CD Everton Revival

By Mike Owen :: 23/11/2011

Fifteen months ago, CD Everton (Chile) played at Goodison Park in a game watched by 26,000. There was an unfortunate postscript some months later when, after an awful slump in form, they were relegated from Primera A.

But now the Ruleteros are on the brink of returning to the Chilean top flight. Last weekend, they secured a draw away at Temuco that clinched the blues and yellows the Clausura Championship 2011.

The Chilean Primera B (2nd Division in old money) is a complex affair with promotion never quite guaranteed till the death but at the same time never impossible. There are two titles in the season ? Apertura (Opening) and Clausura (Closing) ? each consisting of 19 matches. The team with most points in the combined tournaments is automatically promoted ? Antofagasta. The winners (or runners-up, Rangers, in the case of the Apertura) of the Apertura and Clausura play each other home and away for the second promotion spot.

Everton had a shocking Apertura campaign but they were in excellent form for the Clausura.

Crowds at Everton's Sausalito stadium have been impressive all year with the fourth highest average recorded in either Primera A or Primera B.

To gain promotion they now have to win a two-legged final against Rangers of Talca. Everton travel to Talca for the first leg on Thursday that kicks off at 11pm UK time. The second leg on Sunday kicks off at 3pm UK time. There are links to watch the games on the Ruleteros Society's Facebook and Twitter pages.

If they fail to overcome Rangers, they have another chance of promotion, entering a play-off league against two teams from Primera A and one club from Primera B.

On another note, John Shearon, secretary of the Ruleteros Society, recently travelled to Chile for the unveiling of a plaque on November 11 at the Sausalito stadium honouring the former players of the two Evertons who died in service for Britain in the two world wars. You can read about his journey on the society's website. www.theruleteros.com

Later that day, at the home game against Antofagasta, John met up with the supporters group Los del Cerro (The Boys from the Hill) who were present at Goodison with their drums. Along with other supporter groups, they travel by bus up to 1,300 miles for away games in the Chilean league.

At half-time Los del Cerro presented John with a framed poster of the two club crests and the slogan ?Unidos Por El Mismo Sentimiento? ? ?Joined by the Same Feeling?. This was in appreciation for the reception they received in Liverpool last year from everyone connected with our club, especially the supporters.

See how the promotion bid unfolds by visiting www.theruleteros.com and follow the society on its facebook and twitter pages.

Reader Comments (25)

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Tony J Williams
1 Posted 24/11/2011 at 10:58:42

Good to know.

Come on you Blues.

Alan Rodgers
2 Posted 24/11/2011 at 12:18:30

Good stuff. I hope to do a trip out there when I retire in about 3 years.

Alan McGuffog
3 Posted 24/11/2011 at 12:49:17

Best of luck with your trip Alan. Plan it better than I did......visiting Chile was my retirement treat, with, of course the chance of seeing the lads play. I managed to get to Vina del Mar exactly two days after the season ended.

Managed to have a look around the stadium in Sausalito.....much to the amazement of the security guy.....who couldn't understand why this gringo wanted to look around!

There is a club office in the city centre that is well worth a visit tho'......there was a guy called George Miranda there and he couldn't have been more welcoming. Some nice photos of both clubs
Buen viaje!

John Shearon
4 Posted 24/11/2011 at 13:45:21

Alan, unfortunately, Jorge has not been too well lately and is wheel-chair bound. He is still working with the recently formed Former Players Association, however, and gets to all home games.

Paul Wilcox
5 Posted 24/11/2011 at 14:04:39

Interesting stuff, Mike ? hopefully on their way back up soon!

John, sorry to hear about Jorge ? he was very helpful when I visited nine years ago.

Alan McGuffog
6 Posted 24/11/2011 at 14:53:41

John, just to echo Paul, sorry to hear that. He is a gentleman and I wish him all the best. I think he was just about getting used to to the trickle of pilgrims visiting the "shrine"!

Bruce Goodridge
7 Posted 24/11/2011 at 16:09:41

Another good article on Everton Chile. I'm hoping that I'll get a bit of time to catch some of the games against Rangers on the live stream.

I also like the slogan ?Unidos Por El Mismo Sentimiento ... Joined by the Same Feeling? ? nice one.

Tom Owen
8 Posted 24/11/2011 at 17:25:15

Thanks for this. A good read. Let's hope they win tonight at Rangers.

Tom Owen
9 Posted 24/11/2011 at 17:27:32

For those interested, a link to watch tonight's game at 11pm as been posted on the Facebook and twitter pages ;)

Justin Packett
10 Posted 24/11/2011 at 17:54:21

It's nice to hear one of the Evertons doing well, just hope they can get promotion!
COYCDB.

Adrienne Bonwick
11 Posted 24/11/2011 at 18:40:39

It'll be nice to see them with another star by their name.

Jimmy Milner
12 Posted 24/11/2011 at 20:30:53

Great article, Mike, it brought back happy memories of my time in Vina Viña. I hope the Oro Y Cielo will be smiling come Sunday night. E4E

Ciaran Duff
13 Posted 25/11/2011 at 00:12:14

Good luck to CD Everton.

As an aside, I have been thinking that Everton should try to build on this Chilean relationship. A reciprocal visit and game in Chile would be good ? maybe as part of a South American preseason trip? The more connections that we can make, the more we can build our brand and support.

Michael Kenrick
14 Posted 25/11/2011 at 00:41:08

Looks like they ~~are~~ were leading into the last 10 mins, but allowed the Rangers to equalize. 1-1.

John Shearon
15 Posted 25/11/2011 at 00:53:25

1-1 at the end - after a shaky first half Everton settled into a more controlled second half. Let's hope they finish the "Huns" off in Viña on Sunday.

Chris McGinn
16 Posted 25/11/2011 at 07:35:14

Good article Mike.

With the home crowd sure to give great support on Sunday, I'm sure that we will soon see CD Everton back where they belong in the top division.

Alan McGuffog
17 Posted 25/11/2011 at 09:51:06

Don't suppose Happy Al's are going anywhere near the Sausalito at the weekend?

Tony Heslop
18 Posted 25/11/2011 at 13:05:31

Good first leg result. Atmosphere should be electric for the return at home. Come on Chile's 4th best supported club and the best outside of Santiago, as well as some of the best away fans of all. Just like us, in fact. E for E.

Chris McGinn
19 Posted 25/11/2011 at 07:35:14

Good article Mike.

With the home crowd sure to give great support on Sunday, I'm sure that we will soon see CD Everton back where they belong in the top division.

Paul Wharton
20 Posted 26/11/2011 at 07:24:02

Well done to Mike Owen for another good story about our Everton in South America.
Lets get back in the big time and see if we can get a game on in Vina.
Paul Wharton

Tom Owen
21 Posted 26/11/2011 at 17:50:23

Looking forward to tomorrow's game at 3, should be good.

John Shearon
22 Posted 27/11/2011 at 09:18:55

Looking for bar in Barcelona to watch the game - any ideas? BTW - Everton U14s national champions.

Tony Heslop
23 Posted 27/11/2011 at 16:19:44

2-1 after 50 minutes in the second leg to the boys in blue and yellow.
Live on rojadirecta.me

Tony Heslop
24 Posted 27/11/2011 at 17:51:34

Deeply disappointing in the end. Rangers equalise three times and it finishes 3-3. Rangers get promoted on the away goals rule. Exactly the kind of thing that would happen to us. There's another playoff chance involving two from Primera B and two from Primera A so all is not lost yet.

Ian Parr
25 Posted 03/12/2011 at 10:16:41

Top piece, Mike!

John and Gustavo make a lovely couple, don't we think?

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