Rob Sawyer – Everton FC Heritage Society

Torry Gillick – Revered at Goodison Park and Ibrox

15

Apr

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1930-1939, Latest, Players, Rob Sawyer

Torry Gillick – Revered at Goodison Park and Ibrox

Rob Sawyer Scotland's recent match at Hill Dickinson stadium - the first time the Scottish national team had played at an Everton venue - set my mind thinking to which Scottish Toffees would have graced Goodison Park or the Blues’ new stadium had their national team ever played there. Foremost in my thoughts are John Bell, the charismatic forward of the 1890s, Sandy Young, our 1906 FA Cup Final goalscorer, Alex Young, our Golden Vision, ace number nine Graeme Sharp, and Torry Gillick, a hero of Everton’s 1938/39 title-winning team. The latter is the focus of this article as I…

15

Apr

By Rob Sawyer

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1970-1979, Latest, Obituary, Players, Rest in Peace, Rob Sawyer

Henry Newton (1944-2026) – an Obituary

Rob Sawyer Harry Catterick smashed Everton’s transfer fee record in October 1970 to secure the services of Nottingham Forest midfielder Henry Newton, whose death at the age of 82 was announced on 14 April 2026. Sadly, things didn’t work out as hoped, for the club and player in the early 1970s, for a variety of reasons. Happily for Henry, he enjoyed a satisfying and silverware-laden period post-Everton, in his native East Midlands with Derby County. Born 18 February 1944, Henry joined his local club Nottingham Forest at fifteen, having gained England Schoolboy honours. Four months shy of his 20th birthday,…

Lifting the Lid on Reporting on the Blues for over Five Decades

04

Apr

By Rob Sawyer

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David Prentice, Events, Film and Media, Ken Rogers, Latest, Lewis Royden

Lifting the Lid on Reporting on the Blues for over Five Decades

---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ken Rogers (Chairman EFCHS, former Liverpool Echo Sports Editor`) David Prentice (Former Liverpool Echo Sports Editor, Head of Communications, Everton FC) Ken Rogers and David Prentice - Lifting the Lid on Reporting on the Blues for over Five Decades Rob Sawyer The fourth in the spring 2026 series of Everton FC Heritage Society social/talk evenings played to a packed house at the Denbigh Castle function room. Aside from many regular attendees, We were delighted to welcome Everton CEO Angus Kinnear, plus Lord Grantchester (grandson of Sir John Moores and a former Toffees board member), who was also in the company of Andrew Lancel…

Alec Troup – Small in Stature, Mighty in Impact

27

Mar

By Rob Sawyer

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1920-1929, 1930-1939, Articles, Latest, Players, Rob Sawyer

Alec Troup – Small in Stature, Mighty in Impact

Rob Sawyer Dixie Dean’s goalscoring exploits gained legendary status, long before he hung up his boots in 1939. His instincts and ability to plunder goals were unsurpassed, but he was always quick to recognise the contribution to his remarkable goal haul of his Everton wingmen. Without their ‘assists’, to coin the modern parlance, his figures would still have been impressive, but somewhat less so. Bobby Irvine, Sam Chedgzoy, Ted Critchley, Jimmy Stein, Albert Geldard, Jack Coulter and Torry Gillick were all top class outside rights and lefts, but it is fair to say that Dean’s highest praise was reserved for…

Blues Celebrate a Night That Made History

26

Mar

By Rob Sawyer

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1980-1989, Articles, Events, Latest, Players, Rob Sawyer

Blues Celebrate a Night That Made History

Rob Sawyer Forty-one years ago, on 24 April 1985, Goodison Park was rocked to its foundations on one of the greatest nights the beloved stadium has played host to. Cheered on by 49,476 vociferous fans, who, according to Howard Kendall, had the ability to suck the ball into the Gwladys Street net, Everton came from a goal down to defeat Bayern Munich, 3-1, and proceed to the final of the European Cup Winners’ Cup. On 25 March of this year, Everton players, backroom staff, supporters and people from the media gathered at Hill Dickinson Stadium for a nostalgic evening to…

From Birkenhead to El Ballet Azul: The Billy Higgins Story

15

Mar

By Rob Sawyer

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1940-1949, 1950-1959, Articles, Latest, Players, Rob Sawyer

From Birkenhead to El Ballet Azul: The Billy Higgins Story

Rob Sawyer Billy Higgins with Everton in 1946 When Everton played the Millonarios club of Bogotá in Florida in the summer of 2021, it provided an intriguing link to the past. In 1950, the Columbian club was at the epicentre of a storm over footballers being lured from British clubs to a so-called ‘renegade league’. In the immediate post-war era, footballers employed by English Football League clubs were on a maximum wage of £12 per week plus moderate bonuses and long service rewarded with periodic ‘benefit cheques’. Although well-paid, compared to the typical blue-collar worker, these sporting stars were far…

12

Feb

By Rob Sawyer

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1960-1969, Articles, Latest, Players, Rob Sawyer

The Life of Barrie Rees

Rob Sawyer Rhyl-born Barrie Rees followed in the footsteps of South Walian striker Keith Webber by swapping life at Goodison Park for the Goldstone Ground in the 1960s. Barrie (often written as Barry) was born on 4 February 1944 and lived on Mayfield Grove, attending Christchurch Junior School and Glyndwr Secondary School. In 1959, as a fifteen-year-old, he attained Welsh Schoolboy football honours as a forward in a Wales v Ireland match played in Bangor. Rhyl FC of the Cheshire League, had him on amateur forms, but on the recommendation of Freddie Bennett, the Toffees’ man in North Wales, he was…

‘The Accidental Footballer – An Entertaining Evening with Pat Nevin’

06

Feb

By Rob Sawyer

3 Comments

1980-1989, 1990-1999, Events, Film and Media, Latest, Mike Royden, Players, Rob Sawyer

‘The Accidental Footballer – An Entertaining Evening with Pat Nevin’

Rob Sawyer . Pat Nevin with presenter Rob Sawyer Rivalling Bruce Springsteen for endurance on stage, Pat Nevin delivered two-and-a-half hours of scintillating insights and reminiscences at second of the Everton FC Heritage Society’s run of social/talk evenings, held at the Denbigh Castle. The popular city centre pub's function room was packed to the rafters with supporters keen to see the former Everton footballer, Motherwell FC CEO, broadcaster, and culture connoisseur. He did not disappoint. Requiring only minimal prompting from host Rob Sawyer, the Glaswegian delivered a seamless series of brilliant anecdotes - often hilarious, sometimes poignant - from his…

31

Jan

By Rob Sawyer

1 Comment

1960-1969, 1970-1979, Latest, Obituary, Rest in Peace, Rob Sawyer

Tommy Wright – A True Blue Hero

Rob Sawyer In the sweltering early afternoon June heat of Estádio Jalisco, Guadalajara, England’s right-back slumps to the ground. Lying prone, he is approached by Brazil's number ten, the great Pelé, who proceeds to lift his opponent's leg and push the foot back in an attempt to alleviate the symptoms of cramp. FIFA World Cup 1970 Pele (10) of Brazil tends to cramp-stricken Tommy Wright (14) of England after sustaining an injury during their Group 3 match at Estadio Jalisco, Guadalajara, Mexico, 6 July 1970 (photo; Neil Leifer) On England duty in the late 1960s This display of sportsmanship at…

27

Jan

By Rob Sawyer

5 Comments

1970-1979, Latest, Players, Rob Sawyer

Forever Everton – The Story of the Song

Rob Sawyer In Goodison’s final years as the venue for Everton’s men's team, kick-off was preceded by the Toffees’ musical ‘holy trinity’ of Forever Everton, Grand Old Team and Theme from Z-Cars - with Spirit of the Blues being added to the repertoire more recently. With the move to Hill Dickinson Stadium, these have been joined by The Las’ classic There She Goes. Advert for Neil Sedaka at the Wooky Hollow, September 1972 Here, I delve into the backstory to Forever Everton – 2 minutes and 36 seconds of proud Bluenose breast-beating with a brass backing. As many now know,…