Moyes Sets Out Ambition In Programme Notes For Burnley Clash

It’s a quick turnaround for us after Saturday’s match at Newcastle United, but everybody is in great spirits after a fabulous win.

It was always going to be a difficult challenge at St James’ Park, but an excellent performance by the players got us another three important points.

Now, once again, we find ourselves with another midweek home fixture in the Premier League.

We seem to have been involved in more midweek home fixtures than ever before. This evening is the 13th time we have played on a Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday night this season and I know this affects our supporters’ ability to get to matches. Some have work commitments, kids have school the next day, and other Evertonians travel long distances to get here, some from overseas.

But I must applaud our supporters who were here last Monday for the Manchester United fixture.

I said in my press conference afterwards that the backing you gave us was exceptional and hopefully we have started to see the best of Everton Football Club and the support base.

There was a great flag and banner display before the game and I felt that throughout the match the support was maintained until the last minute.

There were lots of positives we could take despite a disappointing result. The players put in a big effort right until the very end, with your backing playing a significant part in that.

Undoubtedly we’re all fully aware of the importance of getting results in our home games. We have certainly found them harder to come by in recent times, compared to earlier in the season.

I do believe there’s lots of factors involved in that. Away supporters are hugely enjoying their trips to a new stadium. They’re experiencing a new adventure and seeing a ground which is getting great reviews from everybody who visits it.

Teams who haven’t played here before are also enjoying the new facilities and experience – and all these factors have made it that little bit more difficult to get over the line in recent games.

Against Bournemouth and Manchester United, we came very close but didn’t take our chances. We were unlucky against United not to have got something. But we will continue to keep the faith in what we are doing and we believe this will soon become a special place for us and we will all start to enjoy some special moments together here.

Tonight we welcome Scott Parker and his Burnley team. Scott did an amazing job taking Burnley into the Premier League. The stats his side delivered last season were incredibly impressive. This year, like many promoted teams, they have found it difficult but have still secured some big results.

On a couple of occasions here during my early time as Everton manager, I tried to sign Scott as a player, but for different reasons we couldn’t make it happen. Tonight we welcome him here as one of the new breed of bright young managers.

I was only made aware after the United game that was my 50th match since returning as Everton manager. It has been a brilliant period for me since I returned last January.

We’ve enjoyed some amazing results and created some lasting memories; that includes a poignant last Men’s game at Goodison Park and a celebratory opening day here at Hill Dickinson against Brighton.

There have been plenty of things in those 50 games that I’ve been pleased with and I’d like to say a big thank you to everybody who has helped in that period. None more so than the players.

My first spell here saw me tot up 518 games as Everton manager, a period which I feel really privileged to have enjoyed because of the players who worked for us at the time.

Many of them I’m still in regular contact with and have great respect for, whether they’re working in different industries or still working within football.

It was a great period in my management career and longevity in management gives you the experience to deal with so many different challenges which modern football throws at you.

There are plenty of up-and-coming new managers making their way in the game, but also still a lot of very good experienced managers around who know how to show good leadership.

I certainly don’t expect to complete another 500 games here, but while I feel energetic and able to keep it going I will continue to hugely enjoy what I’m doing.

We must always aspire to reach the levels attained by some of my managerial predecessors at Everton, greats like Harry Catterick and Howard Kendall. Both of those men brought more silverware to Everton than I can ever dream of but it has to be an ambition of mine and the Football Club going forward to try to get back to the levels Everton Football Club enjoyed in the ’60s and ’80s.

Enjoy the game.
David