The Stanley Park Three – Tony Onslow
The names of Marriott, Morris, and Pickering might not instantly come to mind - when mentioning former members of Everton Football Club – but they played a major defensive role during their formative years on Stanley Park. The first of this trio to appear there was Thomas Marriott.
He was born on the 4th of February 1861 and was the 3rd son of Maryand her Husband John who worked as a Cotton Porter. The family were, at that time, living at 2 Duke Street but by 1881 they are living in better surroundings at Gray Rock Street where Thomas is working as a Clerk.He first played at full back alongside Tom Evans, from whose experience all 3 were to benefit, during the season of 1880-81 after which he was partnered by a man from the North East of England.
Richard William Morris - born 1862 – was the son of John, a Sergeant Major with the South Durham Militia, and his Wife Harriet. They were then living at Scar Cottage, Bernard Castle in County Durham. Richard is residing at this address, and working as a Gardener, when the censes was taken, 3rd of April 1881 but on the 13th of the same month is recorded as attending the Everton AGM at the Queens Head Tavern in Liverpool.
Marriott and Morris first appear to gather, against Chester, in the opening game of the season on Stanley Park. The Everton side, which changed week by week, are eliminated from the Lancashire FA knockoutat Turton, but it is the...