Everton host ‘Family Fortunes’ event for season ticket holders

Everton are well respected as a club which does much for the local community and its fan base, so it was fitting that they hosted a ‘Family Fortunes’ event for season ticket holders on Tuesday.

Recent results have been good for Ronald Koeman's side, who are unbeaten in seven Premier League games and have closed the gap on Liverpool and Manchester United who occupy the two spaces above the Blues in the top six.

However, there is a sense at Everton that they are building for next term, so what better time to promote season tickets for what many hope will be a campaign where Koeman's men come to the fore.

The club have once again frozen season ticket prices and, in some areas, reduced them. They have also introduced initiatives to encourage the 22 to 24 age group, a demographic which club officials feel can struggle to find the funds for season ticket purchases, to sign up.

The evening highlight was an appearance by recent signing Morgan Schneiderlin who has quickly settled into life at Goodison Park.

He said: "The people here have been very welcoming to me, it is a very good club and I am enjoying it very much."

Everton's director of marketing and communications Richard Kenyon said it was important for the club to listen to and communicate with their supporters.

"We pride ourselves on listening to our fan base," he said. "The feedback we were getting was that the 22 to 24 age group was one area where fans felt we should look at. We have and we have acted."

Everton have sold out every home Premier League game this season and the high demand to see the Toffees has meant, for the first time in the Premier League era, non-season ticket holders are having to register their interest in season tickets and the club may need to consider a cap on season ticket sales.

Together with the proposed move to a new stadium in Liverpool docks, there is a growing sense of the future being bright around the club.

However, for Schneiderlin, the focus now is to finish as high up the league as possible.

"If we can go on a good run of games, anything is possible, we want to give the fans Europa League football for next season and build a platform," he said.

Koeman used the January transfer window to further re-shape his squad and have a clear out, so expect a busy summer as Everton look to increase their blue family fortunes next season.