The Bramley Moore ToffeeWeb get-together

Great meeting everyone in the pub and seeing George float in on his cosmic wave!

The pub landlady is a Blue and considering the struggle she must have had to keep afloat during Covid etc she must really be looking forward to the future. I hope she gets a few real ales in, though!

I'm sorry that you and I didn't spend a bit more time together, and like yourself I still get goosebumps when I enter what some refer to, as a dump.

I suppose that there will be some who will accuse me of seeking Brownie Points when I say that the first organised coming together was the result of my wish to put faces to names following my 7-week stay in Southport Hospital in 2018.

My daughter informed ToffeeWeb members of my situation and relayed the good wishes extended to me, and to celebrate my 80th birthday, I had the pleasure of meeting Dave and Tony Abrahams, Steve Ferns, Bill Griffiths, Peter Mills, George McKane, and Gerald McKean.

Now, 3 years later the fifth get-together was, as you rightly say, attended by close on 20 people, and I would hope that the proximity to the new stadium will see The Bramley Moore pub become the venue of many more such gatherings.

When I pop my clogs, I hope that I will be remembered for the part I played in bringing fans of Everton together, rather than for the rubbish I have occasionally posted.

ps: I probably am seeking Brownie Points...

Seeing as you mentioned Belfast in your piece, I thought this might be of interest to you and others from Northern Ireland.

Everton's new store in Belfast

I saw it on Twitter the other day, but apparently, there is a Leeds United shop right next door to it?

Have to say I really enjoyed the evening, nothing better than being to talk all things Everton with guys who are so dedicated to the club.

Thanks to Rob and his wife for the lift home, we really must have a pint in the Village soon.

Glad we got to meet before the match too, even though I dipped for the line with that one. I doubt they're on here, but thanks to that family for letting me jump in the taxi with them from Wetherspoons in town to County Road.

I still can hear that guy sat behind us Andy. Special indeed.

And once again, great work by Tony navigating through the traffic to get us all to The Bramley Moore. I said on the match thread, I have to admit a sense of emotion and pride looking through the gates of the dock and seeing the construction vehicles parked up.

Good conversation with all present, unfortunate my plans took me back to London. Just about. Left it late, thought I'd got a taxi at the rave place just down from The Bramley Moore as he dropped off. Asked him if I could jump in and get to Lime Street sharpish. He told me to phone – I tried to negotiate. No negotiation.

So a run across town it was to make the 19:48 to Euston with 2 minutes to spare. Dipping for the line again. There's a theme developing. Sweating, a bit out of breath but still got it! And smiling all the way to Coach C (the Bar Coach)!

John Senior, if you're going to be remembered for posting rubbish, I'll be remembered for posting emotional nonsense! Great to meet you in person sir.

I always remember your first visit on the Friday night before the Derby game at Anfield in The Midland, I was amazed you came over, not to watch the game but just to come to the ToffeeWeb meeting, brilliant, you were going home the next day and the game was on the Sunday, we had a good night but I'm sure you would have been found a ticket for the game if we'd only known.

Anyway Andy you kept your record up in the three games you have seen, Man Utd won 4-0, Watford won 1-0 and Norwich won 2-0, three victories and no goals conceded, keep coming Andy I know how much enjoyment you get just being in Goodison Park, very best wishes.

All the best Andy, hope you are doing okay with your prognosis

Anyway, hopefully I can make the next one.

Does anyone know how I can make a donation to Derek’s appeal?

Danny, it sounds like you ran faster than some of our players did last season!

I share Bill’s hope the BM gets some real ale, though they will need to ensure it is looked after and that they have the custom to support it. Nothing worse for the reputation of real ale than a poor pint served by staff who have not been properly trained in preparation and storage. Hopefully the prospect of increased custom will encourage them to go down that road.

Danny, I roared with laughter at your description of your long dash to Lime Street for the Eustace train. I made the same run with Dave A after the Derby at Anfield. What a great memory.

In all fairness to George, he did send a link to Facebook and the Dark House Blues etc. But, being a bit of a Luddite when it comes to social media platforms, I technically have a Facebook account but never use it, and the same goes for Twitter Twatter, Instagram and Jog Onogram. I just am sceptical and can't get into them at all, so couldn't get hold of the photos properly.

It was a great weekend as Andy has already mentioned, and being like Andy these days, I don't go to that many matches, but I was a season-ticket holder for many years in Upper Bullens. I regrettably gave the ticket up as I always seemed to be working shifts when we were at home (Sod's Law) and gave it away more than I attended.

Still, I am fortunate in that I have an IPTV Service, and very rarely ever miss a televised match, even when it is from abroad. Although I love watching our beloved Blues, a televised match can never compare with the atmosphere, the banter, the whole euphoria, even when the match has been a bit of a damp squib.

I too enjoyed The Bramley Moore hospitality and it is the ideal venue for any future gatherings, as it will gain a lot of popularity as the new stadium looms into life, so glad we have our 'collective feet' partially under the table.

I just wish that more had turned up, and I know taxis were at a premium but the People's Buses did run to Kirkdale and Sandhills from the ground. It was mentioned a couple of times before the game, on the pre-match thread and the Get-Together thread, so come on, guys – next time, please make the effort.

Thanks again, Andy, for the write up, and you know you are welcome at any time in the future to stay in Chester, a bit of a hassle with trains and taxis, but I think it was well worth it in the end.

The pub has an upstairs bar with a view directly across to Bramley-Moore Dock. Maybe if we can get the numbers in the future, it may be viable for the landlady to open up that bar for us.

Hopefully someone will put the full details up for the next home game against West Ham for a worthy cause.

Everton fans have been invited to a special walk from Bramley-Moore Dock to Goodison Park in aid of mental wellbeing.

Jay Deakin, who formed Talkhub, has teamed up with the Everton Fans' Forum to encourage men over the age of 18 to join a special 2.2 mile ‘Walk and Talk' ahead of the club's fixture against West Ham later this month.

The walk will start at 11:30 am on Sunday October 17th from The Bramley Moore Pub on Regent Road and go all the way to Goodison, passing PowerLeague Liverpool (commonly known as The Pitz) at around 12pm.

I was all for the meet up at the pub. Trying to find my way to the pub at Bramley or the buses lined up opposite the souvenir ship back to town was the easier option.

Even back at limeStreet it ticked over and over to try and get to the Bramley pub.

I hope the next one can be arranged closer to the City or even a meet up before the game, in a pub close to the ground.

Had I seen the ant hill mob taxi of seven, near the Dixie statue, I would have gladly rode on the roof, to get to the destination, knowing had it been a trip back from the seventies, my flare kecks would have given some much needed assistance in generating some power for the overload.

Anyway, sorry I missed the last one,hopefully will get to meet a lot of you on the next one.

Sounded a great turnout and meeting up.

Everyone then has a meet up point, know where they are going and everyone’s a winner.

The People's buses which go to Sandhills Station are parked at the front of the lined up buses.

I think the idea is to try get the numbers up and to establish a ToffeeWeb presence in the pub. I think Derek had quite a few problems trying to get a venue and The Bramley Moore pub ticked all the boxes (except for the real ale).

I'd be quite happy to meet up with you for the next one.

Be nice if any other ToffeeWebbers were around, even for a cheeky one before or after the game.

It's a fairly easy walk to Kirkdale station, a couple of minutes on the train to Sandhills, then a doable walk to the pub.

It is more of not knowing the way by foot than anything else that hindered my going the last one.

Once I get my bearings and easy walking access, I will no doubt turn up for the next one.

As you can appreciate a minibus has limited capacity, so whoever commits would have to be on it otherwise the cost has to be met by those who do.

The other aspect is that the Police temporarily shut the road off (blockade it rather) just after the Dixie Dean Statue in both directions as the match spills out, so there is no flow of traffic as people make their way from the ground. Where would the minibus park and wait?

I am not saying it can't be done, but as you know every available parking space is taken before and immediately after the match, even by McDonalds, Iceland, Aldi so is difficult to wait there.

Having 'found' The Bramley Moore, and sort of established ourselves there (thanks to Tony Abrahams) I would hate for us to start choosing other venues (we have had two already before The Bramley Moore). Make no mistake this venue will be so popular as the Stadium nears and is completed. Even a spec in the Gent's will be at a premium, so I think a little bit of effort and semi regularity in attendance will pay dividends in our favour in the future.

Establish the relationship now and cometh the hour, we have our place right outside the stadium.

We'll probably need ToffeeWeb ID badges to get in!!

Is it walkable from Goodison, or would it be possible for people to make their way to the Elm for a quick one and then either taxis or minibus from there?

The Elm is just a little way away from Goodison, but handy to arrange moving on to The Bramley Moore pub.

To be honest, I think the not knowing our way from Goodison Park to The Bramley Moore pub is the sticking point for a few of us; once we get our bearings, it will be a doddle for all future outings there. So a local guide would be great for those of us in the dark, trying to get there.

Or even a rough idea walking there, like walk down such a street, turn left there, walk wherever – just a rough idea and I would be happy to walk there.

While it is physically possible to walk from Goodison Park to The Bramley Moore, you would need a drink by the time you got there (if they were still open 😜)
– only joking as usual, but it is quite a way, but not far from Sandhills.

As to getting a mini-bus,I am not sure what the cost would be for such a short hire, that is if they were to entertain it, and I can only reiterate that those who wished to use it, if so, would have to be committed and follow it through (barring emergencies of course). Again, an awful lot of planning when the People's Buses are readily available after each match and do go to both Kirkdale and Sandhills.

Danny, "We'll probably need ToffeeWeb ID badges to get in!!" A cunning plan, Meester Bond, which would be under the lapel of course, for fear of copycats, or Anfield Agents. 🤔🤦‍♂️

So now it's a case of directions from Sandhills to The Bramley Moore Pub being needed.

If another meet up is planned and I am sure a few others of us want to visit The Bramley Moore so, if enough bodies we could all meet by the Dixie Dean statue and head for the soccer bus, or catch the soccer bus after the game and meet up at Sandhills.

Like I say, I would have happily gone to the last one, but for the lack of not knowing how to get there...

Now I know you can catch the soccer bus to Sandhills, this will benefit others as well for future meet-ups.

All we need now is directions from Sandhills, which we can discuss before the next meet-up.

I turned left on exiting the station, walked under the bridge, straight down to the dock road (crossing the first road), then left at the dock road and the pub is on the left-hand side, opposite the dock gates.

I think you could turn left at the first road then cross and take a right down to the dock road somewhere further along.

I found it straight-forward just to go straight down to the dock road and turn left.

There's a few points I'd like to mention: for a start, The Elm Tree is no longer with us but The Barlow Arms or Lulu's (on the other side of the road about 50 yards away) would be good. I don't know what the traffic and crowds were like when you met up but all the taxis know both of those pubs, so good places to meet.

Brian, from Sandhills, walk down the hill to Regents Road, then turn left for a few hundred yards till you fall into (or maybe fall out of!) The Bramley Moore.

I know one thing: make no arrangements for Land of my Fathers when there's a match on; and definitely not when there's a meet on!

I never knew The Elm Tree was no longer with us. It was a nice stopping point from Kirkdale station, to meet up with some other Blues.

Also talking about mental health, which is another subject close to the heart.

Go Mick. I know he's not doing it for this reason, but what an ambassador for Everton and the city of Liverpool.

[To avoid confusion, The Crown right by the side of Lime Street.]

Come on blues be generous.

I'll then know at least a couple of faces, when I make the next Bramley Moore meet.

Holy Trinity statue sounds a good idea, then we can head for the Soccer Buses back into town with any others who fancy a drink in The Crown.

I'm also in the Lower Bullens, Row B, Seat 181, Gwladys Street side of the half-way line.

Any more stragglers heading for Lime street are more than welcome to join us.

I am row F seat 227 Upper Bullens.

Or I may just wave to you at the Holy Trinity Statue. :-)

Strangely enough I was going to suggest wearing a cap or Bob hat just for the time at the statue, to stand out a bit more, however yours has out trumped mine big time.

Anyway joking apart, when we find out how many are heading back to Lime Street, we can arrange how to spot each other a Day or so before, on the Everton West Ham match thread.

As the numbers seem to be growing exponentially, and taxis being still at a premium, the People's Bus to town looks favourite!

Just thought, Brian W, I should already know you by then, as I am going on the walk from The Bramley Moore pub to Goodison Park (weather permitting). That's a relief, didn't fancy wearing my outlandish garb again, since I last wore it under-cover, as a 'Spy for Mothercare'!

However, the People Bus will get us all to The Crown after the match. I will look out for the Schalke top so make sure you wear it Sunday, Danny, or I will be waving to every Tom, Dick and Harry... :-)

I am getting the TFW Merseyloop train to Lime Street, then walking to Central to get the Southport train to Sandhills, then a hoof to The Bramley Moore, they are fairly regular even on a Sunday, so maybe you can make it after all!

The charity walk starts at 11:30 from The Bramley Moore to the ground. It will be after 12 before I get into Liverpool so, with the checks at the ground going on as well before the game, I will be heading straight for Goodison.

Hopefully Danny will have his Schalke top on, so I can pick him out after the game, by the Holy Trinity statue.

Are others still on for meeting by the statue after the game, then getting the soccer bus to town?