Everton considering Z-Cars siren move amid Russian invasion of Ukraine
Everton are considering a change for the match day routine by getting rid of the Z-Cars siren amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine, reports Ryan Taylor.
The air-raid style siren was added in recent years to the BBC police show’s theme, which has preceded games since it originally aired in the 1960s, but with real sirens playing in Europe, fans have asked the club to reconsider out of respect for Ukraine and two Premier League players.
January signing Vitalii Mykolenko and Manchester City full-back Oleksandr Zinchenko both come from the European nation that saw Russian forces launch an offensive on yesterday (Thursday 24 February).
Writing on his personal Twitter account the Express reporter said: “As requested by supporters, Everton considering scrapping Z-Cars siren for PL clash with Man City at Goodison in show of respect to Ukraine, Vitalii Mykolenko & Oleksandr Zinchenko. Toffees offering their left-back additional support.”
Understandable
Considering current events it makes perfect sense to alter the usual procedure here.
When football is the main concern on fans’ and players’ minds the club tradition is something to bring people together.
But at a time when serious developments overshadow the result of the game for many it would be distasteful to be playing out a sound for fun at Goodison that could be bringing fear to those in Ukraine.
According to the Liverpool Echo it was three years ago that the klaxon was incorporated due to the popularity of the same arrangement for famous Toffees fan Tony Bellew’s ring-walks.
One of the main links explaining the club walking out to the 20th-century television show theme was as a tribute to Leonard Williams, who played Sergeant Percy Twentyman and had been a guest at the club just days before he died in 1962.
Currently though there is more pressing respect to be paid, such as to 22-year-old Mykolenko who was already dealing with plenty of upheaval related to his move to Merseyside before developments at home.
In other Everton news, the club have already confirmed they are ready to provide whatever support the player needs.