Interviews with Fans, by Pete Grace

Pete has been a volunteer with the Everton Collection for a couple of years now, helping out on exhibitions as well as interviewing fans.

His earliest memories of Everton are of his Dad and Uncle heading off for Goodison, wishing he was old enough to join them. Eventually he was deemed "of age" and took his place on the Goodison Road terrace, at the Church End - for the princely admission fee of 5 shillings. Everton faced West Ham that day, complete with Moore, Hurst and Peters, just a few months after the '66 World Cup triumph (second only that year to Everton's victory over Sheffield Wednesday at Wembley!).

After a 4-0 win Pete was hooked and Everton just became a way of life.

As Pete says, there has been the downs, but the ups far outweigh them - from trophies won to memorable matches. Pete rates the Bayern match as a highlight, the sheer noise and passion that night will take some beating.

Pete still gets excited walking up to the ground, as he turns the corner out of Dane Street and sees Goodison in front of him. The feeling never lessons - that's what the club does for Pete.

As long as Pete still gets the tingle up his spine on the first notes of Johnny Todd, he'll take his place at Goodison and will be just excited as he was on that first visit. 

Pete's Interviews with Fans...

Interview with Tony Tighe, 11th June 2010 at Liverpool Central Library
Topics discussed: Lifelong Everton fan; embarrassed by father shouting at matches; meeting Alan Ball in changing room; Barcelona dinner for the Collection; Bayern Munich match, fan's teeth falling out; singing 'we want a roof on Gwladys Street'; the Boy's Pen; buying a lucky badge for son before every match; always win at Bolton; Goodison should be like White Hart Lane; going to 1966 FA Cup Final, father painting red car blue; working with The Everton Collection and raising funds; HLF grant to buy David France Collection; PR company working on kit launches; lifesize cut-outs of Jagielka; 'Everton One, Liverpool Two' name; consortium to buy Everton for £5 million; liver bird medal from Collection; Everton means everything.
Listen to full interview by clicking on mp3 file in top right corner. A timings sheet is also available.

Interview with Tony Heslop, 23rd April 2010 at Liverpool Central Library
Topics discussed: Watching matches in Goodison Road Stand with dad in 1966; Dave Hickson; The Ruleteros Society and Everton in Chile (CD Everton); 1909 South America tour; Tony Kay; Bayern Munich Semi-Final; Goodison Park in need of redevelopment; going to Top House pub before each match; visited 40 grounds around the country; The Everton Collection; Everton cricket team; sharing match programme with Liverpool; Everton's Firsts; being an Evertonian.
Listen to full interview by clicking on mp3 file in top right corner. A timings sheet is also available.

Interview with Phil Parker, 26th May 2010 at Liverpool Central Library
Topics discussed: Born 100 yards from Goodison Park; sneaking into matches; Alan Ball; scouting by Harry Cooke; meeting former players; relegation threat in 1994 and 1998; Gary Lineker scoring in 1986 derby; love for Goodison Park; match day rituals; buying Blueblood fanzine from George Orr; lucky Donald Duck socks; little respect between Everton and Liverpool fans; struggles to get to 1985 European Cup Winners' Cup Final in Rotterdam; Harry Catterick.
Listen to full interview by clicking on mp3 file in top right corner. A timings sheet is also available.