Unsworth and Everton U23s Complete Goodison Sleepout

Saturday, 11 November, 2017 21comments  |  Jump to most recent

Everton caretaker manager David Unsworth and the Everton's Under-23 squad joined more than 200 brave fans by sleeping out in the Sir Philip Carter Park Stand last night as they tackled the elements at the Everton in the Community Goodison Sleepout.

Led by Unsworth, his back room team and Everton's Under-23 squad, who are current Premier League 2 champions, arrived at Goodison Park armed with sleeping bags and warm clothing to help see them through the night as they took part in the Goodison Sleepout for the second successive season. The gruelling fundraiser is aimed at raising awareness and money, with the funds currently standing at over £15,000, to assist the Club's official charity in combatting homelessness in the city of Liverpool.

With more than four times as many Evertonians taking part than last year, the Sir Philip Carter Park Stand looked slightly different to a matchday as fans opted for a variety of different sleeping options for the night; whether that be huddled at the back of the stand, in between the rows of seats, on top of the seats themselves or the relative shelter of the concourse - all in an attempt to keep warm as temperatures dropped as low as 5 degrees celsius.

On arrival those taking part were welcomed by the Club's Fundraising Team and treated to a Q and A with Unsworth and former manager and player, Joe Royle, along with soup, sandwiches and hot drinks ahead of their long and cold night. Some fans brought books, some brought guitars for an impromptu singalong whilst others just chose to reflect quietly on the night ahead from their positions whilst looking out across the Goodison Park pitch.

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Speaking in the morning Unsworth said: “It's been another terrific yet eye-opening Sleepout here at Goodison Park and the fact that we have been joined by so many Evertonians is just fantastic.

“I was committed to taking part in this Sleepout and a promise is a promise. Nothing is more important to me right now than having been here tonight. Last year's Sleepout culminated in the launch of our ‘Home Is Where The Heart Is' campaign and less than 12 months later, we have raised more than a quarter of a million pounds and have secured a property to house vulnerable young adults on the cusp of homelessness.”

Everton in the Community's Executive Director, Phil Duffy, added: “The atmosphere has been so representative of the Everton family and yet again enforces that looking after our community is at the heart of everything that we do. Everyone deserves to have a roof over their heads and hopefully we can raise some much needed funds to further develop our work in supporting the city's homeless.” There is still the chance for people to donate by simply texting SOUT17 £3 to 70070.

 

Reader Comments (21)

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Ajay Gopal
1 Posted 11/11/2017 at 17:25:42
I love this Club, I am proud that we have Unsy,as our Manager (however temporary that may be). Now, if he can get us some silverware, any silverware, I will be over the moon.
Steve Ferns
2 Posted 11/11/2017 at 17:33:53
In the days of old, the YTS players (see u23s now) would paint the stadium, clean the rubbish away, be assigned a pro and clean their boots for them, clean the changing rooms and do a load of other tasks to learn hard work.

Sadly, this is not going to be reintroduced. But it is refreshing that ETIC sat down with u23s and discussed issues affecting the community and how they could help with that. Then the u23s came up with the idea of a sleep out, emulating a homeless person with an Everton twist by making it in the stadium itself.

What all of this does is to help the u23s stay grounded. To have a sense of representing that community, and the hunger and will to succeed.

For me, so many of these level of players, particularly at other clubs fall by the way side. Our own George Green, Spurs' John Bostock, Man Utd's Ravel Morrison. They get a fat pay-cheque, far more than even the average well paid man will earn, and this is before they have even kicked a football on the big stage. They will have a nice house, a nice car, gorgeous girls throwing themselves at the lads, and everyone will be telling them that the big riches, the fame, and the glory will now all follow. Then the lads fail to do the hard work they actually need to do to break into the first team.

I hope, that things like this, not only raise money for a great cause, the young homeless of Liverpool, but also get those young players to keep a grip on reality, to realise how they themselves need to work hard, and give them the hunger and desire that all the work they YTS lads had (from their hard work and desire to make the first team and not have to do it).

Len Hawkins
3 Posted 11/11/2017 at 17:53:58
Well done everyone!

Steve In my younger days beautiful girls kept throwing themselves at me pity is they all missed.

Dave Abrahams
4 Posted 11/11/2017 at 18:01:09
Steve (2) don't think there will be a better answer than that.
Tony Hill
5 Posted 11/11/2017 at 18:17:26
Yes, Steve Ferns is absolutely right. I used to worry about EITC because I thought it was sentimental and a distraction from the proper business of Everton. But it's a precise, uplifting thing which ought to feed back into the mental strength of the younger players.

I suppose, if I'm honest, it's a sound reason why we should not be entertaining Allardyce or anyone else of that ilk as a manager - despite my instinct that he offers the best chance, apart from Hiddink, of keeping us safe. It also says a great deal for Unsworth.

Anyway, well done everyone concerned.

Mark Stone
6 Posted 11/11/2017 at 20:32:23
Tony, how does this relate to Allardyce (or another manager of that ilk)? I don't understand the connection
Jay Woods
7 Posted 11/11/2017 at 20:40:58
All this feelgood stuff actually annoys the brains out of me.

It's a substitute for, and a distraction from, the shambles that is the only metric that matters: the on-field condition of the team.

Tony Hill
9 Posted 11/11/2017 at 21:23:46
Mark (#6), the point has been made on here at great length that Allardyce is morally unfit to manage Everton because of his dodgy history. I am saying above that I acknowledge that case, insofar as corrupt practice is inconsistent with the objectives of EITC.

That said, I think that much of the case that has been made against Allardyce over the last week has been disproportionate and, at times, hysterical. It has also been made without recognition that the whole game is riven with corruption far greater than anything Allardyce has ever done.

Jay Woods, I understand that feeling. I now think that the two sides of the club can work together though - provided Teary Bill doesn't try to persuade us that we can be shit on the pitch because we run a good charity.

Ste Traverse
11 Posted 11/11/2017 at 21:44:00
As much as I love Goodison, the thought of giving up my nice warm bed for a sleeping bag in the Park End...
Steve Ferns
12 Posted 11/11/2017 at 21:56:19
Feel good crap? This goes to the very foundation of Who Everton are and why we support them. It’s more than just the 11 on the pitch. They represent the community. And unlike the rest of the premier league, they actually give a shit about the community.
Gerry Morrison
13 Posted 11/11/2017 at 23:18:57
Jess and Louise are looking good too. Well done girls.
Mike Kehoe
14 Posted 12/11/2017 at 11:02:28
Steve fearns 12 spot on mate, it has been better observed on TW about the absolute obscenity that Murdoch's money has brought into the game and the effects this has had although I struggle to give a shit about the likes of ravel Morrison and other pampered idiots who manage to fuck themselves up from positions of incredible privilege. I am proud that Everton gives back to the community as so many struggle to get by. I remember John Barnes backing the Tories in 87 when he was on £10 a week and the city was devastated by Thatcher and I felt utterly disgusted by his insensitive behaviour. Everton has integrity and that is a quality few other teams posses: I just wish we had a competent board.
Alan Bodell
15 Posted 12/11/2017 at 17:29:32
Jay Woods #7, never had life rough lad have you ?
Mike Kehoe
16 Posted 12/11/2017 at 21:25:04
Sorry, folks... Barnes was on £10k per week
Barry Williams
17 Posted 13/11/2017 at 00:56:50
How anyone can see this as a negative is beyond me, which in fairness some things are!
Ray Robinson
18 Posted 13/11/2017 at 14:54:10
Nothing but praise for EitC, Unsworth, the U23s and every supporter who took part but and, it is a big but, why did everyone participating have to commit to raising £300? Or have I got this wrong?

I would have like to have taken part in this event but there is no way that I could commit to that amount of sponsorship. Surely it would have been better to ask for a £20 contribution and get an extra 15 people involved?

Note to organizers, next year charge £20 and you might just fill the Park End. What a message that would send out!

Still well done everyone who took part. My total respect and admiration. Makes me proud to be a Blue.

John Wilson
19 Posted 13/11/2017 at 16:18:44
Jay Wood, look up 'pro bono' in a dictionary. I'll save your energy, it means 'for the public good.'

Steve Ferns, thanks so much for your contributions on this TW thread – it's a sobering perspective.

Unsy, what a guy, what a character. I can't see Ronald Koeman ever doing this, except in a luxurious RV hidden out of the way of media and cameras, but coming out looking cold for the media on cue.

Jay Wood
20 Posted 13/11/2017 at 16:57:33
John Wilson @ 19.

Please address the correct person. My name is Jay WOOD (NB: no 's' on the end).

I presume you meant to address the crass comment @ 7 by my doppelganger Jay WOODS (NB: note the 's' on the end).

I have always, always, ALWAYS written in glowing positive terms about EITC. Something I always, always, ALWAYS am exceedingly proud of by my club, often defending their work against such naysayers as Jay WOODS.

Believe me, t'other Jay and I are pretty much diametrically opposed on just about any issue related to Everton.

I look forward to you being gracious enough in issuing an apology for mistaken identity.

Dale Rose
21 Posted 13/11/2017 at 17:18:49
Just says what the club is all about. Well done all concerned.
Mike Berry
22 Posted 13/11/2017 at 19:34:44
There is only one club like ours, make me proud.
Peter Gorman
23 Posted 16/11/2017 at 19:30:31
Is Jay Woods even real? I must admit I misread the name and was more than a little surprised. Sorry I doubted you (Jay Wood).

Honestly, it is things like this that keep me coming back, no matter how embarrassing the players are on the pitch. They are a good bunch of lads in the U23s which is why I was so made up Beni got his debut. I'd love to see more follow suit.


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