Everton FC supporter’s trust plan gets backing of shadow health secretary Andy Burnham

Feb 8 2012 by Greg O'Keeffe, Liverpool Echo

SHADOW health secretary Andy Burnham today endorsed the Everton supporters trust that aims to buy the club’s Finch Farm training ground.

Trust Everton plan to use membership subscriptions and donations to buy the £15m Halewood-based complex, which is currently owned by Essex-based Hudson Capital Properties.

The Toffees pay £1.1m rent a year to use Finch Farm after selling it in 2007, and Trust Everton want to become the new landlords and use any profits to help the club and perhaps eventually fund a new stadium.

Mr Burnham, who is a former Labour Party leader candidate and has a season ticket at Goodison, said: “From the moment that David Moyes first uttered his famous ‘People’s Club’ line I’ve always felt that an Everton supporters trust was the perfect extension of that.

“A trust fits completely with Everton’s tradition and ethos, and in this mad world of modern football it really could act as an anchor for the fans.

“It’s long overdue – I’ll certainly be joining and so will my dad and brothers.

“The idea of buying Finch Farm is interesting and worthy of discussion because of how crucial the training ground is to the club’s future.

“I have also often wondered whether it’s worth discussing whether a trust could even help with the cost of redeveloping our Goodison Park home.”

Trust Everton, who have met with Goodison officials, have launched an online survey to gauge interest at trusteverton.com