Everton drop plan to host LFC fans

Jul 21 2008 by David Bartlett, Liverpool Daily Post

EVERTON FC have pulled out of a surprise scheme to allow their city rivals Liverpool to use part of Everton’s Goodison Park stadium for corporate hospitality on match days.

The plan – which could have provoked reactions from both fan bases – was to use the corporate hospitality area known as The Marquee, at the Park End of Goodison, which would have been decked out in Liverpool branding when the Anfield club were using their rival’s ground.

Liverpool said that, due to extraordinary demand for corporate hospitality at Anfield, it had been forced to look elsewhere for additional high- quality entertainment space.

After dining at Goodison, fans would have been transported across Stanley park to watch Liverpool play at Anfield.

A Liverpool FC spokesman said: “It will look like and feel like getting hospitality at Anfield.”

An Everton spokesman had confirmed that the deal was under consideration, but said that it had not yet been signed off.

But, after issuing the fairly positive statements, Everton decided against the idea on Friday.

On Friday evening, Ian Ross, the club’s director of communications, said: “We were approached by Liverpool FC about the possibility of them using our marquee on their match days for corporate guests, but we did not feel it would be appropriate.”

He would not go into further detail, but it is likely that Everton would have probably taken into consideration a possible backlash from their own officials and fans.