1878-1889 – Page 3 – Everton FC Heritage Society

12

Jan

0 Comments

1878-1889, Articles, History, Managers, Members Work, Tony Onslow

In Search of John Houlding

This article is not intended either to praise or to condemn John Houlding for the role he played in the decision made by Everton Football Club to move away from Anfield. It is merely an effort to try and throw some light on this 'larger than life character' who played a big part in establishing the game of Association Football in his home town of Liverpool. Local records reveal that John Houlding was baptised on 4 August 1833 at St Martin-in the-Field church. He was the second of three sons born to Thomas Houlding, a cow keeper, and his wife…

11

Jan

By Tony Onslow

0 Comments

1878-1889, Articles, History, Members Work, Players, Tony OnslowOswestry FC

John Roach, a Striker from Shropshire

The main engineering works of The Cambrian Railway Company - today a grade two listed building - once employed many of the people who lived in the Welsh Marches town of Oswestry, and provided the local football team with several players. One such person, who also represented Everton, was John Roach. John Roach's home in LorneSt (left) and the Railway Works (far right) Born April 1863, he was the third child of Martin, a labourer, and his wife Bridget, who together had moved to Shropshire from their birthplace in the County Mayo across the Irish Sea. John had begun to work as a blacksmiths striker, in the foundry of the Cambrian Company, when he started playing football for the Oswestry White Stars, who shared a ground with the local cricket club. On 29 December 1883, the little Shropshire club found themselves in the limelight, having received a home FA Cup draw with the famous Queens Park club from Glasgow, who were renowned for playing quality football with…

31

Oct

By Tony Onslow

0 Comments

1878-1889, Articles, History, Members Work, Players, Tony OnslowCrewe Alexandra, Manchester City, Wales

Lewis the Fireman

When the Liverpool & District FA was formed in 1882, the officials turned for guidance to their more knowledgeable counterparts in North Wales, whose organisation had been formed some four years earlier. The members of the Everton executive thereafter, would make incursions into the Principality in search of experienced players they hoped would improve the standard of play at Anfield. One such man who caught their attention was William Lewis. Born in 1864 in Bangor, he was the third son of Edward, a stonemason, and his wife Margaret. The family home was at 72 Hill Street. According to the 1881 census, Billy had followed the male members of the family into the stonemason trade and had begun playing the association game with his local side Bangor. On 4 February 1884, Willie Lewis represented the North Wales FA against their counterparts from Liverpool, on what was the recently opened Bootle cricket enclosure on Hawthorne Road. He scored one of the goals as the game ended…

01

Sep

By Tony Onslow

0 Comments

1878-1889, 1890-1899, Articles, History, Members Work, Players, Tony OnslowDarwen, Everton FC

Albert Chadwick, the brother of Edgar

When Thomas Chadwick married Susanna Pilkington in 1865 at St Peter's church in Blackburn, both their families had a firm foundation in the grocery trade which enabled them to set up their own local outlet at 66 Darwen Street. It was here that their first child, Albert Llewelyn, was born 1 August 1867. The family then moved to a terraced house on New Park Street – while the business was expanded elsewhere – and it was here that a second child, Edgar Wallace, was born 14 June 1869. He was destined to become an early legend at Everton Football Club.…

Isaac Roberts: The Short Life of an Everton Blue

24

Aug

By Tony Onslow

0 Comments

1878-1889, Articles, History, Members Work, Players, Tony Onslow

Isaac Roberts: The Short Life of an Everton Blue

Standing at the rear of the tall buildings that today run along the thoroughfare of Dale Street are the remains of the uniquely named Ryleys Gardens. However, this once squalid and narrow court was inhabited by many destitute immigrants who had arrived in Victorian Liverpool hoping for a new start in life. Ryleys Gardens was also the birthplace of a man who played one competitive game for Everton – Isaac Roberts . The last remaining building in Ryleys Gardens contemporary with the court houses Isaac Roberts was born August 1868, the fourth child of Isaac, a mariner, and his wife…

29

Jul

By Tony Onslow

0 Comments

1878-1889, Articles, History, Members Work, Players, Tony OnslowEverton FC, Kirkudbrightshire

Walter Brown: the Kirkcudbrightshire Blue

Most of the Scotsmen who played for Everton during their inaugural Football League season made their way to Liverpool having been recommended by agents who acted for the Anfield club north of the border. Walter Brown, however, appears to have arrived in the Mersey seaport with no knowledge whatsoever of the association game. He was born 11 June 1870 in the remote Kirkcudbrightshire community of Colvend, and was one of several children born to Thomas, a tinsmith, and his partner, Agnes. The 1881 census found the family still living in Kirkcudbrightshire before Agnes, on becoming a widow, moved with her…

28

Jun

By Tony Onslow

0 Comments

1878-1889, Articles, History, Members Work, Players, Tony Onslow

Once a Blue (11)-William Orr, the Boy from Gwladys Street

At the time William Marr Orr made his only Football League appearance for Everton, he had just moved to live in a new row of terraced houses that had been constructed by the Walton Local Board. George Goodison, their Civil Engineer, had decided to name the thoroughfare Gwladys Street. c.1870 the streets around the future site of Goodison Park yet to be laid out c.1890 - Goodison Road and Gwladys Steet laid out, plus part of Bullens Road The parents of William, John and Jean, had married in the Ayrshire town of Kilbirnie, where their first child Jessie was…

02

Jun

By Tony Onslow

0 Comments

1878-1889, History, Members Work, Players, Tony OnslowOswestry FC

James Morris, a Shropshire Lad

The Welsh Marches village of Trefonen in Shropshire was the birthplace of James Morris in April 1863, the third child of Anne and her Welsh husband, Robert. James made a most unusual appearance for Everton during their first season as members of the Football League. According to the 1881 census, the family were living in Oswestry, and James was working along with his father as a brickmaker. He began his football career with an Oswestry club who were founder members of the Shropshire FA in 1879. They shared a ground with the local cricket club at Victoria Road and lifted the Welsh & Border Counties FA Cup in…

James T Gibb – the first Irishman to score for Everton?

13

May

By Tony Onslow

0 Comments

1878-1889, Articles, Latest, Players, Tony Onslow

James T Gibb – the first Irishman to score for Everton?

Official Football League records, started September 1888, appear to indicate that Wexford born Jack Kirwen was the first Irishman to score a goal for Everton. However, on closer examination, this feat had in fact been achieved some twenty years earlier when they had first crossed the sea to play a game on the Emerald Isle. The player to do so was an Irish International from Belfast. James Turnbull Gibb was born on 15 August 1861 to Alexander and Mary nee Turnbull. He was educated at the Royal Belfast Academical Institute where he distinguished himself on the Rugby field. On completing…

15

Apr

By Tony Onslow

2 Comments

1878-1889, Articles, Members Work, Tony Onslow

The Andrew Watson Story

Now accepted as the world’s first black football player, Guyana-born Andrew Watson was to have a career that would bind him tightly to both Glasgow and Liverpool. He would also make a guest appearance in the colours of Everton. His father, Peter Miller Watson, was born 16 June 1805 in the Orkney Islands, and was the fourth son of James Watson, who acted as factor for a Scottish nobleman. His mother, née Christina Robertson, was Scottish and her family were sugar plantation owners in the colony of British Guyana. When Peter was just three years old his father died, and…