I have some Liverpool friends and some Everton friends and by writing that down I realise that I am defining them by their football allegiance. Damion is a Liverpool fan and Bobby an Everton one and I expect that both are feeling a little short-changed by a 2-2 scoreline at the end of the final derby held at Goodison Park last night.
Blue has posh associations
I am very pleased to discover that Eton, from where I type these words is linked to Goodison by having a nearby street mentioned after it, this shot is taken from a brilliant article on the BBC this morning
What a good thing to be part of the nation as Liverpool and for Liverpool to remember the posh little place called Eton in the terraces around Goodison last night.
Blue by religion
My Grandfather was at some stage of his career involved with the church that is embedded under one of the stands. He was a Methodist , my father was a local preacher, I’m just an irregular congregationalist.
Everton has a strong link with Methodism as I discovered from Derek Scott who sent me this
The chapel illustrated was opened on 20th July 1871, and could accommodate 650 people. it closed in 1955, and the building was demolished in 1975.
In 1878 the minister started a football club for the local youth, St. Domingo’s FC. This gained support from the local neighbourhood, and among non-Methodists, and in November 1879 the club changed its name to Everton FC.
Grandpa told me about it when I was young and for that reason I’ve assumed I ought to support Everton. But I like Liverpool too – is that possible?
Blue and Red in pensions
I hope that Bobby and Damian were there last night and I get something from them. Of course there are lots of other fans but this is a pensions blog so I’m picking these two out.
Damian Stancombe is a Liverpool fan
Damian is looking grumpy here, he was clearly working for someone or other, I’m pretending I don’t know who, now he’s retired he’s decided he is open to work.
I can hardly recognise him, he has cheered up, had a trip to the barber and reverted to the “open to work” attitude of most scousers I know. Good on you mate
Damion has this to say the morning after the night before
Sadly not Henry and we were lucky with the draw tbh. My family lived under the shadow of the Bullens Road end but are all red. I am also a “wool” as the family moved. Musically easy to say Beatles but Bunnymen and Teardrops are superb. However my musical recommendation for you from this incredible city is Shack. Give HMS Fable a spin. I should clarify I have definitely retired from my Primary Career. Still feel like a dabble here and there to keep the industry on its toes 😉. Good to see you back. D
I can say much the same for Bobby Riddaway, a character in the good sense.
Bobby is a bit younger than me and he has loads of energy but like Damian Stancombe, football has clearly made him follicle challenged”! Bobby is a scouser like Damian, the two of them are making the place a brighter place.
Bobby Riddaway is an Everton fan
Bobby tells us (reported by Derek Scott from linked in)
I was there and got back gone 2am. A bit tired this morning but who can’t like a 98th minute equaliser in the last ever Merseyside Derby at Goodison by the Captain in the Gwladys Street. Honours even. 41 derby wins each at the Grand Old Lady.
Liverpool for music
I have many friends who know and love Liverpool for its music. The wonderful Derek Scott for instance , is encyclopaedic about the Beatles. I had a time when a student when a trip to Eric’s in Liverpool was equivalent to a pilgrimage, though narcotics dim the memories.
In short, Liverpool has two great teams and in getting David Moyes back, Everton have finally worked out what matters, here he is to the BBC
“It was mayhem all game. A bit of a throwback. The place was boiling hot all night. It was an incredible atmosphere.”
Almost as good as the PLSA annual conference.
Fringe event at Liverpool
See also the day the world turned orange for me in 2012
As I understand it, Damian is from Southport. Would that not make him more of a woolly back than a scouser?
I’m not familiar with “Woolly Back!”.
The term ‘woollyback’ is historically used to refer to people, travelling in to Liverpool from the surrounding towns and villages of Lancashire and Cheshire.
Either carrying bales of wool on their backs, or wool fleece clothing worn by those bringing coal
to the city. Or scab workers from outside drawn to dock work. Take your pick.
In football
parlance, long-distance supporters?
Damian and Christopher may be able to elaborate.
In Scotland where it’s not unknown to see supporters’ buses leaving other towns and cities to go to Celtic and Rangers games, they may be called “expat supporters”. 😒😒
For those who don’t do LinkedIn, Bobby and Damian have replied over there, as follows:
Bobby – I was there and got back gone 2am. A bit tired this morning but who can’t like a 98th minute equaliser in the last ever Merseyside Derby at Goodison by the Captain in the Gwladys Street. Honours even. 41 derby wins each at the Grand Old Lady.
Damian (who even admits to being a “wool”) – Sadly not Henry and we were lucky with the draw tbh. My family lived under the shadow of the Bullens Road end but are all red. I am also a “wool” as the family moved. Musically easy to say Beatles but Bunnymen and Teardrops are superb. However my musical recommendation for you from this incredible city is Shack. Give HMS Fable a spin. I should clarify I have definitely retired from my Primary Career. Still feel like a dabble here and there to keep the industry on its toes 😉. Good to see you back. D
Thanks Derek and thanks to Bobby and Damian who are now quoted on the blog for those who I imagine but never spot – read the blog late in the day/week/month!