1890-1899 – Everton FC Heritage Society

Jack Taylor – Everton’s Son of the Rock

0 Comments1890-1899, 1900-1909, 1910-1919, Articles, Latest, Players, Rob Sawyer

by Rob Sawyer ‘He played anywhere readily and played well anywhere. No Everton player has left Evertonians with a more fragrant memory.’ Thomas Keates (1928) Portrait of Jack during his playing days There must have been something in the water in Dunbartonshire in the second half of the 19th century. Between 1889 and 1897, six footballers with strong connections to the Clydeside town of Dumbarton represented the Toffees. First there was Alex Latta, followed by Richard ‘Dickie’ Boyle, Abe Hartley and the Bell brothers (John and Laurie). But only one, John ‘Jack’ Taylor, would get his hands on silverware whilst…

Queen’s Head Hotel Archaeological Excavations

2 Comments1878-1889, 1890-1899, 2010-2019, Articles, Events, History, Ken Rogers, Latest, Members Work

Hotel Confirmed as Everton F.C.'s first headquarters and the birthplace of big-time football on Merseyside Everton F.C.’s first secretary was the younger 26 years old John William Clarke, and not his landlord father John, who, down the years, had often been incorrectly credited with having had that historic role The Queen's Head Hotel has become part of Everton folklore regarding the events that took place within its walls and the decisions made that laid down the foundation of Everton Football Club. This historic venue is where St Domingo’s Football Club became Everton Football Club in November 1879, and in 2015…

Johnny Holt – Everton’s Little Devil

0 Comments1878-1889, 1890-1899, Articles, Latest, Players, Rob Sawyer

Rob Sawyer "The undisputed king of centre-halves – a living object lesson of the superiority of brain over muscle." (Contemporary newspaper description of Johnny Holt) Time passes, and with it go first-hand memories of footballers who bestowed greatness on Everton. T.G. Jones is widely cited as the club’s finest centre-half, with the next generation of fans also holding Brian Labone in the highest of esteem. But let us not overlook Johnny Holt, the Little Devil – without equal in his era in the art of defending, and a bedrock of the First Kings of Anfield. John Holt entered this world…

The Birth of Sponsorship

0 Comments1890-1899, Articles, Everton Collection, History, Ken Rogers, Members WorkBovril

I was asked what appeared to be a fairly straightforward Everton FC quiz question recently but failed miserably with my answer. To be fair, it was a Richarlison-style curved ball, linked with the first known commercial sponsors of a Goodison Park fixture. I thought I started well by suggesting Hafnia and NEC but I wasn’t even close. Linked with today’s visitors I was told that the answer had a Manchester connection and links to lifeboats, a beefy end-product and an historical light spectacular. In the end I turned to a classic source of information for the answer by viewing the…

The Forgotten Blue of Ruhleben Prison Camp

0 Comments1890-1899, 1910-1919, Articles, History, Members Work, Players, Tony Onslow, WW1

When the Austro-Hungarian Empire declared war on Serbia, her ally Germany immediately closed her borders to prevent all British nationals from leaving the country. The date was 28 June 1914. They were then rounded up and placed in a civilian internment camp at Ruhleben race course on the outskirts of Berlin. Amongst them were several former professional footballers who, prior to the outbreak of war, had been helping to improve the standard of play at several German football clubs. Three of these individuals had once played football with Everton before accepting a coaching position in Germany. There was however, a…

Jack Keys and William Warmby — The Duo from Derby

0 Comments1878-1889, 1890-1899, Articles, History, Members Work, Players, Tony Onslow

Jack Keys and William Warmby — The Duo from Derby In preparation for life in the Football League, Everton Football Club made several new signings during the summer of 1888. Two of them, Keys and Warmby, had joined from Derby County. Despite the fact that the local newspapers made no reference to their background, they were in fact related by marriage and had reached the Mersey seaport by two slightly different routes. William Henry Warmby was born in 1863 in South Yorkshire, where he began his football career with his local team, Rotherham Town. Some time around 1883 he moved…

Edward Turner, the carpenter from Lancaster

0 Comments1890-1899, Articles, History, Members Work, Tony Onslow

Renowned for its mint cake and grey limestone buildings, the former Westmorland county town of Kendal – now part of Cumbria – was the location at which an Everton talent scout discovered a defender by the name of Edward Turner. Born 24 February 1874 in Lancaster, he was the second child of John, a cotton spinner, and his wife Mary. The 1881 census records the family living on Rigg Lane, but by 1891 they had moved to Penfold Lane where Edward had begun to learn the carpentry trade. Around this time his name briefly appeared in the press while playing…

Only Once a Blue; Humphrey Jones

0 Comments1890-1899, Articles, History, Members Work, Players, Tony Onslow

Once a major force in Scottish football, the Vale of Leven club are based in the small Dunbartonshire town of Alexandria. Originally formed in 1872, they were the first team to take away the Scottish FA Cup from the famous Queens Park club of Glasgow, when they won the trophy three times on the run, between 1877 and 1879. In 1890, then founder members of the Scottish League, the Scots made their first visit to Liverpool where a certain Humphrey Jones made his only appearance for Everton. He was born on 17 December 1863, at Summerhill Terrace in the North Wales town of Bangor and was the fifth child born to Humphrey, a successful builder, and his wife Jane. Privately educated, he first attended the local Friars School…

Richard Williams, an Everton goalkeeper

0 Comments1890-1899, Articles, History, Members Work, Tony Onslow

Predating the renowned Port Sunlight model village by some twenty-five years, Bromborough Pool was built to house the workforce by William Wilson, the philanthropic owner who conducted the affairs of Price's Candle factory. It was also the birthplace of former Everton goalkeeper, Richard Williams. Born 17 April 1866, he was the third child of Richard, a general labourer, and his wife, Margaret. After being educated at the village school, the 1881 census showed that young Richard had started employment in the soap factory where he met Sarah Jane Brocklebank who he married in 1889. 1881 Census - Richard Williams, soap packer at Prices Candle Factory He had started his football career playing as a full back for Bromborough Pool but eventually established himself in the position of goalkeeper. The club were members of both the Wirral and…

Jack Earp – The Gentleman Amateur

0 Comments1890-1899, Articles, History, Members Work, Rob Sawyer

Martin John “Jack” Earp’s Everton appearances only just made it into double-figures yet his tale is worth telling. Born into a Nottingham printing family on 6 September 1872; his early footballing experience was with small teams in England’s lace capital. He went on to represent Nottingham Forest as a 'gentleman amateur', signing on in September 1889 and debuting in January 1890 in an East Midlands derby against, naturally, Derby. He was also selected for the famous Corinthians when only 17 years-old. Jack’s elder brother Fred would also represent Forest and later become the club’s secretary manager (1909-1912). In January 1891,…