It’s a special thing, being an Evertonian.
I’ve been supporting Everton since the mid-1980s, when I was five, and what a team it was. The memories of staying up past my bedtime to catch a glimpse of my heroes (Neville Southall was my favourite back then) on Match of the Day and seeing the royal blue jerseys grace Wembley come the end of the season are ones that will live with me forever.
Perhaps the coverage - or lack of it compared to what there is now - made it feel even more magical back then.
My love for the Club hasn’t wavered through the years, despite it being tested! It’s a long week when we taste defeat but by the time the next game comes around, all is forgiven.
I live in a little village called Freshford in County Kilkenny, Ireland, so getting to games is a bit of a trek, but one I count down the days to like a five-year-old child again.
On 29 October 2022, I got the usual 2am bus to Dublin Airport, heading to London this time. I followed the Blues to Craven Cottage to watch a gritty 0-0 draw against Fulham. I met great Bluenoses before the game, something I always enjoy, but the highlight this time was meeting Pat van den Hauwe (a true gentleman) at half-time and managing to get a quick photo with him. This, sadly, would be my last time seeing the Blues live for a while.
A couple of weeks later, actually on my 42nd birthday, I was a passenger in a head-on road traffic collision, with my wife and father-in-law also in the car. I'm still not sure how, but all three of us survived and, thankfully, are in good enough health now. However, I suffered serious injuries and required immediate life-saving surgery and then more surgery down the line.
While in hospital I received an incredible video message from our Club captain - and a hero of mine and my kids - Seamus Coleman! It gave me a huge lift when I was really struggling. I spent four weeks in hospital but I was lucky enough to get home just in time to spend Christmas with my family. It was a very emotional time. I missed my daughter’s second birthday so we had a double celebration, with a big Everton cake - of course!
A few very tough months followed as I continued my recovery but, in May, I was fit enough to bring one of my son’s to Goodison. Man City didn’t read the script that day but the support from Evertonians after the final whistle, even when we were on the ropes, was special. And, for me, just being back at Goodison, and sitting very close to where I was for the 3-2 comeback win over Crystal Palace the previous season, was amazing.
As I'm writing this, I'm getting ready for the early bus to the airport again! It’s my other son’s birthday and we're off to the match. I'm looking forward to seeing his picture in the birthday section of the matchday programme. Every game, every trip is a memory to cherish.
Our players have had to deal with a lot this season in terms of setbacks with points deductions. It can’t be easy, but we’ll be with them every step of the way. We’re battle-hardened and we fight together.
I can’t wait to be back at Goodison, to hear the famous beat of Z-Cars, to feel the goosebumps. It won’t be easy to say goodbye to that place but I know we can make our amazing new stadium another special place because the spirit and fabric of Everton will be there wherever we play.
Of course, we need to evolve as a Club but, in some ways, we must also never change.
Thank you, Everton.
By Graeme O’Flaherty, Evertonian
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Everton and technical partner hummel are proud to collaborate to present My Everton, a weekly series of first-hand accounts describing the most-treasured memories of fans, players, and staff both past and present.
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