Season 2011-12 Fan Articles
Sucker for Punishment
By Dave Arrow :: 13/08/2011
21 Comments (»Last)
I?ve enjoyed the summer down time rounded off by a boozy trip to Bremen and periodically catching up with the increasingly polarised views of my fellow Evertonians. I?m not quite sure what has prompted me to put some thoughts down, it certainly isn?t out of anger or apology, I think it was a free Saturday afternoon and the old Bob Latchford quote in a mailbag thread that got me reminiscing.
I have been through various stages in my evolution as an Evertonian and it?s been an interesting journey so far.
My Dad and Uncle started taking me to the match in the 60s and I literally stood on a fruit box in the West Brom end for the 1968 FA Cup Final at Wembley and unashamedly cried my eyes out when Astle scored. I blamed the amber shirts. A Baggie consoled me after the game and said, ?Never mind son you?ll be back next year?. Next year was 9 years later and, on reflection, a turgid 0-0 draw that at the time I thought was great. I also lost my first proper girlfriend following an ultimatum that if I went to the final she?d dump me.
So, sheer heartache, utter dejection and considerable personal sacrifice... it was the start of things to come. Following Everton there have been more of those years than of unbridled joy, ecstasy and contentment. That?s probably why I?m fairly sanguine about the current shenanigans.
Alan Ball was my all-time hero. I remember my Dad subsequently telling me the story of the lengths he went to to get me the white boots for Christmas. After Bally was sacked at City I had the good fortune to play 18 holes with him at a celebrity Golf Day at Northop Hall. That is a story in itself.
He was closely followed by Bobby Latchford, who truly did walk on water. By this time, I was going to the match with a few mates and had discovered the joys of a pre- and post-match pint. Everton in the 77-78 season were magic. Davey Thomas, socks round his ankles, jinking down the wing, one look up and a pin-point cross onto Big Bob?s forehead. Sheer poetry in motion ? who said Gordon Lee?s sides were dour?
When Big Bob scooped the £30 grand prize from The Express, I couldn?t have celebrated more if we?d won the European Cup. Growing up an Evertonian in Liverpool in the 70s, watching our neighbours win everything in sight was certainly character forming.
Seeing Everton turn from a ragbag collection of journeymen in `83 to become the best club side in Europe was unbelievable. It came from nowhere and was all the better for it. In the Sky age, this is a feat that will never be repeated because the impossible, incredible and implausible is just that ? unless you?ve got a big fat cheque book and some Sovereign wealth behind you.
I think that is why Evertonians of my vintage are polarised in their views. We saw the Golden Vision, marvelled at the Holy Trinity, enjoyed the 70s and witnessed the best club side in Europe for 3 years. Some are thankful to have seen it; others use it as the stick to beat the current team and set up.
I didn?t particularly enjoy most of the 90s, with the notable exception of ?95 and the sheer relief of ?94 and ?98. The Elland Road FA Cup semi-final is one of the greatest performances on and off the pitch I?ve seen from Everton.
Besides ?95 the only other noteworthy highlight was introducing my daughters to Everton. I?m not sure they would agree as they now carry that cross with them. On the way out of ?Boro after the FA Cup quarterfinal defeat in March 2002, my youngest daughter coined the phrase ?Walter Smith is ruining my life?. They know what it means to be an Evertonian only without the success to keep them warm.
Now, children off my hands and living in Surrey, I?m back to the 12-hour matchday routine and loving it, everything comes round again if you wait long enough. I only missed a handful of games last season and will do so again this time. The mood has undoubtedly deteriorated and you can?t ignore the mutinous undertones. Spurs would have been an interesting litmus test of opinion, because the away support is the barometer and throughout last season remained loyal. If they turn, then change invariably follows...
I still enjoy watching Everton play, which is fortunate considering it consumes most of my free time and disposable income. I cling to the hope that we have a cup in us before the core of this team and the manager disperses; Everton has always had an innate ability to let you down but also surprise you when you least expect it. I get frustrated with the tactics and the formation at times like anyone else but I don?t boo the players or get on the manager's back; I recognise others fans right to, but find it counter-productive. Here?s a few other contradictions that I have:
- I despise the Sky invented football era but subscribe to Sky Sports HD
- I?m only interested in Everton but watch as much football as I can
- I want us to be successful (or at least be competitive) but I don?t want us selling our soul for it
- I want us to play the Everton way but will settle for a scruffy 1-0 win
- I think Bill Kenwright has run his course but I don?t want him to sell to any old shyster with money
- I still like David Moyes as manager but not as much as a few years ago
Reader Comments (21)
Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer
2 Posted 13/08/2011 at 20:12:56
Chris,
glad it's not just us old, blue-eyed unrealists who have seen great, skilful, winning Everton teams that despise the current "guardians" of our club.
I had the pleasure of meeting Bally several times and, while discussing the state of the club about 5 years back, he simply said "It's up to the likes of us to teach the next generation... and to encourage ours to keep the faith."
3 Posted 13/08/2011 at 21:21:46
Alot to think about with that one
Im 36 and started supporting the Blues in 82, totally swarming with Red twats at the time.
Got a 5 and 1 yr old, just PRAY and i mean PRAY im passing on the love to them.
Its workin with the 5 yr old, reckon i can encourage his bro with food....
4 Posted 13/08/2011 at 21:22:11
But all was not lost today as the RS were reminded that they are still shite and mega millions will still have be spent regarding a defender or two. The RS version of TW must be going crazy tonite ? spent loads still shit.
5 Posted 13/08/2011 at 21:26:31
So many downs but each up has made it worth it for me. I just feel sorry for my youngest son cos he has not seen first hand and not felt first hand the great emotion of success.
6 Posted 13/08/2011 at 21:40:10
We need to stop this blue tinted, misty eyed reminiscing about things that simply aren't true.
Whenever have we been the "best club side in Europe for 3 years"? We've never won the European Cup, never won our league 3 years on the bounce so how could we be the best club side in Europe if we aren't even the best club side in our own country?
It's this kind of rose misty eyed reminiscing about 'the good old days' which simply didn't happen how people remember it which is one of the main reasons why some of our fanbase have such unrealistic expectations today.
We've never been one of the 'Elite', and have always only enjoyed sporadic success and our legacies have consisted of winning a few trophies over the odd season here and there throughout our history.
We are currently punching at our weight, if not above it, and anyone who expects more is simply deluded.
7 Posted 13/08/2011 at 22:12:50
8 Posted 13/08/2011 at 22:30:21
I don't know whether to admire you for travelling and spending so much on Everton or have pity.
Personally I decided this regime was crooked and "Moyes's football" hopeless a few years ago so only go when my brother forces me.
We're all different and I enjoyed the piece; good luck to you, mate.
9 Posted 13/08/2011 at 23:28:05
Not a conclusive case I admit, but certainly an arguable one. There were certainly no other contenders for 'the best club in Europe' from 1984-87 that I can think of.
10 Posted 13/08/2011 at 23:38:49
Please learn the history. We were the best club side in Europe ? just not allowed to prove it due to the European ban.
11 Posted 14/08/2011 at 00:29:38
Got rid of Sky sports channels cos the hype bullshit and fucked upness of english football is getting too much, and Sky are chief executioner
Rarely watch other clubs as they don't interest me anymore, but will always watch Everton ? even when I don't want to. That's called addiction.
Saw Barton fake a fall today like he'd been hit by a meteorite, seconds after he angrily wrestled a player up off the ground... for doing exactly the same thing.
The football season has started: Cunts, cheats and hype, cunts cheats and hype. Come on you blues!
12 Posted 14/08/2011 at 00:50:18
We were the best club side in Europe at the time, but the Shite and Maggy Thatcher put paid to that.
I ask you this, who are the elite?
Was it the Shite pre 1977? Don't think so... Or Man Utd, pre the Prem years?
At that time, there was only one team who had won more than us, so we were the elite.
Read your history before making stupid comments,
The history of football didn't (much to the media's disbelief) start in 1993.
13 Posted 14/08/2011 at 01:21:11
Young man, (as an arl-arse manager used to say, pre -Sky)
Google FIFA World Team of the Year
and come back and apologise
14 Posted 14/08/2011 at 02:21:21
More than a football club...
15 Posted 14/08/2011 at 11:14:43
Dave's post may have been a bit misty-eyed, but so what ? just enjoy it for what it was. With a negative attitude like yours, we will have no young fans left to pass on these great memories to.
16 Posted 14/08/2011 at 12:19:49
Dean Smith - how old are you mate? Whatever the answer - grow up, or at least recognise the value of another Evertonian's opinion.
17 Posted 14/08/2011 at 12:06:59
I remember the 66 and 68 Cup Finals and also the Ian Storey-Moore hat-trick in the 67 QF. Harvey's shot lodged in the back of Utd's net is still a vivid memory.
The High of Rotterdam followed by the low of Wembley sums up Everton. If only Reidy had passed to Gray, ah that's another story.
Yes Everton are more than just another Football Club. They get into your heart and soul, as they say.
19 Posted 14/08/2011 at 13:48:19
So close to doing the treble as Steve #17 said.
Brendan #7 - i saw Everton playing Bohs in a friendly about Dalymount in the mid-late 90's. It particularly stuck in my mind because (i) I had a revelation as I was having difficulty picking out and recognising individual players - borrowed my mates glasses and could see perfectly. have been four-eyed since. (ii) I had played and scored there relatively recently before that !
20 Posted 14/08/2011 at 14:27:22
22 Posted 14/08/2011 at 14:41:02
24 Posted 14/08/2011 at 16:06:25
Add Your Comments
In order to post a comment, you need to be logged in as a registered user of the site.
Or Sign up as a ToffeeWeb Member — it's free, takes just a few minutes and will allow you to post your comments on articles and Talking Points submissions across the site.
1 Posted 13/08/2011 at 18:22:31
I'm only 22 and have never seen us win so much as a coin-toss.
I'm part of the anti-Kenwright movement, but regardless I'm in it for life.
Here's hoping Everton surprise us then...