SOS report back from “All Together Now”

KEIOC/Spirit of Shankly Press conference March 2010

Remember when Reds and Blues got on together?

I don’t believe the friendly derby to exist anymore.

This is what makes KEIOC and the Spirit of Shankly groups decision to come together to promote the idea of a Football quarter rather strange to someone of my generation, yet it made perfect sense.

The conference was chaired by Liam Fogarty, with Paul Rice and Paul Gardener representing the Spirit of Shankly group and Dave Kelly and Colin Fitzpatrick representing KEIOC.

If the conference had a theme it would have been commonality of time, place, history and interest.

This point was brought home to me by Peter Lupson who spoke about the roots of the split that created Everton and Liverpool football club. It was not just rent it was the politics of alcohol that played the most important part in the split as detailed in his history of Everton and Liverpool football clubs entitled “Across the Park”.

Then the conference started with the panel explaining why they joined forces and their big idea for a football quarter anchored by both clubs comprising sport, health, education and tourism facilities that would regenerate the Walton and Anfield area and allow the clubs to redevelop their stadia.

The big idea as espoused by Dave Kelly is of a “coming together” about looking forward not backwards. The panel also stated that big business has let both clubs down and that both groups in putting aside their allegiances are “coming together at a time of hardship” for both clubs. Paul Rice then led the panel in calling for all relevant parties to fund a feasibility study into the idea and you can read the open letter calling for a feasibility study here.

Dave Kelly then threw down a challenge to the hierarchies of both clubs calling on them to consider the idea for a football quarter. He then informed the press that KEIOC would be presenting their idea to the senior management at Everton and would be carrying out a site visit on the Monday. Paul Rice then proceeded to bemoan the fact that the Liverpool hierarchy have refused to meet with them to discuss the idea.

The panel then moved on to state the need for political co-operation and support from all parties. The panel stated that council leader Warren Bradley (conspicuous by his absence) supported the idea and Joe Anderson the opposition Labour Leader(in attendance) voiced his support for the proposal. Colin Fitzpatrick then told us the tale of a prospective parliamentary candidate (Liberal Democrat) for Walton that came to him backing the idea of a shared stadium but was won around to the idea of a football quarter, he stressed that “when they listen” they support the concept. He was clearly taking aim at those still in favour of a shared stadium.

The issue of a shared stadium came up in the answer and question session and this idea was roundly rejected by the panel with Colin Fitzpatrick emphasising the key reason why it won’t work both as both clubs having different needs. The panel started to run through the reasons why the Football quarter may work with Paul Gardner stating that “the idea was inclusive of everyone”; Dave Kelly stressed that the clubs would benefit from a shared infrastructure that would allow them to retain their independence and autonomy. Colin Fitzpatrick also stressed that Everton needs a Smart stadium that would generate income for 365 days a year.

Regeneration, independence, autonomy and shared infrastructure are the key words that have remained with me. What has also remained is the idea that both clubs are in a perilous condition, heavily indebted and stuck with stadiums that are not fit for purpose.

What also stuck with me is “you can’t buy history”. Both clubs though they are rivals share a common heritage and history; we should build on that.  The football quarter is a concept and “you can’t put a cost on a concept” as we were reminded by the panel, but it is a sound concept building on our shared heritage, prestige and infrastructure.

Both clubs have tried to go it alone and failed; Everton with the Kings Dock and Kirkby, Liverpool have had planning permission to build on Stanley Park for seven years and have failed; there is little doubt in my mind that we should both come together and give this concept the backing and serious consideration it deserves.

David O’Keefe