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Tagged: Everton

Football FanCast columnist Joe Jennings feels that there is still life in the ‘old lady' and with a little facelift; can provide Evertonians with the home they'll cherish.

Tensions are undoubtedly high as the decision draws closer, it is thought if the government do opt to call the proposed redevelopment of Everton Football Club to "nearby" Kirkby in then effectively; the proposal will be dead in the water.

Bill Kenwright, if you are the Evertonian you truly claim to be, don't slaughter the heart of the football club. Deep down inside you Bill, you know that moving to Kirkby is the WRONG proposal for Everton Football Club. You can prevent this; the club is in your hands.

"I'd stay at Goodison forever, but it's not an option; I'm afraid for the future of this club. If the Kirkby scheme goes ahead it would not only provide Everton with a state-of-the-art facility, but would also mean a multi-million pound regeneration of Kirkby."

We can stay at Goodison interminably; it is in fact cheaper than the pitiable proposal that we find ourselves ravaged with. You're proving yourself to be a coward Mr Kenwright, opting for the easy route out, is there a motive?

Nostalgia is a wonderful thing, but I am afraid it simply doesn't apply with this topic; the proposal is simply unworthy, unwanted and frankly unsuitable for a club of Everton's stature. Goodison Park has, undoubtedly, proved a powerful symbol for Everton FC and all that it stands for. I want to step into tomorrow with genuine hope for the future, strength and honour, Kirkby doesn't meet such criteria.

If we move out then the future supporters in Liverpool are likely to follow the "Reds", believe it or not. They will be the only team in Liverpool and the children will, in the main, grow up to support them. We are recognised in having the highest percentage of local support in the Premiership. If we begin to lose that, unless we are extremely successful and make a name for ourselves in Europe, then we will see our attendances dwindling. We can prevent this, Bill can prevent this; do we really want the children of tomorrow donning red jerseys?

This is not about being melancholic; it is about saving the club from imminent disaster. Once we leave Goodison, we're gone forever, there is no turning back, we must realise that. You can talk about city boundaries, it being only four miles from Goodison; once we leave we cease to be the Everton Football Club that many thousands of people cherish.

The goose bumps you get as your heroes emerge from the tunnel to the tune of Z-Cars wells you with self respect at the fact that Goodison Park is Everton's and Everton's only. The Z-Cars theme, the electric green grass, the blue shirt, the ashes scattered around the hallowed turf, the history - all combine to create an extraordinary inner feeling of sheer pride.

Goodison Park is genuinely unique. What price does anyone put on anything that is unique? There's so many things to be said about the Old Lady, good and bad, but please let's not churn out this, ‘can't be redeveloped' nonsense. Of course it can.

This proposal to go to Kirkby, is the latest, and possibly the most damaging, in a list of moves by Mr Kenwright which some might call incompetent. I refer to the aborted deal with NTL, to the abysmal fiasco of the loss of the Kings Dock. Blimey, if we had to move from Goodison, what an absolutely fantastic ground we would have had. Then we had the Fortress Sports malarkey, what was that all about? How long can we turn a blind eye to what is happening around you, how long can we forgive and forget?

I even miss Goodison during the close season. The ditsy catering staff, the smell of horse [*@!$], the greasy takeaways stalls, Mr "Everton Hats...Everton Scarves...Everton Programmes" himself, the smell of the grass, the hustling and bustling on Goodison Road. That is what you're leaving behind, our heritage, our tradition, our identity.

If your hairs really stand on end when Z-Cars is played, if you really do bleed blue, if you love the boys pen as much as you say you do, don't exterminate us, don't prise away my greatest passion.

A redeveloped Goodison Park is the first-rate option, you know it, we know it, the whole world knows it. This club is unbelievably special, our home, our heritage is a MASSIVE part of that. How anybody could ever want to leave the Old Lady is beyond me, it truly is mesmerising.

Quite frankly, I don't want to leave Goodison in floods of tears, victim of a desperately mistaken decision. Nil Satis Nisi Optimum; ‘Nothing But The Best Satisfies'. Don't do it, Bill. Don't be the man that slays our great club.

Poll:

  • No votes yet
Eddie
Picture of Eddie
I think we are in the
I think we are in the minority Joe, I have been telling people til I am blue in the face that we should stay at Goodison but it seems to fall on death ears. It is the right move that will appeal to all parties.

Tom J
Picture of Tom J
Agree it would be nice to
Agree it would be nice to redevlop Goodison and cannot see why it cannot be achieved in all honesty. Right decisions for all parties.

Davo
Picture of Davo
We Need to move, but Kirkby
We Need to move, but Kirkby is the wrong deal. Sit tight, another oportunity will surface in the next few years. We should only move for the right location, stadium and cost. All 3 need to be in place, and Kirkby present one (the cost) at best.

Deva Blue
Picture of Deva Blue
I agree that redevelopment
I agree that redevelopment of Goodison would be the best option but there are reasons it can't be done. The main one is who / how would it be paid for? The Kirkby deal doesn't cos the club anywhere near as much as it could do because Tesco get something out the deal and therefore will stump up a lot of the money for it. Redevelopment of Goodison would only benefit Everton FC so we would have to find ALL the money to do it. To turn Goodison into the stadium we need would cost million (well in excess of £100M) How can we afford to do this? The other point is that we would have to do it in stages and have stands closed whilst the work took place or temporarily move out. If we close stands you could be looking at 4 - 5 years of reduced capacity of 28 - 32k that would also cost us more money in lost revenue. The alternative is to temporarily move out for 2 years and blitz it. Where would we go? Would you like us to borrow Anfield when Liverpool move to their new ground for a couple of years before the knock it down???? Don't get me wrong, I'd love to redevelop and stay at Goodison but please give a feasible way of doing this in both cost and process wise?

Steve Brown
Picture of Steve Brown
Kirkby isnt the answer but
Kirkby isnt the answer but we DO need a new stadium, lets be REALLY honest here- the old lady is a dilapidated wooden wreck and about the worst ground in the PL. Before you bite I repeat Kirkby is not the answer. We need a brand new stadium in the city.

Jack
Picture of Jack
Get a grip, people who don't
Get a grip, people who don't want to move to Kirkby and in a very sad minority. I hope we go, I can't wait to go... Breaking news! Following the move, I can confirm we will still play in blue, still have a green pitch and still run out to Z Cars, BUT in an environment that allows the club to develop and return us to a force in the game. How can we re-develop a landlocked stadium? Compulsory purchase the homes, businesses and school around the stadium, re-route the roads, and go without the vital revenue for several seasons just so you and other blinkered supporters "can smell the greasy takeaway stalls". Oh and the club have to pay for all of that, when we have a perfectly viable opportunity with Tesco that is fantastic value for us. The vast majority of Evertonians will never forgive the rest who can't cope with change if this falls through, open your eyes and look at what you are putting at risk for the club and our future!