Tammy Abraham reacts during the UEFA Europa League 2022/23 final match between Sevilla FC and AS Roma at Puskas Arena on May 31, 2023(Image: Photo by Gonzalo Arroyo – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)
The new season is upon us and it is set to be a special one. The last year at Goodison Park will provide Everton and everyone associated with the club with a final opportunity to make new memories in the oldest of homes.
When Roma visited on Saturday it also became clear how important the Grand Old Lady is to football in general. Would the Italian side have had such an away following if this was just another pre-season fixture? Their boss, Daniel de Rossi did not think so. Neither did the journalists who made the trip to Merseyside to cover them – the final 30 minutes before kick-off in the press box was a relay of photos being taken and posed for against the backdrop of the stands and the famous Archibald Leitch detail. After covering Everton from Ireland to Coventry during pre-season, here are some key notes on the eve of the new season.
The final first game of a season at Goodison will be poignant for many reasons on Saturday. It will be particularly emotional due to the plans of Everton supporter organisation The 1878s to lead tributes to Blues icon Kevin Campbell. The former forward, whose goalscoring spree following his arrival on loan towards the end of the 1998/98 season saved Everton from relegation and paved the way for an historic permanent stint in Royal Blue, sadly passed away earlier this summer
A popular figure on and off the pitch, his death sparked tributes from across the world of football. The 1878s now plan to honour him at the match against Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday. The group is urging supporters to stand in the ninth minute and sing his dedicated chant “Super Kevin Campbell”. Further tributes, including from the club, are being planned for the Bournemouth home match, which members of his family are due to attend.
Club earns prestigious fan engagement honour
Everton have earned recognition for the club’s fan engagement work. The latest edition of the Fan Engagement Index ranks clubs across the Premier League and Football League, focusing on how they listen and communicate with supporters, involve them in the day-to-day life of the club and the decisions that get made