The Day I Fell In Blue

I sometimes found myself asking the question: 'Why did I support Everton?' Why wasn't it one of the more usual clubs like Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal or Tottenham? Well there's no easy answer for such questions; but I found myself digging back to 1986 when I was 11 years old and first started watching football.

I was in Malaysia when this thing called the 1986 World Cup came into play; and seeing all the hoopla and rancour; I decided to tune in to see what the fuss was about. Sure enough; there were heady predictions on England; this big team with big publicity and all that. And sure enough; I witnessed my first 'upset' when unfancied Portugal (before the days of Cristiano Ronaldo) somehow stunned them 1-0 in the opener to set the tournament alight. I still have visions of the scorer celebrating to this day lol. Sure enough; the touch-paper was lit and I found myself getting interested in this thing called football. By the time the quarter-final between Brazil and France came up, there seemed to be no bigger thing on Earth and I was secretly happy as France & Michel Platini managed to squeeze through.

And so when I came back to Singapore; the EPL was coming into big business. And one of the major teams on at that time was lo and behold, Everton. I remember seeing this Blue team; with nice philosophy and nice players; and soon enough; they became the team I support. My favourite player at that time was Graeme Sharp; the rugged centre-forward who had a touch of class about him; and my dream came true recently when I saw him and spoke to him at Goodison Park a few years ago (he has a good sense of humour btw).

Soon my days revolved around watching and following Everton and I remember one particular match in the 1986-87 season when Everton beat Man United 3-1 at Goodison Park. I had it on VCR and must  have watched it like a 100 times. Even in those days; Man United were known as a big club; however it was the reverse in those days: Everton were supposed to beat Man United and not the other way around.

There is no better feeling than supporting a club and the peak of that delight came on the day when Everton beat Norwich 1-0 away to secure the Championship for that season. I was brushing my teeth in the toilet when the news of that came in over the BBC radio; and I remember that moment like it was yesterday. It never leaves you. After supporting your team for the entire season; watching and praying for every result; seeing Brian Moore on Big League Soccer; reading every issue of Shoot! magazine; huddling near your radio every Sat night for the live radio broadcast (those days no mioTV lah); there is no better moment when your team wins the championship. You feel on top of the world. Not many people can live to see the day their team wins a championship. I'm glad I did.