Everton fans are to unfurl a new banner on the Gwladys Street ahead of their Premier League home game against Manchester United on Sunday to honour the club’s black players in conjunction with Black History Month.
Held in February in the United States and Canada and in October in the UK, Black History Month remembers important people and events in the history of the African diaspora, and Blues supporters believed it was an opportune time to create their latest banner with Goodison Park greats of colour, both past and present, the theme.
Images of half a dozen black players who have made significant contributions to Everton over the years are included on the banner: Kevin Campbell, the club’s first black captain; Mike Trebilcock, who scored twice in the 1966 FA Cup final; Cliff Marshall, the club’s first home-grown black player; Daniel Amokachi, the club’s first African signing; Joseph Yobo, the African player with the most appearances for the club and current player Dominic Calvert-Lewin, whose headed goal against Crystal Palace in the final home game of last season earned a dramatic 3-2 comeback win to secure the Blues’ top flight status.
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The banner has been created by Joe from the Gwladys Street 1938 group and he told the ECHO: “I wanted to celebrate Everton players past and present because the club have got such a rich history with black players and I don’t think it’s been celebrated enough.
“I wanted to choose six players who have contributed in a large way. I hope it shows the supporters in a positive light as well that Everton as a football club does not forget its players and hopefully it shows that to the young supporters as well.”
As well as many iconic Everton players and managers being honoured by the group, banners have also included illustrations of The Beatles wearing blue and white scarves and the ECHO’s very own iconic Toffee Lady but for Joe, all of his creations are a labour of love. He said: “We try and keep it between these two posts (in the Upper Gwladys Street), I know the dimensions that work and I try and keep it within them.
“From start to finish, depending on how much painting is involved and depending on the design it can vary from anything between 80-120 hours. You start with the material on a roll, you’ve got to cut it to fit, sew it, come up with the design, tape it and mark everything out and then paint it.
“They get stored in the Park End so they’re always ready if and when they’re needed. All the banners that I’ve ever done, I’ve tried to go for a timeless look, it doesn’t matter whether they’re about the 1970s, 80s or the present day.
“The Gwladys Street is an old stand and because it’s an authentic fanbase, it’s important to me that the banners themselves are also authentic. They’re handmade rather than manufactured and it reflects that.”
With construction work on Everton’s new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock remaining on track for a move in just two years’ time, the clock is ticking on The Grand Old Lady but Joe believes that the remaining matches at the club’s home since 1892, the first purpose-built football ground in England, are the ideal opportunity for more creativity. He said: “I started in 2016 and I think I’ve done between 60-70 featuring around 40 different Everton players and managers.
“I’m sure there’s going to be a collection of banners for the final season that will pay tribute to the history of the stadium and the club. It’s important to honour the former players who might have been forgotten a bit by some but the fanbase doesn’t forget them and hopefully this is a representation of that.”
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