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My first away game with Everton was at Stoke City on Saturday November 8th 1975 only to watch us lose 3-2 with Jim Pearson and sub George Telfer netting for the blues.
I got a coach which cost me 50p return, 35p entrance fee and a programme 15p a grand total of £1!! Yes £1!!. Fast forward 37 years and that £1 won't even get you a cup of tea!
So how different was the game then to how it is now? For me personally I preferred them days more than today's game dictated by Sky TV, the only sky we knew then was that big blue thing hovering above us.
When the fixtures were released you knew exactly where you stood and Saturday games kicked off at 3pm and the midweek ones at 7.30pm.
Today, the fixtures are released and you just don't know when they will be played due to the money being thrown about the Premiership as tv companies fight for the games to meet the armchair fans requirements.
The grounds had more of a working class mentality to it then with the smell of Bovril flavoured drinks and onions and hot dog snacks opposed to people sitting in hospitality suites having t bone steaks and bottles of chateauneuf du pape with delicacies from the sweet trolley to follow.
The atmosphere was more superior then as today's game lacks that maybe due to the all seater stadiums we have today and there was no end of football songs sung unlike today's repetitive shanties.
The players wore numbers from 1-11 with one substitute sitting on the bench with the manager and the trainer but today we have players who inherit a squad number and the bench looks like a choir vestry.
When the he FA cup games required replays you knew that the replay was destined for the midweek following the last game unlike today as it's anyone's guess when the matches are finally confirmed.
The FA Cup semi Final venues were normally Villa Park and Hillsborough and NOT Wembley with the old Wembley being the main reason for hosting the end of season showpiece.
We had a home kit and ONE away kit and no such thing as a third strip which never gets worn unlike today's strips that are no more than fashion accessories.
The European Cup was for the league Champions of each league opposed to the glorified 'European Circus Champions league' format we have today.
My first season ticket was for the main stand in season 1976/77 which cost me then £36!! Today you might get a seat in the lower Gwladys Street for that. Ground season tickets were as little as £15!!
Match of the day was so much better then as you got to watch 2 games with extended highlights and not 5 minutes of every game that gives you no real idea as to how the game really went and of course we had Jimmy Hill. That and the Generation game earlier on were worth staying in for on a Saturday evening.
I can't believe all this has changed in 37 years but Everton are still Everton and I still love 'em to bits.
What do you remember of the changes in your time watching your beloved blues?
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