EVERTON SEASON DIARY

• Apr 29:  Everton, despite a their best efforts, were clearly outclassed and outplayed by a very competent Arsenal side who ran out 1-0 winners at Goodison Park.

• Apr 28:  Bill Kenwright is meeting with Goodison For-Everton today as the Stadium Debate warms up again.

• Apr 27:  Thomas Myhre is to extend his loan spell with Birmingham City until the end of the season, but Walter Smith assures Evertonians that Norway's Number One will not be transferring to the Brummies.
  For Everton Ladies, midfielder Becky Easton has been named the Nationwide International Player of the Year.  Report
  EVERTON have reportedly signed a 15-year-old goalkeeper Andrew Pettinger, from Scunthorpe in a deal that could be worth up to £400,000 to The Millers.  Planet Football Report

• Apr 26:  Everton have offered new contracts to winger Kevin McLeod and defender Carl Regan, but goalkeeper Dean Delaney and defender Adam Farley, both members of the 1998 FA Youth Cup winning team, are being released, as are Gary Dempsey, Carl Howarth (leading U-19 goalscorer!), David Knowles and Jonathan Wright.
  Tonight's reserves mini-derby was postponed until Monday May 15.
  No wins to report for Everton's Foreign Legion:

  • Davey Weir and Don Hutchison played well for Scotland in a 0-0 draw in Holland

  • Richard Dunne played solidly in his first full International for Ireland against Greece. 

  • Thomas Myhre suffered in goal for Norway as  Belgium beat them 2-0. 

  • And Abel Xavier was on the losing side for Portugal in Italy but Joe-Max Moore missed the USA's first trip to Russia. 

• Apr 25:  The tentative list of pre-season friendlies and testimonials has been published, subject to change if, by some miracle, Everton qualify for the InterToTo Cup. 

• Apr 24:  Today's news is that there is no news, just a long and rather boring list of ridiculous  "transfer targets" – apparently leaked by the club itself to keep the journos and TeamTalk off the real scent!

• Apr 23:  Everton youngsters Stephen Schumacher and Stephen Beck have been playing for the England U-15s against Argentina in France.  Schumacher, who captained the side, scored the only goal in the 1-0 victory, while Beck made an impressive first appearance.

• Apr 22:  The entire Everton community – officials, players, fans – are left fuming today over referee Graham Poll's pathetic excuses for disallowing Everton's bizarre winner against Liverpool yesterday.  The Goal that wasn't (5MB .mpeg video-file)

• Apr 21:  Everton gave neighbours Liverpool A real run for it, but could not penetrate a massed defence until a bizarre incident right at the death, but it finished 0 - 0.  Earlier, Mark Hughes had the best chance and should have scored.

• Apr 20:   Conference club Doncaster have sacked their manager, former Everton midfielder Ian Snodin. Tommy Myhre's loan to Birmingham City has been extended to the end of the season.

• Apr 19:  Everton have opened talks with Nick Barmby about a new contract.  Currently, Barmby could arrange a free Bosman-type move any time after January 2001

• Apr 18:  Everton allowed fans in free of charge for the last home match of the reserves campaign – against Newcastle United at the AutoQuest Stadium, Widnes.  Everton fought out their 4th successive 1-1 draw.  Franny Jeffers played for an hour, but Carl Howarth was the scorer.

• Apr 17: After finally scoring for Everton at Goodison Park, and showing he really can play well, John Collins has committed himself to Everton for the remainder of his 4-year contract. 

• Apr 16:  Deadline day is long past but the idiotic media still talk of transfers.  This time its Didier Martel, Peter Atherton and Temuri Ketsbaia.  Yeah, right.

• Apr 15:  Everton calmly walked over  Bradford City 4-0 with an excellent contribution from Phil Jevons producing the first two goals for Pembridge and Unsworth (his 7th penalty).  Accurate strikes from Collins  and Barmby completed the scoring in the second half.

• Apr 14:  Everton ladies secured a great win at their Liverpool counterparts, the match finishing 4-2 in their favour.

• Apr 11:  Former Everton player Jon O'Connor has been released by Sheffield United after failing to make his mark at Bramall Lane.  O'Connor was at Scunthorpe earlier in the season on trial, and also had a spell with Cambridge United. He is currently in contract talks with Darlington.
  Everton reserves drew 1-1 with Leeds United at Elland Road, Franny Jeffers making his comeback from an ankle injury.

• Apr 12:  Everton have reportedly told Danny Williamson that his contract will be terminated at the end of September – 9 months early – as patience runs out over his chronic injury problems.

• Apr 11:  Mark Hughes is set to be made an honorary fellow at the University of Wales in Bangor.

• Apr 10:  The hypocritical media have a field day over the barracking of Muzzy Izzet by a minority of Everton fans during the Leicester match.

• Apr 9:  Everton ladies secured a great win at their Liverpool counterparts, the match finishing 4-2 in their favour.

• Apr 8:  Everton secure a draw away to Leicester City thanks to an equaliser from Don Hutchison.
  Everton's Under-19 team visit Arsenal in the quarter-final of the National FA Youth Academy League play-offs.
  Everton FC feel obligated to make a profuse apology to Muzzy Izzet and Leicester City over the racist barracking of the Turkey national by a minority of Everton fans following the murder of two Leeds supporters in Istanbul last Wednesday.

• Apr 5:  Francis Jeffers has been sent to Lilleshall to undergo an intensive rehabilitation programme in an effort to get him fit for the derby on the 21st.

• Apr 4:  The great Stadium Debate resurfaces with the news that Bill Kenwright is to commission a feasibility study (sounds familiar!) into the merits of renovating Goodison Park or moving to a new site – probably at Gilmoss.
  Tonight's reserves match at Sheffield Wednesday has been postponed, and will now be played on 10 May.

• Apr 3:  Well-known Everton fan, San Presland walked away from the smash hit TV-Quiz Who Wants to be a Millionare with £8,000 in cash!
  Kevin Campbell underwent knee surgery today and will now be out for the rest of the season.

• Apr 2:  John Collins is now saying he may stay with Everton since his nemesis Don Hutchison is being given the cold shoulder.

• Apr 1:  Everton returned to winning ways with a 4-2 home win against Watford. Both Mark Hughes and Stephen Hughes scored, with the other two Everton goals coming from Joe-Max Moore.
  Everton's Under-19 team reached the last eight of the National FA Youth Academy League play-offs, beating Sheffield Wednesday 2-0 with goals by Leon Osman and Kevin McLeod.