Rob Sawyer – Page 11 – Everton FC Heritage Society

16

Aug

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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…

16

Aug

By Rob Sawyer

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1950-1959, 1960-1969, Articles, History, Members Work, Players, Rob Sawyer

From West Derby to New South Wales: The Footballing Odyssey of Ian Hillsdon

By Rob Sawyer Ian Hillsdon with the Dixie Dean statue in 2003(courtesy Hillsdon family) For every local lad who makes the grade at Everton, scores fall by the wayside. Some teenagers fail to develop as expected, some lack the drive and mental toughness to succeed whilst others are just plain unlucky. Of those rejected some quietly slip out of the game, whilst others have a second chance at a lower league club. An intrepid few go further afield to fulfil their footballing dreams. A prime example of the latter category is Ian Hillsdon. Born in 1937, the left-back from…

Everton’s ‘Hall of Fame’ Events through the Decades

16

Aug

By Rob Sawyer

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2000-2009, Events, History, Members Work, Rob Sawyer

Everton’s ‘Hall of Fame’ Events through the Decades

Friday, 10 March, 2017 sees the staging of a Gwladys Street’s Hall of Fame event after an eight year hiatus. At The Hilton Hotel John Bailey, Pat Van Den Hauwe, Nigel Martyn, Ian Snodin and Kevin Campbell will join the 120-plus previous inductees in the pantheon of Blues greats. The concept of an independent Everton Hall of Fame was the brainchild of Dr David France, the uber Toffees fanatic, who was inspired by the veneration afforded ex-baseball players in the USA. It was the first of its kind in the United Kingdom. In 1998, a panel of ex-players (including Brian…

‘Jack O’ Both Sides’ – The Life and Times of Jack Sharp (1878-1938)

16

Aug

By Rob Sawyer

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1900-1909, 1910-1919, Articles, Directors, History, Members Work, Players, Rob Sawyer

‘Jack O’ Both Sides’ – The Life and Times of Jack Sharp (1878-1938)

Jack Sharp sits in exalted company as one of England’s few dual cricket and football internationals. To Evertonians he is much more than that – an iconic player, captain, FA Cup winner, club director and founder of Liverpool’s best known sports outfitters. Born on 15 February in Everton’s founding year, Jack (christened John) was the youngest child of Charles and Annie Sharp who resided at 8 Eign Street in Hereford. Dorking-born Charles was a butcher with other business interests in the town, whilst Annie hailed from County Meath in Ireland. Jack and elder brother Bertram (Bert) grew up playing…

06

Jun

By Rob Sawyer

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1930-1939, Articles, History, Players, Programme Articles, Rob Sawyer

T.G. Jones And The Boys Of ‘39

EFC Heritage Society member Rob Sawyer is appealing for supporters’ memories of Everton players from a golden era. Rob, who wrote the excellent biography of Harry Catterick, says: “My dad and I watched the Blues sweep all before them in the 1980s, but his greatest praise was reserved for the championship-winning team of 1938/39. This has inspired me to chronicle the players’ stories particularly that of Tommy ‘T.G.’ Jones, dubbed ‘The Prince of Centre- Halves’.” Those lucky enough to see it, claim that this team best-fulfilled the School of Science billing bestowed upon the Club by former Derby County striker,…

Another Great Book from deCoubertin: Rob Sawyer’s The Prince of Centre Halves – the Life of Tommy ‘TG’ Jones’

02

Jun

By Rob Sawyer

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1930-1939, 1940-1949, 1950-1959, Articles, Books, History, Interview, Members Work, Players, Rob Sawyer

Another Great Book from deCoubertin: Rob Sawyer’s The Prince of Centre Halves – the Life of Tommy ‘TG’ Jones’

ANOTHER GREAT BOOK FROM DECOUBERTAIN - Q&A WITH ROB SAYWER, AUTHOR OF 'THE PRINCE OF CENTRE-HALVES: THE LIFE OF TOMMY 'TG' JONES' Posted by Jack Gordon-Brown on May 31, 2017 Rob Sawyer comes from a long line of Everton FC supporters. Listening to his father and grandfather regale the stories of Dixie Dean and the Holy Trinity led to a deep interest in Everton's illustrious history. Whilst researching his first book, a biography of Harry Catterick, Sawyer found just how important TG Jones was to the Toffees. We spoke to him about the Everton great... Hi Rob. You say that…

30

May

By Rob Sawyer

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1930-1939, Articles, Goodison, History, Members Work, Rob Sawyer

Harry Williams – Death of a Mascot

Aside from the iconic Toffee Lady, Everton supporters in the 1930s also possessed two unofficial mascots. Harry Williams of Westminster Road, Kirkdale, and his near neighbour, William Jones, would “play up” for Blues fans both home and away. Williams would wear his trademark mock policeman’s uniform, decorated with the club colours whilst Jones would don a blue and white chess-board suit. In the days before fences and enclosures, the firm friends were often permitted to “conduct” the crowds from the cinder path bordering the pitch. When Everton travelled to St Andrew’s on 11 February 1939 for a FA Cup 5th…

12

Jan

By Rob Sawyer

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2010-2019, Articles, Members Work, Rob Sawyer

Everton and KitAid

Thanks to an act of generosity in a time of adversity, a corner of Malawi, 5,000 miles from Goodison Park, will be forever Everton. John Mulcahy was a lifelong Blue – attending his first match in April 1976 when Everton defeated Stoke 2-1. John had Noonan Syndrome (NS), which, in spite of being relatively commonplace and having a major impact on lives, remains a comparatively little-known condition. The syndrome did not stop him from becoming a Lower Bullens season ticket holder and regular attendee at away fixtures. Sadly John’s health deteriorated in the last five years of his life before…

12

Jan

By Rob Sawyer

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1950-1959, Articles, History, Members Work, Players, Rob Sawyer

A Tribute to Matt Woods

Matt Woods (1 November 1931 - 26 September 2014) Skelmersdale-born Maurice 'Matt' Woods, a centre-half on Everton’s books in the 1950s, passed away on 26 September aged eighty-two. He had been playing as a wing-half in the Wigan Sunday League, when his uncle wrote to Everton requesting a trial for his nephew. Having impressed in the B team, he signed amateur forms at fifteen, and by the 1949-50 season he was a regular in the Reserves – alongside the likes of Don Donovan, Tommy Clinton, Wally 'Nobby' Fielding, Jimmy O’Neill and Harry Catterick. An early Reserves appearance brought praise in…

Mick Meagan – The Man Who Spanned the Eras

27

Nov

By Rob Sawyer

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1950-1959, 1960-1969, Articles, History, Interview, Players, Rob Sawyer

Mick Meagan – The Man Who Spanned the Eras

In Conversation with Rob Sawyer At the Fulham match in April 2013, five former Everton players were introduced to the Goodison Park crowd at half-time in recognition of their League Championship success fifty years earlier: Tony Kay, Alex Young, Derek Temple, Billy Bingham and Mick Meagan. Mick appeared the sprightliest of the lot, bathing in the applause and saluting the crowd with a clenched fist. Mick joined Everton as an 18-year-old and served the club for 12 years (1952 to 1964). He witnessed, at first hand, the transformation from Division Two doldrums to Division One Championship glory. Although not blessed…