Rob Sawyer – Page 5 – Everton FC Heritage Society

06

Jun

1 Comment

1940-1949, Articles, Members Work, Players, Rob Sawyer, WW2

‘Rags’: The Life of Cuthbert Tatters

By Rob Sawyer Few footballers’ names are more evocative of bygone times in the Goodison lexicon than that of Cuthbert Tatters. Cuthbert was born in County Durham, on 4 January 1915 and grew up on Sunderland Street in Easington. This was coal mining country and Cuthbert’s father, James, worked at Wheatley Hill Colliery. Cuthbert followed the same path, employed as a pit boy there. On the football field, he played for Shotton Schoolboys, gaining county honours in 1929. He also turned out for Wheatley Hill Juniors. A photo also appears to show him, as a boy, wearing the stripes of…

28

May

By Rob Sawyer

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1950-1959, 2020-2029, Articles, History, Players, Rest in Peace, Rob Sawyer

A Final Farewell to Jimmy Harris

Thursday 26 May 2022 was the day of Jimmy Harris’s final farewell. In the mid-afternoon, the cortège transported the 88-year-old former Toffees striker past the stadium he had graced. A number of supporters had come out to applaud as the hearse drove slowly along Goodison Road. I chatted to an 81-year-old supporter from West Derby, who recalled watching Jimmy in his 1950s heyday. He told me of Jimmy’s quicksilver movement around the pitch and his rasping shot. He fondly recalled a smartly struck Harris goal against the Busby Babes. Another supporter had come all the way from Doncaster to stand…

13

May

By Rob Sawyer

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2020-2029, Articles, History, Interview, Latest, Rob Sawyer

Tom Walker – Nonagenarian Toffee

By Rob Sawyer In April 2022, EFCHS members Rob Sawyer and Sarah from Mint Collective, caught up with 93-year-old Tom Walker in a café near his home in Upton. This venerable Toffee, accompanied by his son, Graham, discussed all things Evertonia, dating back to the 1930s. Below is an edited version of Tom’s vivid recollections, which originally appeared in The Black Watch fanzine (sold outside St Luke’s on selected matchdays by Tom, the editor) My dad used to go to Goodison with my Uncle Colin, they were staunch Evertonians. Dad taught me to be an Evertonian. He’d seen all the…

George Green – Illustrator Extraordinaire

02

May

By Rob Sawyer

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1930-1939, 1940-1949, 1950-1959, Articles, History, Rob Sawyer

George Green – Illustrator Extraordinaire

By Rob Sawyer The Toffee Lady is an enduring and iconic image, intrinsically linked to Everton FC. Since the 1950s, a Toffee Lady, or latterly a Toffee Girl, has paraded around Goodison before matches, dispensing the eponymous humbugs. But for many, the definitive Toffee Lady image takes cartoon form. It’s the Mother Noblett, famous for gracing the front page of the Football Echo for decades, looking elated, deflated or indifferent, depending on the Blues’ fortunes that day. Her ‘rival’ character was the Kopite, who showed a similar range of emotions, depending on the Liverpool result. The creator of these enchanting…

Net Gains: John Alexander Brodie’s Sporting and Civic Legacy

12

Apr

By Rob Sawyer

4 Comments

1890-1899, 1900-1909, 1910-1919, 1920-1929, Articles, Film and Media, History, Latest, Rob Sawyer

Net Gains: John Alexander Brodie’s Sporting and Civic Legacy

Rob Sawyer appears on French TV Recently, Heritage Society member Rob Sawyer appeared on the French TV channel ARTE, to tell the story of the origin of goal nets. It's an enjoyable film put together by our gallic visitors, capturing some great shots around Goodison, as well as the surrounding area. Unfortunately, there are no subtitles, but if your French skills aren't quite up to the job, Rob's fascinating article telling the full tale appears below. (click the image to watch the video) Net Gains: John Alexander Brodie’s Sporting and Civic Legacy Rob Sawyer The rustle of the net as…

19

Jan

By Rob Sawyer

2 Comments

1878-1889, 1890-1899, Articles, Latest, Players, Rob Sawyer

Johnny Holt – Everton’s Little Devil

Rob Sawyer "The undisputed king of centre-halves – a living object lesson of the superiority of brain over muscle." (Contemporary newspaper description of Johnny Holt) Time passes, and with it go first-hand memories of footballers who bestowed greatness on Everton. T.G. Jones is widely cited as the club’s finest centre-half, with the next generation of fans also holding Brian Labone in the highest of esteem. But let us not overlook Johnny Holt, the Little Devil – without equal in his era in the art of defending, and a bedrock of the First Kings of Anfield. John Holt entered this world…

16

Mar

By Rob Sawyer

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1960-1969, 2010-2019, Articles, Interview, Players, Rob Sawyer

Ray Veall – honoured at last

'I played with great players... I just wish it had lasted longer' By Rob Sawyer Skegness-born Ray Veall, now 71, was a slightly-built outside-left who made an impact at Doncaster Rovers and placed himself on the radar of the two Harrys – Everton’s chief scout Cooke and boss Catterick. A £10,145 outlay was sufficient to persuade the Division Two outfit to part with their left-wing prodigy in the autumn of 1961. Veall recalled: “The coach called me in and said, ‘Harry Catterick wants to see you at the Earl of Doncaster Hotel.’ I caught the bus there by myself –…

The story behind the photograph – Tom McIntosh – Everton’s First Full-Time Secretary

14

Mar

By Rob Sawyer

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1920-1929, 1930-1939, Articles, Directors, History, Managers, Rob Sawyer

The story behind the photograph – Tom McIntosh – Everton’s First Full-Time Secretary

Tom McIntosh is a significant off-pitch figure in Everton's story, yet, despite the club's achievements under his watch, he seems to have fallen through the cracks of the club's historical records and his contribution over 16 years is largely overlooked He came from humble beginnings. His Scottish father, Peter, left his native Nairn to become the resident baker at the lunatic asylum in Sedgefield, County Durham. Here he met Eleanor Hunter, an attendant at the asylum. Eleanor's sister Elisabeth and brother-in-law, Thomas Nokes, would also work at the institution (John rose to the position of Chief Attendant). Peter and Eleanor…

Billy and Bob: The Fabulous Balmer Brothers

13

Mar

By Rob Sawyer

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1900-1909, 1910-1919, 1920-1929, 1930-1939, 1940-1949, Articles, History, Latest, Members Work, Players, Rob Sawyer

Billy and Bob: The Fabulous Balmer Brothers

Billy and Bob: The Fabulous Balmer Brothers By Rob Sawyer William and Robert Balmer formed a fearsome, and fruitful, fraternal partnership in Everton’s back-line in the early years of the 20th Century. William’s selection for national team duty would also make him the club’s first Scouse England cap. They were the sons of James (a carpenter and joiner) and Martha. William Atherton was born on 29 July 1875 whilst Robert followed on 28 November 1881. The pair - better known and Billy and Bob - grew-up alongside their siblings John (b. 1874) and Mary (b. 1877) at the family home…

Everton and Huddersfield Town – The First Encounters

13

Mar

By Rob Sawyer

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1920-1929, Articles, History, Members Work, Programme Articles, Rob Sawyer, WW1

Everton and Huddersfield Town – The First Encounters

Everton and Huddersfield Town – The First Encounters Today marks the 59th League fixture staged between The Toffees and The Terriers, 98 years after the first. A mere 13 years after its formation, the Yorkshire club had shrugged off the threat of a merger with Leeds United to gain promotion and reach the 1920 FA Cup Final. Everton came to Leeds Road on 9 October to play the newly promoted side. It would be the first instalment of back-to-back matches (a regular scheduling feature at this time). Everton fielded: Fern, Downs (captain), McDonald, Fleetwood, Brewster, Grenyer, Chedgzoy, Kirsopp, Peacock, Reid,…