1878-1889 – Page 7 – Everton FC Heritage Society

16

Aug

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1878-1889, 1890-1899, Articles, History, Members Work, Players, Tony Onslow

A Christmas Tale from Liverpool

The retail stores of Liverpool had filled their windows with Christmas gifts to remind their potential customers that the festive season of 1888 was near, when a twenty years old Scotsman arrived at Tithebarn Railway Station to be greeted by the representatives of Everton Football Club. The weary traveller was John William Angus and he had been spotted while playing football in Glasgow, by a talent scout who dispatched him down to Liverpool, where he was to spend a trial period at Anfield. The Scot would have then been taken by the club conveyance, to meet the lady with whom…

16

Aug

By Tony Onslow

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

The Life of a Former Everton Captain

Nicholas John Ross, the Victorian version of the present-day soccer superstar, was a man who captained both Preston North End and Everton. He was the most feared defender of his generation and was described by the leading Victorian sports journalist, J A H Catton, as being "the most brilliant back of his day, if not of all time. The best I ever saw." Nick Ross, born in Edinburgh on 6 December 1862, was the second child of stonemason Thomas Ross and his wife Anne who was a shopkeeper. The 1871 census revealed that the Ross family were living at…

16

Aug

By Tony Onslow

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

Joseph Davies, the Welsh International from Shropshire

The graveyard photo shows the last resting place of Joseph Davies, who played for Everton during the season that they became founder members of the Football League. He was born on 27 June 1869, at St Martins in North West Shropshire and baptised at Preesgwyn Methodist Chapel. His parents, also born in St Martins, were Harriet and Stephen Davies, the latter a blacksmith at the local coal mine. The 1881 census shows the family as living in Chirk Bank Row in Weston Rhyn, where Joseph, along with his two brothers were still at school. On leaving education behind, he began…

16

Aug

By Tony Onslow

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

With Everton at Great Lever

There has long been some confusion concerning the outcome of the first competitive game played by Everton, that was won eventually by their opponents Great Lever. Early local historians state that Everton drew the tie 1-1 and then were decisively beaten in the replay by eight goals to one on Stanley Park. However, the record books of the Lancashire FA, held in Leyland, prove that Great Lever did indeed venture into next round of the competition, but the replay, which was rather acrimonious, took place in their home town of Bolton. The parishioners of St Bartholomew’s church had formed a…

The Magnificent Footballing Andersons of Liverpool

16

Aug

By Tony Onslow

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1878-1889, 1890-1899, Articles, History, Members Work, Mike Royden, Players, Tony Onslow

The Magnificent Footballing Andersons of Liverpool

When asked recently who was the first Liverpool-born man to play Association Football for England or score a goal in an FA Cup final, I was not able to answer the question. I then commenced to trawl through the FA records, and after much deliberation, appeared to have found the two most likely candidates to fill these roles. I was surprised to discover that they both belong to the same family. Rupert Darnley Anderson was born on 29 April 1859 and baptised the following June at St Paul's church in the Princes Park area of Liverpool. He was the fifth…

14

Aug

By Tony Onslow

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

The Costley Brothers – Was It Jim Or Was It Tom?

Thomas Halliwell Costley was born in Liverpool but began his football career in Blackburn, before moving back to his birthplace in order to play for Everton. He was the younger brother of Jimmy Costley who scored the winning goal for Blackburn Olympic in the 1883 FA Cup final. Although Jimmy was never to sign for Everton he did represent his home town club in several attractive friendly fixtures where he deputised for his brother on the left wing. Tommy, the fifth child of the family, was born on 5 March 1865 at Rathbone Street on the south side of Liverpool…

14

Aug

By Tony Onslow

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

The Blacksmith of Crossmyloof

John Weir, a blacksmith who once played football for both Everton and Scotland, was also one of the players famously suspended by the Football Association for playing for Everton as a professional in November 1887. John Weir was born, 10 January 1865, at Crossmyloof, Renfrewshire, and was the third child of a fairly mature couple who had moved to the west of Scotland from their native Ireland. The 1871 census found him still living at Crossmyloof, by now fully involved in the City of Glasgow, along with his elder brother, born 1862, whose name was Charles. By 1881, the two…

10

Feb

By Tony Onslow

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

Joseph Davies, the Welsh International from Shropshire

Joseph Davies, the Welsh International from Shropshire. The picture above shows the last resting place of Joseph Davies who played for Everton during the season that they became founder members of the Football League. He was born on 27 June 1869 at St Martins in north west Shropshire and baptised at Preesgwyn Methodist Chapel. He was the son of Stephen Davies, a blacksmith at the local coal mine, and his wife Harriet. Both of them had been born in St Martins. The 1881 census finds the family living at Chirk Bank Row in Weston Rhyn where Joseph, along with his…

31

Jan

By Tony Onslow

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

Andrew Gibson, The Blue from Dalmellington

Although destined never to play a Football League match for the club, Andrew Gibson played a leading role in the years leading up to Everton becoming founder members of the new organisation. He had been at the club for two seasons when the above picture was taken and he had travelled a somewhat round about route to reach the town where he would spend the rest of his days. Andrew Gibson was born on 31 January 1864, at 3 High Main Street of the Ayrshire market town of Dalmellington. His father and grandfather, both named Alexander, belonged to the Ancient…

The Old ‘Un wanders through Walton, lonely as a cloud. With Bill.

01

Jan

By Mike Royden

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1878-1889, 1910-1919, Goodison, History, Members Work, Mike Royden

The Old ‘Un wanders through Walton, lonely as a cloud. With Bill.

This article, written by early 20th century Everton historian Thomas Keates, originally appeared in the Liverpool Evening Express, of 23 November 1912. Tom Keates, (or is it John Keats?), dreamily wanders through the rural byways of Walton with his old pal Bill, trying to reimagine the excursion as preparation for his epic poem the 'Eve of St Domingo'. Nevertheless, there are a few points of interest here for students of early Everton history. GOODISON PARK Memories of Everton's Ground. Famous Cricketers Visit By the Old ‘Un, “Goodison Park eh –a funny park,” said my cousin Bill. He was down from…