The coach carrying Everton's players to Goodison Park on Thursday night will follow a different route to the ground.
Blues supporters have welcomed the players in their thousands before recent home games, lining the tight residential streets surrounding the stadium. The club has now released details of an alternative route it said would give greater opportunity to take part in the passionate scenes. Everton also believes the new approach would be safer.
Details of the route change came as the club praised the conduct of the majority of supporters but warned there would be a "zero tolerance approach to all incidents of discrimination and disorder".
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Supporter groups have organised coach welcomes to the two most recent Everton home games, against Chelsea and Brentford. On both occasions City Road and Goodison Road were turned into a sea of blue as fans rallied to help boost the players in the hope of inspiring them in their fight against relegation from the Premier League. Crowds also gathered outside the club's Finch Farm training ground ahead of the players' trips to Leicester City and Watford.
Victory over Crystal Palace on Thursday would secure Everton's top flight status and supporter groups are planning another coach reception in the hope it will offer the players a boost in the last game at Goodison Park of this campaign.
Ahead of this, details of the new route have been released, the club explaining: "Supporters’ groups are encouraging fans to line the kerbside on Walton Lane as the Everton coaches are driven past the Abbey Pub and Everton One from 5.45pm. The vehicles will pass the Hot Wok opposite the Dixie Dean statue on Spellow Lane and then drive on to Goodison Road. The new route gives more fans the opportunity to see the coach arrival across a larger stretch of road while also ensuring the safety of supporters, club and security staff and members of the local community."
The club said its fan engagement team has continued to work with supporters’ groups - including the Everton Fans’ Forum - on a range of banners set to adorn the Gwladys Street.
Meanwhile, Everton has sought to highlight smoke bombs and flares are banned from Goodison Park and said "spot checks" will take place at turnstiles. It warned any supporter caught with such items inside the stadium could be arrested and banned.
In a message that follows the launch of a police investigation into allegations racist abuse was directed towards the families of two Brentford players on Sunday, the club added: "The club and police have praised the overwhelming majority of supporters for their conduct on matchdays and the fervent and passionate supporter being given. However, following a number of incidents the club has a duty to remind supporters that all perpetrators of public order offences, which includes racist or discriminatory behaviour, harassment, pitch encroachment and the throwing of objects, will receive lengthy stadium bans, potential arrests by police and possibly further legal sanctions."
*Anyone with details that could help the Merseyside Police investigation into reports of racial abuse on Sunday is asked to contact the force by calling 101 or on Twitter, via @MerPolCC.
*Everton has a dedicated text number for fans to report any discriminatory or abusive behaviour they witness during matches at Goodison Park or around the ground. Anyone who sees or hears anything is asked to report it to the Stadium Safety Team immediately by texting HELP, with details of the incident, to 84300, or email reportit@evertonfc.com.
