Season › 2024-25 › Opinion › Talking Points The opening match at Bramley-Moore Dock by John Shearon | 16/08/2024 26 Comments [Jump to last] Less than a year before our opening match in the new Everton Stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock, many are wondering who our opponents for the opening match – assuming it is a pre-season friendly – should be. A precedent was set in 2010 when the Club agreed to play our namesake from Chile after a decade of lobbying from the Ruleteros Society. With ownership still to be decided, however, there is a possibility that a repeat of supporter preference may not be possible. If John Textor takes over, he may well prefer Lyon, Botafogo, or even Molenbeek. Suppose, however, we supporters could still influence the Club on the choice of opposition, who would we choose? I must confess that I would love to see Everton Chile return, along with representatives from the other Everton clubs in Argentina and Uruguay, allowing us to celebrate this unique circumstance of having so many Clubs, all with more than a century of history behind them, bearing the name Everton. Article continues below video content I am conscious, however, that this choice may not be universal, and it would be interesting to gauge what alternatives are out there and how popular they are. One obvious upside to playing our namesake, however, is that there's bound to be an Everton winner. Return to Talking Points index : Add your Comments » Reader Comments (26) Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer () Jim Milner 1 Posted 16/08/2024 at 14:43:55 For me there is only one choice that makes sense and I must agree with John, and its Everton de Viña del Mar. As John said "Everton can't lose" but there are so many other reasons too:-1) There are so many Evertonains on both sides of the Atlantic would love to see a replay of the famous match of 2010. 2) Unlike any random European team for a pre-season friendly, the 2010 match drew international attention with the British newspapers covering the build up a week or so before the game. The Chilean FA also suspended the league, and it was televised in South America, which goes to show how much they valued the event. If you add that to the opening of a stadium, sponsorship will want to be associated with the opening game because international eyes will be on it.3) When you celebrate weddings, christenings etc. you always have family present, well for the birth of a new football stadium what could be more family, than two siblings Everton & Everton de Viña del Mar? Ian Bikeman 2 Posted 16/08/2024 at 14:57:49 This really is a no-brainer - a win win all round and the only choice.Great suggestion, John! James Marshall 3 Posted 16/08/2024 at 15:21:20 Accrington Stanley. Danny O’Neill 4 Posted 16/08/2024 at 15:30:49 Not a bad idea. As there will have to be a couple of test runs, maybe give the U21s a run out against maybe Marine?Also, to repeat myself, if that stadium is ready by the New Year and given the difficulty many have getting tickets for Goodison, get the match up on the big screens. John Chambers 5 Posted 16/08/2024 at 16:05:45 Bolton could be an option as they were the first team we played at Goodison. Dennis Stevens 6 Posted 16/08/2024 at 16:26:45 I believe the first League match was against Nottingham Forest, so that nay be a good shout. Alternatively, what about Aston Villa —the most played top flight match in the newest top flight (I hope!) stadium? Ray Roche 7 Posted 16/08/2024 at 16:31:38 Great idea ðŸ‘🻠Dennis Stevens 8 Posted 16/08/2024 at 16:42:51 The "other" Everton as a pre season friendly would be good. Or, if we can round up some other Evertons, maybe a little pre-season tournament? Dennis Stevens 9 Posted 16/08/2024 at 16:55:40 I'm assuming that earlier in the year they'll use fixtures for Everton Women & U21s, etc. to test out the stadium with much smaller crowds. John Shearon 10 Posted 16/08/2024 at 17:28:18 Bolton were the first opposition at Goodison, a friendly played the day before the first league game against Forest on 3 September 1892. David Doran 11 Posted 16/08/2024 at 18:57:36 Why don't we try and get Juventus and play for the 1985 UEFA Super Cup which we were prevented from taking part due to our loveable neighbours Rob Halligan 12 Posted 16/08/2024 at 19:07:49 David # 11……I'd go one better: Everton v Steaua Bucharest. That would really piss the Red Shite off. Paul Ferry 13 Posted 16/08/2024 at 19:21:08 An XI drawn from Steaua Bucharest, Villarreal, Panathinaikos, and Fiorentina players. Second match: the mighty Marine, the pride of Crosby not Waterloo, currently shooting up the leagues. Scott Hamilton 14 Posted 16/08/2024 at 19:35:50 SK Rapid Wien (Rapid Vienna). Rob Halligan 15 Posted 16/08/2024 at 19:39:10 Nah Paul,It has to be the team that won the 1986 European Cup, against the team that should have won it — if they hadn't been banned from Europe because of the Red Shite! Paul Ferry 16 Posted 16/08/2024 at 19:42:52 Rob, I'll give you that one, mate. I just thought that the XI mix would give us a harder game than those Bucharest minnows and the game would have to go to penalties. Dennis Stevens 17 Posted 16/08/2024 at 19:42:52 It'll probably be Wrexham! Terry Murray 18 Posted 20/08/2024 at 07:24:40 My choice would be a game against the Chilean Everton club Paul Hewitt 19 Posted 20/08/2024 at 07:33:51 Coleman's testimonials against republic of Ireland. Tony Abrahams 20 Posted 20/08/2024 at 07:58:55 If there are three other Everton teams in South America, then why not invite them all over and have an Everton tournament, lasting a couple of days.Juventus makes sense, considering that we never did get to play that Super cup game, but one thing we all need to do is start looking forward, so thanks for having the vision and the fortitude to build our new stadium Farhad, but can you please sell the club and fuck off now mate, because along with the lying phoney, you have just compounded over the worst era, in our entire history, and the club needs to move on from your curse. Chris McGinn 21 Posted 20/08/2024 at 09:55:16 CD Everton from Viña del Mar would be perfect. Let's hope it happens. juan foxley-rioseco 22 Posted 20/08/2024 at 17:56:34 Fully agree.- CD Everton, founded (1909) by british descendants in the port city of Valparaiso, looks as the best qualified partner. It would appeal media interest as a unique win-win way to celebrate a historical landmark Paul Wharton 23 Posted 20/08/2024 at 21:31:00 It would be a great occasion with Everton Chile as we would have a full attendance. 2010 was great; however, this would be just fantastic. Kieran Kinsella 24 Posted 20/08/2024 at 21:53:10 Everton Chile sounds good but knowing our luck they'd show up with a team featuring a 50-year-old Dennis Stracqualursi and beat us 4-0. Jim Lynch 25 Posted 21/08/2024 at 16:44:10 Everton Vina Del Mar is an excellent idea. Two Evertons in a full stadium would be brilliant. Billy Shears 26 Posted 21/08/2024 at 17:58:40 Great idea!Rapid Vienna is also a good shout too, I suppose it has to be a derby match!!... no brainer really… or what about a four-team tournament? Add Your Comments In order to post a comment, you need to be logged in as a registered user of the site. » Log in now Or Sign up as a ToffeeWeb Member — it's free, takes just a few minutes and will allow you to post your comments on articles and Talking Points submissions across the site. How to get rid of these ads and support TW © ToffeeWeb