The Friendly Derby ?

[Guest Kev]

Liverpool Echo

 

Why there's no room for hate on derby daySep 7 2006

 

Sports View, With Echo Sports Editor John Thompson

 

 

ONE former Liverpool great this week bemoaned the fact that Saturday's derby at Goodison Park is being played far too early - both in terms of its kick-off time and its slot in the season's calendar.

 

Mark Lawrenson suggested the 12.45 start may be driven by the authorities because the atmo-sphere is far more hostile than in his day. But he regretted the fact and feels the occasion will suffer.

 

The BBC man also said the Liverpool players around him in the 1980s actually wanted Everton to be successful, too, because it made the derby meetings even better to play in.

 

But, according to Lawrenson's pals on Merseyside, those days seem to have gone.

 

They were days when the rivalry between Everton and Liverpool was as passionate as ever. They were also the days before 'the plot' went totally AWOL, which for too many supporters on both sides, it most certainly has.

 

The old Merseyside derby spirit is dead, insist many fans.

 

Sadly, they might be right. But can we dare to hope it might actually still be alive, suffering instead a state of chronic neglect from those fair-minded, decent supporters who really do remain the big majority?

 

If that's the case, then every Everton and Liver-pool supporter entering Goodison on Saturday, or Anfield next February, and those cramming into pubs where these games will be shown, can do something to improve this sadly infected atmosphere . . . behave themselves in the spirit of the game. And give at least a sideways glance of disapproval to those who don't.

 

Because in the end, simple, good old-fashioned behaviour is what this issue is all about.

 

In shops and offices on Merseyside, in factories and schools, throughout the season the mood between Everton and Liverpool supporters isn't really one of vitriol.

 

There's still plenty of good-humoured banter between reds and blues all year round; still people who love each other and live with each other, yet who wear the different colours of two great British clubs with a bit of decency week in, week out during the season.

 

It's only on derby day itself that we now seem to let a good few morons set a stupid, lower tone.

 

When opponents score in a derby and a rival fan or two nearby actually dares to clap or cheer, is it really too much to ask that suppor ters present bite their lip and just accept it - rather than sling some bad-mouthed personal verbal, or worse?

 

If it is too much to ask, then shame on us for letting a unique footballing rivalry go to pot.

 

And remember this: Saturday will be the first Goodison derby in years missed by possibly the biggest Evertonian of all, the late, great Brian Labone.

 

Labby's blood was royal blue. And he just loved beating Liverpool. But his best friend was Anfield legend Ian Callaghan, a man of similar, 24 carat calibre whom he met in battle many times, yet who almost broke down in May paying tribute to Labone at his funeral in the Anglican Cathedral.

 

So when it comes to derby games like Saturday's, the message from the Blues' late skipper and his legendary Liverpudlian pal would surely be this: Come the derby day action, blue or red, by all means be happy or be hurt by your team's fate.

 

But for God's sake, don't hate.

 

The friendly derby is a thing of the past in my view, I never used to be watching my back at the derby but sometimes now it's akin to going to Old Trafford.

[mally]

they are the s*** of merseyside

[johngibo YPC]

they are the s*** of merseyside

 

thats the spirit

[Phil236849]

they are the s*** of merseyside

 

 

oh well, door's shut on that writer's sentiments then?

 

as an OOTer, whose parents were not interested in the game, i dont have real knowledge of how friendly exactly the good ole days were, but i find this friendly derby concept difficult. granted, i can remember say the 86 cup final very clearly and the talk of it being all one family etc. but how friendly was it really. did everyone drink together, agree that the best team one, and praise the oppo players? has hindsight gone OTT? i'd be interested to hear from people who attended derbies home and away in the 70s and 80s...

[Andy @ Allerton]

I will be having a few bevvies in the Oakie before and will be having a few bevvies in the Cheppy after with my Everton mates and my girlfriend.

 

It's not as bad as some make out - just a few complete f***ing c**** and knobheads - mainly younger ones - but mainly decent folks on both sides.

[denver]

My uncle is a blue. He grew up going to Everton games, and when Everton where away he and his mates would go to Liverpool games if they couldn't get tickets.

 

When we won number five he asked his daughter if she was going to the victory parade, she says "no, I'm an everton fan", and he was livid. Said it's the club, then the city, it was still a win for the city.

 

Think he's very out of date these days though

[Ostrich Man]

thats the spirit

[Phil236849]

My uncle is a blue. He grew up going to Everton games, and when Everton where away he and his mates would go to Liverpool games if they couldn't get tickets.

 

When we won number five he asked his daughter if she was going to the victory parade, she says "no, I'm an everton fan", and he was livid. Said it's the club, then the city, it was still a win for the city.

 

Think he's very out of date these days though

 

thats really interesting. dont think that happens/there's that attitude in other cities!

[Andy @ Allerton]

My uncle is a blue. He grew up going to Everton games, and when Everton where away he and his mates would go to Liverpool games if they couldn't get tickets.

 

When we won number five he asked his daughter if she was going to the victory parade, she says "no, I'm an everton fan", and he was livid. Said it's the club, then the city, it was still a win for the city.

 

Think he's very out of date these days though

 

 

I went to see the Everton FA Cup parade in '95 when the went down Mather Avenue - as did loads of other reds to applaud

 

When Liverpool went past with the FA Cup down Mather Avenue - the last time - and every time - there were plenty of blues there to applaud them

 

There are bitter c**** on both sides - but plenty of people that aren't.

[Guest Kev]

oh well, door's shut on that writer's sentiments then?

 

as an OOTer, whose parents were not interested in the game, i dont have real knowledge of how friendly exactly the good ole days were, but i find this friendly derby concept difficult. granted, i can remember say the 86 cup final very clearly and the talk of it being all one family etc. but how friendly was it really. did everyone drink together, agree that the best team one, and praise the oppo players? has hindsight gone OTT? i'd be interested to hear from people who attended derbies home and away in the 70s and 80s...

 

I used to go to many Everton games with my blue mates and they went to Liverpool games. For the derby games we drank together before the match, said our goodbyes outside the ground and then met in the pub afterwards. For the Cup Finals we all went down together, there was no Liverpool or Everton trains/coaches.

 

I want the derby games to go back to then, there was still the hatred, there was still blood and guts, but that was for 90 minutes, before and afterwards it was friendly.

 

My uncle is a blue. He grew up going to Everton games, and when Everton where away he and his mates would go to Liverpool games if they couldn't get tickets.

 

 

My dad and his mates went to Liverpool one week and Everton the next, it was just something they did because they were mates. I've done it myself as I've said earlier.

[Andy @ Allerton]

To be fair Kev - you've been in the Cheppy a couple of times after the Derby with Ant and you were made very welcome in there by the bluenoses.

 

I still go to Everton matches now and then with my girlfriend and apart from the cockmonkeys there is no bother.

[Phil236849]

so, those who grew up, locally, in the friendly derby era, was it like the other one is your no 2 team? cos my impression is that we're all chuffed to bits now when they're in the relly zone, when they sign the wrong player based on misstaken identity, when one of their players may have drinking problems, etc? those sentiments are what makes it like other derbies now imho

[Andy @ Allerton]

so, those who grew up, locally, in the friendly derby era, was it like the other one is your no 2 team? cos my impression is that we're all chuffed to bits now when they're in the relly zone, when they sign the wrong player based on misstaken identity, when one of their players may have drinking problems, etc? those sentiments are what makes it like other derbies now imho

 

I like them - but I've been going to both grounds for years now

[Guest Kev]

so, those who grew up, locally, in the friendly derby era, was it like the other one is your no 2 team? cos my impression is that we're all chuffed to bits now when they're in the relly zone, when they sign the wrong player based on misstaken identity, when one of their players may have drinking problems, etc? those sentiments are what makes it like other derbies now imho

 

Everton were never my number 2 team and never will be. But during the Thatcher years when anyone or anything from Liverpool (the city), was to be hated, beaten and generally abused. I did want Everton to do well as it was a win for the city itself.

 

I will never forget the chant of Merseyside before the start of 86 Cup Final, hairs on the back of the neck time.

[Bao]

For the Cup Finals we all went down together, there was no Liverpool or Everton trains/coaches.

And chanted "Merseyside" together at Wembley. (too feckin' slow again).

Edited September 7, 2006 by Bao

[Guest Kev]

To be fair Kev - you've been in the Cheppy a couple of times after the Derby with Ant and you were made very welcome in there by the bluenoses.

 

 

yeh and I also went with them after the Everton 1-0 against the Mancs. They are good lads, but the good lads on both sides are in the minority I reckon.

[Billy Talbot]

I think it's all a bit off the way things have gone. I remember when I was a kid (I'm only 32!) there being the highest rivalry and both sets of supporters had a lot more respect for each other. As well as the friendly/unfriendly! banter.

 

Now I'm afraid it has gone sour. I think a lot of the bitter blue thing rings true. If they were more successful on the pitch, they wouldn't be so jealous of our success, or feel the neet to vent their frustrations in our direction - which I'm also afraid, some of our fans don't take as a form of flatery. The straws which they clutch at - like Heysel - do nothing for them as they're so easily rediculed, adding fuel to the fire.

 

I reckon the "friendly derby" atmosphere will only come back when Everton start to win things again, otherwise one set of fans involved are gonna stay feeling downtrodden, poor relations - which is hardly a good basis for friendship is it?

 

I for one will get a few jibes in when we do win, but I always feel sorry for the poor f*****s. Which no doublt rubs it in further!

[Billy Dane]

All you could hear at Wembley at the 84 Milk Cup Final were chants of Merseyside, Merseyside. It was a very proud moment, as I don't believe you would have heard City and Utd chanting Manchester, Spurs and Arsenal chanting London etc etc.

 

Sh*te game though.

 

If we weren't going to win something, have always wanted Everton to win instead. Still do, but unfortunately there are more d*ckheads around these days - on both sides unfortunately.

[johngibo YPC]

I want Everton to do well. I really do. I just find it funny as f*** when they don't

work that one out

[Guest Dirk]

oh well, door's shut on that writer's sentiments then?

 

as an OOTer, whose parents were not interested in the game, i dont have real knowledge of how friendly exactly the good ole days were, but i find this friendly derby concept difficult. granted, i can remember say the 86 cup final very clearly and the talk of it being all one family etc. but how friendly was it really. did everyone drink together, agree that the best team one, and praise the oppo players? has hindsight gone OTT? i'd be interested to hear from people who attended derbies home and away in the 70s and 80s...

 

 

My sister's a bitter, the rest of us are reds. My first derby, being there in person was the last one on the standing Kop. I remember even then there was a load of them on the Kop, toward the Main Stand/Paddock and there was a line of Police and stewards segregating us and they tried to charge us. I laughed at the time because it was pitiful but I didn't realise at the time that, for me, it was the beginning of the end of the friendly derby.

Edited September 7, 2006 by Dirk

[Guest mht1892]

I will be having a few bevvies in the Oakie before and will be having a few bevvies in the Cheppy after with my Everton mates and my girlfriend.

 

It's not as bad as some make out - just a few complete f***ing c**** and knobheads - mainly younger ones - but mainly decent folks on both sides.

 

theres alot of nobheads going to watch the blueshyte these days, even blues are getting fuked off with all the gobshytes going to games, the racist younger lads are a worry apparently it sounds as if they got a Hitler Youth crew going on......

 

I hope we batter them Saturday......

 

All you could hear at Wembley at the 84 Milk Cup Final were chants of Merseyside, Merseyside. It was a very proud moment, as I don't believe you would have heard City and Utd chanting Manchester, Spurs and Arsenal chanting London etc etc.

 

Sh*te game though.

 

If we weren't going to win something, have always wanted Everton to win instead. Still do, but unfortunately there are more d*ckheads around these days - on both sides unfortunately.

 

 

Those days are long gone lad.... dont think they will ever return either, it will get worse if anything especially with all the nobhead scallies they got following them these days.

[Bald Devil]

I've been to the Pit loads of times with bluenose mates, and been on Everrton aways with them, but I've never watched the reds at Goodison. I couldn't stick it.

 

I normally want them to do well. Most of my mates are blues and if they lose it makes for a worse Saturday night out. Obviously I've had loads of them over the past 10 years.

 

But when I hear some of the horrible little racist t***s in the alehouse or read bluekipper.com then I would give my right arm to see them relegated.

 

FFS I've just remembered their Heskey song. What a bunch of whoppers.

[Guest shankers]

they are the s*** of merseyside

 

Spot on mate.

[Lee W]

It's hard for the Derby to become "friendly" again after the recent t**-for-tat vandalism of memorials/statues and people hearing of rucks going on in town after the game.

[cymrococh]

theres alot of nobheads going to watch the blueshyte these days, even blues are getting fuked off with all the gobshytes going to games, the racist younger lads are a worry apparently it sounds as if they got a Hitler Youth crew going on......

We've got our own problems with that as well.