A statement from Everton Football Club - August 24, 2007
Everton Football Club acknowledges that a majority of those Evertonians who were eligible to vote in the ballot do support the Club in its desire to relocate to a new home in Kirkby.
We are the only major club in Europe to have handed over a decision of such importance and magnitude to its fan-base – something which simply serves to underscore the enormously high regard in which we hold our supporters.
We now have a mandate to carry on negotiations with our two project partners – Knowsley Borough Council and Tesco.
The Club’s Board of Directors, the management staff and the players would like to thank all those who participated in the ballot.
We would also like to thank the Electoral Reform Services who ran the ballot on our behalf in a diligent and wholly professional manner.
Whilst we concede that the proposed move has undoubtedly provoked a heated and sustained debate, it is reassuring to know that the majority of Evertonians do support the Club as it pursues its long-held desire to provide a world-class stadium for its world-class support.
The result comes at the end of a transparent, democratic process and we believe that now is the time for all supporters of Everton Football Club to set aside any differences of opinion and unite for the common good.
The simple truth is, we all want the same thing – a thriving, ambitious and prosperous club away from the field of play and an attractive, competitive team on it.
Number of voting packs dispatched
36,662
Number of votes received 25,761
Number of votes found to be invalid 63
Total number of valid votes 25,698
Turnout 70.27%
Question
Based on the foregoing information, the Board is inclined to pursue the building of a new stadium in Kirkby.
The Board promised to ballot Evertonians to ascertain their views on this move.
The question is: Are you in favour of relocating Everton Football Club to Kirkby?
The Result
Yes 15,230 59.27%
NO 10,468 40.73%