I think I can speak for everyone when I say we really did have a great time up at Goodison on Friday evening.  ESSCA were honoured to have been invited by Everton as part of their ‘Supporters Club Tour’.  Graeme Sharp in his role as Fans Liaison Officer & Marouane Fellaini was even present!!  They actually were ONLY human after all!!    

Chris (Brown) my husband and I were first up into the Joe Mercer lounge and as we walked in there was Fellaini & Sharpy just sat chatting; it was brilliant!

Unlucky that Felli is injured but lucky for us otherwise we would not have met him……… he is very tall!! (That’s me and Felli above).

Once we all settled in with a pint, in Everton glasses of course, Darren Griffiths (Media & Publications Manager) and our MC for the night opened up the chat by introducing the Everton representatives, Darren interviewed each one and asked what they do, Dave Biggar is the Commercial Director, Mark Rowan is Head of Media & Communications, Ray Hall is the Academy Manager, and of Graeme Sharp & Fellaini needed no introduction!.  We then all had a great opportunity to get signed photos and our own photographs of our Belgium friend, he was very obliging even though his English still needs some practice!

Darren then threw the floor open for questions and a very honest discussion.  No questions were taboo and they gave us as honest answers as they could.  It is no secret that finances are very tight and that it was unknown whether David Moyes will have any extra money to spend in the next transfer window but that if one or two players were to leave that they would be replaced by others.

The Commercial Director Dave has been with EFC for a year having been working in the USA for 10 years and has a huge job on his hands, he told us that the reason that the CEO was not present is that he was putting the final touches on the deal to build a new Corporate Facilities at the Park End of the ground where there will be shops, restaurants, bars and an Everton museum.  This has the permission and will go ahead and be ready next year.

We had the pleasure of meeting the Academy Manager Ray Hall who has worked with the youngsters for 21 years; he was truly dedicated to the cause and said they have some excellent talent coming though, (this was confirmed on Saturday as two of them; Apostolos Vellios 19 & Magaye Gueye had to step up for their debut due to so many first team players being injured).  He said the new facility at Finch Farm is a real asset to the club and that it would be a good trip if we visited that sometime!

A lively question and answer session ensued with a wide range of topics from the new ground, finances, new fans, memorabilia, disabled access, park & ride, cost of a pint inside the ground which would get us in a bit earlier!! This subject got a good laugh but on a serious note will be looked at! 

We even mentioned football at one point with one amongst us asking Sharpy of his account of playing for the Blues. Graeme also said that he thought that David Moyes would be around for a few years yet!

There were even a couple of crates of ‘Chang’ on the house and a raffle with an autographed shirt by Phil Jagielka won by Robbo’s mate Keith.

Overall the evening was thoroughly enjoyed by us all; it was refreshing to be able to ask such open questions and get honest replies to the best of their ability.

By Julie Brown, (not a born and bred Evertonian but easily converted 29 years ago when I met Chris!!)             C.O.Y.B.