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It’s a straightforward newsletter from a Merseyside coach hire company delivered to Evertonians travelling on their coaches to Rotterdam.

It’s a nostalgic look back at a halcyon era for Everton Football Club. But, in hindsight, the message it carries is poignant.

“Dear Evertonian,” it reads.

“This week is the most crucial in the history of Everton Football Club. Not only are the eyes of Europe watching your team, they are also watching you.

“For the first time in a long time Everton are the centre of attention. I am sure that they are going to prove that they are the best team in Europe, and therefore it is down to you, you support the greatest team in Europe, to prove that you are the greatest fans in Europe.

“From the moment that you leave Liverpool you are the ambassadors of your club. Cause trouble and the press and TV will report the facts with relish, after all, they will say you are only football supporters. Prove to these people that you are not just football supporters, you are Everton Supporters.

“The Blues will be playing in Europe again next season and their games will be far more pleasant for everyone, club, tour operators, and FANS if we are all made welcome.

“Remember, don’t let us down, don’t let yourselves down, and above all, don’t let Everton Football Club down.”

Evertonians - more than 25,000 of them - famously let nobody down.

They played football with the Dutch police in a Rotterdam square, swapped helmets for beer cans, and celebrated Everton’s first major European final enthusiastically - but respectfully.

Their behaviour may have been ignored by the national media - but locally it was reported - “with relish.”

Under the headline “Fans are winners too in Holland” the Liverpool Daily Post of May 16, 1985 reported: “Dutch police last night praised Everton fans for their good behaviour.

‘It has been a very good match,’ a spokesman said.

‘There was very little trouble. Everyone behaved well.’

“Two Englishmen were arrested during the match for minor offences and five were detained before the game got underway. ‘They are being questioned about minor things, like fireworks and pickpockets,’ the spokesman said.

“The general spirit of the Cup Winners Cup Final was good natured.

“Dutch police played kickabout with avid Evertonians in the streets before the match and there were no scenes of rampage. ‘It has been a good night,’ said the police spokesman.”

“Sports Minister Neil MacFarlane had urged Belgian and Dutch authorities to turn away British fans threatening to cause trouble at European soccer finals last night and in two weeks time.

“In special letters to his foreign counterparts, Mr MacFarlane asked for opposing fans to be segregated and travelling fans to be accompanied by police.

“He acknowledged the good reputations of followers of Everton and Liverpool, the teams involved, but warned of possible hooliganism by a minority. Thousands of Liverpool fans will travel to Brussels in a fortnight for the European Cup final against Juventus.”

Then in a chilling foretaste of events soon to unfold, Mr MacFarlane added: “I very much hope that for the cities concerned these prestigious events will not be marred by violence. Unfortunately the risk is there and has to be considered.

“Hooligans must not be allowed to undermine the ‘outstanding’ achievement of both clubs.”

Sadly, in Belgium, hooligans did much, much more than undermine Liverpool’s achievements.

Thirty-nine Italian football fans lost their lives - and English clubs were immediately banned from Europe for what turned out to be a five year spell.

Football League president Jack Dunnett said: “It is unfair to punish clubs which had nothing to do with the Brussels tragedy”.

But the move was welcomed by other leading figures in English football.

FA Secretary Ted Croker said: “There are many of us who don’t want to see us back in Europe until we have got our own house in order.”

The ban undeniably damaged Everton.

Just two years later the architect of that European triumph, manager Howard Kendall, had decided to manage in Europe.

England internationals Gary Stevens and Trevor Steven moved north to join Rangers, who were still eligible to play in European competition.

And Everton missed out on two European Cup campaigns and two UEFA Cup competitions - at a time when they boasted the best team the club had fielded for decades.

Neville Southall was widely regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the world at that time and is convinced Everton are still suffering from the legacy of that ban even now.

“We would have gone on to dominate Europe for the next five or 10 years – we would have been a massive, massive, massive club now,” he said.

“We wouldn’t be in the situation we are now, we’re still trying to catch up to everybody else. That ruined a lot of things to a certain extent, we couldn’t attract the players, we lost our managers and our players.

“There was a feeling of everything being unjust – but when you look what happened, people losing their lives, there’s not much contest.”

Southall added: “It frustrates me that the government were a bunch of cowards because they could have stuck up for us.

“I’m absolutely sure that British fans weren’t the only troublemakers in Europe – so you have a whole mix of people but for some reason (the authorities said) ‘let’s get them out’.

“And I think sometimes it’s to do with British teams winning everything.”

Everton have still not reached another European final since that memorable night in 1985 – but their fans continued to attract favourable publicity with their behaviour on their return to Europe a decade later in Iceland and Holland.