FOREST AWAY: Everton, Sunday 21st April – Fan Guide

Hell of a week.

As a small update on our early comms around the season card pricing, the club have endeavoured to communicate directly with both ourselves and the Advisory Board. Meetings are taking place over the next few days, the first of which occurred on Friday morning and was an opportunity for the FAB to submit several thoughts and ideas to a groups of club employees, including the Chairman. More on this will be issued soon.

It remains to be seen, however, how these points will be addressed, if at all, although there was an acknowledgement that certain elements of the season card pricing release could have been handled better, namely the lack of fan consultation and the antagonistic social media messages after the pricing was announced. The reluctance of anyone from NFFC to engage Radio Nottingham and speak directly to supporters is another worry and a further example of the club’s approach falling short in this sorry episode.

We will see what the next few days bring, but Forest need to front up on this issue and not hide away waiting for it blow over.

In the middle of all this, there is quite an important game going on…

 

TRAVEL

RAIL: The first direct train leaves Nottingham at 09:42, not arriving into Liverpool until 12:29. There is also the 09:55 which changes at Tamworth and arrives slightly earlier at 12:18. Given that it’s 3 miles to Goodison from the station, trains arriving after this are not going to get you in for kick-off. Obviously, even the first trains do not give you much time at all and you’ll need to head straight to the stadium.

The best fare appears to be using a SplitSave option of getting a return from Nottingham to Manchester and then from there to Liverpool. Do also consider that group saver bookings often apply on this line and can save a third on prices if travelling together in groups of 3 or 4.

Coming back after the game the most realistic first train is the 16:51 direct service which gets into Nottingham at 19:26. The next direct service is at 17:51.

A method of arriving earlier is to go from Derby; the 08:28 gets in at 11:02 with a change at Sheffield.

ROAD: It may be easier to head into Liverpool from the north-east of the city using the M47 / A580, rather than going via the city centre.

Based on recent visits to Anfield, the best idea appears to use the estate close to Walton Hall Park (L4 9XP) although as this is a fair bit closer to Goodison than Anfield you may need to park a little further away.

Our Everton fan has a little more detail on parking below.

 

PUBS

 The following has come from Liverpool Police:

‘We tend not to push away fans to anywhere in particular, but the Arkles pub on Arkles Lane (near Anfield) is always popular with away fans and a short walk across the park to the away turnstiles. There is also the Thomas Frost which is a Wetherspoons on County Road. This is a mixed pub.

Alternatively, any of the hundreds of pubs in Liverpool city centre would be very welcoming and a 3 mile taxi to the stadium.’

Alternatively, for something a little different have a look at the section below in the Q&A regarding St Luke’s Church next to the ground which houses various Everton related initiatives, including the Everton Heritage Society who have contributed to this issue’s Q&A. Although, to be absolutely clear, this is not a pub!

  

Q&A with Rob of the Everton Heritage Society (@EvertonHeritage)

 

This has been a season quite like no other for Everton. A new stadium nearing completion, a protracted takeover and, of course, the PSR saga and subsequent appeal. We’ll come onto those in a moment but can you describe for us how it feels to be an Everton supporter this season? 

To be honest, I (and, I believe, most Evertonians) feel pretty battered. Since the exit of Carlo Ancellotti in 2021 it’s been almost uniformly depressing, both on and off the pitch. It’s a crying shame that the construction of the first new stadium for the Toffees since 1892 has been overshadowed by relegation battles, financial peril, point deductions and uncertainty as to the future ownership and direction of the club.

 

I recall seeing that the new stadium will now open during next season. Is that still the case?

The stadium is progressing well. I think the club took the right decision to make the move in the summer of 2025, rather than seek to move mid-next season. It allows us to have a proper farewell season to Goodison, as well as ensuring that the new stadium is thoroughly tested and ironing out any season ticket transfer issues (moving mid-season could have been very complicated).

And what about this takeover? It appears to be have been going on for an age; what’s the latest with the club getting new owners and will it be good for the club?

 777, the prospective new owners, are still struggling to give the Premier League all the assurances they are seeking. Their performance at other clubs they’ve bought has been mixed and there remain questions as to their sources of funding.

It needs to be brought to a conclusion soon, whether that be the deal being concluded or 777 walking away and a different, viable bidder is able to come forward.

The Club’s escalating debts (777 have provided loans to cover operating costs in recent months) is a huge concern, making the club a less attractive proposition than previously. It feels like Everton is in an existential crisis.

 

You have been hit by two points deductions this season, with the second appeal pending. What do you make of the PSR rules and how they have been applied against Everton (and Forest) this season?

Everton’s owners/leaders have to hold their hand up for multiple failures that have led them to being in breach of the PSR rules (whether we agree with them or not). They are some mitigations, like the impact of the war in Ukraine which has hit sponsorship revenues badly.

The PSR rules, even if well intended (to protect clubs from poor financial controls by owners), do serve to protect the status quo. The inconsistency over the sanctions imposed is a huge bugbear. Points deductions not only hit clubs with the risk of relegation, but hit their income due to them receiving less prize money for every place dropped. So, it’s a double-whammy.

What can Forest fans expect at Goodison on Sunday?

It’s an early kick-off, which never helps the atmosphere (and will mean a very early start for Forest fans). Supporter groups are seeking to stir up a positive atmosphere through the use of banners, flags etc.

Sometimes it takes an incident on the match (e.g. a controversial decision) to really ignite the crowd and create an electric atmosphere.

 

The Everton Heritage Society has become a popular and important part of the club. Can you explain for us a little about the organisation and the event at St Luke’s next to the ground before games?

The Society was unique when it was formed by supporters in 2008, with the aim of protecting, researching and celebrating the club’s rich history.  It’s gone from strength to strength.

We have a matchday presence at St Luke’s church, right next to Goodison Park’s Gwladys Street stand (all are welcome to pop in before the game). We have a website (containing articles written by members) and social media channels, produce documentary films which can be seen on our YouTube channel and organise social events.

We also locate and restore the graves of notable people in the club’s history – most recently it was George Farmer at Anfield Cemetery.

Similarly to Everton, Forest have a glorious history that we sometimes struggle to know how to celebrate without it introducing on the present day and future. How important do you think it is, through initiatives like your own, to keep the club’s heritage alive?

I understand why people say we should not look to the past. For me, however, the history of the club shows us the standards we should be aspiring to as a club, now.

The Heritage Society has done an excellent job in ensuring that future generations will understand the background to the club that they support.

 

What do you suggest for Forest fans coming up in the car on Sunday and looking for somewhere to park? Any recommendations?

In recent years, residents’ parking zones have spread (probably in response to the expansion of Anfield) but some on-street parking remains within a 20-minute walk (e.g. by Walton Hall Park). The nearest big car park that you pay to use is off Priory Road, close to Liverpool’s stadium, but there are a few other smaller ones.

 

Are there any pubs around the ground which will welcome away fans?

To be knowledge, there are no ‘home fans only’ pubs – away supporters should have not issue grabbing a drink at a local hostelry. The closest is The Winslow, which is on Goodison Road, next to the main stand. If you don’t want a pre-match beer, come to St Luke’s to visit Everton FC Heritage Society or visit the fan zone near to the Dixie Dean statue.

 

Finally – let’s have your predictions…

Scoreline on Sunday?

2-1 to EFC is what I thought yesterday. After the capitulation at Stamford Bridge, I’d gladly take a point!

Where will Everton finish?

Where will Forest finish? 

It will go down to the wire. The current shenanigans about points deductions make it very hard to call. I like Forest, as I lived in the Nottingham area many years ago and have huge admiration for their achievements in Europe and domestic football under Brian Clough and Peter Taylor. So, I hope they stay up with Everton.

 

Thanks to Rob for his insight and I would heartily recommend a look at the Everton Heritage Society page which is a fantastic record and exploration of the club’s history.

Up those Reds.

Matt