FAN ARTICLES
It Hurts, Even From Afar

And to say that I was born with Blue Blood in my veins isn't exactly true either. The only way I related to football during my early childhood was because of the name Kevin (I was born in 1973), and everybody called me Kevin Keegan because of that. And I didn't even know Keegan was playing Redshite back then. So I just went along with it.
It was during one fine afternoon, when I was about 8 years old (1984-85), I went to one of my mates house (and his dad is a football player himself and support none other than RS), and they were watching the only program we could get access to back then "BIG LEAGUE SOCCER", and the match on highlight was between then famous Liverpool team against a Blue coloured team.
Growing up, Blue was my favourite colour. And when I asked my mate's dad, who is playing? He replied "Liverpool". I asked, "what about the Blue team?". He said "Oh, that's Everton". It was on that sacred moment that I fell into a deep coma and supported Everton eversince. (And oh, Everton won that match that day, btw).
My point to this whole story is this, as much as all Evertonians who were actually born on Merseyside get hurt everytime we lost to Liverpool, my hurt and my sorrow is 10 times worse than you can imagine. I have prided myself in being an Evertonian living in Malaysia all my life (Since I was 8, now I'm 35), and I tell you, there aren't exactly a great fan base for Everton over here. I am pretty much ON MY OWN. You'll see people who support the big 4 (for obvious reasons), and I'll be the only Evertonian over here.
When Derby day comes, it freaks the hell out of me seeing the likes of Gerrard and Torres tormenting our Everton team. It gets even worse when Liverpool scores or wins the match, and I'll be getting a hell lot of text messages from my RS mates who I wished didn't exist.
And the worse thing is, when I attend Sunday Mass at my local church the next day, the RS supporters would come with their Red Tops to taunt me (everybody in church knows I'm the only Everton supporter here). Even the PRIEST is a RS fan!! Cos after mass he came out with his CASSOCK and removed it in front of me, and it was a bloody RS Jersey he was wearing.
Trust me fellow Evertonians, I get it as bad (or even worse) over here in Malaysia, and I would give an arm and a leg to be with you guys over there. I really would.
So what I would like to say is, I've been supporting Everton since 1985, and went through the whole bad spell throughout the 1990s (except for that FA cup win over MU), and I'm still standing here as an Evertonian, all by myself.
Like they say, One Evertonian is Worth "How Many" Liverpudians?
I am certainly the ONE Evertonian from where I am.
COYB!
Reader Comments
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Kopites, wherever they are, will always be gobshites. And if you support Everton, no matter where you live in the world, you will be surrounded by red shite supporters.
In fact, I think it?s worse when you live out of Liverpool because at least the ones there know their history even if they choose to ignore it. The global shites simply have no idea about theirs until they?re lucky enough to meet Blues like us to give ?em a good ?ol ?istory lesson to put them in their place.
Often billed as the friendly derby that divides families, some of the abuse that was being hurled at some of the reds sitting with their blue bretheren beggars belief. I am for partisan behaviour at matches but the luddidites who were screaming MURDERERS at some of reds in the stand was out of line IMHO.
The Stewards did what they could to keep things in check, even when the bickering started amongst the blues themselves.
Its a sad sign of the times where complete segregation is the only way forward for what was the last bastion of passionate yet understanding intra-city rivalry.
My heart sake during the game...because what seemed to be lost on Saturday was more than just 3 points.
As an Everton supporter since 1966 (born in 1964) and living in Australia for much of my life I share your pain. However, don’t assume that it is harder for us than for those in Liverpool. I have made the pilgrimage to Goodison only twice (once on my honeymoon when I made us go back to Liverpool for a home game after we had already left the UK and were in Italy - but at least she knew what she was getting). On both occasions Everton were terrible and the other team (Coventry and Spurs respectively) played all the football. While I was disappointed, it was still exciting to be there. For the Goodison faithful it was another week of turgid, hideous football that they were paying a fair chunk of their weekly disposable readies to watch.
I actually had people come up to me at the train station after the Apr 2006 Spurs home game once they heard my broad Aussie accent apologising: ’Christ lad, you’ve come all this way to watch that crap - you poor sorry bastard’ or words to that effect.
So, don’t assume that watching late at night is easier than turning up week in and week out. I know that it would hurt me more to watch it live every week and actually ’see’ how little football we play.
Imagine wearing the royal blue jersey in Singapore where every other chap is either with the RS, Manure or Chelsea. My cousin who follows his Ars(anal), never fails to ask me every Chinese New Year why I am such a loser following Everton. After the derby, its no wonder my jersey goes into hiding, at least for this week.
The funny thing is that 24hours later, here I am looking for sometime positive from David Moyes to whip the lads back into the confident and tightly knit bunch of battlers they once were when he first came in.
My answer to my cousins and all the others on why the illogical passion is that Everton reminds me that life is about ups and downs, uncertainty, the occasional joys (1995) and about family. I run my own Loss Adjusting practice in Singapore and sometimes when business is down, I’m reminded to keep soldiering on just like Everton, on limited budget and a shoestring. David had been an inspiration to my business with his working class hardwork and ethics. Also I guess all the positive comments and display of loyalty to the Blue half of the Merseyside is so incredible that it makes us proud to carry on through thick and thin - a quality my missus would admire me for.
Just one thing though (from pedants corner) I was 10 in 84-85, and I’m not 35 yet (although I feel 60 after Saturday lunchtime), is Malaysian age worked out in the opposite way to Nigerian age?
So you’re a Malaysian 35 in the way the Yak is a Nigerian 25? ;-)
(I did tell you I was going to be pedantic)
Keep the faith, and look on the bright side, at least there aren’t going to be too many Liege supporters in your neck of the woods.
So it?s pretty much something I wanna do someday. But the rate of pay that we are getting in Malaysia, and stupid Malaysian Exchange rate, makes it impossible for me to save up enough $$$ to ever make it there. But I?m still hoping.
COYB
It must be shite putting up with all the comments from the gobshites but always remember this 1 point
While its true, we don't have thier silverware or thier glory
We dont have thier shame either
Keep your chins up lads
Born a blue, live a blue die a blue
About 6 years old in Australia, watching the cup final (only game we got back then) with my mate, who’s favorite colour is red. From that Saturday night onwards, we’ve both been passionate about our respective Merseyside loves.
He was lucky enough to make his pilgrimage to anfield about 4 years ago - to see a derby no less!
Hoping that i get my chance in the very near future. And hoping that you get yours too, Kevin.
And Kyle, RS Idiots are everywhere huh? Even in the states. God Damn!
Jarrod, I think you’ll get your chance more likely than me. Our spending power here sucks, and it will take a lotto winning to take me to Goodison one day.
For Everton fans, the best thing is through thick and thin, we stay Everton fans.
When one day Chelsea, Man Utd, or the Shites get relegated, we’ll see how many supposed fans ditch their jerseys for Man City ones.
NSNO
We could one day make a pilgrimage to Goodison Park together!
There?s a group of Singapore Blues that meet up regularly every week. Either at Shamus O?Donnel?s in Tras St or if it?s a Sunday game, then Molly Malone?s at Boat Quay. email me and i?ll make sure to include you in the mailing list to meet up for the next televised match. Other stranded S?pore blues out there are welcome to email me as well. [metalsquid@yahoo.com]
i made a trip to Liverpool in 2005 in the off season. unfortunately GP was closed for maintainence that day and i couldn?t get into the ground. everything was out of stock at the megastore so i ended up buying a scarf that said Rooney coz there were none left that just said Everton. then the fat arse comes back from his summer hols and sez he?s off :-
i did get a nice big Everton beach towel though. i love the stares from the idiots here who can?t figure out why Chelsea?s badge looks wrong :p
@Tony Annets
Point taken. Actually going to the games week in week out and watching crap displays does make it all the more worse than just staying up in the wee hours to watch it on telly.
1 Posted 29/09/2008 at 08:02:07
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