Call Y'self an Evertonian? 3

How did you become an EVERTONIAN? Where you born a Blue? Have you a story to tell the world. Can you call Y'self an Evertonian? e-mail Blue Kipper

90. Beckford-McLennan. There was never any other team when I became football conscious in the early 60s. Living in Analfield just a mile or two from the grounds, went to school at Pinehurst Avenue. The roars every other Saturday were always from Goodison because more often than not the RS were in Div 2 and it was the Toffees that drew had 40 or 50,000 in the ground watching the likes of Roy Vernon, Alex Young, Brian Labone, Bobby Collins, Gordon West, Billy Bingham.
Sixpence to get into the "Boys' Pen" with me mate Billy Tullett (are you there still Bill ?).
My most vivid memory as a kid was watching one screamingly wet, cold and windy night the Blues dispatch the Scum 5-0 - I didn't walk home I floated.

Since then at the other end of the world (New Zealand) it's been a love affair by long distance, more often than not a lone object of pity amid ignorant rugby supporters, arrogant Scum followers, and sad faced bastards who admit to supporting the Arse. But despite the Gordon Lees, Mike Walkers and Billy Bingham's there have been moments to savour since then. Having the first Howard Kendall team come to NZ and watching them play after taking the title in the mid-80s, and turning up one glorious sunny afternoon first game of the season at Goodison in 1996 to watch Shearer turn out to be an overrated 15 million pound non-performer as Newcastle dipped 2-0.

Are you an Evertonian - is the sky blue ? (16/06/03)

89. Scott. 15, being from Essex, u think of Arsenal, chelsea, tottenham, well no I'm an everton fan! the reason to this is coz of my dad! in his early twenties, he was an orient fan, but when he took my uncle to a football match (who supported west ham) he saw everton play, and according to him, they played really well! so he thought, well, its either Orient, or Everton, I'm guessing he made the right choice! When i first started playing football (aged 3) my dad bought me an everton shirt (a yellow one with the blue nec logo!) growing up, i haven't really experience the everton of the eighties, all i really no of everton is relegation battles etc! but still, once a blue always a blue, and all i can say is, roll on next season, and hopefully glory, will make its long awaited return to Goodison park! (16/06/03)

88. Helen Bradley. Hi I'm 13 years old and have been an evertonian all my life and always will be an evertonian!!!Nothing will change my blue blood!!!!My favourite player is of course Wayne Rooney and I love him so much I'm getting MRS ROONEY on the back of my new Everton shirt!!! Everton till I die!!!! (03/06/03)

87. NEIL TURNBULL - I AM 16 I HAVE SUPPORTED EVERTON SINCE I WAS 5, I LIVE IN NORTHERN IRELAND. I AM THE ONLY EVERTON FAN I KNOW EVERYONE ONE OVER IN NORTHERN IRELAND SUPPORTS THE REDSHITE AND MAN UNITED. THE REASON I THINK I CHOOSE EVERTON TO SUPPORT WAS BECAUSE IT WAS THE FIRST TOP MY DAD GOT ME, HE IS A CHELSEA FAN HE HAS REGETTED THE DAY EVER SINCE. (03/06/03)

86. Becky. Born in 1990 from the day I was Born my Dad & Mum had brought me up to be a BLUE!
but when my Dad was a small boy his Dad wanted him to be a kopite! aaaaaaaaahhhhhhh! but my dad ignored him and turned to the great blue side , my sister sophie was born in 1997 always been a blue she even turned here mate from a kopite to an evertonian, me cousin Steph Evans did the same she was born in 1988 a blue from the day she was born her mate had been a kopite from 1 till 14 and she went to her 1st everton match (west ham 5-0 we won) then stuck two everton like glue. Cant wait till the season starts see you soon! EVERTON! luv becky age 13. (03/06/03)

85. Derek Rothwell. 24 November 1958 in Mill Road maternity Hospital - yet another member of the family of Evertonians was born - me! I grew up in Everton (primary school was at Analfield road CP School), went to secondary school in Everton, my arl fella was an Evertonian, my elder brother was an Evertonian, I was an Evertonian.
We could see Analfield from our house, but the only thing that place came in handy for was minding cars for theepenny bits to get our match money for next saturday when the blues were at home. If we made nowt minding cars, we did all the horrible jobs for my mum and dad for a whole week so my dad would give us half a crown to go the match!
Once this sodding Child Support Agency gets off my back next year and leaves me with some dosh, I`ll be renewing my Season Ticket again rather than having to hand pick the games I go to. I will also be taking my 3 year old daughter with me - she's a little blue, and knows all the words to "if you know your history", and "He's Moyes, He's Moyes, he's Davy, Davy Moyes" and want to be able to sing along with the crowd at a match. (03/06/03)

84. Siobhan. well i became an everton fan the day i was born which was 12/02/1988 i was bought an everton teddy from my older brother an sister, even though it is now a bit holy it still sits on the end of my bed!!!!!!!!!!! from cheshire. (25/05/03)

83. Ben Hughes. I am 7. I was an Evertonian ever since I was born and this is how it happened. When I was born, my Dad was wearing his Everton shirt and when he picked me up and cuddled me, my nose rubbed against the Everton badge. He said, 'hello, I'm your Dad and we are Evertonians'. I wore an Everton romper suit. My first game was when I was 3. It was against Watford and we won 4-2. My best match was when we beat Middlesborough 2-0 and went top of the league. My favourite player is Wayne Rooney. I was 7 on Sunday and got a new Everton shirt. Me and Dad like Bluekipper and send best wishes to Evertonians everywhere (me and Dad hope we keep Joey Yobo). (25/05/03)

82. STEVE RIMMER. MY FIRST EVERTON GAME WAS A LEAGUE CUP GAME AGAINST NOTTS COUNTY IN 1976 (I THINK) IT WAS PISSING DOWN AND ALL I CAN REMEMBER IS THAT IT WAS PISSING DOWN AND WE DREW 2-2. SINCE THAT DAY I HAVE BEEN A REGULAR AT GOODISON AND MANY AWAY GAMES TOO. MY HATRED OF THE SHITE AND ALL THIER FOLLOWERS HAS GROWN OVER THE 27 YEARS SINCE THAT DAY.
YES I HAVE SEEN SOME AWFUL PLAYERS IN THAT TIME,BUT I HAVE SEEN SOME GREAT ONES TOO.LETS HOPE THE IMPROVEMENT CONTINUES FOR MANY YEARS TO COME ON THE PITCH. I TRULY BELIEVE I WAS BORN TO BE BLUE ! (25/05/03)

81. Adam. I've been a blue all my life ever since I was born ,first match i went to was as soon as i could walk,"blues v bradford 1992 big dunk got a hattrick,missed it though coz i was sick but any way me dad gave me any medicine coz we were late and went. The medicine made you drowsy and i fell a sleep in the match.Know though for punishment me dad makes me were a liverpool top,that's what you call punishment. (25/05/03)

80. Sharokh MCKITTERICK. I have lived in Adelaide, Australia for most of my life. I have supported Everton since i was 7 years old. The FA cup was shown on TV and i chose to support the blue team. they were playing the red team (Liverpool). in my young eyes i had the feeling of which team i would love to support for the rest of my life through the good and bad times. Now all i see is those who have woken up to the world game here in Australia and have of course chosen to support the likes of arsenal,man u,and unfortunately Liverpuddle. Never been to a game or an Everton supporters club. but when an Everton match is shown live (usually at 2 am)I'm up to see us play well. when we score there is no better feeling. Favourite moment: on my knees in disbelief in the middle of night as Rooney scored the winner against arsenal. that was a dream. and hopefully the beginning of the self belief needed to be in the best teams in the league year in, year out. thanks. (19/05/03)

79. Graps. born a blue, live a blue, will die a blue. mum and dad both support everton as do both my nan's and one of my granddads. first match was back in somethin like '93/'94 when we beat swindon town 6-2 (The following week we beat chelsea 4-2). My mum and dad almost split up when i was a baby because my dad used to keep whispering Everton into my ear and wanted it to be my first word but my mum wanted him to stop because he was gettin on her nerves. (19/05/03)

78. Julian Evitts. I was brought up in Mid Wales, so I didn't really have a local team to support except teams in the Central Wales League. At aged 7 I watched the first footie game I can remember, the cup final between Man U and Brighton. Supported Brighton cos basically the whole world was except Man U fans (mostly confined to Manchester in those days as Man U were still a bit crap). I didn't really get the idea of supporting a particular team all the time. One year later aged 8 I watched us play Watford in the cup final, the second game I remember. Before the game, for reason's I can't recall I just decided I wanted Everton to win. Dunno why, just did. Something inside me told me it was right. We won and I was an Evertonian. This time I kept with it! 19 years later am still a true blue. Some great highs and some lows have followed, but I wouldn't have changed a thing. I stayed a blue when all the reds from school suddenly became Man U fans in about 1993, craftily as the wheel of English football success turned. Now I'm EFC forever. NSNO. (19/05/03)

77. Heva L. I have been an Evertonian all my young life (I'm sixteen). i knew i was blue because me dad had the poem "Evertonians are born not manufactured. We do not choose we are chosen. Those that understand need no explanation. Those who don't understand don't matter." framed and put on the wall over my cot when i was a baby! If anyone ever speaks to my dad about their children and how great they are my dad just says "both my children are evertonians!" and leaves! When i have kids they too will be born into the best possible family - the blue one! (19/05/03)

76. Joanne. I have been Evertonian ever since my dad took me to my first game i think it was blackburn at the time we had sold Duncan ferguson to Newcastle and i didn't know any other players. so i told everyone Michael Madar was my favourite player and he went on to win the game that day.
i am alot more in touch with the game now and my favourite player is Tomasz Radzinski he is the best thing to grace this club (my theory we are going to have statues of him around Goodison Park one day)
After my first game i was hooked its when you walk through those gates and hear the crowd screaming their lungs out with songs and smart remarks (you get alot of that at Gwladys st) its like you've caught something you'll never shake off. (19/05/03)

75. James Bates. My first present when i was born on the 13th of August 1984 was an Everton cushion given to me by uncle nicky. It is more of a purple colour now but still has a place on my bedside table. Born to be a blue? I think i was! (14/05/03)

74. RALPH WYNNE (BLUE YONDER 2).Watched EVERTON in the 66 Cup Final with my brother when I was 9 years old, when we scored the third goal we threw our lemonade beakers in the air and celebrated, it felt fantastic. Every time EVERTON have scored since then it is the same feeling when we score no matter what game or opposition, it just feels great .I feel that EVERTON is my family and that all the supporters are your best mates. (14/05/03)

73. Tizzer (Oxford Blue). Hell yeah I am an Evertonian! I first got into the Blues at the age of 4, the year we beat Watford in the Cup. You could call me a glory supporter but I've stuck with them ever since and try to get up to games when I can (being form Oxford this is not always easy). I try to go to home games 5 or 6 times a season but I can see it getting harder and harder to get tickets in the future as we will be one of Europe's elite teams again!! But that's not a problem as it will mean we are back where we belong...The top!! FOREVER EVERTON!! The web site is ace!!! (14/05/03)

72. Mr Gumboot. Born at (extreme) tail end of the 70s to a Blue dad (from Everton!) and a Red mum (who had a Kop season ticket). Was taken to a league cup game in the early 80's when I was 2 (no idea who against, no idea of the result), and I can clearly remember a lot of cheering. As it's my earliest memory, it's hard to turn me back on that. I remember the glory days of Kendall's boys, Sheedy's left foot, Sharpie's volley, Gray sweating blood and Tricky Trev's right peg. I also remember all too well the Johnson era, and the decline and now (hopefully) resurgence of our great club. The best game I was at was the 4-4 derby in 1991. Cracking atmosphere, really frightened the Kopites, Wee Kenny resigned the next week, and Dave Watson scored the
winner in the 2nd replay. Class. Unfortunately I'm stuck on t'wrong side o't'Pennines at the moment (where they speak funny, and still believe Leeds are a big club, hehehe), but it's my stated aim to get me a season ticket before long. Great site boys, keep up the good work, and look out for me in Lower Gwladys in future (I *will* get across more next season). (14/05/03)

71. Gwyn Rowlands from Anglesey well i started supporting The blues during the Gary Lineker era (a very short era) when i was 4 I'm proud to be following in my dad's footsteps as he is a Bluenose like myself and i have had many a rivalry with schoolmates and workmates being both kopshites and mancs and I've ALWAYS held my head up high and stayed loyal and proud to be a Toffee and ill Never forget my 1st match at goodison was in October 1990 against Crystal Palace which finished 0 - 0 and i have been to about 15 games since then each game I've been to has either finished a draw or a win for us I've never seen them lose @ goodison (i bet ur thinking i should become a season ticket holder)i would love to go more often but work commitments prevent me from doin so. NIL SATIS NISI OPTIMUM, BLUE TILL I DIE (which will hopefully be a long time) (14/05/03)

70. Iwan Williams. I have been an Evertonian since the minute I was born and I mean that! I remember my dad telling me every night before I went to bed when I was younger, 'When you were born, the doctor held you in his arms and told me, 'When I drop your baby boy on the floor, if he lands flat on his arse and cries like a baby, he's a red shite, but if he bounces back up and smiles
he's a blue nose'. So I was made to believe that I was a Blue Nose no matter what. Also my whole family are born and bred Evertonians. I idolized Tony Cottee as a boy and pretended at school that my last name was Cottee, I wrote Cottee as my surname on every book! My first game was Everton v Wimbledon at Goodison when I was four I think, and I saw my idol score a
penalty and I started crying! Everton means the world to me, more than life, I eat, sleep and breathe Everton although I do drink coca cola!!! Great website lads, from the mad welsh blue boy! (08/05/03)

69. Travis Suggs, Oklahoma USA. Got crazy about the Premiership back in '94, but back before the internet, how can a yank know what's going on in football? So's I'm watching EPL highlight show (on once a week then) and pick Everton to be my team to support. Oddly, I guess I thought Goodison was a nice cozy ground, and the fan support was strong. But I became a diehard after watching) the 2-1 derby win over the shite when James spilled it (of course) for Rideout. Was that 94 or '95? Anyway, this has been the best season since, I think. We have the future of English football (th' ROOOON) and can get to Europe if we can hold down B-burn, Charlton, @ Spurs. My take: An American can call himself an Evertonian when and only when he figures out what a Scouser is!!!! (08/05/03)

68. Hayley Lawrensen. me dad is a preston north end and liverpool supporter so wen i woz born he got me 2 be a red he took me 2 the cop after the hillsborough disaster and wen i woz 4 i asked me mum who she supported n she sed everton n i turned to me dad n sed sorry dad i want to be an everton supporter now n ive neva looked back since. im now 16 and a season ticket holder in the lower gwladys! i also go with my dad to watch preston north end the odd time. he adored moyesy until he came 2 us he took preston from divison 3 to the play offs in division one and me dad went to cardiff! since moyesy came to everton, preston went down in everyones ratings but r now rebuilding themselves wif craig fatty brown!! wen i av kids in the future they r gonna be blues! moyes has dun such a gud job at everton n is a messiah in my eyes not only 4 wot he did at preston but me blue boys as well gud look m8!! n rooney is a star!! (08/05/03)

67. Phil Hughes. I did not take any interest in Football until the age of 4, before that time I was given a redshite kit as a present from a member of my family, Getting confused to the fact that my brother was a true blue I seeked advice from my Nan, I said " Nan, what team do you support?" she replied, " Everton Son" so I said, "so do I then". Been a season ticket holder since the age of 6 (nearly 19 years now) first game was V the shite @ Wembley in '86. I now have 3 sons, all blue through and through. (08/05/03)

66. C.J. Masey. Chris Masey- I was born in Bristol, but born with some passionate blue blood. My father was a bristolian but his father was a bobby on the beat from Liverpool and that is where it all begun. I worshipped Tony Cottee as a young boy and my first match was a 1-0 away win at coventry when I was three years old! I cried like a baby when we won the cup in 95, it was one of the best moments of my life. I worship this club, I adore Goodison and the unity that you feel from the crowd. My dream is to see us win the European Cup and I believe we will under professor Moyes andRoonaldo. Everton through and through. (23/03/03)

65. James Best. I started being a blue the minute i was born but didnt take effect until my first match i attended which was Derby County 3rd Round of the FA Cup in 1995 my cousin took me to it i wasnt looking forward to it because i thought Football was boring (it is not know it is my life) so i went the game with a sulk on my face, but as soon as i walked through the great Goodison
Turnstyles the noise hit me. I got Progamme and sat down in my seet and looked at the back first i went down down the team sheet and asked my cousin who they were i got to Duncan Ferguson and asked him who was he sed words cant describe this great man and he was right. This tune came over the big speakers everyone stood up and sarted clapping i got shivers down the back of my spine and the hairs stood up on the back of my spine that tune was Z CARS. The match ended 1-0 Andy Hinchcliffe and that season we won the FA Cup. To my family i was known as a lucky omen and to the world i was known as a BLUE. (23/03/03)

64. Chris Hakin. Born in the same year as a certain Wayne Rooney, I would consider myself a young evertonian. I remember the 95 Cup Final, and as a 8/9 year old boy, I watched the red of the famous 'Man U' and the royal blue of Everton walking out at Wembley on TV, and from then on i've never looked back. Living in the North East mean travelling to Goodison Park is hard, but every time Moyes' Boys are in the north east. I'm there. I also had my picture taken with Wrighty, The Rad and Rooney at the weekend (1/3/03) when we drew 1-1. We should have won that game. As soon as I can drive, i'll have a season ticket. It'll be worth every penny! Once a blue, Always a blue. (23/03/03)

63. Chris Gibbons, Lancashire. I was given the choice by my dad. Either be blue or find someone else to take you to a football match. I became a blue. I am very pleased I became a blue and cannot for the life of me understand why anyone can follow another team. Recently I moved house and whilst doing so found the ticket for my first match. It was against Arsenal on 25th April 1982. The cost was 1-90 for me and 3-80 for my dad. That was to sit in Lower Bullens. We won the game 2-1. Billy Wright scored first, then Graham Rix equalised. Adrian Heath won it with a header from a corner at the Street End. (03/03/03)

62. John de Frece. I was born in 1950 at Liverpool Maternity hospital . Couple of weeks later we lost to the RS in the Semi final. My Dad was Liverpool so out of spite I was blue. First match in 1958 against Bolton .We lost 1 -0 .Never mind - we were a First division team. They were crap I went to of all places Liverpool college They played rugby whilst everybody in the sodding school was football mad - back in the 60's There were two of our lot in the class and everybody else was RS. Typical I've always been in the minority.
I remember 63 and reading the Echo till it fell apart after we won the League . Then crying like a baby when we were 2-0 down in the Final and I thought we had had it.Temples' goal is a permanent memory. What did the commentator say " Temple scores the winner - well it may be the winner "

Then the Final in 1968 ( A level year but sod that) and down to Wembley for my first visit and coming back heart broken. Then of course the HT and that wonderful team

By this time I was a lawyer and in the lousy 70's I was living in Israel and apparantly missing nothing. Interest wained a bit . There was no internet and not much money. Of course it all came storming back in the 1980"s Unforgettable -getting on a plane for Rotterdam and then on to Wembley. Losing again but we had a great team which the RS managed to bugger up.

Back again 10 years later - same opposition and this time we did it.. Never forget that day - and there will be many more. (03/03/03)

61. Colin. Perth W.A. First stepped onto the old "Enclosure" for a Tuesday night fixture against Norwich in 1974 ( I think)....accompanied by me Uncle Pat as me dad and brother were followers of the church of Shankly,Toshack and Keegan.(can't quite remember who they played for)........
Something in my infancy drew me to the colour blue.....so after a brief flirtation with Ipswich town at the age of 3 I was taught of the skills of Harvey,Ball and Kendall by Uncle Pat (much to the disgust of my Dad and older brother).
I weathered the pain of the late 70's and early 80's .......The Redshites success in Europe meant houses draped in red and shite throughout our fair city...like a modern day plague of pestilence and vermin.The School of Science laid to rest temporarily by the "lovable" twats Hughes,McDermott and Dogleash !

By the mid 80's a new class of blue had arrived....the style and finesse of messrs.......Sheedy , Reid , Stevens, Bracewell, Ratcliffe and of course Sharpy sent me and and most of my 18 yr old mates into blue heaven...
Someting tells me that our time is coming again ....maybe not this season but over the next 2/3 seasons the sleeping giant will awaken and the names of Roooney,Hibbert,Nayce and others will become as much a part of Merseyside folklore as the Grafton, Gerrard Gardens and Alan Bileys hairstyle .....
................................good luck against these bastard Aussies Rooney we need something to cheer about down under...!! (03/03/03)

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