1930-1939

Charlie Gee: Stockport, Everton and England
21
Aug
By Rob Sawyer
1930-1939, History, Members Work, Players, Rob Sawyer

Charlie Gee: Stockport, Everton and England

Charlie Gee’s story is one of a remarkable rise from Stockport church football to Everton and  England honours.  In three consecutive seasons he played Third, Second and First Division football – culminating in a 1932 league championship medal. Charlie also holds the key to the Everton career of one of the most important men in the Toffees’ illustrious history – Harry Catterick. Charles William Gee was born on 6 April 1909 in the Reddish district of Stockport. He was one of eight children born to Edward and Jane Gee. Edward was a sweet shop owner who, as a side-line, also…
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16
Aug
By Rob Sawyer
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1930-1939, Articles, History, Members Work, Players, Rob Sawyer

Nat, King of Goals…and Bowls

As with many players at Goodison in the 1930s, Jimmy “Nat” Cunliffe’s achievements are overshadowed by the Everton giant that is W.R. Dean. Yet his life in sport was a remarkable one. Plucked from non-league football Jimmy went on to win international honours. Not content with this, he subsequently embarked on enjoy a highly successful career in another sporting arena. Born James Cunliffe on 5 July 1912 to Mary and Peter (a coal miner), Jimmy grew up in Blackrod – a small settlement close to the current location of Bolton Wanderers’ stadium. Upon leaving school he started an apprenticeship as…
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Charlie Leyfield – Everton, Wales and England
16
Aug
By Rob Sawyer
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1930-1939, Articles, History, Members Work, Players, Rob Sawyer

Charlie Leyfield – Everton, Wales and England

Charlie Leyfield had a long association with Everton as a player and trainer. He also can claim the unique distinction of being trainer to both the England and Wales national teams. Charlie was born on 30 October 1911, just south of the River Dee in Chester, the eldest of seven children. Attending Handbridge's St Mary's School, he excelled at football — initially as a centre-half and inside-forward but later as a fast, direct winger capable of going down the outside or cutting in. This led to selection for Chester Schoolboys representative team at the age of 13. Promoted to captain…
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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,…
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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…
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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…
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07
Apr
By Lyndon Lloyd
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1930-1939, Articles, History, Lyndon Lloyd, Players

When Babe met Dixie Dean – Ryan Ferguson (permission given)

As was the capricious, romantic and, in some cases, downright fictitious nature of news reporting in the United States during his rise to prominence, myth and mystery surrounds pretty much everything Babe Ruth ever did. His Called Shot during the 1932 World Series, for instance, is still shrouded in uncertainty, just like the fable that he once hit a Fall Classic home run to fulfil the last wishes of a sick kid in New Jersey. There’s no way to tell for sure whether these wondrous feats actually occurred, thanks in large part to the cliquey journalism culture of the age.…
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12
Jan
By Tony Onslow
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1890-1899, 1930-1939, 1960-1969, Articles, History, Tony Onslow

Why Leicester Fosse?

History will be made today when the present Premier League champions take to the field for what is their first ever FA Cup tie at Goodison Park. The visitors were formed in 1884 by a group of young men from a local evangelical chapel who decided to form a football team that they chose to call Leicester Fosse. This suffix was chosen because the old Roman Road, known as the Fosse Way, had once passed through the area and a military encampment was constructed to protect it from attack near to the spot where it forded the River Soar. The…
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Reverend and the Makers’ unlikely links to Everton legend Dixie Dean
26
Nov
By David Prentice
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1930-1939, 2010-2019, Articles, David Prentice, Events, History, Members Work, Players

Reverend and the Makers’ unlikely links to Everton legend Dixie Dean

Pop star's Great Uncle was a Toffees' star     Reverend and the Makers      The lead singer of Reverend and the Makers has been reading up on his family links to one of Dixie Dean’s team-mates, thanks to Everton FC Heritage Society.   Jon McClure, lead singer of the Sheffield based band, revealed his links to the Toffees on Sky TV’s Saturday morning Soccer AM show.   Jon is a passionate Sheffield Wednesday supporter, but revealed that he’d been told his Great Uncle, Joe McClure, used to play for Everton. Which is where the Heritage Society got involved.…
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