My Everton #165: Cancellations & Memories Of A Lifetime

I often get asked, 'Why do you support Everton?', especially when chatting with fellow Evertonians and mentioning that I’m from Northampton.

Even before supporting a team back in the late 1960s, I always enjoyed playing football. Most kids at the time supported Manchester United, with the likes of Bobby Charlton, George Best and Denis Law. However, at my primary school we were divided into house colours for PE and – you guessed it – I was placed as a blue.

I went home and asked my Dad, who supported Charlton Athletic, which teams played in blue, he replied, Everton and Chelsea. At the time I had no idea where these places even were.

Dad promised me that we would soon go to a top football match. London was reasonably close and so on the last Saturday in November 1969, we went by train to watch a match, Tottenham v Everton in north London. We arrived outside the ground, only to find out the match had been postponed due to heavy snow!

As the season finished Everton had won the league and I wanted to watch them more than ever, so as my 10th birthday approached and my Dad – this time successfully – took me again to watch Tottenham v Everton on 30 January 1971. We lost 2-1 but I was so happy to have seen it live. Brian Labone was stretchered off, Joe Royle had scored from a corner which was delivered by my all-time favourite player, Alan Ball. Thanks to him I had a pair of white football boots (a nightmare to keep clean).

After leaving the ground, I picked up a programme, scarf, and a selection of rosettes – I chose Everton, England, and Northampton, which I have kept and cherished ever since that day.

I also remember watching Everton play in the European Cup that season against the German Champions, Borussia Mönchengladbach. We had just bought our first colour TV, it was amazing and just in time for the match. Both legs ended in a 1-1 draw, with Everton winning on penalties 4-3, after Andy Rankin superbly saved the final kick.

The reward was a quarter-final match against the Greek champions, Panathinaikos. Just like the last round both matches were drawn, yet Panathinaikos had managed to score an away goal, so that was it, Everon were out.

Panathinaikos went on to play in the final against the great Dutch team that was Ajax, a team that included the famous Johan Cruyff. If only we had managed to get to that final, Everton v Ajax (Ball v Cruyff) at Wembley. Wow.

Looking back at my programme collection of 50-plus seasons, and seeing my heroes come and go, it makes me smile thinking about all those I have managed to watch throughout the years.

Ball, Kendall, Royle, Clements, Latchford, Lyons, Southall, Ratcliffe, Steven, Reid, Lineker, Speed, Cahill, Martyn, Rooney, Barry, Baines, and so many more.

Like all supporters, I dream of the perfectly-balanced team and winning titles again but in the meantime, you can't beat the memories.

Once a Blue, always a Blue.

By Dave Care, Evertonian

My Everton shares first-hand accounts describing the most-treasured memories of fans, players, and staff both past and present. 

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