Category: Members Work

Following in the footsteps of Edgar Chadwick, Alf Schofield first saw the light of day through the mill chimneys of Blackburn in Lancashire.  He was born 16th of July 1876 at 39 Alexandra Street the 4th child of David, a Machine Maker, and his Wife Betsy. However, following the early death of her Husband, Betsy moved Alfred and his siblings to the comfortable surroundings at 48, Brighton Road in Birkdale where, on the 1881 census, she is reported to be “living by own means”. Alfred Schofield joined Everton, as an amateur, in December 1895 and was first scene by the Goodison spectators on Boxing Day when he replaced Alf Millward for the visit of the Scottish side, Celtic where he scored the deciding goal in 3-2 victory. He made his Football League debut, 7th of March, in 3-2 home win over Preston North End and scored - during the final game of the season – as Everton won 2-1 at Stoke. Schofield next signed a professional form and was paid a wage of £2...

Like many of the young teenagers of Victorian Liverpool, William Gibson Walter Richards and Thomas Whittle would have been drawn towards the new game, association football, the was beginning to sweep the land and would have spent their early teens watching such teams as Everton on Stanley Park. They also would have observed that this particular club had, by 1882, caused the largest number spectators to frame their unguarded playing area. Next year, when they moved to an enclosure, William Gibson appeared in their line-up. Born 1862, he is recorded on the 1871 census living, in Everton, at 34 Hodder Street with his Liverpool born parents William, a Boilermaker, and Anne. The family later moved to 53 Melbourne Street and William was working as a Commercial Clerk when he made his debut for Everton, December 1883, in the local knockout against Liverpool Ramblers. He scored one of the goals in a 4-1 win. Gibson then helped Everton to reach the final of this contest and was in...

An Everton Full Back William Wildman was invited to join Everton, in 1903, having been spotted playing at full back with local amateur team, Queens Road Mission. No fee was involved but the Goodison Park club made a donation - to the mission, of £6,7s & 6d. Their new recruit had been born, 5th of March 1880, and was the 7th child of Allison, a Shipwright, and his Wife Elizabeth. The family then lived in Exley Street but, at the time of 1901census, they are living in Richmond Grove where William has found employment as a Commercial Clerk. Kept out of the senior side by the consistent play of Jack Crelley and the Balmer Brothers, he eventually made his Football League debut, 28th of January 1905 in a 1-0 win over Middlesbrough at Goodison Park. Wildman was called up on one more time, a 2-1 home defeat by Bury before, after being placed on the transfer list in...