Bio: Neil Roberts was an Everton supporter even before he was born in 1971. He grew up addicted to football and The Beatles, and determined to follow his father into journalism. He began a career in newspapers and television at the Liverpool Echo. He went on to work for the BBC and ITN and is the proud father of George, born in 2004 and Liam, born in 2011.

Blues & Beatles: The family folklore of a superstar Victorian footballer. The Dixie Dean connection. And a near miss with John Lennon. Sitting across a desk from Alan Ball. Sitting in a bar with Howard Kendall. And sitting in the passenger seat of Duncan Ferguson’s car. Interviewing Gary Lineker. Reading the papers with David Moyes. And meeting Paul McCartney after years of trying.

Blues & Beatles is the story of someone born with Everton in his heart and the Fab Four in his soul. Someone who inherited from his father a love of football and music. Someone who grew up with those addictions and afflictions. Someone who went on to meet his heroes. And someone who passed on his devotions to his son. Blues & Beatles is the story of how football gets under your skin and into your veins. It’s the story of how you can be born with blue blood if that’s the colour of your football team. And it’s a story of passion and pride and of fatherhood and fate. It’s a story of dreams, both fulfilled and unfulfilled. But more than that, it’s a journey through life through the eyes of a father and a son – bound together by football, by music and by love.

Published September 30th (Pitch Publishing)

 Q1.Why Everton?

I never really had a choice in the matter – but in all honesty, I’m glad I didn’t. When I was 6 years old, my family moved to Bermuda and my exiled Scouser father was obviously a True Blue. The only thing is, he was from that generation who would sometimes go to Liverpool if there was no match at Goodison on the Saturday. So his philosophy was that if Everton couldn’t win, he hoped Liverpool would win. He was proud of the city and it meant he had no animosity towards “the dark side”.

I grew up with a slightly different position, though. A very health “football hatred” of our loveable neighbours. I always felt we were defined by our differences. And if I’m honest, I felt this from a very young age. I remember watching Liverpool winning things on Match Of The Day and feeling a churning in the pit of my stomach even then.

Mind you, it meant I had three kits when I was growing up. An Everton one, a Liverpool one and a QPR one — god knows why except I quite liked the hoops! Needless to say, the only jersey I ever wore was my Everton one and the royal blue from the late 70s, with Umbro diamonds down the sleeve, remains my favourite Everton shirt.

My first match was against Bolton Wanderers at home in 1980, with Peter Reid playing for Bolton. We were fighting relegation — and I think Bolton were bottom — but we won 3-1 and I was totally captivated by being at Goodison Park. Dad had taken me to Anfield a few days previously and I remembered being bored witless. Then we went to watch Tranmere the following week and had a good laugh.

 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?

I think my all-time high was a home match against Luton in May 1987. We won 3-1 and Trevor Steven scored two penalties. But the reason why it stands out in my memory was because it was the day we paraded the league trophy around Goodison, for the second time in three seasons. I hadn’t been to either match when we actually clinched the Championship — against QPR in ’85 and at Norwich in ’87. But I was at that Luton game and I remember sitting in the Upper Bullens, looking down on the Gwladys Street, performing a unanimous salute to a terrific Everton team.

I wasn’t at the Bayern Munich match either, which would have been a highlight, but there have been so many high points. Four equalisers against Liverpool in 1991; winning the Cup against Watford in 1984; and of course beating United at Wembley in 1995 and “that” Wimbledon game.

But sadly the low points are numerous too. Losing in the FA Cup to Tranmere, that team I’d laughed at as an 8-year-old. That was chief among them. Getting battered at home 5-1 by Norwich, when Efan Ekoku scored four goals. Almost the whole Mike Walker reign. The dark days of negative football under Walter Smith. And even one day in that glorious 1984-85 season. I was at Goodison on the opening day of the season with my dad and my Tottenham-supporting uncle. Spurs were the opponents. And as it turned out, they were our chief rivals for the title that year. I was convinced we were on the verge of greatness after that Cup win over Watford three months earlier. Then Spurs walloped us 4-1 at Goodison. I was in tears at the match — I think the only time I’ve cried watching Everton. Thankfully, I was ultimately proved right. We WERE on the verge of greatness… and that ’84-85 team went on to win the league by 13 points and became comfortably the best team in Europe.

 Q3. What player from the past would you sign for our current team?

Graeme Sharp. Dad and I used to call him a carthorse when he first came down from Dumbarton. We thought he was crap. But then he became rather good. Then he became great. An all-time great. Oh for someone to bag that many goals in an Everton shirt right now. He’d be the man to turn this team into a Champions League outfit. Sadly I think he’s too old now.

Q4. Who is your favourite all time player?

Kevin Sheedy is my all-time favourite player but he was only my third Everton “hero”. Duncan McKenzie was the first, but I never actually saw him play because I was too young. Then there was Andy King. There was something about him that I loved. His blond flowing hair, his spirit, his thumping 20-yarder against the RS at Goodison. Then of course, the moment when he was bundled off the pitch when doing a TV interview after the full-time whistle!

But Sheeds was my absolute Everton hero. I totally idolised him. He was who I tried to be in the playground, even though I wasn’t left-footed! People talk about Beckham’s free-kicks but for me, they were nothing on Sheedy’s. He ALWAYS seemed to get Everton out of trouble when we needed it. I remember his two free-kicks in the 1985 Cup semi-final, also against Luton. Late on, he drilled an equaliser into the bottom corner. Then in extra-time, he floated over a beautiful ball for Derek Mountfield to put us back at Wembley. Those chants of: “Sheedy! Sheedy! Sheedy!” The Everton crowd always expected Sheeds to come up with something magical. Glorious days of course. But he was one glorious player.

 Q5. What’s your take on our motto Nil Satis Nisi Optimum?

Nothing but the best will do. I agree with the motto and I have always been proud that our club claimed it as our objective. But sadly our standards have slipped, haven’t they…. That said, what can we change our motto to? How about this: Nos iustus spes nos can perago sedecim

(We just hope we can finish sixth)

Q6. Do you think this summer will be a positive one for Everton in terms of buying players?

I wish I could say yes. But I can’t. I think the only way we’ll be able to bring in the kind of player Evertonians want to see is if we make a “big-money sale”. Fellaini, Arteta, Rodwell or, god-forbid, Baines. We are stuck in the horrible position of not being able to compete with the top four, five or even six now. I remember when Everton were in the “big five”, don’t you!!? I think we’ll be restricted to season-long loans or free transfers. But I live in hope that I’ll be proven wrong.

Q7. The press are awash with rumours about bids for Everton players like Rodwell and Baines. What are your thoughts on selling some of our bigger names?

I hate the thought of it but David Moyes may need to be practical. We have good young midfielders coming through the ranks. So could we lose someone like Rodwell if the fee was big enough? I’d argue that we could, especially if that was the way to re-energise the squad. We do need fresh faces as it’s all gone a little bit stale in the last 12-18 months. No way would I sell Leighton Baines. He’s an absolute gem. Someone would have to offer at least 30 million quid. In fact, even that might not be enough. He’s got to stay!

Q8. What are your thoughts on a sharing a stadium with Liverpool?

I’m all for it. I’d do anything to give Everton a brighter future. But we would HAVE to be equal partners, not become their tenants. That’s a total non-starter. But a 50-50 split, with the Council investing in the project? That, to me, sounds like complete sense. I’ve always loved the thought of something like the Allianz Arena in the middle of Stanley Park. It would be magnificent and it would give Everton a much better chance of competing. But will it ever happen? No. Why? Because Liverpool and their supporters feel they don’t “need” Everton. After all, we’re like their irritating little brother, aren’t we? So sod them if that’s the case and let’s explore other avenues. But in principle, yes I’d love a shared stadium.

 Q9. Where do you think the majority of Evertonians lie, with “Moyes Out”, “In Moyes We Trust” or somewhere in the middle??

I think the majority are fans of David Moyes. I certainly am. I do have an issue with people talking about the “great” job he’s done though. He hasn’t done a “great” job. He’s done a good job. In nine years as manager of Everton, with no trophies in the cabinet, no one can say he’s done a “great” job regardless of how the national media like to portray Everton. I think David Moyes himself would agree with that, too. I think he’s a very good manager and a very good man. I’ve had the privilege of meeting him and I know how much Everton means to him and the pride he takes in the job. But I reckon he, himself, would say he hasn’t done a “great” job. He’s on a mission to win things and I hope he can do that with Everton. I think he does too. Nevertheless, he’s changed the image of Everton for the better and we’ve gone ten places up the table under him. He’s also brought in a better class of footballer.

If he was to go, who would we get to replace him? I’d wager it’d be someone who’d do an inferior job.

Q10. Is money necessary to compete at the highest level, and if so – should Bill Kenwright step aside?

Yes it is and no he shouldn’t. At least, he shouldn’t until we can find an investor to take Everton onto the next step. I know people doubt whether Bill really wants to sell the club, because he loves the club so much. I believe he does want to sell the club but he’s cautious about who he would sell to… and that is no bad thing. Leeds United and Portsmouth would testify to that, I’m certain. And perhaps Blackburn Rovers fans would, too!

The harsh reality is that Bill doesn’t have as much financial muscle as he — or we — would like. But there’s little we can do about that until someone turns up with several suitcases full of dough to pump into the club. And we are hamstrung by the lack of a bigger ground. If the 2002 Commonwealth Games had been in Liverpool instead of Manchester — and Everton had been given the keys to it instead of Manchester City — you can bet we’d be sitting in a nice, healthy position right now and perhaps we’d have players like Carlos Tevez and David Silva. But that didn’t happen so we have to make the best of it and run the club as well as possible while exploring new business and investment opportunities.

Q11. Where do you see Everton in ten years time?

How long is a piece of string? If we get a billionaire investor, perhaps we’ll be European champions. But that’s what we would need. I’ll keep hoping for that to happen. But either way, I hope we’re in a bigger and better stadium — either a redeveloped Goodison Park or a new home but WITHIN the City of Liverpool. And I hope we’re still looking up, rather than down.

Tags: duncan ferguson, Goodison Park, neil roberts, paul mccartney