The numbers paint a complicated picture. After 4,002 of us took the time to answer the annual Grand Old Team survey following the conclusion of the 2025/26 season, a fascinating cross-section of Everton fan opinion emerges. What we see isn’t a club in total chaos, nor one moving confidently forward. Instead, it’s a fanbase caught between genuine hope and very real frustration – but completely united in demanding better.
The Season That Left Us Wanting
We rated this season a meager 4.8 out of 10.
- On-Pitch Performance: 70% of us are actively dissatisfied with our football performance (57% dissatisfied, 13% very dissatisfied).
- The Managerial Verdict: This dissatisfaction translates to David Moyes ‘enjoying’ an 11% satisfaction rate – the lowest of any manager since the annual survey began in 2018.
- The Silver Lining: If there was one thing to hold onto, it was James Garner. A staggering 69% of respondents named him Player of the Season, making him the definitive bright spot of the year.
Separating the Owners from the Executives
Interestingly, fans are drawing a sharp line between our new owners and the executive management team running the day-to-day operations:
- The Friedkin Group: They fare better than the executive team, but we shouldn’t ignore that a notable 32% of respondents are already unhappy with the ownership group. For now, they are being given some breathing room by the 41% who remain neutral.
- Angus Kinnear: The CEO faces much harsher scrutiny. 52% of fans are dissatisfied with Kinnear’s performance (34% dissatisfied, 18% very dissatisfied).
- The Communication Disconnect: A worrying 56% of us feel the club doesn’t listen to fan opinion, while 56% also feel the board and senior executives are out of touch or completely disconnected from what fans actually want. Furthermore, 26% struggle to contact the club when they have a question or complaint.
The Stadium Question: Something We Agree On
If there is one thing this massive survey proves, it’s that our incredible new stadium might just save us from ourselves. The consensus on the move itself is nearly unanimous:
- 94% agree that moving to the new stadium was the right decision.
- 89% of us feel immensely proud of it.
- 86% are confident it will provide the foundation we need to grow as a football club.
The Teething Problems of a New Era
While the macro-view of the stadium is glowing, the day-to-day matchday reality is still a work in progress. We felt the emotional wrench of leaving Goodison Park (82% of us were sad to leave), and building a new culture takes time:
- Atmosphere: 23% felt the matchday atmosphere wasn’t good.
- Identity: 42% strongly agree or agree that the new ground feels like “home”, while 24% state it doesn’t feel like home yet. Sitting between them is a 34% neutral block – a group that likely features many fans who haven’t yet attended a game in person to make up their minds.
- Logistics: Only 27% find the new location easy to get to.
The Money Question: Are Fans Being Priced Out?
Now for the uncomfortable reality: the data suggests a growing, corrosive financial disconnect between fans and their club.
- Stadium Pricing: A massive 69% of us are deeply concerned about ticket prices at the new stadium, and 65% disagree that tickets currently provide good value for money. A further 66% feel the club fails to provide enough affordable options.
- The Membership Gate: The requirement of a paid, annual membership just to have the right to purchase tickets is heavily unpopular, with just 16% of fans agreeing with the policy.
- The Castore Kit Deal: The frustration extends to merchandise. 67% of fans state Castore items do not represent good value for money, and a dominant 67% of us would actively welcome a change of kit manufacturer.
- Ultimately, this culminates in a painful perception: 65% of surveyed Evertonians believe the club prioritises commercial interests over the needs of its loyal fans.
Overcharged and Exhausted, But Not Hopeless
This commercial strain is having a direct impact on fan loyalty. 51% of respondents admit they have seriously considered reducing their financial commitment to Everton (via tickets and merchandise) over the past 12 months.
Furthermore, 40% state that their overall sense of connection to the club grew weaker over the course of the season.
Yet, true to the character of Evertonians, the pessimism isn’t absolute. When looking at the next five years, we find ourselves in a fragile equilibrium: 40% are pessimistic, 33% are optimistic, and 26% sit firmly on the fence.
Realistic League Targets for 2026/27
When asked for a realistic target for next season, the expectations broke down as:
- Champions League 3%
- Europa League Qualification: 42%
- Conference League Qualification: 32%
- Top 10 Finish: 18%
- Top 12 Finish: 3%
- 12th-17th: 3%
The Bottom Line
This survey reveals a fanbase that fiercely loves its club and is genuinely awestruck by its new home, but is currently exhausted by the present. We feel unheard, we feel overcharged, and we feel let down by leadership decisions on and off the pitch.
The Friedkin Group still has relative goodwill on their side, but they must spend it wisely. They need to listen more, charge less, and find a managerial direction capable of building a sustainable football identity. Angus Kinnear needs to prove he understands the lifeblood of this club – the supporters – not just corporate sponsors.
Our new stadium is magnificent. Now, it’s time to build a team and a club culture that’s genuinely worthy of it.
