Evertonians Everywhere!
Discussion focused on many things “Blue”. Questions forwarded relate to the Supporters clubs involved, their members, activities, match days, events, inspiration’s, their regions, football local to them, favourite players, memories, issues and concerns, foreign exposure, and much more. It is hoped that this series of Interviews will give Evertonians everywhere an insight and feel of the far reaching support and love this great club receives.
First stop on the whirlwind Everton world tour is Budapest, Hungary. Here Bluenoses will find the base for the “Official Everton supporters club eastern Europe”. MattyOZ would personally like to pass on special thanks to Ged Gorman for his Time, accessibility and openness regarding the aforementioned interview.
To open proceedings OZ asked Ged about his personal role in the supporters club, Ged went on say that “I am Chairman of ESCEE (Everton Supporters Club Eastern Europe). Our Secretary Scott Norman, and founder members Rob Smyth and Tony Eaton, all live in Budapest, Hungary, though we are all English” Ok then Ged could you now tell us about member numbers and the areas or region ‘s that the ESCEE incorporates? “We have around 40 members, of all nationalities not just English, in Hungary, the Czech Republic, Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, Montenegro, Kazakhstan and Russia. We haven't fixed for certain the borders of our region... Eastern Europe... but seems like it's those countries which until quite recently were part of the Soviet bloc.”
What may I ask was the inspiration behind this club’s formation? “Well we started ESCEE like this... me and Rob used to meet up in the pub in Budapest for Everton TV games, it was bad... the Smith era, we had to put up with the taunts of Man U and Kopite ex-pats... then we met Scott and then Tony, and heard about James and others hidden away and so we had the idea to start a club in Hungary. But quickly we realized that there were Evertonian’s scattered around the region and decided to rope them in. We contacted Everton and got affiliated. A bloke called Rex Nash at EFC was very helpful and keen. We put word on the web, in fanzines and in the local press, and asked around... in this way we grew fast to 20 members, then others found us... e.g. most recently 18 fans in Yugoslavia!”
With your group of diehards in toe are you well known Locally? “In Budapest we are well known by ALL the ex-pats who watch English TV football. NONE of them have a supporters club... some respect what we've done; others are pissed off about it, because we were the FIRST. We NEVER fail to remind them (esp. Man U and L'Pool "fans") that we were proud of the fact that we were the FIRST. Though we started in Budapest we are keen to stress that we are an Eastern European branch of the Everton family.”
Love that term “family”. Now that we no whom and where, how’s about a little insight into match days? “As we are spread out in various countries we do not all meet up to watch TV games. In Budapest we meet up in Becketts pub when Everton are on the TV, about 6 of us. It's one hour ahead of UK time. We usually drink beer! We have an email group with all members on, and a web site. When there's no game on the TV we SMS each other.”
With distance a primary concern amongst your clubs members, what other means of communication do you have? OZ believes you have a web site and do you hold any other relevant events?” In Budapest we had a Xmas party, we met up before and after a televised game and had a few drinks” We plan to improve the web site, http://escee.freeweb.hu/, make T-shirts, and have an annual report of our activities” Sounds great Ged. Let the OZ know when the t-shirts are available!!, And what about our beloved Blues, are they well known in your region? “Yes Everton are known in all the countries of our region by locals who recall the Cup Winners Cup winning side of 1985. Until this season few young locals knew Everton... the media of course concentrated on a few teams that play in Red. Since the arrival of Rooney EVERYONE knows about EVERTON!”
On that note how about a few words on the PRODIGY, and perhaps David Moyes?” Of course, everyone is wild about Rooney especially our kids (yes, we have some kid members)... Moyes impresses us as a manager, coach and person. Some of us spoke to him in Austria pre-season, he was very busy but found time to speak to us, was friendly, and genuine.”
In closing Ged how’s the state of local football in your neck of the woods and whom would you list as you’re all time toffees favourite? “In all the countries of Eastern Europe football is BIG. In Hungary it was MASSIVE but nowadays many youngsters here "follow" the Champions League teams rather than local ones. Sad really.” And on a personal note your greatest player or memory?” My favourite all-time Everton player is Duncan McKenzie... I'll never
forget seeing him running rings round Tommy Smith.”
And there you have it, a little look into the official Everton supporters club of Eastern Europe, and as Ged would say, another branch of the Everton family. What struck the OZ most whilst corresponding with the boys of the eastern block, was the desire to stress that however spread their members may be that this is no single entity but “OUR CLUB” a sentiment of which seems to have stemmed from the gates of Goodison park and spread throughout the four blue corners of the world, and you’ve got to love their motto “Real club, Real fans, Real skint”.
So if any Evertonian’s in deed find them selves in the eastern block, give these lads a yell. In a show of Royal Blue spirit and sign of the true openness of this supporters club, Ged also emphasized that the Bull mention that they “ are keen to host Evertonian’s who find themselves out here on business or holiday. That is, show them around, buy them a beer, and watch the game on TV with them.” Sounds from here like you couldn’t find a better bunch to share a bevy and cheer on the toffees whilst traveling the east of Europe, and to any of you natives of the east whom are bluenoses GET INVOLVED. Once again the MattyOZ would sincerely like to thank Ged for his time and interesting insights into Everton & Eastern European supporters. Any enquiries etc can be directly forwarded to ESCEE via email at the following address. escee@nextra.hu
Talking about the east, the next stop for OZ will be the Far East; MattyOZ will soon be talking to the president of the “Official Singapore Everton supporters club”.
Stay tuned.
What may I ask was the inspiration behind this club’s formation? “Well we started ESCEE like this... me and Rob used to meet up in the pub in Budapest for Everton TV games, it was bad... the Smith era, we had to put up with the taunts of Man U and Kopite ex-pats... then we met Scott and then Tony, and heard about James and others hidden away and so we had the idea to start a club in Hungary. But quickly we realized that there were Evertonian’s scattered around the region and decided to rope them in. We contacted Everton and got affiliated. A bloke called Rex Nash at EFC was very helpful and keen. We put word on the web, in fanzines and in the local press, and asked around... in this way we grew fast to 20 members, then others found us... e.g. most recently 18 fans in Yugoslavia!”
With your group of diehards in toe are you well known Locally? “In Budapest we are well known by ALL the ex-pats who watch English TV football. NONE of them have a supporters club... some respect what we've done; others are pissed off about it, because we were the FIRST. We NEVER fail to remind them (esp. Man U and L'Pool "fans") that we were proud of the fact that we were the FIRST. Though we started in Budapest we are keen to stress that we are an Eastern European branch of the Everton family.”
Love that term “family”. Now that we no whom and where, how’s about a little insight into match days? “As we are spread out in various countries we do not all meet up to watch TV games. In Budapest we meet up in Becketts pub when Everton are on the TV, about 6 of us. It's one hour ahead of UK time. We usually drink beer! We have an email group with all members on, and a web site. When there's no game on the TV we SMS each other.”
With distance a primary concern amongst your clubs members, what other means of communication do you have? OZ believes you have a web site and do you hold any other relevant events?” In Budapest we had a Xmas party, we met up before and after a televised game and had a few drinks” We plan to improve the web site, http://escee.freeweb.hu/, make T-shirts, and have an annual report of our activities” Sounds great Ged. Let the OZ know when the t-shirts are available!!, And what about our beloved Blues, are they well known in your region? “Yes Everton are known in all the countries of our region by locals who recall the Cup Winners Cup winning side of 1985. Until this season few young locals knew Everton... the media of course concentrated on a few teams that play in Red. Since the arrival of Rooney EVERYONE knows about EVERTON!”
On that note how about a few words on the PRODIGY, and perhaps David Moyes?” Of course, everyone is wild about Rooney especially our kids (yes, we have some kid members)... Moyes impresses us as a manager, coach and person. Some of us spoke to him in Austria pre-season, he was very busy but found time to speak to us, was friendly, and genuine.”
In closing Ged how’s the state of local football in your neck of the woods and whom would you list as you’re all time toffees favourite? “In all the countries of Eastern Europe football is BIG. In Hungary it was MASSIVE but nowadays many youngsters here "follow" the Champions League teams rather than local ones. Sad really.” And on a personal note your greatest player or memory?” My favourite all-time Everton player is Duncan McKenzie... I'll never
forget seeing him running rings round Tommy Smith.”
And there you have it, a little look into the official Everton supporters club of Eastern Europe, and as Ged would say, another branch of the Everton family. What struck the OZ most whilst corresponding with the boys of the eastern block, was the desire to stress that however spread their members may be that this is no single entity but “OUR CLUB” a sentiment of which seems to have stemmed from the gates of Goodison park and spread throughout the four blue corners of the world, and you’ve got to love their motto “Real club, Real fans, Real skint”.
So if any Evertonian’s in deed find them selves in the eastern block, give these lads a yell. In a show of Royal Blue spirit and sign of the true openness of this supporters club, Ged also emphasized that the Bull mention that they “ are keen to host Evertonian’s who find themselves out here on business or holiday. That is, show them around, buy them a beer, and watch the game on TV with them.” Sounds from here like you couldn’t find a better bunch to share a bevy and cheer on the toffees whilst traveling the east of Europe, and to any of you natives of the east whom are bluenoses GET INVOLVED. Once again the MattyOZ would sincerely like to thank Ged for his time and interesting insights into Everton & Eastern European supporters. Any enquiries etc can be directly forwarded to ESCEE via email at the following address. escee@nextra.hu
Talking about the east, the next stop for OZ will be the Far East; MattyOZ will soon be talking to the president of the “Official Singapore Everton supporters club”.
Stay tuned.