I'm proud to call myself an Evertonian. I've been an Evertonian since birth, and will be an Evertonian all my life. This club, the badge, the history, the people... it means everything to me and so many others. This is why I support anyone who wears our badge with pride and represents our club with passion, dedication and the never-say-die attitude that we all know and love. I see all that and more every single time I step inside Walton Hall Park.
This weekend we host the WSL Merseyside derby at Goodison Park, after a fantastic 1-0 win at Anfield earlier on in the season thanks to a bullet of a header from our captain Megan Finnigan. Myself and everyone at The Everton Women Official Supporters' Club would encourage Evertonians of all ages to get down to Goodison Park and support these incredible players. We don't have too long left at "The Old Lady" and this gives everyone an opportunity to experience our beloved home as we count down to the time in the not-too-distant future where we will be leaving for our new home on the banks of the Royal Blue Mersey.
Supporting Everton Women is such a huge part of my life. I'm honoured and grateful to be Secretary of the Everton Women Official Supporters' Club and have met so many amazing, caring and fantastic people during my time following the team. February 2020 was a huge milestone with our move from Southport, finally coming home to proper "Everton territory", a few minutes up the road from Goodison Park.
Since then, we've made a huge effort to make Walton Hall Park not only a fantastic and welcoming place to watch football, but also to make sure that we have one of the very best atmospheres in the Women's Super League. Following Everton Women, I've also been to Anfield for the derby three times... and seen us win... three times!
We have multiple chants for every player (some players have four or five!) and, thanks in no small part to the efforts of Julie Makin, our Supporters' Club founder (me and Julie are pictured below with Megan Finnigan), and all of our members, we continue to grow season on season. We all share the same love for our football club, and the same goal of helping to grow and support the women's game.
There is still so much work to do in terms of changing peoples' perception of, and attitudes towards women's football. The success of the Lionesses winning the Euros (with a number of former Everton players in their ranks) has had such a great impact on attendances and raising the profile of the game - but there is still so much more room for growth. I would say to any Evertonian who hasn't been yet, to get down to Goodison Park this Sunday for the derby, bring the family, and let these players show you how incredible they truly are, both on and off the pitch.
These players make me so proud to be a Blue. I've had a season ticket at Goodison Park next to my dad for 26 years, I follow the men's team up and down the country with The Walnut Blues, I've been to European aways, I've been to Wembley numerous times - I understand what it means to our fans and what we expect our players to give us. I can't overstate just how proud I am of our Everton Women, and how proud I am every time I see them walking out to Z-Cars and giving their all for our football club.
For me, there isn't Everton Men and Everton Women, there is just Everton. And Everton is the most important thing in my life. Anyone who fights for my club will get my full backing, from the first whistle to the last. Everyone is welcome to join us this Sunday!
Up The Toffees.
Peter MacFarlane, Evertonian and The Everton Women Official Supporters' Club Secretary
Tickets for Sunday's Merseyside derby are on sale now, priced at £12 for adults, £8 for concessions (students and over-65s) and just £2 for under-18s. Secure your seat online, over the phone on 0151 556 1878, or in person at the Goodison Road ticket office. Opening times for all our ticketing outlets can be found here.
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