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The Sacred Shirt of Nepal - The Pursuit of Blue Enlightenment

I was fortunate enough to visit a school in Nepal last November. The School was deep in the Solukhumber district, famous for Sherpa's, Yetis and Mt Everest, indeed the school is, as the crow flies, only 40 miles from the roof of the world. It was here, surrounded by the majesty of the High Himalayas, in the reified atmosphere of high altitude, Buddhist temples, and spiritual contemplations that I experienced a blinding moment of clarity, a piercing light of enlightenment, and that light was Royal Blue. I wish to share this revelation with to my fellow Evertonians.

The school, Shree Garma, in Garma Village, which my friend and I support through our businesses, is an impoverished third world school, with a backdrop that David Attenborough and Michael Palin make movies about. It was the playground of this school that was my Road to Damascus and has set me on a divine quest to spread to the righteous and benign influence of our beloved team to all corners of our imperiled world. The pupils invited me to watch the school team in a practice session of a game we’re all familiar with. The 2 teams lined up to welcome me and I was introduced to the players FA cup final dignitary style. I asked the captain what where the team colours as no one had any togs on. The captain smiled and than ran off only to return moments latter with the team strip. A single football shirt. Only brought out on match day and only worn by the captain. And the colour of this cherished and sacred icon, Royal Blue with a White collar.

It had no distinguishing features, no advertising, no sacred badge but at that moment when the light hit me, when this simple Everton Shirt shone and dazzled all before it in the Himalayan sun, my spiritual turmoil was calmed, my soul was cleansed and I understood the task that lay before me. To evangelise, to spread our lore and traditions, our legends and heroes. To have the names of Dean, Lawton, Young, Latchford, Sharp, revered and the mantra ”Come on you blues,” chanted throughout the world. In the sporting spectacle, I witnessed the inspiring and replenishing effect of the Sacred Everton Shirt for my self. The captain, resplendent in OUR Shirt dominated the game with the quick feet and guile of “Tricky Trev, the rapier like killer instinct of Andy Gray and the looks of Tim Cahill. OK, as you can see from the picture the game was in fact volleyball but the skills where there for all to see. And they do like their footy over there.

The Sacred Shirt –Tell your grandchildren, “I once saw a picture of it..”

It then that occurred to me that if one simple Shirt can be so inspire and empowered this individual child and his team what could 11 shirts do. To this end our aim is to kit out this lowly, third world school football team, with its brilliant, friendly and enthusiastic kids. We only need 11 Everton shirts, 11 shorts and EFC Garma are up and running and providing Blue inspiration to the far off people of Nepal. Evertonians can assist by donating an old Everton shirt or their kids old Everton kits to our sacred caused. I know its hard to part with such a spiritually profound garment but there’s a new one every year, Christmas has just been and gone and just think of the good your one old shirt would do in the third world. Just one set of shirts and shorts is all we need. How that single sacred Everton Shirt got to this remote village in the Himalayas? Who can say ? But get there it did and we must follow. Come on you blues, play the forward pass up the pitch of enlightenment. EFC Garma is the cross from the wing. The word of “Everton” is ball in the back of the shite’s net.

If you have a Shirt to donate to this great spiritual quest and help EFC Garma in the process please contact:

The Souk, 4 Gwalia Terrace, Oak Street, Llangollen. 01978 861507 or e-mail alanhill@uwclub.net

A cautionary note. The road to enlightenment is a precarious path. As we speak dark forces are mustering. Insidious red influences propagated by the true prince of darkness and his Sky Dishes are beginning to rear their foul red noses. If we are not quick about our quest generations in the third world will be lost to the cheap and tacky, glitz and hype, commercial evil of those little red divils that block our path at every opportunity. Donate a sacred shirt and keep the little red divils at bay. You know it makes sense. Boomshanka, Goodison4ever. Blue Al. (26/01/07)

Ladies Day

The latest EFC PR stunt 'ladies day' for the Blackburn game is making me mad. I am a season ticket holder and have been to most away games this season too. Every game is ladies, gents and kids day. It's the people's club. Please can EFC stop this ridiculous marketing (Stallone last week and now this). What's next? Bring a pensioner week?! Amanda. Upper Gwladys (Lady in waiting!) (26/01/07)

Dixie Dean

Congratulations to Ian for writing such a good article about the best centre forward the world has ever seen. Joe Murray. (24/01/07)

It Takes Time and Cash

The reasons for Everton being shite, forgive me. We have not been this way for many years. Look at the positives we have signed great players. The Manager is slowly building a team. If you cannot see that fine, you are a waste of time. My one dream is to see Everton back chasing every honour but we have to be realistic. It takes a lot of money to compete with the league, cup games, injuries. So be patient a little while longer my blue buddies. John Mores would be proud today at the work the people of Everton are doing. COYB. John Lea. (24/01/07)

Now is the time to try and play some football

There appears to be a growing ground swell of opinion that the standard of football that we are watching is far too defensive, lacking flare, imagination, guile and is too predictable. All of which is true. Since our 4th place finish a couple of seasons ago, we have had to endure this type of football. The preceding 10 seasons weren't even as good as that! With the exception of 12 months under Joe Royle.

We are not the only club to be playing like this in fact only Arsenal play football that I enjoy watching. The Mancs and Chelsea play to a system and everyone else is shit scared of playing any kind fluid football. To me this coincides with the premiership throwing cash at clubs and the pressure that this puts on managers not to get beaten. I do think that we have reached a stage under Moyes where he has built a team that won’t get relegated and is pushing towards a top six finish. This in itself sounds like no big deal though considering the amount of close calls with relegation that we have had over the last 15 years I would call it progress albeit very slow progress.

I think that this is an important time for Moyes, he has been here for over 4 years without a sniff of winning anything. He has taken us to the middle tier of the league (not fighting relegation), he now has to try and get us playing decent football with a chance of winning something. The only thing that we can hope for this season is a good finish in the league which if we are being realistic is 6th place. Hopefully we can start to play a more patient passing game and start playing to peoples strengths, maybe a couple of decent signings would help. If we don’t start playing decent football the big question is How much longer can we put up with what is being served up to us week in week out. Parkender. (24/01/07)

Simon Davies

Surprise surprise, as everybody knew Davies is off to Fulham – just how stupid does David Moyes think Everton fans are when he tells us “Simon was left out of the squad for the Blackburn game for tactical reasons” The truth is he was happy to sacrifice our FA Cup prospects to ensure Davies wasn’t cup tied. Stop lying to us Moyes, the fans aren’t as thick as the management and board of Everton FC. It’s a shame you cant be as creative with your substitutions as you are with you lies. Brian Sheerin. (24/01/07)

Dixie 100

Just wanted to comment on the Dixie 100 article. I am now an exiled Evertonian living in Perth Australia, but obviously still have Blue Kipper logged in my fav website bar ! Having just read the article about Dixie, it firstly brought a tear to my eye about how much of a true blue he was and how proud he was to wear the shirt. The reason for my comment is that I think this should be sent to ‘Shriek’ to show him what loyalty and pride means and that no matter how many times he scores at the Kop end, it will never shut those gobshites Kopites up as much as if he was wearing the Royal Blue ! Great site lads, Ozzie Mike. (24/01/07)

The Immortal Dixie

A late uncle of mine saw the immortal Dixie at his best, and needless to say, Dixie was his all time hero. "Good in the air? Let me tell you, Dixie could get a ball an eagle couldn't reach", was a saying I grew up with. My uncle also carried Dixie's picture around in his top pocket (well, my auntie never scored 60 in a season for the Blues, did she?).

One night when my uncle left the pub it was pissing down with rain, but he insisted (as he did with everybody) on showing his mate Dixie's picture — unfortunately the wind blew it out of his hand and into the wet gutter. There was only one thing to do in my uncle's view~: 'If it's good enough for you Dixie, then it's good enough for me', he said, lying down in the soaking gutter next to the picture.

But of course we're talking about the greatest goal scorer ever to play the game (Dixie, not my uncle). When a player today scores a hat trick in a game it's seen as a great thing; Dixie only scored 37 in his career. Read that again - 37 hat tricks. Who could even dream about half that amount today? I know that there's an excellent summary of Dixie's career elsewhere on the site so I won't go into it any more, other than to say that what Dixie achieved was magnificent, sublime, awesome - well, put your own words to it. But it's a good day to read that summary and be proud of Dixie as an Evertonian and a man.

Even though it's a long time ago nearly everybody knows about Dixie's baseball contemporary Babe Ruth, and yet for a supposedly football obsessed country, its greatest ever goalscorer is only a legend at his own club. You can only imagine what the media would have made of it had he played for Man U or the shite. If there was any justice in the world then Dixie would be as revered throughout the football world as Babe Ruth is in baseball, Ali in boxing and Nicklaus in golf. But a legend he is, and always will be, because no player will ever — ever — come near to doing what he did. And he played for us, he was one of our own.

God love you Dixie, our club is so privileged to have had you wear that blue shirt. Kevin Latham. (24/01/07)

Simon Davies

Just like to say that naming a bunch of players that YOU would like to see instead of Simon Davies is a fucking disgrace. This lad is very low on confidence, and yes, hasn't reached the heights that we all hoped he would, but I believe to be a very good player. He never hides, is always looking for the ball, plus of late it's become very 'fashionable' to praise far lesser players for 'getting stuck in'! Personally I would hate to see him go just so that we can risk getting another headless chicken to chase opponents arses (I WON'T MENTION NAMES). But doing this to one of our own is bang out of order. He's a rare commodity at Everton, a FOOTBALLER. Kev Clarke. (24/01/07)

Transfers

I am glad in a way that Joey Barton is staying at City. He is undoubtedly a driving midfielder the likes of which we are crying out for, but his addition would leave us with still the smallest midfield in the Premiership, and all too often we are hustled off the ball. Our tactic of humping the ball skywards would be even more useless with a dwarf forward and midfield !! I cannot understand why we have not gone for Kevin Nolan from Bolton. I don't care if he is a RS supporter (Reid, Newell, Sheedy, Watto etc did okay for us !!) He would not cost the £5.5m of Barton, is a tall driving midfielder, and would enable us to play 4-4-2, as there is no need for a 'protective' midfielder in front of our back 4 now, as they all have pace aplenty when Stubbs is not playing, and with Weir gone. We could perhaps then get back to the kind of football that Evertonians believe is their birthright instead of the stale negative dross that is served up now. Buy him now, and we would get into Europe, and he has already said on his BBC sport blog that he is 'flattered to be linked to a Big Club (us)'. Stop dithering Davy - make it your new years resolution - and strengthen the one area we most need it, then further bolster the side in the summer for the EUFA cup. Keith Harrison, Cumbrian Blues. (24/01/07)

Two Strikers Not One

Moyes's tactics i.e. 4; 5; 1 only made sense after the introduction of Anichebe. How frustrating it must be for Andy Johnson to be constantly
bombarded with long, high balls which he has no hope of reaching, yet Moyes continues to deploy these tactics to the consternation of the Everton supporters His only excuse can be the lack of midfield players of creative ability to use AJ's pace as it should be used. EFC's midfield is always in defensive ''mode''. AJ would enjoy more success playing ''off'' a hitman but the service has got to be radically improved. Osman is not consistent enough, and his positioning to receive passes in space and utilise the ball is woeful, he should study videos of Paul Scholes, it would improve him no end. We are blessed with good defensive players,when they are all fit, in fact I can see Moyes with a problem in the future on who to drop when we do acquire a quality midfielder. Hugh. (24/01/07)

Gordon Lee

Looking at the 1977 photos reminds me of Duncan Mckenzie at a sportsman's dinner. He said the only time you saw Gordon Lee smile was on a team photo, he was only happy when all eleven players were behind the ball. Happy days eh?? David Feely. (24/01/07)

Davie Weir

Davie - we salute you - a dying breed of footballer! A true Pro - always gave 110 per cent - never heard moaning - a top lad!!! All the best in Scotland mate - hope to see you back at Goodison sometime! Regards, Chris Fitton. (24/01/07)

Kendall and marriage 2

Jay (Warrington) – you’re either: a) Under 6 years of age. b) A wind-up Kopite. c) A moron. d) All of the above. We deserve to be told. Regards, Old Fart. (24/01/07)

Transfer Window

Hi everyone at blue kipper. I'm sending this email with regard to the transfer window. I think it's extremely important that we buy at least two players in the January transfer window if we are to get into Europe. And also we all know what game is looming at analfield don't we? So I would like to see a creative midfield player e.g. Joey Barton or Kevin Nolan and a winger to frighten the life out of full backs. Come on blues let's get a win in the derby blue boys!!!!! Scott 17. Freshfield. (24/01/07)

Small squad/Premiership status/ Clubs intentions?

Put me right if I wrong, but I thought the idea of this transfer window OR the next transfer window was to bring players in...NOT let players go!
We now have very little defensive cover at centre back, having loaned Weir out. Moyes got rid of Kilbane and didn't replace him either! What is going on? I can understand that we are virtually safe, bar 3 wins, and next season will be 'Kerching' money wise, with millions to play for, but we have no strength of squad. This cannot go on or else it will jeopordise the clubs premiership status next season! It's fine and well Moyes saying that doesn't want to pay over-inflated prices........and that players won't come, but at this rate we are going to have a recognized team to field. The bottom line being 'Bad Management' from the boardroom down!

If Dickie Wright only has six months left on his contract, why haven't Everton either offered him a new contract OR sold him (yes for money) before he goes on a free? We have cover with Iain Turner and Ruddy for Tim Howard for the time being! There is obviously something going on in the background of all this. Is the problem keeping money to finance a new ground, at the expense of a decent squad? If the idea of having a new ground is to fill it to capacity, therefore providing extra turnover, increasing profits and giving the shareholders a good return for their investment, better facilities for the fans, and maybe providing transfer funds for the manager? BUT we can't even fill Goodison park!

At the moment Moyes appears to be hanging on to the job, based upon promises from the board, and I hope that the promises are honoured. Everything appears to be 'up in the air' and there appears to be a lack of direction, and it is because of this that the squad is diminishing, bringing about uncertainty, and this is beginning to take effect with performances on the pitch. If these problems exist within the club, wouldn't it be prudent for the board to release a statement, outlining their intentions, and more importantly providing the 'paying public', with a 'statement of intent' regarding matters on and off the pitch? The Everton squad is in need of refurbishment, before the start of next season! While the red SHIIIIITE, are reaping monies from the Arabian knights, we are stuck with Robert Earl who is obviously on another planet, and its' not Planet Hollywood! Mal (Trueblue) but not holdings! (24/01/07)

Doubts About Moyes

I know you hear it alot but what a great site. I live on the Gold Coast in oz, so every time I wake or come home I'm on the site. My misses who is oz freaks out. At least she's not a red shite. The blues are making us all blue. What is gone on? We got the games live. On booozzee all day wanted to watch the boys give Reading a thumping. I had 4-0 @ the bookies. After Tim missed that chance early on we just seemed to be on another planet, surly pro footballers can pass a ball 10 yards to each other. The amount of times we give the ball away, school boys or girls for that matter don't do it. So if that's your job day in day out why oh why can't we do it? Andy Jonno must be up the wall. The final ball is a joke.

I had a great time with are boys last year, flew over to Bangkok, with 3 other blue brothers, stayed in the hotel with them team for 3 days. On the sat nite after we drew with shittey, Davey Moyes sat with us all nite talking about Everton. It was boss but something's gone wrong you can't get twa---d at home by a team like blackburn 4-1, and say it was a strange game, and that goal against reading. What other team has defenders standing in the 6 yard box - schoolboys stuff again, its not just them games though. There's been quite a few of the goals we give away are unbelievable. I'm now having my doubts about him. The signings he's made and his tactics. Mark Hughes came out and said they were whacking the new balls all over the place, so what do we do on the training pitch certainly don't learn how to defend. Maybe Mark Hughes is are answer? Davey may have gone as far as he can I'm sorry to say. It's a pity Sisoko signed for the shite he would have been like Viera was for Arsenal. With Simon Davies Spurs must have been pissing themselves. Beattie, Wright, Kroldrup, Vander Valk should go back solving crimes, cos it's a crime every time he puts that Royal blue shirt on. I think he should have kept big Dunc another year, to play with Jonno. The amount of balls that would have come off Dunc, he'd be on his way to 20 goals now. Joey Barton's not the answer either. Go for proper midfield players to give Arteta some help. Our midfield wouldn't frighten a kindy school team. Take it easy boys. Thanks for putting pics of my son Fritz in the young blues photos. Peter (Blacky) Jones. (24/01/07)

I'm An Everton Blue

The song "I'm An Everton Blue" was written by Bill and recorded by Eddie and Alec of "Scotch on the Rocks". All Copyrights are held by the three brothers. Obviously we have no objection to it being printed on your site but we would be obliged if you could mention at the end that it is copyright of "Scotch on the Rocks". We are in actual fact "Celtic" fans ourselves but we were asked by many of our friends who are Everton/Celtic fans if we could write an Everton song. Billy Butler of Radio Merseyside gave the song a great review in his Show and thought it would catch on if they played it at Goodison Park. However, we have been unable to get the DJ to play it thus many Everton Fans have never even heard it. Regards Bill. Scotch on the Rocks. (24/01/07)

Closed Transfer Window

It's that time again when we all keep visiting websites and hoping forlornly that somebody will sign somebody but nobody ever does. From dawn till dusk we search and bloody search. Our BLUE HEARTS pounding with anticipation but to no avail. We know that if we could get a couple of decent players then Europe will be an option. It's no good Davey Moyes DITHERING once again. If we fail to buy then alas, I think ARTETA, CAHILL, ETC WILL SEE THE TOTAL LACK OF AMBITION OUR MEDEOCRE LEADERS HAVE AND LEAVE US. Got to go now must just in case there is anything happening maybe Newsnow might have news. Bollocks lets have another bev. Dgwynnejones. (19/01/07)

CHANGE THE WAY WE PLAY

What an excellent e-mail from Colin Fitz and several other contributors to this true fans site. Blue Kipper enables the fans to give vent to their feelings and frustrations. There is tremendous ill feeling to Moyes within these e-mails. The fans can't all be wrong. If there is one common issue in most of the e-mails it is the poor standard of football being played week in week out.

In the five years Moyes has been here how many times have we scored three in a game? When was the last time that the opposing keeper was the best player on the pitch? Moyes's teams quite simply do not attack in numbers. Wenger's front men when they receive a pass in the top third of the pitch have OPTIONS. Invariably they choose the correct one. AJ receives a ball in the top third and he has to hold the ball up until a team-mate gets near him. AJ'S strength is his blistering pace. He has been good for us. The forty points can't come soon enough. Will that be classified as a job well done? What is the point of us qualifying for Europe? We do not have the squad to compete at that level. To improve or move on we must change the way we play.

Apart from the top three in the Premiership there is not a gulf in class between the rest of the teams. They are all capable of beating each other any day of the week.They all play a similar type of game with the emphasis on getting men behind the ball and trying to capitalise on set-pieces. Like it or not Chelsea, Man Urinal and Arsenal do play quality football and it is very good to watch.Between them they have won the lion's share of the domestic honours since the inception of the Premiership so they must be doing something right. Getting rid of Moyes is not the answer. Moyes and his coaching staff have got to change the way we play. He has got to change his mindset and be prepared to bring in players who can and will run at defenders. Which player in the present squad consistently gets round the back of the defender and puts an accurate cross into the box? What has happened to Paddy Boyle who impressed us all at the start of the season? Why is James Vaughan consistently overlooked?

On match days stars of yesteryear are introduced to the crowd. Kendall's players of the 80's yes it is a long time ago. That is all we have got, memories. We used to be known as the School of Science. Football has changed but the object of the game is still the same, to put the ball in the net. Teams have made it harder to achieve that aim. Perhaps that is where the difference lies in that Moyes's thinking is that the object of the game is to keep the ball out of your net. 0-3 down in a cup match and he brings on a defender for a defender says more than words can say. I would have thought that he might have explained to the press why he did that. No doubt to keep the score down. Jack Warner Lifelong Evertonian. (19/01/07)

Thanks To Davie Weir

Davie Weir has gone to Rangers. I and alot of Evertonians would like to thank him for his services and his professionalism over the past 7 years. Never one to whinge or moan. Maybe he wasn't one of the best but I think he gave 110% in every game he played. So my best wishes to Davie and his family. Marc EFC. (19/01/07)

Kendall and marriage

Colin Fritz (16/01/2006) was talking about passion and talked a fair amount of sense until he mentioned Kendall and his quote on marriage. I remember that. When he came back to the club from Man City. What was he doing coming back anyway? he shouldn't have left in the first place. In my eyes Kendall is a traitor. He may be the most successful manager in the clubs history but in reality he never achieved much did he. What have Paisley & Ferguson achieved for example? Kendall had the talent but decided to go after the the peseta for a new 'Challenge'. Kendall an Evertonian, I don't think so. I am an Evertonian and couldn't care less about Athletico whoever, Barca, Madrid etc.... Kendall will always be a mercenary in my eyes. Jay (Warrington)

Joey Barton

I am one of the first to say that Moyesy is building his own uber-squad on a fraction of the big boys money and every addition is welcome. Joey Barton might be a so called bluenose but there is no way on gods green finest that I would accept him in this club after he bared his scrotty arse at the royal blue faithful. Surely Moyes knows there is animosity between the gimp and our toffee army. CRY HAVOC AND LET SLIP THE DOGS OF WAR. Dav Watts. Wallasey. (19/01/07)

Wingers and Centre Forwards

Andy Van Der Meyde put the ball in the box every time he got it first half on Sunday, obviously to no avail cos we had wee Andy up front on his own. I thought this game is begging for James Beattie who has had very little or no supply from wide areas since his arrival on Goodison and at least if he does nothing now we'll know he's finally lost it - no excuses. But what happened? Moyesy brought on his old fashioned Centre Forward and TOOK OFF his old fashioned Winger!!! Call me old Fashioned but that's just barmy. Drew. (19/01/07)

Reading Game

Well, the first half reminded me of the football we used to play when Big-Dunc was up front, route one football. It was just “hit it anywhere football”. Great to see Tiny back, but he did start to look tired and we missed Arteta a lot. When I watched the teams walking out and I spied Mike Riley, I thought “oh fucking great”. What a complete and total minge this bloke is, not once did he let the game flow, blowing up for each and every tackle. Second half, and we were a different side. However I don’t know for the life of me why he keeps picking McFadden or Beattie over Victor. We deserved all 3 points in my opinion and we need to keep getting the point now after securing that vital last Europe space after the Geordies done us a favour at white heart lane. Ryan Williams. (19/01/07)

How to defend a free kick?

During my 50years going to Goodison, watching the blues the internationals, and having the book of tickets for world cup 66 and even when Liverpool schoolboys played their in the late 5os, I have never seen SHAMBOLIC defending like that for Reading's goal. If that is a result of what goes on at the training ground? then it explains why players look look baffled & confused, there seems to be no pattern,and we only react when going behind, we should be beating teams like Reading at home. All we get are excuses,and my impression is that Moyes & Irvine have lost the dressing room, fans are not stupid and we don't hear the "He's got red hair" chant anymore, all I have been reading about is the visit of Stallone and that performance has been glossed over by a actor. Norman Merril. (19/01/07)

A Good Team & Cold Chang

Well I think we are all feeling a little bit better than last week's fiasco even though we scraped a 1-1 all draw. Reading's goal being an offside. Look at at it on TV. Mr moyes has got to look at his midfield because unfortunately we have not got one and every one in the prem knows it. For the boss to to say the squad is o.k. Well I think cloud cuckoo land mate. Say more sense please DAVID. HAVE THE BALLS TO TELL MR KENWRIGHT. YEAH NEED MORE DOSH TO IMPROVE THE SIDE INSTEAD OF BEING A YES MAN. ALSO THE CHANG IN THE PADDOCK IS STILL RANK(NEEDS COOLERS) CAUSE I HAVE DRANK IT ABROAD AND IT'S A DIFFERANT BEVVY WHEN IT'S COLD. CHEERS KIPPER. COL THE BLUE. (19/01/07)