Ruby Mace wasn’t even born when David Moyes declared Everton to be "The People’s Club" when first being unveiled at Goodison Park. But almost 24 years on she agrees with the Glaswegian gaffer’s observation and hopes those same supporters will now roar on her side on to what would be a huge win on Sunday.
When he was appointed Blues boss on March 14, 2002, Moyes said: “I noticed it as soon as I walked into the building and met the people. I am from a city not unlike Liverpool.“ was brought up amidst Glasgow Celtic and Glasgow Rangers and now I am in a city where football means as much as it does up there.
“This is ‘The People’s Club’ in Liverpool. The people on the street support Everton and I hope to give them something they can be proud of over the next few years.”
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Mace, who became Everton Women’s record signing on September 3 last year when she joined for an undisclosed fee understood to be in excess of £100,000, is just 22, but a generation on she concurs.
The England international said: “Coming into Liverpool, I thought it would be full of people who support Liverpool, but it’s not. Everyone I’ve spoken to is mostly Everton and it’s nice to know that I play for the team that is most supported in this city.”
With no men’s game this weekend and interim head coach Scott Phelan in charge at home for the first time, Everton are hoping those passionate fans come out in force for the women's team's match against West Ham United at Goodison Park.
The Blues have a high noon showdown on Sunday against a side who are three points behind them in the Women’s Super League table.
Back-to-back victories have enabled Everton to move five points clear of bottom-placed Leicester City, who occupy the relegation spot, but given where the Hammers are over their shoulders, this game is a real ‘six-pointer’ that presents the hosts with the opportunity to put daylight between them and their visitors, although an away win of course would enable the east London side to move level on points with them.
Mace said: “I always say the fans are like our 12th player. We hear them and their support means everything to us.
“It’s a big game on the weekend, we have one job to do and that’s to come away with three points. I think everyone is in the right mindset to do that.
“Coming into Everton, there’s a sort of expectation to be an Evertonian and I think coming into this club, everyone's taught me that. I do think it’s a little bit inside of me, that kind of grit between the teeth and to know that everyone has that helps.”
Under new owners, The Friedkin Group, who moved the women's team into Goodison Park, expectations were high at the start of the season with Lioness Mace the marquee signing among nine new players. However, manager Brian Sorensen was sacked on February 4, just three days after steering the Blues to a 2-1 victory over Aston Villa, which was their first home win of the campaign at the seventh time of asking.
Mace believes it’s up to her and her team-mates to put things right now with Phelan, who has joined from Everton Under-18s, in charge, and assisted by women’s first-team coach Jennifer Foster and goalkeeping coach Ian McCaldon.
The 22-year-old Upminster-born player said: “The one thing about this team is we’re together and we’ll always stick together no matter what, no matter if there’s a new manager or not.
“The same principles stay and that’s working hard and doing the best we can for the badge. I think everyone has that mindset and if we work together, we’ll achieve good things.
“I think having a manager is one thing but having a group of people around who can support you is another.
“People on the outside just see one manager whereas what’s within the team is important as well. They’re the people that help us perform every single day, know the ins and outs of everything and support us the most.”
Tickets for Sunday’s game at Goodison Park are on sale for £12 for adults, £6 for juniors (under-18) or £20 for a family of four. Tickets are available at evertonfc.com/tickets