Joe Thomas

Since taking on the role of Everton FC correspondent, Joe has tried his best to ensure that the Liverpool ECHO offers a platform for the views of the people most important to any football club - the supporters. 

While he will openly admit he has not got everything right, he has sought to both challenge and support one of the country's most storied clubs during a time of struggle and uncertainty on the pitch. More than anything, he is aware he is extremely privileged to have the chance to cover such an historic club with a passionate, determined fanbase that has gone above and beyond to help Everton survive two consecutive relegation battles. His day job may be about covering matches and press conferences but he maintains football is about far more than what happens on the pitch and much of his coverage over the past year has focused on the wider struggles of Everton, the views of supporters and the potential implications should an institution so important to the cultural fabric of Merseyside fail to address its challenges. 

His belief that football is about so much more than the game itself underpins his wider work. In previous roles, Joe has covered the fight for truth and justice over the Hillsborough tragedy and this is a cause that remains close to his heart. The impact of the disaster still resonates to this day and his work with the family of Paul Marshall is an attempt to show how the failures on April 15, 1989, and since then, continue to have tragic consequences. The terrible scenes at the Champions League final in Paris that involved Liverpool FC were traumatic to many who had survived Hillsborough including, sadly, Paul. Paul's story is an important one that makes clear the need for the authorities to take their responsibilities seriously and for accountability to follow when that does not happen. 

Through covering Everton, Joe has also sought to tell the stories of people associated with the club who offer inspiration to others. Those include former players Billy Kenny and Michael Branch, who have both turned their lives around and offer hope and wise words to anyone experiencing difficulty. Both are powerful examples of the ability to overcome setbacks and build lives they and their families can be proud of.