BIO: James is 23 year old from Melbourne, Victoria. He works in Media and Marketing and is a huge Evertonian.
Q1. Why Everton?
Umm few reasons, family connections but soccer/football wasnt that big here when I was growing up, then one night the nightly news came on and it showed this young kid becoming the youngest scorer in ‘04 at 16. Thats when I first became interested. I’d check how the blues were doing every so often but it was really 05/06 leading into the World Cup when I fell in love with football and Everton.
Q2. I remember standing amongst a glum chain gang of fans at Kirkdale train station in the late 90′s, we’d just been beaten at Goodison, the rain was pissing on us, and some cheeky Liverpool fans were laughing and mooning us from the top of the stairs. That was the lowest I felt as an Everton fan. What is your all time high/low as a fan?
Haha, I obviously can’t remember the 86/87 days etc as I was born that year, lowest differently the FA Cup loss. Highest probably a couple games before it, the win over the RS in extra time or 3-1 over United and hearing the “who are ya” chant. I still have that game on DVD. I blast the sound as Rodwell scores. *sigh*
Q3.If you could jump into a time-machine which player from the past would you have loved to have seen?
Alan Ball differently.
Q4.Favourite all-time player?
Tim Cahill…
Q5. You live in Australia, how hard is it to watch Everton, and how big is Everton/football’s profile down under?
It has gotten better in recent times. Mostly off the back of getting to back to back World Cups. Our paytv shows every single game of the EPL season now, but game times vary from Midnight, 2am and 4am. All worth it though. Everton is gaining momentum here, particularly in Melbourne. Plenty of kids wearing the kits, mostly with Timmy on them but I did see a Neville shirt!
Q6. Where does our new lurid pink away kit rank in the historical list of Everton kit atrocities?
Haha! I’m not a major hater of the pink kit. The kits I’m not a fan of are the off mustard away shirt from 06/07 or the 97/98 away (too much going on!!)
Q7. What are your thoughts on a ground share with Liverpool?
Despise it. Too much history at Goodison. What’s ours is ours and as soon as we start doing stuff like this to survive we start losing our identity and our individuality.
Q8.Our form this season has been iffy, we’ve been dominating games, but somehow we’ve been unable to put teams to the sword. Why do you think this is?
Good question, I don’t think it’s lack of talent, more lack of belief. There have been some strange tactical moves at times but on a whole, I think we are looking for the perfect ball every time rather than pulling the trigger and bombarding the goals.
Q9. Can Tim Cahill expect to slip straight back into the side when he returns from the Asia Cup?
Straight in. Its not just a tactical choice, he adds more to the team, much like Phil Neville’s leadership and direction.
Q10.Is money necessary to compete at the highest level, and if so – should Kenwright step aside?
Sadly yes. Perfect world would see a financial backer that would put money into the club and let Kenwright stay and allow him to keep the clubs interests/morals at heart.
Q11.And finally, where do you see Everton in 10 years time?
A solid top four club that is in the hunt at the end of each season and thriving well off the field. Phil Neville managing his 2rd season at the club.
You can follow James on Twitter @coynejp.
Read interviews with other Evertonians here.
