The Fan's View - Kings Dock (2)

Kings Dock

Local Labour M.Ps in attempt to block objective1 funding for Kings dock development. As someone who not only is an Evertonian, but also someone who works in the constuction industry,ito say that I am angry at this stunt is an understatement.a certain mr. kilfoyle would appear to be behind it all,however we have not heard a thing from him when a certain football club has put forward proposals to build on Stanley Park (much closer to his constituencey?) I would suggest that the other nodding dogs have just backed his proposal, on a'you scratch my back I'll scratch yours ' basis.It would appear that there is an attempt to thwart the controling Liberals,who (as previous a lifelong labour supporter,it hurts to say) are making a brilliant job of regenerating the city.The Construction journal construction news has recently commissioned an article conveying these views.One of the biggest battles the council has at the moment is to try and overturn the decision of the previous labour administration to sell the
option on Chavase Park to the Walton Group for £20,000.this is holding up a £700,000,000 development creating thousands of local jobs(where are you now mr.Kilfoyle)The only language that these bandits understand is 'I will not vote for you' This city is finally trying to drag itself upoff the floor in spite of the local LABOUR politicians. I never thought that i would say this but Mike
Storey you have my vote (plus those of many other construction workers and evertonians) Just look forward to local MPs tabling a motion in Parliament to stop Pinkies F.C. building illegally on a public park......can't see it can you? Keep the faith and shout it from the rooftops.Will Kevin. (21/03/02)

Just like Sydney

I really hope it all comes through. The city will benefit so much from it. Look at Sydney, Australia. The city has developed facilities close to the centre of the city which attracts people for social activities. You create the reason for people to come, then everything builds on that, Restaurants, clubs, family recreation centres etc. Before you know it, that dead part of the city is buzzing with activity. People from afar will come also. Since Sydney developed these places, the city has progressed in leaps and bounds. We made an attractive city to visit, to compliment the beautiful harbour. Liverpool has to develop an attractive area, and the Kings Dock Proposal is the answer. Go you Blues. John Kelly (Walton Exile) (15/03/01)

Support from Down Under

Honest La, it's a worrying time. I emigrated to Aus. over thirty years ago an' I still miss Everton. I began supporting Everton in the days of Hickson, Fielding, John Willy Parker et al, an' it never goes away.
I pray for success[honest!] every night. Now I know that the Kings Dock move will hardly effect me, living in Aus., an' all, but it's all part of Evertons successful future...it's gorra come!!!!! Any road, keep up the good work.
[You'd be surprised how popular you are down here] Bryan Zilke. Australia. (08/03/01)

Gravely Concerned

I am gravely concerned by the recommendation put forward by Liverpool Vision. The truth of the matter is, and I quote, "...the only world-class bid is that put forward by Housten Securities....' WELL HOLD ON! Surely thats the end of the matter? Liverpool Vision's role was to identify the best bid and that bid is EVERTON'S! How the hell can they acknowledge this and then go onto to say that we should not own the development outright? Surely they have no say in the matter? Its quite clear that they are completely jealous at the fact that
Everton FC stands to make big bucks out of the stadium. And we can't have Everton having a better ground than the scum - can we? This is pathetic and BK needs to speak to his Legal Advisers and get this sorted. Everton FC put all the hard work in - why the heck should we not benefit from it? Ludicrous!
Khan Shez.(03/02/01)

The Everton display wins hands down

As the site says on 22/01/01, the Everton display at the exhibition wins hands down. I went today (24/01/01), and was I impressed with Everton's display or what? I had to convince myself that my bias towards EFC was not taking over, but even the best of the others (the one with the tower-my opinion) was not a patch on Everton's. That, I suppose is BK's gift, he knows how to put a show on, and knows how to present things. It appears that in the entertainment business, which this is unless we want a load of flats with plastic motel type complexes that have dubious potential for attracting visitors, BK is a class act, and if Everton's bid is successful so will be the new stadium and joint facilities.
Even if I was not a football fan, I would be strongly attracted to the new arena/stadium, it will surely be a mega attraction to the city for people of all ilks, even those who aren't interested in footy. As for car parking, this will be a problem for any successful developer; all the bids intend to attract lots of people so how are they going to get there. With Everton's bid more people may be attracetd at various times but at those times city centre and surrounding areas will have ample parking options within walking distance - think of how far you have to park from the present ground now.
If this bid is unsuccessful I will be very disappointed, for Everton, the city of Liverpool and the North West in general. It will be a fantastic opportunity, let's grab it. Froddie ( 24/01/01)

The Team is the Priority

There is no simple reason to object to the proposed move on principle. However, the recent poll - and Graham Sharp's comments - showed that the priority has to be the team. At the moment the squad isn't strong enough and people will soon tire of listening to empty promises and references to a lengthy injury list. The desire of some players is questionable which makes matters worse. It is a really telling that we have spent most of the past month or so waiting for the return of Richard Gough (fine player but no disrespect to say he is nearing the end of his career!). Now it looks like Steve Lomas has turned down the chance to move from West Ham to Everton. A big, new stadium needs a large crowd and people simply won't come in the necessary numbers unless there is something worth watching. Mark Dunford. (06/01/01)

Thanks for the Memories

Each time this subject comes up i think about the days when as a kid remember those dark winter evening of
'' the night match'' i can remember my first match at the grand old age of seven travelling to this theatre called goodison park the visitors were west ham and as i recall we won 2-0 and everything my uncle told me about the team he loved became reality as i walked through the turnstiles in bullens road paddock under the floodliting i saw this breathtakiing expanse of bright green with the brilliant white netting the ground was full and there was a buzz in the air of great expectation of seeing the best club side in our land of its generation. to this day i fuel my love for our great club with the many times i spent my saturday afternoons in the boys pen the view was crap but who cares i was already hooked. Although i have so many memories of our great ground i do feel the time has come for us to move to a new plain in our history and look at what has been achieved at other premier grounds- Derby Sunderland etc., and as we are probably one of the bigger clubs in the premier i think it would be only right for us at Everton to be once again the envy of the rest of the prem flying our flag higher than the ''shite'' in a better ground in the centre of our city. (if this happens do you think we would have a good case for renaming our city i cant bare to use the name) The new ground option definately has my backing and i look forward to the day we can all watch in comfort the greatest team in the world best wishes blue blood brother. (06/12/00)

The small matter of where are we going to live.

To Steve and the lads I can only speak on my behalf of myself such is the gravity and emotion of this subject. The Kings dock is possibly the most important decision of our Evertonian lives. You may rightly say lets build a team first and you could be right, but this opportunity has come now whether we like it or not. The Kings dock won't wait for Everton to be champions again. The decision we make is thrust upon us now because English Partnerships wants a bid now!

We are still at the visionary stage and by no means will we get this magical site because we voted for it. There are many battles to be won before we can get this site, competition will be strong from the other bids and we must win over the obstacles placed before us. WE may say with all the negative press about us having no money so what's the point? Without sounding like the previous owner the money to build the new stadium is ring fenced, grants and backing for the Kings Dock are available unlike Goodison to a large degree. We have not got pots of money but this is the best opportunity I believe to make us richer for our benefit. This mandate to move is unlike the previous ballot, which was full of suspicion.

Firstly the brochure, which is very professional, is fair to both staying and leaving, a site is identified and the votes are numbered and counted by the Electoral Reform, unlike the previous ballot, no cries of fix can be thrown at Bill and his board. To be fair to the new board, they never really had to ask our opinion, they could have just got up and moved like Sunderland, Bolton ,Man City Derby and now Arsenal but we are not like these other teams we are treated by Bill as a family and we are to be given the ultimate choice, you can't be fairer than that. It will hurt us all if we leave Goodison , the thousand memories that we have there and lets not forget all the ashes of our fellow fans placed there. All I can say if you can't trust Bill Kenwright then we may all aswell take up another weekend hobby.

We may not get the Kings Dock but we have to be seen to try our best for the long-term future of our club. I am personally worried we could become the Espanol of Barcelona in this city; why not aspire to the best like our motto says. Plan B of staying at our spiritual home maybe put upon us at a later date we will just have to wait and see. Lets not be selfish when we use our vote, please don't just think of just ourselves think about future generations what kind of legacy do you want to leave to your children. Your vote today may determine were your children will watch Everton in the future, I would like to think my children will thank me for placing them in a state of the art stadium in the hub of the city that is loud and proud .It is nearly the anniversary of Bill getting the club back ,lets not have the memories of goldfish. Just ask yourself were would we be now without this man I dread to think what could have happened to us, there wasn't a queue to buy us and rid us of the vacuum that had enveloped Goodison. We owe it to Bill to give him a chance to pursue his vision further.
Over the years we have accused various boards of lack of vision and ambition, well now here's your chance to make things happen for the best hopefully. And finally lets not fall out with each other over this issue, football is all about opinions that is why it is so universal and loved.
Yours thankfully Ian Macdonald (16/11/00)