1990-1999 – Everton FC Heritage Society

29

Mar

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1990-1999, 2020-2029, Everton FC Ladies, Latest, Rob Sawyer

Emma Wright-Cates – Blueblood

by Rob Sawyer Emma with Everton Ladies in 1996 Amongst the former Everton Ladies players attending the March 2023 reunion to mark 25 years since the Toffees' only national women's league title so far, was Emma Wright-Cates. She jetted in from Texas to link up with her former teammates and receive an ovation from supporters when introduced on the Goodison turf before the kick-off of the women's derby. Her maiden name, Wright, gives a strong clue to her Everton credentials. Back in 2020, for the Toffee Soccer book, she told me about her life in football and her debt of…

A Night of Acclaim for Everton’s Pioneering Women

29

Mar

By Rob Sawyer

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1990-1999, 2020-2029, Articles, Everton FC Ladies, Latest, Rob Sawyer

A Night of Acclaim for Everton’s Pioneering Women

by Rob Sawyer The Lap of Honour back in 1998 (photo: c/o Louise Ryde) Shortly before kick-off of the women's Merseyside derby on 24 March, a group of people stood in the centre circle of Goodison Park and received the acclaim of the 22,000-plus attendees. This was the culmination of intensive planning by Everton FC Heritage Society and Everton FC, to pay fitting tribute to the achievement of the Everton's women's team of 1997/98 in winning the National League title for the only time, so far, in the club’s history. The 1997/98 season was only the third in which the…

Celebrating Everton Women’s Class of ‘98

19

Mar

By Rob Sawyer

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1990-1999, Articles, Everton FC Ladies, Latest, Rob Sawyer

Celebrating Everton Women’s Class of ‘98

by Rob Sawyer Twenty-five years ago, a remarkable group of women representing Everton Football Club lifted the Women's Premier League trophy for the first and only time. Louise Ryde, ex-Doncaster Belles The history of the side goes back forty years, to when Billy Jackson and June Gordon merged their teams to form Hoylake WFC, morphing into Leasowe and, later, Leasowe Pacific. Under the latter name, the club upset the odds to win the Women's FA Cup in 1989, in a match staged at Old Trafford. Six years later, thanks to lobbying by club officials of new Everton chairman Peter Johnson,…

Son of my Father (Part 15): Paul and Jordan Rideout

21

Oct

By Steve Zocek

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1990-1999, 2010-2019, Articles, Players, Steve Zocek

Son of my Father (Part 15): Paul and Jordan Rideout

The next item in this series takes us to the USA to the Rideout residence. Paul Rideout, of course, will be remembered for his headed goal at Wembley in 1995 which brought the FA Cup to Merseyside. Sadly, no silverware has followed since that May afternoon, so his goal remains strong in the memory of Evertonians. Paul, it will be remembered, hit the ground running in the early days of his career when he started at Swindon Town and made his début at the tender age of sixteen, becoming the youngest player to feature for the Robins. Paul penned a…

Son of My Father (Part 16): Robert and Konrad Warzycha

12

Jan

By Steve Zocek

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1990-1999, Articles, Latest, Players, Steve Zocek

Son of My Father (Part 16): Robert and Konrad Warzycha

Robert Warzycha Robert Warzycha was born in Siemkowice, Poland, and kick-started his football career in the mining village of Gornik (which stands for miners). He played first for Gornik Wałbrzych, after signing from Warta Sieradz, along with Zbigniew Malachowski from Welna Rogozno, who made their debuts in the spring of 1986. He appeared thirty-one times, scoring five goals from the right-hand side of midfield. He then went on to sign for Gornik Zabrze where his career flourished, making ninety-one appearances, scoring ten goals in a four-year period. Robert’s performances were catching the eye of clubs in England, where he felt…

25

Oct

By Steve Zocek

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1990-1999, Articles, Steve Zocek

A Day in the Life – Mervyn Day

Mervyn Day was a very reliable goalkeeper in the 1970’s, starting his professional career with West Ham United. He became the youngest goalkeeper to play in an FA Cup Final at the age of nineteen, when The Hammers faced Fulham at Wembley, collecting a winners’ medal after an Alan Taylor ‘double’ sealed victory. After six years at Upton Park, he joined close neighbours Leyton Orient for £100,000. He then furthered his career with Aston Villa and Leeds United, making over 200 appearances for the Elland Road club. Following loan spells at Luton Town and Sheffield United, he applied his experience…

Scott and Archie Gemmill – Son of My Father (Part 11)

07

May

By Steve Zocek

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1990-1999, 2000-2009, Players, Steve Zocek

Scott and Archie Gemmill – Son of My Father (Part 11)

Scott Gemmill’s career unfolded at The City Ground, Nottingham where Brian Clough had the pleasure of managing Scott’s father Archie, at a very successful period in the club’s history. Scott, made his debut for Forest in March 1991 and remained there until he was signed by Walter Smith for Everton on transfer deadline day in March 1999. Heavy road traffic almost hijacked the transfer with time ticking down, but Scott was able to sign on the dotted line with minutes remaining. Scott was thrown in at the deep end on his debut as Everton played at Anfield in the local…

Alan McInally: “The best striker ever to play for Everton”

12

Aug

By Steve Zocek

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1990-1999, Articles

Alan McInally: “The best striker ever to play for Everton”

Alan McInally, in his day, was a big name north of the border with Celtic. To his beloved fans at Parkhead, on the terracing known as ‘the Jungle”, Alan was known as Rambo and Big Mac. Alan relished the challenge of playing in England where he was signed by manager Graham Taylor for Midlands club Aston Villa, then in the old Second Division, with desires to help Graham Taylor’s men gain promotion to the top flight. German giants Bayern Munich became his next club, where he spent four years, helping Bayern win the Bundesliga in his first season. Whilst with…

16

Mar

By Steve Zocek

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1990-1999, Articles, Interview, Members Work, Steve Zocek, UncategorizedAndy Todd, Colin Todd, Derby County, Everton FC, Middlesborough

‘Hot Toddy’: Son of my Father (Part 8)

Colin and Andy Todd An Interview with Steve Zocek Signing on for Everton, Colin pictured with manager Gordon Lee Colin Todd made his Everton bow at the age of thirty. It’s only fair to say that his best days were behind him when he arrived at Goodison. Colin’s stay on Merseyside was a brief thirty-two games, scoring one goal in a 3-1 away victory, against what would be his next club, Birmingham City. Playing 661 career games in the Football League, and winning twenty seven England caps, tells its own story of Colin. Andy Todd was the son of Colin,…

16

Aug

By Rob Sawyer

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1980-1989, 1990-1999, 2010-2019, History, Interview, Members Work, Players, Rob Sawyer

Tony Cottee – My Everton Years

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…