Those of us who have attended Goodison Park on a matchday have always been familiar with the figure of a lady dressed in a blue and white dress, an apron, quaint bonnet and carrying a basket of Everton mints. She tosses handfuls of the black and white humbugs into the sections of the stadium, as she walks the perimeter of the pitch, with eagerly awaiting fans clutching whatever they can catch. The fans take for granted this ritual, which goes back to a date we can’t be precise on, but the duty was certainly performed in the 1950’s and possibly…
A version of this article was previously published in When Skies Are Grey, the digital Everton Fanzine. George Rooney was a boyhood Blue, growing up off Mere Lane and, later on, in Knowsley. The full-back represented Liverpool Schoolboys and joined Everton as an apprentice in 1962. Coming through the ranks with him at Goodison had been the likes of Gerry Glover, John Hurst, Tommy Wright, Jimmy Husband and Aiden Maher.Released by Everton after two years George joined Coventry City under Jimmy Hill but promptly suffered a broken leg. Laid up back home on Merseyside, George was lent Jimmy Husband’s extensive Buddy…
Rob Sawyer in conversation with Tony Cottee The 1987-88 season had seen Everton, the reigning League Champions, give up their crown to their Mersey neighbours. Liverpool had countered the departure of Ian Rush by investing heavily in the acquisition of John Barnes, John Aldridge, Peter Beardsley and Ray Houghton. Conversely, Everton’s new manager, Colin Harvey, had kept faith in the tried and tested squad assembled by his predecessor, Howard Kendall. Come the following summer, Harvey, belatedly, decided that it was time to freshen up the squad. Neil McDonald replaced the Rangers-bound Gary Stevens, Pat Nevin came from Chelsea for a…
‘It is a great read and a great present for the Blue in your life’ --- When Skies are Grey ‘It’s a rich read that beautifully sums up all that was good – and bad – about football, and life on Merseyside in the 1980s’ --- The New Zealand Herald ‘This book is very, very, very good’ --- Rob Smyth, The Guardian For Everton FC, the 1980s were the most successful decade in the club’s history. It was a time when Wembley became a second home for Howard Kendall’s band of brothers as they stepped out from Liverpool’s long…
Everton started off the new campaign licking their wounds after conceding the league and FA Cup double to their rivals Liverpool the previous season. In came new signings Dave Watson who became Everton's record signing for £1m, also Paul Power, Kevin Langley and Neil Adams. Out went Gary Lineker as he left to join his new manager Terry Venables at Barcelona. Everton started their campaign where they had become accustomed by playing at their 'second home' Wembley, in the charity shield against Liverpool. Like so many times before, the name of Ian Rush cursed Everton as he cancelled out Adrian…
Paul Power Guest Appearance Paul appeared on Sunday 15 January 2017, upstairs at St Lukes Church with author of Here We Go, Simon Hart ( a member of EFCHS) Paul Power finished his career on a high after signing for Everton in June 1986 for a fee of £65,000. He played in a total of fifty-two games in the 1986-87 season, providing valuable experience for a Toffees side who were without key players, including Peter Reid and Paul Bracewell for long periods due to injury, but still managed to win the league title and give Power a major trophy at…
KEVIN SHEEDY is an Everton and Republic of Ireland legend with plenty of entertaining stories to tell. The man with one of the best left foots in football played alongside some of the biggest characters in the game during a colourful career. Sheedy started his football life with Hereford United before being spotted by Bob Paisley s Liverpool. But he featured in only five senior games during his Anfield career and crossed Stanley Park to Everton, where he won two League titles and a European Cup Winners Cup medal as well as playing in three FA Cup Finals. Sheedy was…