THE EVERTON COLLECTION CHARITABLE TRUST: PRESS RELEASE

ALAN BALL TO BE PATRON OF EVERTON CHARITY

To coincide with the 40th anniversary of him signing for Everton Football Club it has been announced today that Alan Ball has agreed to be the patron of the Everton Collection Charitable Trust.

The Charity, which was set up last year to acquire the David France Collection of memorabilia surrounding Everton Football Club, has nearly reached the halfway stage in its efforts to raise the required funding.

A new Steering Group was formed recently comprising of key members of Everton Supporters and Shareholder Groups who work hand in hand with the Trustees of the Charity, Lord Grantchester, Keith Wyness and Tony Tighe.

"We have a new strategy in place for the next 18 months when we hope to be able to complete the acquisition" said Lord Grantchester, grandson of the late Chairman of Everton Sir John Moores. "We will be in a position to reveal our future activities shortly but we are all very excited about our plans and the fact that one of Everton's greatest ever players has agreed to lend his name to our campaign".

The David France Collection has been described by Christie's as "the finest and most comprehensive collection of its type relating to a single football club". Once acquired by the Charitable Trust, it is agreed that Everton will donate their own collection of memorabilia and ephemera when it will become "The Everton Collection".

The Everton Collection will then be housed at the Liverpool Records office and various exhibitions will be staged over the years with the help of National Museums Liverpool. The main purpose of the Charitable Trust is to advance the education of the public in the history and development of a football club from 1878 to the present day.

Alan Ball commented: “I was delighted to be asked to be Patron of the Everton Collection Charitable Trust. As Evertonions we have always been proud of our club’s heritage, and so we should be. This collection reinforces the image that Everton Football Club has in the world of football. I am delighted that all football fans and the people of Merseyside will have access to this unique collection in the future years”. (01/09/06)

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