Keep Everton In Our City

March 12th 1892 is a historic date in footballing folklore; it’s the momentous day on which two footballing groups split, a split that led to the formation of Liverpool Football Club and the relocation of Everton Football Club to Goodison Park; a split that instigated over a century of banter and endless arguments that have divided friends, families and loved ones; an event which influenced the very social fabric of Merseyside.

On the 118th anniversary of this famous event, the supporters groups, Keeping Everton In Our City and the Spirit of Shankly Supporters Union, are so concerned over the future of their clubs that they have put aside their legendary rivalries and, under the banner of “All Together Now”, as one, they will be calling for the establishment of an innovative historic district; a district designed to protect and celebrate their famous duopoly and ensure that their football clubs prosper for the benefit of all.

The supporters groups are calling for a design, planning and financial feasibility study into their proposed football quarter concept; a designated area which would contain the clubs stadia, educational, recreational, leisure and community facilities all sharing a sustainable transport infrastructure and paid for through public private finance initiatives.

The Football Quarter would be a centre of excellence for health and sports related studies and would offer a new opportunity to create another real tourist destination within the city, act as a catalyst for the regeneration of the Walton and Anfield communities and provide jobs in line with the Mersey Partnerships target of increasing visitor spend in the Mersey region by 54% to £2bn by 2020, a target which would see the creation of 14,000 jobs in the tourism sector.

Sainsbury’s has now officially replaced Tesco as the anchor supermarket for the development.

Tesco’s protestations and the commencement of legal proceedings, to prevent the application from progressing, are seen by many as an alleged tit for tat retaliation for St Modwen's objection to Tesco's Destination Kirkby application.

The project, which will see hundreds of jobs and the improvement of a neglected area of the city, was praised in a bullish statement from Sainsbury’s chief executive, Justin King, "Sainsbury's investment will deliver what will be the largest supermarket in Liverpool, over 500 new jobs for local people and kick-start this much-needed regeneration in the north of the city."

Evertonians will be aware that the area contains the loop site which KEIOC see as a fantastic opportunity for a stadium befitting a leading premiership club; despite false information concerning technical problems surrounding the construction, KEIOC understand the real stumbling block is the lack of likelihood of an enabling deal being available in order to deliver the land on which the stadium would be constructed. If only Everton had worked with the council earlier rather than listen to the advisors to the board.

KEIOC’s campaign has recently attracted interest from the German fanzine, Der Übersteiger, the magazine of the fans of St Pauli.

KEIOC chair Dave Kelly and secretary Colin Fitzpatrick took the fanzines representative, Oliver Bock, around the David France Collection before giving an interview and an insight into Football Quarter concept.

During his five day stay Oliver managed to take in two home games and was taken around some famous KEIOC and Evertonian watering holes by Tony and a few of the other guys; he must have enjoyed it……he’s now coming back with friends for the Hull City game!

The fantastic article focuses on KEIOC’s recent campaign, the history of Everton Football Club, Goodison Park and the possible future redevelopment with comments provided by Trevor Skempton.

KEIOC hope to learn from the German fans who are far more socially aware of the importance of football clubs and the role their supporters have to play.

Last nights Shareholders AGM saw KEIOC give an hour long presentation on a possible alternative solution to Everton’s stadium problem to approximately sixty shareholders and other interested guests. The theme was the past, the present and the future and the presenters, Dave Kelly, Colin Fitzpatrick and Trevor Skempton kept the attention of those present with analysis, conceptual drawings and explanations of how an exciting future for Everton could be obtained.

The past section saw a surgeon’s scalpel taken to the recently failed Destination Kirkby project. KEIOC’s secretary, Colin Fitzpatrick, illustrated that even operating at the highly optimistic levels Everton were projecting, Kirkby would only provide income levels similar to those being seen at Anfield today, meaning that Everton would continue to significantly lag behind the premierships leading clubs when it came to matchday income generation. The present section graphically demonstrated Everton’s dire need to compete on an equal footing within their premiership peer group.

KEIOC proposed the commissioning of a feasibility study into a designated football quarter in the city. An area that would celebrate the city’s two great football teams in conjunction with leisure, recreational, educational and social amenities, all served by a tram - train light railway running on the Bootle link line. The scheme would act as a catalyst for the regeneration of one of the most deprived areas of the city.

Specifically for Everton KEIOC suggest the phased redevelopment of Goodison Park into a SMART stadium; a stadium that would provide income on as many of the days the stadium isn’t in use a football facility.

The shareholders were unable to finalise the wording of a resolution on the night but expect to submit an appropriately worded resolution to the board of directors soon.

KEIOC remain confident that an amicable solution to the stadium problem can be found; one that will ensure Everton’s continued presence at the top table in English football. Everton can’t afford another failed stadium project, time to lead not be led.

KEIOC would like to thank the small group of shareholders for the substantial donation that has been received, following this presentation, which we can assure them will go towards our ongoing campaign.

Andy Dunn, reporter for the News of the World and confidant of Everton chairman Bill Kenwright is reporting that the club are ready to concede that due to limited opportunities within the city and the cost of a new site being prohibitive, without a major investor, they are preparing to stay at Goodison Park. It is understood, following what has been described as “positive talks” with Liverpool City Council, a new feasibility study will be undertaken to examine the possibility of redeveloping the current home of the mighty blues.

The shareholders annual general meeting will be held on the evening of 22^nd February 2010 in the Park End Stand at Goodison Park. Following the main business of the AGM, there will be a forum at which issues and options surrounding stadium redevelopment/relocation will be examined.

KEIOC are one of the guests that have been invited and they shall give a thirty minute presentation on their concept for the future followed by a question and answer session hosted by leading associates of the group.

KEIOC, having been contacted by many Evertonians concerned with unopposed rumours surrounding the safety certificate awarded to the Goodison Park stadium, particularly the Bullens Road stand, can report that, having liaised with Liverpool City Council’s licensing officer, Mr. Stephen Clare, we can today announce that these rumours suggesting sections of the ground will fail to obtain safety certification in the future are completely untrue.

Mr. Clare explained, “The General Safety Certificate is in force for the sports ground. There is a series of requirements under the General Safety Certificate for the sports ground that the club provide annual certification from qualified parties for a number of building/safety related elements and installations etc. This process is a continuing one and we are not aware of any reason why the club would not wish/be able to continue that process.”

We’re always happy to put Evertonians minds at rest over any unfounded allegation.

Just after the rejection announcement by the secretary of state, John Denham, Liam White from Everton fansite Followeverton interviewed Colin Fitzpatrick of KEIOC in an attempt to understand the groups motivation and future perspective on the stadium debate.

You can read it here.

Merseyside MPs Peter Kilfoyle and George Howarth were recently asking questions in Parliament about the regeneration of North Liverpool and future plans for Kirkby. The questions were being answered by John Denham whom recently rejected the planning application for Destination Kirkby.

A video is available below:

A transcript from Tuesday can be found on the excellent TheyWorkForYou.com website.