Everton F.C. supporters

Everton Football Club are an association football team based in Liverpool, England. They are one of the best supported clubs in English football with a strong support base around Merseyside, Cheshire, Lancashire, North Wales and the Republic of Ireland. Everton fans are known colloquially as Evertonians or Blues.

Demographics

Everton have a large fanbase by virtue of being an original founder member of The Football League and contesting more seasons in the top flight than any other club. For the first nine seasons in the football league Everton had the highest average league attendances of any team in England.^[1] Recently the club has averaged around 36,000-38,000 in league games at Goodison Park which has a capacity of 39,572. This is despite having the most obstructed views and poor sight lines in the Premier League. A 2006–07 fan survey by the Premier League returned listed 15% of Everton fans as being unhappy with sight lines at Goodison Park. Only 19% described matchday views as "very good" as compared to Arsenal fans who described the Emirates Stadium as having 75% positive sight lines.^[2] For the 2009–10 season Everton sold over 24,000 season tickets.^[1] In the same season, around 7,000 Evertonians travelled to Lisbon for a match against Benfica.^[3] For the 2014-15 season the club had 27,500 season ticket holders.

The 2004–05 Premier League survey, which asked almost 1400 Everton fans various questions, found that 40% of matchday fans live within 10 miles of Goodison Park. All together 77% of Everton fans lived less than 49 miles away from the stadium.^[4] The 2007–08 found that on average Everton fans live 44 miles away from Goodison Park, 3 miles less than the average and a huge difference compared with rivals Liverpool and Manchester United who were 82 and 78 miles respectively from their stadium.^[5] Everton draws the vast majority of its support from Merseyside, Cheshire, Lancashire and North Wales. Although no conclusive studies have been undertaken, supporters are more prominent in areas such as Aintree, Anfield, Bootle, Croxteth, Everton, Kirkdale, Vauxhall and Walton with the northern parts of Liverpool seen as Everton dominated. Fans can tag their location on the Everton Fan Map on the official club website.

Everton has a large overseas support, especially in Australia, Republic of Ireland, South Africa, Thailand and United States of America.

The 2003–04 Premier league survey found that 71% of Everton fans earn under £30,000 a year. This is the lowest average income in the league. Chelsea meanwhile had the lowest percentage with only 41% of fans earning below £30,000 per year.^[6] The 2002–03 report found Everton had the highest number of season ticket holders from the two lowest social classifications with 16%, 1% more than Sunderland.^[7] A study in August 2012 by property website Zoopla found that houses around Goodison Park were the cheapest of any Premier League club averaging £66,000, almost £30,000 less than 19th placed Villa Park with £94,000. Chelsea's Stamford Bridge came in highest with average house prices of £1,467,000. .^[8]

For the 2013-14 season the club unveiled a new club badge which received overwhelmingly negative response. A fan named Danny Zocek made a petition online demanding the badge be changed, and the petition attracted over 24,000 signatures. The club announced they would be scrapping the design at the end of the season and would liaise with fans for the new design.

Social media

In February 2009, Everton F. C. became the first Premier League club to have an official fan page on the social networking site Facebook, which publishes important club news and even in-match score updates. The page allows users to interact by uploading photographs and commenting on posts.

Website	Reach	Link
Facebook	2,500,000 likes
Twitter	765,000 followers
Google Plus	155,000 followers
Instagram	235,000 followers
Youtube	33,000 subscribers

Rivalries

A 2003 survey by The Football Fans Census found Everton's main rivals are Liverpool, Manchester United and Tranmere Rovers.^[9]

The inter-city rivalry between Everton and Liverpool FC is regarded as a "friendly" rivalry, with households in the city having both Everton and Liverpool fans. Whilst performances on the pitch are heated and passionate, the off-pitch behaviour of fans is largely amicable in comparison to the Old Firm for example. However, isolated incidents have seen vandalism to both the Dixie Dean Statue and the Hillsborough Memorial in 2002–03.

Supporter groups

Everton have supporter groups located all over the world. The three largest clubs outside England are "The Irish Toffees" located in Dublin, "ESCNI" located in Belfast and the "Everton Supporters Club - Isle of Man".

Famous fans (footballers)

The following footballers have claimed they were Everton fans either in their youth or later on.

Graham Allen John Bailey Eirik Bakke[10] Michael Ball Ross Barkley Joey Barton Daniel Bennett Jim Bentley Ian Bishop Dan Birkey Paul Bracewell Jamie Carragher[11] Tim Cahill Dixie Dean Landon Donovan John Ebbrell[12] Phil Edwards Robbie Fowler[13] Ronnie Goodlass Tony Grant Colin Harvey Wayne Hennessey

Tony Hibbert Dave Hickson Craig Hignett[14] Andy Holden Lewis Holtby[15] Barry Horne Bryan Hughes Paul Ifill Kenny Irons Francis Jeffers[16] Dave Jones Brian Labone Adam Lallana Henrik Larsson[17] Anders Limpar Mick Lyons Cliff Marshall [18] Jay McEveley Steve McMahon[19]

Steve McManaman[20] Callum McManaman Joe Mercer Billy Meredith[21] Derek Mountfield David Moyes Carlo Nash[22] Ian Nolan David Nugent Iffy Onuora[23] Michael Owen[24] Billy Paynter Kevin Ratcliffe Jack Rodwell Wayne Rooney Joe Royle Ian Rush Kevin Sheedy Sue Smith

Neville Southall Gary Speed Alan Stubbs Derek Temple[25] Mickey Thomas[26] David Thompson[27] Lee Trundle David Unsworth Ryan Valentine Roy Vernon Jonathan Walters Tony Warner Alan Whittle Ian Woan Billy Wright Stephen Wright[28] Eddie Youds Graham Stuart Eddie Howe Pat van den Hauwe [29]

Famous supporters

A significant number of famous individuals are known Everton supporters;

Actors/Entertainers Jake Abraham[30] Andy Bush, Absolute Radio DJ George Christopher Bill Dean Jennifer Ellison[31] Ian Hart Geoffrey Hughes John Hurt David Vitty Amanda Holden[32] Gethin Jones[33] Ken Jones Andrew Lancel - Actor Victor McGuire[34] Roger McGough[35] Jimmy Mulville[36] Simon O'Brien[37] Tom O'Connor Mike Parry Leonard Rossiter[38] Sylvester Stallone[39] Freddie Starr Ed Stewart[40] Claire Sweeney[41] David Thaxton Judi Dench Helena Bonham Carter[42] Matt Damon Rob James-Collier[43] Dolph Lundgren[44] Business Terry Leahy, former CEO of Tesco Journalism Roger Bennett Paul Kirkbride - Liverpool Echo sports writer Henry McDonald, writer, The Observer Greg O'Keefe - Liverpool Echo sports writer Mark Owen - France 24 newsreader David Prentice - Liverpool Echo chief sports writer Ken Reid, UTV Political Editor Ian Ross, former Guardian sports writer and Everton Director of Communications Aaron Sharp - Sunday Mirror & Sunday People Elton Welsby - Television and sports presenter Misc Will Sliney - Comic artist and writer [45]

Music Paul McCartney[42] - The Beatles John Lennon[42] - The Beatles Pete Best[46] - The Beatles Mike Lewis - Lostprophets Ian Astbury - The Cult Ian Ball[47] - Gomez Paul Draper - Mansun Lee Mavers - The La's Liz McClarnon[48] - Atomic Kitten Damon Minchella[49] - Ocean Colour Scene Keith Mullin - The Farm Nicola Roberts - Girls Aloud Donny Tourette[50] - Towers of London Osmo Tapio Räihälä - composer[51] Lee Latchford-Evans - Steps Bill Ryder-Jones - The Coral Nas - Rapper[52] Politics Joe Anderson, Mayor of Liverpool[53] Joe Benton - Labour MP for Bootle constituency from 1990. Warren Bradley - former Liberal Democrats councillor Andy Burnham[54] - Labour MP Nigel Dodds - DUP MP for North Belfast constituency from 1998 to 2010. Mark H. Durkan - SDLP MP for Foyle from 2011 Derek Hatton[55] - former Labour Deputy Leader of Liverpool City Council Pat Wall - Labour MP for Bradford North constituency from 1987 to 1990. Eric Heffer - Labour MP for Liverpool Walton constituency from 1964 to 1990. Baron Jones - Labour MP for Alyn and Deeside constituency from 1970 to 1983. Eddie McGrady - SDLP MP for South Down constituency from 1987 to 2010. Eugene McMenamin - SDLP MP for West Tyrone constituency from 1998 to 2007. Steven Norris - Conservative MP for Oxford East constituency from 1983 to 1987. Bob Wareing - Labour MP for Liverpool West Derby constituency from 1983 to 2010. Albert Owen - Labour MP for Ynys Môn Sport Tony Bellew - Boxing Riddick Bowe - Boxing Robbie Brookside[56] - Wrestling Daniel Bryan[56] - Wrestling John Conteh - Boxing Matt Dawson[57] - Rugby Union Austin Healey[58] - Rugby Union Jacob Hester - American Football John Higgins[59] - Snooker Adam Jones - Rugby Union Christopher McDermott, Olympian Handball player John McEnroe - Tennis John Parrott[60] - Snooker Paul O'Connell - Rugby Union Jake Query - American Auto Racing Presenter

Although not an Everton fan, Paul Whitehouse, when asked to describe his childhood bedroom on the Danny Baker radio show stated that on his wall is an Everton and Tottenham poster. Whitehouse states that "I really liked Everton, they were the champions at the time and they would still be sort of my second team after Spurs."^[61]

In popular culture

Everton fans have featured in a variety television shows and films.

• In Alan Bleasdale's Liverpool=based series Boys from the Blackstuff, Socialist plasterer Snowy Malone tells Chrissie that his militant trade unionist father brought him up "to believe in what was good and proper." Loggo quickly quips "I didn't know your dad supported Everton".
• The Rutles, a parody of Beatlemania, sees Eric Idle interviewing respected Liverpool poet Roger McGough (a real life Evertonian). He introduces him to the camera as "he was born in Liverpool, grew up in Liverpool, drank in Liverpool, wrote about Liverpool and his football team is of course ... Everton."
• The 1997 UK television drama The Fix told the story of the exposure of a match fixing scandal in 1963 that centred around Everton player Tony Kay. Jason Isaacs (himself a Liverpool fan) played Kay while Colin Welland portrayed then manager Harry Catterick with a broad Liverpool accent, despite the fact Catterick himself was from Darlington. The drama also featured lifelong Liverpool fan Ricky Tomlinson playing Gordon, a fictitious character and Everton fanatic.^[62]
• The 1979 television advertisement for ITV's ORACLE teletext service a disembodied voice in the strong Liverpool accent asks "Ow Did Everton do?" To which he receives the response, when the page is searched on the teletext service, "Everton 1 Stoke 1."
• In the comedy series Harry Enfield and Chums episode "The Scousers visit that London", one of the three stereotype scousers is an Everton fan. Starting off on the National Express coach to Wembley, he sits cross from the two Liverpool fans singing "You'll Never Walk Alone". When they finish he replies "Up the toffees" which then erupts into an argument.
• The 1994 episode "To Be a Somebody" of Cracker in which Robert Carlyle plays a Liverpool fan who becomes a serial killer after the events of Hillsborough and the death of his father. With the police looking for a Liverpool supporter with a skinhead he is questioned by DS Beck but he manages to avoid arrest by claiming he has been diagnosed with cancer. He further avoids suspicion by claiming he is from St. Helens and supports Everton.

References

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8. "Zoopla survey". Mirror.co.uk. Retrieved 2012-09-24.
9. "supporter survey" (PDF). Football Fan Census. Retrieved 2009-11-05.
10. "Bakke profile". brann.no. 2 November 2009.
11. "Carragher profile". thisisanfield.com. 5 January 2008.
12. "John Ebbrell profile". toffeeweb.com. 5 January 2008.
13. "Robbie Fowler profile". goal.com. 5 January 2008.
14. "Hignett interview". lcfc.com. 17 November 2004.
15. "Holtby interview". tribalfootball. 20 March 2009.
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21. Harding, John (1998). Football Wizard – The Billy Meredith Story. London: Robson Books. p. 14. ISBN 1-86105-137-9.
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29. http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/everton-fc/everton-fc-news/2009/04/02/goodison-focus-graham-stuart-recalls-dramatic-wimbledon-game-100252-23293226/2/
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37. "Simon O'Brien". city talk 105.9. Bauer Media. 2009. Archived from the original on 17 September 2009. Retrieved 2009-05-02.
38. Paul Fisher (June 2004). "Leonard Rossiter.com: A Biography". Leonard Rossiter.com. Retrieved 2009-05-02.
39. Mercer, Nathan (2007-01-14). "Everton 1-1 Reading". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
40. Clive White; Nick Harris (1999-04-17). "The Sweeper: My Teams Norman Wisdom Everton and Newcastle". The Independent (London: Independent News and Media Limited). Retrieved 2009-05-02.
41. "Claire Sweeney - NMP Live". NMP Live. 2009. Retrieved 2009-05-02.
42. "Celebrity Blues". Retrieved 2014-08-12.
43. http://prosoccertalk.nbcsports.com/2014/12/12/men-in-blazers-robert-james-collier-wants-james-milner-at- everton/related/
44. "BBC Radio 5 live - 5 live Breakfast, Your Call, Euro 2012, Dolph Lundgren talks England v Sweden". BBC. 2012. Retrieved 2012-01-20.
45. "Everton unveil new GREEN third kit - and use Marvel comic book artist to launch it". Mirror. 2015. Retrieved 2015-07-30.
46. Shaun Holden (2009-04-20). "Pete Best reveals John Lennon had footy dreams before Beatle stardom". Click Liverpool. Click Creative. Retrieved 2009-05-01.
47. "gomez: Beat Surrender". The Beat Surrender. Archived from the original on 2 April 2009. Retrieved 2009-05-02.
48. "huétaminto: Everton Football Club". Huet Aminto Ltd. Retrieved 2009-05-02.
49. "Minchella- Bluekipper". Bluekipper. 2009. Retrieved 2009-05-02.
50. "Donney Tourette - NME". NME. 2009. Retrieved 2009-05-02.
51. Dart, James (2005-05-11). "Classical composers inspired by football". The Guardian (London).
52. "Nas nails colours to the mast ahead of Everton and Arsenal clash". The Daily Mail.
53. "City council accused over 'shame' of Everton move".
54. Brown, Colin (20 June 2008). "Andy Burnham: The Mr Nice Guy who talked his way into a nasty situation". The Independent (London: Independent News & Media). Retrieved 2008-10-11.
55. Paddy Shennan (2008-10-16). "Derek Hatton: I'll never retire ... but I'd have a facelift". Liverpool Echo (Trinity Mirror North West & North Wales Limited). Retrieved 2009-05-02.
56. "WWE superstar Daniel Bryan reveals which EPL club he supports". Fox Sports. 23 January 2011. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
57. Gareth A. Davies (2003-11-25). "My Sport: Matt Dawson". The Daily Telegraph (London: Telegraph Media Group Limited). Retrieved 2009-05-02.
58. Tim Glover (2000-04-02). "Why Austin is no longer a wild rover". The Independent (London: Independent New and Media Limited). Retrieved 2009-05-02.
59. Charlie Henderson (2011-06-11). "Everton are my English team". evertonfc.com. Retrieved 2009-05-02.
60. Charlie Henderson (2001-03-13). "Why I love ... Everton". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2009-05-02.
61. Danny Baker show broadcast Saturday 13 February 2010, Radio Five Live and BBC website
62. IMDB report of The Fix 1997

External links

• http://www.facebook.com/Everton