ToffeeWeb - Season 2007-08

The Mail Bag

'Quo Vadis' Everton?

This is the first time I have posted to the Mailbag, though I have avidly read ToffeeWeb daily for the last 18 months or so. It is with some concern that I read the arguments for/against the Kirkby proposal. Many negative comments have been trivial in the extreme ? "the red supporters are sneering" etc. I've no doubt that comment will be made that I live in NZ and therefore am not really a true supporter. I therefore wouldlike to say that I was born in Walton, my boyhood was spent in Keith Avenue, just five streets from Goodison and my youth and early adulthood, in Ormskirk.

I have supported the Club since the end of WW2, I have suffered the "Lows" (relegation) and celebrated the "Highs" (Champions, Cup-Winners). I've travelled the country by coach and train to watch my beloved 'Blues' and I have always thought that Goodison Park compared very favourably with other grounds ? until recent years. She still gives that "magic" feeling to an Evertonian, but sadly is now a very old lady who needs to retire. I am not allowed to vote in this Stadium debate, but I would urge those who can vote ? to do so for all the right reasons, and not for selfish ones.

Goodison has given over a century as a second home to supporters and in thewords of the song "Memories are made of this" but it is time to move on. We should be asking ourselves what is best for the Club ? what are the 'pros and cons' of a possible move? Consideration should be given to access to the ground, wherever it may be; parking facilities; comfort in the ground; visibility; catering ; and so on. I am at a loss really to comprehend the bad vibes directed against Kirkby, Tescos, the Club's Board of Directors etc.

Would we really lose support if we did make the move? My family and friends (Toffee Supporters) still in England live in New Brighton, Southport, Ormskirk, Skelmersdale, Rainford, as well as Walton and Anfield and tell me they would watch Everton no matter where the ground is.

Okay, we may lose a few faint-hearts if we move - after all we did in the 1890s by moving from Anfield ? but I venture to suggest that it is more than likely that by moving into a state of the art new ground such as Kirkby we will attract many new supporters to the Club.

From what I've said, it is clear that I favour the move but I do ask all who have the vote to use it, but to think very carefully of the options and the consequences of the final results. And as Forrest Gump used to say "And that's all I have to say about that!"
Bernie Quinn, Christchurch, New Zealand Posted 25/07/2007 at 18:14:36

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Comments

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Steve Claringbold
1 Posted 25/07/2007 at 19:52:52

Bernie, if you live in New Zealand or Timbuctoo if you support the club, you support the club and no-one can say you’re not a proper supporter.

Connor Rohrer
2 Posted 25/07/2007 at 19:45:17

I think we would lose support. People have stated they will not travel to Kirkby. I live in south liverpool and It is a treck to Goodison never mind Kirkby. If we do move then the stadium will be 55,000. I dont see us filling that either in Liverpool or Knowsley.

Our fans are decreasing and that is a fact. When I was younger there where probably more Evertonians than Liverpudlians. Now through lack of success the red side dominates. I would say there are about 3 evertonians to 27 liverpudlians in a schools class.

As someone said we depend on our core fanbase. We are not like Liverpool or Man utd in terms of fans from everywhere. I for one would not like to see 15,000 seats empty at the new stadium. That for me is the worst thing that could happen

Roy coyne
3 Posted 25/07/2007 at 22:41:22

Bernie If only it was that simple If we had a chairman that did not lie to us all the time,and you felt in your heart that the move was ill advised you would have a problem of conscious if you voted yes,But if you look at the track record of Billy and Bully alarm bells ring we have sold every thing that’s not nailed down simply because Bill can not afford the club so if we move nothing changes we will still be skint business will not transfer their meetings ect to Kirkby when there will be a choice to have it a lot nearer the city centre this is just one example I could go on but I wont this will be the first step to the demise of Everton so I will be voting no for all the right reasons if you lived here now I’m sure you would have second thoughts.

Ray Robinson
4 Posted 25/07/2007 at 22:54:20

Bernie, no one doubts your credentials. It’s not today’s supporters who I worry about - we’re as loyal as they come. It’s the future generations

D
5 Posted 26/07/2007 at 11:11:37

connor, your argument supports a move, we are losing fans by not being competative already, (and we are currently in the city limits) We need to move to increase the chances of becoming more competative, which = more fans.

Dave Sheedy
6 Posted 26/07/2007 at 12:28:43

Can we nail this once and for ever if so called fans can’t be arsed to travel an extra 4 miles Everton F.C don’t need them.
I like thousands of other fans have travelled all over the country to watch the blues. I lived in London for 8 years for work reasons and now live in Warrington so I have a 30 mile round trip but my support has never diminished.Before all you no voters start bleating on about me living outside the City so what does he know I was born in Walton and spent 16 years in Old Swan so I think I qualify with an opinion!!!
Get real and embrace the one realistic chance/choice of moving this club forward or risk the club slipping further and futher behind with it’s finances.
One further point much as we all love "the old lady" my boys have nick named the walk to the ground dog poo alley as it’s a constant job to dodge the turds on the walk to the stadium.It would be nice if they could tell their mates about the brilliant new stadium with fantastic facilities just a thought!!!!

John S
7 Posted 26/07/2007 at 16:35:26

Steve & subsequently Dave are 100% correct. We must embrace change.

I wouldn’t mind betting that a very high proportion of the ’No’ contingent have lived in Liverpool all their lives and that a similar proportion of the ’Yes’ contingent currently live and work outside the city boundaries.

I know it’s a terrible decision to make and that the repercussions will be enormous if the move doesn?t work, but the only other option is to wait for the stadium to slowly crumble around us.

Marc R
8 Posted 26/07/2007 at 16:33:47

Yes Dave lets move to Kirkby so your kids can keep their trainees clean, after all dogs are banned in Kirkby and Knowsley police horses now have colostomy bags fitted. Think of the money we will all save on washing powder - I now think its a great idea, I can’t believe no one has brought this up before!
Plus I cant wait to hear their mates’ round of applause when they hear about FANTASTIC FACILITIES!! Oh my god, can you see their jealous little faces when they hear about the shiny new toilet, and... wait for it... EXCELLENT HAND-DRYERS!!!!!!

On your first point, I would say which fans do you think we need more.. local fans who have been going to the match for years who are saying they will not go to Kirkby, or fans who never go the match just because of the facilities (but hey- they might come if we had a shiny turd-free supermarket!)
Get Real.

Dave Tootill
9 Posted 26/07/2007 at 22:55:28

Like Bernie, I’m an expatriate pensioner, & I watch every game via satellite, a fan from the golden vision, so probably unqualified to vote. This debate seems like a 50-50 WW1 trench warfare for the sake of 4 miles. Anything to do with favourite pubs near the ground?
Knowsley is surely a recent politicians’ invention within the last 30 years, whereas ZCars was always Kirkby anyway?