Members Work – Page 2 – Everton FC Heritage Society

15

Apr

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1970-1979, Latest, Obituary, Players, Rest in Peace, Rob Sawyer

Henry Newton (1944-2026) – an Obituary

Rob Sawyer Harry Catterick smashed Everton’s transfer fee record in October 1970 to secure the services of Nottingham Forest midfielder Henry Newton, whose death at the age of 82 was announced on 14 April 2026. Sadly, things didn’t work out as hoped, for the club and player in the early 1970s, for a variety of reasons. Happily for Henry, he enjoyed a satisfying and silverware-laden period post-Everton, in his native East Midlands with Derby County. Born 18 February 1944, Henry joined his local club Nottingham Forest at fifteen, having gained England Schoolboy honours. Four months shy of his 20th birthday,…

Red Cards, Late Arrivals and Goalie Wars – A History of Everton’s Emergency Goalkeepers

06

Apr

By Paul Owens

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Latest, Paul Owens, Players

Red Cards, Late Arrivals and Goalie Wars – A History of Everton’s Emergency Goalkeepers

Paul Owens During every school holiday bar the Christmas break, I run one-v-one football competitions close to my home in East Yorkshire. As the name suggests, the hugely popular ‘Hull and East Riding Goalie Wars’ tournaments are aimed primarily at budding keepers and are a fabulous way of bringing members of the region’s goalkeepers’ union together, which is something I am extremely proud of. Notwithstanding, the competitions are open to anyone who buys into our slogan: ‘Save theirs; Score yours; Have fun!’ A number of past winners have actually been outfielders, who decided to pull on the gloves to see…

Lifting the Lid on Reporting on the Blues for over Five Decades

04

Apr

By Rob Sawyer

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David Prentice, Events, Film and Media, Ken Rogers, Latest, Lewis Royden

Lifting the Lid on Reporting on the Blues for over Five Decades

---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ken Rogers (Chairman EFCHS, former Liverpool Echo Sports Editor`) David Prentice (Former Liverpool Echo Sports Editor, Head of Communications, Everton FC) Ken Rogers and David Prentice - Lifting the Lid on Reporting on the Blues for over Five Decades Rob Sawyer The fourth in the spring 2026 series of Everton FC Heritage Society social/talk evenings played to a packed house at the Denbigh Castle function room. Aside from many regular attendees, We were delighted to welcome Everton CEO Angus Kinnear, plus Lord Grantchester (grandson of Sir John Moores and a former Toffees board member), who was also in the company of Andrew Lancel…

Alec Troup – Small in Stature, Mighty in Impact

27

Mar

By Rob Sawyer

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1920-1929, 1930-1939, Articles, Latest, Players, Rob Sawyer

Alec Troup – Small in Stature, Mighty in Impact

Rob Sawyer Dixie Dean’s goalscoring exploits gained legendary status, long before he hung up his boots in 1939. His instincts and ability to plunder goals were unsurpassed, but he was always quick to recognise the contribution to his remarkable goal haul of his Everton wingmen. Without their ‘assists’, to coin the modern parlance, his figures would still have been impressive, but somewhat less so. Bobby Irvine, Sam Chedgzoy, Ted Critchley, Jimmy Stein, Albert Geldard, Jack Coulter and Torry Gillick were all top class outside rights and lefts, but it is fair to say that Dean’s highest praise was reserved for…

Blues Celebrate a Night That Made History

26

Mar

By Rob Sawyer

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1980-1989, Articles, Events, Latest, Players, Rob Sawyer

Blues Celebrate a Night That Made History

Rob Sawyer Forty-one years ago, on 24 April 1985, Goodison Park was rocked to its foundations on one of the greatest nights the beloved stadium has played host to. Cheered on by 49,476 vociferous fans, who, according to Howard Kendall, had the ability to suck the ball into the Gwladys Street net, Everton came from a goal down to defeat Bayern Munich, 3-1, and proceed to the final of the European Cup Winners’ Cup. On 25 March of this year, Everton players, backroom staff, supporters and people from the media gathered at Hill Dickinson Stadium for a nostalgic evening to…

This Prince of Goalkeepers – Lance Corporal Leigh Richmond Roose MM

23

Mar

By Mike Royden

1900-1909, 1910-1919, Film and Media, Latest, Lewis Royden, Mike Royden, Rest in Peace, WW1

This Prince of Goalkeepers – Lance Corporal Leigh Richmond Roose MM

A great deal of research has been carried out by a number of members since the founding of the society, into players on Everton FC books who fell in both wars. This research has also been extended to include the Everton clubs of Chile and New Zealand. In addition, there has also been an ongoing project to research those who had served, but had survived, and in many cases were deeply affected by the conflict, who were never the same again, being affected both physically and mentally. ____________________________________________________________________________________________ The Fallen of Everton FC on Film Our series of films about the…

Mapping the Lock Up and the History of the Everton Crest

19

Mar

By Mike Royden

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Articles, Bramley-Moore, Everton Collection, Goodison, Latest, Mike Royden

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…

The Great Goalpost Desecrating Craze of the 1960s

17

Mar

By Jamie Yates

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1960-1969, Articles, Goodison, Jamie Yates, Latest

The Great Goalpost Desecrating Craze of the 1960s

Jamie Yates For anyone who grew up with the 1988 BBC Official History narrated by John Motson as part of their Evertonian education, one of the most exhilarating montages is made up of footage from the 1962/63 season, early on in Harry Catterick’s glorious reign as manager. One particularly notable sequence is the footage from Saturday 22 September 1962, the Merseyside Derby at Goodison Park. Rival captains Ron Yeats and Roy Vernon lead the teams out from the tunnel for the Merseyside derby at Goodison Park, Saturday 8 February 1964 (NB this is the season after the derby featured here. Thanks…

From Birkenhead to El Ballet Azul: The Billy Higgins Story

15

Mar

By Rob Sawyer

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1940-1949, 1950-1959, Articles, Latest, Players, Rob Sawyer

From Birkenhead to El Ballet Azul: The Billy Higgins Story

Rob Sawyer Billy Higgins with Everton in 1946 When Everton played the Millonarios club of Bogotá in Florida in the summer of 2021, it provided an intriguing link to the past. In 1950, the Columbian club was at the epicentre of a storm over footballers being lured from British clubs to a so-called ‘renegade league’. In the immediate post-war era, footballers employed by English Football League clubs were on a maximum wage of £12 per week plus moderate bonuses and long service rewarded with periodic ‘benefit cheques’. Although well-paid, compared to the typical blue-collar worker, these sporting stars were far…

John ‘Jock’ Gillespie: From Hampden Park to the Battlefield

14

Mar

By Richie Gillham

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1878-1889, Articles, Latest, Players, Richard Gillham

John ‘Jock’ Gillespie: From Hampden Park to the Battlefield

Richie Gillham John 'Jock' Gillespie John “Jock” Gillespie was born on Tuesday 15 November 1870, in Falkirk. Jock and his three brothers were all good footballers. His brother, George L. Gillespie, was a well-known player of the day who played for Queen’s Park, another brother, Alexander, played for both Queen’s Park and Falkirk. William Gillespie, a third brother, also made occasional appearances on the football field and was a keen cyclist. Their father John, a Ship Carrier , too, was known as an athlete of some prowess. George was one of the founders of the Falkirk Amateurs Football club too.…