St Luke’s Church, located on the Goodison Park footprint, has been a part of the matchday experience for generations of Blues, but repairs are desperately needed due to a recent flood, a broken boiler, and growing damage throughout the hall and other areas used by Everton fan initiatives. An Everton season ticket holder is walking to the team’s away game against Wolverhampton Wanderers in an attempt to save a portion of the church.
Gaz Jones is among a group of ardent supporters who want to guarantee that a structure steeped in the club’s past would continue to serve the local community long after the departure from the Grand Old Lady this summer. He is doing the 81-mile walk in order to generate money for a £25,000 refurbishment fund that will assist revitalize the church’s larger facilities.
The dad-of-two said: “For me, St Luke’s IS Everton. This is one of the many personalities, events, and locations that are associated with the club; it has existed since the opening of Goodison Park. How many people have gone upstairs to look at the shows or had a cup of tea with their grandmother before a game? It’s home.
“Yes, we have a new field, which is really amazing. I’m excited about it. However, I want us to be able to thank St. Luke’s and wish them well in the future.
This entails contributing to the urgently needed repairs in an area that is essential to the activities of KitAid, the Everton Heritage Society’s matchday celebrations, and the memorabilia exhibits. A recent flood exacerbated the damage and wear and tear caused by decades of use. In order to have a chance of hosting the youth groups and community events that would be so important to the local families, the site needs a new boiler, renovations to the floors and ceilings, and an overhaul of its electrics.
Gaz, a heritage society member, started his walk at 9 a.m. on Thursday and has faced numerous obstacles to ensure he makes it to the Molineux kick-off at 8 p.m.
Speaking to the ECHO while traversing Shropshire on Friday afternoon, he said: “It has been tough. I have been walking along a canal since Nantwich and have been through about 10 miles of slipping and sliding through the mud. It’s hard on the legs and the parts where there is no pavement have been dangerous at times.
“I’ve done half marathons, marathons, the Goodison Sleepout – I do a fundraiser every year. This is the hardest.”
The 36-year-old has had support on the way, from strangers like the canal boat captain who pulled in to give him money to the help of his wife, Helouise, who is supporting him along the way. He said he had been blown away by the support and that Wolves supporters had been in touch to say they would welcome him at the finishing line – including from those behind the Samosa Saturday charity iniative that will be running before the game, a charity-supporting drive led by inspirational Wolves fan Manny Singh Kang.
