Mike Royden

Derek Temple – an interview with an Everton Giant

Derek Temple – an interview with an Everton Giant

With Rob Sawyer https://youtu.be/Wi01ixepwoE (Click to play) Derek Temple is, quite simply, an Everton treasure. His association with the club as ground staff member, player and supporter, spans seven decades. Scoring the winning goal in the  thrilling 1966 FA Cup Final has sometimes overshadowed the Dovecote-born man’s other achievements. Joining the Blues as a prolific teenage centre-forward in 1954, he debuted for the first team in March 1957 before having his career paused for two years due to National Service, some of it in Kenya. On his return, he had to reacclimatise to English football. Blessed with pace and excellent…
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Joe Mercer and the Football Battalion

Joe Mercer and the Football Battalion

by Mike Royden Some years ago, I was working on an extensive project to research and document the history of Ellesmere Port during the First World War, which covered life on the home front, those that served in the forces, and those who sadly did not return. I created a website to share the research and stories, which also covered the recording of the biographies of the servicemen listed on the town's war memorials. One name sprang out while scouring the newspapers of the time - that of Joe Mercer. It was an interview he gave to a local journalist,…
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Forgotten Champions 1986/87: Everton’s Last Title

Forgotten Champions 1986/87: Everton’s Last Title

Paul McParlan – in Conversation with Rob Sawyer The Forgotten Champions is an enthralling account of how Everton overcame a devastating catalogue of injuries and the sale of their star striker to reclaim the league title from Liverpool in 1987. Manager Howard Kendall used all his tactical acumen to produce a side that was far greater than the sum of its parts, to bring the title back to Goodison.  Paul McParlan, of Everton FC Heritage Society, is a member of the Football Writers' Association and a senior writer for These Football Times. His articles have appeared on The Athletic website…
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‘Everton Village and the Birth of Everton Football Club’  

‘Everton Village and the Birth of Everton Football Club’  

Presented by Rob Sawyer in conversation with Ken Rogers. An EFCHS original film Everton FC Heritage Society have made a new film about the role and effect of Everton Village in the history of Everton Football Club, featuring the Queen's Head pub, the two toffee shops, and, of course, the lock-up which adorns our club crest. Only the lock-up still remains in situ, but the sites are all within just a few yards of each other. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sw1kHgjMH_w&ab_channel=EvertonFCHeritageSociety Well-known Everton FC author and member of EFCHS, Rob Sawyer, met up with former Sports Editor of the Liverpool Echo, Ken Rogers (Chairman…
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Broken Dreams: Everton, The War and Goodison’s Lost Generation

Broken Dreams: Everton, The War and Goodison’s Lost Generation

Rob Sawyer - in Conversation with Paul McParlan In the late summer of 1939, Everton Football Club had the world at their feet. After a 1938/39 season that saw them claim the League Championship title, they seemed poised to become an enduring dynasty in English football. With young stars like Tommy Lawton, a veteran goalkeeper in Ted Sagar, and emerging talents like Joe Mercer and TG Jones, Everton was a squad bursting with potential. But the invasion of Poland by Germany, just eight days into the 1939/40 season, suspended the dreams and ambitions of a team that looked set to…
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Remembrance at Goodison Park 2024

Remembrance at Goodison Park 2024

Armistice Day Service, The Fallen of Everton FC Memorial, Goodison Park Representatives of Everton Football Club; Darren Griffiths; Richard Kenyon; former player Ian Snodin; and the Reverend Henry Corbett (Chaplain to Everton Football Club and member of Everton FC Heritage Society). Many thanks are due again to Paul Kelly of Everton FC Heritage Society (supported by his wife Jean), in organising the service, despite continued poor health – this is an event they have now organised with dedication for over a decade. The service was conducted by the Reverend Henry Corbett, Chaplain to Everton Football Club, and the Reverend Lynn…
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St Luke’s – the church with its own football ground

St Luke’s – the church with its own football ground

St Luke’s – the church with its own football ground by Mike Royden https://youtu.be/MsIW2vqWcHM Although Everton F.C. started life as the St Domingo’s church team in 1878, it is now closely associated with another place of worship. St. Luke the Evangelist, nestled between the Main Stand and the Howard Kendall Gwladys Street Stand, contributes to the uniqueness of Goodison Park. As well a providing an evangelical presence for the local community for well over a century, the associated church hall also provides a facility for local organisations, not least as a match day venue for the Everton FC Heritage Society.…
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Colin Green: The Brymbo Boy and Everton full-back – in conversation with Rob Sawyer

Colin Green: The Brymbo Boy and Everton full-back – in conversation with Rob Sawyer

In 2024, Rob Sawyer of EFCHS met with former Welsh international Colin Green in his Wrexham home. Signed by Everton as a schoolboy in 1957, Colin made his first team debut in September 1960, going on to play eighteen times for the Blues, before making 183 appearances for Birmingham. Now eighty-two years old, a fascinating time was spent in the company of Colin, learning about his life in football, most especially his time at Everton between 1957 and 1962. https://youtu.be/0ues-4XqkcE ............................................................................. Gallery Everton FC squad 1959/60 pictured on the Park End/Bullens Road training ground. Colin Green in on the back…
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The Mighty George Farmer – new release!

The Mighty George Farmer – new release!

'Hey Now Georgie' A great new single release is 'Hey Now Georgie' by Liverpool band The Mighty George Farmer. https://youtu.be/KZSlq-N6Vc4?si=jtz_zQTaR5lAzm4x The song - and the name of the band - is inspired by George Farmer, one of the Toffees' first true stars, and the club's first ever professional player in 1885. We are honoured to say that Everton FC Heritage Society played a key part in the research and in the production of the video. The Research Jamie Yates carried out an incredible amount of research to put the story of George's life together. He also led the project to…
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John Smith – Co-founder of Everton Supporters’ Club London Area (ESCLA)

John Smith – Co-founder of Everton Supporters’ Club London Area (ESCLA)

John posing in front of the famous Everton Lock Up during our 2025 event One of our visitors to the 'Everton FC in Everton' event on Saturday 17 May 2025 was John Smith, a man very well-known to fans past and present in the London area. John Collings at the 2009 FA Cup Final (photo: www.escla.org.uk) It was on a train from London to Plymouth on 25 January 1975, while on their way to watch Everton play in the FA Cup, when travelling companions John Smith and John Collings decided to form a club, or association, which would help fellow…
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