1930-1939 – Everton FC Heritage Society

08

Dec

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1920-1929, 1930-1939, Articles, Richard Gillham, Rob SawyerRob Sawyer

Everton – The Baseball Years

Richie Gillham and Rob Sawyer Baseball may be a minority sport in the UK, but 80 years ago Merseyside was a hotbed of this popular American pastime. Had it not been for the outbreak of War in 1939, perhaps it would have gained a proper foothold in our sporting life. Folklore has it that William Ralph ‘Dixie’ Dean was once introduced to the legendary Babe Ruth (of Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees fame) at a football match. Dean recalled to journalist John Roberts his encounter with Babe. The American introduced himself in typical style by booming: "You’re that…

13

Nov

By Richie Gillham

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1930-1939, Articles, Richard Gillham

Who was the Peruvian Dixie Dean?

Richie Gillham Left to right: Geldard, Dunn, Villanueva, Johnson, Stein (courtesy of the John Rowlands Albert Geldard Collection) Alejandro Villanueva: The Peruvian Legend who Dazzled at Home and Abroad Alejandro Villanueva was one of the most iconic figures in Peruvian football during the heyday of the 1930s. Born on 4 June 1908, in Lima, Villanueva became a symbol of Peruvian football’s golden era during the 1920s and 1930s. Alejandro had many nicknames, including 'Manguera' - a nod to his ability and agility on the pitch with his extraordinary control of a football, and his many outrageous moves. Liverpool Echo, 26…

13

Nov

By Rob Sawyer

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1930-1939, Articles, Latest, Rob Sawyer

The Toffees in Tenerife in 1934

Rob Sawyer Post-season Everton tours beyond these shores were becoming firmly established in the early 1930s. Previously, there had been trips to Austria-Hungary (1905), South America (1909), Barcelona (1924), and Switzerland (1928). The spring of 1932 had seen the newly-crowned Football League champions play six matches in Germany; a year later, as FA Cup holders, the Toffees toured Denmark. Tours in that era earned clubs some funds but, in contrast to what we witness today, there not untold riches on offer, or thoughts of raising global brand awareness. The Everton squad 1933-34 season Early in 1934, key figures on Tenerife…

12

Nov

By Mike Royden

1930-1939, 1940-1949, Film and Media, History, Interview, Latest, Lewis Royden, Mike Royden, Paul McParlan, Rob Sawyer

Broken Dreams: Everton, The War and Goodison’s Lost Generation

Rob Sawyer - in Conversation with Paul McParlan In the late summer of 1939, Everton Football Club had the world at their feet. After a 1938/39 season that saw them claim the League Championship title, they seemed poised to become an enduring dynasty in English football. With young stars like Tommy Lawton, a veteran goalkeeper in Ted Sagar, and emerging talents like Joe Mercer and TG Jones, Everton was a squad bursting with potential. But the invasion of Poland by Germany, just eight days into the 1939/40 season, suspended the dreams and ambitions of a team that looked set to…

Billy Cook – The Original ‘Secret Footballer’ and his Peruvian Adventure

19

Aug

By Rob Sawyer

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1930-1939, 1940-1949, 1950-1959, Articles, Latest, Players, Rob Sawyer

Billy Cook – The Original ‘Secret Footballer’ and his Peruvian Adventure

Rob Sawyer Billy Cook circa 1933 The so-called ‘The Secret Footballer’ has been producing an anonymous column for The Guardian newspaper for over a decade. This, along with (to date) five books lifts the lid on the life of a professional soccer player. Speculation has been rife as to the identity of the author, with a former Reading and Stoke City forward being many amateur sleuths’ pick. The concept is nothing new, however. Over 70 years before this mystery player submitted his first column to the Guardian, a top-flight footballer was doing something very similar for the weekly Topical Times…

The Goodison Bugler’s Last Post – The Life of Francis Hamill

28

Nov

By Rob Sawyer

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1930-1939, 1940-1949, Articles, Latest, Rob Sawyer

The Goodison Bugler’s Last Post – The Life of Francis Hamill

Rob Sawyer Unlike many clubs, Everton FC has always eschewed the use of in-match music to spur on the team or celebrate a goal – or so I thought. Tom Walker A conversation with veteran Toffees supporter Tom Walker gave me this nugget about the late 1940s, "‘The Everton Bugler used to sit in the top of the Bullens Road stand and sound the charge if we were attacking." Further corroboration of the existence of a supporter (or supporters) bringing a touch of brass to Goodison comes from Sir Paul McCartney. When recalling his childhood for the mid-1990s Anthology project…

01

Sep

By Rob Sawyer

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1930-1939, Goodison, Latest, Rob Sawyer

The Story of The Bullens

Rob Sawyer Perhaps the key motif for Goodison Park is the Archibald Leitch-designed cross-braced panels - as seen at the front of the Bullens Road stand balcony. The oldest stand and the only extant one to bear witness to Dixie’s glorious 60th League goal in 1928. Now giving faithful service into its 97th year, it will be robbed of reaching its century by the impending move to Bramley Moore Dock. The new stadium will pay a respectful nod to its predecessor with the Leitch lattice pattern incorporated into brickwork. After moving to Goodison Park, Everton had a Bullens Road stand…

15

Aug

By Rob Sawyer

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

Tommy White – A Player of Many Parts

by Rob Sawyer I have played in almost every forward and half-back position for Everton. That versatility helped me more than once to get a first team place. On the other hand, for a time I was regarded as nothing but a sub for other players. When they were ready for the first team again, I was out. That’s how it has been all through my football career. Shocks and pleasant surprises always round the corner. I never knew which I would meet. Tom White (June 1937) Born at Goulden Street, in Weaste, Salford, on 29 July 1908, Tom Angus…

21

Jul

By David France

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1930-1939, 1940-1949, Latest, Players

Gordon Watson, One of Us ….

Dr David France OBE (Founder of Everton FC Heritage Society and Life President) Everton F.C. League Champions 1939 (Gordon Watson back row, third from right. Photo - The Everton Collection) Something of a raconteur, Gwladys Street Hall of Famer Gordon Watson loved to share tales of his life at Goodison and he once spoke passionately about his team-mates from the side he regarded as ‘The Forgotten Champions of 1939’ ‘Gordon Watson? Never heard of him.’ Well, the Geordie (from the same neck of the woods as Howard Kendall) played alongside Dixie Dean in Everton’s Central League-winning side in 1938, helped…

John Cuff – from Goodison Park to The Monte Carlo Rally

16

May

By Rob Sawyer

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1930-1939, 1940-1949, Articles, Latest, Players, Rob Sawyer

John Cuff – from Goodison Park to The Monte Carlo Rally

Rob Sawyer John Cuff in Everton colours in 1936 I was, for many years, puzzled by a photo in The Everton Story, a book by Derek Hodgson, showing a youthful player in the 1930s. It was captioned as being 'Will Cuff' - yet Cuff, the vulnerable Everton Chairman and former club Secretary, was well into his 60s, at this point. So, who was the mislabeled player featured in the book? With help from Everton historian, and custodian of the Blues Chronicles website, Billy Smith, he was identified as John Cuff - the shared surname explaining the confusion on the part…