ToffeeWeb - Season 2008-09

The Mail Bag

What has happened to Supporters Associations?

Now that Kirkby seems to have gone on the backburner and Wyness's departure is fading news I thought I would suggest another topic.

We are all complaining or asking what action to take particularly against the amount of money circulating among the so called "Rich 4". It's too much to ask people to listen to a small group of Evertonians posting on Toffeeweb. It got me to thinking what happened to the various Supporter's Associations that were created a few years back by Mark Goulbourn and Rogan Taylor amongst others.

I know Rogan got a nice job and an honorary doctorate out of it but why didn't they become more powerful and why couldn't all supporter's associations come together in one national powerful lobby to help the game from being ruined by its own lack of scruples?

There are obviously some very talented and literate people on here so why can't their voices be heard?
Jay Harris, Liverpool Posted 01/08/2008 at 16:07:14

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Michael Kenrick

"Kirkby on the backburner?" I thought it was imminently about to be thrown all round the kitchen, depending on a decisoin we have been promised for the last days / weeks / months... then all hell really wil break loose!

"Wyness's departure is fading news" ? similarly, weren't we promised some sort of statement? And won't that on drag on and on if he is seeking hush money?

But on to your question: I think you are referring to Fans Councils, which I believe have worked for some other clubs. You may recall that, a few years ago now, some enterprising Evertonians did indeed try to start an Everton Fans Council, interestingly in response to prompting from a certain Keith Wyness, who had just been appointed as Everton CEO. For more on that venture look at this write-up

What it needs, Jay, is a charismatic leader, someone whom we can all rally around, a fan who is deepky committed to rescuing football in genreal and Everton in particular from the monetary mire... someone who will bring the fans together...

I reckon it's between you, Neil Pearse, or Tony Marsh. Any other volunteers?

Steve Ferns
1 Posted 01/08/2008 at 20:36:29

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I think you raise a few valid points there Jay. And whilst Michael is correct, that certain issues haven?t faded and if anything will get more intense in the coming weeks then surely there is more of a need of a "fan council" than ever before. Whatever the outcome of DK (be it full steam ahead or total collapse) either way the club?s obviously in a bit of a mess and things need sorting out. This appears to be a crucial time and supporters groups need to keep the pressure on Bill as well as the premier league.

With regards to the premier league situation i really think there is about to be a major shakeup and power shift as a result of the credit crunch biting into football. I predict a big dip in gates across the board and in TV revenue and finally and most importantly in club turnover. There could be a few more teams going the way of Leeds in the coming seasons and unfortunately I think we?ll be one of them.

Barry Scott
2 Posted 01/08/2008 at 21:49:29

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Wouldn’t the minister Andy Burnham do it?

It’s his scene and he is an Evertonian.

Jay Harris
3 Posted 01/08/2008 at 22:28:49

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Michael
Tony,Neil and myself on one council in the same room?

We wouldnt need anybody to counsel but you can be sure the sparks would fly and there wouldnt be a lull in the conversation..... Oh maybe....... just to get the dictionary out to double check the spelling of some of Tony’s prose.

But the world particularly of football would be set to rights in 2 meetings.

Last man standing!!!!

Jay Harris
4 Posted 01/08/2008 at 22:35:19

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Michael I’m certain it was called the Independent Supporters Association but I may be wrong.

I used to see Rogan quite a bit (before he became famous) but as he’s now jetting around the world courtesy of football I dont really get to see him but I will touch base with some contacts to find out more.

Jay Harris
5 Posted 01/08/2008 at 23:17:24

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Barry
good point.
what better way to lead initiaitive than a true blue.

Seamus McCrudden
6 Posted 02/08/2008 at 00:17:13

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Well, if that isn’t the most sense you’ve talked in ages Michael!

Sean
7 Posted 02/08/2008 at 02:16:25

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Michael..... is Doddy free???

Vincent Steele
8 Posted 02/08/2008 at 10:37:37

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Wouldn?t Greg Murphy be any use as he seems to have a very coherent way with words, is very linguistical and seems to make very good and logical points. And, if memory serves me correctly, wasn?t he involved in the group GFE and did a decent job there?

Derek Turnbull
9 Posted 02/08/2008 at 11:39:18

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Thought about this for a while for Everton.

We could do with a good link between us normal fans and the board. Someone who can meet up with the board and ask questions raised by the fans. Not just someone who wants to suck up to the Chairman for egotistical reasons but someone with a serious chip on their shoulder!!!

Rogan Taylor
10 Posted 02/08/2008 at 14:32:35

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Jay.

For your information, no one gave me any honorary degrees.... My PhD was awarded by Lancaster University in the mid 1980s; after they?d awarded me a first class honours degree in 1980.

Nor did I ?get a nice job? from anyone. I was on the dole until 1990, when I started to write books about football, make radio & TV programmes, before launching the world?s first ?football? MBA propgramme at Liverpool Uni?s School of Management in 1997.

Rogan

Rogan Taylor
11 Posted 02/08/2008 at 15:00:56

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By the way, it was the Football Supporters Association (FSA) that myself, Mark Goulbourn, Pete Garrett and others got going in 1985. It?s become the Football Supporters Federation, and Chairman, Malcolm Clarke was recently appointed to the new FA Council. We also brought in the ?Fan Embassy? concept - at all international competitions.

Rogan

Ian Martin
12 Posted 03/08/2008 at 00:24:29

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Michael K, I am that same Ian Martin mentioned in your link to Fans Councils at Everton. The amount of effort and cost in trying to set up the same was unbelievable. Exhausting and a wasted effort... not least because of the obstacles put up by fellow blues. Having got the "beast" up and running... James and I were asked to step down cos we were shareholders??? We even tried to set up a "Supporters Trust" for the fans to try and buy into the club (Barcelona-style). But that too found many obstacles from within. Sad.... really very sad.

Michael Kenrick
13 Posted 03/08/2008 at 01:03:27

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Good to hear from you, Martin. I remember following the various meetings in the course of compiling that saga, and sensing that the frustrations were really palpable. The sad truth is that expecting Evertonians to work together in this way is a pipe-dream because proceedings get hiiacked by individuals with their own agendas and priorities, self-interest takes over and petty procedural bollocks comes to the fore.

The perfect example being that you were asked to stand because you were shareholders!!! How completely ridiculous was that? Utter mind-numbing madness!!!

But of course there’ll be an Evertonian (Mickey Blue Eyes perhaps?) who will argue till their blue in the face (pun intended) that you are "biased" and unfit to perform the role you volunteered yourself for and gave your time to selflessly. Somehow, sight of objective (in this case, establishing a Fans Council or a club buyout or the fans) is lost and the whole thing unravels in acrimony. It is very sad really. As Evertonians I sometimes feel we are our own worst enemy. Must be something to do with being part of that "Everton Family" people talk about...