Mike Royden

49 Posts
John Smith – Co-founder of Everton Supporters’ Club London Area (ESCLA)

John Smith – Co-founder of Everton Supporters’ Club London Area (ESCLA)

John posing in front of the famous Everton Lock Up during our 2025 event One of our visitors to the 'Everton FC in Everton' event on Saturday 17 May 2025 was John Smith, a man very well-known to fans past and present in the London area. John Collings at the 2009 FA Cup Final (photo: www.escla.org.uk) It was on a train from London to Plymouth on 25 January 1975, while on their way to watch Everton play in the FA Cup, when travelling companions John Smith and John Collings decided to form a club, or association, which would help fellow…
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Dixie Dean Memorial Trophy – with award winner Séamus Coleman

Dixie Dean Memorial Trophy – with award winner Séamus Coleman

Our full report of the event, together with a short video, filmed and edited by Lewis Royden: https://youtu.be/jp0cJDk5PyM Séamus’s Big Night Rob Sawyer It was a night of celebration, cheers and even a few tears shed as Everton FC Heritage Society’s Séamus Coleman tribute evening was held at the People’s Lounge, Goodison Park on 16 February 2024. The Toffees’ talismanic, long-serving skipper was the 32nd recipient of the illustrious Dixie Dean Memorial Award. Compere Ken Rogers (Chairman of Everton FC Heritage Society) At 7:30pm, the familiar strains of the theme from Z-Cars filled the room and compere Ken Rogers introduced…
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An Everton Memorabilia Special with Brendan Connolly

An Everton Memorabilia Special with Brendan Connolly

An Everton FC Heritage Society video special Rob Sawyer joins Brendan Connolly of Everton FC Heritage Society to chat about a selection of items from his stunning memorabilia collection. Featuring treasures from as early as 1882, the items discussed feature cup winners medals, international caps, and the probable first known useage of Everton's famous lock-up crest. Plus, a shirt belonging to the great Jimmy Dunn - Everton's 1933 FA Cup winning goalscorer and teammate of Dixie Dean. Please click to view the full film (- and please subscibe to our YouTube channel); https://youtu.be/IYf37yN_zDI . Brendan Connolly Brendan is well-known to…
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Tribute to John Hurst

Tribute to John Hurst

John Hurst John Hurst, one of the club’s most cultured centre-backs (and the previous Dixie Dean Memorial Award recipient) passed away recently, so it was fitting that his wife and daughters were present at our Dixie Dean Memorial Award evening as special guests. They joined other audience members in watching a moving video presentation, which captured the essence of this fine footballer and lovely man, who epitomised all that is great about Everton. Rob Sawyer then shared tributes from Joe Royle and Colin Harvey to their friend and former teammate, before asking Derek Temple to join him onstage to speak…
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Pat Nevin – ‘Football and How to Survive it’

Pat Nevin – ‘Football and How to Survive it’

Pat Nevin interviewed by Everton FC Heritage Society in St Luke’s Before the Bournemouth home fixture on 7 October 2023, former Everton star winger Pat Nevin made a visit to St Luke’s to meet fans with copies of his latest book ‘Football and How to Survive it.’ Rob Sawyer and Lewis Royden of the EFCHS Media Team met up with Pat before his book signing session, to talk about his career and his new book. Pat Nevin with media team; Lewis Royden (left) and Rob Sawyer (right) Photos by Sarah Deboe (EFCHS / MintCollective) and Rob Sawyer Click for Amazon linkClick for Amazon link
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Pat Nevin interviewed by EFC Heritage Society in St Luke’s

Pat Nevin interviewed by EFC Heritage Society in St Luke’s

Before the Bournemouth home fixture on 7 October 2023, former Everton star winger Pat Nevin made a visit to St Luke’s to meet fans with copies of his latest book ‘Football and How to Survive it.’ Rob Sawyer and Lewis Royden of the EFCHS Media Team met up with Pat before his book signing session, to talk about his career and his new book. https://youtu.be/vYZqg9kiuTU?si=bPWGsBXRg-ehBaLg Pat Nevin with Lewis Royden (left) and Rob Sawyer (right) Photos by Sarah Deboe (EFCHS / MintCollective) and Rob Sawyer Click for Amazon linkClick for Amazon link
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Remembrance at Goodison Park 2023

Remembrance at Goodison Park 2023

Armistice Day Service, The Fallen of Everton FC Memorial, Goodison Park [This year, due to the away fixture at Crystal Palace on 11 November, the Armistice Day service was pulled forward to 9 November 2023]. Many thanks are due again to Paul Kelly (right) of Everton FC Heritage Society (supported as ever by his wife Jean), in organising the service, despite a period of very poor health – this is an event they have now organised with dedication for a decade. . Click to open PDF leaflet The service was conducted by the Reverend Henry Corbett, Chaplain to Everton Football…
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Everton FC Heritage Society on Radio Merseyside

Everton FC Heritage Society on Radio Merseyside

On 14 September 2023, EFCHS members Rob Sawyer and Lewis Royden were interviewed by Paul 'Salty' Salt on BBC Radio Merseyside about the Society's activities, and our new venture into making films on the history of Everton Football Club (beginning with our recent documentaries on Thomas Keates and Everton Village). The full interview is available here: ⁩ (left to right): Rob Sawyer, Lewis Royden, Paul Salt (left to right): Paul Salt, Lewis Royden, Rob Sawyer (left to right): Paul Salt, Lewis Royden, Mike Royden ⁩ .
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Thomas Keates – Director and First Historian of Everton Football Club – An EFCHS original film

Thomas Keates – Director and First Historian of Everton Football Club – An EFCHS original film

Everton FC Heritage Society have made a new film about the life of Thomas Keates, an early director of Everton FC, and author of the first history of the club, published in 1929. Written and presented by EFCHS member Jamie Yates, he was inspired to delve further into Keates' past after discovering his damaged headstone in Anfield Cemetery while working on another project. We hope this will be the first of many more heritage films about Everton Football Club, as several more are already in the planning stage. Films are easily accessible via our YouTube Channel link on the main…
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