1950-1959 – Everton FC Heritage Society

From Birkenhead to El Ballet Azul: The Billy Higgins Story

26

Feb

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

From Birkenhead to El Ballet Azul: The Billy Higgins Story

Rob Sawyer Billy Higgins with Everton in 1946 When Everton played the Millonarios club of Bogotá in Florida in the summer of 2021, it provided an intriguing link to the past. In 1950, the Columbian club was at the epicentre of a storm over footballers being lured from British clubs to a so-called ‘renegade league’. In the immediate post-war era, footballers employed by English Football League clubs were on a maximum wage of £12 per week plus moderate bonuses and long service rewarded with periodic ‘benefit cheques’. Although well-paid, compared to the typical blue-collar worker, these sporting stars were far…

Gwyn Lewis – Playing In The Shadow of the Cannonball Kid

02

Jan

By Rob Sawyer

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1950-1959, Articles, Latest, Players, Rob Sawyer

Gwyn Lewis – Playing In The Shadow of the Cannonball Kid

Rob Sawyer Gwyn Lewis of Everton FC Born on 21 April 1932, Gwynfor (Gwyn) Lewis became one of Bangor’s finest footballing sons. Like fellow Bangor-born forward Nathan Broadhead, over six decades later, Gwyn would only get fleeting opportunities at Everton, but established himself as an accomplished goalscorer in lower league football. Gwyn was one of several young talented sportspeople attending Bangor’s Friars Grammar School in the 1940s. There at the same time was John Cowell, who would go on to play in goal for Pwllheli FC under TG Jones, Bangor City, Marine and Liverpool FC Reserves, as well as cricket…

Frank (Carlo) Carlton – From a Colt to a Saint

28

Oct

By Richie Gillham

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1950-1959, 1960-1969, Articles, Richard Gillham

Frank (Carlo) Carlton – From a Colt to a Saint

Richie Gillham A young Frank Carlton (courtesy of Joan Griffin, Ancestry.co.uk) Frank Carlton was born in Blackbrook, St Helens, in 1936, into a community where sport was at the heart of everyday life. Like many boys of his generation, his first taste of competition came on the school playing fields. At school, he quickly earned a reputation as a fleet-footed winger in the soccer team. He helped guide Blackbrook to the Windle Pilkington Shield final, one of the key competitions in local schoolboy football. When he moved on to Parr Central School, his athletic abilities flourished. In athletics he excelled…

Ted Forshaw – From Everton Youth Prodigy to Cup Hero via the Oval Ball

30

Sep

By Richie Gillham

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1950-1959, Articles, Latest, Players, Richard Gillham

Ted Forshaw – From Everton Youth Prodigy to Cup Hero via the Oval Ball

Richie Gillham Ted Forshaw may not be a name known to Everton fans, but his story is one of remarkable versatility, resilience, and dedication across multiple disciplines. From the football pitches of Everton to the rugby fields of St Helens, and later to the athletics tracks of Merseyside, Forshaw’s journey is a testament to the enduring spirit of a true sportsman. Born on 26 October 1931, Forshaw began his football journey with Everton FC, signing on 25 March 1957, after scouts had spotted him playing for Sutton Manor Colliery FC. He had also been a keen rugby league player before…

20

May

By Rob Sawyer

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1950-1959, Latest, Obituary, Rest in Peace, Rob Sawyer

Alec Farrall Remembered

[The banner photograph is the 1953/54 Everton squad. Alec Farrall is pictured on the front row seated, second from the left.] Rob Sawyer The death was announced today, at eighty-nine, of one of Everton's oldest former players, Alec Farrall. Born 3 March 1936, Alec was one of many local lads to emerge through the Blues’ youth system under Cliff Britton. A member of a sporty West Kirby family, by his teens he was representing Cheshire Schoolboys (England Schoolboys caps followed) and was on the radar of scouts from many big clubs, including Wolves, Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool. The former…

Everton v Newcastle United – 8 April 1955

27

Mar

By Mike Royden

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1950-1959, Film and Media, Goodison, Latest, Lewis Royden, Mike Royden

Everton v Newcastle United – 8 April 1955

by Mike Royden . https://youtu.be/rssPxIh3jCM The cine-film (enlarged view below) In this age of multimedia, with every archive film clip seemingly now available online, it is rare that an undiscovered gem becomes available. Yet, that is what has come into the hands of Everton FC Heritage Society. In the form of a 16mm cine-reel, it is the filmed record of the First Division match between Everton and Newcastle United, played at Goodison Park on 8 April 1955. It is also especially valuable because it documents at length (one hour of footage survives) a match from the 1950s - a rarity…

From Barry to the Blues – The Keith Webber Story

06

Jan

By Rob Sawyer

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1950-1959, 1960-1969, Articles, Latest, Rob Sawyer, Uncategorized

From Barry to the Blues – The Keith Webber Story

Rob Sawyer A young Keith Webber before joining Everton Born in Cardiff on 5 January 1943, Keith Webber grew up idolising his footballing countrymen Trevor Ford and John Charles. A gifted scholar with a talent for numbers, his parents hoped that he would attend university and, perhaps, go into accountancy. However, Keith’s passion for sport was matched by his all-round ability. The Glamorganshire schoolboy long-jump record holder and the Cardiff Schools 220-yard sprint champion also played rugby at wing three-quarter for his school. He would also turn out (under an assumed name) as an amateur footballer for Barry Town, alongside…

Colin Green: The Brymbo Boy and Everton full-back – in conversation with Rob Sawyer

13

Oct

By Mike Royden

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1950-1959, 1960-1969, Film and Media, Interview, Latest, Lewis Royden, Mike Royden, Players, Rob Sawyer

Colin Green: The Brymbo Boy and Everton full-back – in conversation with Rob Sawyer

In 2024, Rob Sawyer of EFCHS met with former Welsh international Colin Green in his Wrexham home. Signed by Everton as a schoolboy in 1957, Colin made his first team debut in September 1960, going on to play eighteen times for the Blues, before making 183 appearances for Birmingham. Now eighty-two years old, a fascinating time was spent in the company of Colin, learning about his life in football, most especially his time at Everton between 1957 and 1962. https://youtu.be/0ues-4XqkcE ............................................................................. Gallery Everton FC squad 1959/60 pictured on the Park End/Bullens Road training ground. Colin Green in on the back…

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…

Eddie Wainwright – A Bright Light in Dark Days

08

Jun

By Rob Sawyer

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1950-1959, Articles, Latest, Players, Rob Sawyer

Eddie Wainwright – A Bright Light in Dark Days

by Rob Sawyer ‘When I hitched my chariot to the Goodison Park star, I did myself the best service ever. No club could treat its players better.’ Eddie Wainwright, Liverpool Echo 1955 The immediate post-war era for Everton was one of austerity, much in keeping with that felt by a battered Britain. The Toffees’ squad had been ravaged by age and star-player exits since the club was crowned Football League Champions, a few short months before Nazi forces marched into Poland, precipitating a global war. Tommy Eglington, Peter Farrell and Wally Fielding proved to be astute signings, but the team…