Campaigners to keep Everton in city take their protest to the top

Aug 13 2007 by Alan Weston, Liverpool Daily Post

KEIOC banner

FANS aiming to keep Everton in the city took their campaign to the skies at the week- end before the first game of the new sea- son at Goodison Park.

Members of Keep Everton in Our City (KEIOC) hired a plane to get their message across prior to the winning kick-off against Wigan.

A banner trailing behind the light aircraft had the message: “KEIOC say – Vote No to Kirkby.” The group made sure their message did not clash with the video shown in the stadium about missing toddler Madeleine McCann.

The stunt was part of the group’s campaign to persuade fans not to vote to move to a new stadium in Kirkby in a ballot now under way. The proposed move is part of a joint deal between Everton FC, Knowsley Council and Tesco.

Sir Terry Leahy, who is chief executive of Tesco, backed the controversial move in an open letter to fans on the club website on Saturday.

He said: “With Kirkby, new invest-ment could go straight into the team, with the prospect of a return by way of better results.

“When the board, manager and leading players of Everton are unanimous that a move to Kirkby is right, I know they have the best interests of the club at heart and I trust their judgment.

“Whichever way I look at it, the heart says Goodison but the head says Kirkby.”