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Everton FC E-mails 257 - Stadium Special 21

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We have had loads of e-mails regarding the stadium issue over the past week or so. We will get ALL your views on the site as soon as possible. The Blue Kipper Team. (25/07/07)


Deal of the Century - Yes

The old debate of should we stay at Goodison or go has raised its head once again with Bully Beef quoting "it's the deal of the century"!

Well I think if the question of should be leave Goodison Park was raised then the answer would have too be a definite yes. Sad as this may be but in order to have a chance of becoming a club that's competes at the highest level again, we have no option! Redeveloping Goodison, just isn't viable, end of story!

However, if the question is raised should we move to Kirkby then the answer is no, and this isn't due to the place being on the outskirts of the city. Kirkby is more scouse than some places in Liverpool city i.e. Woolton. The problem is, that I have no doubt whatsoever that it is a cheap option. When the Kings Dock plan was in place, you just knew it was going too be one of the best stadiums in the world, an out and out world class arena, and major attraction for the city! Plans where there for all too see!

The Kirkby option?? What have we seen? Nothing, I have no doubt it will be no better than places like the Riverside! Cheap with no soul! Under the current regime, we have no serious ambition. I plead with everyone and anyone who matters, vote no to the ballet we will live too regret it! Jamie Burns. (25/07/07)

Real Issues

I am writing as I am very concerned about the proposed move to Kirkby. I am from Kirkby, and I have had a season ticket all my life, but I can't accept the move to Kirkby. I have worked all over the country, and when my accent is heard, somebody or other will ask, 'are you a Red or a Blue?'. My answer in recent years has been 'I'm not Norwegian, so I'm a Blue. But all this talk of a move outside the City has made me doubt my future leanings.

There are many people who sing about 'if you know your history' etc etc., but how many do? How many know that all of Everton's home games have been played at Goodison, Anfield, Stanley Park and Priory Road. All sites within a 15 minute walk of each other. Despite being rooted to one small area of the City, the board is now planning to move 6 miles or so to another borough, to another town in fact. Can we sing 'By the banks of the Royal Blue Mersey' anymore? No, we'll be singing 'by the banks of the very brown Alt'.

There are people who say we must move forward, and I think we should move forward, but this isn't the way to do it. We're moving away from our home, and our City. Consider all the other clubs who have moved. Bolton, Coventry, Sunderland, Boro', Leicester, Southampton, Man City and Arsenal. All bar Arsenal are single team cities. Arsenal only moved a few hundred yards, so supporters can still go to the same pubs, it's that close. I doubt they considered moving away from north London. Man City is the only club in Manchester, Utd are in Trafford. City are quite proud of this. As for the other teams, they are the only teams in their city, so there is no intra city rivalry, as a result their supporters have followed them to the new ground. If we do move to Kirkby, the shout will be One Team, One City, One Liverpool, and Everton will no longer be associated with the City. We barely get any media attention as it is, but if we're stuck out in Kirkby we'll get even less. And as for the open top bus ride after we win something, where would it be? It couldn't be around Liverpool as we're not based there anymore, so would it be around Kirkby?

Finally, the club have said there will be no plan B. If that's the case, why have a vote and a debate? I urge all supporters to think of the long term future of the Club, and vote No to this move. Thanks. Keith Martin. (25/07/07)

New Stadium Yes - Kirkby No

My heart says stay at Goodison, but my head tells me we have to move to survive, let alone prosper. The artist's impressions on the club site look pretty good to me, though I'm still not sure that Kirkby is the best location. I've just been on Multimap, and the triangle of land between Melrose Road & Stanley Road (also between Kirkdale & Bank Hall stations) looks big enough to accommodate a new stadium/store complex, plus car parking. As long as I can remember (I'm nearly 54), this area has been unused, and surely its not beyond the wit of man, or even the council, to look at this as an option. The area could do with some revitalisation (stadium + superstore?), its only a mile from Goodison and the fans' favourite pubs, access via train or road is good, as far as I know, its still in the City, and I don't know of any retail competition close by, so Sir Terry & co would have a clear field.

I'm sure people much closer to the site than I am will be able to confirm whether or not its even worth thinking about... All I ask is that wherever we end up, the stadium is NOT named after a sponsor… "New Goodison", or "The People's Stadium" perhaps, with stands and other areas named after the greats: Dean, Labone, Ball, et al. COYB! Paul - Gloucester Blue (and former Gwladys St season ticket holder) (25/07/07)

No To This Ground Move

As far of all this Stadium move goes, it is really annoying me so much and we Everton fans have suffered long enough after one promise after another turns out to be a total cover-up. I love my club as much as the next man but until we get the boardroom staff currently at the club removed, this great club will continue to deteriorate. We now should all be looking forward to the start of a new campaign and i am, but there is always the underlying problem at the club of who is pulling the strings.

Since John Moores sad departure from the club, the Blues have had a succession of who-ray-henry's running things looking for a quick buck. Peter Johnson almost destroyed Everton and was only interested in expanding his own Hamper company across the Mersey rather than having Everton FC as his main priority. Johnson was also heavily passionate with Tranmere Rovers at the time and bled £4.3 million out of his own Everton team under his reign as chairman for Goalkeeper Steve Simonsen for the Birkenhaed club.

Now, under Kenwright we have a bigger clown who claims to be an Evertonian but simply is in this business for his own theatre productions. Paul Gregg, one of Kenwright's side kicks who now as parted company with the club "thankfully" owned many theatres in London and strangely enough left the club soon after the King's Dock proposal fell through. There is much more to say on this matter but i will call it a night for now but i will finish on stating that the biggest problem is Liverpool City Council and the one vision they have for a certain team called Liverpool FC, Fact, Fact and guess what a "FACT" again.

Don't let anyone trick you into thinking a move to Kirkby will be a good thing because you will be kidding yourselves. Why the fuck should we move giving that red shite even more satisfaction in seeing our great club sinking to the lower depths. I love my club as much as the next man as previously stated, i eat, sleep, and breath Everton Football Club but if this move goes ahead, i am afraid to say, i will say goodbye to my greatest passion which will sadden me greatly, as us Blues have suffered long enough for years and to see them red twats smirking over us moving to Kirkby will simply be too much for me to take.We are better than this and we where formed before the scum so let them piss off out of the city, after all all, the majority of their fans aren't local anyhow so wherever they move to,they will feel right at home.

We are the Peoples Club,lets act like we are.

Say no to this move, anyone agreeing with a move will be contributing to our own clubs downfall, also giving Liverpool City Council what they crave for, a one City Club "Liverpool". Stephen Woodside, Huyton. (25/07/07)

Rebuild Goodison

I think there's only one option for us blues an that is to stay at Goodison. Why should we move to kirkby, can you imagine going to the ground on match day with a tesco as the main entrance...gutted..laughin stock...why cant we as evertonians come up with an answer instead of whinging about it all the time...cause we ain't got much time...I,ve got solution if anyone is reading inside goodison..first is it not possible for bill to give up the reigns an sell to a investor like so many other clubs seem to be doin..lower clubs than us are coming up with money for players because they have wealthy owner..kenwright sell up now you can still have a season ticket but you,ve got no dough an we are gonna go down because of YOU...second could we not build goodison up over a period of 4 seasons section by section I think it can be done so why not do it..carter an bill sell up your destroying somethin that so many people love.. An one last thing were is the cash from the TV deal that every other club seems to have got who's pockets is it lining cause Moyesy hasn't got none. William Carey. (25/07/07)

Grasp A Basic Point

Are we Everton fans so thick that we can't grasp a basic point. We have no cash for a new stadium and that is why there is no plan B. Tesco are the muscle behind this plan and frankly I'd rather go to Kirkby with owners who are Everton fans than build a new stadium in Liverpool with a big fat mortgage courtesy of some venture capitalist from America or China as our owner. Everton fans love to go on about "if you know you're history" sadly we seem to struggle with the present. Jim R. Childwall. (25/07/07)

Propaganda War starts here

Here is the 11 minute interview with Keith Wyness from Evertontv explaining what is about to happen.

http://www.evertonfc.com/news/archive/stadium-debate-keith-wyness-exclusive.html

No explanation other than Goodison will cost a lot of money to maintain before it falls down. No comments if fans vote against this version of the move or if they want a different move other than scare mongering about staying.

Choice seems to be : Move to Kirkby or live on at a tip, with no other alternative offered !!

Wyness and Kenwright are playing the PR game with the voting, since no other club has "consulted" their fans before moving stadium, therefore "we are a caring club" but it doesn't mean that the vote is a binding resolution for the Board. The vote against this move would be seen as a bloody nose but will not appear to stop the move. Good PR if they win the vote bad PR if the vote is lost. "We have been backed by the fans","We ask the fans but don't really care if the is a no vote unless it's something like 90+% against then we will have to review it". or "They voted with their hearts and not their heads, so we have used our heads and it's ok for the move" are the lines you can see being drawn in the sand.

The background details in the voting pack will be so one-sided it should resemble something Hitler or Goebbels issued as propaganda. When is a vote not worth the paper it's printed on. Alan Rolfe
. (25/07/07)

The Vote

Will everyone stop moaning about how the club has decided to let us vote, yes they fuck everything up, always have, always will but something had to be decided, and they decided on season ticket holders. They can't be blamed for this, sorry to everyone who wont get to vote but opening up the park end car park to let us vote would lead to non blues voting. Letting everyone vote who had been a game in the last 5 years would mean fans who had moved away would complain they went 7 years ago and want a say in it. Never will everyone be happy but they have decided that this is the best way, accept it, I wouldn't let it bother you too much anyway, does anyone believe they will listen if we vote to stay.

On a final point, if everything has been done to keep us in the city, why was i told by a Goodison for Everton campaigner years ago (Johnson was still in charge at this point, Spurs away lost 3:2) that we would be made to move out the city due to the counsel not caring if we stick about as the shite are worth a lot more money to them. He even went as far to say that they would turn down there first request for Stanley Park to keep the locals on side before deciding there's nowhere else and granting permission.

If he knew this our club must have and fuck all has been done to suggest we stay in the boundary, so instead of worrying why you don't get to vote between Goodison and Kirkby ask yourselves how have we ended up with only 2 choice's. Dave. (25/07/07)

New Ground Yes

We started off playing in Stanley Park,then another ground close by and then it was Anfield before Goodison. Each one a supposed improvement, so why shouldn't we move again if things will improve for us. It will still be my beloved EVERTON wherever we play. I have a season ticket in the Main stand. The stand is a shambles. I love GP but I realize that if we want to compete at the top level we have to move with the times and I think that time is now. The new ground would be about 3 miles away,nothing these days. We will be in Knowsley, ok, but they have offered us far more than Liverpool City Council have. In fact what have they offered us? They only seem interested in one team. Being pedantic Man Utd don't play in Manchester but it hasn't done them any harm, has it? The new ground will get my vote, Barry Challinor. (25/07/07)

Nothing Will Change

My thoughts on the move from Goodison will not change one way or another. Thirty years ago my move was just as scary leaving my nice home in Bootle to go to Canada. Here we are today still a Evertonian still look for Everton's results, still hope we become better each week, nothing will change believe me you are born a blue and will die a blue COYB. John Lea. (25/07/07)

We're Moving

After having a season ticket for 9 years, I feel sick thinking about the last game at Goodison. Were moving and that's it. We are going to end up like another Bolton. There will be no atmosphere at all. Adam O'Sullivan. (25/07/07)

No Other Viable Option

AAAAHHHH! For gods sake can we please fetch our heads out of the clouds over this ground move issue for one moment!

1. Premier League football clubs are businesses first and foremost, therefore what is sensible for the balance sheet is usually sensible for the football club. Hence Moyesy not paying stupid prices for average or unproven players.


2. If you spend money in an unsustainable way (a la Leeds United/Master Bates) you will come unstuck.

3. The general consensus is that redeveloping Goodison is NOT viable either in the construction sense or in the financial sense. Therefore you break 1) and 2) - not sensible.

4. The ground is showing it's age and this situation will not improve, it is only going to get worse

I sympathise with the views of many of the email authors, in an ideal world we would stay at Goodison, but it's not an ideal world and anyone who thinks that Kenwright is going to pull off some sort of miraculous mass investment needs their head testing, if we where going to get hefty new investment it would have happened by now. I agree that Kirkby is not ideal, but is there anything else viable on the table? If Tesco have a transparent plan that benefits all parties then we need to listen and consider, not rant and rave about Goodison. You support your team with your heart, you run a business with your head. That's reality, some of us need to start getting used to that. Dodger, Huyton. (25/07/07)

I've Changed My Mind

I have read everything about the stadium debate for months, changing my mind with any decent argument. Thank you to all who have made the effort to get their view across. It has all been very healthy. But now it is crunch time. So...

1. Goodison is hopeless as it is.
2. To develop it into a decent modern stadium there would have to be a lot of demolition - the school and several surrounding streets, on a scale that, I think, few people have considered. Modern stadia need lots of space around them, plus car parks. The days of "mind your car, mate" have to be over. ( Charlton match, the car next to mine got smashed. Great for me, as the hoodies kept well clear after the game, so I had free parking, but it made me think how pathetic the whole match experience has become outside the ground.)
3. Sweeping away the local streets is not going to happen.
4. Even if the City Council provided a site for free, say Walton Hall Park, with as many acres as EFC wanted, there is no money to build.
5. So, the only option is Tesco.
6. If the ground plan is worth having, and not some bleak monstrosity like the JJB or Riverside, then it has to be accepted. A new stadium for free, backed up by the most successful non-banking business in the UK, not some dodgy yanks, ruski con-merchants, or far-eastern tax evaders, with the massive marketing machine that is Tesco. This is a firm that does not fail. Without Tesco there is no new stadium, no new money, and no future. QED. Frank, Rainhill. (25/07/07)

Goodison CAN be redeveloped

Seems a lot of people are labouring under the assumption that to have a state-of-the-art stadium we need to leave Goodison. This was comprehensively shown to be nonsense when one of the world’s leading sports stadium architects, Terry Ward, the man behind Twickenham amongst others, produced a feasibility study and comprehensive plans for a redeveloped Goodison in 1998. The study is nine years old but building technologies have advanced considerably in this time and even more breathtaking possibilities exist at our spiritual home. The Club have considerably more income from television monies and gate receipts than at any time in its history and a responsibly planned, phased re-development should not, under competent stewardship, be financially out of reach. These plans can be downloaded at KEIOC

Darren Leedeth’s comments on the financial implications of staying at Goodison are so askew as to be laughable. Where did you get those figures from mate? £150 million to redevelop ONE STAND??? We could build the whole ground for less than that, by a country mile! You’re not in the market for a house are you ? I’m sure we could come to some arrangement. Those saying Kirkby is a done deal and we should therefore get our heads around it are living in cloud cuckoo land – there are far too many powerful noses being put out of joint by this move for it to be even close to a done deal.

There are many practical advantages to staying at Goodison – and many many more reasons of the heart. At the last Anfield Derby, I noticed amongst the various random bits of cloth denizens of The Kop are so fond of a large banner on display. It said “One Club. One City. One Name. Liverpool.” An outrageously obnoxious and arrogant example of typical Kop Gobshitery. Bear in mind one thing. If we don’t get the Club to focus on maximising Goodison’s massive potential rather than turning us into Bolton South in Kirkby, that banner will be true. Eddie Nimmo. (25/07/07)

The Deal of the Century

To the Board of Directors. Correction the Kings Dock and the non existent Sky deal were the deals of the century for Everton Football Club. Both of these failed under one man, True Blue Bill Kenwright. Your announcement together with the no plan B statements, are both a disgrace and a gross failure of your legal duties as officers of the Limited Company and a greater failing in your moral duty as custodians of the club on behalf of the fans.

The fans can not trust you or accept a word that you say, you have failed David Moyes, The Team and the fans again. You continue to prove on a daily basis that you can neither afford nor are capable of owning and running a successful football club. Please go now while we still have a chance of salvaging our once great football club.

Bill you are a great Everton fan but unfortunately, you do not have the money or access to enough money to fund the club correctly and you have shown that you do not have the skills to find quality people to run the club. For Christ sake you have reduced the cost of sponsorship packages on match days the club is being run appallingly. Please accept your losses and go back to where you should never have left being a fan. Kind Regards, Paul Morrissy. (25/07/07)

The Judgement Day is getting closer - Ground Move

We are obviously preparing to be balloted in the coming month on whether we wish to move etc. I have monitored the situation carefully, and have hopefully weighed up as best I can the pros and cons of the entire issue. There will be masses of further info in the press over the coming weeks

My main concern is the future of the club, and its ability to Stabilise and improve our financial position, possibly obtain the type of investment now being put into other premiership clubs, and thus attract players, more supporters and some success as a result. I strongly feel that we remain in the top 6 clubs in the country and we should exploit that position as much as possible, which sometimes I do not think we do effectively as a club. Indeed as footballs gulfs grow bigger, now is an essential and vital time to be exploiting any popularity we have.

I am aware and indeed appreciate the great historic ties to Goodison Park and the City, I fully respect EVERY Evertonians opinion, but I have not seen a valid or viable argument against the move, when emotives are put to one side and progression and the future is seriously considered. History is by its very nature our past. It can never be erased, and should and will always be cherished. That said we cannot afford to languish in our history as on occasion, that is the very attitude that will stunt progression. Financially the move to Kirkby seems to be a gift horse that will put us on greater foundations for the future of the club.

We obtain a new state of the art stadium, with great corporate and matchday facilities, for next to nothing. I also do not think it’s a bad thing to be closely associated with Tesco, arguable the biggest growing Supermarket entity in the World at present after Walmart.

I see the alternatives as none starters. To re-develop Goodison would cost big time, and whatever estimates may be given now, they are seriously undervalued and would spiral as every other re-build has done. There would be no investment for this option and the club would have to fund it. It would in any event still look like a poor relative to what Liverpool will build 100 yards away, which I think would have a negative effect on both our own supporters and visiting fans (Poor relative syndrome again)

Sites within the City appear to have been limited to the old Taskers Site, without any assurance that Tesco or any other investor would assist with costs. Lpool council may well give us it for free or reduced, but so are Kirkby, on arguably a much better site in terms of access and envisaged facility.

In making my decision, I will be thinking very much about my Children, Grandchildren etc. I would not want to leave them with a massive mortgage for the next 50+ years if we go it alone, for the sake of high emotions to stay at Goodison or in the City. I would much rather take the Gift horse, and put our money on the pitch right here and now, and play our games in a new state of the art stadium in the Greater Merseyside area (like Man Utd, not in the city of Manchester)

When decisions such as this have to be made, the "Noise" that we hear is usually from the minority who feel very strongly about this issue. From the Forums it is obvious that there is strong feeling against the move, whilst there is some arguing for it. These views I feel will be from the minority, and I think that the majority 33,000 that ballot next month with at least show a significant split in opinion. I think that this factor is all that will be required by Our Bill, the board and Keith to propose that the club go ahead with the move. He is already quoted as saying that the decision is ultimately with the board, and I think that with the best will in the world the custodians have nothing to gain by placing the club in jeopardy and will make their decision based on hopefully lateral thinking and the successful future of Everton FC. I feel we must trust them on this issue, as not to suggests they are criminally negligent in the handling of our club!

I URGE THE BLUE BRETHREN TO THINK WITH THEIR HEADS AND NOT WITH THEIR HEARTS ON THIS OCCASION. BLUEBOYBRIAN. (25/07/07)

John Holding

Whilst I understand that you guys get lots of emails. I just wondered why my mail regarding KEIOC’s reckless and harmful tactics wasn’t posted. Am I being paranoid or does this Website have its own agenda. Are you supporters of KEIOC? KEIOC’s burning of our ONLY financially viable bridge is reckless to say the least. Is this not what happened when John Holding put then rent up? Are KEIOC just a new version them gobshites across the park. It appears so. How history repeats itself eh. Everton FC the Toffeemen where ever we may be. A very concerned Blue. (25/07/07)

Supermarket sweep

For all those undecided over whether to move or not, can I suggest that they make the trip to Crystal Palace on the 4th of August and see what a football ground and supermarket joint project looks like. Everton don't sell groceries and supermarkets shouldn't build football grounds - easy peasie. Gary. (25/07/07)

Liverpool council don't want us!

After long consideration, i think now that we do need to move to kirkby to a new stadium, i would love to stay in liverpool, as it was our fucking city in the first place, until the shite came along. but looking at the whole picture, kirkby would be a more financially sound move. if keith bully
Wyness is to be believed, then when the stadium is built it leaves us with a lot less debt than it would some other clubs, cos tesco are paying a certain percentage. which can only be a good thing, but Wyness might just be talking shit, and were could get some 'reebok' or 'walkers' flat pack stadium.As far as liverpool council are concerned, they WANT US OUT, they want to make money from liverpool FC, even on telly today, it showed a fuckin 'liverpool bus' going round the city, a fuckin tax payers bus in liverpool colours and emblems. But they didn't want to make an Everton bus and advertise the history, and give us the credit we deserve (no surprise)! I think we need to realise that the money, tourism and recognition that everton have helped create for Liverpool City, has obviously gone without notice, and they don't care for us.so i think we should move to kirkby, start generating a better revenue, and give the council the finger, although it will be a sad, sad day when the city loses one of the finest football clubs in history, i believe there will only be one looser and it wont be us!! Aarron in Prescot. (25/07/07)

Look At The Bigger Picture

Paul 11/7/07. Don't know how old you are or where your from, but get real will you! I can understand yours and others arguments that a new ground gets extra income from sponsorship and corporate etc, but it doesn't guarantee success, look at EVERY other club that has moved, including the great Arsenal ! And before you go and say ah yes but were not them were Everton, look at why were Everton. We are because of who we are what we are and where we are. We have an average attendance of 38,000, ( good hard core fans )so are you telling me there are 17,000 fans out there who wont go to watch us because of Goodison Park ? but will be prepared to go further afield (for 90%) at extra time and cost ? Now don't get me wrong, I'm all in favour of moving with the times, but when you look at the bigger picture as Ste mentioned, to move out of the City is just handing it over to THEM, and in generations most school kids would be ridiculed for supporting that team form outside! I personally feel that the club (again) and the City Council have let us down. Remember Billy Liar always saying that whatever happened the fans would have the final say? Well look at the last AGM, his words were, the fans will be kept fully informed!! A little different eh. There has to be other options, maybe more expensive I agree, but this is our club we are talking about and we, at our age, I'm 48 will only get one chance and if we mess it up were done for. The club need to sit and talk to the City Council, but will they? I cant help feeling the deals done already so whats the point in holding a ballot, it'll only be fixed like the last one with PJ (and Billy Liar on the board don't forget) when four Chelsea friends all got votes in the Main Stand and I didn't !! and I'm a season ticket holder there and they were on match day tickets!! Just to end Paul, not everyone who has a couple of beers before the match is a drunkard, many times over the years we've needed a few to watch the dross that's been served up and will continue to do so. Onwards and upwards. The Barca bus. (25/07/07)

No To Kirkby

I would like to express my complete displeasure at the prospect of the club moving to Kirkby. I feel the club has limited its options with the 'Exclusivity' agreement signed. I refuse to accept the proposed move and collectively as fans we can prevent it. Quite simply, moving to Kirkby would result in the downfall of Everton Football Club. Everton Football Club is the city's first club so why should we have to relocate and lose our tradition and honour. The media will perceive us almost as a Wimbledon, now known as MK Dons. A team that lost their pride due to an inept board stealing the soul of the club away. Let me make this clear, I completely understand remaining at Goodison Park is not a feasible option and realise we need to move on to ensure progress financially and on the pitch. However moving to outside the city boundaries is clearly inexcusable and I genuinely feel attendances would decrease significantly. I consider myself a 'diehard' supporter and I probably would renew my season ticket if the club were to relocate. This is due to my sheer love for Everton Football Club, not my acceptance of the move. The club surely cannot adopt an arrogant approach and expect all the 'hardcore' Everton fans (and there are 30,000 plus of them) to follow a similar path. I live by the Everton motto and the club should do too. When the eventual decision reaches supporters, I am in no doubt that the majority will vote against a move to Kirkby, adding to my view that other options within the city should be explored. Joe Jennings. (25/07/07)


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