Former Everton player Michael Ball tackles the big issues at Hill Dickinson Stadium
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Today is a Bank Holiday Monday and Everton’s home game with Manchester City has been moved to the next one, and while we can enjoy that beforehand, the day after isn’t and there are things to do. For the night games, it feels like everyone is hurrying off because they’ve got work in the morning or the kids are at school.
Moving the home game with Manchester City means that Everton will have had seven Monday night fixtures this season when Sky Sports are only supposed to be putting teams in a maximum of five across Monday or Friday slots. It’s felt like we’re a victim of circumstances with so many other Premier League teams in Europe this season.
It’s our first season at Hill Dickinson Stadium and we’ve not had the opportunity to enjoy many Saturday games. The 3-0 win over Chelsea was great, not just in terms of the performance and the scoreline but the whole matchday experience and we thought: “We want more of this,” and then Manchester City gets moved to the Monday night slot.
Everything seemed to click against Chelsea. People were down there early, the sun was shining and the team played fantastic.
Crucially though, there was no rush to get home. We could enjoy the three points in the surroundings of the stadium or go to the pub or wherever you wanted to go, without being in a rush to get home.
Football sold its soul to television a long time ago, and being in another live slot brings in additional revenue while ensuring we’re beamed around the world getting increased exposure, but my fears are for Everton’s loyal supporters. We’ve already seen both our games against Arsenal this season moved late in the day, and this is just another inconvenience.
With the move to the new stadium, fans are still getting to grips with their new matchday routines and often many of them have found it difficult to get to the ground for night matches and that’s led to pockets of empty seats for such fixtures. That’s because some fans can’t get to the game and there is also the new ticket system.
Now that fans have to be part of the membership scheme, it’s made it difficult for people to pass their ticket.
If you want to get new blood and the next generation of fans coming in, it would be nice if you were still able to just say to your neighbour: “There you go, have my ticket and take your child, enjoy the game.” That connection has got to stay.
Ultimately, it’s up to the players to provide the spark, but changes like that would help boost the atmosphere in these midweek home games. The pockets of empty seats are not because fans don’t want to go to games, it’s all the moving.
I’m hoping that Everton can come up with a system where the fans can pass the tickets on to who they like in an easier fashion. Season tickets cost a lot of money, so you’re not going to give them away for free to everybody, but there are going to be the odd occasions where you might be away on holiday or something else crops up.
It’s a bit of head scratcher when it comes to transferring your ticket over from one member to another, I find it all a bit messy. If we want to provide the opportunity to get new Evertonians into Hill Dickinson Stadium, let’s make it more straightforward for them and streamline the system.
There are youngsters who might not have decided yet whether they’re going to follow Everton or not. But as soon as you go in and see that crowd bouncing and the players perform, that’s what grabs you, that’s what grabbed me as a young kid, going to the game with my father.
It’s that feeling of walking up the steps, seeing the pitch and the lights. That’s it, you’re Everton for life after that.
Garner World Cup dream can boost Everton but he's not the only one
Hopefully James Garner will return to the Everton team full of confidence after his successful England debut and time away with the national team. He can come back with his shoulders back and chest out, wanting to keep performing to try and secure a place in Thomas Tuchel’s squad for the World Cup finals.
There are others around him who will be trying to make a late bid to get on that plane to the USA as well. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall has been fantastic since he came to the football club and speaks very well when it comes to his experience of wearing the blue shirt.
He could have an outside chance. England are very strong in his position, but if you’re a player, that’s where your ambition will be.
Kiernan has had a successful start at Everton, but can he do even more? Can he score a few more goals and provide some more assists during this crucial period?
You always want to improve as a player. If you stand still, others will catch up and eventually overtake you.
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