What a difference a Dave makes

What a difference a Dave makes...💙

A story by Laura, on her unofficial uncle. 

Meet Dave, my unofficial 'uncle' or 'grandad'. He's been in my life ever since I can remember as the fun, Evertonian neighbour. He helped teach me to drive, he used to take us sledging on snow days, would ask me who I'm "courting" and whether they were blue or not. He always tells me stories of following Everton. From Rotterdam to Wembley and everything in between - he's seen it all.

On that flight over to Rotterdam, Dave recalls a fan asking a stewardess if they could open the window to hang their scarf out of it while they were in flight. He laughed as he told me this, "not many of us had been on a plane before!". 

The old boys pen, where the older boys would rattle him for change in his pockets, Alan Ball with his famous white boots and incredible skills, 95 cup final. Bayern Munich. All of it. How Goodison shook on that famous night in April 1985.

 
I lost my Evertonian grandad when I was just 12, so Dave is the closest thing I've got with Everton. We went to Wembley together in 2016, where he snuck red wine onto the coach in empty lucozade bottles, and I'd tell everyone he was my grandad and would ask "are we there yet?". We didn't win - but we had an absolute ball that day. Singing Everton songs on Wembley way, a dream come true.

On that Wednesday night Vs Villa I swapped seats with my mum/brother so that I could once again sit with Dave at the match for a real full circle moment as David Moyes stepped out for the first time (again) as Everton manager.

Again, Everton didn't win...but we had a laugh reminiscing once more over Everton and the memories we have together.