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Dave Thompson

Posts: 8

I have followed the Blues for 40 years through good times and bad. I now live in Canterbury, Kent, and travel up and down the country in all weathers to take our season ticket seats in the Main Stand.

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A wins a win and up to eighth!

After a strange few weeks of highs and lows including an FA cup exit, a sparkling performance against Newcastle and then an indifferent showing against Birmingham it is with a feeling of great uncertainty we headed up to Liverpool for the clash with Fulham - which Everton were going to turn up?

Agreed, we have had a string of injuries to contend with, Fellani out for the season again, Arteta just as he seemed to find the place to play with freedom and put in two world class performances he gets injured and also as soon as Saha finds the net he then gets crocked, game after game after game.

As a fan it's been a frustrating campaign but this weekend is all about a little fun, a win and keeping suppliers and clients happy.

We are match ball sponsors for this fixture, I have a couple of Fulham fans as guests as well as a couple of hardened Blue noses and one who has never been to a match before - a mixed bunch if ever there was.

As usual Everton do a wonderful job on the corporate hospitality side providing a lovely meal and a good drink whilst we talk football and business, the ex-players who do the hosting are always more than willing to join in, share a few stories and make themselves accessible to the guests.

With 15 minutes to go we were collected by Duncan McKenzie and whisked down to the tunnel area and have to wait while the players come off the pitch from the warm up, we say hello to Mikel as he walks past and a big howdy to Tim Howard, thr grins on my guests faces tell their own story.

Five minutes before kick off there are huge gaps in the stands but as if by magic a minute before kick-off the gaps disappear and the whole place is full and buzzing with anticipation of the game ahead.

It's an awesome feeling to stand on the pitch before kick-off in front of 36,000 people at the club you've supported for 40 years. As the players emerge from the tunnel and the crowd explode into rapturous applause and singing I can see why players get nervous, turning 360 degrees all you can see is excited fans faces, nervous faces, expectant faces, it really is an experience you can't imagine until you've actually done it!

The next few minutes are a blur as we hand the ball over to the ref and smile for a photo that will take pride of place somewhere in my den, then as soon as you like we are suddenly in our seats watching the match

Not much of a game really but a win is a win, three points in the bag, two good Everton goals and the normal injury to Saha, oh and up to eighth in the league

The afternoon was capped off with a few more photos and a signed match ball presented by Snods, with the only thing left to decide is how the hell am I going to get the ball home in it's case, all the way to Canterbury - but I'm sure I will!

Next weekend is an international weekend and we are off to Cardiff for Wales v England followed by a sell out at Wembley against Ghana. Not sure I can cope with the stress anymore!