History

Bobby Parker – an Everton hero

Bobby Parker – an Everton hero

[NB. A revised article on Bobby Parker by Rob Sawyer and other relevant links can be found here ] ................................................................ Bobby Parker - an Everton hero by David Prentice (2021) Bobby Parker is an Everton hero. A real life, bona fide hero in the truest definition of the word. On a football pitch Robert Norris Parker was a goalscoring hero who struck at the rate of almost a goal a game. But off it he was a war-hero, a man who sacrificed a sparkling career for his country – cruelly a sacrifice precious few people were aware of. Everton’s history…
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A Remembrance Day visit to Chile, November 2011

A Remembrance Day visit to Chile, November 2011

John Shearon (The Ruleteros) The Background to the Everton FC War Memorial Plaques When Dr. David France first started the search for the Everton players who had given their lives in the two World Wars, who would have thought the net would have fallen as far as South America? While Paul Wharton, Dr. John Rowlands and Dr. France set about identifying the Goodison fallen, Frank Gorman and Linda Lines from the Ruleteros Society were busy tracking down the details of two ex-pats, Frank Boundy and Malcolm Fraser. These co-founders of Everton Football Club in Chile both died on the Somme…
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Everton FC Heritage Society on Radio Merseyside

Everton FC Heritage Society on Radio Merseyside

On 14 September 2023, EFCHS members Rob Sawyer and Lewis Royden were interviewed by Paul 'Salty' Salt on BBC Radio Merseyside about the Society's activities, and our new venture into making films on the history of Everton Football Club (beginning with our recent documentaries on Thomas Keates and Everton Village). The full interview is available here: ⁩ (left to right): Rob Sawyer, Lewis Royden, Paul Salt (left to right): Paul Salt, Lewis Royden, Rob Sawyer (left to right): Paul Salt, Lewis Royden, Mike Royden ⁩ .
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Thomas Keates – Director and First Historian of Everton Football Club – An EFCHS original film

Thomas Keates – Director and First Historian of Everton Football Club – An EFCHS original film

Everton FC Heritage Society have made a new film about the life of Thomas Keates, an early director of Everton FC, and author of the first history of the club, published in 1929. Written and presented by EFCHS member Jamie Yates, he was inspired to delve further into Keates' past after discovering his damaged headstone in Anfield Cemetery while working on another project. We hope this will be the first of many more heritage films about Everton Football Club, as several more are already in the planning stage. Films are easily accessible via our YouTube Channel link on the main…
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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…
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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…
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Remembrance at Goodison Park 2022

Remembrance at Goodison Park 2022

Armistice Day Service, The Fallen of Everton FC Memorial, Goodison Park Many thanks again for all the work by Paul Kelly of Everton FC Heritage Society and his wife Jean in pulling things together for the commemoration event on 11 November 2022 - an event they have organised with dedication for several years. (photos: Mint Collective/Everton FC Heritage Society) Remembrance Fixture - Everton v Leicester City Richie Gillham, of Everton FC Heritage Society, in St Luke's with his brother, who was involved in the Goodison pre-match Remembrance ceremony Lest we Forget
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Remembrance at Goodison Park and the Fallen of Everton F.C.

Remembrance at Goodison Park and the Fallen of Everton F.C.

The Everton FC Remembrance service is held every 11 November at the memorial wall near the Park End Stand. Organised by Everton FC Heritage Society (Paul Kelly supported by other members), and attended by representatives of the Club, plus participation by the local ministry, Everton in the Community, Everton Community School, aided by a piper and vocalist before members of the public. . The Fallen of Everton Football Club Click image for the current list of the Fallen of Everton and booklet download The Fallen of Everton Football Club Remembrance Service - Goodison Park 2025 https://youtu.be/C1qileWUUcg Remembrance Day 2025 News…
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Lest We Forget

Lest We Forget

NB This article was due to appear in the Everton v Tottenham Hotspur Remembrance Day fixture of 7 November 2021. Unfortunately, due to the sad death of former manager Walter Smith, it was held over for his memorial article due to lack of space. It is reprinted in full below. Corporal 19024 Tom Gracie, 16th (Service) Battalion (2nd Edinburgh) The Royal Scots (Lothian Regiment) The Life of Tom Gracie Among the names of the Fallen of Everton FC featured on the panels by the Dixie Dean statue is Tom Gracie. Born in Glasgow in 1899, he was a qualified bookkeeper,…
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The Eventful Life of  Billy Kirsopp

The Eventful Life of Billy Kirsopp

The Eventful Life of Billy Kirsopp. William Henry James Kirsopp was a Liverpool born inside forward who, like many of his generation, was to have his football career interrupted in order to serve his country in World War One. Having first worked on the Mersey Docks he volunteered for the armed forces and, after seeing action in Europe, returned to the family home having been wounded. Kirsopp was born on 21 April 1892, the second son of Charles, a landscape gardener, and his Scottish born wife Elizabeth. The family first resided at Drysdale Street, in the southend of the city,…
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