and Tarkowski. They don't need armbands. If Allan features, there's another one.

But as it's his Birthday, then Neville Southall!! Not that I believe he is welcomed at Goodison these days.

Totally agree.

In the derby, we had the 3 of them as captains, and they pretty much did everything between them. And it wasn't all fist bumps and high fives either, quite a few arguments too. Healthy stuff.

Allan was telling Onana where to move to as well. It all bodes well.

Regarding a goalkeeper as captain, I don't see any sense, and I know many will quote Dino Zoff being captain of his country. But surely one of the roles of the captain is to be able to talk to the ref. If you are always 30 yards from play, that becomes impossible.

Also, how do you communicate with your teammates as the goalkeeper is another reason to have an outfield player as captain.

Our first win coming on Sunday folks... 2-1 methinks.

COYB

Couldn't agree more, Danny.

After Pickford won that 50:50 ball with Van Dijk in the 2020 derby game, Sutton was still ranting about it three weeks later.

Following this year's derby, not a mention of Van Dijk's deliberate stamp on Onana's ankle which could have ended the lad's career.

Hillsborough always falls during the season, so they get maximum coverage each season; however, with Heysel the season has always ended, so it does not fall on a week we could do anything.

If the Steau flag is paraded at Anfield, even though we have been assured it will not, then I think it is time we came up with a banner for the next Goodison derby, not a tit-for-tat thing, just a banner with Heysel 85, remembering the 39, bit like the Moise Kean banner part written in Italian.

Have that hanging from Upper Gwladys Street, where the cameras cannot fail to pick it up, and let the Italians know half if not more of Merseyside, has not forgotten the 39.

See what the media have to say about that, while at the same time, shaming those bastards into remembering the 39.

He annually posts on Social Media that 39 supporters went to a football match and never came back.

Cue family arguments, debates and accusations of being Bitter Blues!!!

Calvert-Lewin missed his last one. Maupay has a terrible conversion rate, if I recall correctly. Townsend is injured and Richarlison has gone. I'd nominate Mykolenko – he seems to strike the ball cleanly.

Fucked off a week earlier, the Rotterdam Stadium was hardly state of the art and actually shaking the higher up you went.

Still have the comment of the Chief of Police: "Everton fans welcome back any time." Drunk all week then off to London.

Not sure even an arrest except maybe the odd offy getting relieved of their wares. Horrible bastards kopites.

You all for omens: I've just seen Speedo Mick as I'm sitting outside the boozer. Gave him the "What's Our Name?"

Surely a win on Sunday.

Was your dad, Mick, PE teacher?

If so, great character. He'd know me for my Everton obsession!!

By his reckoning, we should be relegated by the time the World Cup starts. What a helmet of a man.

The other guy, a musician, predicts more realistically than Sutton.

We discussed this here sarcastically days ago. And now it's happened? How crass and demeaning to such a major event, irrespective of one's views of the monarchy. 70th minute, applause, 71st minute, clips of applause uploaded to social media.

Politics and pathos have long outstayed their welcome in sport, becoming low-grade and vulgar, and producing a cheapened, opposite effect.

It is the dickheads like Carragher, Sutton, Townshend and Stephen Warnock that can't help themselves.

Hopefully we can ram it down their throats over the next few years although, despite the enormous success of the '80s, we didn't get the recognition then either.

I think he's second cousin removed. Our grandfathers were brothers. Mine left Northern Ireland for Liverpool, his to Scotland.

We both ended up being centre-backs but I guess he was better than me.

I fully agree, and the bias is nothing short of discrimination. I feel when we did win trophies in the '80s,. Liverpool also did too, plus beating Everton in several finals.

But the 80s was a long time ago, so let's hope the future can change things in a modern stadium and with a young respected manager.

For the record, Villa and Forrest never got the credit either.

What I do feel pretty sure of - if we play like we did in the derby, we'll more than likely win well.

Lighten up, please – it was only a bit of teasing.

I think we will see the benefit of the extra week's preparations for installation of the Onana - Gana. By the way, on my way to work deep in the woods, I noticed an Onana Forest. That will be the destination of my pilgrimage each time we take out one of the shit six.

Could meet up by the Dixie statue after the match if that helps out.

Happy to do the Uber thing though, John Senior and others.

Just make your way to the Dixie statue, and if anyone can order one, I will sort the fare out.

Off out now so will catch up with messages later.

Dave knew he'd get a good turnout. My younger brother went.
Glad you and all there enjoyed it, he'd be made up.

I'm stuck in Cairo another 24 hours so couldn't get there.
Good lad Alec always had time for him, Vera and the kids.
Good memories. Still a good few Reds about but getting fewer as time passes.

I'm walking like an 'old man' now, and I may have arrived late but I would have arrived, to safeguard my 100% attendance record.

The suggestion that we all meet at the Dixie Dean statue and sort things from there, is an excellent idea, I was going to say that I would be wearing an Everton top and a blue sweater, but on reflection I don't think that would be an ideal solution.

The gap between posts [162] & [[263] led me to think that I would have been forced to deceive my family, thanks again for your intervention and kind thoughts. John.

Regarding Sutton, he's a bit like Merson, hasn't a clue. As you say, hasn't a good word to say about Everton.

Sutton a few weeks ago, when Man Utd won 2-1 against the Red Shite, he predicted 1-5, so we know his favourite club.

Be sure whoever orders it makes clear it's for five, Brian. Otherwise, if you order by phone/'net you will likely get a default standard four-passenger vehicle.

I think the English clubs have found it difficult in Europe this week because they never played last weekend, and although they would normally be glad of the break, I think it's round about now that players begin to find their second wind.

Hopefully Lampard having the time to work with the players, it works in our favour.

Four years ago I spent seven weeks in Southport Hospital suffering from a twisted stomach, five of which were nil by mouth. It appeared that my daughter Nicki, informed ToffeeWeb of my situation and the response was superb, good wishes apparently in abundance.

That summer to show my gratitude I invited ToffeeWebber's to help me celebrate my 80th birthday at the Central Hotel Liverpool. the following people attended what I was told, was the first event of its kind.

Dave & Tony Abrahams, Steve Fearns, Bill Griffiths, George McKane, Gerard McKean, Peter Mills, and myself, since then the numbers have increased, but I would expect it to do so at a faster rate as the completion of the new Stadium nears.

I am not seeking Brownie Points but I must admit I do gain a degree of satisfaction from the progress that has been achieved, and the friends I have made, it appears that the list of friends will be increased on Sunday.

I never met your mother but I know she and her family were well regarded by all of the Sweeney family and were good neighbours for each other especially when Vera passed away last year.

By the way, we did a tour of Anfield in the funeral cars and two mates in the car with me said “You can start praying now, Dave, you're at the Temple of football.”

I said, “I've been praying since we got here” moving my index and big finger up and down at the same time. Alec would have understood, he liked Everton a much as I liked Liverpool; it never spoiled our friendship.

Lots going on in this thread, most of it unrelated to Sunday. Including a shitload about the other team from the city (why?). I come from a red family and was sick of their shit by age 8 (born 1967) and went blue.

The ahl fella (to his eternal credit) took me to Goodison a bunch of times as a kid, and to this day would rather see Everton win as long as we're not playing his RS. Granted we live thousands of miles away from Merseyside now so don't have to live with the tribalism (much).

Religion. I'm surprised anyone still gives a shit in 2022. It's almost like science doesn't exist. I was raised Catholic but realized it was a joke by 15. As a scouser once sang, God is a concept by which we measure our pain. We're all gonna die just like every other living creature; deal with it.

Please don't associate our team with any of that stupid nonsense. If I'm wrong, I'll recant on my deathbed and "god" will forgive me, right? Yeah right.

I really don't like the Dutch.

I have been seriously beaten up twice in my 62 years watching Everton. Once in Leeds, lost 5-2 as well and once in Sittard prior to the Fortuna Sittard game in 1985, ridiculously by a large gang of PSV fans who had come looking for a fight.

Can somebody take a few pics to post on here so I can see what us exiles are missing… actually a pics of your pints of Guinness will do.

John, a little aside, a titbit from the past concerning my Uncle Tommy. (Sadly no longer with us I wonder who in the family got his season ticket?)

Tommy used to work on the Docks when he was first married; pennies were few and he was always up to something to get a few bob.

One Saturday morning (I was about 13, I think), he asked me if I wanted to earn a few bob. Green as a cabbage, I said Yes!

Well, Tommy had been working along Dock Road and he noticed there had been a load of scaffolding left inside the gates of Bramley-Moore dock… he asked me to meet him outside the aforementioned pub on Saturday morning and afterwards we could go the game.

Not sure why I was there, along comes Tommy on a little tractor with a trailer and a load of scaffold on it. My job was to sit on the trailer to make sure nothing fell off as we made our way up Bankhall to the scrapyard at the top. I got a fiver for my trouble.

I thought he was just delivering stuff as part of his job until I saw the notes exchanged! Off we trundled back to the Dock Road, he finished work and I sat outside the pub till he came back and off to the match – we thumped Burnley too that day.

In years to come, Tommy would roar with laughter at that memory of BMD, and the pub where a (not so innocent) little scouser sat on a load of scaffold.. I was forever Lily the Pink.

Enjoy the day, guys… wish I was there!

I know what you mean about New Zealand being sparsely populated, Christine. As I drove down the South Island, it really struck me. A land mass roughly the same as the UK (possibly larger) but with a population of about 5 million (??) in comparison to our now estimated 68 million. Lot's of empty spaces on the drive down to Christchurch.

Well, as I head out this morning having tipped the scales into my second half century (officially now 51), I'll reflect on life. Born in Sefton General, now living in London having gladly and fortunately travelled the globe. Good times, tough times. Happy times and some sad ones, but I wouldn't change a thing. Grateful for what I've had and have.

When we last won the league and I was there to witness it, I was 15 years old. I'm grateful it was in living memory and I experienced it twice as well as a European trophy. The FA Cup was a bonus.

Those young faithful Evertonians will have their day too. Keep going. Keep up your amazing support.

Make me happy this weekend Everton. Back to Elton John, we simply love you more than life itself. I do.

Spirit. Forever. Absolutely forever.

Just that I haven't seen anything said about moving them to BMD but maybe it has been discussed and I have missed it.

A lovely funny and honest story, it was all about survival in those days, girl, and every little helped!!

I think someone said we can't move them to the new stadium.

Total dilemma for me. Do we leave Dixie and the Holy Trinity in their spiritual home or take them with us to our new one? I can't decide.

Can we take the Goodison Supper Bar with us?

I'm so looking forward to our new stadium, but watching Everton without having chips, peas and onion gravy served to me by the same family that have served me since I was a youngster presents another dilemma.

I want us to follow Tottenham's model and modernise the match day experience. But maybe we can take our tradition with us and represent our heritage. So rather than those shitty overcrowded sausage roll kiosks that I never manage to get served at (that Upper Bullens Lady just doesn't seem to like me), we will have bars and eateries named after and in the spirit of the Winslow, the Brick, the Royal Oak, the Saddle and the Dark House.

And of course the Goodison Supper Bar.

Sorry for my random rambles. I blame the dogs.

I hope they do make plans to move both statues to our new home, being left where they are now makes no sense. They were put where they are so match-going fans could see them.

I know when they demolish Goodison they do intend having a memorial garden there, I just think it's unthinkable that we leave our most cherished statues behind.

We should have a giant Dixie Dean, on the scale of the Christ the Redeemer in Rio, welcoming all the ships into the Mersey looking across the water to his native Birkenhead. Imagine how our RS chums would enjoy it.

I keep saying it, but Colin Harvey has to be more of an Evertonian than Everton. I don't mind admitting, but when he speaks, it brings out the more emotional side of me.

I know it's now not possible and was never financially feasible, but I'd liked to have seen a downscaled, redisigned stadium on the site of Goodison used to host the U23s and Academy matches.

Sunday. 2-0. 3 points.

I anticipated meeting up at the Dixie Dean statue, I feel a little embarrassed now because I have appeared to have caused a bit of an inconvenience. If the Neil your post is addressed to, is Neil Copeland [273 & 291], the embarrassment is heightened, because a free ride was never in my plans.

I was quite willing to pay my way, but although my various ailments prevent me from drinking, they don't prevent me from buying a Good Samaritan the drink of his choice.

Looking forward to meeting you, John, and a few others.

Danny, yes it's too late for a Goodison mark two, though there was tons of debate about staying. That was before Mr Moshiri came along. I remember Liverpool Council giving prodigious help to the other lot by redesigning the area around it and seeing streets knocked down. The r/s did a job on the properties immediately around and half of Anfield Road as well.

Mind you, Derek (215) has a great post. Using Dr Who's Tardis and getting back to 1892 and paying that Tory sod, the increase in Anfield's ground rent!

I always try to behave, I think I learned it at what some people call 'The Old School' where behaviour and manners were compulsory. Like yourself, I am looking forward to renewing existing friendships and making new ones.

I was thinking along the lines of donating what would have been my taxi fare, if I was travelling on my own, to Neil's daughter as a birthday present.

Just don't have me dipping for the line for the last train to Euston.

I am driving there anyway so no need for fuel money and all that nonsense. Good company will be sufficient.

Looking forward to the game and meeting up.

When I told my 'Young Lady' of your offer she said, "That's why Everton are called 'The People's Club'," and I fully endorse her comment. Once again, thank you for your kind gesture.

I can definitely see a case for a meaningful acknowledgement of the long history of Goodison but I wouldn't like those guys left "alone" when the move happens...