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Forever Everton Superfan Gears Up For The Sydney Super Cup

Story and pictures by Ayush Kumar

Maybe it was the fact Ian Butler was driving his blue Mustang down Everton Rd that gave it away. The number plate EVRTON probably helped too.

Just days out from Everton FC’s arrival for the Sydney Super Cup series, we’ve found a serious contender for the title of No.1 Everton superfan in Australia.

Ian, a 62-year-old father of two from Kellyville in Sydney’s north-west, has followed the storied English Premier League club for more than 50 years. He’s often seen driving his Blues-dedicated Mustang through the streets of Sydney, and even his family dog is called Seamus after the Everton club captain.

Everton FC are coming to Australia for the first time in 12 years to play in the Sydney Super Cup series, with matches against Scottish Premier League champions Celtic FC at Accor Stadium on Sunday 20 November and then Western Sydney Wanderers at CommBank Stadium on Wednesday 23 November.

Born and raised in the UK, at a working-class town called Crewe just 50km from Everton’s home ground Goodison Park, Ian was just eight years old when a local lorry driver started telling him stories about the blue side of Merseyside.

The rusted-on Toffees supporter, who delivered coal to the family farm, took the youngster to his first ever Everton game . . . against Leeds United at Goodison Park in 1968.

There was no turning back from that point and Ian has been a true Blues supporter ever since. He recalls catching the train with high-school mates to every home game to watch Everton play. He even enrolled at the University of Liverpool primarily so he could keep going to every Everton home game.

Ian’s love for Everton FC runs deep in his family as he describes his sons as even more passionate fans of the football club than himself.

The family home at Kellyville features a grand old team poster on the living room wall and there’s also a massive Everton badge on the wall in the TV room. “My wife doesn’t like it very much but it keeps the whole Everton theme going and I think my wife has just accepted it and it’s never going away now,” he said

The Butler family recently got a dog who they named Séamus after the Everton captain Seamus Coleman.

“My eldest boy used to have an Everton number plate as well when he was in NSW but had to give it away when he moved to Victoria as he could not get the same number plate there,” said Butler. “My sons’ rooms are Everton themed as well and they have all the kits, shirts and memorabilia.”

The last time Ian saw Everton play in a stadium was back in 2017 when he visited the UK with his family and witnessed Wayne Rooney score a screamer from the halfway mark against West Ham.

He says he’s counting the days till Everton arrives Down Under for the Sydney Super Cup matches.

“I don’t know which team wins here but I believe we have a good chance of winning both the games. However, honestly I am just really looking forward to see them play live again,” he said.

“Hopefully they bring a good strong side and we’re going to have two exciting contests. I’m especially looking forward to the match against the Wanderers at Parramatta’s CommBank Stadium, with the RBB at one end and us Everton fans behind the goal at the southern end.

“I’m really looking forward to both games and experiencing a live Everton match again.”

While fans keenly wait to see who is selected to play in Sydney as World Cup national selections are also finalised, Ian talks about passionately the players he hopes to see play in Sydney.

“I’d love to see Séamus Coleman obviously and Jordan Pickford, but unlikely this time around due to him being England’s first-choice goalkeeper and will be in the World Cup squad. He looks like he gets a bit emotional so I’d like to see him in real life. It’s also a new team compared to what we saw in the UK in 2017, so it’s a good opportunity to see a new group of players play.”

Leading in to the Sydney Super Cup matches, Ian and every other Everton supporter will be able to get up close and personal to the Blues stars when they appear at an Everton Open Training Session and Fan Party at Accor Stadium from 6:30pm on Friday 18 November.

Tickets and information about the Sydney Super Cup are available at sydneysupercup.com.au

Everton-Aussie Superfans Ready To Bring The Noise To Sydney Super Cup Games This November

Everton superfans Carolyn Polley-Peters and Kosman Thaengthong at CommBank Stadium in the countdown to the Sydney Super Cup games. Pictures: Ayush Kumar

They have followed English Premier League club Everton their entire lives and now superfans Carolyn Polley-Peters and Kosman Thaengthong have called on Blues supporters across Australia to bring the famous Evertonian energy to upcoming Sydney Super Cup games.

Carolyn, from Sydney, and Kosman, from Thailand, are members of the Australian-based Everton Supporters Club and say scores of passionate Blues fans will turn out to see their team play historic games in Sydney.

“It’s really exciting because the last time they were here was 12 years ago, so we’re all pumped to see Everton in Sydney for these games,” said Kosman.

Carolyn reiterated Kosman’s sentiments, saying: “Oh man, it’s amazing, I’ve never seen them play live and I can’t wait to see them beat Celtic and then the Wanderers.”

Everton FC will take on Scottish Premier League champions Celtic at Accor Stadium on Sunday 20 August before lining up against the Western Sydney Wanderers at CommBank Stadium on Wednesday 23 November.

These games are part of a blockbuster three-match Sydney Super Cup series, which will open with Celtic FC taking on Sydney FC at Allianz Stadium on Thursday 17 November.

The Everton-Aussie superfans are aware that the Wanderers have one of the most passionate supporter groups in the A-Leagues so the atmosphere should be amazing when the series comes to a conclusion at CommBank Stadium on 23 November.

Kosman has travelled around Asia to see Everton play in Singapore & Thailand before travelling to Liverpool to watch them play at the famous Goodison Park.

“I like their team spirit,” Kosman said of why he started supporting the Toffees.

For Carolyn, she may have never seen an Everton game live, but she is a football fanatic, having travelled around the world and attended the last four FIFA Women’s World Cups.

Her love for Everton started early: “A girl in Grade 4 who came from England told me you have to go for Everton, so I said, `OK I’ll go for Everton’ and the rest is history, I’m 56 now,” said Carolyn.

The 2022 Sydney Super Cup Schedule is:

Thursday 17 November: Celtic FC v Sydney FC at Allianz Stadium, Moore Park

Sunday 20 November: Celtic FC v Everton FC at Accor Stadium, Sydney Olympic Park

Wednesday 23 November: Everton FC v Western Sydney Wanderers at CommBank Stadium, Parramatta

All the event information and tickets can be accessed at www.sydneysupercup.com.au

Want to see the Sydney Super Cup games in style with key clients, family, and friends? Premium Experience options are available here.

Who Do We Sing For? Wanderers Red & Black Active Fans To Take Over Northern Stands for Sydney Super Cup fixture against famous Premier League club Everton at CommBank Stadium

The Western Sydney Wanderers Red & Black Active Support Area will be fully activated for the Sydney Super Cup battle against Everton FC, with the safe-standing area in place for the clash on Wednesday 23 November.

Wanderers fans have been allocated their traditional northern stands for the match, with Everton’s Active Fans in the south. This is the same seating bowl configuration that created such an amazing big-game atmosphere when the Wanderers hosted Leeds United in the first ever football game at the rebuilt Stadium in 2019.

The 2022 Sydney Super Cup series will feature Everton FC (England), Celtic FC (Scotland) and A-League arch-rivals Western Sydney Wanderers and Sydney FC. Three games will be played across Sydney, with the expectation that the Sydney Super Cup will become a bi-annual event.

Backed by the NSW Government through its tourism and major events agency Destination NSW and Venues NSW, alongside promoters TEG Sport, Left Field Live and VenuesLive, this event will further highlight the return of major global events to Sydney as NSW continues to lead the way in hosting major sport and entertainment.

The 2022 Sydney Super Cup Schedule is:

Thursday 17 November – Celtic FC v Sydney FC at Allianz Stadium, Moore Park

Sunday 20 November – Celtic FC v Everton FC at Accor Stadium, Sydney Olympic Park

Wednesday 23 November – Everton FC v Western Sydney Wanderers at CommBank Stadium, Parramatta

All the event information and ticketing can be found at www.sydneysupercup.com.au

The Wanderers took Leeds United down to the final minute of their game back in 2019, with a late goal to the visitors securing a 1-2 result.

The Wanderers are rebuilding strongly for the 2022/2023 season under Head Coach Mark Rudan.

In a fantastic week for the club, the Wanderers have announced the signings of well-credentialed European striker Sulejman Krpic, ex-Socceroos and Wanderers defender Ruon Tongyik, former Socceroos forward Brandon Borrello and Brazilian star Marcelo Guedes.

The Wanderers will start their Isuzu Ute A-League men’s season on Sunday October 9 against Perth Glory (3pm) at CommBank Stadium. The club will enjoy four home games in the first five rounds of the competition.

Other marquee home games that Wanderers Members and supporters will have their eye on are the massive New Year’s Day clash with Macarthur FC, and then a crucial stretch in February that features a match against reigning champions Western United FC and then a Sydney Derby at CommBank Stadium on Sunday February 11.

Want to see the Sydney Super Cup game on November 23 in style with key clients, family and friends? Premium Experience options are available here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wanderers to open new A-League season with four home games in first five rounds at CommBank Stadium

The Western Sydney Wanderers will open the Isuzu UTE A-League men’s 2022/2023 season with a huge Round 1 Sunday afternoon game against Perth Glory at Wanderland – and they’ll enjoy four home games in the first five rounds.

A pivotal part of the draw comes in early February when the Wanderers have two giant games in six days at Wanderland. First up will be a matchup with the reigning champions Western United on Sunday February 5, before returning to CommBank Stadium in a Round 16 clash against Sydney FC in the Sydney Derby.

The Wanderers will play two away Sydney derbies against Sydney FC at the new Allianz Stadium on Saturday 12 November and Saturday 18 March.

The full A-Leagues Season 2022/23 Draw can be found here.

The Wanderers will play storied English Premier League club Everton at CommBank Stadium in the FIFA World Cup window, with the game on Wednesday 23 November part of the Sydney Super Cup series.

It will be the second international fixture for the Wanderers since Wanderland was rebuilt and re-opened in 2019. The Wanderers played Leeds United in the first football game at the new venue in June 2019, taking the visitors down to the wire in a 1-2 thriller.

Tickets for the Wanderers v Everton FC Sydney Super Cup clash are on sale now at www.sydneysupercup.com.au. Want to watch this game in style? You can also lock in your Premium Experience here.

The Wanderers are rebuilding strongly for the 2022/23 season and, in a fantastic week for the club, have announced the signings of well-credentialed European striker Sulejman Krpic, ex-Socceroos and Wanderers defender Ruon Tongyik and former Socceroos forward Brandon Borrello.

Western Sydney Wanderers Membership is the best way to show your support for the mighty Red and Blacks, and to secure your seats at CommBank Stadium for all home matches. Membership enquiries here.

 

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