The Mail Bag
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I'm absolutley made up today. I've absolutely no voice left and my throat feels like I've swallowed a bag of razor blades.
Watching the players celebrating after Jags hit that penalty in, I really felt a sense of it being our boys out there, our boys have done us proud. Whilst shouting the theme of Z-cars at the top of my lungs and hearing the other 32,000 delirious Evertonians, there was an overwhelming feeling that we're all part of the same thing. We are "The Peoples Club". Us, the fans. Us, the players, and Us, the manager.
I'm from Manchester and don't speak with a scouse accent but you don't meet many Evertonians who don't possess a scouse accent. The Everton crowd yesterday was made up of fans local to Everton and the city of Liverpool. Evertonians had come down to London on mass from pretty much one location. The M6 and M1 was a sea of blue carfs and banners. The service stations were full of people proudly wearing the royal blue (some pink). You looked round the Man U banners and they all read "Carlisle reds", "Essex reds", "Mansfield reds" - flags showing fans' allegiances but from nowhere near Salford or Trafford. Everton's banners were witty and full of jokes that we all understand. We all know what the banner "Commence operation Wembley exercise" means.
We've no superstars or overpaid mercenries in our team. Our team have a work ethic and a team spirit based around an understanding of what playing for Everton means (see Cahill's recent interviews). Everton finished the game with 8 Englishmen on the pitch, 4 of whom took the winning penalties whilst Man U had a team full of players could probably still not point to Manchester on a map.
That's why we outsung them. We feel part of our club, whereas Utd fans are just their spectators. I imagine they looked on in complete envy of what Everton have - complete pride in the blue shirt and complete understanding of what yesterday meant.
Alan Clarke, Posted 20/04/2009 at 10:12:24
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I watched the game on TV from the middle of the North Sea (that dirty word work again) and have to admit I didn't actually hear the rendition of "Stand up for the 96" which was seemingly sung by both sets of supporters. Neither did I see, until today on various sites, the many banners unfurled and shown by Evertonians in support of the "96."
I hope our show of support and understanding may, in some small way, ease the path that returns us those wonderful days of "the friendly Derby." Much more importantly I hope that our show of support in some small way eases the pain of those who lost loved ones on that tragic day!
Their story was that they are London residents, as I am, with Scouse roots, and they had come to Wembley to make sure her son understood how special the blue hordes are and to let him soak in the atmosphere. I wished them well told the young lad how proud he must be to be part of our club and legged it to see the game ? it was a moment when I knew we are something special!!
Nah! Easily explained. They drove up to Birmingham then turned around so it would look as if they were coming from Manchester!
It was my mate who made the "Operation Wembley Exercise" flag.
It went down a treat!
http://img524.imageshack.us/img524/186/wembly.jpg
I live in Aldershot and I already have my eyes on a pair of ’Chelsea’ tickets.
The average age of the starting 11
them 22.8 - us 27.4
The average age of the finishing 11
them 25.2 - us 26.3
So if an unsympathetic workmate trots out the ?you played their youth team? line, put them straight.
Another sign of our great team spirit, makes me proud.
Also great to see Arteta on the pitch with the boys - hope he didn’t jump around too much on that knee though.
How about the Yak?
One moment that I enjoyed was seeing Moyes shake SAF’s hand at the end. Done with dignity, as always, but I’m sure he enjoyed the feeling of getting one over on his so called ’mentor’.
Great stuff though that everyone travelled down, even the injured players, to see their team mates through.
Well done, Jo.
Maybe, Moyes might want to re-think on acquiring him in the summer?
Chris Winslet, Jo was there alright, and judging by the look on his face, he was willing on every Everton player on the pitch to do their best. Anyone who didn?t know would have thought he was a life-long fan of ours! Not just here on loan!
Arteta was also chatting and joking with Cahill just before the penalties started - they obviously weren?t talking about penalty technique!
Making my way out of the ground at the end into the hordes of blue singing in the sun, I was briefly next to Cahill?s wife and two boys who had been sitting not too far away from me behind the goal. The kids had their club strips on (DADDY on the back!) and looked like they were loving it. True what everyone is saying ? this club is as one from the youngest supporter to the oldest ex-player.
Absolutely fantastic day... I was so pleased I was able to enjoy it with my two boys (9 & 18) who?ve never seen anything like this before.
When I saw their faces as they looked down the hordes of blue & white outside Wembley before the game brought a lump to my throat... and Jags? pen just brought a tear to my eye... Now my lads know what it?s like to have that feeling too. The two most important things in my life are my boys & Everton FC... on Sunday they came together as one. I?m a very proud Dad and a very proud Blue.
Hope they get the same feeling come May 30th... I?m really begining to believe that this could be OUR year and OUR name may be written on the cup...!!
COYB
We saw AJ leaving after the match, and even better was the fact that his little lad was wearing an Everton kit...
Groups of fans chanted his name and he looked genuinely touched to be part of the Everton family despite rumours about his relationship with the club when he left.
Onward Evertonians.....
Wondering why he wernt on the team coach or celebrating with the players?
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1 Posted 20/04/2009 at 11:45:11
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My cherished memories? Those wonderful,wonderful fans. At the peak late in the second half the ground was literally shaking under my feet. One official said to me that the myth of no atmosphere at the new Wembley had now been finally laid to rest. They'd just not had the right fans in until now! Whilst I know it shouldn't be difficult to out-shout 40,000 tourists, we did it with aplomb.
Witnessing the fleets of stretched limo's disgorging scores of Blues in front of the stadium was another memory. The banners, festooned around half of the ground, full of wit and humour. It's what supporting the Toffees is all about. The only theme common on the limited United regalia betrayed enduring bitterness towards our friends from across the park.
Now for the Final, and another opportunity for us to show the world that we have the best supporters in the Premier League. I have no doubt that we can put the 'fur coat and no knickers' brigade from Chelsea firmly in their place.
Until 30th May Blues! Onward! NSNO