Everton Club News / Club Index
Everton Club News / Club Index |
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FA Cup The Toffeemen have been handed a home tie against Norwich in the 3rd Round of the FA Cup. Games will be played the weekend 3/4 January. Other notable ties are Northampton v Rotherham and Gillingham v Charlton. (07/03/04) A war of words has broken over the laying to rest of Everton legend Tommy Lawton's ashes. Tommy's wish was always to have his ashes scattered at his beloved Goodison Park, but his son feared if any proposed ground move was to go ahead, that his father's ashes would be left behind. It now looks likely that Tommys's ashes will be kept at the National Football Museum in Preston. Museum
spokesman Mark Bushell says:
"He intended for his ashes to be scattered on Goodison Park. But
in the last few years, there has been some uncertainty as to whether or
not Goodison Park would still be here in a few years' time. His son was
loathe to do that, fearing one day it may become a supermarket."
(05/12/03) Russian Skipper at Goodison Russia's experienced skipper Victor Onopko has been invited by David Moyes to train at Bellefield with the squad. It is believed Moyesy is lining up the Russian international, who has 112 caps, from trilbees to deerstalkers, to replace Joey Yobo when he leaves for the African Nations Cup in January. Moyesy is hoping to bring the Real Oviedo defender in on loan till the end of the season. (04/12/03) Fixture Change Everton's away league game at Birmingham, has been changed from Tuesday 10th February, to Wednesday 11th February, kick off 7:45pm, due to a change in the Midlanders schedule.This now means that the rezzy's match on Wednesday 11th February against Leeds, has now been postponed, and a new date is yet to be announced. (01/12/03) Everton will receive a much needed half a million quid if ex Everton defender Michael Ball starts for Rangers in their Champions League game this evening in Stuggart.This will be his thirtieth match for The 'Ger's, and in making that number of appearances it triggers a payment clause due by Rangers to the Toffee men. It is unclear, however, if the payment will complete the £6.5million deal struck in the Summer of 2001 by the then Rangers manager Dick Advocaat. (26/11/03) Congratulations To Blue Boy Matt Birkenhead born and life long Evertonian Matt Dawson, was celebrating winning the World Cup on Saturday against their old enemy Australia, in a thrilling 17-14 extra time victory in the Final of the Rugby World Cup. Before he left for the land of the convict's over two months ago, Everton boss Davey Moyes sent him a personal good luck message.The two became firm friends after meeting on a television show earlier this year.Bluekipper.com also send their congratulations to Matt and all of his victorious team mates. Matt Dawson says :"I found myself knowing that I was going to do this TV programme with the guy who was in charge of the football club I support, a man I have a huge amount of respect for and that I wanted to meet. I got a great buzz when I met him, probably because he is the manager of Everton Football Club, the team which is close to my heart and always has been."(24/11/03) Gerrard To Stay At Sheffield Sheffield United boss Neil Warnock hopes to hold onto Everton goalkeeper Paul Gerrard.Gerrard's loan ends this week at Bramall Lane. Neil
Warnock says :"Maybe we'll take someone else on loan for
a month, but we'll also be talking to Paul." (23/11/03) Ex Everton player and one of the game's genuine nice guys Dave Jones return's to his old stomping ground tommorow.Even though his still feels as Goodison is his true footballing home, he will not allow his sentiments to get in the way as he tries to secure valuable points for the Midlanders.Hopefully Dave goes home empty handed.!!! Wolves Boss Dave Jones says: "I always get a fantastic welcome at Everton. It is a very special place for me to go to. Whenever my wife and children are there, they are welcomed with open arms. I know there will be a lot of stuff written about Dave Jones going back to Everton but I am not a sentimentalist. My job is to get the result for Wolves and that will be my sole focus. I just want the points.'' (21/11/03) Ex Everton, Lazio, Newcastle, Rangers, Middlesboro', Tottenham, Burnley, some club in China, and now Wolves player Paul Gascoigne dearly regrets leaving the Blues when Walter Smith was sacked from the club. He honestly believes that he did not give Moyesy a chance to show him what he was made of. Now I am not doubting in his day Gazza was one of the finest talents of his generation, but me thinks if he honestly believes Moyesy was going to keep him, he is even more barking than I originally thought. Gazza says: " Leaving was one of the bad moves I have made in my career. When I heard Walter Smith was getting sacked I was so disappointed.As a team we could have done better for him. That left the board and the fans on his case and it was a great pity when he went because he is a fantastic manager and Archie Knox was a great coach. They have won championship medals and cups.David Moyes came in and gave me a chance to go to Burnley. I got promotion when I was with Newcastle and I wanted to try and get that same buzz again but it didn't work out like that.In the back of my mind I think I should have tried to stay. I regret it a little bit because I didn't give him a chance for us to work together. I look back and kick myself.I let my heart rule my head because of what happened with Walter." (21/11/03) The Nat West Liverpool Senior Cup Final Everton
will play Tranmere Rovers in The NatWest Liverpool Senior Cup Final on
Tuesday 16th December, 2003 at Prenton Park, 7.00 pm kick-off. The Final,
which was originally due to be played last season, has been postponed,
due to the fixture commitments of Everton, Marine and Southport. Labby Leads Tribute's To Eddie Thomas Brian Labone led the tributes to ex Everton striker and team mate Eddie Thomas who died last week aged 70.Thomas worked his way through the ranks at Goodison in the mid 50's to appear 93 times for the Blues, and return with an excellent scoring record of 41 goals. In 1960 he was sold on to Blackburn in a deal that brought Roy Vernon to The Blues. Later he appeared for Derby, Swansea and Orient, but after retirement he was still a regular attendee at Goodison. Everybody at bluekipper.com also pass on their condolences to Eddie's family. Labby says: "Whenever someone dies, particularly a former team-mate, you always hear people saying, 'He was a lovely fella.' Perhaps it's become a bit overused, but it couldn't be more true in Eddie's case.As a player, he was unbelievable. He looked so slight, but he didn't half possess a powerful shot and he was so nippy. He was a nightmare to mark.It was so nice to meet up with Eddie and discuss old times. He was living in Derby, but used to come up for the games and I always used to enjoy seeing him then.My sympathies go out to his family and all of his friends, he'll be missed."(19/11/03) Everton have been named in the top 50 most successful club list of all time in research done by the eminent Brazilian scholar Marcelo Leme de Arruda.The Super Blues came 43rd in the study based on the teams Trophy winning past.With nine National Titles, five FA Cups, and The ECWC to boast of, Everton beat such great names as Marseille, Paris St Germain, Rangers and Celtic. The only other English clubs in the Top 50 were Manchester United, Arsenal, Aston Villa and the Shite.The likes of Newcastle, Chelsea and other great pretenders of the English game do not even herald a mention, and rightly so.The winners of this prestigious title were Argentina's Boca Juniors, with Real Madrid being Europe's top club. (18/11/03) Blackburn's Matt Jansen has warned Everton's under achievers to be careful that relegation does not creep up on them. Jansen who suffered the same fate with Blackburn a couple of seasons ago has fired a warning shot in the Blues direction.Now you might be thinking who the fuck is Matt Jansen, but in fairness to the lad, he has a very valid point. Blackburn's Matt Jansen says: "A lot of people around the place were saying 'this is a massive club, we only won the title a couple of years ago, it can't happen to us.'Then we would lose again, and suddenly it was a case of 'hang on a second, we're right in the thick of it.'Panic can start to set in and you just get caught up in it. When it gets to that stage, it can be anyone who goes down.It gets to be like a cup final every week. This game was like that to a large extent. They couldn't afford to lose again, and neither could we.There is a danger you can think you are too good to be caught up in things at the bottom. You are just waiting for things to pick up, but it only does that if you make it.So of course Everton have to be wary of thinking in those terms. I am not suggesting for one minute that that's what they are doing right now, but it can almost creep up on you.(12/11/03) Pack The Sun Cream, Canaries Here We Come Everton have rewarded their players for their fantastic performance against Blackburn with a break in the sun to fabulous Canary Islands.I can just imagine my boss after I have just had the worst day of my working life, treating me to a weeks jolly somewhere. I would more likely be wondering if I could afford next months mortgage payment as he puts me on a months probation, hey buts thats just my opinion.Anyway ex skipper Kevin Ratcliffe believes it will be a worth while exercise for the team.Let's fucking hope so, as their next trip may be to the job centre. Ratters says :"The lads only see each other for a couple of hours most days and when you go away for away games you tend to stay in the hotel.There aren't that many opportunities to bond. By going away this is a chance for people to get together and air their views.Things can come out when you are away together on a trip like this that can help the team. It is not just the manager who can get things off his chest, the players can talk to each other and tell each other where they think the problem lies." (11/11/03) Waggy's China Trip A Roaring Success Dave Watson, accompanied with Community officers Ted Sutton and Dave Connor heralded their trip to Shanghai as a roaring success. Waggy was asked by the Blues hierarchy to take the Everton name and brand over to the Far East were potentially lies the biggest market in world football. Satellite TV already brings Premiership action into the living rooms of the Chinese, and Everton's profile is extremely high with Li Tie, who is China's answer to David Beckham, and our partnership with electronics giants Keijan. Marketing Manager Andy Hosie always made the trip to try and boost our profile, and hopefully bring some much needed funds to the club. Waggy also used the jolly to try out some of the local dairy products especially the cheese, so he could write a report for his underground magazine Cheese Monthly, of which he is the editor. Waggy says: "Professional football in China has only been up and running for about 10 years and at grass roots level they don't have a structure in place yet.Ted and Dave, who have worked with kids for many years at Everton, were able to give the people in Shanghai an insight into how to go about getting things started. I did some work with the under-16s and a lot of local coaches came along to the sessions to see what we were doing. They had some input of their own and that certainly opened our eyes.The idea is to spread the Everton brand and make as many contacts as we possibly could. We met a lot of people from the Shanghai club. They were all keen to get involved with Everton so all the meetings went well.We are a step ahead of a lot of English clubs over there simply because of Li Tie. He is a legend out there, his face is on all the billboards and the Everton name is getting about because of it. There's a lot of knowledge and interest in the Premiership and all the kids want to be the next Li Tie." (05/11/03) Bill Kenwright hinted today that the capacity at Goodison may be increased to create extra revenue, if any future ground move does not come off.The Park End may be the area to get an extra tier, as it is the only part of the ground with the required space to develop on. Blue Bill says: "We are now discussing a bigger capacity at Goodison Park. This is about getting extra revenue in so that David Moyes can have more transfer money." (05/11/03) Everton's proposed trip to Dubai next week has been cancelled.They were due to fly out after the Blackburn game to play a friendly to celebrate the opening of a new stadium, but this has been put off as the stadium will not be completed in time. (04/11/03) Everton's forthcoming Carling Cup tie at Middlesbrough's Riverside Stadium is to be played on Wednesday 3rd December, with kick off at 8pm.(04/11/03) Rodders, This Time Next Year, We'll Be Millionaires Bill Kenwright has given us an insight on what it is like for Moyesy and Himself to be Merseyside's answer to Rodney and Del Boy.With hopefully the signing of Sean Davis now not far away, Blue Bill explains that it is a fine line you tread to raise the cash. Blue Bill says: "The chairman did say that we have to sell in order to buy and he’s 100% right but you can, as David and I have shown, be quite clever in your buying and your selling. We brought in five players last year, we’ve brought in four players this year for relatively little money. When I say relative, as the chairman said we spent £7 million this year, I think we spent £7 million last year, and that’s not counting the salaries which is also new money that is added on to the overdraft. I don’t think anyone out there should be thinking that the gates are closed at Everton Football Club because they’re not. David and I will look at each other every single day and say ‘ok, this is the problem.You know the problem, I know the problem, 40,000 supporters know the problem and what we need. We still need what we needed last season. We know that, so we have to find a way of making that happen. These days you don’t have to sell a £5 million player to buy a £5 million player, all you have to do is in going out and getting that player make sure you’ve got enough this year and the next year and the year after and that you don’t one year build up so much future hope that you come a cropper like Leeds. You’ve just got to keep on keeping it tight and keep on balancing those books and that’s what David and I talk about all the time." (03/11/03) Everton director Paul Gregg has ruled out any Roman Abramovich spending spree at Goodison Park.He told shareholders even though He feels we are moving in the right direction financially, there are still very tight financial constraints around the club. Paul Gregg says: "It would be wonderful if we could all write out a cheque.But everybody on the board is in business and have got personal restraints on how we deal with our finances.The Chelsea situation has ruined the Premiership for the other clubs because it has created a massive hill to climb. I am constantly having conversations with Bill Kenwright concerning the strengthening of the club and getting back up to that level." (01/11/03) Everton hold their 124th Annual General Meeting, this evening , to news that our financial situation is on the upturn.As normal Sir Philip Carter will chair the meeting, were Keith Tamlin, and Paul Gregg are up for re election to the board. Normal business will be concluded fairly quickly, then shareholders can have the floor to fire questions at the board, and team manager David Moyes. (30/10/03)
Aston
Villa v Crystal Palace We were
last out of the hat, let's hope we can be last in the competition! Reserves Date Changes Everton's reserve match against Blackburn Rovers has been moved from this Tuesday, to Thursday October 30th. Kick-off is 7pm at Haig Avenue, Southport.Also the home fixture against Leeds United reserves has been moved from November 11th to February 11th 2004. (27/10/03) Everton are planning a mid season jolly and bonding session, to coincide with a free weekend, due to Internationals, to the Middle Eastern Country of Dubai. Details are yet to be confirmed, but the squad, minus the International players will depart straight after the Monday night Sky live game against Blackburn on November 10th.The team are planning on playing some local sides whilst taking a mid season rest in the Winter sunshine. (27/10/03) Ex Everton skipper Dave Watson is off on his travels, as an ambassador for Everton FC.The Blues are opening soccer schools out in Asia, in an effort to try and untap some of the talent in the region, as well as highlighting Everton's profile.The relationship with this part of the world has blossomed, with the arrival of Li Tie, and our fantastic sponsorship with Chinese electronics giant Kejian.At the recent Adelphi evening, celebrating the '95 Cup success, Big Dave exclusively told bluekipper.com absolutely nothing about his Far East jaunt, but kept mumbling on about his love of cheese instead. Waggy says: "There has already been contact made between the Chinese people and Everton, that has been ongoing now for some time.It is a case now of me going over there, setting up the soccer schools and getting communications going between everyone involved. I envisage being over there for about five days initially and then depending on how things go it could turn into something much bigger, which we hope it will, because English football is massive over there now.We have got Li Tie playing football here at Everton and his presence at the club gives us a great opportunity which needs to be exploited." (26/10/03) Who's Getting The Ale In? The Blues today signed what could hopefully be a lucrative contract with beer giant Budweiser.The ale will now become the Official Beer of Everton F.C. As well as being sold in the ground it will also incorporate pitch side advertising, and the rights to put Everton FC's logo on their bottles world wide. Also instead of the players walking off the pitch with their customary sports drinks, you will now see a crate of Bud being brought on by the trainers and ball boys at all times. Michael Dunford says: "In Budweiser we have found a partner whose ambitions match our own. This new partnership means Everton FC is joining forces with the world's best-selling beer, and we look forward to working with Budweiser in the years to come." (17/10/03) Randall Blackford, Budweiser's UK marketing director says: "Budweiser's partnership with Everton Football Club is an outstanding fit, bringing together two brands with a commitment to quality and dedication to being the best. This sponsorship is a great way for Budweiser to reach beer drinkers, and we are proud to be associated with Everton Football Club." (17/10/03) We're In The Money Everton Football Club today announced increased profits for the 2002/03 season. The overall operating profit was £5.6 million, against a loss last season of £11 million. Though these results are a bit distorted as the figures exclude a £12.5 million write off on transfer fees, though the club argues that the results are in compliance with normal accounting procedures.The club turnover increased to £46.8 million, from £38.2 million last season, the proportion of this cash was due to the increased Sky TV deal accepted by the Premier League.Gate receipts were also up £1.6 million to £14.6 million, as capacity crowds were becoming the norm again at The Shrine. The Club has a long term loan agreement set against future season ticket sales, and according to the Club this debt is under control.If like me these figures baffle you, one thing is for sure that the dark days of Peter 'redshite' Johnson are thankfully very much behind us,and hopefully now the Blues can get stronger on and off the pitch, and with these set of results we certainly seem to be heading in the right direction. Hey,but that's just my opinion!!!!!! Michael Dunford says: "The debt is now secured over 25 years, so the debt is under control. There has been a considerable improvement and that £30m has been under control for two years now.We will never be complacent but gone are the days when everyone felt Everton were in financial crisis. Everything seems under control." (10/10/03) Charlton Dated Confirmed Everton have confirmed the Carling Cup 3rd rd tie at home to Charlton will take place on Wednesday, 29th Oct. 2003. Kick-Off: 8.00p.m. Prices are £15 for adults. £5 for kids & twirlys. (01/10/03) Full Fixtures And Match Reports Ground Share - Statement From Everton's Chief Executive - Click here for Fans Views Michael Dunford says: "There has been a great deal of speculation recently in local and national press concerning the ‘proposals’ for a new stadium in the city of Liverpool. Much of the discussion has been centred around the possibility of Everton and Liverpool Football Clubs sharing the site in a way that it is much more common abroad than it is in this country – the San Siro in Milan is obviously the most well-known example. About a week ago the club had an approach from Bryan Gray, the chairman of North West Development Agency to see whether Everton and Liverpool would meet to discuss the general principal of the two clubs potentially sharing a stadium. We’ve sat around the table, we’ve had one meeting, and we discussed whether or not both clubs would consider that option. The issue is obviously a highly sensitive one and, as such, both clubs are receptive to discussing it, without making any commitment whatsoever. We came away from that meeting having made our position abundantly clear, as indeed did Liverpool. Liverpool’s stadium plans are far more advanced than ours. They are about to submit a planning application during the first week in October for their new stadium and if all goes well they would be hoping to be on site, building that stadium by May 2004. So if something is to happen, the two parties have got to come together very quickly and agree the way forward. The conduit for that has got to be the North West Development Agency and Liverpool City Council. I think it’s everybody’s wish to see some sort of world-class football stadium that would benefit the City of Liverpool but as you would expect there is an abundance of non-footballing aspects to consider. There was some concern from the Regional Development Agency that there was going to be a request for grant aid, particularly towards the infrastructure costs, which could be considerable if we’re talking about a 55 to 60,000 capacity stadium. Maybe there was a thought that if the Liverpool FC project was going to receive central government funding then there would be pressure, quite rightly, being exerted by Everton to receive a similar sort of funding package when we either re-develop Goodison or move to a new stadium of our own. Given that there is not a bottomless pit of money it was sensible for the Regional Development Agency to bring the two parties together and that’s all we’ve done at the moment. Everybody shares the same aims and ambitions. The authorities want the two football clubs to be successful but this is probably the last stop saloon as far as any opportunity for the two clubs to share a stadium. I believe it was mooted some fifteen years ago, but it came to nothing. Now with the Capital of Culture bid on the horizon in 2008 it’s an opportunity for both clubs to finally discuss the matter in earnest and decide if there is any common ground. Leaving out, if you can, all the passion and the traditional arguments that Evertonians and Liverpudlians will use, if you were a neutral, it does seem rather senseless to have two clubs going off in their own direction potentially investing upwards of £150 million on two separate schemes when, as we’ve seen in Italy, a shared scheme can work for two footballing giants. The original initiative for talks had to come from a third party. I think it would have been most unlikely that either football club would have come and asked the other to sit around the table to discuss it, but the Regional Development Agency and Liverpool City Council have said: ‘Look, before we go any further, can we at least once and for all investigate whether there is any mileage in a ground share proposition?’ There are mountains to climb, huge mountains. Liverpool have got their own agenda, we respect that, and they’ll do whatever they think is right for Liverpool Football Club and make no mistake about it, the Board of Directors at Goodison will need a lot of convincing that the economic arguments are so strong that Everton would wish to share a stadium with Liverpool. There are certain issues that are, as far as we’re concerned, non-negotiable. I won’t go into those, but all true-minded Evertonians, I am certain, will know what I am talking about. There are certain issues, which the board are very passionate about, but we owe it to everybody to at least sit round the table and explore the possibilities and that’s all we’re doing. Whether it comes to anything remains to be seen, but at least the local authorities are bringing the two sides together and are saying: “Come on now, is there any way this can work? If there isn’t - then that’s fine.” Liverpool will do what they want to do and we will make a decision as to what we want to do in the future. Whether that be staying here to re-develop or move to an alternative site, we will have to wait and see. We do have other options and we will still consider them, but given the speed in which the Liverpool scheme is now progressing we’ve got a one-off opportunity now to discuss it. If the eventual outcome is that we go our own way, then we will remain as we are - two massive football clubs in one great city, but it just made sense to at least have a discussion. We don’t want supporters from either side of the city saying: “Well, are we going to have blue seats or are we going to have red seats?” We’re not into that detail at all, in fact that wasn’t even discussed. It would have been very narrow-minded for either football club to say: “Sorry, no, we’re shutting the door on that,” without at least discussing the financial benefits that might arise from a shared stadium and that’s where we are today.What is the right outcome? Who knows? We all have our own views, but be rest assured, unless it completely satisfies Everton 101%, there will be no sharing option." (29/09/03) Fans Views We've got a home draw against Charlton in the 3rd Round of The Carling Cup. Ties to be played Oct 28/29 (27/09/03) Only Site On The Agenda Is Stanley Park! Everton will get a muliti million pound helping hand in getting a new stadium, but only if they share with the redshite, & the stadium is built at the site of the shite's proposed new home in Stanley Park. Not much to ask is it? Council chief executive David Henshaw, and NWDA chairman Bryan Gray and chief executive Stephen Broomhead told the shite's Rick Parry and Everton's Michael Dunford that up to £30m could be available from the public money, but only if the two clubs agree to share. (23/09/03) Everton have confirmed that they are in talks over a possible Ground Share. The
Statement says: “The Northwest Development Agency (NWDA),
together with Liverpool City Council, has asked Liverpool Football Club
and Everton Football Club to discuss the economic development and regeneration
benefits of building a new, world class football stadium in Liverpool.
Discussions are taking place between NWDA, Liverpool City Council and
the two football clubs. No early outcome is expected." Can you
believe it? (22/09/03) Everton released this statement today: "Everton Football Club today noted with interest the suggestion by Liverpool City Council that a ground share proposal involving Everton FC and Liverpool FC be considered. We have also seen response to that proposal by the Liverpool Chief Executive Mr Rick Parry and wish to confirm that Everton FC are also currently considering its own new stadium options." Interested, My Arse! (19/09/03) Everton's opponents in next Wednesday's Carling Cup Tie will be without a manager. They sacked Carlton Palmer. John Hollins & former Everton star Kevin Richardson take charge. A date has finally been set for Everton's second round Carling Cup tie against Stockport. It is now on Wednesday 24th September. Kick off at Goodison Park will be 8:00pm. (08/09/03) The Rotherham friendly which was cancelled due to their coach getting stuck in traffc, will now be played o Monday. (06/09/03) Everton will play Rotherham at Bellefield on Friday in a behind closed door friendly. So if you haven't got a ticket don't go there may be a bit of trouble. (03/09/03) Evertonians @ Memorial Service EVERTONIANS will be gathering at the Hillsborough memorial at Anfield on Saturday 23 August, at 12.15pm, for a short service to remember the 96 football supporters who lost their lives in the 1989 tragedy. The service will be conducted by the Everton club chaplain, Rev. Harry Ross, vicar of St Luke's Church, Goodison Road. It follows tit-for-tat acts of vandalism last season when there was paint thrown on the Hillsborough memorial following two incidents of paint being thrown on Everton's Dixie Dean statue outside Goodison Park. It is hoped that the service will help to bring an end to the vandalism which has tarnished the name of Merseyside football. "Memorials are for remembering people," said a spokesman for the Evertonians. "Respect should be shown to those who are no longer with us, and consideration shown to their families. "If people stoop to vandalising memorials, they are not only letting themselves down, but also letting down their club because it reflects badly on them." Phil Hammond, of the Hillsborough Families Support Group, said: "I shall be attending this service. We don't want to see any further vandalism at Goodison or Anfield. Dixie Dean and the 96 people deserve better."
Mr Ross, who will be conducting the 10-minute service, said: "It's time for football fans to show generosity of spirit, rather than meanness of spirit." The Evertonians showing their respects on Saturday are passionate Blues, and some would love to see Liverpool relegated. However, they feel just as strongly that the Hillsborough memorial should be treated with the utmost respect, as should any other memorial. The Evertonian spokesman added: "Arguments between Evertonians and Liverpudlians are part and parcel of Merseyside life and will continue; but throwing paint on memorials only brings shame on the club that the culprits purport to support. It must stop. "Remember that football is the beautiful game. And when disasters relating to the game happen, such as Burnden Park, Munich, Ibrox, Bradford, Heysel and Hillsborough, football fans should forget their traditional rivalries and show respect for those who lost their lives and their families." Perhaps some younger supporters don't realise how the followers of the two clubs rallied together in 1989 after FA Cup semi-final day when the Blues went to Villa Park and the Reds to Hillsborough. When the Evertonians came out of Villa Park after winning their semi-final 1-0, they began to hear that something bad had happened at Hillsborough. One Evertonian said: "At first, we heard that five people had died, then someone said 12. Surely that many people could not have died going to the match, we thought. But then the figure rose into the 30s. "Evertonians, as they travelled back to Merseyside, began to worry about their Kopite mates. There were no mobile phones or text messaging then. "And as they got back home, they heard that the figure was 50-odd, 60-something. The number lost continued to rise, to 96. Ninety-six; young, old and middle-aged; male and female; tall and small; but all dearly loved by their friends and families. "It was a devastating time but Evertonians stood by Liverpool fans in the weeks after, sharing the grief. After all, they have always gone to school together, worked together and socialised together. They still do." "The bottom line is that throwing paint on memorials only brings shame on the club that the culprits purport to support. It must stop." (21/08/03) Everton Footbal Club have issued the following statement: Ian Ross says: "We are getting back to the basics - the bread and butter of running a football club. We are still looking for alternative options to Goodison but the time has to be right and the financial aspect has to be right. We went through two & half years of the Kings Dock proposal and it was long, hard and expensive. We learnt lessons from that and maybe the biggest one was that moving to a new stadium is an incredibly expensive business. The good thing is, we do not have to drag our fans to Goodison. They like coming here." So does this mean that the ring fenced money has a big hole in it, & Moyesy can have some? Answers on a postcard! (20/09/03) Our home game against Manchester City originally scheduled for Saturday, 6th December, 2003 has been put back to Sunday the 7th December 2003 kick off 2pm. The game will be live on SKY pay per view. (20/08/03) England Under 21's Tickets Go On Sale Today Tickets for the crucial European Under-21 Championship qualifier friendly between England and Portugal at Everton's Goodison Park on Tuesday 9 September will go on general sale today, Monday 18 August. Kick-off is at 8pm. Priced
at £10 for adults and £5 for children and senior citizens,
tickets can be purchased via the telephone hotline on 0870 7383 7866,
by fax on 0151 286 9119 or at Goodison Park ticket office.
The Arse game will be screened live at Goodison Park. Only the Park End Stand will be open. Admission is by TICKETS ONLY. Tickets are Adults £10 and £5 Concessions. Tickets go on sale at Goodison Box Office from 9.30am on Wednesday 13th August until 4.30pm on Friday 15th August. No tickets will be on sale on Saturday. So if not going to Highbury, Get Down To Goodison.(12/08/03) Tickets on Sale for Holland Trip Just 1000 tickets will go on sale tomorrow, priced at £7.50p for the friendly with Dutch side, Roda JC. So it looks like a few pints n the Winslow, followed by a night in the tent outside Goodison Park. Tickets will be sold on a first come first served basis, starting at 9.00am from the Park End box office. (21/07/03)
Southport For The Reserves As we all thought Everton have decided to to have the Reserves play their home games at Haig Ave, Southport's ground. Michael Dunford said: "We are delighted that we have reached agreement with Southport.We were becoming increasing dissatisfied with the pitch at Widnes and had to seek alternative arrangements.I would like to place on record my thanks to everyone at Halton who have looked after Everton over the past four seasons."(01/07/03) Waiting List Everton will have a waiting list for Season Tickets. The Club want to make 10,000 tickets available on a match-by-match basis, plus 3,000 for away supporters. Michael Dunford says: "We are sifting through the new applications now. We are very close to the 27,000 mark and it is looking likely a cap will be introduced. There are a lot of people wanting to change seats or add seats. That will create a waiting list. We are pleased with that because there are not many clubs selling 27,000 season tickets. A decision on the cap will be made next week. Imposing a cap is a decision we knew we would have to make. It is a case of keeping a happy balance between the steady income of season tickets and making match tickets available to fans who are regulars but cannot afford a season ticket. We want a good flow of supporters." What do you think? Should there be a cap or not? E-mail Blue Kipper (27/06/03) Boro away has been moved to Sunday, 21st September 2003 kick-off 2pm. Full Details here. Everton are involved in 3 games on Sky up until November. They are our home game against the redshite, which will now be played earlier in the day (30th August 2003) with a 12.30pm kick-off. Don't you just love these beauts at Sky. Saints at home is moved to Sunday 19th October 2003, kick-off 4.05pm. Blackburn away is now on Monday 10th November kick-off 8pm. Full
Details here. Pay-per-view games are still to be announced. Another
announcement should be made later in the week. Watch this space. Everton have been allocated 5000 tickets for the Gers friendly on 26th July 2003. The club has not said how it will sell them. We think this is too small an allocation, seeing it's the 1st time most Evertonians will have been there to see Everton. The last visit to Ibrox was a British Championship game in 1963. Rangers as usual are giving their season ticket holders free entrance. Now there's a nice gesture. Don't you think, Mr. Dunford? (24/06/03) Sold Out Everton
season tickets have become a target for the touts. This is partly due
to Everton suspending the sale of season tickets. This is the first time
in their history, that this has happened. Already fans have been approached
by ticket touts, while queuing to renew their tickets at Goodison Park.
With the Moyes effect, coupled with the media frenzy over The Duke, It
seems everyone wants a season ticket. Everton will now wait until until 21st June, which is the last date for renewals. Then see how many seats haven't been renewed. Very few if any, we think. Then they will make an announcement. (10/06/03) Everton Gain Rule Change Everton have got their way at the league meeting. Billy Spokesman says: "Payments for transfer fees can now be spread over the length of a player's contract, so if the contract is for five years then the fee can be spread over that time. It will bring it into line with the foreign market. If you can do that with players from Italy or Spain it seems only sensible to be able to do it with players from England as well, and it should make it more attractive to managers to buy English-based players. However, this does not stop clubs asking for payment all up front or within 12 months if they wish to do so, it just gives them the option of spreading it out." Right then get out there & buy. (06/06/03) Cap On Season Tickets Everton
are considering imposing a cap on season ticket sales, after sales have
hit another all time high. They will make a decision after June 21, which
is the deadline for renewals. The Moyes effect together with fans wanting
to see The Duke on a regular basis, sent the attendances over 40,000 for
the final five games of last season. Now they are approaching 27,000 season
ticket sales, which would break their 1996 record.
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