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Everton chairman Bill Kenwright has sent a personalised thank you message to every fan who bought a ticket for an away match last season.

And those supporters, branded “the Travelling Toffees”, have all been invited to a special Everton event this summer as a mark of appreciation.

The Blues famously sold out Goodison Park for every home match throughout 2016/17.

But their away support has been just as impressive - with the Blues chairman pointing out the 3,000 who travelled to MK Dons for a pre-season friendly and the hundreds who went to Aldershot to get behind the Under-23s’ PL2 title challenge.

Addressed personally to every fan who bought an away ticket, the chairman wrote:

“After watching most of our section at the Emirates stay on and applaud our team on Sunday at the end of the game, I felt I must write to those special fans, the Travelling Toffees who have followed the Boys in Blue on the road this season with such dedication - despite our away form not bringing us the results we hoped for.

“My message is a simple one. I just want to say ‘thanks to you all’. I know that at Everton we are blessed with the best supporters in the land, but I wanted to let you know, once again, just how much your support is appreciated. I can tell you that Ronald, in his first season with us, has been completely blown away by it. From Sunderland (on a Monday night!) to Southampton (on a Sunday afternoon!) you have been incredible. As I’ve said many times, it humbles me. Farhad fells exactly the same. And, believe me, every single player who has pulled on that famous Royal Blue jersey this season understands and appreciates the efforts you go to for our Club.

(Image: Tony McArdle/Everton FC via Getty Images)

“Aside from the 19 league games, seeing more than 3,000 fans make the trip to MK Dons for a friendly on a Tuesday night - as well as hundreds of you travelling to Aldershot to get behind Unsie and his side’s PL2 title challenge - says everything about Evertonians. Committed. Passionate. magnificent. Thank you for everything you do for us.

“As a small gesture of appreciation, we’re planning to hold a special Everton event this summer for fans who’ve been to our away games, so we can look forward together to what we hope will be a successful domestic and European campaign next season.

“I know you’ll be right behind us again, from Brighton to Newcastle and to who knows where on the continent!!! And that knowledge makes me and everyone connected with the Club really proud. it is something we will never take for granted, I promise you.

“Europe here we come!!

Bill K.”

The Blues chairman has long appreciated the supporters who travel to away games.

In 2004 he offered to pay for coach travel to London for a midweek FA Cup replay at Fulham out of his own pocket.

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And last season Everton confirmed that new commercial partner SportPesa had subsidised fans’ travel to Swansea after the clash was moved to a 5.30pm kick-off on a Saturday night.