My Everton #178: What Makes It The People's Club

It all started with my dad who used to go to both Everton and Liverpool games well before my time. 

Over the years, he started a family and, thankfully, his allegiances started to move towards Everton.

Jimmy, my eldest brother, came along years later and he started following the Blues straight away, going to the games as soon as he was allowed to. 

I came along in 1984 and soon became the newest Blue in the house.  

From the age of around 10, Jimmy took me to my first game at Goodison and I fell in love with Everton from that day. Me and Jimmy went to every home game and a few of the local away fixtures as well. 

Our dad didn’t really go to many games with us. He did start coming again around 1999 but had a heart attack after one of the games. He never went again – but followed from the couch at home. 

Moving forward some years Jimmy met his future wife, Christine, who at the time was a Leeds fan... not for long, though! It took only three games watching the Blues to convert her and extend our home seats by another.

We loved the tradition of a home game day: the meet-up at my mum and dad's house and the drive listening to Radio City’s football talk.  

We had season tickets for many years until Christine became ill and needed constant treatment. We all decided to give them up and buy each game separately if and when we could around her treatment. 

Unfortunately, after a year, Christine lost her battle and left us. Jimmy needed to get back to Goodison as soon as possible, so again, we all started going to every game together.

Skip through to 2024 and our dad passed away. Another blue light gone out. 

Me and Jimmy made sure to remember him at the new stadium with a stone and photo inside.

Jimmy was obsessed with the new stadium build, watching drone progress daily. He waited so long for a new stadium. Unfortunately, Jimmy also passed away just two months after our dad, not getting to step inside the new stadium he always dreamed of.

Again, with losing my dad and Jimmy, who I always went the game with, I decided that I would also stop going. 

For the past two seasons I've supported from home, but all while still singing the Blues!

Family is what makes Everton the People's Club. 

Its love is passed down through each family member. All those years ago my dad could have chosen the red side but didn’t. 

Since then, at least 15 family members have supported and followed the Blues. 

I still haven't been a game at our new stadium, but Jimmy and Christine's grandkids do, singing in his name.

By Barry Hogg, Evertonian

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

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