24 October 2023 , 16:09
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Bill Kenwright's reign as Everton chairman might not always have gone smoothly - but some fans will never forget the classy gesture that signified his kind character.
News of Kenwright's death was confirmed by the club on Tuesday. The 78-year-old had been at the helm at Goodison Park since 2004, having first served on the club board some 15 years previously.
The latter years of Kenwright's tenure were plagued by fan discontent over poor form on the field and the unsuccessful transfer policy of owner Farhad Moshiri. However, one notion that no one doubted was his love for the team he supported as a boy, as well as his affiliation with supporters.
And that came to the fore in late 2020, a period when the Covid-19 pandemic was still having a profound effect on the world of football. Fans had been banned from attending games for a number of months before restrictions were partially eased as the Toffees hosted Chelsea before Christmas.
Some 2,000 season-ticket holders were permitted to attend, a number which then increased by two after a gesture from Kenwright. He donated his two directors' box seats to fans, a pledge he continued for all of Everton's remaining Premier League home games that season.
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Explaining his decision at the time, Kenwright outlined how Goodison Park being empty for much of the year had regularly left him with "a feeling of sadness." Ballots subsequently decided which two people benefited from a prime view for the home games that followed.
Bill Kenwright has died at the age of 78 (PA)“Hopefully this period is coming to an end and we can soon be fully back to enjoying matches played as they should be – with all of us together,” he said. “Now though, and as a small number of fans are to be allowed back, I want to make this gesture.
“While it will be a different experience for the 2,000 on Saturday I know they’ll all be thrilled to be back home. And to the two who get my seats, give them a cheer for me.”
Everton would go on to finish 10th in that Premier League season under Carlo Ancelotti. But the club have flirted with relegation ever since, twice going to the wire before staying up under Frank Lampard and then Sean Dyche respectively.