“It amazes me how many Everton fans are around. Everton is a big club. You can be out minding your business and you see fans and they are so lively and energetic for the club. It just makes me feel like it is a privilege and an honour to represent such a big club. It shows me who I am doing this for. I am not just doing it for people here, I am actually talking to people and it affects them and if Everton go down they will be devastated. It shows how much Everton means to them. If I am not doing this for myself, then at least let me do it for them.”
Alex Iwobi’s words this week hold poignance and power and showcase knowledge of what is at stake when the Nigeria international and his team-mates walk onto the Goodison Park pitch on Sunday afternoon.
When they emerge from the tunnel, seconds after the siren has reverberated around the Grand Old Lady and as Z-Cars fights the supporters for control of the airwaves, the atmosphere will no doubt be intense.
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There have been times this season - think the collapses against Brighton & Hove Albion and Newcastle United at home - when an exhausted fanbase has appeared to question whether it had the strength to continue given its inspirational efforts last season. Yet however bad things have appeared, no-one has turned their back on the players. Sean Dyche described the supporters as “terrific” as he spoke at Finch Farm on Friday and he is correct.
The sight of supporters arriving at grounds across the country in fine voice, often early, to do what they could to help the club’s cause has been incredible. The impact has been real - Everton will end this season unbeaten in their final four away trips and the fans have been crucial to that.
The scenes that went around the world when the Blues achieved that hugely influential win at Leicester City late last season were sensational. But the sight of the travelling support at Crystal Palace, Wolverhampton Wanderers and, most emphatically, at Brighton this season has been stunning.
Those efforts will have helped the players dig deep for the 99th-minute equaliser at Molineux last weekend and to start so well at the Amex, just as at Goodison the vociferous welcome spurred the match-winning start against Brentford and rousing conclusions for victories against Arsenal and Leeds United.
It has not been easy for the supporters, nor has it been cheap. Yet whatever the weather, whatever the form and whatever the cost they have continued to back the team. Every single ticket available to Everton fans - home and away - has been sold out this year. Even the near-10,000 made available for the FA Cup third-round trip to Manchester United that took place on a Friday night, days after Christmas, amid a cost of living crisis.
Those supporters deserve better - but that is a conversation for another day. On Sunday they will again rise to the occasion despite their nerves, fears and anxiety. There may not be a coach welcome but there will instead be a march up to Goodison Park from The Brick, starting at 3.40pm and passing the Royal Oak and heading up Spellow Lane. The plan is for fans to get into the ground for 4pm and make clear their backing for the players during their warm-up.
For one last time this season the supporters will stand up and be counted. It is now down to the players to do the same.
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