Everton told to show 'relentless effort' in exploring potential huge new market

Everton told to show 'relentless effort' in exploring potential huge new market

Everton have been told to show 'relentless commitment' to the North American market by superfan David France

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Everton superfan Dr David France has hailed the Blues’ efforts towards fans during their trip to the USA for the Premier League Summer Series and has called upon the club to show “relentless commitment” to the region.

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The Widnes-born former oil and gas executive sold his 10,000-item collection of Everton memorabilia to the club at a heavily discounted price so it could be kept for posterity while also founding the Everton Former Players’ Foundation to raise money for the physical and pastoral care of ex-professionals who have represented the club. Dr France, who also received the inaugural Toffee Trailblazer award along with Tim Howard in Orlando, Florida in 2021, told the ECHO: “It’s great that Everton are visiting my adopted country but sad that I’m unable to watch them in New Jersey, Illinois and Georgia.

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“I’ve travelled over 2 million miles to from North America to Goodison, but illness prevents me travelling the mere 1,400 miles from my home to Chicago and 1,600 miles to Atlanta. I’ve missed only a couple of the 20 or so games that Everton have played in North America since 1985.

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“Along with many enthusiastic Blues, I have watched Everton in Toronto, Houston, Dallas, Denver, Los Angeles, Orlando, Philadelphia, Salt Lake City, San Franciso, Washington DC, and, of course, Minneapolis where Frank Lampard’s team was humbled by the local MLS side.

“Sadly, our standing in North America has declined during the past decade but Everton fans pop up everywhere. I spotted a COYB plate on my way to the hospital in Phoenix last Wednesday.

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“That said, North America is an attractive and expanding market but, given the intense competition from leading British and European clubs, we must maintain our historical standing as a North American favourite through relentless commitment in the shape of tours, fan festivals and celebrations, soccer schools and vibrant social and digital platforms.

“Significant enhancement in fan engagement during the past couple of decades. In the absence of representatives of the club’s hierarchy, my wife and I funded celebratory dinners for US and UK-based fans in Houston and San Francisco.”

Like new Everton owner Dan Friedkin, Dr France was once a high-flier in Houston business circles himself and with the Blues so far having supplemented their time in New York area with a Supporters’ Club welcome event at the Turnmill bar; a coaching clinic being run by Everton in the Community and the Premier League at Washington Elementary School in Kearny, New Jersey and Roger Bennett’s Men in Blazers show ‘A Night Live on Stage with David Moyes and Everton Football Club’ at Racket NYC.

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Dr France, who celebrated his 77th birthday last month, praised the efforts and said: “When it comes to engagement with North American fans, it is time to recognise the unheralded efforts of Mo Maghazachi and Scott McLeod at the Liver Building. While North American fans may not have enjoyed our best performances on the pitch, they have never been disappointed by the eloquent professionalism of Darren Griffiths and the amiable and approachable support of Graham Stuart and Leon Osman. All three are a credit to the club and make me and other North American fans proud to be blue.

“Many gatherings of Evertonians are fan-driven and would not happen without the diligent work of Tony Sampson (head of the North American Toffees and vice chair of the club’s FAB) and other members of the 45 transatlantic blue cults.

“Unfortunately, pre-season tours are little more than training camps and US fans rarely see their heroes at their best. Many team performances are lacklustre, with the exception of beating Juventus in 2013.

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“I have observed that, in the absence of Premier League success and recent USA-born players, North American Evertonians are as united, defiant and loud as their Merseyside brothers. The club must continue to invest in US-based fans and their events.

“Perhaps, Everton will visit Canada next time? After all, Prime Minister Mark Carney is a life-long Blue.”

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