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COLUMNIST JOE JENNINGS

Teenage Blues ? Our Struggle

By Joe Jennings :  21/01/2008 :  Comments (15) :

Life is never easy as an Evertonian, whether 10, 25 or 70 years of age. Starved of success and craving silverware, times have been tough and rough. Torrid football, lack of funds and poor managers have all coincided to provide us with mediocrity.

I'm incredibly proud of our history, past successes especially. It gives you a huge sense of pride and admiration, however one trophy in my lifetime is not something to envy or particularly shout about. I'll be blunt: schoolboy Blues have endured torrid times over the past 15 years. Hyperbole? No chance. I can watch the DVDs of us destroying Bayern Munich, a heroic comeback against Sheffield Wednesday and our night of glory in Rotterdam. It only increases my affection.

Post 1995, as I grew older and my passion for the club developed, unfortunately so did the successes of our beloved neighbours. There have been endless arguments with friends....

''We've won it 5 times''
''What have you got to be proud of?''
''Your going down''
Although you could argue, we ALL get this kind of stick, what is there for teenagers to say to their pals? Oh we won the European Cup Winners Cup in 1985. Oh yes, the one that doesn't exist now? ''We were once known as the Mersey Millionaires you know and had the greatest striker of all time in Dixie Dean''. Then comes the saturated, hackneyed comeback... ''We've won the European Cup 5 times''.Or more recently, the ''You're leaving the city''.

"So what?", some may feel... "Dry your eyes, mate," others may say. But on Wednesday we have a chance to give myself and all other teenage Blues around something to be proud of, to have something to clamor about. This is our semi-final, for all those unfortunate enough to not have been born before that incredible April night. Our chance to witness Goodison as atmospheric as we are told it was on that historic night.

David Moyes described the anticipation surrounding the Villarreal home game a few years back as like ''Christmas Eve'', I certainly now understand his sentiments, I simply cannot wait to get down to Goodison.

Quite simply, my generation and the future generations shouldn't be underestimated, they are the future of the club. The club cannot continue to produce such diehard Blues with a glittering history from the 80s; we need to make our own history, starting Wednesday. If we believe in the players, we can beat Chelsea, no doubts about that. Wembley would be a dream, an unbelievable experience. Sing your hearts out, make it a night you want to bottle and savour forever.

The prospect of a final at Wembley, with a whole month to gloat, is almost tangible. The Toffees never let you down. COYB

Reader Comments

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Peter Corcoran
1   Posted 22/01/2008 at 08:13:15

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Sadly we’ve all been there.

I recall the 1970’s when we thought things were pretty desperate, no trophies for 14 years until HK worked his miracles (unless you count Superteams on TV when Mick Lyons admitted it was the first thing he had ever won).

We will have our day in the sun again and have our day in the sun.

But will we sink as low as the reds and let them suffer the childish gloating that they have put us through for most ofl our lives?



Bet your life we will - we just have to win something first.
Nick Entwistle
2   Posted 22/01/2008 at 09:15:16

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When you follow the rightious path Joe and you have reds talking as they do, there’s nothing to say other than those who understand need no explanation, those who don’t understand, don’t matter.

Graham Nixon
3   Posted 22/01/2008 at 09:17:23

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Joe, your article is spot on for the younger,and future generation of our fans.
I’m sure it will be a great atmospheric night on wednesday and hope that the team give us what we all as Evertonians need, a sniff of success in a competition that has eluded us for so long!
IYKYH
Peter Laing
4   Posted 22/01/2008 at 09:33:03

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Joe, Brian Labone once said that one blue is worth twenty reds, this sentiment born out of the exact feelings that most blues go through at the hands of our red neighbours. It takes courage to be an Evertonian but with this comes pride, honour and spirit that only fellow blues can understand. For all the redshite chest beating they are now further away than ever from their holy grail of winning the title, nearly 20 years in fact since the last one. Hopefully this new rennaisance that is happening at Everton is built on a bedrock of stability, no easy route or £100 million thrown at the team, if and when success happens in my opinion it will be all the sweeter. COYB FTRS
Damon Mellon
5   Posted 22/01/2008 at 09:40:32

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Good article Joe,

I think that if the players needed to understand what tonight means anymore than they already do, they should read this post.

You are a bright lad Joe, and you have chosen the right path because its nights like wednesday that will qualify everything that we go through as supporters of Everton FC .
Laurie Hartley
6   Posted 22/01/2008 at 11:22:58

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Joe, I really enjoyed your article, it made me proud to be an Evertonian. I think my first game was one of Bobby Collins last games at Goodison (early 60ś) so that makes me one of the fortunate ones. I watched Everton all through the sixties and early seventies before I emigrated to the land down under. I now watch the blues every week on Foxtel.

Joe, my dad used to listen to Everton games on a "crystal set" when he was a lad and before he died a couple of years ago (God rest his soul) he told me - "We will be great again" - I believe him. Your day, and young Evertonians like you is coming soon. You follow what OUR manager David Moyes calls "A Proper Football Club" - Keep The Faith.
Rob Jones
7   Posted 22/01/2008 at 12:01:08

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Nicely said Joe, but I think you should add the Barcodes to that list if you live outside Liverpool, but I just laugh them off, My favourite moment of 2007 has gotta be in my History Class when our teacher (whos a blue, decided to look at the history of Everton FC towards the end of the year, the look on the Barcodes, Kopites and Mancs was hilarious knowing that we had a great history, because lets face it most of them just think Top 4 + Spurs and Toon, one of the toon fans tried to tell me we only had to win 6 league titles to catch up with them! they know nothing. then nothing else matters. But I’ve gotta say I’ve been getting alot more respect over the last year for being a blue, and long may it continue
COYB!
Paul Coldock
8   Posted 22/01/2008 at 12:02:55

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Being born in 1985 makes me a few years out of your ’Teenage Blues’ category, but believe me, I have suffered just as much.

Unfortunatly I have lived most of my life in Milton Keynes (thank goodness I’m out of their now), and I had to put up with alot of crap from kids who didn’t even know where Liverpool was on a map. It is somethink that has to seen to believed, and gives great credit to the sentiment; Liverpool supporters aren’t from Liverpool.

My point is that times where hard, and I have suffered much ridicule in the past. I have always believed that it is going to be a case of when Everton become succefull, not if. Even in the darkest days, I have believed.

It has also riled me that the League Cup is the one trophy that has elueded us so far. For that reason alone, if we manage to get through tomorrow, I will be hugging every Evertonian I meet for a week! COYB!
Dave Edwards
9   Posted 22/01/2008 at 15:20:09

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Well said, Joe. With that type of attitude and belief the club will be in good hands when us old-timers reach that Paddock wall in the sky!
We’ve all been there and for me the 70s was a tough time. No trophies, declining attendances and only Latchford’s 30-season to warm our hearts (the anti-climax of that League Cup Final v Villa!). Getting the half-empty fans bus on a Sunday outside Chester’s Odeon cinema - made you realise you weren’t the favoured club on Merseyside at that time. But it actually bonds you closer to the club and makes any success that comes all the sweeter, because you are one of the ’chosen’ ones - and none of the success-chasers who suddenly start wearing their Chelski, Arse, Manure or RS around the towns will ever really understand what being a real blue really means. Enjoy that difference, and let’s hope your era of success starts tomorrow!

COYBs - It’ll always be ’A Grand Old Team’
Carl Rutherford
10   Posted 22/01/2008 at 15:42:58

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Great article. This semi reminds me of the Spurs semi final of 1995. Being too young to remember ’85 this game stands out to me as being the most inspiring Everton display I’ve seen. More glamorous opponents written off in most sections of the media. On that day we produced an awesome performance, we turned them over despite Klinnsmann ’winning’ a penalty with an outrageous dive. All without Duncan Ferguson who was our talisman at the time. Hopefully this game will have the same impact on younger blues that the 95 semi had on me.
Jeff Leahey
11   Posted 22/01/2008 at 15:45:53

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Lovely post Joe,it reminded me of the shite that i went through as a lad at school . I was in my teens during the mid 80s ,and i remember me dad telling me of the 70 championship winning side ,id ask about Labone, Kendal, Ball ,Harvey,and the rest .They were class son ,just class he’d say .The mid 80’s arrived and i now know how lucky i am to have witnessed a wonderful Everton side.Everton made me cry at times as a lad ,but i’ll tell you, if we get the rub of the green and everyone plays to their best on wednesday, you’ll feel as if your walking on air and you’ll be bursting with pride,and looking forward to Wembley.Footballs changed a lot over the years,personal wealth of the people who own clubs now has the biggest bearing on the handing out of silverware,thats why for me personally if we pull it off and win this cup, it will sweet ,very sweet.
Davey Moyes
12   Posted 22/01/2008 at 17:22:15

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Forging on to victory and fighting constantly
Keith Glazzard
13   Posted 22/01/2008 at 17:14:41

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I can’t add to the sympathetic views already expressed - indeed, we’ve all been there. All true football supporters have big hearts (as opposed to the big heads that the scum have) because they know that the good and the bad will always be mixed in the fullness of time.

I’m not too good on dates (which is probably why I gave up teaching history a long time ago) but I will offer this little list for every mum or dad to give to the kids.

Question - when was your team last promoted into the top division?

Sample answers - (no swearing now !)

Everton - 1954
Liverpool - 1962
Manchester Utd - 1975
Chelsea - 1989
Newcastle - 1993
Arsenal - ?

A trick question, of course, in the case of the Arse. Never, is the answer. They were ’elected’ in 1919, having come 5th in the second division before the war. The chairman of the Football League who seems to have taken the bribe was the chairman of LFC (according to the Arse’s OS).

Now I know this may not be too much use in the playground. The fact that Beneathus is just that and the Lucozade kid is moaning about Yanks is much better - and long may it be so. But, if you’ll excuse the expression this time, every little helps.
Tom Campbell
14   Posted 22/01/2008 at 19:08:40

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Im a 15 year old blue... Cant tremember any success but still love Everton fc.... Make our dreams come through
Rocky Green
15   Posted 22/01/2008 at 19:16:48

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Very well written Joe. It too made me proud to be an Evertonian. I cannot get to the game tomorrow night but my daughter is going with her friend. They had to go to further their education being a blue - Goodison rocking under the lights in a semi-final. God, I wish I could make it.
Got to stay clam, got to stay calm, got to stay calm.
Wem-berrrr-leeeeeeeeey - got to stay calm.
Have a great night everyone.
COYB
Sean Condon
16   Posted 23/01/2008 at 03:51:15

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Somebody mentioned crying. I have been a Blue since birth, although only for the first seven years in Lancs. (at which point mom and dad moved us to Canada without my consent). No shit - in 30 plus years of following the only team that matters from such a great distance, I have come across no more than three or four Blues (since they?re usually on holiday, they?re plastered and can?t remember the words to "We hate Bill Shankly..."). By contrast, I only have to go down to the local mall to run into twits wearing Pink shirts who couldn?t find L?pool on a map if you gave them England.

I only recently bought a computer and reading all the passionate ranting on here frequently brings tears to my eyes. I love the arguing even when it?s kicked off by someone punching sacred cows like Cahill and Carsley. And for some reason the above article has moved me more than most. It?s fantastic to hear that kind of feeling from youngsters. It reminds me of the day in ?85 when my dad (RIP) called the alcoholic principal of my fascist catholic school in Kelowna and told him that I must be let out of school due to a family emergency. At which point I ran joyously home to listen on the short wave to the destruction of Rapid Vienna. COYB!

Sean thornton
17   Posted 10/03/2008 at 12:45:38

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I found your article fantastic to read, i do though have a great one liner to say back to the Liverpool fans which always goes down a treat ’Kopites are Gobshites’ or ’Steve Gerrrard your babys not yours’ or my personal favourite ’ Who needs Gerrard and Torres when we’ve got Hibbert an Neville’
Jordan Burns
18   Posted 11/03/2008 at 15:29:34

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Fantastic article Joe, i am so proud to be a fellow evertonian and scool buddy with you. Its such a shame you get dry bumed every wednesday night by beardy miss boyd. I did however love your use of A-level english language, I love you joe


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