kopites r gobshites
Player Valuation: £750k
A 12:30 kick off; you’re kiddin? The Cockneys can play at any old time the following day though can’t they. Oh well, can’t be helped, 12:30 it is then. Up and at ‘em early doors. Let on to the Milkman. Paper, beer, food. Get your bets on Friday night. Charge that phone. Clean your trainees. Don’t forget to set the alarm.
The scramble for the tickets; ‘Ey lad any spares’.* Websites crashing, phone lines jamming, customer numbers and eligibility.* ‘Closed message’, when you ring the Box Office. ‘Everton recommend you try the website’; along with everyone else in the World. The waiting… Finally, choose your seat, tickets to be picked up or delivered: thank [Poor language removed] for that. ‘Where you sittin’? ‘The View From Your Seat’ on Wembley website. *It’s gonna be even more blue and white around me this time, louder, more passionate, more emotional; the nerves are kicking in. They have been since we beat Sunderland. It means more this time.
Trains, planes, coaches, hotels, hot air balloons, all booked up with Blues. ‘You stayin’ over lad?’ We are doin’ this and we are doin’ that. Gonna be an early start on the coach for me. 4 am. Few beers, songs and a Ginsters pasty and we’ll be on our way. On the march. A convoy of Toffees travelling down, a tidal wave of Evertonians. Driving past the redsh*te on the motorway, walking past them on the streets before we set off. The rivalry, the spirit, this city will be empty. Laughing at them being everything we are not.
The journey down to Wembley, the banter, the noise, the anticipation builds. Seeing countless match day faces. Flags draped on coaches, trains, scarves hanging out of car windows, a cheeky two fingered salute to our loveable neighbours on the way. Some Blues and Reds travelling down together. Families and friendships who may share the same blood, but support opposing city rivals. Relationships often strained when the two sides meet, arguments, anger, bitterness and pride. Allegiances to their clubs that go back decades and generations. Relatives in every form, household’s with red and blue divisions.
McDonald’s breakfasts. Service stations. ‘Don’t drink too much it’s too early’; ah forget it, pass me another can, am gonna need it to get through this. In fact, pass me a tranquiliser. Just don’t give me Chang.
Watford Gap; ‘The South’. Traffic building, Wembley arch on the horizon, nearly there. Thousands of Blues looking hung over from the night in Watford join the convoy of incoming supporters. All as one. Side by side. ‘Are we there yet’?
Arriving at the stadium, seeing thousands of your own; that ‘hairs on the back of your neck’ moment again. The relief and elation to be amongst the Everton family. A sense of belonging. All here together, from far and wide. Blue and white everything; ‘Hats, scarves and yer badges’. Getting your Everton v Liverpool Wembley 2012 pin badge. Let’s make this our moment, let’s make history.
Nothing compares to this. Remember when Jagielka scored the winning penalty vs Man Utd last time. Remember that if we want to, we can do this. Remember that feeling, the emotions, then times that by ten if we beat this lot. Remember Z-Cars blurring out when we won the semi last time. Remember Rideout in 95. Remember Chelsea fans taking the FA Cup for granted in 2009. It doesn’t mean half to them what it would to us again. Let this be our time.
The buzz around the ground. The sea of colours. Songs, sayings, motto’s. Superstitions. Wembley way, those fountains, the Green man pub. Memories revisited. ‘It’s a Grand Old Team’ and ‘Were on the march’. Old songs, new songs, old heroes, new heroes. David Moyes masks. This is where we belong, competing for cups. Moyes’ tenth year in charge, he deserves days like this, we deserve days like this. The sunshine last time, pink faces and burnt baldies everywhere.
Former players spotted around the ground, mixing with fans. Current players arriving, shots of them in their suits, looking dapper. The club back in the spotlight, our famous Everton. Team news. Come on you Blues. Photo’s with mad flags and banners; ‘Get that on Twitter’.
Time to find your block; ‘Who’s got the tickets?’ This is it. Were on the march. Inside, more Blues, more faces you see and no. The bustle and buzz continues. Singing in the toilets, on the concourse. Maybe time for a cheeky pie and a pint. The climb up the steps, another ‘hair on the back of my neck’ moment. Wow. The size of this place. Surrounded by our own but facing our biggest enemy. In the same ground as them. Trying to outsing, outshine, out do each other.*Blue vs Red.
Find your seat, say hello to people, and sing your head off. Try and take it all in. Try and get on telly. Wear your shirt, scarf and fly your flag with pride. Feel the pride. The atmosphere. Handshakes and hugs. Remember when Saha scored. Hugging strangers. Recent times. I could get used to this. This is what football is all about. Realise how much you love the club. Realise how much you appreciate being an Evertonian. Realise how much you would hate to be a Liverpudlian. Thank your parents, grandparents that you were born into this and you wouldn’t have it any other way.
The game; the emotions. The refereeing decisions, the individual performances. The winning, the losing. Feeling on top of the World when we score, if we score, we should score against these. Surely. ‘Come on Everton these are shte’. The extra time, the penalties. The possibilities. The nerves continue, they get worse. I feel sick.
The massive difference in emotions be it a win or a loss. The feeling that you never want to go home if we beat them. The place will be amazing. Down there and up here.*Over 30,000 of us feeling like we want to stand on our seats celebrating and never leave. Knowing that thousands of Blues back home or wherever they are in the World will be celebrating in their own way. Knowing that for all their millions that THEY can never match our class. Born not manufactured. One Evertonian, twenty Liverpudlians.
The feeling that you cannot wait to get home if we lose. Massive comparisons. Dejection, double dejection because it’s them. Consoling others. Consoling yourself.
Let’s be positive though. Let’s do them. Let’s not contemplate defeat.
The journey home, the night out down south or back in town. Losing your voice. Painting the town Blue. Telling everyone who will listen that you are Everton. The admiration of your people and your club, the desire to experience many more victories like these. Wanting to do it again and again. These games bring our club together. When you think our spirit couldn’t get any stronger it does. When you think we are down and out we are not. The backs against the wall spirit will never go away. We will never go away. What’s our name?
The pride, the passion, the belonging, the spirit; Take it all in your stride in the coming fortnight. Enjoy it as much as you can. Remember you are part of this club. Listen and see with your eyes what it means to our fans, read what our players say about the experience. All proud to be Blue.*Tell others about it. Embrace it, remain positive; be thankful for what we have at our club. A manager who is a real leader and a set of players who have an excellent collective attitude, spirit and determination to do well for the shirt. We don’t do primadonna’s at Goodison. Don’t do individuals. Fans, players and staff alike all work as one for the good of this club. Let’s make Wembley a sea of Blue and White. Let’s do our club proud, shout it loud. Forget them, this is us.
Stand Together
*
*
By Mark Finnegan
Related articles
Everton (efcfeelinblue.wordpress.com)
He’s Got Red Hair But I Don’t Care : A Decade With Davey Moyes (efcfeelinblue.wordpress.com)
The scramble for the tickets; ‘Ey lad any spares’.* Websites crashing, phone lines jamming, customer numbers and eligibility.* ‘Closed message’, when you ring the Box Office. ‘Everton recommend you try the website’; along with everyone else in the World. The waiting… Finally, choose your seat, tickets to be picked up or delivered: thank [Poor language removed] for that. ‘Where you sittin’? ‘The View From Your Seat’ on Wembley website. *It’s gonna be even more blue and white around me this time, louder, more passionate, more emotional; the nerves are kicking in. They have been since we beat Sunderland. It means more this time.
Trains, planes, coaches, hotels, hot air balloons, all booked up with Blues. ‘You stayin’ over lad?’ We are doin’ this and we are doin’ that. Gonna be an early start on the coach for me. 4 am. Few beers, songs and a Ginsters pasty and we’ll be on our way. On the march. A convoy of Toffees travelling down, a tidal wave of Evertonians. Driving past the redsh*te on the motorway, walking past them on the streets before we set off. The rivalry, the spirit, this city will be empty. Laughing at them being everything we are not.
The journey down to Wembley, the banter, the noise, the anticipation builds. Seeing countless match day faces. Flags draped on coaches, trains, scarves hanging out of car windows, a cheeky two fingered salute to our loveable neighbours on the way. Some Blues and Reds travelling down together. Families and friendships who may share the same blood, but support opposing city rivals. Relationships often strained when the two sides meet, arguments, anger, bitterness and pride. Allegiances to their clubs that go back decades and generations. Relatives in every form, household’s with red and blue divisions.
McDonald’s breakfasts. Service stations. ‘Don’t drink too much it’s too early’; ah forget it, pass me another can, am gonna need it to get through this. In fact, pass me a tranquiliser. Just don’t give me Chang.
Watford Gap; ‘The South’. Traffic building, Wembley arch on the horizon, nearly there. Thousands of Blues looking hung over from the night in Watford join the convoy of incoming supporters. All as one. Side by side. ‘Are we there yet’?
Arriving at the stadium, seeing thousands of your own; that ‘hairs on the back of your neck’ moment again. The relief and elation to be amongst the Everton family. A sense of belonging. All here together, from far and wide. Blue and white everything; ‘Hats, scarves and yer badges’. Getting your Everton v Liverpool Wembley 2012 pin badge. Let’s make this our moment, let’s make history.
Nothing compares to this. Remember when Jagielka scored the winning penalty vs Man Utd last time. Remember that if we want to, we can do this. Remember that feeling, the emotions, then times that by ten if we beat this lot. Remember Z-Cars blurring out when we won the semi last time. Remember Rideout in 95. Remember Chelsea fans taking the FA Cup for granted in 2009. It doesn’t mean half to them what it would to us again. Let this be our time.
The buzz around the ground. The sea of colours. Songs, sayings, motto’s. Superstitions. Wembley way, those fountains, the Green man pub. Memories revisited. ‘It’s a Grand Old Team’ and ‘Were on the march’. Old songs, new songs, old heroes, new heroes. David Moyes masks. This is where we belong, competing for cups. Moyes’ tenth year in charge, he deserves days like this, we deserve days like this. The sunshine last time, pink faces and burnt baldies everywhere.
Former players spotted around the ground, mixing with fans. Current players arriving, shots of them in their suits, looking dapper. The club back in the spotlight, our famous Everton. Team news. Come on you Blues. Photo’s with mad flags and banners; ‘Get that on Twitter’.
Time to find your block; ‘Who’s got the tickets?’ This is it. Were on the march. Inside, more Blues, more faces you see and no. The bustle and buzz continues. Singing in the toilets, on the concourse. Maybe time for a cheeky pie and a pint. The climb up the steps, another ‘hair on the back of my neck’ moment. Wow. The size of this place. Surrounded by our own but facing our biggest enemy. In the same ground as them. Trying to outsing, outshine, out do each other.*Blue vs Red.
Find your seat, say hello to people, and sing your head off. Try and take it all in. Try and get on telly. Wear your shirt, scarf and fly your flag with pride. Feel the pride. The atmosphere. Handshakes and hugs. Remember when Saha scored. Hugging strangers. Recent times. I could get used to this. This is what football is all about. Realise how much you love the club. Realise how much you appreciate being an Evertonian. Realise how much you would hate to be a Liverpudlian. Thank your parents, grandparents that you were born into this and you wouldn’t have it any other way.
The game; the emotions. The refereeing decisions, the individual performances. The winning, the losing. Feeling on top of the World when we score, if we score, we should score against these. Surely. ‘Come on Everton these are shte’. The extra time, the penalties. The possibilities. The nerves continue, they get worse. I feel sick.
The massive difference in emotions be it a win or a loss. The feeling that you never want to go home if we beat them. The place will be amazing. Down there and up here.*Over 30,000 of us feeling like we want to stand on our seats celebrating and never leave. Knowing that thousands of Blues back home or wherever they are in the World will be celebrating in their own way. Knowing that for all their millions that THEY can never match our class. Born not manufactured. One Evertonian, twenty Liverpudlians.
The feeling that you cannot wait to get home if we lose. Massive comparisons. Dejection, double dejection because it’s them. Consoling others. Consoling yourself.
Let’s be positive though. Let’s do them. Let’s not contemplate defeat.
The journey home, the night out down south or back in town. Losing your voice. Painting the town Blue. Telling everyone who will listen that you are Everton. The admiration of your people and your club, the desire to experience many more victories like these. Wanting to do it again and again. These games bring our club together. When you think our spirit couldn’t get any stronger it does. When you think we are down and out we are not. The backs against the wall spirit will never go away. We will never go away. What’s our name?
The pride, the passion, the belonging, the spirit; Take it all in your stride in the coming fortnight. Enjoy it as much as you can. Remember you are part of this club. Listen and see with your eyes what it means to our fans, read what our players say about the experience. All proud to be Blue.*Tell others about it. Embrace it, remain positive; be thankful for what we have at our club. A manager who is a real leader and a set of players who have an excellent collective attitude, spirit and determination to do well for the shirt. We don’t do primadonna’s at Goodison. Don’t do individuals. Fans, players and staff alike all work as one for the good of this club. Let’s make Wembley a sea of Blue and White. Let’s do our club proud, shout it loud. Forget them, this is us.
Stand Together
*
*
By Mark Finnegan
Related articles
Everton (efcfeelinblue.wordpress.com)
He’s Got Red Hair But I Don’t Care : A Decade With Davey Moyes (efcfeelinblue.wordpress.com)
