COLUMNIST JOE JENNINGS
Living the Dream
Comments (46) : Being an Evertonian, I have found, is almost my lifejacket, a safety. Goodison Park can be described as our cave, where we huddle together while the storm goes on all around us. Nights like the one I was lucky enough to witness only yesterday really do reinforce the years of neglect and decay we have endured. It really is truly amazing what people can get used to, as long as there are a few compensations.
The relegation-haunted seasons of recent memory have left me pacing the floor at night, just as the splendour years have left other Evertonians walking on air. But the adversity endured and the absence of trophies has shaped me as an Evertonian, groomed me in a way that no other football club could comprehend ? and I wouldn?t change that for anything.
The Goodison walls stored up warmth, and gave it out like a used oven for 120 minutes, the bear pit exemplified. It was raucous, it was intimidating, it was old school and I fucking loved it, every second of it.
I just love the Everton experience. I love being surrounded by down to Earth, honest and absolutely passionately, fanatical fellow Blues. I love it when my mate elbows me in the face when we score and pours his drink onto my programme, I love it when I fall backwards and damage my coccyx, and I love it when I knock the glasses off the face of the fella behind. None of us give a fuck though, because Everton have scored.
When ?that? goal went in, it was as if the world stopped. I just couldn?t believe my eyes. I had been certain that penalties were inevitable, and that it would prove to be yet another in a long list of proud and poignant Goodison displays that would ultimately leave us with nothing other than a niggling voice entrenched within your mind that says ?If only?.
The Gwladys Street simply exploded ? total jubilation. Jumping all over and mauling each other through a wave of celebratory expletives in the Lower Gwladys, I felt tears drip down my face. I stood on my seat and raised my hands to the skies. Was God blue after all? All the years of torment, upset, irritation, disappointment and heartbreak were erased in one kick of the football. It was an out-of-body experience. I cried ? with total joy ? until the final whistle blew. I was just so proud of my Everton heroes.
I walked into my sixth-form this morning and I spotted the proverbial Liverpool supporting teacher. ?That?s made your decade, hasn?t it?? He put his hands into his pockets, one of those aimless gestures people make when they don?t know what else to do. I just smiled and walked past, my head held high. My pride needed no word of explanation.
Perhaps I?ve reached the state of intoxication were power is said to inspire, the state in which you believe you are indispensable and can therefore do anything, absolutely anything you feel like, anything at all is achievable. That is what I feel of Everton right now. Beating Liverpool should be the springboard by which we sought to reclaim our former glories, starting with the greatest cup of them all.
Like they say, for many things there is MasterCard, or the Glazers, or Hicks and Gillett and Co but, you know what, some things really are priceless.
I wouldn?t give up what we are and what we represent for anything, not Kaka, not all the tea in China and not for all the money in the world in footballing terms. We may not be the most successful club in the land right now but we have something money can?t buy?PRIDE. Blue pride.
Your first love, your last love, your only love...the bane of your life.... all things to all men...a lifetime addiction. For me personally, I just feel proud and privileged to be a part of it, part of the greatest family there ever was.
I love you Everton.
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Lovely article. I cried after the goal as well . We have endured so much pain that wins like this seem even more sweet. I know that there will be hard times in the future for us but i think we have turned a corner with this win. I am truly humbled and privileged to be a part of this great,great club.
COYB!!!!!!
I was the same, believing that no matter what we did, penalties were on the way and after a glorious attempt we?d inevitably "just" fail.....
It would appear though that the Gods WERE with us for once. Gerrard got off early to try?n catch his regular burglar.
The ladyboy fancied Jags so much that he was happy to stay in his back pocket all night... and to be honest, the rest of them didn?t have much of a clue.
It IS only one game, but it?s nice to have ended their season......
Down to earth and gentlemen, we are.
Not like other supporters, of lesser Football Clubs - I mean that tourist attraction, LFC.
Awe inspiring stuff!!
The cities all ours,the cities all our’s, fuck off to Norway the cities all ours lol
I said in another post that despite lacking a little quality and a few more goals, that was a humdinger of a derby. The atmosphere sounded amazing on the TV (I bet it was 100 times better there, gutted I couldn’t go) and you could feel the tension and aggression.
We all want our club to be great again, to start filling the trophy cabinet once more and dominate Europe, but there is a certain satisfaction gained from achieving as the underdog. I think it’s another reason why many neutrals like us.
I’ve been floating on air today and enjoying sending the youtube clip of Dan’s goal to every RS I know.
Bring on Villa, this time I’ll be there getting elbowed in the face when we score!
COYB!!
Rather than get carried away (as if Moyes would) we need to knuckle down and win the next 8 games. Then it’s Villa away. If we are in touching distance by then I expect Goodison to screen it live to prevent half of Merseyside descending on Birmingham.
A greater prize awaits.
And is there honey still for tea? - Rupert Brook
1st comment, funny as fuck.
I read that thinking "what a bright lad".... then read your comment. Pissed myself.
Class!
Come on you fuckin blues!!!
Joe, your stuff really is a good read mate and the way you word your emotions is superb. You wanna bring out a book lad, about Everton, sell it on here and kipper etc... I?d buy it!
It should be out in March/April. Check out the website, www.evertheoptimist.co.uk
Cheers.
Goodison was rocking last night and even hardened Liverpool fans I know admitted the atmosphere was unreal. I think the fans in these last 3 derby games have been a big part of the results we have ground out. Once Goodison starts to BOUNCE, not many teams can handle the pressure,
The Emirates, Stamford Bridge and the Anfield Morgue can fuck right off. Goodison Park, even in its rundown state, can never be beaten once it goes off.
Go to the top of the class and have 3 House Points
When Gosling scored I ran to my Mrs and threw my arms around her, in doing so, my shoulder smashed her in the nose and she was blinded by tears.
When the full-time whistle went, I sobbed like a baby uncontrollably. She asked ’Are you taking the piss?’ but I ignored her and sobbed on for another 5 mins.
When I had finished and wiped away the tears, she asked ’Is that cos you are drunk?’. ’Yes’, I replied.
I lied........!!!
I couldn’t agree with that article more.
One thing that is bugging me though is the kopites saying their piss ant fans outsung us! I was there and we made a point about taking the piss cos they didn’t make a peep. Apparently all you could hear on ITV was them singing though?
I heard similar things in the Chelsea semi last season which was (until the Fiorentina game later in the season) the best atmosphere I can remember in my time going to Goodison (thats since early 90s). That night Chelsea fans were embarrassing, yet when I watched it back on sky all you could hear was their handful of fans.
I can only assume the TV crews pick and choose which microphones to air, in an effort to propound the media obsession with the sky4?
Anyway, its not a singing contest is it, its a results business. And 3 games in two weeks against those horrible mutants says we were better than them. Last night was a truly wonderful experience.
In work the whole place was beeming and hardly anyone was an Evertonian plenty of supporters of others - Wolves, Sheffield teams Luton, Leeds Tooners, Gooners Brummies. It brought home just how deeply unpopular the shyte are outside of Scandinavia.
COYBs
Oh, to have been there!!!
COYB!!
Ah well, the drink and the fags will defiinitely kill, but a love of Everton has yet to be proven fatal ? heart stopping moments apart.
And Gosling?s strike, having wrong-footed three or four of them qualified for that. I won?t take you through a descrition of my favourite Kendall goal, but be assured, it will never leave you.
In 40 years of teaching I hope I never attempted to laud over a kopite, manc or whoever in the good times. I would expect my colleagues to be the same. If you ever run into a teacher who can?t do that keep your counsel, just think "un-professional conduct" and do a mental yellow card.
Teach talking now ? great opening para, watch out for were and where, don?t go into upper case, even though you really mean it. And print this up for your file.
Welcome, friend.
Gary, your comment made me piss myself, is 2 mins from the end not enuff! Just 2 more to go ? Pompey and Real to piss on the RS and really fuck up their season ? we will take care of our business, but how nice for their season truly to be over ASAP.
COYB forever ? a true, decent, honest football club, proud of it?s history, heritage and support, and by God do we love her more now more than ever!
COYB, onwards and upwards to the great prize.
your article was very touching. I had tears in my eyes when Gosling scored. You summed up the many emotions I felt after the game when pondering upon what had just happened. The pain, the suffering etc... right on mate. You put in writing exactly what I felt and feel. Cheers, man.
So excellent I emailed it on to Everton just in case they missed it!!!!!!
Mr Elstone and co should be choking all over their cornflakes that a 6th former should sum us up so brilliantly!!! I certainly did..... even made me fall of my cloud, bugger to get back onto.... :-)
My emotions succinctly summarised and eloquently phrased.
I can?t add anything to that. That was the best piece of journalism I have ever read. Truly great night!
Just in case we forget, Van der Meyde set it up!
Great read.
I just wanted to ask.....
Did anyone see the interview with DM directly after the game? I recorded the match on ITV but they didn’t show it. Later on (about midnight) they had some highlights on and I watched them. DM said something like; "I’m not here to tell you one team wanted to win and the other did not. That’s not the Everton way. Here we do things differently. With class & dignity. We played three games against a very good Liverpool team. But we have come out on top. Just. We haven’t won the cup tonight, although it might feel like it in the dressing room. We’re just into the next round. And that’s what we set out to do when the draw was made".
THAT filled me with as pride as winning the game itself. Not taking the "cheap shot" even when the opportunity presented itself. Whatever we think of DM as a manager or tactical coach, all of us cannot question David Moyes the man.
COYB
And quite possibly a first for Toffeeweb.
Go to the top of the class.
And indeed in the 3 games against them our fans took over. The Shite were nowhere to seen. Is this a sign of things to come? Let's hope so. Now let's take this momentum on, surely we got to believe that maybe this could be our year for the cup. But if it's not then at least we can hold our heads high knowing we beat the twats.
Well I guess that's why they call us the Blues.
Never heard of the poster who mentioned writing a book in my life mate.
fao David James, lighten up for fuck sake.
Want to get revenge on Villa for the Goodison defeat in 2000, and can I remind everyone the last time we beat Liverpool in the FA Cup, we were beaten by a team in Claret and Blue in the next round. Won?t happen this time. I think despite our home record thus far, the venue will be the deciding factor.
"And lo the Lord looked upon the fate of his Chosen People and saw that they had been sore tested. And the Lord looked upon the covenant between Beelzebub and the RedShi?ite and saw that it was bad.
And the Lord said ?I have tested my chosen people and they have kept the Faith, therefore I wilt a grant them favour for one time."
And lo the Lord sent the madness upon Rafael and caused with to rant, and spit and be not Keane
And the Lord did send Cahill to torment the red hordes and sent them back to the land of the Norse with much lamenting and rending of replica shirts.
And he who is large of girth and serveth at the tables did cry out for a judge to take his part, but the demon Thomas was nowhere to be found, and his spawn Clattenburg had been cast into outer darkness, and the Lord sent instead the righteous judge Wy Lee he who is even of the hand and wieldeth the red and the yellow without fear or favour.
And at the last the Lord did send a child ? the son of the goose ? to smite the kopi?tes and the Redshi?tes.
And there was much clamour and rejoicing and weeping with joy amongst the Chosen People.
The streets of Gwladys and the road of Bullens rang with songs of praise to the Moyesiah and the son of the goose and even to he from the lowlands who drinketh much and is rarely seen upon the field of combat.
And lo it was good to be alive on that day"
Keep writing son. Never mind David James. I just hope you’re studying literature in your sixth form and you’re sending these articles off to the local rags, the beeb web site etc
"I love being surrounded by down to Earth, honest and absolutely passionately, fanatical fellow Blues. I love it when my mate elbows me in the face when we score and pours his drink onto my programme. I love it when I fall backwards and damage my coccyx, and I love it when I knock the glasses off the face of the fella behind. None of us give a fuck though, because Everton have scored "
The above quote made the hair on my kneck stand up. It sums it up perfect and I think is the reason why we all go the match. Brilliant.
My son is a fellow sixth former at your school. I gave my seat up in the Park End so 3 of your other Evertonian 6th formers could go with him. Despite a slightly empty feeling mixed with euphoria watching it on telly rather than being there when the goal went in, it was all worth it when I picked them up afterwards and Alex & Tom popped out from the side of the road in their Fellaini wigs and EFC shirts! He could hardly speak for a couple of hours (a bonus in itself)!
You teenagers are the future of the club, obviously you?ve been well educated at home as well as in school ? whether Mr H (you?ll know who I mean) will agree is another matter! I hope the club continues to make it economical for younger fans to go, prices were brilliant for the Uefa Cup games but could do more for 16-21?s for the FA Cup.
Incidentally, I went to the 1-1 & 4-4 draws then when we beat them 1-0 & Waggy scored. So it?s now over 20 years and 5 games since they beat us in the Cup! Fantastic.
COYB
My son now tells me you’re not at his school! (Typical teenager?!)
Still agreat article and you youngsters are the future. Hopefully the trian fares to Kirkby won’t be overpriced.
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1 Posted 05/02/2009 at 16:04:14
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