Being an Everton Fan in America

There are a lot of things I miss about being home, but as the old saying goes ‘you can take the lad out of Liverpool, but you can never take Liverpool out the lad’. My home city is with me every day and every where I go, it is a place that I am proud to have grown up in and wouldn’t have had it any other way. Walking towards ole’ Goodison Park with my brother are times that will live forever in my heart and memories. When I moved to America in 2012 I knew I was leaving behind them Saturday afternoons, so I had to find ways to keep connected with my team back in Merseyside. With popularity and respect for the game exploding over the last decade it has become much easier to get your fix and stay up to date with all games from the premier league.

Watching the Games

Being an Everton fan in America means getting up early on weekends to watch the matches; like 6am early. If you’re lucky, you get a later kick off and an extra hour or so in bed. Either way, I settle into the couch with my cup of tea and hope the mighty blues get all three points. Since arriving in Chicago, it has been my priority to watch every Everton game wherever and whenever I can. I was happy to see that NBC Sports had the rights to show premier league games and hired some decent experienced commentators. After a few seasons of gaining popularity they expanded their efforts to ensure fans could watch their teams anywhere with an internet connection. When they introduced their NBC Sports gold App it allowed subscribers to watch any game of any team any where you were. I believe I paid around $50 for the season, and was able to watch all the premier league games, including the mighty blues. I remember one weekend having a match on the TV, the laptop and the iPad; overkill to say the least. Everton also has their own online streaming services through Everton TV, an online TV subscription channel that allows you to watch the   highlights of the games and exclusive interviews with players and management. Times when I am driving and can’t physically watch the match I will visit the Everton Website and listen in live to full audio commentary. They have my favorite of all commentators Ian Snodin who won the league with the blues the year I was born. I have occasionally tuned into the talk sport app and they also have full match day commentary. Finally, when I’m absolutely desperate and can’t watch or listen to the match, I can always rely on my mum, dad and brother to keep me updated via text message.

Representing Everywhere You Can

I love taking the blue boys with me everywhere I go, my footy top is and always has been on my packing list. I’ve got my new one ordered in the mail for delivery now. I enjoy inspiring conversation about the football and bringing awareness to Americans that there are more teams in the premier league other than Man UTD, Chelsea and Arsenal. Everton have a great history with American players and have been known to give them opportunities in the premier league, including ex USAMT #1 Tim Howard, Landon Donovan and Brian McBride, all favorites amongst the Goodison Army.

The Peoples Club

When I came to the US, I was automatically inducted by marriage into the Green Bay Packer Family and boy am I grateful for that. A great American football team steeped in history and owned by the fans, a true peoples club by definition. It just so happens that Everton too are known as the peoples club for its tremendous work it does in the local community. With an old latin motto stating ‘Nil Satis Nisi Optimum’ meaning nothing but the best is good enough, being an evertonian means living to the highest of expectations. This in my opinion is what makes it so frustrating at times being an Everton fan, we want the best for the team, the club and the city but have had nothing to show for it since Paul Rideouts header in 1995 putting UTD to bed in the FA Cup Final; plus having to watch the other half of Merseyside dominate modern day football doesn’t add to the cause. The best way I describe this current rivalry between Everton and Liverpool to my colleagues in work is this, Everton and liverpool is like the Packers and the Bears rivalry, however in this case the Packers are Liverpool and the Bears are Everton, so I guess I get the best of both worlds and will remain content until I next see some Everton silverware.

Local Evertonian Clubs

Before coming to America I was lucky to have a chance conversation with a professor of mine whose brother in law was also living in Chicago. He just so happened to be running the Chicago Evertonians Supporters Club and I quickly joined their Facebook page. I found that they met weekly to watch the match at AJ Hudsons pub on N Ashland Ave in Chicago. Lindsey and I have gone to watch the blues and enjoy a proper authentic English breakfast. The atmosphere was great and the USA blues were friendly and welcoming. Another spot not to far from AJ Hudsons that developed a name for its self was The Globe Pub located at 1934 W Irving Park Rd, which was actually the first pub I frequented when I first moved to Chicago back in 2012 until I found the USA Evertonians were gathering 0.7 mile away, and I jumped ship. Chicago has a good number of popular English style pubs, many of them offering the premier league on their screens whilst serving English style breakfast and tea. Another way I stay up to date with premier league and players is by playing fantasy football of which I love to do every season. Chicago Evertonians have a good number of players in their league (30), they can be found on the Premier League app, and can be downloaded in your phones App Store. I’m doing pretty well this season and am currently sitting in fifth place with RAM FC in the league.

Encouraging the Next Generation of Evertonians

I figure since I’ve been waiting 25 years to see Everton win another trophy, that maybe with our new leadership and manager that in the next few years we might see some action. Therefore, we wanted to make sure our nieces and nephews would be born blue bloods, and started a tradition that they will all have their own Everton gear. With football (Soccer for all you Americans) being not so popular within my American family, or let’s be honest America in general, we are working on lighting the flame. All we need is one to carry on the torch. And how adorable is a tiny Everton fan!?

Making it Home for a Match

With plans under way to build a new stadium, the days of good ole Goodison Park are limited. I am grateful that I got to take Lindsey for a few games so she could walk the steps I’ve been walking since I was a kid, back when I was a season ticket holder and would make the 2.0 mile 45 minute walk with my brother and neighbors. With new technology and building design, a stadium like Goodison Park is one of the few remaining fortresses in English football and would encourage anyone a hundred times over to get to the match while you still have the chance. Thats if you can get a ticket that is, because unlike our neighbors across the park, we sell out every game.