ToffeeWeb - Season 2007-08

The Mail Bag

Pre-match rituals

Have any of you got pre-match rituals that you carry out in order to put you in the right mindset before a game? Mine is that I get my girlfriend who's a Spurs fan to say repeatedly before kick off "C'mon Everton," I make her do it 'til I'm satisfied she's said it enough.

The only time we missed this season was the Reading game when I was in Yarmouth eating candy floss and spending stupid money in the Grab a Bear machines (aren't they fixed?). So if you want, you can all blame my missus for that blip.
Chris Keightley, Harwich Posted 07/09/2007 at 13:31:11

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Michael Kenrick

Hmmm... that sounds like cruel and unusual punishment to me. Is she always so obedient?

Er, no on second thoughts, don't answer that!

Tony Marsh
1 Posted 07/09/2007 at 14:55:19

Chris, many match goers have these pre match rituals and to some of our fans these rituals are as big a part of the match day experience as the game itself. Meeting up with the lads every other week and escaping the normal life routine is what keeps many fans going to the game, even when the team is playing shite. How the K-Town move will effect the way fans think is anyone's guess. Theres no way a theme pub on a retail park can compensate for County Road and Town is there? Add to that traffic problems and you can see why so many are reluctant to embrace K-town and the hassle that goes with it. Disturbing time honoured rituals is not a good idea in my book.

Shaun Brennan
2 Posted 07/09/2007 at 15:13:17

The bear machines are rigged so you don?t win. Don?t you watch the Real Hustlers. Once they put a portable one up in Yarmouth around the time of the Reading match.

Match day rituals: Meet up with the lads and have few pints. Talk about some really serious points.

Shaun Brennan
3 Posted 07/09/2007 at 15:16:06

Tony, Kirkby has some very notable public establishments.

Honest......

Kevin Sparke
4 Posted 07/09/2007 at 15:19:42

As a kid I had to have four burgers (home made) before the game or we’d be guaranteed to lose.

Allan Hobbs
5 Posted 07/09/2007 at 15:23:52

I used to wear blue pants on matchdays but stopped doing it about 4 years ago as it clearly wasnt helping.

Carl Wright
6 Posted 07/09/2007 at 15:32:52

Tony, you’ve posted some great comments on here. An although your rants are sometimes extreme and get a rise out of people they’re sincer.

But mate... can you please stop turning every thread on ere to argue about the negative parts of the ground move!!

I voted NO, and agree with what your sayin on losing the match day feeling on county rd but give it a rest

Brian Wolf
7 Posted 07/09/2007 at 15:43:35

Do you have to turn every thread into a Kirkby debate Tony? It’s pointless.

GR
8 Posted 07/09/2007 at 15:47:41

I like to do my weekly ’big shop’ before the game.

David Barks
9 Posted 07/09/2007 at 16:09:41

What the hell Tony. This had nothing to do with Kirkby, DROP IT!!!!!!!!!! For Christ’s sake, not everything is related to your hatred of Kirkby.

Chris Masey
10 Posted 07/09/2007 at 16:16:04

10 pints...and a pie if I have the capability to purchase it, and then a slurring conversation with the Fatal Attraction esque young girl on the counter at the Gwladys Street bar...

Karl Jones
11 Posted 07/09/2007 at 16:22:05

Tony give it a rest. The vote is over. Whether we move is anybodies guess, but it was a democratic decision to give the board the right to proceed, so learn to live with it. Now is the time to move on and focus on supporting the Blues.Stick to the trend of your more recent posts of slight positivity.

Seamus Murphy
12 Posted 07/09/2007 at 16:56:24

Curry chip on Goodison Road before the game - pint in Wetherspoons on County road after the game and then panic trying to get a taxi back to the airport in time for check in!! (only to find that Easyjet are running late anyway!!)

chris keightley
13 Posted 07/09/2007 at 16:53:38

Guys i really hope you dident mind me putting a jovial thread on here, but just recently i noticed the level of abuse chucked at each other was curtailing into sheer disrespect, after all we all support this great club regardless of what our beliefs are at any given time,i for one long to win a teddy on the bear machines just like i long for everton to win trophies again, in 1995 when we thrashed the manure 1-0 i was unable to go to the game as i couldent afford the trip i also celebrated so much when we scored that day, that i did a klinnsman across the cheap laminate and knocked myself out on the concrete fire surround, i missed the rest of the game as i was in casualty many of you were there that day im sure, i really hope i see a everton captain hold a trophy aloft again soon, the point is we are everton and always everton we support the same team we are allowed to have an opinion.

Neil Styles
14 Posted 07/09/2007 at 17:09:47

My ritual is the good old sign of the cross frequently thruout the match. And also, I have an Everton crest pendant that I kiss pre game for good luck.

billy deane
15 Posted 07/09/2007 at 17:09:18

I calculate the most people in the park end miss 10 mins of each game because they stream out 10 mins before the half ends and return after the 2nd half starts. Based on the fact thats more than 3 whole games a season missed. How many goals in the last 10 mins of the first half scored loads i reckon. I also have a good laugh at the guys who have been on the ale who constantly go the toilet and miss goals too who are also annoying because they have to get past you. Most people go the match to watch football, 90 mins a week. I wouldnt dare leave my seat early to jump the queue for a mangy meat pie and lukewarm tea, i can eat and drink them anywhere anytime, my 90 mins are spent in my seat watching the game win lose or draw.

James Elworthy
16 Posted 07/09/2007 at 17:16:11

I dont think many fans will miss the backstreet pubs and the dog shit filled streets around Goodison. I always thought Kirkby was a Liverpool suburb

Tony Marsh
17 Posted 07/09/2007 at 17:15:26

Barksy keep your wig on mate.I was only making the comment that all of out pre match routines will be different once The K place is the clubs new home.

mike mcdarby
18 Posted 07/09/2007 at 17:18:59

I agree about the annoying people who leave their seats early to go for an overpriced cup of tea at half time and leave with 5 mins to go

dave
19 Posted 07/09/2007 at 17:23:02

I presume you live in a back street by Goodison then Tony Marsh

dave
20 Posted 07/09/2007 at 17:27:50

Marshy are you also saying you cant support Everton if you dont live in Liverpool because your a woolyback who should watch rugby league instead

chris keightley
21 Posted 07/09/2007 at 17:27:44

All the bear machines in the world aint gonna change the result the way we want tony marsh now cmon give us a bear hug yer big jessie x

David Barks
22 Posted 07/09/2007 at 17:31:25

For the record Tony, the person signing his name as "dave" is not me in disguise, I swear it. And I don’t agree with James Elworthy either, I will miss those streets around Goodison, and the only shit I ever almost stepped in is from those damn horses.

dave
23 Posted 07/09/2007 at 17:39:37

dave reade is the surname

James Elworthy
24 Posted 07/09/2007 at 17:41:11

Mr Marsh i am sorry if you live around Goodison and you took offence to me calling them back streets but I am sure the people who live around there apart from the small businesses who make a living from matchdays will be glad the stadium will move.

Tony Marsh
25 Posted 07/09/2007 at 17:38:28

Its well out of order so called Evertonians slagging off the city of Liverpool.Theres no way that Elworthy character should be supporting this club if he thinks its ok to run down Walton and the people who live there.I dont live or never have lived there but I wouldnt dream of running the place down.We all have memories<>of Goodison Park and the surrounding places.FFS whats wrong with these people.We dont need the Likes of James Elworhty any where near Everton FC.Let him support a team from his home town if Liverpools streets upset him so much.

chris keightley
26 Posted 07/09/2007 at 17:42:52

what your names dave dave reade ??sounds as though mummy and daady had a a few brandys after your birth

dave reade
27 Posted 07/09/2007 at 17:45:12

smart ass keightley and u cant spell

Keith Harrison
28 Posted 07/09/2007 at 17:19:19

Pre-match ritual:

Drive 140 miles to the ground listening to obscenely loud Rock music so my mate who was on the piss the night before can’t sleep.

Stop at Costco, Haydock on the way for a pizza slice and coffee for dinner. Buy a crate of Red Bull and sundry other items.

Watch the RS supporter on the exit check smirk at my blue shirt/Everton T shirt and scrutinise all 6 or 7 items on the till roll against my trolley.

His "5 times" remark is now met by "3-0", and "Whats a Norwegian lad doing working in Liverpool".

Join the A580 and wish we were moving somewhere closer like Kirkby, and attempt to park on the East facing side of the East Lancs outside the Walton Sports Centre.

A young kid asks "watch your car mister", so I hand him some sweets from a bag I keep specially. This kid must be paid by everyone in sweets, as he only has three front teeth left, and they’re all black. You’ll see him biking up and down the 580 as he is manic with all the sugar.

Walk to the ground, meet up with friends, decline a beer as I’m driving, and massage the back of my neck so it doesn’t get stiff when I’m trying to spot the ball above the Main Stand if Hibbo is playing.

Post match is listening to that tw*t Alan Green’s phone in until the traffic clears out after the Blackpool turn off of the M6.

Get the wife to repeatedly say "you’re not wasting any more money on that shower".

Unless we won of course.

Brian Wolf
29 Posted 07/09/2007 at 17:57:54

So somebody has a small dig at Walton.

But it was ok the other day when that lad sent the defaced club badge in?

Double standards eh?

Tom
30 Posted 07/09/2007 at 17:49:17

Pre-match for me is 2 ’Sayers’ sausage rolls and sometimes some curry and chips from the Chong Hing.

Alan Humphreys
31 Posted 07/09/2007 at 17:52:06

Don’t go to the game anymore but I used to get my now wife to say "C’mon you blues" before I left for the game - now I sit in front of the TV with my little girl on my knee and we’ve never lost a match we’ve watched together. Just managed to get her in front of the TV before the Blackburn game finished and we scored 2 minutes later. Think my lad is scared after he was on my knee and I screamed when Big Dunc scored a late winner once so I had to get myself a new good luck charm !!!

When I had my season ticket I would play as Everton against whoever we were playing on my PS2 - sad, but I always won, so went to the game full of belief... then couldn’t understand why we failed to win 10-0 !!!

chris keightley
32 Posted 07/09/2007 at 17:47:21

I tony marsh will miss the back streets the pubs but most of all goodison park i have thousands of happy memorys from matchdays and have passed this history down to my young lad such a shame that i cant tell him saturdays wont be the same and before you all go ahhh it just wont be !!!

dave reade
33 Posted 07/09/2007 at 18:57:21

how can saying backstreets be defamatory and slagging off

Gavin Ramejkis
34 Posted 07/09/2007 at 19:09:23

I am the nominated driver for my Auntie (disabled, cousin (disabled) sitting next to me, and one of my cousin’s children, chasing them to try to leave on time as they are the worst time keepers ever but a lifelong family tradition means I get to pick them up with loads of time to spare, check one of my disabled passengers has their badge so we can park, my Auntie has her glasses, walking stick and everyone has their season tickets. A quick drive down the length of the M58 and down Dunnings Bridge Road past the old giro the closer we get to the ground the more the hair stands up on the back of my neck talking all the way about the match and listening to the radio for team news. Eventually park up near the Spellow and slowly walk to the ground still chatting about today’s match and old games getting more and more excited walking with the growing crowds, loving the route through those streets as it just feels like home despite the fact I’ve never lived there. Sometimes bump into cousins and friends near the ground always made up to see them.

Michael Mullally
35 Posted 07/09/2007 at 20:29:43

I live in North Wales and I was on the fence but I decided to vote to move due to reading some of the posts on this website from luddite dickheads like tony marsh. This article is well written but too long winded but expresses Mr McDonalds well respected beliefs.

Dave C
36 Posted 07/09/2007 at 21:02:57

4 daughters, three sons, all concieved on match day
no pre match ritual though

dave reade
37 Posted 07/09/2007 at 21:57:08

dave c you have same prematch routine as george best did

George Carroll
38 Posted 08/09/2007 at 12:06:08

Chris does your missus know you have a girlfriend you visit before the match?

chris keightley
39 Posted 08/09/2007 at 12:26:43

no she dont but she might do now george cheers mate.

Paul gladwell
40 Posted 08/09/2007 at 14:00:31

To the people who slag the early leavers well I do it a bit and its nothing to do with missing the traffic etc its just I am a bag of shite with nerves and cannot handle the remaining minutes my mates even worse we end up traipsing along county rd shitting ourselves fucking weirdos but believe me there are plenty more like us

Terry Marsbar Maddock
41 Posted 08/09/2007 at 17:38:42

In 1984 I ran a half marathon in Knowsley.(it started and finished at kirkby stadium) the day after the fa cup semi final..and obviously suffered for my excesses of the night before....and seeing as we won the cup I done the same the following year..with my mate ,just us two as the event itself had been stopped..lightning did?nt strike twice..
As a lad I used to get the 68 bus from seaforth docks to county road..and then walk home.

Nowadays I too like some others like to play the opposition on my x-box..and I always wear my home shirt on match days..and my favourite everton socks.