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30/11/05 |
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Doesn't time fly by when you're having, errrrr, fun? It seems no length since the day arrived to bring my son, Eoin, over to Goodison Park, for his first Everton game. Three years on and it's now the turn of Eoin's younger sister, Eimear, to traverse that same route of planes, trains and automobiles: all roads lead to Glorious Goodison Park, and Eimear's first taste of life as a Toffee Girl! This is for my daughter, Eimear - may you forever have blue blood coursing through your veins! "ONCE A BLUE, ALWAYS A BLUE" FA Premiership Goodison Park Sunday November 27, 2005 EVERTON 1 NEWCASTLE UNITED 0
She had a verbal agreement with me, during her second pregnancy, that this next child would grow up to support her own team - those 'orrible Mancs from Cold Trafford - but knowing that blood is thicker than most things I was forever content to cross that bridge some time later. What's the old saying again? "Evertonians are born, not manufactured...?" Too right. Eimear Kavanagh was born at eight minutes to eight on the eighth of the eighth back in 2001. That's right. Born in the middle of Coronation Street, on ITV! That was about as near to becoming a mancunian I would allow my daughter! I kid you not.
We took our seats in the Family Enclosure. I've never sat here before and it was a little surreal to be inside Goodison so early and also, it must be said, stone cold sober. A chilled can of diet coke on the walk up was as close to alcohol as I got. It hit the spot, quenched the thirst. Christ, I must be getting old.
The travelling Toon belted out their songs, one by one, as Evertonians sat there, idly observing. It may have been the cold but the Everton vocals were numb. We had a minute's applause, impeccably observed by all, for the late George Best who had died earlier during the week. "Georgie Boy" played over the tannoy as all rose to applaud George Best, the footballer. The game began and pretty much from the off both teams were at each other. Eimear, pen and paper by her side, noted the formation set by manager David Moyes. With no Duncan Ferguson today, Eimear expressed concern over the ability of James McFadden to suitably fill the, errr, "talismanic" Scot's shoes. She scribbled something and we passed it up the line, back towards the dugout. It worked.
The second half was literally seconds old when in in-swinging corner up at the Gwladys Street End was met by the head of Joseph Yobo. He rose highest to meet the cross and Shay Given was finally beaten. Goodison erupted. 1-0 to the Blues. Eimear scribbled another note and sent it up to Moyesy. The family tradition of ensuring a first appearance at Goodison secured an Everton win was our primary aim at this point. We're a proud lot, us Kavanagh's! I'd done it - back in 1878. Eoin, ditto in 2003. Cometh the hour, cometh the girl. A Toffee Girl. As tiredness kicked in with the four year old seated in the Family Enclosure, the efforts on the pitch rose a degree or two. Alan Shearer, playing hopefully his last ever game at Goodison Park, left us with yet another flying elbow - this time right across from where we were seated. We had box seats! Weir was decked. Eimear leapt to her feat and offered her first Goodison expletive. No doubt she'll soon have the full vocabulary!
We retired........stop........don't you just love the way sentences about going to the pub often start with "we retired...." - we legged it to the pub for refreshment (there I go again!), and to meet up with friends and fellow Blues. Everyone seemed upbeat after the performance and result earlier. What relegation scrap?! Thoughts were with Ian Macdonald who informed us of the sad passing away earlier this day of Stan Tyrrell from the Walnut Blues. I'd never met Stan but had on many occasions heard Ian Mac talk about Stan and the sterling work he'd done, for his club, for his fellow Evertonians. A great Blue passing away before reaching the prime of life, leaving behind a young family. We'd like to believe that Stan had quickly made himself at home Above and influenced the outcome of matters on Goodison Park this cold November day. In our thoughts and May he rest in peace. That's Everton Football Club in a nutshell, when all is said and done. It was my daughter's first game, on a day when close friends were mourning the passing of another. The Club continues on. And on and on. We pass through.
Eimear Kavanagh - may you grow to love Everton Football Club as many others have before you! Nil satis sweetheart! Nil satis... More images of Eimear's first day out at Goodison Park
The view from atop Radio City Tower Eimear say "cheese" from on high! Back on terra firma - with Mammy! Eoin paying regular homage to Bill Dean Getting set for the match Eoin and Eimear - tired of smiling! Exporting the Tayto! Taxi to Goodison, please! Heading for Mecca! Goodison pays respect to the Belfast Boy Underneath the Main Stand Pitchside Saying cheese in the Springy! And again!
Note: All images on this page are copyrighted. Do not use without my permission. Thank you. Thanks to Mark Cullen from The Irish Toffees for his kind permission in allowing the usage of his footage of Joseph Yobo's winning goal against Newcastle United.
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30/11/05
