Supported since: 2011-2012 (Started "checking results" now and again from August; only really became obsessive beginning from the second half of the season)

How I came to support Everton: through Tim Cahill's status in Australia. This sparked my interest in football, the premier league and gradually I became more knowledgeable about football. However supporting Everton has become more about one particular player but rather there are so many appealing qualities- in particular the amount of success achieved with so little other than passion. There are many things I cannot stand about football players but at least at Everton there are a number of decent pros who get the best out of themselves and do not cause controversy.

No. Evertonian acquaintances: Zero. One Man U fan rates Everton as his second favourite team. From most neutral perspectives it has a good reputation but unfortunately the number of Liverpool shirts I notice on the street is like 20:1 compared to Everton shirts.

Been a fan since 1984 when I was 13, my brother used to take me with him to The Wolves in the early eighties but I think I rebelled against him because it was miserable losing every week. So I became a glory hunter, but since I've been a Toffee we've gone downhill... (So you can blame me – I'm a jinx!)

Now that I'm middle-aged, I'm resigned to the fact that it's going to get worse before it gets better, HAPPY DAYS!

I decided I wanted to follow a football club a few years ago (5?) I thought 'Liverpool might be a nice club to support' so I watched one of their matches. By halftime I was thinking 'what a bunch of douche bags, I'm supporting whoever their rivals are.' Couldn't support Man U because everyone in America supports them so I went for Everton almost jokingly. Against my expectations, I started getting really involved, even a bit emotionally invested in this new found club. I dropped over a thousand dollars so far on a pilgrimage to Goodison this fall. I have four shirts, two scarves and various other Everton memorabilia. Needless to say, Everton grew on me a bit.

I'm 40 now, I first started supporting Everton for the 1984 Cup Final, I was just getting into football and Everton seemed like a good choice. Blue is my favourite colour, Ive no connection with Merseyside but was drawn to the history of the club and the way they played.

Went to my first games in 87 (Arsenal and Villa away)... Then averaged about 30 games a season up until I emigrated to Oz in 2008.

I now live in Brisbane and we have a fair few Evertonians over here, made friends with quite a few and watch most games live at the Pig N Whistle on Eagle Street Pier, we had over 150 there for the Cup Final in 2009.... Also attended a couple of ESCA (Everton Supporters Club Australia) event and of course went to the games when the team came over in 2010.

Been a huge fan since about 87/88 when I lived in Scotland. Funnily enough at that time I was a Dundee Utd season ticket holder and was lucky enough to watch Big Dunc make his debut at Tannadice.

My old man was born in Widnes and blue blood ran through his side of the family - needless to say this was to continue. My 2 year old son has a drawer full of "blue" clothing/merchandise so the trend will certainly continue.
Can't wait for this season to start up again - 3 points to start!

But I knew who Joe Max was from our terrible National Team and there he was scoring a goal in the biggest league in the world and fans cheering him. An American field player! It's difficult to explain what this meant to an American fan.

Anyway, I heard something Effernon, Eferten, something and it stuck with me. Whatever the name was I just assumed it was some city in England. But I never forgot it and can still see it clearly in memory.

Next was Brian McBride and I learned E-V-E-R-T-O-N. Still thought it a city in England. Cue a few years later and, shock, another soccer highlight on ESPN. Some fellow scoring a goal, fans going apeshit again. "Did he say 16 years hold"? First time I heard of and saw Wayne Rooney. "Everton? Hey I know them".
Friedel's heir apparent, Howard, signed next and Everton was now my favorite soccer team, even though I'd never seen them play. Just because they gave American players a shot.

Then Landon. More than anything, it's the way everyone treated him. I followed 3 teams from my heart; my New York ones. That complete, emotional, irrational really, commitment. Had no notion of adding a 4th. I'm a New York boy. The Goodison Faithful, you bunch really, convinced me to make the commitment. I'm an Evertonian now and for good.

Live in the DC area. Know a couple of "Everton" bars here and in NYC.

I've met 1 other Evertonian here in 18 years and I know there is another 1 around who I've never met. Only ever met 1 other Evertonian in my travels around the world (in Sharjah).

The people I know support Liverpool or Manchester, including the locals. There's 1 Middlesborough fan and 1 Newcastle fan around as well.

Born into a Liverpool family unusually not that interested in football. (Dad had his watch pinched at the one and only game he went to.)

It wasn't until age 12 (1964) that my Uncle Harry got me interested in Everton. Not a hard choice at the time to support the Mersyside Millionaires!

Season ticket holder through the late sixties and seventies before leaving Liverpool.

Probably more obsessed than ever. Have to be to stay up all hours to watch on dodgy internet links.

Mine was simple enough for one reason or another I liked the Nigerian national team and grew to like Yobo. Decided to figure out which club he played for, Everton, fair enough let's see what they're about. Obsession kicked in pretty early, can't really remember why. Next thing I know I'm waking up before the sun rises to watch a gamecast, and eventually streams.

Ended up meeting Yobo too when ever the team was in Columbus for preseason. Really nice guy, gave me a training kit and we had a pretty long chat(I was probably one of the few he'd met wearing his jersey) His whole situation now hardly has put me off which is the strange part. The club really did become bigger than any player to me. Even the one that got me into it.

Born in Bracknell, Berks in 1963 - my family emigrated to Cape Town in 1965. Moved to Joburg in 1968 and then to Zimbabwe in 1972.

My whole family comes from SW of London and are Chelsea supporters. I never followed one team until 1977. All of my mates at school were reds of some sort - the usual Scum, Shite and Arse.

My team had to be blue (favourite colour) and there was a certain Duncan McKenzie playing for blue team with a fantastic history. That was it – Everton – and the Woods, Jones, Pejic, Lyons, Higgins, Ross, King, Dobson, Latchford, McKenzie, Thomas team was memorised for life. We could get a Div 1 game in Zimbabwe about three days late at a pub in Harare and my dad took me to see Coventry vs Everton - my first sight of Latch terrorising defenders.

We had an Everton Supporters Club here in Joburg and I used to go to monthly meetings from about 1994. We had up to 40 members at one stage, all going to get the latest news and updates. Internet meant that the attendance dried up, as we could all get the news ourselves.

The best day the supporters club had was the 1995 Cup Final - there must have been over 200 people there with a big screen. Happy days.

I have managed to get across to two games, Chelsea at home Feb 1995 when Beattie got sent off for nutting Gallas and Villa at home Mar 1996 when we gave them a 4-1 hiding.

I still have 6 mates who are Evertonians and my 22-year-old son is Everton mad. He just loves the whole history bit.

And, I suppose, a manager who really appreciated Duncan McKenzie.

Started supporting them when my dad let me stay up and listen to the cup winners cup semi final vs Bayern Munich on the radio, was hooked from then on. That and he told me that all his older brothers were reds, I asked him why he wasn't like them and he said when they went out the house on a saturday the'yd all go right to Anfield and he'd go left to Goodison, (he grew up in Goldie street on sleepers hill)

Managed to see them a few times as a boy on visits back to see family in Liverpool and then more in the late nineties after moving to rotterdam and then easyjet opening up direct flights to Liverpool from Amsterdam, with both my parents coming from large families, somewhere to stay on a saturday night was never a problem, they used to think I was mad, flying from holland on a saturday morning to see Everton and then back again on sunday (they're all reds).

Since emigrating to Oz in '04 I have only managed to see them play once when I was home visiting family. took my old man from Inverness to Liverpool to watch Everton vs Everton chile.
Don't know any other toffees over here, but luckily I have Fox sports and can watch them most weeks on saturday or sunday through viewers choice, although when they're not a feature game you have to stay up until 2am for kick off.

Tony Rice absolute class of a middle name !!
We've just had our first child and she's got Everton everything.
I turned both my godsons into blues by sending loads of Everton gear every year (my sister is a red and she lets me).

Still madly in love with Everton, now in the Everton Australian Supporters Club. We meet up whenever we can to watch the games at the pub, which usually start at midnight,

When Everton toured here a couple of years ago, managed to see them in Sydney Melbourne and Brisbane. Met some of the players and David Moyse which was a great thrill for me.

Even after living here so many years I'm still a passionate blue nose, and can't stand the redshite.

One of the highlights of seeing Everton in my younger days was, seeing the mighty Holy Trinity playing together. Colin Harvey is my all time favourite player. In the seventies I had a friend who worked at Puma and he made me a special pair of white boots, just like Alan Ball used to wear.

Haven't been home since 1980, God I miss Goodison Park. sigh COYB.

Also you can count yourself very fortunate that you chose Everton - this also proves that the saying "Evertonians are born not manufactured" is true and that you were selected to be one of a unique group of human beings to walk on this planet.

I'm getting withdrawal symptoms.

Most people in this area tend to support the bigger Premier League clubs: Man Utd, Arsenal or Chelsea (yes, I did leave out Liverpool on purpose).

In 1986, I loved playing and watching football but had no real loyalty to any particular team (I had a West Ham sport bag and a Leeds Utd shirt).

In the FA Cup Final v Liverpool that year, my dad thought that Liverpool would win.... so I chose Everton.... the rest is history!

John (610) I went to St. Anthony's, and me and my mates still joke about surviving 'Nam! I now live just round the corner from the Asda. And I always let other people add the 'Royal', cause, you know, I don't want to show off.

One theme seems to be that signing the right overseas players draws people to the club. Nice that we all seem to be like missionaries or evangelists in trying to influence those around us as well. My two-year-old know the answer to the question "what's your favourite football team" and relishes shouting "Ever-TON" as loud as possible. I work with someone who's off to Kuala Lumpur so hopefully they'll spread the word there as you all do in your corners of the world.

Began supporting Everton in 1983/4, my dad had tried several times to get me supporting Southampton but I've never really liked red! He then started taking me to the Dell whenever Everton played there.. but had to stand in the home end and not shout when ever we scored!

born on the Wirral, raised Ellesmere Port, first time at GP to see Garrincha, Pele &co playing Bulgaria, Hungary and Eusebio's Portugal. Then the North Korea game! Already a 'family' blue, there was nowhere else to go after that.

We chose this little corner of Spain partly because there are so few English people here (its definitely not Essex-on-the-Med) but my Everton baseball cap does evoke recognition from the locals, and my Spanish and French mates here are very knowledgeable about their favourite support - much more so than most English supporters. But we have to get into 'The Champions' for them to take us seriously.

Fallowfield? I'm 'the only Evertonian in the local' (The Friendship) and, as I've said on these pages before, get a lot of respect as a result. Moyes doing it without any money is one big part of that, but more than anything else we are regarded as clean, something to be valued in the modern game.

Oh and Mike, I spent three happy years in Cov and have fond memories of a University of Warwick female residence in Royal Leamington Spa. And not just because the owner/caretaker was the father of a highly respected British actor.

I was born in the late 70's in Cumbria, and moved around a bit with my family until they settled in Hampshire in the early 80's. Not to sure really how I became an Evertonian, as my family are all Gooners, I think it was the influence of my dads good friend who was from Walton that swung me in the right direction. Got my first kit in '85and have been a die hard fan ever since. Growing up in Hants as an Everton fan with a broad Lancashire accent was tough, especially as I was the only blue at school. The accent soon dropped but the love for Everton didn't.

When I moved to secondary school, became best friends with another Everton fan (we were the only 2 out of 700 students). Religiously we would wear our shirts for PE, and stood out like a sore thumb. Being down south going to a game was always tricky. Before the of 16 I only managed to get to Goodison once, and that was because of a family visit up to friends in Liverpool. I was able to get to few away games at the Dell, but tickets were like ho cakes due to the tiny capacity. Once I turned 17 things change when I got my drivers license. I used to aim for 4-5 visits to home games a season, but the 9 hrs round trip drives were killers.

I met alot of Everton fans when I was at Uni in Bournemouth, due to the large scouse population in the area. The pubs were always full to watch the games, and had some great banter there. Also my dissertation title at Uni was 'The effects of football shirt sponsorship in today's game, using the case study of Everton Football Club and One 2 One'. After finishing Uni, I emigrated to the USA, moving all over the country until settling in Florida. Have really enjoyed the tours over here by the team, and went upto DC for the DC United game last year. I was great to see so many blues around the stadium. I've now started getting my kids into the team. My oldest's middle name is Everton, and proudly tells everyone what it means.I plan to take him to Goodison next year on a visit back to the UK.

The Dodgers always have a permanent, negative place in New Yorkers' hearts, for the obvious reason.

What's with the "closet"? Are you a Jets fan or not? Is the Tebow thing weird or what? Is there another athlete with so much charisma anywhere? And he's not that good a QB. Weird. Not weird, though, is he went to the only city in America his charisma fits.

But still weird.

Fado's on 7th St. NW. Great part of DC.

Originally from South Wales. Grew up surrounded by Leeds, Chelsea, RS supporters in school in the 70's. First game was a friendly at Newport County - possibly Latchford's first game for us? Moved to NZ 16 years ago - still surrounded by redshites in work.

COYB

No conections with Merseyside. Just born a blue. Grew up with all me mates either redshite or manure fans. 1st game was away at Sheff utd. 0-0, possibly 1991?? Remember Stuart Mcall and Tony Cottee. Love my trips to Goodison, and cant beat that feeling of excitment and hairs on back of neck when walking to the ground and seeing the old lady behind the houses. COYB!!!!

I understand why there's a lot of resentment about the Dodgers relocating to LA in the 60's but why don't the Giants get the same stick for going to SF at the same time? If it wasn't for the Yankees we wouldn't have had to go anywhere any way! : ). Now we've got Kemp and Ethier back the WS is back on (ahem).....

And Tebow'll do great, he's a winner!

In 2009 I was living in Ban Chang nearer work and I was in Sharjah 1974 and 2004 so missed you there too.

46 years. Started listening to BBC Sports on Saturday evenings in the mid-1980s, and there were only 2 teams then. Decided to support the more cool sounding "Everton" and I always support an underdog. Lost touch with English football until the late-90s when they started televising EPL on ESPN/SkySports in India. And lo and behold (!) - Everton were still in the top tier ! And then, of course, I discovered TW and did see some Indian names in here (Santosh Benjamin was a regular contributor here on TW until recently, where are you Santosh?). I havn't met another Blue in flesh and blood, but am trying to convert my daughters (14 and 8) into Evertonians. Tough job - ManU are the rage amongst Indian teenagers :-(
One of my life's ambitions is to visit GP for a home game.

We were successful during my childhood in the 80's but it mostly passed me by. I was 10 when I went to my first game in 1992. The 1995 cup final was an amazing day. Blues round our's could finally give the reds some grief again. I remember running up a horrendous bill ringing an Everyon hotline every 10 mins during the Kanchelskis transfer saga, during the pre-Internet / Toffeeeweb. How amazing was it watching Kanchelskis play? Imagine Kanchelskis and Limpar on the wings of our current squad!

I moved to Yorkshire when I was 18 and have been here ever since, first Leeds and now 8 years in Sheffield. Still go home a lot to see my family etc. I usually get to about 10 - 12 league games a year, maybe a couple of cup games (including Wemberley trips) and all the home games of we play in Europe.

Where I live in Sheffield there are about 10 blues who love in close proximity. We meet at the Byron (if not at the game) and they'll pit all our games on. I'm not sure if Sheffield is where I'll end up but wherever I do I know if I have kids they'll have no option but to be blue.

Anyway, it was the day of the cup final and we were out shopping, my Dad offered to buy me and my brother some football sweatbands but I didn't know what team to get. My brother suggested I get Everton ones as they were playing Liverpool that day - I did and have never looked back - I've still got the sweatbands somewhere.

I now live near Norwich with my wife (via Oxford, Bournemouth and a number of other places). I've always been a proud blue and am always happy to spread the good word. Unfortunately trips to Goodison have always been few and far between as I've never know many other Evertonians (I'd always see fellow blues down the pub for games, and we would always exchange a knowing nod) so the round trip on my own has always been expensive. I do get to a few of the London based away games each season, but it never feels like its enough.

I was a season ticket holder in the Upper Gwladys with first of all my uncle Frank and then with with my friend John Murphy, who I am am sure still goes to the game, and
my brother Steven in the Park End: Once a Blue, Always a Blue.

I've been a London Blue all my life. Not particularly exotic and the reasoning is very straightforward – my dad was a Blue and hence I was chosen. That being said, my life as a Blue has always been one as an away fan. Life in the away section at London games was always glorious, showing all those people in the home section who the real fans in the ground were as we outsang them without even trying. Converting my Hong Kong Chinese girlfriend has also been a high point of life.

The only thing that has ever even come close to Everton for me is the American Football team of Texas A&M University. My story is much like that of Pat Finegan @ 597 in many ways. I decided I wanted to get more into college football in America a couple of years ago. Despite having never been there, I had an affinity for Texas and wanted to choose a college team there to support. Part of me thought University of Texas was a good choice, but after investigating a bit further, they seemed very much like the Red Shite of Texas – plastic fans, a bunch of shitty choreographed ceremonies and the like. A&M however were the first team in Texas, were almost defined by their hatred of their media-bummed rivals and had a history and fan commitment that frankly seemed unmatched – basically the Everton of American Football.

Last year, I took a trip to Texas with a couple of mates to watch an Aggies game, and it was the closest I’ve ever felt to an Everton game – 90,000 in a stadium going crazy and singing in unison, a unique flavour to the team, and everyone else in the crowd loving us for being English. The funny thing is though, however much I got into the game, and I was even hugging strangers in the crowd with every touchdown. I couldn’t stop wondering how Everton were doing in their game against Chelsea, which was taking place at the same time. As it turned out, we were being battered, and, after the American football game had ended (and A&M had won brilliantly against a Baylor team lead by Robert Griffin III, the best player in the entire league), I checked my phone and suddenly became depressed about Everton losing. Which frankly goes to show, once Everton are your team, no matter how much you have an affinity to another team, Everton are what matters to you above all else.

Martin, "douche bag" is an insult in America. It's the equivalent of 'knobhead' or 'twat.' Didn't realize it was a regional thing until now.

But no military background for me, I'm a Quantity Surveyor and the '74 trip to Sharjah was just a holiday.

That's what got me dropping in to see mates in Fresno and going to a Fresno State game back in 1990. 100,000 fans to see a bunch of schoolkid amateurs!! and proffessional football in England can only fantasise about those sort of numbers.

I am proud to say I've seen us play during 2010. It was a very memorable night, Rodwell was dictating the midfield and Bily was getting slaughtered on the wing. It was also Beckford's first appearance.

I watch all our games, even though they are usually 2AM or something like that. Favourite game was either the 3-1 or the 4-4 this season against United. The big wig is my favourite player; I have 'Fellaini' on all my shirts. If he left, I'd be absolutely guttered.

I'm a ESCA member on Facebook, would be interested to see a game at a pub or something. I wanted to go to the semi but I believe I was too young.

COYB

Born in 1966 in Sydney to scouse parents who returned to Liverpool in 1969 then returned to Oz in 1979. Dad is a blue and mum is a red, thus my brother and I both support Everton whilst our sisters support Liverpool.

I've been back 5 times and always get at least one game in. Attended the Arsenal game (with my brother) when Rooney scored his cracker for the 2-1 win. I had never experienced such a buzz around the ground with people not wanting to leave after full-time before. My (older) brother turned to me and said "This is how it used to be!"

Lots of Man Utd and Chelsea and I'm sorry to say Liverpool shirts here in Adelaide but a small smattering of Everton tops usually with Cahill on the back.

I watch the games whenever I can though it can be tough if the game is on at 2am and I have to be at work at 7am. Dodgy internet feeds is my main option these days.

2012-13... I've got a good feeling about this one. COYB!

Napier New Zealand caught my eye. I've been there twice and its a lovely place. Amazed to know there are blues there.

Would be neat to have over here.

The one MLS game I ever attended, I was amazed when I was the only one applauding a brilliant goal that was scored by the visitors.

Dead silence...

The preface is that, in US society, everyone supports the home side... seemingly no matter where you come from. Travelling fans at games are virtually invisible, perhaps partly down to the distances involved being enormous compared with the UK. And winning at all costs is an innate part of the culture... Applauding good play by the opposition ain't.

I guess Olde Worlde concepts of sportsmanship are just that.

Let's see how the season goes and pick one where emotionally we'll be over the moon or under the ground at the end. "under the ground" being defined as that feeling we had after last year's semi at Wembley. And "over the moon" being the exact opposite of that feeling.

American supporters are nothing compared to English supporters. I've noticed football supporters are a bit more tribal in nature. When you support a football club, it is a part of you and it identifies you almost the same way as a religion does.

Most American sports fans don't understand the passion that goes into supporting a football club. I am going to England for the last weekend in September. I'm leaving on a Thursday afternoon. Spending Friday in London, Saturday in Liverpool, going to the Southampton match and coming back Sunday. I tell people and they look at me like I'm crazy. Maybe they're right but it seems completely reasonable to me and I'm sure it seems reasonable to you guys as well.

The first 5-6 years of being an Everton fan could not have been topped (except for staying in Europe and winning the EC - but thats another story...) and I can remember pretending to be Linekar in the playground, even though he didn't stay for long. The next 20 odd years.......well lets leave it at that.

I used to make it to most London away games every season until I moved to Germany a few years ago - that added even more to the misery as London used to be an awful hunting ground and I can remember regularly leaving Highbury, Stamford Bridge, the Valley etc on the end of yet another defeat in London. I only catch the odd game in London nowadays but am trying to get some blues over here for a game at GP in the coming season. My last time at GP was the FA Cup game against ManU back in '05 - Shreks first game back at GP after his move.....too long.

There are a few Blues over here (mainly of Irish decent) and the usual contingent of RS and manure fans that seem to invest every city, everywhere.... :-)....

COYB!

The Red Sox have a fair-sized National following, but comprised of almost all bandwagon jumpers since they won the World Series in 2004. Picture them like ManU followers around the world. ManU slumps for 2-3 seasons (which is inevitable) let's see how many fans they retain.

Well, he's NYC now. And you know what's going to happen to him if he doesn't produce. Jesus might show him mercy but the fans and press won't.

Toffee since mid-80s. As a Kiwi, there was bugger all football on offer – just results (text only...) every Sunday morning for each division. I must've been a contrary young-un as I became an Everton fan simply because all my friends supported Liverpool and I wanted to be different. Also as my name is Evan - it seemed similar to Everton (you don't need very good reasons as an 8-year-old).

What was a token association became fully fledged when I spent a couple of years living in the UK. The passion of the supporters, the underdog tag (compared with the big spending alternatives) and the battle with relegation in the early 2000s cemented it. My highlight thus far was a trip to Goodison – pitiful game via Fulham but the crowd, chants and passion was unforgettable.

Mike Green, I was able to see the Jets play in Buffalo last October (maybe November). Was probably one of the funnest days I've ever had. Those NFL fans know how to turn Sunday into Funday.

Supported Everton since 1982. Dad was a blue. Took me to see the Blues away at Maine Road in 1987. We had to go in the away end. He felt bad so took us to Goodison the following week against Norwich City. Fell in love with the place.

Don't get to go to the game so often these days, having a young family and all but never ever miss following a game, either on tv, radio, internet etc. Read Toffeeweb every day.

New shirt has just arrived to work this very minute.

Dad sadly passed away in 2003. My 19 month old son Noah will be brought up a Toffee.

Vivid memories of being in tears after the '89 FA Cup final. I didn't go to my first game until 20th August 1994 – v Aston Villa. Graham Stuart scored in front of the new Park End and the noise blew me away.

I picked my university based on proximity to Goodison Park so I could have a season ticket. I live down south now so mainly get to London games.

Born Walton Liverpool in 1952. The first year (1963) I started watching the Blues we won the First Division ! I was at Wembley in 1966 and 1968 and was at every home game when we won the League again in 1970. In 1973 I left Liverpool to go play football in New Zealand. In 1974 I moved to Sydney Australia. In 1987 I met all the players and Howard Kendall when the Blues toured Australia as Champions. In 2005 I moved here to Thailand. I’ve met a few Everton supporters here in Pattaya. Mostly though, you do see a lot more Utd and Lpool shirts.
However this morning when I was having coffee some young English lad wandered past wearing an Everton shirt !

When I first came to Thailand Umbro was our kit sponsor and you would see our shirts in all the major department stores and sports shops. Once we changed to ‘Cock-Sportif’ we disappeared from view ! Its only since Chang became our shirt sponsor you see a lot more Thais wearing the Everton shirt.

Eric, every Wednesday Friday and Sunday mornings, I have coffee at the ‘D-cafe’ coffee shop on the second floor at Big C Xtra on Pattaya Klang. If you want to say hello I’m the one with the Everton tattoo on my left arm ;o)

"Manchester."

"City or United?"

"Everton."

Broad grin, big hug. "I love your team".

Bought me a beer.

There is more class out there than we sometimes imagine.

I'm a Toffeeweb addict and never miss a match on TV or online unless some insane family member organises some ridiculous kids party on the day of a match. I sit there glued to my phone forcing the odd smile. My girlfriend reckons I change completely when watching Everton play. I just get so intense but still wouldn't swap it for the world. Buy a kit or 2 every years along with other merchandise (would buy more if it was available to buy in Ireland).

Roll on August for another 9 months which every weekend has the ability to change my mood from despair to joy. Still going to miss that corner flag getting punched by Timmy though.

I have no family links at all to Everton or the Merseyside area; first memory of Everton was unfortunately the 1986 FA Cup Final. I chose Everton for two reasons: one being, my older brother was an RS and told me I had to pick a football team so to wind him up I picked the closest team to his but not his, if that makes sense.

Secondly due to a hole-in-the-heart problem I spent a ridiculous amount of time at Royal Liverpool Children's hospital which used to be on Myrtle Street before it closed down, great hospital! When I had my operation my parents got me a picture or the great Kevin Sheedy to put next to the bed and he remains to this day my favourite player of all time.

The staff at the hospital were fantastic and I remember one of the male nurses or porters saying "Nice blue shirt, lad; if it were red I'd have left you down there" which made us all laugh.

First trip to Goodison was a 1-1 draw with Arsenal and I think Perry Groves scored for the Arse before Mike Newell equalised for us. I don't get to many matches due to shifts and expense but I have converted my dad to a blue and now my 5-year-old is also bitten with the bug.

COYBs!!

I live in Bristol now, surrounded by Liverpool supporters from everywhere bar Liverpool.

Heroes, sorry, players I've admired - Bob Latchford, Duncan McKenzie, Peter Reid, Duncan Ferguson, Tim Cahill and Marouane Fellaini.

Jab, cross, hook, Tim.

Born in Birkenhead, ran our own business in Liverpool until we sold up and emigrated in 2004, always supported the Blues as do my 2 sons, been back a few times, we all miss going but you get to see most matches here which is a consolation .............looking forward to this season for some reason..

COYB

Then when I was about ten, in the early 90s, my mum married a Liverpool born everton fan and that was it. Earliest memories are of amokachi and rideout and have been increasingly addicted since then. Still London based and try to watch all our London based games and follow the rest glued to dodgy Internet streams, bbc updates and usually the toffeeweb forum!

Dad was a blue. To be fair to him took me to watch the RS (against Leicester when they were the RS bogey team and Banksy in goal) -and then the mighty Blues. The rest is history. Son is Blue as is his 6 year old daughter - we all travel together to the game.

Great thread. COYB