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4 Miles! Make An Effort

Okay, Goodison has history, which comes with age, but it’s also falling apart through age! Obstructed views and corporate hospitality in a tent in a car park for feck’s sake! We could possibly rebuild if we found an investor and got the support of the council, but based on our past experiences of both I’m not holding my breath! The other arguments are pretty lame. Transport links… has Kirkby been moved to the other side of Manchester? Is anyone suggesting the club and Knowsley council won’t provide the required infrastructure, car parks and public transport links?
I’m originally from Bootle, lived in Cornwall, Scotland and now Kent and have a season ticket, I’m 51, and I can make the effort, as can thousands of other blue brothers and sisters, travelling an extra 4 miles isn’t that far!!

And as for Walton, it’s a dump! How many of the fans go out there during the week? Your two pints of shandy and a bag of chips after the game aren’t doing much for the local economy! No, blinkers off and let’s move, it’s not like we haven’t done it before. And as for atmosphere, that comes with stadium design and good planning, steep sided, deep banks behind the goals, like that German stadium; where fans are given the choice when selecting their seats, those fans who want to sing getting preference, boring farts to the side under the corporate, and the corporate to the sides only! Clear unobstructed views for kids, the disabled and the pensioners, our loyal past and future. A PA system that works and a DJ whose job it is to wind up the crowd not audition for a kids disco! Listen to the music in the pubs before and after the games….well at least not the Winslow! Very gangsta!! Then there’s the after game entertainment, the club could build pre and post game entertainment halls, separate from the main building along the lines of German beer kellars/gardens, with big screens music etc. Have a look at the facilities at the Munich and Leipzig grounds! Let’s face it, we have in Knowsley a council that want us, in Tesco an investor with the will and the financial clout, we’ve got to move forward, I can’t wait!!! Alan Wynne. (17/06/07)

Stay In The City

We need to stay in this city no question a new ground isn't everything look at clubs like Man city Boro an Leicester. I went to Leicester a few seasons ago nice new ground but they got relegated that season hasn't really done them any good.all these divvies on ere who think a ground in Kirkby would suddenly win us the league need to wrap it up aswell how would we with no atmosphere an no fans there Kirkby would ruin everything about the tradition an history we sing about every week we were the first in the city lets not be the first out them red Shiites would never shut up either Danny. (17/06/07)

Geography And Agoraphobia In The Modern Football Idiom

To Peter Kilfoyle. I have just read a dissertation on bluekipper.com from a young man who had completed a study of the effects of the loss of Everton Football club to the community of Walton. It is an interesting read and quite an impressive one. I am an Everton fan and have been coming to Goodison since 1969. I also live in St. Helens and travel every match day to Goodison Park. a move away from Goodison by EFC would be beneficial for the club in financial terms, that I believe is without question. But for Walton I fear for its community.If what that young man says is correct about the closing of businesses and the property falling into disrepair which will eventually have an effect on local house prices. Why have Liverpool City council not acted before this. You can already see how it will look by looking along Church rd and see what is happening there and that is with Goodison Park in the area.

Would it not be better for the LCC to compulsory purchase the houses and businesses necessary to archive a similar investment by EFC and partners to be built in the area. Maybe even having the stadium building crossing Walton Hall drive and taking up some of Stanley Park. Not only would there be 2 Premiership clubs left in the Area but the city would have the regeneration of 2 areas. The LCC may argue that the building of the New Anfield will be enough regeneration for that area and they may want EFC to regenerate another area, I don't know. But what is clear, if they are playing a gambling game. The stakes are very high and even as a confirmed woolyback, I wouldn't want to see the decline of the nearest city to me be precipitated by the loss of the finest football club in England. Mike McLoughlin. (17/06/07)

Redevelop Goodison

I lived in the USA for a long time, the New England area to be exact. I remember seeing the twin towers coming down and being gobsmacked as to what I was watching on the telly, and only living 40 miles up the road in Connecticut. when the dust had finally settled and the area was safe to visit I jumped on a train with me mates and went to New York to have a look at ground zero. It was emotionally distressing for me as I was in one of the towers the month before. Now I am looking into a massive whole in the ground. People all around crying at the devastation and my self shedding the odd tear. My point being is this I could never in the world of man bring myself to go to Goodison Park if it was knocked down. I couldn't bare the stress, emotion and most of all the memories. For gods sake Bill you know you can redevelop Goodison. Don't sell us out for the corporate boxes. Think before you drink before you drive!! Terry. Southport. (17/06/07)

Tesco - Just Look At Coventry

I urge anyone who is in favour of the Kirkby move to take a look at the Ricoh Arena – Coventry City’s shiny new stadium. I was there for a conference last week and I fear it is Tesco’s blue print for Kirkby. It is sited on a dual carriageway just off M6, miles from Coventry City Centre – and that is a point in it’s favour ! It houses a ten bob hotel, a couple of crappy club bars selling overpriced Carlsberg, the inevitable fucking subway sandwich shop and is surrounded by car parks and an enormous fucking Tesco and a tin pot retail park with the usual array of names, Curry’s and the like. To say it lacks character is an understatement. It is fucking horrible.

There is not a pub in sight, no alternative transport links other than the car or a couple of little bus stops. One of the stands is actually called the Tesco stand. It may be fine for Coventry but I suspect even their true fans preferred Highfield Road. Tesco represent mediocrity, cheap and cheerful and that’s great if your buying food. But we are not a brand that can be moved about – we are not Franchise Red Shite or Utd. It may take 5 – 10 years but it will be the end of Everton Football Club as we know it. I for one say lets hold our nerve, not grasp at the first bunch of fivers on offer and see what happens. We have the best team I can remember since the 80’s and success on the pitch comes first. Goodison is old – so what ! The bogs are shit – so what! all football grounds have shitty bogs. You have to queue for half time ale and food and service is shite. – it is at nearly all shiny new stadiums. If you go the match to have a nice comfy shit and spend all your time eating and drinking then your in the wrong place. What is has is character and you can’t fucking buy character at any price. Superb site keep up the good work. Gary Williams. (17/06/07)

Careful Thought

Can I heartedly congratulate Joel Grates on his extensive and well-thought-out dissertation on the move away from Goodison Park. Regardless of whether you support the move away from Goodison Park or not, or whether you agree with everything in the report, hopefully you’ll agree that it is an excellent contribution to the debate. I’d also like to congratulate Blue Kipper for deciding to publish it as a whole. This inclusive approach to what could be a key moment in the history of our great club is crucial and I would like to think that the board will continue to use your site to get a feel for what the ‘real fans’ are thinking. I think the discussion on whether we could consistently fill a 60,000+ stadium, and especially if we relocate away from the Goodison Park area, needs careful thought, as I imagine the various business case studies may well be taking for granted such levels of seat occupancy if we get a mediocre season, as well as potentially over-estimating corporate hospitality profits. Any way, that’s another debate – in the meantime, well done Joel and Blue Kipper! COYB. Paddock Boy. (17/06/07)

Moving - About Time For Me

Reading the comments and the justification for staying I’m amazed at the selfishness of the fans. I can't have a pint, I will have to get a bus, Kirkby is not in Liverpool. If you rely on people from Liverpool to go to the match the attendance would be about 10,000. Look around you on match day most of us left Liverpool in the 60’s 70’s and 80’s SPEKE, HALEWOOD, RUNCORN, WIDNES, KIRkBY, SKEMERSDALE, WINSFORD, WIRRAL WIGAN and so on. Anyone been to Upton park? Not a West Ham fan within 10 miles. Anyone with doubts about Tesco go and look at Bolton’s ground. It is amazing! Martin. (17/06/07)

Would Kenwright Build A New Theatre In Kirkby?

Having read the debate so far one thing already springs to mind a division between people from within the City and those that live outside the City. One great thing about watching Everton is as a fan group we don`t care were people are from as long as they love Everton. We have supporters Clubs all over the World who help each other out for tickets or raising money for worth while cause`s. Why stay at Goodison well for those who travel to the away game`s they will tell you that with the exception of Sunderland,Southampton and Arsenal every new ground that has been built is the same faceless inaccessible nightmare with the fan base from those club`s wishing they had never moved.This goes for League and Non League Supporters. If we can`t sell the Corporate Facility's at Goodison now how are we going to fill the one`s at the Tesco Drome. Do we want it to look like Blackburn or Bolton! There is a large amount of money coming into the Premiership this year do we look after the Fans or Double the wage`s of already over paid players that don`t give a flying one for the supporter`s who get treated like second Class citizen`s if there lucky.

Ask yourself`s one thing would Uncle Bill build a new Theatre by the M25 if Tesco wanted to take the Musicals there,no he would not because people would go for the first couple of years because its a novelty and then it would be left to the hard core to pick up the piece`s.
People from out of the City and yes I am one of them should ask there family`s or friends in the City how it will effect them from the school kids to the OAP`S. I had a Nephew on the phone the other week crying because he was told that if the Darkside won the Champion`s League he would have to stand up in assembly and sing the Devil`s anthem(You Will Never walk Again) I told him to get all his Blue brothers together and walk out whistling Z Cars. They are having the Piss taking out of them because we are moving out of the City. So all those Blue`s from outside the City if you don`t go every home game leave it to those that do because it like a council taking compulsory possession of your house and moving you to a faceless housing estate`s in the middle of no were and ripping the heart out of a community. WE SHALL NOT BE MOVED!!!!!!!!!
Kenny Cheshire. (17/06/07)

Don't gift the City to the Reds

Everton rarely fill Goodison Park, even in the good times, so what is the point in building a new ground outside the City? Should the move go ahead, it will not take many years for Everton's fan base to significantly reduce - why should future generations of kids in Liverpool follow a club outside the City when they have a premiership club on their doorstep? The only long term winner in the Kirkby deal is Tesco. Anthony Kidman. (17/06/07)

Ground Plans

Hi all, great site. I was talking to a Senior paramedic on a first aid course the other day and he has seen the plans for the new stadium in kirkby (he showed me on his computer). They are a lot more advanced than we are being led to believe. I think they (the board) are making all the plans behind the scenes, arranging the safety checks etc to then have a big fancy presentation to try and counter-act the euphoria surrounding the liverpool project. I think they will take the fans view into consideration but they will offer it under a "we have no better option, if we don't do this we will be left behind" banner. Personally I think we should put another layer on the park end and re-develop the other stands, all stadia in this country is becoming soul-less bowls and I don't want "our" club to go the same way. Gray (born blue, not a decision) (17/06/07)

Stadium Debate

Alright Lads. Love the site. Firstly let’s say that I love Goodison and ‘all things being equal’ I would never want to move away. But all things are not equal and I think we need to trust Blue Bill to look after Everton’s interests, whatever you say about him he is an Evertonian and he’s put his money where his mouth is! I’ve been reading the stuff about the fantastic atmosphere at the Portsmouth and the doubt that this can be recreated away from Goodison. I remember as an 11 year old in the Street End 1970, European Cup 2nd leg vs Moenchengladbach and Andy Rankin’s heroics in the penalty shoot out. The players had left the pitch but the Street End stood to man chanting Andy Rankin’s name over and over, it seemed like an hour but was probably only 5 or 10 minutes at most.

That was some atmosphere and I remember after Hillsborough when all-seater stadiums came in thinking we’d never see that kind of atmosphere again. The Portsmouth game (and many other games) show I was wrong and Evertonian’s will create the atmosphere wherever we play because Everton are special and Evertonian’s are special! And don’t give me any rubbish about Kirby not being in Liverpool just because some political boundary changes say so. Ask Stubbsy if Kirby is in Liverpool. Cheers, and keep up the good work. Mike Reynolds. (17/06/07)