Henry F Briggs, An Everton Goalkeeper – Tony Onslow

by Tony Onslow Comment Closed
Signed as cover for the controversial “Happy Jack” Hillman, Frank Briggs joined Everton, from Darwen, in January 1906 having first played football in the Nottinghamshire Coalfield. He had been born at number 84 dwelling – on the Alfreton Turnpike at Eastwood - in 1872 and was the 3rd of child of John, a Domestic Servant, and his Wife, Lucy. Henry Briggs is missing from the1891 census but contemporary newspaper reports place him keeping goal for a Midland League side who were the forerunners of the Mansfield Town of today. His skills quickly caught the attention of struggling Football League Division One outfit Darwen who gained his signature in February 1894. The Cricket and Football Club ran side by side in the Peaceful Valley and the community offered Briggs, a cricketer of proved ability, terms that would also guarantee him a wage throughout the months of Summer. He immediately took his place under the crossbar but could not prevent the Darreners from being relegated at the end of the season. During the summer he returned home...
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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...
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Clarence Berry, the Rugby Playing Goalkeeper of Everton – Tony Onslow

Clarence Berry, the Rugby Playing Goalkeeper of Everton – Tony Onslow

by Tony OnslowNo Comments
Clarence Herbert Berry,  Reported to be around 6-foot-tall, was the first man to sign for Everton having previously played Rugby League football at senior level. He had been born, 4th of October 1886, and was the 4th child of Frank and Alice who then ran a Grocery Business on Buick Street in Warrington. Berry had begun to serve an apprenticeship as a Pattern Maker when he began his football career, playing under association rules, for a local amateur team with the name of Warrington Albion. He then switched codes and signed for Warrington Rugby League club on their home at Wilderspool. Clarence Berry made his debut on the 25 of February 1905 in a home game against Swinton where his second half penalty kick won the game for his side. He made another 6 appearances but was not selected to face Hull Kingston Rovers in Rugby League Cup final at Leeds. Warrington lifted the trophy, for the first time,...
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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...
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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...
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