As a kid growing up in Wicklow, it was always a dream to play at the Carlisle Grounds, in Bray.  A fully enclosed ground with a stand – wow!  To play at the Carlisle Grounds, in a County showpiece final – well, you’d made it hadn’t you?! 

I never thought though that I’d see the day come when I’d be attending a match at the Carlisle Grounds to watch my beloved Everton taking on the home side, Bray Wanderers.  That ridiculous notion, however, became reality on Tuesday, March 2^nd, 2004.  As Jimmy Greaves once said, “it’s a funny old game…”

With so little pre-match notice given by either side, it was therefore somewhat amazing to see such a healthy attendance brave the elements on a cold night down on Bray’s seafront.  A lot of English based Evertonians were rightly miffed over the deathly silence that came with the announcement (sic) of this fixture.  So little time to organise modes of travel across the Irish Sea – and yet they came.  You’d wonder what the attendance would have been if the Club had’ve given the local fans (in Liverpool) advance notice of the game in Ireland.  However, it was healthy to see a large turnout of Irish Evertonians and the home fans were well in the minority.  You could have argued that this was to be a home game for the travelling Everton team; such was the support inside the ground.  I’ve always felt we had a strong, if somewhat dormant, support for Everton over here in Ireland so hopefully a night like this might spur some of that latent fan base into making more journeys across to Goodison Park.  It’s a point I continue to bang home again and again – we, Everton, are one of the best-supported teams in Ireland.  Week in, week out many travel over to watch Everton play – yet many have felt (over here) that the Club have ignored their loyal support throughout Ireland (North and South) for years.  Personally, I find it mildly amusing to read of Everton Football Club trying to crack the Chinese market (an impossible task) yet right under their noses, a mere twenty five minute flight away to Dublin airport, lies a traditional and very loyal fan base which should be receiving more attention from the Club.

And so to the game itself…

The Carlisle Grounds, I think, have been there since the dawning of time itself – it’s an old ground.  The Main Stand looks like a dilapidated Bullens Road Stand, complete with railways sleepers though minus the seats.  Even the poor old railways sleepers are in a state of disrepair but there never was any money in Irish soccer………so until Iarnród Éireann (Irish Rail) repair the train track running alongside the ground they’ll simply have to make do.  On rainy days I would imagine you’d be able to go fishing in some of the sleepers in the Main Stand!  Temporary seating behind one goal with a grass bank at the other end – all making the Carlisle Grounds a homely place on an evening like this.  If only it wasn’t so c-c-c-c-c-c-cold……

Everton started the brighter, passing the ball about quite nicely.  Davey Weir looked comfortable at the back, mopping up anything that came anywhere near the Everton goal.  Richard Wright had little or nothing to do (bar keeping warm).  Gary Naysmith, as ever, was industrious down the left flank, eager to attack at every opportunity.  As for Tony Hibbert………….if only he could cross a ball!

Scott Gemill was the pick of the midfield, a cut above the rest on the night.  If Everton were to create anything at all he was involved.  Alex Nyarko sat in front of our defence for most of the game, keeping things relatively simple.  Lee Carsley rambled through the game as only he can these days.  Make of that what you like, it wasn’t a night to be overly critical of our players.  On the left flank, the painfully one footed Jamie McFadden (who said no criticism?!) frustrated and delighted with equal measure.

Up front, nice to see Kevin Campbell back out there.  His experience, at times, helped create space for other teammates.  Franny Jeffers prowled on the edge of that opponents box, waiting for his moment to pounce.  A fox in the box?  Hmmm….

In the twenty fifth minute,  Gary Naysmith surged forward down the left flank before giving the ball to James McFadden who whipped in a decent cross, duly converted by Franny Jeffers.  A decent finish, one-nil ahead and from that moment on you knew Everton wouldn’t suffer the embarrassment of defeat no matter how game the hosts were.  Bray’s first strike on goal didn’t come till after the half hour mark.  On the stroke of half-time, the match was put beyond Bray’s reach when Lee Carsley intercepted a misdirected back pass and set up Jeffers for his second of the night.

Half-time, 2-0 to the visitors and sod this c-c-c-c-c-c-cold weather…………chicken soup by the Main Stand or the warmth of The Hibernia pub?  Some chose warmth…

Second half changes saw Tomasz Radzinski replacing Kevin Campbell and Steve Watson on instead of David Unsworth.  The second half workout did both players no harm at all, particularly Watson – clearly looking to improve his match fitness after recent injury.  Gemill it was though who remained the man pulling the strings from midfield.  McFadden remained willing out on the wing but lost possession too easily at times.

Bray have to be commended for their spirit in the second half as they vainly tried to get back into the game.  It did Everton no harm and our work rate wasn’t bad at all.  Franny Jeffers was to be denied his hat trick when Nick Chadwick, who did his best to get involved, replaced him.

Twelve minutes from time, we were treated with the goal of the match – a nice move down the left saw McFadden cutting past a few Bray defenders and then coolly hammering home a shot across the keeper.  3-0.  Game over.  Well, almost.  In the dying seconds Nick Chadwick turned three into four, to give the away support one last bit of cheer on a c-c-c-c-c-c-c-cold night on Bray’s seafront!

All in all, a good night’s work for Everton Football Club on and off the pitch.  Bray played their part as exceptional hosts.  But it was with a good night’s public relations that Everton succeeded with most.  Despite such short notice, many Evertonians living in Ireland made the trek to Bray for the match.  Many more didn’t – due, no doubt, to the lack of promotion for the fixture.  However, you can’t really complain when Everton Football Club are playing up the road from where you live and it doesn’t mean getting out of bed at four in the morning, driving to the airport and hopping over to England for a game. 

Lastly, may I thank Vincent Kirwan from Bray Wanderers for accommodating my request for a minute’s silence, pre-match, for the late great Tommy Eglington – one of the finest ever Evertonians to grace the Royal Blue Jersey.  It took little or no organisation.  Just a moment’s thought.  Impeccably observed by all.

Mr. Dunford?  Where was the minute’s silence at Goodison Park before the Aston Villa game?  Shame on you Sir...

Tommy Eglington R.I.P.