Thursday 30 April 2015

West Ham tickets to be subsidised by players and club

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Provided By: Everton Football Club

Everton supporters travelling to West Ham United for our game on Saturday May 16 will have the cost of their ticket subsidised by the players and the Club.

Every ticket sold for the trip to Upton Park will be discounted by £10 to help make the fixture more affordable.

West Ham United are charging £55 for adult tickets and £32 for under-16s and over-65s.

With the contribution from the first-team players and the Club, these tickets will now be available for £45 and £22 respectively.

The players, management and club appreciate the lengths supporters have gone to this season to follow the team across the country and beyond into Europe, and are thankful for the efforts of all those who have been there to ensure packed out away ends have greeted the team wherever they have played.

Everton captain Phil Jagielka said: "Everton fans' support is always magnificent, our away fans especially, and this gesture is to show our gratitude to them for their support throughout the season."

The subsidy for this fixture comes separate to the 2014/15 Away Fan Initiative, which saw tickets for the games at Newcastle United and Swansea City reduced and the provision of free coach travel for the visits to Burnley, Southampton, Crystal Palace and Queens Park Rangers.

Tickets for the game at West Ham United will go on sale to Season Ticket holders with 6+ away Barclays Premier League credits from this season from 08.00 on Tuesday May 5.

For further on-sale dates and ticket eligibility information, visit www.evertonfc.com/tickets.

Monday 27 April 2015

Liverpool FC Foundation & Liverpool Sunflowers to launch new Men’s Health Course

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Provided By: Sunflowers

Liverpool FC Foundation Men's Health programme is partnering with local cancer support charity, Liverpool Sunflowers to launch a new venue for its Men’s Health course.

Starting on Wednesday May 13, this new course will offer weekly men’s health sessions running between 18.00-19.00 at the Liverpool Sunflowers Drop in Centre on Aigburth Road.

Run by a qualified health and fitness instructor, each session of this popular course will support men to set realistic and achievable goals towards living a healthier lifestyle.

All of the sessions are free of cost, and men of all ages (18+) and all abilities are welcome to attend.

Christine Mounsey from Liverpool FC Foundation commented: “Funded by Liverpool Clinical Commissioning Group, Our Men's Health programme was first developed in 2005 to help tackle poor health in the local community. Now every year around 7,000 men from our communities benefit from the programme, and we’re delighted to be able to extend it to another new venue and part of the city in order to support even more men to take part.”

Emma Squibb, Chief Executive of Liverpool Sunflowers added: “This course isn’t just for football lovers either; it’s all about helping men to be more active and achieve a healthier lifestyle, covering a wide range of health issues including poor diet, obesity, heart disease, low physical activity levels and cancer prevention, as well as men’s mental health and wellbeing. “The sessions easily adapt to meet everyone's different levels of fitness and ability, so join us for what promises to be a great course from May 13.”

To find out more about this free Men’s Health programme or to sign up to attend, please contact Christine Mounsey from Liverpool FC Foundation Men's Health programme on 07999 857272 or email her at christine.mounsey@liverpoolfc.com.

The Men’s Health programme is just one of a range of free, weekly activity groups and classes on offer at Liverpool Sunflowers Centre to help people improve their physical health and emotional wellbeing, as well as groups and services specifically designed to support those living with a cancer diagnosis.

Other free activity groups currently on offer at Liverpool Sunflowers Centre include:

New! Weekly Jewellery Making Class – Wednesday afternoons (13.00)
Weekly Yoga Class – Tuesday mornings (11.00)
Weekly Art Therapy Class – Wednesday mornings (10.30)
Weekly Crafts Class – Tuesday afternoons between (14.00)
Weekly Tai Chi Class – Thursday mornings (11.00-12.00)

For more information on any of these classes, call Emma Squibb at Liverpool Sunflowers on 0151 726 8934 or just drop in for a session.

For more information about Liverpool Sunflowers, visit www.liverpoolsunflowers.com.

For more information about LFC Foundation, visit foundation.liverpoolfc.com.

Friday 24 April 2015

Tributes to Sir Philip Carter

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Provided By: Everton Football Club

Bill Kenwright, Chairman of Everton Football Club, commented: “Words cannot describe my feelings of loss primarily as a friend but also as an Evertonian. Sir Philip was simply a giant...a great man a great leader and the very best friend and colleague anyone could ask for. I never once met him without calling him Chairman. I never will. That title was his by right. He will always have a major place in our great club's history. To his wondrous Lady Rita and his family we send the deepest of condolences together with our undying love and gratitude for his life.”

Roberto Martinez, Manager of Everton Football Club, added: “This is a sad day for Everton Football Club and for every Evertonian. Sir Philip was an incredible custodian of the Club, a pure gentleman and a man I feel really fortunate to have met, for I learnt much about the essence of Everton from him. From my earliest days here, I was able to sit down and chat with Sir Philip at Finch Farm. He was generous with his time and with his recollection of so many of the experiences he went through as Chairman. Some of those moments had been extremely difficult but, ultimately, his guiding hand contributed to some of the Club’s greatest successes and, for me personally, the conversations we shared will always give me guidance in terms of the future that we are trying to build for Everton.

“As a man, he was an example for every Evertonian. He took pride in all aspects of our Club, he loved the community in which we are rooted and he was an Evertonian through and through. I got a real sense and understanding of Everton from the time I was able to spend with him and I am especially grateful for this. He will forever be part of the history of this great Club.”

Robert Elstone, Chief Executive of Everton Football Club, said: “In the last few hours, the world of football has been moved to express great sadness, great admiration and, above all else, great respect for Sir Philip Carter. In such a short space of time, the number of people who have been moved to contact me, and the Club, and the depth of feelings expressed, sums up the great man. One text reads, ‘true gentlemen and the perfect embodiment of the values of Everton’. They are right.

“Sir Philip was part of a small family of highly respected and universally loved ‘football men’; a man who shaped the Game, a man who shaped Everton, and a man who, over the past year, almost everyone I have met has asked about.

“On a personal level, he was a mentor, a confidant, a voice of reason but more than all of that, with his amazing wife, a great friend. Sir Philip left a lasting impression on anyone who entered the Everton Boardroom. He will leave one on me.”

Denise Barrett-Baxendale, Chief Executive of Everton In The Community and Deputy Chief Executive of Everton Football Club, stated: “Today is an unbelievably sad day for everybody at Everton Football Club and for everybody at Everton In The Community. Sir Philip was the ultimate community man - a gentleman, a people’s man, someone with wisdom, character, distinction and strong, abiding principles. What he did for this Club, this city, this community, this country has left a lasting legacy. But today we feel bereft. Our thoughts are with his family - the incredible Lady Rita, his children and grandchildren. We are all devastated by his passing.”

For further tributes, visit www.evertonfc.com/news/2015/04/23/tributes-to-sir-philip.

Tuesday 21 April 2015

Commissioned artwork unveiled to mark the Chang-Everton partnership

Graeme Sharp, Kevin Ng and Alistair
Parker with the artwork at
Goodison Park.
Written By: Mark Armstrong

Provided By: dot-art

An artwork commissioned through dot-art, by artist Alistair Parker, to mark the longest-standing shirt sponsorship in Premier League history between Everton and Chang has been unveiled at Goodison Park.

The artwork, which is made from over five thousand Chang Beer bottle tops, was commissioned by Chang beer and gifted to Everton to mark over a decade of friendship and celebrate the longest shirt sponsor partnership in Premier League history. The mosaic piece was revealed at Goodison Park on Thursday April 16, by the artist Alistair Parker, Club Ambassador Graeme Sharp, Richard Kenyon, Director of Marketing and Communications at Everton and Kevin Ng, Global Sales Director at Chang, on the side of the Park End Stand.

Chang has been the principal shirt sponsor of Everton since the start of the 2004/05 season and is a partnership based on mutual respect, understanding and shared goals. These key ingredients have provided the foundation for success, enabling both brands to grow internationally.

At the special event, Club Ambassador Graeme Sharp, said “The relationship has been fantastic for the Club over the years. We have not only made great friends in Thailand but reached out to a whole new fan base and help to make a difference to the lives of people both on Merseyside and in Thailand. I have visited Thailand on a number of occasions with the Club and have thoroughly enjoyed working with Chang to make a difference.”

Kevin Ng, Global Sales Director, Chang Beer, said “Our partnership with Everton has successfully launched the brand into the international spotlight. This artwork commemorates a friendship built on solid foundations and a partnership that is an ongoing success story to be proud of.”

The mosaic was created by local artist and Evertonian Alistair J Parker who described the commission as a “challenge he could not refuse”. Bottle tops for the carefully crafted mosaic were sent into Chang by waiters from Thai restaurants from all over the UK as part of a promotion.  Alistair said: “And as challenging as it was to make something appropriate for the occasion, I hope I have succeeded.”

Lucy Byrne, Managing Director of dot-art, who worked with Chang to develop the brief, source the artist and manage the project, added: “Alistair responded creatively to an unusual project and has created a striking, unique artwork to celebrate this milestone for Chang and Everton. We hope it will prove popular with fans in its prominent position at the entrance to the ground.”

For more information, visit www.dot-art.com or call 0845 017 6660.

Tuesday 7 April 2015

Blues celebrate Junior Fan Day

The young participants in
Junior Fan Day.
Written By: Mark Armstrong

Provided By: Everton Football Club

Goodison Park was taken over by an excited group of young Evertonians this past Saturday as the Blues celebrated Junior Fan Day.

Fourteen junior Blues rolled up their sleeves and took on various roles to form the mini matchday team for the visit of Southampton.

The youngsters got started early in the afternoon to make sure Goodison was ready for kick-off, with a trio of mini groundsmen – Nathan, Tommy and Finn - helping to ensure the pitch was in mint condition.

Meanwhile, mini club photograph Isabelle was capturing the players’ arrival, and mini Sky Sports News reporter Joseph put his questions to John Stones in a special pre-match interview.

In the corporate lounges, mini MCs Ronan and Luke entertained guests by reading out the team news and interviewing former player James Beattie, while mini stadium safety officer Abby kept an eye on proceedings from the matchday control room before taking to the pitch to shoot exclusive Junior Fan Day t-shirts into the crowd.

As kick-off neared, George, who was a mini Duncan Ferguson for the day, helped to set up the warm-up with the man himself, and stayed on the pitch to put the players through their paces. And, from the comfort of the dugout, mini stadium announcer Ben shared the mic with Radio City’s Rossie to reveal the teams to a sold-out Goodison Park.

Finally, at kick-off, mini evertontv commentator Sam took his seat next to Ian Snodin to keep listeners from around the world up-to-date on all the match action. And it seems that their participation helped steer the Blues on to a 1-0 win!

The mini matchday team is part of the Club’s annual Junior Fan Day, and all the youngsters taking part applied for their roles by entering a competition on www.evertonfc.com.

And, for those not taking up a role in the mini matchday team, there was plenty to keep them entertained before the game, with live performances from local bands in the Fan Zone, football freestylers, face painters, aqua zorbing, Match Attax tournaments and the EA Sports dugout.

In addition, hundreds of souvenirs were handed out in the form of player masks, poster books and blue noses, as well as free Easter cupcakes and ice creams.

Junior Season Tickets for 2015/16 have been frozen at £95 for Under-11s and £149 for Under-16s. For more information, including how to buy and key dates, visit www.evertonfc.com/chosen.

Baines and Garbutt deliver Easter cheer

Leighton Baines and Luke Garbutt
at Alder Hey Hospital.
Written By: Mark Armstrong

Provided By: Everton Football Club

Last week, Leighton Baines and Luke Garbutt brought smiles to the faces of children at Alder Hey hospital when they dropped by to deliver some early Easter cheer.

The left-backs paid a surprise visit to the wards of the West Derby hospital to meet the young patients and their families, and to hand out dozens of chocolate eggs!

The Blues duo were only too pleased to take time out after training on Wednesday to lift the spirits of those currently being treated at Alder Hey.

Baines commented: “Us visiting with chocolate eggs can feel pretty insignificant in comparison to what the kids are going through, what they’re in here for and the period of time they’ve been here, but then you speak to some of the parents; they really appreciate you just coming in and breaking the day up.

“Some of the kids I recognised from when we visited at Christmas and they haven’t been home since, so every day is the same and it’s really tough for them.

“You see unbelievable strength and character here: you look at what some of the kids are going through, it’s so tough and yet they’re still smiling. Hopefully, we’ve brightened the day up, even if it’s just for a short period of time.”

Alder Hey Children’s Charity has launched a £30 million appeal to raise much needed funds that will be spent directly on initiatives in the hospital to benefit patients.

In September 2015, Alder Hey will open a new hospital next door to its current site, and the charitable appeal allows the hospital to incorporate a higher specification of equipment, fund art and play activities and support research. In short, it will transform a national children’s hospital into one of the best in the world.

Baines added: “It’s very important for us to have a great link with Alder Hey. You can’t underestimate it when children are involved. So many children look up to footballers and, as a player, you can forget that. You’re just a normal person, and you can forget the affect you can have on a young kid who loves Everton. So, it’s important to recognise that, and the club do recognise their responsibility. We’ve got a great relationship with the hospital, as we visit throughout the year, and hopefully we make a small difference.”

To support Alder Hey Children’s Charity, you can make a donation by calling 0333 222 3888. Alternatively, you can visit www.alderheycharity.com/donate, or drop by the Fundraising Office at Alder Hey hospital.