In an interview with The Scotsman, Graeme Sharp stated that he is unlikely to return to Goodison Park, citing peaceful supporter protests against the Everton board he served on. The 64-year-old Everton legend, who scored a stunning volley in a Merseyside derby victory at Anfield 40 years ago this weekend, hasn’t been to the Grand Old Lady in over 18 months. Asked whether he would end that absence, which started amid protests against the club board he sat on at the time, he said: “I just think too much has gone on. It’s not the same.”
In an interview with The Scotsman, Everton’s best living striker cited the January 2023 problem as his motivation for staying away. At the time, the club was in disarray, with a poor run of form threatening to lead the Blues into a second frantic relegation battle. Concerns over how the club was run under Farhad Moshiri’s tenure and before to that sparked peaceful protests against the board. This was before the full scope of the problems was revealed by several years of massive losses and two extraordinary point deductions.
Sharp had been a non-executive director for a year at the time and, along with fellow board members chief executive Denise Barrett-Baxendale, chairman Bill Kenwright, and finance head Grant Ingles, had been criticised for the club’s performance. The club stated that those board members had been told not to attend a game against Southampton in January owing to “credible” safety concerns. Merseyside Police later confirmed that the force had not been informed of any “threats or incidents” at the time.
Since then, Sharp hasn’t shown up. “I just think the way things happened … it’s a difficult one. To be treated the way we were, was awful,” he stated to the Scottish newspaper. “People don’t know what went on but they were quick to make a judgement and could not be further from the truth. I just think the stick that I got was totally undeserved, and I thought – nah, I don’t need it.”
Sharp, who, along with Barrett-Baxendale and Ingles, formally left their roles the following summer, spoke with the Mirror at the time, praising Barrett-Baxendale’s work and claiming it was “unfair” for her to be “targeted”. He continued, “I don’t want to miss games; Everton is in my blood. Of course, fans can have their say and I can understand the frustrations, but some of the protests have gone over the top.” This week, he said he had been invited back by pals and still has season tickets “but I don’t see myself going back”.
His comments coincide with Goodison Park’s final season hosting football before Everton’s move to their new waterfront home, as well as the upcoming anniversary of the 1984/85 team he helped lead to the league title and Cup Winners Cup. He expressed interest in an official reunion at the Grand Old Lady, stating, “It will be interesting, because no doubt this 40-year celebration, the lads will all be back out for the la.”
Sharp stated that he had declined invitations to visit Finch Farm from current manager Sean Dyche and concluded: “There might be one day when I wake up and say, you know what, I’m going to do it. But I cannot see myself (doing that). I appreciate everyone trying to get me there. I just think too much has gone on. It’s not the same.”
Leave a Reply