We Are Respected Wherever We May Go

Fan Article

Never stop believing. We didn’t. We never would have and never will.

A long traumatic season. On the back of a previous long and traumatic season. Can I take much more? Yes. I can and I will. You are my Everton and always will be. I will follow you wherever and through whatever. Cradle to grave. It is a birthright.

I’ve witnessed title triumphs. I’ve witnessed trophies. I’ve witnessed European nights and success. I’ve witnessed too many relegation scrapes. I’ve witnessed mediocrity. I wish we would finally win the League Cup. Personal gripe, we will. 

Deep down, I never believed it would happen, even when it went to the wire. I kept getting mixed messages. The wife telling me it would be okay, which made me suspicious as she doesn’t like Everton because of me. My son reluctantly accepting that we were down. My brother a mess by his own admission on the last day. I just wanted to switch off. But I couldn’t. I wasn’t sleeping very well in the nights leading up to that final fixture. I don’t mind admitting to waking up at about 3 am and having a breakfast doctor’s order. It was a necessary calmer.

I couldn’t believe it would happen. I wouldn’t let myself believe it would happen. And it didn’t.  

Never stop believing. 

Like many thousands of devoted others, I followed that team all over the country this season, trying to ignore the off-pitch turmoil, and it was a privilege. But that’s me and I’m a fool. Credit once again goes to those young supporters who graced the stadiums all over the land. How do they do it? There needs no answer, I am just glad they do. They are the future and their time is coming.

And credit to those who wake up in the early hours all over the globe to pace around the living room watching the blues. Equally devoted.

Everton is like a magnet. An attraction you just can’t resist, no matter what they put you through. 

On the back of last season, it was said, not for the first time, it can’t happen again. Well, we surpassed that and went one step closer. But ultimately, we pulled ourselves away from the cliff edge and we live to fight. We retain our proud record of remaining in the top flight of English football for a consecutive 70th year. Unsurpassed.

I won’t delve too much into to the detail of each match, as that has been done in the match reports throughout the season. 

Happy trips to Goodison and the home city regardless of the result, it is never a chore, always a pleasure. Miserable trips to Bournemouth and back twice in four days. That was brutal. Newcastle home wasn’t a great experience. But then we had bright moments like Chelsea away. Michael Keane’s goal against Tottenham. Seamus’ goal against Leeds. Watch closely, he looked up and meant it.

Leicester away and the fantastic travelling blue army outdoing those annoying clappy things. Brighton away; apparently, we had no chance. The team and supporters thought differently. Wolves away.  Now that is going to the wire. But afterwards, we knew we still had it in our own hands. You could feel and hear it in the supporters.

Unbelievable last-day emotion. I was gutted that I couldn’t be there. I watched with my son and the dogs. On two occasions, the goal and the eventual final whistle, the poor souls ran up the stairs and had to be coaxed back down.

I suppose it is time for perspective. He had his critics, but we lost Richarlison, who was an important player for us. Calvert-Lewin was absent for most of the season. We finished on the last day with no recognised full-backs and a winger as a makeshift striker.

McNeil took time to settle, Onana is raw and inconsistent. Mykolenko still learning. Tarkowski immense as was Pickford. I can’t choose between the two for Player of the Season. However we look at it, the squad was depleted from an already thin squad that had only narrowly escaped relegation 12 months prior.

But we did it. Just enough and just in time. I always thought and believed we would. We are Everton. 

A note to new owners and investors: We were abandoned and left on our own along with the players and manager. We have dragged them through the mud for the second season running. The current regime is not needed or wanted.  

Take heed. Amidst the emotion and relief, deep down, we are hurting as a fan base. Really hurting about something we care so deeply about. Fix it. Don’t give us words. Give us action. Repair the damage that has been done and reconnect. But not with this board. That is beyond repair.

Never stop believing. We didn’t. We never would have and never will.  

As always, I am spending my early mornings with the dogs. Pacing, waiting for the fixtures and August The dogs are confused but happy.  

The Grand Old Lady’s last full season will be in the top flight of English football, where she belongs and should be put to rest. Forget the football, this will get emotional, but Bramley Moore Dock points us to a bright future. 

Great as always meeting with all of you, be that at Goodison, County Road, or the towns cities and concourses around the country, as well as online.

See you all next season. At Goodison or on the road. It’s all on the road for me, home or away. But I’ll never give in and never stop. Don’t ever stop Everton. Anything is possible. 

Marching. Spirit. Forever. 

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