It’s that time again when the Blue half of our Mersey Paradise parades around sporting the clubs new strip with pride and anticipation of the coming season. Some fans choose their own names to be printed on their back whilst others take that gamble and opt to adorn that of their Bluesake, the player whom they most admire, their Everton hero.
Yes its a huge gamble alright…lets face it, the last thing us parents want to witness is their child or indeed themselves spending the considerable fee for the new shirt printed with a players name who flees shortly after your money hits the till.
This middle ageing fan has cheered euphorically, shed tears, witnessed the birth of his children, sworn profusely at referees, slept in a drunken stupour and charmed the Mrs in hisEverton strip..its a glowing beacon of honour amongst friends and strangers alike. Its an extension of our identity as Evertonians and we wear it as a second skin of choice and bestow all the faith and luck we can muster in that shirt.
So when my ten year old told me that he wanted Jelavic printed on his shirt I shuddered. Even more so when my six year old exclaimed that as a left back himself he just had to haveBaines.
Then after forgetting who I was entirely and scratching alot I decided to go along with it. What was I to do?
Then Blackburn host Everton and Jelavic is on fire again! A brace! The papers cool their heels suddenly on wishing him away from Goodison and no more is said on Martinez having a superfluous striker in the team. And nothing said recently about the richer clubs clambering forBaines…all is looking good.
My kids appear to have spent their pocketmoney wisely. I’m just wondering now whether I should invest in a Heitinga shirt.
I just had scumbag c*nt put on the back of mine just in case we sign Our Joey