I don’t know the public transport system in Liverpool at all but surely it cannot not be that big a problem to extend a service out to or near the new ground. If the whole area is being regenerated then a public transport system linking it to the city would have to be either put in place or upgraded anyway. You would presume that a Premiership ground and a large retail centre would be one of the show pieces of this regeneration so they in particular would get serviced by this new system.

Now I know from going to games here in Dublin that there is more than just the convieniance of easy access involved in getting to your team’s ground. There is a whole ritual involved that helps makes your experience all the better. Leaving the house at a set time,meeting up with the lads,having a jar in a certain pub,walking up to Goodison herself and going in to take your seat.Having the new ground outside the city, and having to make more of an effort to get there, will take this ritual away. For me, this would of course make it even more of a challenge to motivate myself to go to Everton games.Things just wouldn’t be the same. But, being a fan gets into your blood and if it came down to it, it would be an easy decision for me to make the extra effort and build a new routine for the new ground.

For the new generation of fans, for those potential recruits that people fear we will lose out on because of the ground move, this would have to be dealt with too. Having the ground closer to the city centre and closer to the larger population centres would make it easier to attract those kids that don’t yet have football in their blood or that ritual to enjoy. This will place a large obligation on the club to maintain links with the city, to work hard at making the club attractive to kids through it’s community and schools programmes. It should not be used as just some cynical marketing plan to grow a cash cow, but to develop a healthy long term fan base. But, it also places an obligation on existing fans to work along the same lines.We have as much of an obligation as the club to work for the club and build and protect a long term future for it. That means making the exra effort to attend games and also to generate interest in nieces, nephews, kids, siblings and any other relation you can think of.

A new and improved transport system would be only half the solution. If the ground move, in any way shape or form, does become a reality, it will take us away from Goodison whether we like it or not. It would mean alot of effort on everyone’s part to make it work.

If you check with the AA route planner, it is 5.4 miles to Cherryfield Drive in Kirkby from Goodison Park, a driving time of 12 minutes. Also buses to Kirkby from Liverpool are every 5 minutes and trains every 15 minutes. The proposed new stadium is about a 5 minute walk from Kirkby station

Peter Fearon is correct. Mapquest gives the distance from Goodison Road to Spicer Grove ? one of the streets that will be demolished for the stadium ? as 6.2 miles.