EXCLUSIVE - Euro Glory

I have attached a pic of our EVERTON disability squads on tour in holland. We took 4 teams over in all and won the first European
trophies for the club this year. LETS HOPE ITS THE SART OF EUROPEAN DOMANATION FOR THE BLUES. PLEASE show this as it would be great for all the lads involved. Many thanks. Great site keep up the good work. kaufy72. (18/05/07)

Double For Arteta

Mikel Arteta won both Player of the Season and Players' Player of the Season at St Georges Hall last night. Vaughany carried off both the Young Players Award, and there was a moving tribute to the late, Great Alan Ball as Derek Temple received on Alan's behalf the Peoples Club Award from Peter Reid. There was not a dry eye in the house. (09/05/07)

The full list of winners were:

Player of the Season: Mikel Arteta
Players Player of The Season: Joleon Lescott
Young Player of the Season: James Vaughan
Goal of the Season: James McFadden's Beauty against Charlton at Goodison
Shareholders Young Player of The Season: James Vaughan
Reserve Player of The Season: John Irving
Academy Player of the Season: Shaun Densmore
Disability Players of the Season: Paul Brady / Danielle Evans
Fan of the Year: Jim Kearney (RIP)
Ladies Player of the Season: Fara Williams
The Howard Kendall Award: The 1987 League Championship Side
Everton Giant: Colin Harvey
The People's Club Award: Alan Ball (RIP)

Awards Night Live

Everton's End of Season Awards at St George's Hall can been seen tonight at 10pm on evertonTV's live coverage. For full details click here

Everton Cleared By Premier League

The Premier league have cleared Everton and Man Utd of any skulduggery with the permanent transfer of Tim Howard. He joined Everton on a season-long loan deal from United last summer, which became permanent in February. Premier League rules on loan deals prevent players from playing against their host club but, once the Howard deal became permanent, he was eligible to play against United on 28 April. The Premier League would not have sanctioned the permanent transfer if United had requested a clause preventing Howard from playing against them.

The Premier League's statement says: "Everton were free to play Tim Howard in their fixture against Manchester United had they so wished - and this has been confirmed by both clubs. It remains the case that there were no agreements that breached any of our rules." (06/05/07)

Kirkby - Next Stage

Everton has released details of the next phase in the Clubs proposed move to Kirkby. To the uneducated like me, it means there will be more meetings which will outline how local Kirkby residents and businesses may be affected by a Stadium and Retail Outlet built in their area. The Club have reiterated that the fans will also be consulted in the style of a fans ballot, to gather our views, which will be fun. Will the ballot paper be big enough !!

A Joint Statement says: "Knowsley Council, Tesco and Everton Football Club have been involved in an exclusivity agreement for several months with a view to deciding whether to go ahead with proposals for a new retail centre and football stadium in Kirkby town centre. At a recent high-level meeting, it was agreed to move to the next stage which is to start a major consultation process on the proposals for residents and businesses in Kirkby."

Keith Wyness adds: "We have been fully exploring our options for the future for some considerable time now. Talks with both Knowsley Borough Council and Tesco are continuing and we are encouraged by the progress which has been made. We hope to be in a position to deliver more news, and more information to our supporters in the not-too-distant future." (04/05/07)

Everton Chairman Pays Tribute To Paul Mac and Sting Ray

Everton chairman Bill Kenwright paid tribute to Blue Kipper Stalwarts, Paul McComb (Pal Mac) and Ray Jones (Sting Ray) in last saturday's Everton programme. In a tribute to Alan Ball, Blue Bill included them as members of the Everton extended family.

Show Me The Money

So we are all manure fans as the trophy hunt hot's up, as the Blues will be richer to the tune of £1.65m if the Mancs scoop the Treble. This was the clause put in the sale of Wayne Rooney to the Mancs back in 2004, but as they say don't count your chickens.......... For full details of Master Wayne's Transfer click here. (20/04/07)

Warren Fights Back

Liverpool City Council Leader, and Everton Season Ticket holder Warren Bradley is still confident that the Blues can still play their football in the city boundaries for years to come. Pilloried in some circles for the perception that the shite are been bent over backwards for, whilst the Blues are left to fend for themselves, the Council Leader and long time Evertonian has come out fighting. Two sites are apparently on offer in Liverpool. One of the sites is Gilmoss on the East Lancs Road, and the other is in the ten odd miles away in the South End of the City.

Some Blues have asked the question what about Walton Hall Park, which is a stones throw from Goodison, but the Council Leader does not want to see the City's limited green space used for building developments.

Whatever your views are, and we all have them, one thing is for sure, Everton are skint and cannot finance this one their own. So if any rich pissed off sheiks are reading this, please contact bluekipper.com, and we shall put you in touch with Blue Bill and his boys.

Warren says: "I personally think public parks are there for leisure and enjoyment, but we’re in a position now where Stanley Park is being used and Evertonians are saying ‘Why can't we use Walton Hall Park?’ But I don’t believe two wrongs make a right.

I think Chinese whispers have happened where people have said ‘Warren Bradley obviously doesn’t care’ but people who know me and how passionate I am about the city and Everton FC under-stand this wouldn’t have hap-pened if I’d been tipped off earlier. The tip off I got was Everton were talking to Knowsley and at that point I got Everton in and we did some work on sites – that was the least I could do. Everton then moved forward.

Before Christmas, me and Bill Kenwright didn’t know each other. Me and Bill Kenwright now are seeing each other and our relationship is going from strength to strength. And he knows exactly what I want to achieve – Everton FC is fully aware of what Liverpool city council wants to achieve. I want the club to stay in the city because I think it’s an integral part of city life. This is Liverpool’s 800th birthday and we’ve been talking a lot about heritage – and Everton is part of that heritage.

I don’t see any reason why Goodison Park can’t be redeveloped. You could quite easily fit an additional footprint and some commercial activity – a hotel, for example – into a new development.”

I think what will probably happen is that Liverpool will move forward with its new stadium and Everton will probably end up playing at a new stadium . . . in North Liverpool, although I think South Liverpool is the best site – no two ways about it. (28/03/07)

Believe In Yourselves

The only Captain in Everton's history to lift a European Trophy is telling the current Blues squad that if they keep up the level of performance that saw them beat Arsenal last week, they won't be far away from a European slot come May. The Rat as he is affectionately known is also very impressed by new boy Manuel Fernandes, and believes that the Portuguese youngster is getting stronger with every game.

The Rat says: "You have got to remember why you got that result - and they got it because the lads worked their socks off. We are becoming a side that nobody wants to come and play, which is so important if you want to challenge for Europe. I think the lad Fernandes has come on since he came to the club, he is strong and looked very influential against Arsenal. Three points are just as important against Villa as they are against Arsenal though. At the end of the day it doesn't matter who you pick them up against." (24/03/07)

City Council Still Hope

Warren Bradley, leader of the City Council sounded like a beaten man, when he said he hoped to keep Everton Football Club within the City boundaries. It seems the City council has only just got it's arse into gear, because Knowsley council and Tesco has come up with the goods. Everton haven't got a pot to piss in. Everything is mortgaged to the hilt. So when Knowsley and Tesco came up with forward with a plan, they were bound to look at it, even though the majority of the fans want to stay in Liverpool. It's a pity Liverpool City Council couldn't come up with a viable plan before.

Councilor Bradley says: "If Everton's deal with Knowsley falls through, I hope they will be able to discuss possibilities in Liverpool. As a City Council leader more than an Evertonian, do we really want to see a commercial business the size of Everton move out of the city? Of course we don't.

What we have got to is do all we can to retain them in Liverpool. We've done work on finding land and we are doing work at the moment on finding further commercial partners. If at some point Everton say their current plans for Kirkby are not financially viable because there is no asset base, or Tesco say this doesn't stack up for us or any of our retail partners, and those involved don't think they can take it any further, then hopefully there will be possibilities in Liverpool.

I have always been an advocate of the joint stadium with Everton and Liverpool. I thought it would half their administrative costs and stadium costs which had to be a plus and they could put the extra finance on the pitch. There is a business community there that has been stabilised because Everton have been there. It would be a sad day because a lot of the businesses that have survived because of Everton wouldn't continue to have that under-pinning support.

The council went to hell and back for Everton on King's Dock, but unfortunately the business plan was never going to allow that to happen. Since Christmas Bill Kenwright and I have spoken, not particularly about a new stadium, but about striking up a relationship between the council and the chairman of Everton and I have got to say it has gone from strength to strength.

If Everton decide the exclusivity deal with Knowsley is no longer, I believe I can sit around a table with Bill Kenwright and the chief executives of the council and Everton and come up with something I believe is acceptable to Everton supporters and also to the city.

It is something we are looking at. There is a school close by and I have got the chief executive of the council working on that. The main issue is what commercial partners Everton would get in that area. I know Everton have an opinion on that. But what I would say is if Everton feel they can get some commercial support or commercial sponsors in there to do something special, there is no reason why we can't do some land assembly work to ensure that we can extend the footprint of Goodison.

If Everton do decide for commercial reasons they have to go to Kirkby, that is a decision they will take, but as council leader and a season ticket holder, I would like to see Everton remain in the city and I have definitely not given up on that." (21/03/07)

Should We Stay Or Should We Go Now

As The pro's and con's of Everton's future are argued out in pubs, clubs and message boards across Merseyside, well respected Football Finance Expert, Professor Tom Cannon has given his views on the debate. The fans are split, some want to stay at our beloved ground, some want to move on, some see it is as sacrilege that we may leave the City boundaries, some see it as our saving, so whatever your views, this one is sure to rumble on for some time to come.

How Attractive Are Everton To Invest In: "It depends on the type of investor. If you are looking for a bankable asset probably not because bankable assets are probably the top four clubs, with one or two others who are single town clubs such as Newcastle. If you are a speculator and you think you could invest enough to turn a club strategically in another direction then they might be attractive."

How Much Would The Blues Cost To Buy?: "One of the hardest things in the world is to value a football club. If it was a takeover, one would have to assume there would be a premium. So assume that premium, particularly in the current market, would probably value the club at around £50m.

There is also now the question of the new stadium. It looks like there is a very attractive package on offer in Knowsley, so assume Everton need to put in £30m for the stadium and then to invest to clear most of the debt would probably be another £30m. Everton are relatively debt-free in Premiership terms, so let's say it takes £100m to buy the club, make an investment in the stadium and clear most of the debt.

Everton normally spend around £20m a year on players. So in terms of players, to take Everton to the next level and spending more than you normally spend, you are probably talking between £40m and £60m, taking the gross price to about £150m to £170m."

Would Blue Bill Sell: "Bill has said in the past he would stand aside if someone he regarded as the right person came along, and I believe he is being 100% accurate in that, but that hasn't happened yet. I think Bill has done very well for Everton. There are things he could do differently. I think the board is too small, with only two or three people. He should be looking for a more broadly-based board, maybe five or six people with different kinds of expertise, if not more money. Look at who Bill's closest friend in football is? It is David Dein at Arsenal and they did not achieve their success overnight."

How Important Is The New Ground: "The ground move is crucial, given the type of ground developments we are seeing in the north-west of England. Everton need a new ground. Goodison Park is old, tired and badly structured, with 3,000 obscured-view seats and only 11 executive boxes. Staying at Goodison Park is the nearest thing to a guarantee of decline that you can come up with. Whatever you did there, the cost would be enormous. If you tried to close down sides while you turned the ground around, it would inevitably be in the shadow of the new Anfield. I think it should be some distance away.

I don't see Kirkby as a problem. If Manchester United can be outside Manchester, I don't see why Everton can't be outside Liverpool. Knowsley Council has a fantastic reputation for collaboration. You don't have organisations the size of Ford, News International and Tesco involved with the council unless that is the case. Having the money to spend on players, having money to invest in the development of talent and having money to bring in the best in terms of management and skills is the way you get success.

Everton are obviously involved with Tesco in the new ground and we are very lucky to have arguably the most successful company in Britain being run by a totally committed Evertonian in Sir Terry Leahy. But it must all make sound sense for everyone involved because I do not believe Sir Terry would make a decision like this based on sentiment. He would not damage Tesco and he would not damage Everton."

Mail Us Your Views @ info@bluekipper.com

Tesco Terry Banging The Drum For Kirkby

Terry Leahy, the Tesco boss and Everton Football Club's consultant has said he thinks Everton fans will agree to Kirkby when they see the plans for the new stadium. So although the official line is no decision has been made, we think Terry's mind is made up.

Terry Leahy says: “ My decision is commercial. It’s at an early stage. It’s a great collaboration between Knowsley Council and Everton for the regeneration of Kirkby town centre. Tesco always improves an area. It provides jobs and attracts other investment. The case is to be put to the fans. I’m sure when they get to see the plans they will see it as a tremendous opportunity.

Kirkby is part of the Liverpool City Region. When Everton FC moved to its current site, it wasn’t in Liverpool. One day Goodison will fall down and we have to plan for that day. I am a keen Everton fan and understand how much a club means to a supporter. But I think when the plans are able to be presented for Kirkby the fans will be excited by the proposals.

It is always difficult when you only know of the down side and that is leaving Goodison. But it is not possible to stay at Goodison. It would take years to redevelop piecemeal and would not get ancillary services like retail to make these things work, so we have to move. And I think Everton fans would not be happy walking past Liverpool's new ground with no prospect of a new ground for Everton." (16/03/07)

Blues Announce 10% Reduction

Bully Beef today has announced a prize reduction with next season's, Season Ticket prices. A window of four weeks will be available from the 1st April to purchase next seasons tickets at reduced prices. For example an Upper Bullens seat next season should be £557, but if bought from April, it can be purchased for £501, which is a 10% saving. Any fans who buy after the April deadline, will still only be paying the same as last season, which is £557.

Bolton and Blackburn have recently announced price reductions in their ticketing policy, so lets hope football in general can make the game more affordable for all, and see stadiums packed out, instead of empty rows of seats in future.

Bully Beef says: "We are all mindful of the recent media attention on ticket prices and in view of that, and our commitment to giving supporters value for money, we were determined to offer genuinely competitive pricing for next season.

Gate receipts represent a significant percentage of any football club's income and whilst it is critical to ensure the ticket pricing offer is the right one in order to support the aims and objectives of the team manager, it is vital that coming to Goodison Park remains affordable." (28/02/07)

.....And Protest We Will

A group of Everton supporters from the Independent Supporters Club, will hold a peaceful protest at Watford this afternoon when the Blues visit for the live TV tea time clash. They feel that Everton are being left behind as the rest of the Premiership are able to attract real sugar daddies willing to fund their own clubs spending. They believe that Blue Bill and the hierarchy at Goodison do not want to relinquish their power within the walls of Goodison.

Listen fella's I know a couple of pissed of sheiks who may be interested in throwing a few bob our way, after our neighbours shit on them big time.

A Spokesperson For The Everton Independent Supporters Club says: "We feel that doors are being closed on anyone who tries to invest in Everton. Clubs like Manchester City, Portsmouth and Aston Villa are all able to attract investment, yet we seem to be left behind."

Ian McDonald says: "We are fed up of just treading water in the Premiership and Bill thinks it is acceptable to only survive. When you see the money pouring into the Premiership, Evertonians can’t understand why none of it is ending up at Everton." (24/02/07)

Proposals Submitted To Knowsley

Everton's proposed move to Kirkby took a step closer last night, when proposals were submitted to Knowsley Council for a retail and leisure development which my include the new home of Everton FC. As thought the location is Knowsley Community College, off Cherryfield Drive, although the exact site and design of the proposed development are yet to be decided.

All three parties, Tesco, Knowsley Council and Everton themselves are all keen to stress that these proposals are all at an early stage, but after the cancellation of the Kings Dock project, this is the most advanced the Blues have been with any proposal as they search to find a new home.

Councillor Eddie Connor says: "The proposals from the developer are still only a very early outline of what the development could involve. There is a lot of work to be done before any initial ideas are formed into something more definite, and we will be asking residents to help us shape the plan in order to give them something that will bring real and long term benefits to their town. We are still unable to go into any detail on the layout of the development, because we simply have not got to that stage yet.

We are committed to keeping residents and those who work in Kirkby, and in the wider region, informed of developments at every stage of our discussions with Tesco and Everton FC. We urge anyone who has an interest in the future of Kirkby to have their say, and we will be holding further community consultation events to allow them to do this." (07/02/07)

Your Not On Michel

Everton Legend Graham Sharp is having a pop at UEFA President elect Michel Platini. The French maestro is taking over the hot seat at UEFA, which is a step in the right direction, but his ideas regarding the Champions League format is what worries Sharpy most. Platini wants to take away the fourth Champions League spot from English football, and the ex Everton hit man believes it will be nigh on impossible for clubs like Everton to repeat their achievements of 2004/05 season.

Sharpy says: "The chance of clubs outside the elite breaking into that 'cartel' gets harder every season. Platini's idea would just make it harder still. It is the same four teams always up at the top, and those four are going further and further away from the rest. I bracket Everton, Aston Villa, Spurs and Bolton all in the category of hanging on to their coat-tails. Unless someone can make an effort to get into that top four on a regular basis, and upset that 'cartel', we are always going to struggle.

Everton did manage that recently - that was a real achievement. It didn't go well, because we were not used to European football. But it was a great achievement getting there. It gets harder each year for the likes of Aston Villa, ourselves and a few like us - and the longer it goes on the larger the chasm is.

We have to establish ourselves year after year as a club that finishes in the top six and can get European football. We must build a reputation, appeal to outside investors and to gain revenue. Otherwise, the top four get richer and richer year on year." (01/02/07)

Emre Charged With "using racially-aggravated abusive and/or insulting words"

The FA has charged Newcastle United midfielder Emre with "using racially-aggravated abusive and/or insulting words". The Turkey international has until January 29 to respond to the charge.

Johnson Points The Finger At Emre

Emre Turns His Back on Lescott & Howard

Fantastic news! Lets hope the FA goes all the way and hit him with the book. The incident happened in Everton's 3-0 win over the Barcodes at Goodison Park on 30th December 2006. Emre went towards the ref waving an imaginary card, trying to get Leon Osman booked or sent off for giving a penalty away. Joey Yobo motioned to him not to do that, then Everton players Tim Howard, Joleon Lescott, Joseph Yobo, Andy Johnson and Phil Neville reacted furiously towards Emre, who had obviously said something bad.

The FA decision now makes a mockery of Glenn Roeder's comments as well as Emre's agents comments after the game.

Glenn Roeder said: "The matter is closed. There is no charge to be answered. Everton are comfortable with that as well. It is a closed matter as far as I am concerned. It has really bothered Emre, as you can imagine. We have black players in the team and in the squad and we are all together, we are all the same." Obviously Everton were not comfortable with it.

Emre's agent Ahmet Bulut said: "I spoke with Emre and he said that he never said anything racist to the player." Someone's telling porkies. (11/01/07)

Keep Racism Out Of Everton Football Club

Spurs Game Postponed

Everton's home game against Spurs on Wednesday 31st Jan 2007 has been postponed. No new date has been arranged yet.

Hollow Apology

It looks like the real power brokers at Chelski have ordered Joe 'windbag' Mourinho to apologise for his scandalous post match remarks after Chelski's win at Goodison. You knew what was coming, Everton great club, blah, blah, blah. Andy Johnson great player, blah, blah, blah. The Portuguese tosser though still has to fit into his apology to the Blues and AJ, that how hard done to his club is, when managers supposedly have at go at them. Have you any real dignity or is it all for the media. Now go away, crawl back under your rock, until you next upset everyone, watch this space as they say !!

A Groveling Mourinho says: "First I would like to say I have the utmost respect for Everton Football Club and David Moyes and their players. That's why I love to play them and especially at Goodison Park where the atmosphere is magnificent.

Secondly after the match I was clear and said Andy Johnson is a great player and I never used aggressive words, like some managers did against my players in previous seasons, or like some others recently said about him and Ronaldo. I never used the word cheat. After seeing it again on the video, Mr Halsey did wonderful work and both decisions for penalties were correct. Did Andy Johnson try to avoid a collision with my goalkeeper? It seems now the answer to that is yes so Everton, his manager and he deserve my apologies."

Bully Beef says: "Common sense has prevailed and this is an end to the matter. The relationship between ourselves and Chelsea has always been admirable and that, I feel certain, will continue." (20/12/06)

All three parties will now look exclusively into the potential opportunities and the viability of such a development.

Everton Football Club have given their full commitment to investigating the feasibility of Kirkby becoming the home of their new stadium and will not explore any other possible sites at this time.

The three parties will produce a joint business plan that considers all potential elements of the proposed development. This plan will then be reviewed to ensure that it represent the best way forward for all concerned including the local community.

Everton, Tesco and Knowsley Council are fully committed to involving the community and local businesses in discussions over a potential development in the coming months. (11/12/06)

EXCLUSIVE NEW KIT

£10m Loss For The Blues

In the wonderful world of Soccer finance, Everton recorded a £10m loss in the 2005/06 season, compared with a £23m profit the season before. There are winners and losers always in these complicated financial doings, and big winner is Bully Beef who with bonuses pushed his £177k salary from the previous year to £466k this year, and he doesn't even play footy for us.

Bully has received huge bonuses, because Everton's turnover increased to the second highest in its history. It was down by £1.9m on the previous year, but when you take into account our eleventh placed finish, against fourth the season before, and Wayne Rooney's pot of gold from manure coming to an end, Blue Bill seems happy enough with the accounts.

Players wages rose by 20%, but Bully's pay packet now makes him one of the highest paid Chief Execs in the footy business. The Club made staff redundant as it has tried to stream line its affairs, and the top and bottom of it all for the fan in the street is that we still owe the banks £21.8m, which has grown from £19.5m the season before.

All this will be revealed at next Mondays AGM, so put your mouth pieces in, keep your gloves high, and its seconds out...................., Round One.

Director Report's says: " The directors recognise the need and have identified opportunities to strengthen the balance sheet. The directors are confident that ongoing property transactions will be concluded which will significantly strengthen the club's balance sheet."

Blue Bill says: "On the financial front, under the astute and careful guidance of our chief executive, we have again proved ourselves to be prudent with a sound sense of business acumen. The fantastic level of support enjoyed by our club never ceases to amaze me; it is magnificent. I am proud to be chairman of the greatest club in world football and, as ever, all I can promise you is that I will continue to work tirelessly for that privilege."

Lavo say's: "Why is he one of the best paid CEO's in the business, when the debt has risen, and profits are lower than last season's." (07/12/06)

I Wasn't Very Good

Ex Everton Boss, and current Scottish Manager, Walter Smith looks on his time at Everton as a failure. Smith who had four fruitless years with the Blues looks at staying in the Premiership as one of his highlights of his reign. Love him or hate him, for me he was the one who stood up to Agent Johnston, as he guided the Blues through their most turbulent years financially as the ex Chairman plundered