Articles – Everton FC Heritage Society

Paul McParlan – Our Next Guest at the Denbigh Castle

09

Feb

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1960-1969, 1980-1989, Events, Film and Media, Latest, Mike Royden, Paul McParlan

Paul McParlan – Our Next Guest at the Denbigh Castle

Heritage Talks and Social Evenings – Spring Series Programme 2026: 'The Forgotten Champions: 1986/87: Everton's Last Title at Goodison Park' We are pleased to announce our new monthly series of social evenings featuring a talk or event related to our club’s history, heritage, culture and community. This new initiative has been introduced by members of the Everton FC Heritage Society, and in a full season will run from September to May on the first Thursday of every month in the downstairs function room of The Denbigh Castle, in Hackins Hey (off Dale Street), Liverpool. All Evertonians are welcome to attend, and we…

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

06

Feb

By Rob Sawyer

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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

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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

3 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,…

The Reverends who kicked off football’s greatest clubs

23

Jan

By Henry Corbett

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1878-1889, 1890-1899, Latest

The Reverends who kicked off football’s greatest clubs

How these remarkable founders shaped the game we love today . Reverend Henry Corbett (Chaplain to Everton Football Club) In the churchyard of Shepley Methodist Church in Yorkshire there is a gravestone which reads: “In Memory of the Rev Ben Swift Chambers who set the ball rolling for the birth of Everton and Liverpool Football Clubs.” Why was a Methodist minister starting a football team? The Reverend Ben Chambers had come to the Everton district of Liverpool in 1877 and had started a cricket team in the summer and wanted to keep sporting activity going through the winter. Why? Because…

Ian Macowat (1965-2026) – 1984 FA Youth Cup Winner Remembered

21

Jan

By Rob Sawyer

2 Comments

1980-1989, Latest, Obituary, Players, Rest in Peace, Rob Sawyer

Ian Macowat (1965-2026) – 1984 FA Youth Cup Winner Remembered

Rob Sawyer Ian at Bellefield in 1983-84 season Former Everton reserve team player and 1984 FA Youth Cup winner, Ian Macowat, has passed away at the age of sixty. Whilst studying at Park High School in Hindle, Ian represented Wigan and Greater Manchester Boys and was capped nine times by England Schoolboys. He joined the Blues’ youth set up as an apprentice in 1982, turning professional in the autumn of 1983. Contemporaries included Rob Wakenshaw, Steve Bateman, Darren Hughes and Ian Marshall. In the year above were the likes of John Morrissey Jr, Jimmy Coyle, Stuart Rimmer and Ian Bishop.…

Bob and Hope’s Excellent Adventure: Kelso and Robertson on the High Seas, 1892.

21

Jan

By Rob Sawyer

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1890-1899, Books, Latest, Players, Rob Sawyer

Bob and Hope’s Excellent Adventure: Kelso and Robertson on the High Seas, 1892.

Rob Sawyer Bob Kelso In the late spring and early summer of 1892, while frenetic work continued to construct the new Goodison Park and have it ready to host football and spectators from the start of September, two Scottish members of Everton’s squad were enjoying an eye-opening tour of the Mediterranean. The pair were Bob Kelso, who enjoyed two spells at Everton, making 104 appearances, and his compatriot Hope Robertson, something of a squad player who had joined the Toffees from Partick Thistle, having previously played in England for Woolwich Arsenal. He would make thirty-three appearances in an Everton shirt,…

Pat Nevin – our next guest at the Denbigh Castle

21

Jan

By Mike Royden

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

Pat Nevin – our next guest at the Denbigh Castle

Everton FC Heritage SocietyHeritage Talks and Social Evenings – Spring Series Programme 2026 We are pleased to announce our new monthly series of social evenings featuring a talk or event related to our club’s history, heritage, culture and community. This new initiative has been introduced by members of the Everton FC Heritage Society, and in a full season will run from September to May on the first Thursday of every month in the downstairs function room of The Denbigh Castle, in Hackins Hey (off Dale Street), Liverpool. All Evertonians are welcome to attend, and we sincerely hope you will support the research…

Dynamite, death, palpable inefficiency and only adequate justice

18

Jan

By Paul Owens

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Articles, Latest, Paul Owens, Players

Dynamite, death, palpable inefficiency and only adequate justice

For much of this 2025/26 season, Jordan Pickford has continued to showcase his incredible ability to produce world-class saves at key moments in matches. Screenshot The Washington-born stopper’s love and affection for his home club Sunderland however is not a secret. At every Everton game, we are told he is both a Mackem and a Blue (and that he has no time for either club’s closest rivals). Moreover, at the Stadium of Light earlier this season, his son Arlo walked out as mascot wearing a half-and-half shirt. However, Everton’s current custodian isn’t the only goalkeeper in our history to have…

John Clinkard – The Medical Man Behind the Toffees’ 1980s Triumphs

18

Jan

By Rob Sawyer

5 Comments

1980-1989, Latest, Obituary, Rest in Peace, Rob Sawyer

John Clinkard – The Medical Man Behind the Toffees’ 1980s Triumphs

Obituary by Rob Sawyer John Clinkard pictured in 1983 The recent news of the passing of John Clinkard at the age of seventy-one, prompted both great sadness and also fond remembrance of the role the physiotherapist played in Everton’s 1980s glory years. For many, he was better-known simply as ‘Magnum’ - more of which later – to others he was 'Clinks.' Raised in Kidlington, Oxfordshire, John attended Gosford Hill School and was a very decent centre-forward in the Kidlington Boys teams in the late 1960s. He made his way in the game as a physio at Didcot Town and Fulham…