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DREAM
MAKERS
Twenty
four hours after saying goodbye to one of our present day hero’s
Duncan Ferguson, forty four Everton mad fans lived the dream of
playing at Goodison emulating their past hero’s. The dream makers
who made this once in a lifetime fantasy come true was the Former
Players Foundation. Over the past two years at fundraising events
fans were asked to bid to play on the hallowed turf. Forty four
lucky fans won with their bids to form two teams the Blues v the
Yellows. The fans making their Goodison debuts came from as far
away as Southampton and Yorkshire, fanatical Blues each one. In
the Main Stand families gathered to witness their loved ones fulfilling
their dreams to endorse that their sons, daughter, husband, dad
or brothers had truly played at the old lady. The tale of “When
I played” on the hallowed turf will be told for generations to
come.
The
players did the full hit getting changed in the real dressing
room and walking onto the pitch from the players entrance each
player touching the ‘Welcome to Goodison’ sign then pinching themselves
to realise it was really happening. The Blues v the Yellows was
a throwback to years ago when the first team would play the reserves
pre-season, a fixture in which Labby first shone in playing for
the reserves. Sadly Brian, a true legend and gentleman, has departed
us, Westy his great mate and Brian were to captain tonight’s teams.
The
expectant crowd roared on the kick off between these two special
teams the Yellows taking the game to the Blues initially. Then
out of the field of dreams number 10 Westhead scored a screamer
from fully 35 yards for the Yellows, Barry Horne eat your heart
out mate.
Collinson in goal for the Blues had no chance, not even Big Nev
would have got to the ball.
This goal rallied the Blues to get at them, wave after wave of
constant pressure paid off as a through ball from no messing Sherlock
to be player of the match Wayne Miles shot the equaliser from
the penalty edge. It was all Blues from then on and no surprise
as they took the lead with a goal again from Miles after a precision
pass from Walker.
Its funny but your mindset at Goodison was to will the team in
Blue on, I kept thinking we were playing Wolves. Speaking of which
we had a centre half called Gray playing for the Blues and talked
a good game as Andy does now for the great God Sky. The rain poured
down but who cared as tears of joy were masked for the players.
The Blues took the game by the scruff of the neck and went further
ahead through McFadden, I mean Rymer but honestly he was a ringer
for our Scottish winger and uncannily played like Fads only quicker.
After a telling pass from Hall, Rymer nearly added to his tally
but Ridges made a great save. Jez Wyke the Blues power house midfielder
was running the show from the centre spraying the ball around
like a broken footed Kevin Sheedy.
Expectant substitutions warmed up along the touchline one stood
out from everyone there, it was Becky Pinnock, the only girl.
Becky was sporting Duncan’s shorts a memento from her hero and
unashamedly admitted they were unwashed. When Becky came onto
the field of play you could see how freely her massive shorts
allowed her to run unlike some of the other players who filled
theirs adequately with the years of good living.
Macdonald (no relation, but oh how I wished it was me playing)
the Blues centreforward had a great effort from 25 yards saved
by the inspired Ridges. The last ten minutes of the first half
saw the Yellows trying to get back into the game Richards, Hywel
and Murphy came close but the Blues defence of Collinson, Rymer,
Dibbert, Lawless and Gray held firm. Labby, Westy, Wilson and
Wright would have been proud of their defensive qualities.
A great cross from Warren put Whittaker on the score sheet with
a well headed goal only to be struck off after given offside .He
was inconsolable the total dream of scoring at Goodison in the
Park End like Dixie for his sixtieth was gone. Ah well the half
time whistle blew ,time to rest those weary limbs and replenish
lost fluids .Wave to the families and take in and savour the scene
of were they were.
The two teams were managed by Steve (the Blue team of course),
a stalwart of the Players Foundation and Roy the Yellow team.
Steve just told his team to keep playing the way there are, Roy
said don’t! Were getting murdered in the centre of midfield, close
them down. Lyon and Mahony were having a field day with Wyke for
the Blues. Ball Kendall and Harvey came to mind. The St John’s
ambulance man looked worryingly at the two squads, he asked me
do you think he should offer them some oxygen, I said no their
high enough just being here.
The
Yellows kicked off the second half but the Blues drove the ball
forward relentlessly from there on. Shelley hit a 25 yd thunderbolt
but again Ridges saved well it was only a matter of time before
the Blues increased their lead .And it was that man again Wayne
Miles scoring his hat trick another classy strike after beating
Eckersley and Baxendale.
Keen tried to stop the marauding Miles but the classy striker
put the ball through to Whitaker to fulfil his dream of scoring
into the St End, 5-1. It was not long before our new ‘Wayne’ scored
his fourth goal and what a cracker it was ,fine interplay by Bretherton
,Wyke and Cook sent the ex Merseyside school boy through who jinxed
past Tomlinson and Richards to put a rocket like shot to Ridges
left , 6-1.
The Yellows had seen enough and rallied with a fierce some drive
from Eckersley who hit the bar .Warren and Wright rolled their
sleeves up and got stuck in. What chance the yellows had of saving
face was shortened when Mitchell went down from a sandwich tackle
from Hall and Claxton. Mitchell’s cruciate had gone again; he
will be deffo out for the season but hopefully back in training
late October. It was never a dirty game and conditions were slippy
with the rain, not once was the ref to bring his little black
book out.
The team manager, Roy, shouted lets do it for Mitch and obligingly
Frear from a pass by Allen scored another belter for the Yellows
6-2 ,’COME ON’ the crowd roared. Game on it seemed as Tomlinson
made it 6-3 with a fine goal set up by Keen, Richards, Murphy,
McGovern, Flyn, Wright, Bretherton, Tomkins ,Claxton and the little
boy who lived down the lane. The Yellow tide was finally turned
back when the man of the match Wayne scored his fifth goal to
make it 7-3, our star man was taken off to a standing ovation
by one side of the ground .He was special on the night and surely
worth a trial at Bellfield. Ten goals in one match at Goodison,
more than I saw in the first three months by the first team.
Every time the Blues scored it was not the scorer they kissed
but looked for Becky, I hope there was separate changing facilities
at the end .The communal bath must have been interesting. In the
last ten minutes it went like the new Heineken add, all 44 players
were on the pitch with next goal the winner. Honestly it was great
to see all these passionate Blues mixing it on their field of
dreams .I was as jealous as hell.
In
the 90th minute Gray missed an open goal to win the game outright,
if Andy had any hair left he would have pulled it out seeing the
miss .But to be fair this Gray is a solicitor and it showed. But
there was no losers this night everyone won, the players, their
families, the organisers and well wishers .It really is a hell
of a statement to say “I played at Goodison”.
After the game the players met their friends and families in the
Alex Young suite for a drink and in the days and years to come
a reflection of what they had achieved and knowing that their
bids have helped so many ex players who also graced the hallowed
turf. These funds may not be able to make the ex players run these
days but to walk without pain due to battered hips, knees and
so forth. The lads and Becky will testify it’s not as easy as
it seems to play 90 mins and not take something out of you, imagine
years of it with no quarter given from the tough tackling opposition
that was from yester year. The next day there will be many sore
and stiff limbs, but was it worth it? You betcha!
Ian
Macdonald EISA (13/05/06)
PS
I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the Former Players
foundation for all the help and work they do for such a great
cause. It was never better shown than the big part they played
in giving Labby the send of he deserved at the Anglican Cathedral.
If Brain could have been here last night he would have shook every
players hand to say thank you for helping his ex team mates, oh
and a few tips on defending. It’s the season’s close not just
for the team but the Foundation will have a well earned rest .They
have asked me to thank all the fans for helping the Foundation
with monies etc .Without the fans there would be no Foundation
,yet another great first associated with this special club of
ours.
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