Members Work

Articles and writing from Heritage Society members and contributors

‘Everton FC in Everton Day’ – 9 May 2026 – Noon-2pm

‘Everton FC in Everton Day’ – 9 May 2026 – Noon-2pm

On Saturday 9 May between Noon and 2pm, the Everton FC Heritage Society, in tandem with the Friends of Everton Park (FOEP), once again opened up the Everton Lock-Up below Browside, for a special ‘Everton FC in Everton Day.’ https://youtu.be/mK9MLE-oCEU?si=1WbJL3NILL4xVh6k Video filmed by Rob Sawyer and edited by Lewis Royden Rob Sawyer, who was one of Everton FC Heritage Society's representatives on the day, reports on the event; A Report on the ‘Everton FC in Everton Day’ 2026 Rob Sawyer Although Everton FC, and its previous incarnation as St Domingo chapel football team, has never played football in the Everton…
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Everton FC in Everton Day

Everton FC in Everton Day

Ken Rogers (Photos - Rob Sawyer) The historic lock-up tower at the heart of Everton FC’s famous badge will once again be open to the public next Saturday (9 May, noon to 2pm) as the Friends of Everton Park and members of the Official EFC Heritage Society come together to provide a candlelight insight into the remarkable history of this famous structure that has stood below Brow Side for 239 years.  The Lock-Up, often wrongly referred to locally as Prince Rupert’s Castle, was built in 1787, one of just two such village structures in the city, the other being in…
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The Everton Heritage Show – Dr David France OBE

The Everton Heritage Show – Dr David France OBE

Presented by Lewis Royden Programme 14: 2 May 2026 Guest interview - Dr David France OBE https://youtu.be/h31UL7Ha6gs?si=AVdl0DEYDMjbgNZx As well as travelling over two million miles to follow Everton from his home in North America, Widnes born Dr David France OBE is an author, football historian, and philanthropist. He has pioneered the introduction of a series of successful Everton initiatives; he is possibly best known for The Everton Collection, now in trust in Liverpool Record Office; he was the driving force behind the Former Players Foundation (the first of its kind in the football world); and he founded the Gwlady's Street…
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Hey Blues – Paul McCartney at Goodison Park in 1968

Hey Blues – Paul McCartney at Goodison Park in 1968

Rob Sawyer Hey Jude / Revolution Monday 26 August 1968 saw the release of arguably The Beatle’s greatest single (and, yes, there are several strong candidates for that accolade*). Originally inspired by John Lennon’s son, Julian, Hey Jude, Paul McCartney’ seven-minute opus, featuring a four-minute chorus-cum-outro, would sit atop of British pop charts for two weeks. It would be knocked off its perch by  another McCartney composition, Those Were The Days, sung by Mary Hopkin. [* Sorry Rob, that has to be Strawberry Fields/Penny Lane. ;-) ed. ] Remarkably, a day after Beatles fans first rushed to grab copies of…
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Torry Gillick – Revered at Goodison Park and Ibrox

Torry Gillick – Revered at Goodison Park and Ibrox

Rob Sawyer Scotland’s recent match at Hill Dickinson stadium was the third time the Scottish national team had played at an Everton venue (previously v England in 1895 and 1911). This set my mind thinking about which Scottish Toffees I'd love to have seen gracing Goodison Park or the Blues’ new stadium. Foremost in my thoughts are John Bell, the charismatic forward of the 1890s, Sandy Young, our 1906 FA Cup Final goalscorer, Alex Young, our Golden Vision, ace number nine Graeme Sharp, and Torry Gillick, a hero of Everton’s 1938/39 title-winning team. The latter is the focus of this article…
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Henry Newton (1944-2026) – an Obituary

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

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

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…
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Alec Troup – Small in Stature, Mighty in Impact

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…
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Blues Celebrate a Night That Made History

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…
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