At an Everton Under 18s game at Finch Farm, a scout was shocked to learn that he would have to pay £1 for a cup of coffee, as reported by the Daily Mail.
On October 16, the newspaper revealed on its website that questions were asked at Everton’s training facilities, where beverages are often given away for free, as is customary in the EFL and Premier League.
The scout told the Daily Mail, “I know times are hard but we weren’t expecting this,” after informing the staff member that he was short on cash and that he was being offered a card reader.
Every bit counts.
Everton, whose persistent financial woes are well-documented amid rumors of a full-scale takeover of the club, look to be trying all in their power to generate money in what is undoubtedly one of the strangest stories to emerge from the Premier League recently.
Even though they probably won’t try to sign Kylian Mbappe in the January transfer window for £1 for a cup of tea or coffee, it does seem like a business decision to charge for a service that a Premier League team would typically provide for free.
Naturally, Everton’s decision to charge for drinks at their training field has no clear justification, so don’t really expect a club statement to provide one, but the scouts’ reactions make for an intriguing tale.
Perhaps Everton is ahead of the game and will be able to soar to the top of the Premier League standings with the extra cash from scouts buying them a cup of tea. They have hope to live.
