Sad news that ToffeeWeb poster Martin Mason has died

He's been a long, long time contributer to this site... sometimes controversial but never really that rude.. unless he was really provoked.

I'd certainly have Martin in my ToffeeWeb First XI.

What I liked about Martin was that he was unique. He did his own thing and would come up with some pretty quirky stuff. But always a bit different from the mainstream.

If I recall correctly, his main spell with us was a few years ago, I want to say it went back to well before the Moshiri era, and he would defend the club against those who extrapolate rumours and gossip that would cast the club or its hierarchy in a bad light. I think it was during that time we thought he was a self-appointed apologist for Bill Kenwright.

He then slipped away into the shadows, stopped posting for a long time... must have been a few years, I think.

But he reappeared... and somehow he was quite different, still not singing other people's tunes but putting his own spin on things.

Away from football, I recall my only interaction with him offline, which was triggered by his claims on climate change. He claimed to be a Process Engineer.

I traced Martin's final outbursts to a 'clickbait' thread on Colin Gallagher that somehow went seriously sideways into Climate Change, with Martin kicking off as a fully paid-up Trumpian Climate Change denier.

Among a host of claims, he said he would happily debate it sensibly via his private email address. So I tried to take him up on that, as it is a subject I am interested in, and I like to see if there is any real science behind the denials.

I sent what was for me a very polite email, asking about the scientific rationale for the alternative view of climate change he had hinted at.
If I wanted to get a fundamental grasp of the underlying science, where could I get started? Could he send me a link?

His reply: "I'm sorry but I cant bring you up to degree level physics with a link." Not exactly what I was asking, so I tried again.

"Come on, Martin. One link that would get me away from the 97% who maintain that MMCC is real and an increasing threat. Something that you as a Process Engineer can trust as a reliable source of correct information that counters the climate change rhetoric that governments, the UN and WEF are all pumping out."

Nothing. Never heard from him since. And it appears now he has not posted on ToffeeWeb since that date. So I take the full blame. His departure must be my fault because I challenged his position. He will be missed.

Anyhow, he never brought that up with me. At the few away games he accompanied me with we stuck to team news and tactics, hopes and expectations.

I thought he worked in oil tbh but as I say, when I'm in game mode I only talk about Everton.

Born again Blue — from a year ago... almost to the day!

I stopped watching the games, even on TV; I visited this site now and again but didn't participate; I tried to even not read news about them or discuss with relatives and friends.

We build up a picture of a person from their comments on TW. Sometimes for me that has been accurate, sometimes not. I've met a number of contributors and enjoyed the company of them all.

I take the view that “They are an Evertonian, that's all I need to know”.

RIP, Martin.

I had a few differences with him on the live forum from time to time, but always respected his opinions, like every other member of the ToffeeWeb family.

It's funny apart from 3 or 4 who post on here, I always can almost 2nd guess what everyone looks like, ridiculous of course but you do feel that you know the regulars well without ever clapping eyes on them.

Condolences to Martins family he will be sadly missed.