As a lifelong Evertonian who lives in Canada, I have had the need to get to Goodison Park to see my team over the years. A team that I have supported for more than 55 years. Recently, I have written about My Goodison Curse. This curse stemmed from my inability over the past four years to see Everton vs Liverpool at the Grand Old Lady before we make the move to the waterfront.
My Goodison Curse appeared to have been banished as I had acquired tickets to the derby along with Wednesday night’s match under the lights at Goodson Park against Wolves and the match at Old Trafford. I flew from Toronto, landing in Manchester at 7:15 on Sunday just five hours before the match.
Arriving for the first time at Old Trafford was quite incredible. I am an Evertonian, but the history that has been created at the Theatre of Dreams has to be acknowledged as a fan of the game. As I walked up Sir Alex Ferguson Way there was history on display at every turn , not unlike walking along Goodison Road.
No match report from me but it can be summed up by saying that it was a game of thirds. The first third of the match we were really good, although finishing continued to be our Achilles heel. The next 2/3 we were abysmal.
The team started the match really well and as we were heading for the final 10 minutes Evertonian were in full voice. I was surrounded by fans cheering their team on and that team was responding. They had the 70,000 Manchester fans sitting quietly in their seats. I was in Blue Heaven singing along with my fellow Evertonians.
When Marcus Rashford drilled the ball towards goal and it deflected wildly off Branthwaite into the corner, a stillness fell over the travelling supporters. “Fucking hell” was muttered around me and the good work of the first half had been undone.
Manchester United FC v Everton FC - Premier League Photo by Joe Prior/Visionhaus via Getty Images
Six minutes later the wheels fell off. The second goal was a gift presented to Manchester by our defenders who were more interested in passing backwards instead of looking for someone who was making a forward run.
After the second goal went in and halftime arrived, the Evertonians around me were also in freefall. It turned out that this was my new Goodison Curse. However, it was probably a curse that had been felt by many in the stands at Goodison over the years and today in the away end at Old Trafford.
Everton v Brentford - Premier League - Goodison Park Photo by Nick Potts/PA Images via Getty Images
Today, when that second goal went in, the support evaporated, and the criticism started. It was visceral. It was scathing. For me, it was disappointing. We are the support for the team and support was nonexistent.
At half time we went down the steps to get a drink and a meat pie. After lining up for ages, I looked up at the screen and saw Sean Dyche heading back to the dugout so I started to head back up the steps but I was stopped in my tracks.
Manchester United FC v Everton FC - Premier League Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images
A roar, then news floated down the steps from above that Rashford had scored a third goal after only 20 seconds. I was amazed to see many Evertonians leaving the ground heading home. I wondered how they could justify their time and money and throwing it away with more than 40 minutes to go in the match.
I went back up the step to my seat and the vitriol was just getting worse. Criticism was oozing out of the pores of those around me. United were running rampant and when Zirkzee scored the fourth I could not stand it any longer. Not the watching of the match, but rather being surrounded by the curse of negativism.
Manchester United FC v Everton FC - Premier League Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images
I succumbed to it and trudged down the steps with the game continuing on in my ear. The walk back to the car was a lonely one. I had been defeated. Not by United but by Evertonians.
I have often been called the grand optimist, and that trait, of which I am proud, has put me in good stead as an Everton fan for the past 55 years. What I learned on the terraces of Old Trafford was that the optimism that I choose can quickly be stepped on by those around me when I am at the match.
Manchester United v Chelsea FC - Barclays Women¥s Super League
As I walked back down Sir Alex Ferguson Way I felt that my innocence had been lost. When I left Liverpool in 1972 I had seen the Holy Trinity win the league and I had an optimism that Everton held a place in my heart that was secure and warm. I watch every match in the comfort of my home, unaffected by the negativism that is felt by those in the ground.
I always say that we cannot change what has happened, only what we do next.
Round two happens tonight at Goodison against Wolves. A must win if there ever was one and I will travel down the Goodison Road with a bit of extra steel in my walk……not for the pressure of the result but as a way to prepare me for what Evertonians might inflict upon me again.
Come on you Blues!