sport news DOMINIC KING: A day that started with peaceful protests ended with jubilation ... trends now
The day began with a peaceful protest. From the Royal Oak Pub at 1130am, on the corner of County Road, a couple of thousand fans marched up Spellow Lane and circled Goodison Park. The aim, once again, was to vent their disenchantment about Everton’s Board of Directors.
Farhad Moshiri, the major shareholder, Chairman Bill Kenwright and Denise Barrett-Baxendale, the Chief Executive, were fixed firmly in the firing line, with banners urging them to “get out of our club” – none of those named were there to see it, having elected to stay away for Arsenal’s visit.
Their seats in the Directors Box remained empty, the dislocation between the powers-that-be and the people never more evident by the fact that a fixture that carried such importance – the debut of a new manager – passed by without their presence. It was the right decision.
For the day that started with a protest ended with a party. Sometimes it is difficult to put into words the impact of a stadium – it’s only bricks and mortar and seats, after all – but this was one of those afternoons when could not have wished to watch football anywhere else.
Goodison, when the noise is turned up to maximum volume and those inside are unified with a common cause, is magical. Sean Dyche was guaranteed to get a generous ovation but, privately, he must have been blown away by the hurricane the majority of the 39,314 crowd actually produced.
Saturday's match was preceded by a peaceful protest against Everton's Board of Directors
Sean Dyche was greeted by a hurricane of support at Goodison Park on his first match in charge
Once they had made their point outside, the unity behind Dyche and his team was apparent.
When Everton pressed up the pitch and forced Arsenal’s defenders to make hurried clearances that went out of touch or passes that failed to meet their target, the accompanying roar
