COLUMNIST JOE JENNINGS

End to the Acrimony

By Joe Jennings : 16/08/2007 :

Comments (3) :

First of all, what a great start to the season. Two games, two wins, 6 points, top of the league. Never prouder to be Blue. Everything is rosy. Oh no wait, the stadium saga. The saga that has divided Evertonians beyond belief causing arguments, acrimony galore.

I've always been strongly against the move to Kirkby, fearing erosion of fanbase, leaving the city and handing it over to Liverpool etc. All valid reasons. I therfore voted No in the recent ballot. Others will have voted Yes, fair enough. As the saying goes, opinions are like assholes, everyone's got one. Crude but true.

Quite frankly I'm sick and tired of a section of the No voters calling fellow blues the following:

Traitors
Not true Evertonians
Closet Reds!

It's laughable. We all want the same: success for Everton Football Club. If the outcome of the vote is Yes to Kirkby then so be it. I will be disappointed but over the past few weeks I have seen the bigger picture. I will always support Everton, regardless of where we play, whatever city or area. I will always watch them, I cannot imagine not going to the match 25 times a season. Its an addiction, you keep going back for more.

Such acrimony should be dispelled. Look at the bigger picture. I have always been against the move, for personal reasons probably, but we need to support the club we all love so much. We have the best side in my lifetime and we as fans shouldnt distrupt this great start to the season. I genuinely believe we are on the verge of something special. Call me optimistic if you want. I'm an Evertonian, with an opinion, I'll express it. Regardless of what others may feel or think.

At the Wigan game, I just got the impression those who had voted Yes were somewhat uptight on their vote. Yes voters seem worried a how others may react. That is ridiculous. We should be united as one. All for one, one for all. Don't condemn those who have a different opinion than you, they are entitled to it afterall

It was delightful to see the Evertonians at White Hart Lane, it really was a sea of blue and white. They were brilliant, sang non-stop. That's how it should be. The vote has gone, finished. It shouldn't linger on our mind, although it will. We need to accept the outcome because as Evertonians we are key to the club's future, not where the stadium is. Leaving Liverpool will be a wrench. If the vote is No I will be happy, I would expect alternatives to be explored. I would expect all the Yes voters to similarly accept the outcome. It wont be the end for EFC if the majority vote No. We move on.

So let's have an end to all the disputes, whether it be on here, the pub, the chippy, in your seat or wherever. We need to be together as one. As fans we can help the team be a force to be reckoned with once more. We all love the club as much as eachother, regardless of which way we voted. Please, remember that.

Reader Comments

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Buster Douglas
1 Posted 17/08/2007 at 16:08:37

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I’ll end the acrimony when you all agree with me! :-)

KEIOC!

colin.fitz
2 Posted 17/08/2007 at 16:33:40

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you know what Joe? that’s a lot of common sense, I said on here this morning the club are to blame for this, they gave everyone a vote, shouted about how no other club does things this way then proceeded to conduct a one sided information campaign that contains highly inaccurate information, when a significant number of people question the clubs information those believing the club and voting yes continue to reiterate the clubs information thereby prolonging the disagreement amongst fans. I honestly think the club should have just commissioned an independent report, published their findings and made a decision based on them. whatever the outcome of the vote I’ll abide by it, I hope that everyone else does and we can just get back to normal.

Lee
3 Posted 17/08/2007 at 16:50:09

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Unfortunately, it’s not as simple as that...

The reason for the "no vote" - for many - is that the move to Kirkby would be the end of the world, no going back, the beginning of the end for Everton etc.

Therefore, they cannot accept it. Sure, maybe a few reasonable people will, but those in the set-on mindset of "Everton in Liverpool or f*ck the lot of it" aren’t going to be so mellow in defeat if it is "yes".

John Schremp
4 Posted 18/08/2007 at 11:59:45

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Let?s put it this way, Joe is right but then you can please ALL the people SOME of the time,some people all the time but pleasing ALL the people ALL the time is just not possible.
I?ve been a supporter for 50 years and watched the greats like Young and Ball at Goodison and I don?t have a vote because of living in Switzerland. Anyway I don?t envy those that do as the choice is really really difficult.

People over here ask me where I come from and I say Liverpool. "Oh, isn?t that the Beatles and LFC"? Yes I say,but I support the original and better football team: Everton. Really? and they come from Liverpool do they? Now that?s a suprise... Do you think I?m going to change that reply if we move to Kirkby?

No, the above doesn?t make me a "yes" voter and I do think the board could have handled the information side and the chance of alternatives better.

The Swiss spend all their time (at least every couple of months) having votes or referendums at local, county and national level.

ALL the people in Berne were allowed to vote on the new football stadium " Stade de Suisse" and boy, both sides gave it all they?ve got.

Its been built on the old site and produces enough electricity to light up a small town by having the roof covered in solar panels.....

The regular votes often get very acrimonious, but after the decisions are made, the losers accept their defeat and get on with it. In many cases, the government loses too and then they go over the books and start again.

Making compromises isn?t easy and a lively debate is no bad thing. At the end of the day however, we must learn to bridge the differences as best we can and I?m sure most will do that. If Everton have a successful team in Kirkby then most will turn up to watch their heroes and swallow their pride.
United we stand(and I don?t mean Manu) but divided we fall.

Yes, it will hurt to move but move we must, whether it?ll be to Kirkby or somewhere else...

Winston put it best: In war: resolution, in victory: magnanimity, in defeat: defiance and in peace: goodwill.
I?m hoping for the peace at the end of the day!

Simon Brand
5 Posted 24/08/2007 at 19:52:01

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Joe, you?re talking a load of old sh*t... You?re deffo a closet red and a real blue traitor. You sound like that fella out of Along Came Polly, doncha think?

ian
6 Posted 24/08/2007 at 20:15:18

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do you no what i really don?t think you know what you are talking about. you sound like a 14 year old boy.