Everton Collection

Mapping the Lock Up and the History of the Everton Crest

Mapping the Lock Up and the History of the Everton Crest

Mike Royden Entering into the Park End Captain's Table at Goodison Park minutes after the annual Remembrance memorial, attendees were keen to gather a hot drink and sit down for a moment's respite after escaping from the bitterly cold weather. Paul Walsh While chatting to fellow Heritage Society members, we were approached by Paul Walsh, a life-long Blue, volunteer with the 1878s, and a fan of the work carried out by the Society. He had in his hand a map he had recently acquired, and very kindly wished to donate it to the Society so that something could be made…
Read More
My Everton FC Initiatives

My Everton FC Initiatives

The second in a series of three films featuring the legacy of ‘Dr Everton.’ Presented by Chris Beesley / Filmed and edited by Lewis Royden Perhaps best known for The Everton Collection, David is the founder and driving force behind numerous initiatives related to Everton Football Club, such as Gwladys Street’s Hall of Fame since 1996, Everton Former Players’ Foundation since 1999, and Everton FC Heritage Society since 2008, to name just a few. These initiatives and many more are discussed here in fascinating detail, in a corner of that famous Goodison Road watering hole, the Winslow Hotel.  https://youtu.be/AxGFGiPsfKI 'My…
Read More
Desert Island Memorabilia: David France and The Everton Collection

Desert Island Memorabilia: David France and The Everton Collection

The first in a series of three films featuring the legacy of 'Dr Everton.' In a pastiche of the famous radio programme broadcast since 1942, where guests pick eight pieces of music, a book, and a luxury item to take to a desert island; Dr David France OBE has selected ten items of Evertonia, mostly from The Everton Collection, plus a book, and just one piece of music, to take to his island amid a sea of blue. The David France Collection was put together over several decades, and it is a unique collection of artefacts, letters, medals and other…
Read More
The Opening of Goodison Park! – A Picnic, a Firework Display, a Friendly, the First League Game

The Opening of Goodison Park! – A Picnic, a Firework Display, a Friendly, the First League Game

Mike Royden The year 1892 was iconic in the history of Everton Football Club, famous for the dispute with John Houlding, which cumulated in the potentially club-ending gamble of moving to a new, undeveloped site, in time for the opening of the forthcoming 1892-93 season on 3 September.  It was a tall order of course, but once the decision had been made, the directors and club officials went into overdrive to ensure their dream move would become a reality in the very short time available to them. Work began in May 1892, contractors were engaged, and the pitch area –…
Read More
In Search of Priory Road 1883-84

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…
Read More
The Everton Heritage Society Podcast

The Everton Heritage Society Podcast

on the official Everton Football Club website Two of our Heritage Society members, Brendan Connolly and Sarah Deboe, have joined Darren Griffiths of Everton FC for a half hour podcast that explains in much more detail precisely what the society does. They speak about the importance of preserving the unique history of the club, how important it is to have a matchday presence so close to the stadium, and the terrific task of restoring and rededicating the graves of some of the earliest Everton legends. It’s a fascinating listen - click the image above or  click here to visit the…
Read More
Tom Fern – Everton’s Evergreen Goalkeeper

Tom Fern – Everton’s Evergreen Goalkeeper

By Rob Sawyer The 1914/15 season was played under the cloud of the First World War, with many criticising the football authorities for letting it run to its conclusion. An ostentatious celebration of the title win by Everton would not have been welcomed by the press or the nation at large. This muted response is something of a disservice to the likes of Bobby Parker, Harry Makepeace, Sam Chedgzoy, Jimmy Galt and Tom Fern. The latter was a custodian who amassed over two hundred outings for the Toffees - it would have been many more, were it not for the…
Read More
Rugby Links at Goodison

Rugby Links at Goodison

In previous articles published on this website, I focused on the other sporting side of Everton's history regarding sports, such as baseball and basketball. There have also been healthy links between Everton FC and cricket and the Olympics. Even American Football was reported to have been played at Goodison, highlighted in an article (1) by Pete Jones.   My article below focuses on both Rugby codes played at Goodison Park.  [1. Jones, Pete, 'Gridiron at Goodison', Everton FC Matchday Programme, Everton v Atalanta (Europa League, 23 November 2017) ]. 1908 - Kangaroos Rugby League Tourists Squad The Everton FC Board Minutes…
Read More
Programmed for Success

Programmed for Success

In the second of a series of EFC Heritage Society articles focusing on the World-famous Everton Collection, Ken Rogers takes a look at programmes from encounters with Wolves in May 1982 and April 1984. He reflects how the team listings on the back pages reflect how an era of change accelerated towards the most successful in our history. It is accepted across the Premier League that our matchday programmes are amongst the best in the country. It’s therefore not surprising that thousands of our most evocative publications form a key strand within the football memorabilia treasure that is the Everton…
Read More
The Birth of Sponsorship

The Birth of Sponsorship

I was asked what appeared to be a fairly straightforward Everton FC quiz question recently but failed miserably with my answer. To be fair, it was a Richarlison-style curved ball, linked with the first known commercial sponsors of a Goodison Park fixture. I thought I started well by suggesting Hafnia and NEC but I wasn’t even close. Linked with today’s visitors I was told that the answer had a Manchester connection and links to lifeboats, a beefy end-product and an historical light spectacular. In the end I turned to a classic source of information for the answer by viewing the…
Read More