ROTTERDAM 1985-MICHAEL KONSEL (RAPID VIENNA) – Steve Zocek

ROTTERDAM 1985-MICHAEL KONSEL (RAPID VIENNA) – Steve Zocek

by Steve Zocek Comment Closed
Everton’s only success in Europe came on 15th May 1985 at the De Kuip stadium in Rotterdam. Everton’s passage to the final could have faltered at the first hurdle with a two-legged affair with the Irish part-timers University College Dublin providing the opposition. Graeme Sharp, Everton’s saviour that night with the winning goal, once said that it was the trickiest tie of all the rounds to the final, stating that Everton could so easily have been knocked out, with the woodwork saving Everton. Had the ball gone in UCD would have had a priceless away goal. With Inter Bratislava, Fortuna Sittard, and the giants Bayern Munich failing to stop Everton in their tracks to Rotterdam from September to May. I have always been fascinated about what the opposition from the Austrian capital Vienna and their green and white army Rapid thought of Everton, and that final in May. Having made several attempts to speak with the stars from Rapid...
Read More

Only Once a Blue (11) Thomas Mayson – Tony Onslow

by Tony Onslow Comment Closed
Due to the disruption that followed World War One, Tommy Mayson slipped unnoticed, by the local press, in to the ranks of Everton Football Club in June 1919. He was born 8th of December 1886, at Whitehaven in Cumberland and was the 2nd child of John, a Plasterer, and his Irish born Wife Sarah. The 1891 census finds the family now living in the Northumberland village of Mickley but by 1901 they had settled in the Byker area of Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Young Tommy began his football career with Walker Parish Church - who were members of the Northern Alliance League - where his skilful inside forward play earned him the moniker of “The Walker Wonder”. This alerted the area Scout of Football League side Burnley who gained his signature during the summer of 1907. He spent 4 seasons with the Division 2 outfit, playing around 67 matches, before signing for a Grimsby Town side who had just been re-elected to the...
Read More

Herbert Rigsby & Alex Wall, the Zingari Blues – Tony Onslow

by Tony Onslow Comment Closed
Herbert Rigsby was born, 22nd of July 1894, in the model village built by philanthropist William Hartley to house the employees who worked in his fruit preservative factory at Fazakerley. His Surrey born Father Allen, worked at this location, as a Foreman, while his Mother Frances, looked the Villa that had been allotted to them. The 1911 census reveal that Herbert is living, with his parents, at this location and is working as Railway Clerk. He was playing amateur football with Zingari League side Marine when he joined the Army, at the Old Haymarket in Liverpool, on the 22nd of November 1915. He was assigned to the Royal Garrison Artillery and was stationed at Gosport. He appeared at Goodison Park in March 1915 while assisting Southport Central and is first reported to be playing for Everton, 4th of April 1916, in North West regional league game against Manchester United at Old Trafford. When the conflict ended, he signed...
Read More

‘King’ Charles: Everton (Trinidad and Tobago) – Richard Gillham

by Richie Gillham Comment Closed
Alfred Charles (Southampton Strip) Alfred Pious Charles was born in Trinidad & Tobago, 11 July 1909. He received his prestigious royal nickname from a 1931 match report when in 1931 the Touring Trinidad & Tobago national team played British Guiana: ‘Playing at centre-half. He shone like a beacon in that position and so amazed the Guianese that they christened him "King Charles". Alfred was very highly regarded in his school days at Newtown Boys’ RC – he was head and shoulders above other boy footballers in Port of Spain. In 1929 he joined the Port of Spain Football League side, Everton FC. In his first season there, Everton captured the FA Cup. The glory days carried on with Everton winning the quadruple three years on the run from 1930 to 1932, the Port of Spain Football League & FA Cup, Sperling Cup & the Wincairns Trophy. The club also won the McKinney Cup against the Rest of the League XI on the...
Read More