"I looked into the Kop and saw groups of Evertonians jumping up and down celebrating" - David Weir
by Dominic King, Liverpool Echo
ASK DAVID Weir what he remembers about Everton’s last victory behind enemy lines and his response is the same as any other Blue: “It’s been far too long.”
Although the memory of Kevin Campbell’s Kop End winner still burns brightly, Weir can scarecly believe that nine years have elapsed since that feisty September evening in 1999 when three red and five yellow cards were brandished.
Having arrived on Merseyside the previous February, Weir’s only experience of the most famous neighbourly squabble in British football had been as a second half substitute when Everton were beaten 3-2 at Anfield in a game where Robbie Fowler’s touchline antics grabbed the headlines.
A couple of months later, though, not even an unseemly squabble between Francis Jeffers and Sander Westerveld was able to detract from the efforts of Walter Smith’s men, who had made the trip across Stanley Park desperate for victory.
Five days before that collision, Everton had been dumped out of the League Cup at Goodison Park by League One side Oxford United but they never looked back from the moment Campbell nipped in to fire past Westerveld.
That Weir – who now plies his trade north of the border with Rangers – never got to experience the feeling again, though, was a source of some regret and he hopes that the current crop of players do not have to wait so long for an Anfield win.
“The one thing I remember most about that night was when Kevin scored, I looked into the Kop and saw groups of Evertonians jumping up and down celebrating,” said Weir, who made 269 appearances during his time at Goodison Park.
“I can guarantee you something like that would never happen in Glasgow!
“People might remember it most for the scuffle between Franny and Sander, which was a bit of shame. It was nothing more than a bit of pushing and shoving but it never took the shine off the result for us.
“Liverpool had bought a few players that summer and went into the game with big expectations but it was an important night for us and we had a lot to play for too.
“We did well and once we got ourselves in front, we grew in confidence and the result was never really in doubt.
“I had come down that February and my first two derby games were at Anfield. It was a tremendous experience and I thoroughly enjoyed those games.
“We had a couple of good results at Goodison, it’s just a shame we only had one on the other side of the park.
“Of course that was one of my highlights. I did think it was going to be like that all the time but, obviously, it wasn’t meant to be.
“We had a couple of draws that we nearly nicked – Wayne Rooney hit the bar one season – but I loved every minute. It was an honour to play for Everton.”
A great stalwart at Everton
