Latest news with #Toffeemen
BBC News
01-06-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Evertonian's family take radio to his grave for Goodison farewell
The family of a dedicated Everton fan who died last year said they took a radio to his grave so they could "listen together" to commentary of the final men's match to be played at Goodison Bentham's family contacted BBC Radio Merseyside ahead of the game on 18 May to say they would be tuning in from his said the 53-year-old's "one wish" had been to watch Goodison's last game and to see the Toffeemen move into their new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock this summer."He sadly passed away on 12 November 2024," said the family from St Helens. During the programme, Robbie's family said: "We are listening at the cemetery at his graveside - we love you with all our hearts."Following the family's message, which received a warm reaction on social media, Robbie's partner Shell Wilson appeared on the radio station's Total Sport Merseyside show."I was overwhelmed," she said. "Robbie would have been buzzing."Shell said the family had listened to five matches at the cemetery since Robbie's 52-year-old said the final game at Goodison was a "bittersweet day" because Robbie was "so excited" about the idea of seeing the new stadium."He would go on Facebook and look at how the stadium was going on and he would send them to his mates - the Mancs and the Kopites - and he would laugh his head off saying 'we're getting a better stadium than you!'"Shell said Robbie, who had three grandchildren, had a "heart of gold" and lived for his family and his "beloved Everton"."He would be up at 7am singing Spirit Of The Blues and It's A Grand Old Team To Play For on a football day," she said."We got him a brick [at] the new stadium [and] we made the funeral directors take him [to] the Bramley-Moore and past Goodison," she said."He wouldn't have had it any other way." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
BBC News
06-03-2025
- Business
- BBC News
New Everton stadium parking plan changes 'don't go far enough'
Planned tweaks to parking rules near Everton's new stadium do not go far enough, worried business owners have of the Toffeemen moving into their new stadium this summer, Liverpool City Council introduced parking restrictions within a 30-minute walking radius of the Bramley-Moore Dock Market owner Paul Blair said takings had dropped 47% within the first week of the new rules being in council, which earlier this week announced some amendments to the rules following feedback, said the consultation process was ongoing. 'Driving businesses away' Under the new restrictions, parking is limited 365 days a year, not just on matchdays."There's about 3,000 business that operate their businesses here," Mr Blair said."The council has not thought them at all in any planning for this."Initial restrictions introduced in February saw street parking limited to one complaints, this has been extended in some areas to two Blair said that was still not enough and warned that long-established companies were being forced out by the council's actions."They are definitely driving existing businesses away," he said."Some have been here for over 50 years and now they are essentially being forced out."Mr Blair, who opened Blackstock Market nine months ago, said he would not have invested in the area had he have known about the plans to restrict parking. "The first week of restrictions being introduced... our week-on-week sales were down 47%," he businessman said there was "no need" for the parking restrictions to apply every day."We need removal of the non-matchday restrictions," said Mr Blair. Meanwhile, Downland Bedding's managing director Fraser Smith said he had already lost members of staff who had cited parking problems as a reason for leaving the family-owned business on Blackstock Street."It will definitely deter people from coming to work here," he said."We were established in 1946 ... we've been here a long time, employing tens of thousands of people over the years in what is known as a deprived area."There has not been enough consultation. We have objected in writing and have had no response."I think there is a lot of focus on the football club and not enough focus on the many, many thousands of business in the area that will be severely impacted."Why would you want to punish businesses every day when it will only impact Everton for maybe up to 50 days of the year?"Liverpool City Council recently said its Experimental Traffic Road Order (ETRO) would remain under review over the next 18 months and further changes could Dan Barrington, cabinet member for transport, said: "A key aim of the Experimental Zone is tackling the problem of commuter parking 365 days a year, as well as illegal and unsafe parking on double yellow lines and pavements."These issues impact the area all year round and it's vital we get this right to support its economic development and to tackle congestion, especially as more businesses set up here and more residential schemes are developed." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on BBC Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram, and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.
