FAN ARTICLES
The ?Other? Everton
Comments (45) : I first became aware of Everton Football Club in Chile when I saw an article in the Everton v Stoke City F.A. Cup Third Round programme January 1977 (remember Duncan Mackenzie skipping over one chopping tackle after another as he skipped across the park?).
In 1980, aged 20, I managed to make my way down to Viña del Mar, Chile to see the ?Other? Everton in the flesh. The return journey, which included a three month stint teaching English in Lima, Peru and a 4 week sea passage scrubbing decks to get back home, made the experience all the more worthwhile. I docked in Bristol on the Sunday, got home to say hello to the family and on the Tuesday was heading south to Brighton to witness our 3,000th game in the top flight ? it?s amazing how fearless / stupid you are at that age.
In the intervening years I always held a soft spot for our ?cousins? although in the pre-internet age it wasn?t always easy to find news of their achievements ? just as well since the only success was a national cup win 1984.
In 1997 I managed to convince my partner and six year old son that a trip to South America was just the thing they needed in their lives. Although the trip was spiced up with trips to the Amazon basin, beaches and various cultural centres they both knew we would end up watching the ?Other? Everton at some stage.
As we took the two hour flight from the northern Chilean city of Arica to the capital, Santiago, I was filled with excitement about the game I was about to attend there the following day ? plenty of time to get the family to a hotel in the coastal town of Viña del Mar before heading back. Everything was going well until on the way from the airport to the bus station for Viña I spotted a micro-bus with the following message on the back windscreen ?Today, in Santa Laura ? Santiago Morning v Everton?. It?s at times like these that you know you have found your true soul-mate. Heather took the luggage, child and bus to Viña to find a hotel and meet me later at a fixed point ? easy. We lost the match but I managed to get a seat on one of the away coaches thanks to the Everton Home Farm shirt I was wearing. A couple of hours later we were all reunited in the pleasant coastal resort of Viña, none the worse for the abandonment.
Once in Viña I made contact with a few people around the Club ? Jorge Miranda, the man who had given me a lift on the coach back from Santiago, who looked after the Club museum and Luis Ramos Vivanco, General Manager of the Club and Everton fanatic. These two Evertonians have been in constant contact since as we have thought about ways we could get the two Evertons closer and even to play each other one day.
In 2002 I made a return trip to Chile and met up with Luis and Jorge and various supporters clubs, who all expressed a keen interest in Everton Football Club and a possible game between the two Evertons.
On returning home I met up with a group of like-minded Evertonians and formed the Ruleteros Society. One of our first objectives was to produce a history of our Club in Spanish for our Chilean friends. The resulting ?La Historia de Everton Football Club ? Cien Años de Calidad? was printed and distributed to all major Spanish speaking Clubs around the world, as well as our friends in Chile. Amongst the clubs who responded with letters of thanks were Real Madrid and Barcelona.
The next project was to organize a tour to Chile. In 2005, 17 Evertonians converged on Chile from England, Thailand, New Zealand and Germany. Over a three week period we attended various games, trips and functions, the highlight being a match between Everton and Everton at the Club?s gymnasium ? I think we lost but the important thing was that my 15 year old son, Michael, became the first Everton player since 1909 to score in South America. The links between the supporters groups were strengthened, helped not only by the generous gift of two hundred plus shirts collected from Everton fans in the UK but also by the generous participation of Ritchie ?The Flag? Harrison, who appeared for just one weekend and played Santa to so many kids.
In 2007 I made a return trip to Chile and Argentina to collect as much material as possible on not only C.D. Everton but also the trip Everton F.C. and Tottenham made to Argentina & Uruguay in 1909 ? the plan being to write this particular history for C.D. Everton?s centenary in 2009.
Today, in 2009, we are closing in on the centenary of C.D. Everton ? a club whose name was taken from one of the greatest teams in the world at the time. The young founders, both Chileans and Englishmen, established a Club which has over the years maintained a certain reputation within Chile for fair-play, just as we established one for ?scientific? football. Doubt was cast for years as to the real origin of the name ?Everton?. When we discovered that two of the boys who founded the Club in 1909, Frank Boundy and Malcolm Fraser both died on the Somme in 1916, defending their homeland, we realise that there was no coincidence in the choice of name.
This weekend, representatives from C.D. Everton arrived in Liverpool to extend the hand of friendship to Everton F.C. I was fortunate to be present at the Heritage Night at Goodison Park on Friday where the audience for the ?Will Cuff? talk gave the visitors a standing ovation (thanks to Paul Wharton & Keith Wilson for the special touches). I was also present at the Bolton game where everyone connected with the Club rolled out the Blue Carpet and made me feel as proud of Everton F.C. as I have ever felt in my life ? Robert Elstone, Sir Philip & Lady Carter, Keith Tamlin and Bill Kenwright all went out of their way to make our guests feel at home.
Now that formal links have been made between the directors of both Clubs, who knows where we might end up? A match of some sorts between the Clubs, in this the centenary year in Chile (they are reigning national champions and about to participate in the South American Club Championship) might even be possible.
Judging by the warm applause the visitors received at half-time on Saturday I would imagine most Blues would like to see such a game ? after all, we can?t lose.
John "Chile John" Shearon has for years been a tireless advocate of closer ties between the two Evertons and the visit to Goodison Park of the delegation from CD Everton this past weekend is testament to both his passion and commitment and that of the Ruleteros Society in general.
A match between the two clubs will surely rest on the perceived financial benefits, so vocal support for the proposal from ordinary fans can only help in bringing a historic occasion to reality.
Lyndon Lloyd
Reader Comments (45)
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2 Posted 11/02/2009 at 10:56:59
3 Posted 11/02/2009 at 10:50:16
4 Posted 11/02/2009 at 11:39:31
I very much want to do do that trip before I pop my ox-blood Como brogues (and to be fair - it’ll be very difficult after!).
Actually that McKenzie FA Cup game against Stoke you mention, brought back memories.
He had a blinder that day, tried every trick in the book and they all came off.
I remember applauding loads during that game.
The next day, we were on the Sunday footie highlights and Tommy Smith was giving the Man-of-the-match award.
He gave it to....Andy King
When the interviewer said "YOU FUCKING WHAT!!? YOU POC-MARKED, UGLY TW...."
I’m kidding he didn’t say that, but he DID say something like..
"Tommy, are you sure you’re not overlooking Duncan McKenzie? Everton supporters might not be too happy with your choice".
Smith (with all the good grace of Silverback with a bad case of the Rockfords) said something about it ’not being a circus’ (?)
I think that was when I really started to see the difference between them (spit!) and us and when I first realised they were, as my family had always told me - pure evil.
5 Posted 11/02/2009 at 12:36:21
3 months later Mckenzie was back-heeling the ball over his head at Maine Rd, leaving Smith scything at thin air.
6 Posted 11/02/2009 at 12:46:54
I have managed to convert many of my Spanish friends into Everton fans, bribing them with shirts sharing their hatred for Rafa etc etc. A few of them have been to games with me when visiting and now always look out for our scores.
Is there anywhere I can get hold of this Historia de Everton? I am sure it would make a fantastic present.
7 Posted 11/02/2009 at 13:35:39
8 Posted 11/02/2009 at 16:52:35
9 Posted 11/02/2009 at 17:19:24
10 Posted 11/02/2009 at 17:24:17
11 Posted 11/02/2009 at 18:27:47
12 Posted 11/02/2009 at 19:42:28
Chile is a great country. I?d love to see a game between the 2 Evertons.
13 Posted 11/02/2009 at 22:41:45
14 Posted 11/02/2009 at 23:34:59
15 Posted 12/02/2009 at 07:08:24
16 Posted 12/02/2009 at 08:45:35
Dennis Stevens: I would love to see the 2 Evertons squaring off in an OFFICIAL FIFA Tournament as Continental Champions as well!
COYB!
17 Posted 12/02/2009 at 11:38:05
This is a unique oppurtunity for the club to make a little bit of history. I hope that this comes to fruition one day, why not for the opening game at our new shiny stadium in Kirkby?
18 Posted 12/02/2009 at 16:38:06
19 Posted 12/02/2009 at 20:38:25
Sorry to burst your bubble, but if you have look at the top division in Uruguay you will find a team called Liverpool. They are based in Montevideo. They got their name by pure chance. Ironically the play in the same colours as Inter Milan, ha ha Blue! and always have done since about 1917. They adopted the shites kit as their away colours in 2005-06. They have never won fuck all (good!) and they play at a ground that used to belong to someone else (some similarity then!).
We can't even have South America to ourselves when we have clearly given them Scandanavia!
Just goes to show that shite gets everywhere
PS - They are sixth in the Primera at present, just like the RS no chance of a title for another year.
20 Posted 12/02/2009 at 21:08:03
21 Posted 12/02/2009 at 22:19:20
Like John, I felt Everton Football Club, led by Robert Elstone, stepped up to the plate. A game would be great, co-operation between the two Evertons is assured and, whilst he won?t thank me for saying this, John deserves a pat on the back for 30 plus years of tireless effort to get us to this point.
By the way, Mike Coffey, have you a) been punting and b) eaten haslet sandwiches recently? Nil satis nisi opimum as our shirts once said.
22 Posted 12/02/2009 at 23:31:14
back in Chile from the unforgettable visit to Goodison last week, may I once again thank you all for the superb hospitality.
To Paul Wharton for putting in place a most meaningful and inspiring history night. Chilean Everton was founded as an amateur team...yes, not for the business of hit and rush as I learned memorable William Cuff would likely say.
To Tony Heslop for his patience and dedication in helping to build up this emerging brotherhood.
Last but never least, to John Shearon. As here again proved, he is not only a most knowledgeable scholar on Everton Chile´s history. Tirelessly and with unmatchable perseverance, he is-of course most of you know- the leader and the soul of this ongoing adventure of bringing together the these two Evertons, 100 years after.
Cheers, John...cheers Ruleteros!
With all my gratitude
Juan Foxley
23 Posted 13/02/2009 at 01:21:43
On a more serious note has Jags got rid of that Spanish wart on his arse pocket!!!! AHEM.COYB
24 Posted 13/02/2009 at 06:28:36
25 Posted 13/02/2009 at 11:57:38
26 Posted 13/02/2009 at 20:21:50
I first came across the Chilean Everton in Brian Glanville’s "World Soccer" magazine in the early seventies. I was intrigued that they had ’our’ name. It’s great to see the two clubs forming links across the ocean (and rain forest etc),
I really hope a match between the two clubs can be arranged soon.
27 Posted 13/02/2009 at 21:13:58
John has the respect of all the Evertonians I know of what he set out to achieve; we are now the closest we have ever been to getting a game on, let's just hope it can come together.
The Everton Shareholders Association are holding their annual dinner on March 14th in honour of CD Everton. The great Ray Wilson will be guest of honour as he has played on the two Everton?s ground?s. £35 three-course meal, if anyone would like to attend please email me: paulwhartonefc@btinternet.com.
It has been fantastic in helping John and the Ruleteros Society. Let's keep banging the drum.
Let's not forget that if the great Will C Cuff had not given the go ahead 100 years ago to tour South America we would not be talking about the Everton clubs that now exist in South America (Argentina/Urauguy as well).
All the best to all Evertonians all round the world.
28 Posted 13/02/2009 at 23:38:26
I don?t know the history of these clubs, except the team from La Plata which changed its name from 25 de Mayo in 1909 as a result of our tour, but I suspect they are all "football" related, unless the district of Everton somehow developed a reputation in South America for the exotic. Everton FC is not alone in having teams in South America named after them - Rangers Chile, Corinthians in Brazil are just two.
Liverpool is not one of them, however ? the Montevideo club was founded in 1908 as a school team (College of Capuchin Fathers) and changed its name in 1915 to Liverpool ? legend has it that the globe was spun and a grubby finger landed on the city). I would imagine that the port name of the hundreds / thousands of ships passing through Montevideo might have influenced the decision.
Had the choice been made for footballing reasons why would these kids have chosen a team from the lower half of the First Division instead of, for example, the eventual champions that year ? Everton?
29 Posted 14/02/2009 at 12:27:27
Our leaders have been impressed by the reception from members of The Society Ruleteros, the directors of Everton FC, and especially surprised and excited of the ovation 40,000 Evertonians, for them and for CD Everton.
My thanks go to all my friends Ruleteros, this is the beginning of a new step in further enhancing ties, the game at Goodison would be spectacular.
Finally, a great endorsement for this "Don Quixote" that was John Shearon, his years of struggle to achieve this union is a truly extraordinary work. Congratulations and greetings to all my Evertonian cousins.
30 Posted 14/02/2009 at 12:51:31
31 Posted 14/02/2009 at 22:43:48
Let’s hope the CDE v EFC match comes off this year. It would be a real tribute to all involved, past and present.
32 Posted 15/02/2009 at 09:04:51
Didn?t Duncan McKenzie throw a Mini and jump over a golf ball as well?
But, back on subject, great to hear that the club pulled out all the stops for the Chilean delegation ? the piece in the Valpo star certainly gave the impression that it was appreciated. All we need now is to get a game sorted between the two clubs. Just imagine a game in which Everton couldn?t lose!
33 Posted 15/02/2009 at 09:51:15
34 Posted 15/02/2009 at 10:52:38
35 Posted 17/02/2009 at 23:14:21
We went to Viña del Mar a few years back as part of a school rugby tour that my son was playing in and visited the ground, had pictures taken on the pitch etc. We still have 2 replica shirts of CD Everton so the boys would be able to go and cheer on both sides for the one and only time. As the tour also took in Argentina we didn't realise until tonight that we missed the chance to visit a few more spiritual homes.
Since we went we have followed your reports on TW with interest and wish you every success in your venture.
36 Posted 18/02/2009 at 12:28:39
They have a very loyal support, and have to travel miles if they play in the north of Chile, such as Arica, Antofagasta, and Iquique. Evertonians are the chosen ones. Does anybody remember The Popye Club in Valparaiso. Where are all the blue sailors, merchant and royal.
37 Posted 18/02/2009 at 13:39:27
38 Posted 19/02/2009 at 17:03:32
39 Posted 20/02/2009 at 15:14:26
One question: is there a recommended place you can pick up a CD Everton replica shirt? I reckon that would be a pretty cool item to own.
40 Posted 23/02/2009 at 16:48:57
41 Posted 26/02/2009 at 10:40:38
42 Posted 28/02/2009 at 13:42:05
this guy is selling them on ebay.
they are hard to find online and expensive from specialist websites. this guy claims to be a blue too.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190273708029&cguid=bd2491a011f0a0e204c61986fffa539c
Also i think the Everton Vs Everton friendly is a brilliant idea, ive been to chile the they are a big club with healthy support, should be a good occasion for all involved.
43 Posted 07/03/2009 at 20:23:25
I?m a bit of a South American football buff myself and their competiting the Copa Libertadores at the moment (equivalent of Champions League).
Apparently after winning the Chilean championship last year they?ve struggled to regain their form. Hope that the club?s can make an official partnership of some sort.
44 Posted 08/03/2009 at 08:46:34
45 Posted 10/04/2009 at 17:58:18
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1 Posted 11/02/2009 at 07:31:37
The current economic situation would probably determine the number of blues travelling to Chile (assuming the game will be played in Vina), but having visited Chile twice I would undoubtedly recommend a trip there any day. Its a great country.