Everton, my first
Words: James Shenton
Images: James Shenton
I remember very vividly my first game at Goodison Park, one of the most significant matches in the club's history, May 7th, 1994.
The stadium capacity was reduced to just over 31k due to the new Park End being built. I was 13 years old and had been pestering my Stafford Rangers supporting father to take me to Goodison for years, and somehow, he had managed to get two tickets for Everton Vs Wimbledon on the last day of the season.
Everton needed to win to stay up, we all know what happened next. Sat in the Lower Bullens below the away support, I remember not being able to see any of the action when the ball was in the corner of the Gwladys, where it meets the Bullens.
What I do remember is being distraught at half-time and the sheer elation and relief at full-time, a pitch invasion my father would not allow me to join in with and a first game memory that will be remembered forever.
Fast forward 28 years and I am sat in the Park End, as a season ticket holder with my own 17-year-old son, half time, my head in my hands as Everton are two-nil down to Crystal Palace and facing relegation in the face again, another comeback beckoned, and we all swore “never again”
As a photographer I had always wanted to do a project based on Everton who had been a constant in my life for 35 years and something I have shared with my son Thomas since his first game in 2009, a three-nil win against Blackburn Rovers.
With our imminent departure from Goodison there seemed no better time to undertake a project. I want to document the special place Goodison holds for all Evertonians and the connections they have made there, the experiences, and importantly who they share these experiences with.
Thomas (my son)
First Everton game:
Premier League
20th September 2009
Everton 3-0 BlackburN ROvers
L.Saha x 2, J.Yobo
Att 35,546
Thomas. ©James Shenton/ Terrace Edition. Everton FC.
Leaving the ground after another relegation survival job against Crystal Palace, I had the idea to do a social documentary project that explores fan experience and memory through their first ever game at Goodison Park.
A crucial element in the project is the environment, not only Goodison Park, but the chippies, the pubs, the streets and all the iconography that surrounds one of the most famous grounds in world football that acts as a throwback in today's era of mega stadium bowls.
Still in the early phases of the Onward Evertonians project, that will run until the last game at Goodison, I hope to capture the broad church that is the Everton fan base and the stories of their first games.
Everyone remembers their first game, or so I thought, I have been surprised by the amount who must wrack their brains to remember, and then suddenly you can see the expressions on their face as it all comes flooding back.
One thing that always stands out is who they went with or who took them. From Alan and Bobby who were six years old when their Dad dropped them in the Boys pen and then went to the pub, to twins David and Steven who fondly recall their Dad taking them to their first game, and it does not matter that they saw a defeat.
This tends to be the narrative, a story of fathers and sons, daughters and dads, mums and boys, all experience and sharing Everton together, the losses, the pain, the joy, the relief and even a win or two, as we prepare for a new state of the art stadium on the banks of the Royal Blue Mersey, where no doubt countless ‘first game’ stories will be written.
John
First Everton game:
Division One
21st December 1974
Everton 2-3 Carlisle United
B.Latchford x 2
Att. 33,489
John. ©James Shenton/ Terrace Edition. Everton FC.
Alan & Bobby
First Everton game:
Division One
19th November 1960
Everton 5-0 Newcastle
B.Collins x 3, R.Vernon, F.Wignall
Att. 41,123
Alan & Bobby. ©James Shenton/ Terrace Edition. Everton FC.
Chris
First Everton Game:
Division One
10th December 1983
Everton 1 -1 Aston Villa
A.Gray Att. 15,810
Ian
First Everton game:
Division One
29th April 1978
Everton 6-0 Chelsea
B.Latchford x 2 (pen)
M.Dobson, M.Lyons, N.Robinson, B.Wright
Att. 39,500
Ian. ©James Shenton/ Terrace Edition. Everton FC.
Paul & Paula
First Everton game:
Premier League
17th February 1999
Everton 5-0 Middlesbrough
N.Barmby x 2, O.Dacourt, M.Materazzi, D.Unsworth
Att. 31,606
Paul & Paula. ©James Shenton/ Terrace Edition. Everton FC.
Don
First Everton Game:
Division One
24th August 1960
Everton 4
Manchester United 0
B.Collins x 2
M.Lill x 2
Don. ©James Shenton/ Terrace Edition. Everton FC.
Brian & Joseph
First Everton game:
Premier League
2nd March 2013
Everton 3 Reading 1
M.Fellaini, S.Pienaar, K.Mirallas
Att 35,244
Brian & Joseph. ©James Shenton/ Terrace Edition. Everton FC.
Georgia
First Everton game:
Premier League
February 17th 1999
Everton 5-0 Middlesbrough
N.Barmby x 2 O.Dacourt, M.Materazzi, D.Unsworth
Att. 31,606
Georgia. ©James Shenton/ Terrace Edition. Everton FC.
Eric
First Everton game:
Division One
23rd August 1963
Everton 3-0 Fulham
A.Scott, D.Temple, B.Keetch (og)
Att. 49,520
Eric. ©James Shenton/ Terrace Edition. Everton FC.
Steven (twin)
First Everton Game:
Division One
August 29th 1983
Everton 0
West Ham United 1
Att. 20,375
Steven. ©James Shenton/ Terrace Edition. Everton FC.
David (twin)
First Everton Game:
Division One
August 29th 1983
Everton 0
West Ham United 1
Att. 20,375
David. ©James Shenton/ Terrace Edition. Everton FC.
Frank
First Everton game:
Friendly
11th August 2013
Everton 2-1 Real Betis
N.Jelavic, K.Mirallas
Frank. ©James Shenton/ Terrace Edition. Everton FC.
Simon
First Everton Game:
FA Cup 3rd Round
7th January 1978
Everton 4 -1 Aston Villa
A.King, T.Ross, D.McKenzie, B.Latchford
Att. 46,320
Simon. ©James Shenton/ Terrace Edition. Everton FC.
If you would like to be part of James’ Onwards Evertonians project you can contact him via email jnshenton@gmail.com or Instagram: @jameshentonphotography or his website www.jamesshentonphotography.com
