I'm from the North of ireland, and started supporting everton after watching them beat Southampton in the cup semi-final as an impressionable 8 year old in '84. I dunno if it was the Jersey or heath's wild celebration which flicked a switch somewhere inside, but when we lifted the trophy a few weeks later, my allegiance was cemented. Most of my peers in the neighbourhood were either utd or rs, with a few arsenal, Leeds scattered around. My dad was/is a spurs fan. I was the only Everton fan I knew and recall being treated like a strange animal when asked who I supported. Everton? What??...
I remember the 84-85 season being a strange one for me. I missed both the cup finals we were in cos we were on a local holiday that week and the place we were staying in didn't have a tv. Gutted I missed one of them anyway. As we all know, life as an evertonian since then has been a hard one!
One thing I will say coming from this particular part of the world, Everton are a surprisingly strongly supported team here considering our last trophy win. After utd and rs, and the inevitable rangers/Celtic split, Everton are up there with the spurs, Chelsea, arsenal numbers of fans. Leeds also have a fair representation, but a city jersey, despite their success lately, is still a very rare site here across the water.