Articles – Page 28 – Everton FC Heritage Society

29

Jan

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

Mick Higgins – the Original True Blue

Mike Higgins No other player can claim a tighter bond with the early development of Everton Football Club than 'good old' Mike Higgins who can surely lay claim to the title of 'Original True Blue'. From the start of club records, he can be found representing them when they first appeared on Stanley Park. Higgins was with the club during their one-year tenure at Priory Road and took part in the first game Everton played at Anfield. He was the longest serving member of the playing staff, when they became founder members of the Football League in 1888. His Irish born father,…

29

Jan

By Simon Hart

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1980-1989, Articles, History, Members Work, Players, Simon Hart

Gray Wolves

League Cup Winner With Wolverhampton Wanderers 1984 Fa cup winner and Goalscorer alongside fellow Goalscorer and Frontman Graeme Sharp “I loved playing at Everton. Once you got on that pitch, the atmosphere was great – the comments you got when you were taking a corner or throw-in were brilliant.” These are the words of Kenny Hibbitt, a Wolverhampton Wanderers stalwart of the 1970s and 1980s – and a member of the last Wolves side to win a league fixture at Goodison Park fully 40 years ago. It was on 15 September 1979 that John Barnwell’s visitors prevailed 3-2, with the help of…

28

Jan

By Tony Onslow

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1878-1889, History, Members Work, Players, Tony OnslowEverton, Sunderland Albion

John Dewar

Thanks to the British Newspaper Archive website, the mystery of John Dewar, who made a single appearance for Everton, can be revealed. He was born in September 1867, in the Renfrewshire village of Strathbungo (today part of the City of Glasgow), and was the second child of Andrew, a Stonemason, and his wife Janet. The family had relocated to the Kinning Park area of Glasgow where John became an apprentice to his father and played junior football with Well Park, with whom he won the Glasgow Junior Cup. Around 1882 he progressed to senior football with Thistle FC (once a…

25

Jan

By Tony Onslow

2 Comments

1890-1899, Articles, History, Members Work, Players, Tony Onslow, WW1

Alfred John Schofield

Following in the footsteps of Edgar Chadwick, Alf Schofield first saw the light of day through the mill chimneys of Blackburn in Lancashire. He was born on 16 July 1876 at 39 Alexandra Street, the fourth child of David, a machine maker, and his wife, Betsy. However, following the early death of her husband, Betsy moved Alfred and his siblings to the comfortable surroundings at 48 Brighton Road in Birkdale where on the 1881 census she is reported to be 'living by own means'. Alfred Schofield joined Everton as an amateur in December 1895, and was first seen by the…

25

Jan

By Tony Onslow

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1878-1889, History, Members Work, Tony OnslowAnfield, First game at Anfield, Thomas Whittle, Tony Onslow, Walter Richards, William Gibson

The Three Young Blues

...Who played together in that historic first game at Anfield on 27 September 1884 Like many of the young teenagers of Victorian Liverpool, William Gibson, Walter Richards and Thomas Whittle would have been drawn towards the new game, association football, that was beginning to sweep the land and would have spent their early teens watching such teams as Everton on Stanley Park. They also would have observed that this particular club had, by 1882, attracted the largest number spectators to their unguarded playing area. The following year, when they moved to an enclosure, William Gibson appeared in their line-up. Born…

25

Jan

By Tony Onslow

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1878-1889, Articles, History, Members Work, Players, Tony OnslowDarwen, Preston North End, Walter Smalley

Only Once a Blue (8) Walter Smalley

Everton had just excepted the invitation to become founder members of the Football League when Tommy Costley declared himself 'unavailable' for the home game on 2 April. His place was taken by the elder brother of the club goalkeeper, Walter Smalley. Born 1864 at Over Darwen in Lancashire, he was the eldest child of Thomas, a cotton mill manager, and Jane. The 1881 census recorded the Smalley family, now with four children, living in a larger home at St Matthews Terrace in Preston, where Walter had found employment as a clerk. He has also become a member of North…

25

Jan

By Tony Onslow

1890-1899, History, Tony OnslowDarwen, Darwen FC, Everton, Goalkeeper, Henry Biggs

Henry F Briggs, An Everton Goalkeeper

Signed as cover for the controversial 'Happy Jack' Hillman, Frank Briggs joined Everton from Darwen in January 1906, having first played football in the Nottinghamshire coalfield area. He had been born at dwelling number 84 on the Alfreton Turnpike at Eastwood in 1872 and was the third of child of John, a domestic servant, and his wife, Lucy. Henry Briggs is missing from the 1891 census, but contemporary newspaper reports placed him keeping goal for a Midland League side who were the forerunners of Mansfield Town. His skills quickly caught the attention of struggling Football League Division One outfit Darwen,…

02

Jan

By Tony Onslow

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1900-1909, History, Members Work, Tony OnslowWilliam Wildman; West Ham United

William Wildman

Full back William Wildman was invited to join Everton in 1903, having been spotted playing with local amateur team, Queens Road Mission. No fee was involved, but the Goodison Park club made a donation to the mission of £6 7s 6d. [Today worth around £800]. Their new recruit had been born 5 March 1880, and was the seventh child of Allison, a shipwright, and his wife, Elizabeth. At that time the family lived in Exley Street, but in the 1901 census, they were recorded as living in Richmond Grove, where William had found employment as a commercial clerk. Kept out…

Blue plaque unveiled at Dixie Dean’s primary school in Birkenhead

14

Dec

By David Prentice

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1910-1919, 2010-2019, David Prentice, Events, History, John Rowlands, Members WorkDixie Dean, Everton

Blue plaque unveiled at Dixie Dean’s primary school in Birkenhead

Legendary goalscorer's daughter and another Everton striking legend perform unveiling ceremony Everton legend Graeme Sharp, left, together with Barbara Dean, right, daughter of the club's goal-scoring legend Dixie Dean,pictured below the EFC Heritage Society plaque at Portland School in Laird Street, where the football hero first went to school in Birkenhead. Photo by James Maloney The EFC Heritage Society commissioned plaque at Co-Op Portland Academy in Laird Street, where Everton legend Dixie Dean first went to school. A blue plaque commemorating the site of the school where Everton and England legend Dixie Dean first studied has been unveiled. Dixie's daughter…

14

Dec

By Steve Zocek

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1970-1979, History, Interview, Steve Zocek"The New George Best"

Martin Murray: ‘The New George Best’

Martin Murray was signed by Everton from Irish club Home Farm in December of 1975 at the age of sixteen. Billy Bingham, the manager who signed him, labelled him as the new George Best. Unfortunately, Martin was unlucky with injuries and failed to make the first team. I have been fascinated with trying to find Martin for a few years, but with much homework, I managed to locate him out in Denmark. We spent time chatting about the days he spent at Goodison, which has left a lasting impression on him, as he is now an Evertonian. Martin continues to…