Stay-away Everton fans make their point as they save themselves for points deduction protest

Goodison Park has staged many memorable internationals over the years but if England Under-21s game against Northern Ireland proves to be its last such fixture, a perfect storm conspired to ensure it was an unusually low key finale for Everton’s long-time home.

Despite a competitive pricing policy of £15 for adults or just £10 if they were Everton season ticket holders or members and £7:50/£5 for over 65s or under 18s, a mere 7,890 spectators watched the match on Tuesday night at a ground that is regularly full to its capacity of over 39,000 when Sean Dyche’s side are playing. Here was an opportunity to see a competitive game – not a friendly – featuring the reigning European champions, managed by former Blues fans favourite Lee Carsley and proudly captained by Everton’s breakthrough star of the season so far, Jarrad Branthwaite, in what could be the final international at ‘The Grand Old Lady’, yet sadly there was still more than 31,000 empty seats in the stadium.

A number of factors could be seen to have combined here to explain the paltry turnout. In the wake of the club being hit by the biggest points deduction in English top-flight history, perhaps Evertonians were keeping their powder dry for Sunday’s showdown with Manchester United? Although the Football Association and Premier League are separate entities, beleaguered Blues could be forgiven for not being the most enthusiastic supporters of the game’s ruling institutions in the country right now.

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