You make me sound like a cross between Ross Kemp and Tom Hanks there. I was about 6 in 1982.
No. I have missed SEVEN home games since 1986. The first was in 1987/88 and was a game played against Chesterfield on a Bank Holiday Monday. My dad had to work.
I then didn’t miss another home game until 1998, when I missed the FA Cup game against York. I think we won 5-0. It was my birthday, and my girlfriend at the time talked me into going shopping and out with her for the day. (I learned a lesson that day)
Then I didn’t miss another home game until we played Forest at home in the Championship, our first home game of that season. I was still abroad.
I missed another game through being abroad, and then in 2005 I got married abroad, and missed the Leeds game. In 2006 our eldest was born, and I missed the Birmingham game. I also missed a game against Fulham a season or two ago, as I was abroad.
Working as an entertainer abroad, I have worked May-August on a couple of occasions. I have never ‘converted to Everton’, as you put it. I have been to watch them about 5 times when they weren’t playing Latics. And yes, you are right, I do run a successful music business. Harder than it used to be (what isn’t?), but I’m doing alright.
And if everybody were honest (they aren’t) they would admit to saying or thinking “I’m not going again” at least once in their time as a fan. Unfortunately, it appears around 5,000 people have followed it up, of late.
