Blues - In Memoriam

[BlueStevie35]

This weekend is pretty poignant with it being Father's Day on Sunday as I'm still feeling the loss of my dad, who passed away in March, ironically the day after Mother's Day. While I've been a blue for nearly 22 years, my old man was a staunch red travelling home and abroad to see them from when he was old enough to (sometime in the 60s) till I came into the world in 1985. He would continue to go to home games regularly until he gave up going for good in the mid to late 2000s as he had grown tired of listening to morons shouting abuse for 90 mins (a traight I have picked up). While he was accepting of me becoming a blue, despite his many efforts taking me to that shower when I was young and barely interested, I could always tell it grated on him that I wouldn't be following the legacy started by my Grandad.

The one thing that will forever remain with me is that no matter who we supported, we would always sit down together and watch the games when on TV, always uniting when England were playing (he would have loved seeing the comeback today as he worked in Wales for 20 years). One of my funniest memories was the afternoon he took me to see Big Nose Rush's final game at the pit in 96 and letting out a cheer going down the exit after the game, when they announced over the tannoy the final scores, as we had won 5-2 at Sheff Weds thanks to Andrei's hat trick, and having to be ushered down by him when the kopites around us started grumbling

 

[Eggs]

...I'd like to mention an old school mate of mine called Kenny Lyons. He emigrated to Canada when we were both 9 years old and I lost touch. A few years ago I looked to track him down through social media and managed to get in touch with his sister who told me Kenny had sadly died in his 40s.

Although he lived in Canada for the rest of his life he remained a massive Evertonian. When he died his devoted family brought his ashes over and they are buried at Goodison near the edge of the Gwladys St penalty area. I know when I go the game that Ken isn't far away.

 

[Sapie88]

My grandad. He got me in to a lot of things, Star Wars, war films, being a moaner.

The greatest thing he got me in to was football and along with my dad Everton.

My other grandad who passed a few months back was a red so they had a battle on to stop him turning me to the dark side.

 

[The Blue Watch]

My dad died in 1996, I was 11 back then.

He didn't really support Everton or any English team for that matter with us being Portuguese, but he got me into football. I'd go swimming a couple of times a week in the afternoon, and afterwards he'd always take me to watch the local team train, as they'd train at that time. As a 6/7 year old I loved it. Shortly after that he also started taking me to watch the matches of said team.

Sadly he was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 1994, and couldn't win the battle after almost 2 years of near constant pain.

I was fairly young when he died, but so many little things related to football that help me remember him. One of the other things I remember clearly is him getting home exhausted in the evening after yet another day at the hospital, but never forgetting to bring me the day's sports newspaper. We'd go through it together and I used to love those 30 minutes. Looking back he must have just wanted to go straight into bed most of those days.

I must have started watching English football at around that time, and fell in love with Everton not long after, but it was too late to share it with him.

Now that I go to Goodison every two weeks, I often think about what he'd have been like the first time he visited. I am sure he would have fallen in love with Everton too.

 

[chrismpw]

Here's a shout out for Harold Matthews who died in March this year. Not sure if he ever posted here, but was an immensely knowledgeable Everton fan, who seemed to be liked by everybody on Toffeeweb. At times his in depth knowledge of players for teams I'd never heard of made me stop and just wonder. From what little I learned of him over a forum, he was also an immensely likeable old school footie fan.

 

[chrismpw]

My dad died in 1996, I was 11 back then.

He didn't really support Everton or any English team for that matter with us being Portuguese, but he got me into football. I'd go swimming a couple of times a week in the afternoon, and afterwards he'd always take me to watch the local team train, as they'd train at that time. As a 6/7 year old I loved it. Shortly after that he also started taking me to watch the matches of said team.

Sadly he was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 1994, and couldn't win the battle after almost 2 years of near constant pain.

I was fairly young when he died, but so many little things related to football that help me remember him. One of the other things I remember clearly is him getting home exhausted in the evening after yet another day at the hospital, but never forgetting to bring me the day's sports newspaper. We'd go through it together and I used to love those 30 minutes. Looking back he must have just wanted to go straight into bed most of those days.

I must have started watching English football at around that time, and fell in love with Everton not long after, but it was too late to share it with him.

Now that I go to Goodison every two weeks, I often think about what he'd have been like the first time he visited. I am sure he would have fallen in love with Everton too.

My own pa died of the same thing at around the same time - I was 28 at the time. I know of this pain. Although he was a Man U fan (as were the rest of the family) he was my inspiration into footie, tennis and cricket from an early age. I remember him and me avoiding hearing an England result all day, so we could watch the highlights in the evening. We went to every pain possible much to the amusement of me ma. Just as the theme tune was starting, me ma, who was doing the ironing behind the settee innocently piped up: "I don't know why you're so excited, you won't see any goals".

 

[Lanolin]

My mum passed away in June 2009 after battling cancer for 4 long years. Me, my brother and my old man had decided not to go to Wembley for the cup final because it was clear by then that the end was nigh, but she point blank refused to allow it. She got my uncle to sort out our tickets and hotel to make sure we went. She'd gone through so much with the illness but the nurses said the only time they saw her shed a tear was that day, 'because my boys will be devastated'.

When I was a kid I never even thought of her as a blue, I thought she just kept an eye on results because of us. Turned out she'd followed them all over before we were born.

 

[anjelikaferrett]

My youngest son aged 21 - Entered the Crem to Z Cars; eulogies after family matters were mainly about playing footy & his love of Everton. For example, how he saw a young Rooney score at Leeds, and without a care in the world celebrated but in their East Stand, getting lobbed out by the stewards for his own safety, but sneaking back in at the Everton end to see us seal our first league win there for many a year. Then Z Cars again as the curtain closed!!! Nearly 9 years on his Mum still puts his photo on the table in front of the TV for televised games. RIP Chris. X

Bless you. This has made me cry. Maybe because I have a 22 year old son called Chris (who I have raised a blue- not letting his NUFC Dad have ownership of that!). Maybe you have just put into words the worst nightmare of any parent. Sincere condolences to you and your family x

 

[roydo]

My youngest son aged 21 - Entered the Crem to Z Cars; eulogies after family matters were mainly about playing footy & his love of Everton. For example, how he saw a young Rooney score at Leeds, and without a care in the world celebrated but in their East Stand, getting lobbed out by the stewards for his own safety, but sneaking back in at the Everton end to see us seal our first league win there for many a year. Then Z Cars again as the curtain closed!!! Nearly 9 years on his Mum still puts his photo on the table in front of the TV for televised games. RIP Chris. X

Got something in my eye ffs.

 

[Minimeister]

Brilliant thread already, great idea lads.
To my 'uncle' Micky. The bloke who gave me my first job and who used to take me the game when my dad couldn't anymore. It's been years now but I still raise a glass whenever we win an important game and say 'that was for you Micky'. Never forget him going on and on about going to a big away game and winding me up about not having a ticket. Then he gave me my wages and said 'just check it's right'. Opened it up and there was a ticket for the game. Top bloke, went far too early and I still miss him.

 

[big bobs beard]

This thread is already proving a massive hit with me - first thing I am checking and what I was hoping for- so many heart warming stories, keep them coming. Memories of great people never die, and even if we don't know them so nice to be shared. Harold Mathews RIP I recognised the name. Thoughts are with everybody who has posted.

 

[gerard mackrell]

Our mum passed away in April 1995 my older brother my 11 year son and myself went to fa cup final in may of that year and when we scored. My brother and I became. snivelling wrecks thinking of our mother r.i.p

 

[McMagic]

I pressed the wrong button an hour ago, and got on this thread. Normally I'm quite cynical about the the RS and their Black Arm Banded players, if it's not for the loss of the 'Trainers Dog' or the tragedy of a fourth uncle removed who would have been 175 today to one of their apprentices.
After reading the above letters, I'm afraid that I'm heartbroken. I am one of the lucky ones, I only became a full orphan at the age of 62 when my Mum died 7 years ago (By God I miss her). My Dad died in 1970 due to old War injuries, he was a wonderful person that loved his family, he used to take us kids for walks on a Sunday 'To the Fairy Glen'. Don't know what else to say.
Sorry if I've butted in, in any way.

 

[The Littlest Yobo]

Nice idea this. Mine is undoubtedly my Dad. One of my earliest memories is him coming into my room every other Saturday night when he got home from a few pints after the match and telling me Bob Latchford was asking if I had been a good boy. I genuinely used to believe this and would wait up and ask him every week if Bob had been asking about me. He drilled into me about how being an Evertonian was the best. In a family full of Reds (my Mum's Dad aside), a classroom full of Reds (except 4 of us) and when Liverpool were sweeping all before them, I never, ever remembering wavering. I remember him giving me things to say in school after we were hammered 5-0 by them. Makes me laugh as I do the same with my lads now.

Regrettably, I never got to go the match with my Dad. All of the above brainwashing was packed into a very short time. He died in Jan 83 at 36 from cancer. I was 8 and our kid was 6. However, he did a good job. When Howard's boys took off, my Mum would always say how much my Dad would have loved it. The League titles were a far cry from when he sat me down with the match programme showing Howard's "Magnificent Seven" and pointing at various players saying "he's rubbish, he's rubbish, he's..."

I'm in my 40's now and my 2 lads are 10 and 6 (both season ticket holders) and I often talk about my Dad with the kids and how he made all of us Evertonians. A nice little postscript is that last season me and the boys met Bob Latchford upstairs at the Church before the game. I took a photo of the kids with him and overheard a lady say "look at that Dad with his boys there. The kids won't know who he is". She couldn't have been more wrong!!

Happy Father's Day, Dad. (And, guess what? You'll be ecstatic to know Koeman didn't bring Sammy Lee with him!!!!)

 

[camt10]

My mum..

Her dad used to work the doors on the players lounge at Goodison (and Anfield) - he wasn't local but he came to love Everton and used to take my mum along to games with him at Goodison.

She used to go everywhere with them and even converted my dad who was a bit of a lost soul and very nearly fell in with the dark side until he we lost 5-0 at Goodison to those horrible lot and he was devastated...he knew then.

My mum took me to my first game when I was 6 weeks old. She was passionate about every aspect of the club and even used to write reports on the youth team and stuff for the online EFC community in it's early days!lol

I remember when I was a young kid, distraught if we lost and she used to wipe away my tears and tell me why Everton were always special and more so than the rest. She taught me everything about being a blue and I'm forever grateful for that.

She passed away 5 years ago very suddenly and I miss her dearly but I still thank her every day for making me a blue. Even if it hurts sometimes, you can't beat the highs.