1878-1889 – Everton FC Heritage Society

James Prescott: Architect of the Original Goodison Park

21

May

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1878-1889, 1890-1899, Goodison, Jamie Yates, Latest

James Prescott: Architect of the Original Goodison Park

Jamie Yates Think of Goodison Park and what comes to mind? So many memories. Walking up to the ground from whichever angle your matchday routine dictates, that bright flash of green as you emerge up the steps and take in the pitch for the first time, the towering Goodison Road main stand, Archibald Leitch’s famous lattice steelwork patterns adorning the front of the upper balcony of the Bullens Road in blue and white. Leitch became the preeminent architect during the first wave of great football stadia in the early decades of the twentieth century. His work became part of the…

An Evening of Two Halves with Jamie Yates and Peter Lupson

12

May

By Mike Royden

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1878-1889, 1890-1899, Events, Latest, Mike Royden

An Evening of Two Halves with Jamie Yates and Peter Lupson

---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mike Royden For the fifth event in the Spring 2026 series of Everton FC Heritage Society social/talk evenings, we were graced with the presence of two separate speakers during a night of two halves. (photo: Lewis Royden) First up was Peter Lupson, a former teacher, and a founder member of The Everton FC Heritage Society, who was present at the inaugural meeting back in 2008. Peter is also a former vice-chair of the society. He has authored several books (including school texts), such as Thank God For Football, and Across the Park. Peter took us through a fascinating journey…

‘Everton FC in Everton Day’ – 9 May 2026 – Noon-2pm

10

May

By Rob Sawyer

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1878-1889, 2020-2029, Events, Ken Rogers, Latest, Mike Royden, Rob Sawyer

‘Everton FC in Everton Day’ – 9 May 2026 – Noon-2pm

On Saturday 9 May between Noon and 2pm, the Everton FC Heritage Society, in tandem with the Friends of Everton Park (FOEP), once again opened up the Everton Lock-Up below Browside, for a special ‘Everton FC in Everton Day.’ https://youtu.be/mK9MLE-oCEU?si=1WbJL3NILL4xVh6k Video filmed by Rob Sawyer and edited by Lewis Royden Rob Sawyer, who was one of Everton FC Heritage Society's representatives on the day, reports on the event; A Report on the ‘Everton FC in Everton Day’ 2026 Rob Sawyer Although Everton FC, and its previous incarnation as St Domingo chapel football team, has never played football in the Everton…

John ‘Jock’ Gillespie: From Hampden Park to the Battlefield

14

Mar

By Richie Gillham

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1878-1889, Articles, Latest, Players, Richard Gillham

John ‘Jock’ Gillespie: From Hampden Park to the Battlefield

Richie Gillham John 'Jock' Gillespie John “Jock” Gillespie was born on Tuesday 15 November 1870, in Falkirk. Jock and his three brothers were all good footballers. His brother, George L. Gillespie, was a well-known player of the day who played for Queen’s Park, another brother, Alexander, played for both Queen’s Park and Falkirk. William Gillespie, a third brother, also made occasional appearances on the football field and was a keen cyclist. Their father John, a Ship Carrier , too, was known as an athlete of some prowess. George was one of the founders of the Falkirk Amateurs Football club too.…

03

Mar

By Mike Royden

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1878-1889, Articles, Everton Collection, Goodison, History, Latest, Members Work, Mike Royden

In Search of Priory Road 1883-84

In Search of Priory Road Commencing to write this article on the day that government approval was granted for the Bramley-Moore Stadium, social media was awash with good wishes to all those concerned in successfully seeing the project through. There were the inevitable online exchanges, with a great many from the envious dark side, who could see they were now visibly condemned to spend yet another generation in their Big Stand with little chance of expansion, a move, or even a laughable ground-share. Meanwhile, many commented online that this would be Everton’s third stadium build in the city. (pic: Liverpool…

02

Feb

By Mike Royden

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1878-1889, 1890-1899, 1900-1909, Articles, Goodison, Latest, Mike Royden

George and Annie Jane Goodison

Towards the Foundation of a Stadium, and how Classical Egypt came to Waterloo Mike Royden The name ‘Goodison Park’ has always had a touch of class about it, but it so easily could have been called ‘Mere Green’ or possibly ‘Walton Stiles’: Mere Green being the land leased (and later purchased) for the new Everton FC stadium, and Walton Stiles being the ancient footpath that once ran from the Walton Church area, approximately along what is now Goodison Road, down Spellow Lane and on to County Road. But where did the name originate, and how did it become the name…

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…

16

Sep

By Jamie Yates

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1878-1889, Jamie Yates, Latest, Players

The George Fleming Story

Jamie Yates The build-up to Everton’s departure from Goodison Park, their home of 133 years in the summer of 2025, triggered a range of emotions and set the members of the Everton Football Club Heritage Society (EFCHS) off on various quests to delve deeper into the history of the old stadium, to commemorate records set there, celebrate watershed moments and hopefully unearth a few hidden historical gems along the way. Recent seasons have been turbulent, even by Everton standards, and I have taken huge solace in burying myself in the stories of some of the key moments and early heroes…

12

Sep

By Jamie Yates

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1878-1889, Articles, Jamie Yates, Latest, Players

A Pickle Over Pickering

Jamie Yates The art of football research can be a complex one. There is so much information out there. Enthusiasts around the world continue to contribute to the ever-growing mass of football writing and gathering of statistics every day. The internet has opened access to numerous historical resources, but also served to further the duplication of inaccurate information which has been perpetuated in print over the past near-150 years since the earliest days of ‘the Association game’. Newspaper records are a treasure trove, but mistakes were also made way back when, and, in many instances, inadvertently become fact, reappearing in…

08

Sep

By Jamie Yates

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1878-1889, Articles, Jamie Yates, Latest, Players

The First Known Everton Skipper

Jamie Yates Can you name the player who made only three known appearances for Everton, started as an outfield player in two of them and played in goal in the other. Oh, and captained the team on all three occasions? If it helps, the individual in question was a 17-year-old trainee accountant from London who later went on to seek his fortune with the East India Company. Need a few more clues? Sidney Albert Chalk may not be a name familiar to many, but he goes down in history as the first recorded captain of an Everton football team, for…