Members Work

Articles and writing from Heritage Society members and contributors

T.G. Jones and Bangor’s Enduring Spirit of ’62

T.G. Jones and Bangor’s Enduring Spirit of ’62

Rob Sawyer A youthful T.G. Jones Thomas George Jones – T.G. for short, and Tommy to his friends and admirers - is acclaimed as the classiest centre-half to have set foot on Goodison’s turf. Imperious in the air, cool as a cucumber with the ball at his feet in his own penalty box and capable of delivering a rocket shot, no less than the great Dixie Dean declared Jones to be the greatest all-round player he had ever seen. Seasoned observers dubbed him the Prince of Centre-Halves. Part of the hallowed Toffees title-winning team of 1938/39, he was robbed of…
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Sam Chedgzoy – A Star on Both Sides of The Atlantic

Sam Chedgzoy – A Star on Both Sides of The Atlantic

Chedgzoy is a brilliant raider, a clean player and a companiable man. Athletic News - 1921 Rob Sawyer In 1924, Samuel Chedgzoy wrote himself into the annals of football history for his role in forcing a hasty change to the rules of the sport. This stunt (more of which later) was but a small part of the remarkable, and sometimes intriguing, life of one of Everton and England’s finest outside rights – and, alongside Joe Mercer and Stan Cullis, one of Ellesmere Port’s greatest sons. The surname has a slightly exotic feel – Eastern European maybe? The truth is more…
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Lance Johnston – A Knight of the Round Table at Inside-Left?

Lance Johnston – A Knight of the Round Table at Inside-Left?

Jamie Yates Scouring old newspaper reports, statutory records, census returns and history books, while working through and cross-checking the relevant dates and stories of the men who played for Everton in years gone by, turns up all sorts of interesting events, tangents and curiosities. The full names of a number of those who turned out in the early colours and patterns of Everton jersey on the various strips of grass that the club called home, and several who ran out in blue in the first half century or so at Goodison Park, really stand out; Benjamin Howard-Baker Samuel Bolton Ashworth…
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Jack Coulter: From Whiteabbey to Goodison Park

Jack Coulter: From Whiteabbey to Goodison Park

Super fan lifts lid on the story that puts Everton's 'greatest winger' back in the spotlight Everton super fan David France reviews a new book that tells the story of Jackie Coulter - who he regards as the Blues greatest-ever winger Just who is the greatest winger in Everton history? That’s an awfully big question to ask. The likes of Andrei Kanchelskis plus Steven Pienaar and Mikel Arteta – although probably more wide midfielders in their style – have starred in the Premier League era while Kevin Sheedy and Trevor Steven were legendary figures of Howard Kendall’s great side of…
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World Cup 1966: A ToffeeWeb Podcast

World Cup 1966: A ToffeeWeb Podcast

Four Members of EFCHS in conversation about the World Cup of 1966 at Goodison (Lyndon Lloyd (hosting) / Rob Sawyer / Paul McParlan / Mike Royden As the leading club ground in the country at the time, Goodison Park was selected to stage five matches at the 1966 World Cup and was originally intended to be the stage for England's semi-final against Portugal. If you’ve ever wondered what it must have been like to attend those games at the Grand Old Lady and witness greats like Pele, Eusebio, Garrincha and an unexpected star of the tournament in the form of…
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Everton FC Heritage Society at the Hilton with Health Through Sport

Everton FC Heritage Society at the Hilton with Health Through Sport

Ronny Goodlass The Alan Ball Ball of Fire Award On Friday 25 November 2022, at the Hilton Hotel in Liverpool City Centre, the Everton FC Heritage Society were awarded the Ball of Fire Award by Ronny Goodlass and Health Through Sport. During his illustrious career, Ronnie played for Everton FC, NAC Breda (Holland), ADO Den Haag (Holland), South China (Hong Kong), Tranmere Rovers FC, and Barrow FC. He was also an Everton Youth Coach when Joe Royle was manager. He now heads up Health Through Sport, a registered charity, which was founded in August 2005.        According to the charity, the aim…
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Neil Robinson (1957-2022)

Neil Robinson (1957-2022)

A Tribute The sudden, unexpected, passing of Neil Robinson, at the age of sixty-five, has come as a shock to Everton FC Heritage Society members and the fanbases of his former clubs. Neil had the Bluest of credentials. Born into a family of Evertonians, he spent his early years round the corner from Goodison Park on Spellow Lane. His father, Jim, had been head barman at the Winslow Hotel on Goodison Road in the late 1940s and early 1950s. Sadly Jim was paralysed in an industrial accident when Neil was a child. The Robinson family in 1957, Neil the infant…
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Sir Dobbo – Goodison Aristocrat

Sir Dobbo – Goodison Aristocrat

Rob Sawyer in Conversation with Martin Dobson (speaking in October 2013) The 1970’s  success at Anfield cast a long, dark, shadow across Stanley Park to Goodison. Blue beacons of light were few and far between but, perhaps, Martin Dobson shone brightest. Christened “Sir Dobbo” by Andy King, in humorous deference to the class he exuded on and off the pitch, this thoroughbred midfielder’s arrival from Burnley in August 1974 signalled the departure of the last member of the Holy Trinity. Cultured and powerful with an eye for goal – there is no greater compliment than to state that he would…
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In Search of Priory Road 1883-84

In Search of Priory Road 1883-84

In Search of Priory Road Commencing to write this article on the day that government approval was granted for the Bramley-Moore Stadium, social media was awash with good wishes to all those concerned in successfully seeing the project through. There were the inevitable online exchanges, with a great many from the envious dark side, who could see they were now visibly condemned to spend yet another generation in their Big Stand with little chance of expansion, a move, or even a laughable ground-share. Meanwhile, many commented online that this would be Everton’s third stadium build in the city.  (pic: Liverpool…
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Dr John Rowlands  (1939-2022)

Dr John Rowlands (1939-2022)

Everton FC Heritage Society members were saddened to learn of the passing of Dr. John Rowlands at his home in Formby on 19 November at the age of eighty-three. John hailed from the north east of England, supporting Middlesbrough FC since 1946. He arrived on Merseyside, via a spell in London, in the 1970s, and worked in general practice in Maghull until retirement in 2002. He first saw Everton play at Goodison Park in 1971 and developed a great fondness of the club. A sports and local history enthusiast, he penned a number of books, including a biography of his…
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