Derek On Duty – But At Wolves First, Not Everton!
Derek Mountfield ready to meet supporters at the club with whom he was a multi medal winner.
Derek Mountfield is relishing the thought of his first Premier League visit to Everton’s spectacular new home – while looking forward to coming to the Merseysiders’ game at Wolves in the meantime.
The goal-scoring centre-half attended the Hill Dickinson Stadium dress rehearsal at the pre-season friendly against Roma but was not present for the 2-0 victory over Brighton two days ago.
“My wife is a season ticket holder and had a great day there,” Mountfield said. “She has had a season ticket since before we met but I am waiting to see what they are doing with the former players, especially those who did corporate work at Goodison Park.
“Without having chance for a good look round, I loved what I saw at the Roma game. It’s hard to describe that moment when you see it and take it all in for the first time.
“Goodison held so many happy memories for us all but this place knocks spots off it. There are no obstructed views, no posts in your way and it seats more than 50,000. It’s amazing, fabulous.
“What I will say is that it will take time for everyone to settle into a new match-day routine. We all knew where we were going at the old ground but there isn’t much access for cars or buses now and it’s a 20-minute walk from the city centre.
“There aren’t many pubs in the area, either, so the supporters will have to create new habits and timetables. It’s going to take a good few matches for that to happen.”
Mountfield in jubilant mood against Bristol City in August, 1993.
Everton are at home again tomorrow, against Mansfield in the Carabao Cup, before another of Mountfield’s former clubs, Villa, provide the opposition there in mid-September in the first match after the break for international games.
The 62-year-old won two League titles, an FA Cup and a European Cup Winners Cup with The Toffees, then spent three and a half years at Villa, mainly under the management of Graham Taylor, before joining Wolves in November, 1991.
His 91 games in gold and black included a memorable opening-day afternoon of sorts. On the celebratory sunny Saturday on which the new Billy Wright Stand was used for the first time, he hit one of the goals in a 3-1 win over Bristol City in August, 1993.
The other two came from Steve Bull, who he expects to meet while appearing at the mic for a q&a stint in the museum and main stand corporate areas at Saturday’s Wolves v Everton clash.
Wolves are due to make their first visit to the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Wednesday, January 7.