Article Written by Ian Kilbride. I am one of the few individuals on the planet to have lifted the F.A. Cup. Admittedly, I didn’t actually score the winning goal in Everton’s 1995 Wembley victory over Manchester United, but I did spend a memorable evening with the team and club owners celebrating the Blues fifth F.A. Cup final victory. That was a long 27 years ago and the closest we have come since then was the 2009 loss to Frank Lampard’s Chelsea. That evening led to a long-enduring friendship and business relationship with Everton’s then owners, resulting in a unique South African joint venture between my company Appleton, Everton’s owners and COSATU’s investment trust, Kopano ke Matla. Over the past quarter century, my companies have continued to sponsor Everton in numerous guises. Appleton’s branding could be seen around the famous Goodison Park, Warwick became Everton’s F.A. Cup sponsor and the Spirit Foundation remains a key supporter of the ground-breaking Everton in the Community programme. So, as the 2022/23 Premiership season kicks off, my loyalty and commitment to Everton Football Club remains as strong as ever. I also admit to inculcating (rather than indoctrinating) the Everton spirit in my two Sons, who […]
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