Peter and Pauline Lloyd's Diary of a Truly wonderful European Adventure

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Having pestered the club non stop for weeks they eventually caved in and gave us four places on the “ players plane”. We arrived at the ‘old Speke airport’ and travelled with our friends Roy and Betty who were great friends of Jim Arnold, Roy helped coach Jim when he was the Stafford rangers goalie. Everton bought Jim From Blackburn but he started his career at Stafford.

Peter, Pauline, Betty & Roy	A Smiling Psycho
Kendall, Heath, Higgins	Deggsey Mount

Mingling with the players in the airport café it was strange to hear john bailey discuss with his team mates what soft drink they were allowed to drink!

How Times Have Changed	Magnum, Ratters, Howie, Nev, Mick Heaton, Bails
Higgins, Stevens, Sharp, Steven & Arnold Pick Up Their Bags	Kendall, Higgins, Heath

The plane arrived in Rotterdam but everybody not connected with the team were bussed to Amsterdam. All of the players and the non playing Inchy and Mark Higgins were so friendly ( notice Howie parked up with them ) even Psycho posed for a pikkie, notice the smile !

Going to the match was as you can imagine an unbelievable experience having supported the blues all of my life and born at 67 a Goodison road (thanks mum ) starting off in the boys pen, and graduating to the 500 club, seeing them win the league championship in 62/3 , 70/1, and 84/5 plus the cup wins in 66 and 84, but this really was special very, very special.

The Rat Gets The European Cup Winners Cup	Presentation Time
Winners On The Plane	Fans Join The Players With The Cup

The cup was presented to ratters just a few rows behind us, we ended up in two coaches parked just outside the players entrance, the team as you can imagine were very late, and we ended up with a police Escort, right to the steps of the plane, no time for passport control even.

Winner's Medal

Bails With The Cup

Peter & Pauline With The Cup

The journey home was fabulous, drinking champagne out of the cup; we didn’t want the plane to land. Thousands were waiting for us at the airport when we landed, what a wonderful homecoming. Let us all hope that one day we will return to those heady heights. Come on you blues. Once a blue always a blue. Peter Lloyd. (11/03/07)

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