Why Everton?

Everton are in my heart and in my soul.

The pic of Big Bad Bob Latchford after scoring against Man U from 1977/78 season wearing the very 1st Everton kit (with the rare blue shorts) I ever had, was what solidified my obsession with the Blues.

I was born and brought up around Liverpool and when I started to play football, I had a choice to make: Everton or Liverpool? As my mum and dad were not interested in football, I looked to my big brother, for guidance.

He proudly said he was an Everton supporter and, as I looked up to him, I wanted to be just like him. Unfortunately, I hadn't reckoned on him being a git that didn't want his younger brother to be like him, so he promptly decided he was going to be a Liverpool supporter.

In a move that would eerily be replicated many times over the years, I stuck to my guns (as did he) and decided that I was going to stay supporting Everton.

Despite the pain and misery that they have bestowed on me over the years, I have been remarkably lucky, as I have been a fan when we were actually good.

That said my 1st Merseyside derby that I went to on my own, was in November '82 . I was in the Gwladys Street end and was excited and intimidated in equal measure by all of the older blokes around us. Especially the one that pissed on my mate's sandwiches that his mum had thoughtfully packed for him. Unfortunately, new loanee, Glen Keeley was sent off early and that turncoat Evertonian, Ian Rush proceeded to score 4 and celebrate right in front of us - I promise I didn't spit on him as he did so

Ian Rush scoring against us in my 1st ever Derby

Surprisingly enough, this didn't put me off and we were all rewarded with a 4 year period of heaven from '84-89 interspersed with the events at Heysel in '85 (courtesy of our lovely red neighbours )that meant we couldn't dominate Europe for the years to come as we should have done.

Bitter, Twisted & Proud...thats me

Since then its been pretty much miserable other than a few bright seasons (1995 - I was there , 2004/5, 2009 & 2013/14) but what we stand for as a club and who we are, make me more than proud.

One of the greatest days of my life as I flew from Hong Kong for the weekend to see us win the '95 FA Cup final

As the club moves to the amazing Hill Dickinson Stadium after saying goodbye to Goodison, we may never have glory days again or even be the "Bank of England Club" as we once were, but we can still be the School of Science and live up to our motto of Nil Satis Nisi Optimum.

That's why we are making gear for the fellow blues out there that know the score iYk....YK

Remember, we are not Liverpool: Offended by everything, ashamed of nothing.