Fans Back Club’s Covid-19 Conduct

As Shareholders I am sure you were equally as proud as I was when you read about the results from our latest Premier League Fan Survey.

Our supporters gave the Club unprecedented backing in all five areas evaluated by the independent survey –  sentiment, custodianship, communication, community and COVID-19 response – with us performing between 11 and 19 percentage points above the Premier League average across each of those categories. Indeed, this season’s results are the best the Club has ever received in the 25-year history of the Premier League Fan Survey.

In particular, Evertonians expressed unparalleled levels of satisfaction in our COVID-19 response – we received a 91 per cent positivity rating, 19 percentage points above the league standard.

94 per cent of fans were impressed by the Club's conduct in response to the outbreak (21 points above average), 92 per cent were impressed by the conduct of the players (13 points above average), 90 per cent of respondents said the Club had "supported its fans" throughout the pandemic (26 points above average) and 92 per cent (24 points above average) said the Club had "supported its local community" during the same period.

These incredible results are high praise for our response during a very difficult and uncertain time.

I am sure you will join me in commending every member of the Everton Family that has played their part in supporting Blue Family. I would like to place on record again how immensely proud I am of my colleagues who work so hard to represent the Club, and by association represent you, as shareholders. It is the collective effort of every member of staff, our volunteers and fans that has enabled the Club to achieve these fantastic results.

I think it is important for you as shareholders to also understand the level of gratitude I have for my Leadership Team, who have gone above and beyond over the past 12 months to protect our staff, the Club and the people of Liverpool. It is very fitting these results were released on the first anniversary of the launch of our Blue Family campaign, which has been a lifeline to so many.

In addition to our response to the pandemic, the leadership and custodianship of the Club continues to be strongly backed by our supporters. Everton's rating of 84 per cent compares very favourably against the Premier League average of 71 per cent, with 95 per cent of fans feeling the Club’s leadership "maintains the ethos and traditions" of the football club, while 93 per cent felt positively about Everton's engagement with fans.

The results are so overwhelmingly positive, it is hard to pick out highlights. But it is hugely pleasing to see that 92 per cent of fans have a "positive attitude" towards the Club, 91 per cent of respondents believe the Club has "a long-term vision", 99 per cent stating the Club makes a "significant contribution to the local community" and 84 per cent – a massive 30 points more than the league average –  declaring Everton is a club that listens to its supporters.

Fans also applaud our Club’s communication with them, with Everton exceeding the Premier League average score in every question in this category - including support for how The Club responds to contact from fans and backing our relaunched Club app, website and communication through our social media channels.

Our commitment to the community continues to be ranked as outstanding, with a 93 per cent positivity rating (18 points above the league average). The importance of community to the Club's culture and philosophy (97 per cent), successfully informing fans about and raising awareness of community initiatives (both 98 per cent) and making it easy for supporters to help the local community (87 per cent, 33 points above average) were all areas where we scored highly.

Our fans are the lifeblood of the Club and they are what makes Everton so special. And so, to have received such incredible backing for the work we are doing on their behalf is something we are immensely proud of. We will always be a Club that not only has an ambition to be the best on the pitch, but that listens and cares. And to see every facet of the Club receiving a ringing endorsement from fans is humbling.

The results of the Premier League Fan Survey reinforce the importance of our Club values. By striving each day to live by our principles as custodians of Everton, we can achieve great things.
 
To view the full news story about the Premier League Fan Survey click here.

Denise