My Madison Everton Supporter Group: Favorite Part of 2024
Something I have been debating on doing since driving to Milwaukee to watch matches with the Milwaukee Toffees--then back to Madison again during the weekends, then I decided to make my own.
I remember when I started watching Everton Football Club I was feeling alone. Only felt like me the players, and the coaching staff. Also, a few familiar faces I would see in the crowd, those of ball boys, and security staff too on the side of the pitch on television. I was really happy to see Rebecca Lowe, the two Robbies, and Tim Howard on television talking about all the action around the Premier League of the 2021-2022 season during my first season of supporting Everton.
It wasn’t until the pitch invasion during the Crystal Palace match in May 2022 after we won and escaped relegation zone when I realized there were more than just the club, players, the coaches themselves, and I in what felt like a little family. It was a big group of people who also supported Everton—from Liverpool to everywhere on the globe. When I saw that big crowd on the pitch, I wanted to celebrate with them too and whoever else was near by that supported Everton like I did. Sitting on the couch alone wasn’t cutting it out for me anymore. I caught the bug of watching football with others after watching Everton play in Minneapolis in person.
During the season (2022-2023) and the last season (2023-2024) I would drive back and fourth for all the matches I could to Milwaukee and back. That was tiresome. I remember staying over at someone’s house because pretty much spent the day drinking there over St. Patrick’s weekend during the 2022-2023 season. That same season I spent all of the day before Halloween there on a Saturday because I didn’t know anyone just to sober up to drive home. Expensive driving there and back—I didn’t have enough money to get a hotel to stay in. No hotels even near by too.
During this last season I was really thinking about starting my own supporters group. I would get asked this all the time by the group in Milwaukee. I wasn’t even sure how to get stared on it. I was a part of the North American Toffees supporters group as an individual. As that individual I wasn’t sure how to get started in creating a supporters group—that is also can be apart of the North American Toffees Network. The question was also being asked while I was in the middle of transitioning out of my healthcare career and into my freelance writing career. No time to even think or research the idea of a supporters group.
A summer went by. The last season has started—I had more times on my hands getting my freelance writing career started. On the weekends I would send out tweets on Twitter/X and Instagram’s Threads asking if anyone had an idea how to start a supporters group. First two times no responses. Wasn’t sure if it was the times I sent them. On my third time I got a response. It was simply just: “just start one by creating a Twitter account”. Which I did.
I started the account then debating on what I should do for the logo. I had a very rough plan on what I wanted. Thankfully, the wonderful Phil on Twitter actually made one on photoshop for me (which I am horrible at):
It was only the Prince Rupert’s Tower that got removed and the image I requested put in. I did not change the year. 1878 is when Everton Football Club was founded. I could have easily asked if I could have 2024 there—or 1848 if I truly wanted to, a little shoutout to when Wisconsin was founded as a official state. I like it as is. I left the 1878 in there for a little nod to the 1848, Wisconsin was thirty when Everton was founded. Also, the only reason—I don’t have access to that font the year was in.
Another personal reason was, I was dealing with getting bullied online by other Everton supporters because I wasn’t from Liverpool—I wasn’t a enough as a supporter as they are. False! I am as a big as one from Liverpool and everywhere else in the world! I am amongst everyone who loves Everton (doesn’t matter the zip code); I love Everton with all my heart and as like it’s family member. It means the world to me. Everton has been there when others in my life haven’t been. Even tough right now things are not all sunshine and daisies for the club either—it’s been there for me during my dark times; so, I’ll be there for it’s darkest times too. That are what families are for. In way it saved my life. I had more issues going on then dealing with correcting a logo—still do.
Also, I have been dealing with trying to fit in and wondering if I actually fit in the Everton family. This is a personal thought, also has been mixed in with personal battles I don’t share that are too private I have been battling. So, again, like I said before fixing a logo is least of my problems. Unless, Everton ends up suing me for copyright issues—if they ever do, I will cross that bridge when I get there. Besides I am happy I made that slight change makes people do a double take.
Shortly after making social media accounts for my supporters group, I joined the North American Toffees unaffiliated supporters groups roster. I have to have ten people in order to become an official affiliated supporters group connected to the football club itself. As of now, I am just happy to be apart of the North American Toffees as a supporters group and an individual. Closest I will be to the club as of now.
As of now in this current moment of time there is three more people other than me in this group. There are more out there because I have met them out in the wild. Now, to convince them to come to watch matches with me at Prost! or Baldwin Street Bar and Grille during matches is a whole other thing. People are busy with lives and families outside of Everton. Working around that—but hopefully in 2025 I can get six more people and be officially affiliated with Everton Football Club. One of my goals for 2025.
Around early November I ordered stickers to help advertise the supporters group. Plan is to stick them anywhere and everywhere I can. Some of them I am planning on putting around and/or in Breese Steven Field for the Forward Madison matches. Especially, the bar that is in the basement of the stadium. Also, at Baldwin’s and maybe Prost (if it’s allowed) too.
We need a home bar. I been planning on doing both Prost and Baldwin’s. There is really no set place for us in Madison, Wisconsin to watch Premier League matches. Also, in the autumn we are competing with college American football (NFL football). We’re a big American Football town. It’s not helping because there is now Spring American Football now too coming into more screen time. Let us have our basketball, international football/soccer, baseball, and hockey—I think we are set for sports there (also rugby too—some people enjoy that too).
Having a home bar is important to a supporters group of a Premier League football club. It’s a rarity where there is one bar dedicated just to one team. Here it’s just Prost where the Arsenal supporters group hang out because they are tired of fighting for televisions at Baldwin’s. Baldwin’s is pretty much where everyone else goes. It used to be in the basement of Breese Steven Field—but that only lasted for one season.
It’s all of a word of mouth thing of where to go next if a bar doesn’t want to host for Premier League matches on Saturday and Sunday mornings during the season. I do like the variation of everyone at Baldwin’s. Just different people to talk to who support other clubs. It’s all fun banter. I have never came across any issues yet.1 It’s just more Prost not having a season pass for the Premier League on Peacock streaming service that is NBC’s, where bars can watch more than one match during Saturdays and Sundays. Had to watch a match on my phone and then another match on Lauren’s laptop who is one of three Madison Everton supporters in the group currently.
I got this flag made for gatherings. When everyone is finally together we can take a group photo with it, plus an Everton flag with the real logo I brought online. I am looking forward to these group photos the most to share with everyone. I would love to see NBC Sports put it on during their weekend morning coverage of Everton matches or during the week. We’ve tried with one person doing a selfie (maybe also me too) and one of me and Lauren. I haven’t seen the Lauren and I one yet—but I am keeping an eye out for it. I hope you all do too when you are watching. If you do see it, please take a photo of it and send it my way. I would love to share with the group that we made it on national television!
I know this might be something silly to be proud of in 2024. But, I am really proud of this one. It’s my baby. It does some mornings get me out of bed in the morning. Creating this supporters group really has improved my life over the past few months when I created this in April.
Since Everton has come into my life—it has given me a new step in my life. Gave my life new meaning. This supporters group has too. Without these two things I am not sure where I would be. Everton and the Madison Toffees have given me a new set of confidence. I don’t want to have people watch Everton alone in the world like I did. Watching Everton is meant to be done together as big global Everton family.
More information about the Madison Toffees can be found in our Linktree.
Also, if you want one of our stickers let me know. In the US it’s $1 per sticker for shipping. Internationally it’s whatever $1 is equivalent to your currency, also for shipping. I will do the math myself for you.
I will be back for 2025 with more articles. I hope everyone has a good Christmas, if you celebrate—then a happy whatever you celebrate around Christmas time. I hope everyone has a Happy New Year and a positive start to 2025.
Plus money being tight for me at times. Also the 2025 upcoming Toffee Fest—and maybe a My Premier League Mornings Fan Zone event. Then having Covid and family events as in my cousin’s baby shower and my grandpa’s funeral where I have not been. Trying to make it to all the matches for the 2024-25 season.