The Mail Bag
Superstars
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After watchiing that load of crap on Saturday, me and my son of eight went to get autographs. After the wait of almost an hour in the pissing-down rain the players finally started to arrive. The majority of them were great, but our two so-called superstars... what a pair of pricks. My son shouted, sign here Mikel, this was his reply (I tell no lie): "No, no, I don't like this weather, it's too wet." (Doesn't it rain in Northern Spain) and off he went.
Our other so called superstar the Yak got as far away from the barrier as he could and totally ignored the shouts from the kids asking for his signature. I must say Cahill was absolutely fantastic, signing every book and posing for every picture giving every kid a hug with a smile on his face.
The worst thing, in the past month I've just forked out £140 for the home and away kits and guess who's name he got on them? Yes, them two.
Thomas McGrath, Posted 11/08/2008 at 16:38:01
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I remember back in 1985 when we won the league title Graham Sharp, Adrian Heath, Peter Reid and Andy Gray came in to the Wilmslow and started buying bevies for the fans. Wouldn't happen these days mate.
In support of the comments made by Thomas, I was watching Samoa in a rugby league World Cup qualifier at Featherstone Rovers’ ground last year. My nephew started nudging me, claiming that the bloke in a Samoa rugby shirt, watching from the stands with the rest of us, was none other than Tim Cahill.
We approached, not too certain, but it was indeed Tim, who had come to support his Samoan mates. He proceeded to sign autographs, have his photo taken, and chat endlessly with the locals.
He was a perfect gentleman, and really made our night.
We approached, not too certain, but it was indeed Tim, who had come to support his Samoan mates. He proceeded to sign autographs, have his photo taken, and chat endlessly with the locals.
He was a perfect gentleman, and really made our night.
The kids of today are the paying fans of tomorrow and when you’re that age it hurts to be snubbed by your heroes. Now I know that mobiles have given people more excuse to be busy with something else than back in the day but if Cahill can take time to give something back then so can all the players. What we need is a strong (both physically and mentally) captain who will make sure that players don’t let down the kids. I’d love to have seen someone tell Arteta to go back and sign the autographs or he’d get a kicking at the next training session :0)
The management at the club should sort this easy PR exercise out and kick their arses. How hard is it to sign some autographs and pose for pictures, kids idolise these players. Many years ago my brother often took his daughter to the pre-match tour and meet the players and on a number of occasions Duncan Ferguson physically grabbed players and told them in no uncertain terms to pose for pictures and be nice to the visiting families, he himself couldn’t do enough to make sure everyone had whatever pictures and autographs the kids wanted. It would be nice if we could get one or two players doing the same.
You lot are having a laff eh?? aren?t you...?
How many autographs do you think they have to sign every day. If it was you, you would also have occasions when you just didnt feel like it. What with being human.
Top that off with many people getting things signed just to sell on. Find something else to moan about. Though I?m sure thats not too hard after this summer.
How many autographs do you think they have to sign every day. If it was you, you would also have occasions when you just didnt feel like it. What with being human.
Top that off with many people getting things signed just to sell on. Find something else to moan about. Though I?m sure thats not too hard after this summer.
In the past, I?ve critcised Cahill purely on his on field ability, but I?ve been lucky to bump into him a few times and he was brilliant each time IMO he sets a captain's example on and off the pitch and he?s Everton through and through.
The Yak and Arteta are my two favorite player?s but if he said that to my son I?d have jumped the rail and booted him up the arse!!!
The Yak and Arteta are my two favorite player?s but if he said that to my son I?d have jumped the rail and booted him up the arse!!!
Speaking as a famous time traveller, signing autographs can be fun, but sometimes, can be extremely frustrating. It takes a certain kind of character to stop every time and sign someone’s little black book. Well done that Mr Cahill.
I stopped getting autographs years ago, but when I did I found most to be very friendly and willing.
David Unsworth and Grahm Stuart were great and would have a chat with you for ages.
Andy Hinchcliffe was a right tit, he used to run faster than he ever did on the pitch to get away from you.
Kevin Campbell was always a gent too.
Yes, they do have to sign lots of autographs a day but surely that is part of the job, to interract and give a bit of time back to the fans, after all, we do pay their fucking wages!!!!
David Unsworth and Grahm Stuart were great and would have a chat with you for ages.
Andy Hinchcliffe was a right tit, he used to run faster than he ever did on the pitch to get away from you.
Kevin Campbell was always a gent too.
Yes, they do have to sign lots of autographs a day but surely that is part of the job, to interract and give a bit of time back to the fans, after all, we do pay their fucking wages!!!!
To be fair, I waited before the game when the players arrived and both Yak AND Arteta spent ages signing autographs and posing for pictures. The Yak chatted to my 6 year old son and was a very nice bloke.
Perhaps after a poor performance like that they just wanted to get home (after a unhappy Moyes blast too) - I know it’s their job, but if you have a bad day at the office, don’t you just want to get home?
Perhaps after a poor performance like that they just wanted to get home (after a unhappy Moyes blast too) - I know it’s their job, but if you have a bad day at the office, don’t you just want to get home?
I guess players have their off days too.
Last time I went Arteta spent a lot of time signing autographs and chatting with people. Also the Yak signed some autographs. This was against Fulham home last season(anyone remember the downpour on that day?)
Just one player rushed away on that occasion, Victor Anichebe...
Last time I went Arteta spent a lot of time signing autographs and chatting with people. Also the Yak signed some autographs. This was against Fulham home last season(anyone remember the downpour on that day?)
Just one player rushed away on that occasion, Victor Anichebe...
Thomas,
If your lad wanted something from me and forgot the please, I think I’d make a similar excuse.
If your lad wanted something from me and forgot the please, I think I’d make a similar excuse.
Thomas, I’m sorry your son has been treated so shabbily. I think sometimes the lifestyle and the huge pay packets often blind these players to what goes on in the real world and iIf it wasn’t for people like you shelling money on tickets and merchandise, they wouldn’t have a job.
At the end of the day, players have a public relations role and whether they like it or not are HUGE role models for kids like your son. Kudos for Timmy, who obviously has immense respect for the fans, but maybe it would be worth relaying your story to Sharpy via the email link on the site. If nothing else, it should let the players involved know that they’ve let down an eight year old who hero worships them.
At the end of the day, players have a public relations role and whether they like it or not are HUGE role models for kids like your son. Kudos for Timmy, who obviously has immense respect for the fans, but maybe it would be worth relaying your story to Sharpy via the email link on the site. If nothing else, it should let the players involved know that they’ve let down an eight year old who hero worships them.
This is still some thing that annoys me. As a kid I waited in the rain for the players to return to Goodison from training, the first player off was Bingham who later managed us. Well, asking politely Mr Bingham will you sign my book, his reply was "Piss off", then Vernon just ignored us as there was about five kids. Now from that day on, I hated Bingham ? still do... Funny thing is I never hated Vernon as at least he did pretend to be busy. Players should remember that they where once fans.
I remember once at Villa Park in the mid-nineties, I asked Big Dunc to sign my undies... He duly declined... What a man!
James Beattie deserves a mention, any time my mates and I travelled over from Ireland to games Beattie was superb all the time, against United in the cup few years back he was the first at the ground (he was suspended that day) but he started chatting to a lad as he got out of his car. Numerous times I've seen and heard stories of him spending more bloody time signing autographs outside Goodison than scoring on the pitch!!! Utter gentleman tho... nice guy.
Reminds me of an occasion thirty odd years ago; I was walking down Goodison Road with some other kids chasing after Mike Bernard for his autograph. When he realised, he stopped and gladly signed every last one.
The bloke he was with passed comment that it must be a pain getting asked for autographs all the time. In an instant, Bernard turned on this bloke and shot him down with:
"The day they don’t ask for my autograph will be a pain!"
Whilst I never considered Bernard to be a great player, as a man he certainly went up massively in my estimation.
Pity the modern day ’heroes’ don’t have the same outlook, Cahill et al aside.
The bloke he was with passed comment that it must be a pain getting asked for autographs all the time. In an instant, Bernard turned on this bloke and shot him down with:
"The day they don’t ask for my autograph will be a pain!"
Whilst I never considered Bernard to be a great player, as a man he certainly went up massively in my estimation.
Pity the modern day ’heroes’ don’t have the same outlook, Cahill et al aside.
I was at a restaurant last year when Mikel arrived with a friend to enjoy their lunch. He looked happy enough to have photos taken with fans and was good enough to give me his autograph too. We can all have an off day!!
Back in the early 70s when I used to stand outside Bellefield every day I could, players like Labone, West and Ball would only sign autographs on their way to the ground at 9 in the morning.
They would never stop at lunchtimes or evenings to sign an autograph.
They would never stop at lunchtimes or evenings to sign an autograph.
@ The original poster Thomas Mc Grath;
Sad to hear that mate...must have been very sad for your son and not to mention you (with great expectations ).
I would suggest that you contact Ian Ross OR perhaps someone else who others recommend and explain what happened as you have above....
I very much hope that MK LL and CK can come up with some suggestions as I believe this is a very important issue -- NOT regarding the players BUT regarding your son.... I very much hope that he will be given a ’treat’ of some sort i.e. a signed photo...or similar
Best to you and the little man mate. Disappointing .
Sad to hear that mate...must have been very sad for your son and not to mention you (with great expectations ).
I would suggest that you contact Ian Ross OR perhaps someone else who others recommend and explain what happened as you have above....
I very much hope that MK LL and CK can come up with some suggestions as I believe this is a very important issue -- NOT regarding the players BUT regarding your son.... I very much hope that he will be given a ’treat’ of some sort i.e. a signed photo...or similar
Best to you and the little man mate. Disappointing .
@Gavin -- I posted too quickly without reading the responses....
That, my friend.... sums it all up.
That, my friend.... sums it all up.
You cannot kick their arses anyway, no doubt Mikel would be out for 6 weeks and Yak will forget how to score again.
I suppose we could replace them with.................................?
I suppose we could replace them with.................................?
So Arteta was forced to hand out season tickets at the doorstep. Sell the scummy bastard. It’s the People’s Club.
I remember when Australia won their first historic World Cup match against Japan, Cahill amazingly took off his Aussie shirt after the match and swapped it for an Evertonian shirt in the crowd, that was exactly what sums up how nice Cahill is to his loyal club fans even, when its not a Everton match.
I know things seem to be struggling for the blues as of late but surely us fans don’t have to go as low as complaining who signs what and when. They’re only human, weather was bad, pre-season has been disappointing. I wouldn’t want to sign anything either. Everyone has their day. I cant say anything for the Yak but having met Arteta a few times he’s been an absolute pleasure every time. Let’s not forget what the two of those lads have done for the club
To add a few more words in defence of the Yak.......At last weeks game in Denver he was the first player to come over after the game when pretty much eveyone else had gone straight on the bus. He signed everything asked of him and stayed chatting with the fans and encouraged a couple of other players to come over. He signed my son’s Yakubu shirt (which now means I have to buy a new one as apparently it cannot be washed!). Cahill was also great - we managed to grab him at halftime and he signed my daughter’s shirt and took pictures. Can’t add any defence for Arteta though - he ignored the fans when he was on the bench in the second half and ignored them at the end of the game (no rain drops in sight and as hot as anything you would get in Spain!!)
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1 Posted 11/08/2008 at 17:57:54
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