Articles

A Classic Everton ‘Who-Dunn-it’
05
Mar
By Jamie Yates
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1950-1959, Articles, Jamie Yates

A Classic Everton ‘Who-Dunn-it’

My laptop is playing up during this strange period of Coronavirus induced limbo. I plugged it in again last night and, whaddya know, it worked! Predictably within moments I was on Findmypast.com browsing Victorian newspaper archives for mentions of Fergus Suter and Jimmy Love, stars of the excellent Netflix series ‘The English Game’, which I binge-watched earlier in the week. I found a few bits and bobs about Suter, Love, Arthur Kinnaird, Darwen FC, and co. I knew the TV drama, brought to us by Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes, had played with certain facts and figures here and there for dramatic…
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Time to reduce Dave Thomas to tears – again
03
Mar
By David Prentice
Articles, Books, David Prentice, Events

Time to reduce Dave Thomas to tears – again

David Prentice Former Everton hero raising money for Guide Dogs DAVE THOMAS had to gulp back tears. Twice. Not when he was talking about the glaucoma which has seen him registered blind/partially sighted. The former Everton winger has accepted that condition. “It’s hereditary and I cope with it,” he shrugged. “You’ve got to. As you can imagine it’s life changing but I’m very positive.” Dave choked up talking about the support he has had from a legion of fans and well wishers since he started to raise money for the Guide Dog Association on a JustGiving page. He set out…
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The Life of Hunter Hart
01
Mar
By Rob Sawyer
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1920-1929, 1930-1939, Articles, Directors, History, Members Work, Players, Rob Sawyer

The Life of Hunter Hart

Hunter Hart was always recognisable by a distinctive quiff which pre-dated that of Wolves' Billy Wright. He served Everton with distinction on the field in the 1920s and behind a desk in the 1930s but, unfortunately, his association with the club he loved was to end prematurely, as was his life. Born on Glasgow on 11 March 1897 to Alexander (a carter) and Jessie, Hart grew up less than half a mile from Celtic's stadium. By the age of 14, living in Shettleston, Lanarkshire, he had lost the sight in one eye,  in what was described as 'a childhood accident'.…
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Easy’ – The Mick Heaton Story
28
Feb
By Rob Sawyer
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1980-1989, History, Members Work, Rob Sawyer

Easy’ – The Mick Heaton Story

Mick Heaton was an ebullient and wholehearted full-back who captained Blackburn Rovers to promotion to the Second Division in 1975, later assisting player-manager Howard Kendall as the Ewood Park club came tantalizingly close to reaching the top flight in 1981. On Merseyside, he was a vital part of the managerial team which led Everton to an unprecedented period of glory. To a younger generation of football supporters, Mick’s name might not ring any bells, so, to coincide with the 25th anniversary of his untimely passing, this article celebrates his life and achievements.  A Yorkshire Terrier James Michael Heaton was a…
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Initials T.G. – Researching Tommy Jones, The Prince of Centre-Halves
25
Feb
By Rob Sawyer
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1930-1939, 1940-1949, Books, Members Work, Players, Rob Sawyer, WW2

Initials T.G. – Researching Tommy Jones, The Prince of Centre-Halves

William Ralph “Dixie” Dean sits unchallenged as the king of Goodison Park. Joining him in the Royal Blue dynasty is the Prince of Centre Halves: Thomas George Jones. Tommy, as his friends knew him, was so famous in his pomp for Everton and Wales that he was known merely by his initials - T.G. Devouring Everton history books as a youngster, I would read of this artist in the Blues’ half-back line. Dominant in the air, immaculate on the ground and possessing a rocket-like shot, T.G. was so confident in his own ability that he would dribble in his own…
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George Sharples Remembered by Rob Sawyer
25
Feb
By Rob Sawyer
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1960-1969, Articles, History, Members Work, Players, Rob Sawyer

George Sharples Remembered by Rob Sawyer

George Sharples, who passed away on 14 December 2020, aged 77, had been one of nine surviving players to have played a part in Everton’s title-winning season of 1962-63 (the others being Jimmy Gabriel, Mick Meagan, John Morrissey, Derek Temple, Tony Kay, Billy Bingham, Ray Veall and Frank Wignall). George Sharples c.1961 A son of Ellesmere Port, he was born on 20 September 1943, to parents James and Florence, who ran a large and successful newsagent business in Overpool. A student at Wirral Grammar School – a rugby-playing establishment – George always had soccer as his first sporting love. He…
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Goodison Park, a Greyhound Stadium and Walton Hall Park
25
Feb
By Rob Sawyer
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1920-1929, Articles, Goodison, History, Rob Sawyer

Goodison Park, a Greyhound Stadium and Walton Hall Park

The Lily Parr statue at the National Football Museum Everton and the Rise, Fall and Revival of Women’s Football  This December marks a centenary of one of the most significant football matches played at Goodison Park – but it did not involve Everton FC.  The participants were Preston’s Dick, Kerr Ladies FC and their St. Helens counterparts. The festive season match, in front of a record crowd for a women’s match, suggested that the women’s game was on the way to establishing itself as a mainstream spectator sport. 15 years later Dick, Kerr Ladies - rebadged as Preston Ladies -…
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Adrian Heath receives his 1985 European Cup Winner’s Cup Medal from EFC Heritage Society
20
Feb
By Mike Royden
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2010-2019, Articles, Members Work, Mike Royden

Adrian Heath receives his 1985 European Cup Winner’s Cup Medal from EFC Heritage Society

Brendan Connolly (Chirman of EFCHS) presents the medal to Adrian Heath After much hard work behind the scenes, EFC Heritage Society was able to produce a copy of the 1985 ECWC medal that Adrian Heath missed out on due to injury. He had no idea what was in store for him when he stepped onto the Goodison turf during a visit home from Minnesota in the USA where he now coaches. Adrian Heath's medal (right) and an original 1985 medal from the collection of Brendan Connolly (Photo: Mike Royden) One of the most successful strikers in Everton history, Heath helped…
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