Save the date

Hey it took a while, but it’s good to see that the club is getting its act together at last to mark our 150^th anniversary.  Technically it may have passed already but let’s not split hairs.  After a distinctly low watt approach thus far, we were beginning to worry that such a momentous landmark was going to pass with just a commemorative one-off printed Patgod to herald its significance.

(copies still available BTW, buy now or regret it for ever more)

Not even our monstrous egos would regard that as sufficient.

So better late than never we say, and the announcement of a ‘Legends Game’ is a nice idea that should be fun. Kudos too for the showmanship of a daily reveal of another fondly remembered old boy who will be gracing the Latimer Park undulations come April.  Yesterday Big X, today David Bridges. Tomorrow – John Fowler?

It allows us all to play a little guessing game of the names still to come. Assumptions must include them not being too old to risk even a light, no-contact kick about, which presumably rules out 70s (in both senses) heavyweights like Ashby, Suddards and Clayton. Also a certain level of remaining fitness – which I’m guessing means no emotional return for Carl Alford, who judging by his late career expansion must now be about the size of that Chinese spy balloon.   

Brett is a given, it’s hardly worth announcing. After his Poppies career was cruelly ended on 598 appearances, let’s give him this one and bung him a pre-season friendly. Surely Craig Norman’s phone has been tinkled. Phil Brown must be lured back down from Sheffield or Colin will personally go up there and kidnap him!

But what of the out and out strikers? Wouldn’t it be great to see Johnny Graham (still only 22) fluff an easy chance one more time, and bury the more difficult one.  Or JP Marna taking a break from his well known dope habit to show he’s still got it.

But we’ll probably settle for either/or/both of the Watkins/Collins ex-Diamonds combo or perhaps Westcarr, if he hasn’t gone too far down the Alford route.

Whoever turns up, it will be a little poignant. When players move on, they remain forever frozen how we remember them.  They don’t age like the rest of us, surely?  In my mind, Nicky Evans is still how he was when, age 14, I formed a Nicky Evans fan club (membership: one). Apparently Barnet fans still worship him. Bollocks to that.  

Nicky Evans on the subs bench in April?

Enjoyable as the Legends game may be, it still feels like our 150^th deserves a bigger send off. In the entire history of organised football, very few clubs have survived that long unbroken, without reforming in some way. We probably missed a trick in not securing a friendly with Leicester City while they were in a World Cup limbo, but as recently suggested on KTFC Chat, let’s play the Sean Dyche card while we can.

Everton were formed in 1878, so new kids on the block really, but beggars can't be choosers.