Members Work

Articles and writing from Heritage Society members and contributors

Easy’ – The Mick Heaton Story
28
Feb
By Rob Sawyer
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1980-1989, History, Members Work, Rob Sawyer

Easy’ – The Mick Heaton Story

Mick Heaton was an ebullient and wholehearted full-back who captained Blackburn Rovers to promotion to the Second Division in 1975, later assisting player-manager Howard Kendall as the Ewood Park club came tantalizingly close to reaching the top flight in 1981. On Merseyside, he was a vital part of the managerial team which led Everton to an unprecedented period of glory. To a younger generation of football supporters, Mick’s name might not ring any bells, so, to coincide with the 25th anniversary of his untimely passing, this article celebrates his life and achievements.  A Yorkshire Terrier James Michael Heaton was a…
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Initials T.G. – Researching Tommy Jones, The Prince of Centre-Halves
25
Feb
By Rob Sawyer
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1930-1939, 1940-1949, Books, Members Work, Players, Rob Sawyer, WW2

Initials T.G. – Researching Tommy Jones, The Prince of Centre-Halves

William Ralph “Dixie” Dean sits unchallenged as the king of Goodison Park. Joining him in the Royal Blue dynasty is the Prince of Centre Halves: Thomas George Jones. Tommy, as his friends knew him, was so famous in his pomp for Everton and Wales that he was known merely by his initials - T.G. Devouring Everton history books as a youngster, I would read of this artist in the Blues’ half-back line. Dominant in the air, immaculate on the ground and possessing a rocket-like shot, T.G. was so confident in his own ability that he would dribble in his own…
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George Sharples Remembered by Rob Sawyer
25
Feb
By Rob Sawyer
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1960-1969, Articles, History, Members Work, Players, Rob Sawyer

George Sharples Remembered by Rob Sawyer

George Sharples, who passed away on 14 December 2020, aged 77, had been one of nine surviving players to have played a part in Everton’s title-winning season of 1962-63 (the others being Jimmy Gabriel, Mick Meagan, John Morrissey, Derek Temple, Tony Kay, Billy Bingham, Ray Veall and Frank Wignall). George Sharples c.1961 A son of Ellesmere Port, he was born on 20 September 1943, to parents James and Florence, who ran a large and successful newsagent business in Overpool. A student at Wirral Grammar School – a rugby-playing establishment – George always had soccer as his first sporting love. He…
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Goodison Park, a Greyhound Stadium and Walton Hall Park
25
Feb
By Rob Sawyer
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1920-1929, Articles, Goodison, History, Rob Sawyer

Goodison Park, a Greyhound Stadium and Walton Hall Park

The Lily Parr statue at the National Football Museum Everton and the Rise, Fall and Revival of Women’s Football  This December marks a centenary of one of the most significant football matches played at Goodison Park – but it did not involve Everton FC.  The participants were Preston’s Dick, Kerr Ladies FC and their St. Helens counterparts. The festive season match, in front of a record crowd for a women’s match, suggested that the women’s game was on the way to establishing itself as a mainstream spectator sport. 15 years later Dick, Kerr Ladies - rebadged as Preston Ladies -…
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Adrian Heath receives his 1985 European Cup Winner’s Cup Medal from EFC Heritage Society
20
Feb
By Mike Royden
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2010-2019, Articles, Members Work, Mike Royden

Adrian Heath receives his 1985 European Cup Winner’s Cup Medal from EFC Heritage Society

Brendan Connolly (Chirman of EFCHS) presents the medal to Adrian Heath After much hard work behind the scenes, EFC Heritage Society was able to produce a copy of the 1985 ECWC medal that Adrian Heath missed out on due to injury. He had no idea what was in store for him when he stepped onto the Goodison turf during a visit home from Minnesota in the USA where he now coaches. Adrian Heath's medal (right) and an original 1985 medal from the collection of Brendan Connolly (Photo: Mike Royden) One of the most successful strikers in Everton history, Heath helped…
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Tommy E Jones: A Gentleman on and off the Pitch
02
Feb
By Rob Sawyer
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1950-1959, Articles, History, Members Work, Rob Sawyer

Tommy E Jones: A Gentleman on and off the Pitch

The telegram was succinct: ‘Best of Luck — may everything go well for you'. It had been sent by Tommy G Jones — the exalted Prince of Centre-Halves — to his namesake, 20-year-old Tommy E Jones, who was debuting for the Everton first team against Arsenal on 6 September 1950.  Tommy (often referred to as T E Jones in football circles — short for Thomas Edwin) would have the burden of succeeding the supremely gifted and ‘T G'. Nonetheless, he'd go on to carve out his own place in the Gwladys Street Hall of Fame. Looking back when interviewed for Three Sides of…
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Once a Blue – Steve Bateman
30
Jan
By Steve Zocek
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1980-1989, Articles, Latest, Players, Steve Zocek

Once a Blue – Steve Bateman

In the matchday programme during the 1983/84 season, there was a Q & A featuring the players. I came across the one with Mark Higgins, who was asked to recommend a player for the future. ‘Steve Bateman’ was his reply. Steve was the captain of the Everton FA Youth Cup side that lost the final to Norwich City in the 1982/83 season, 6-5 on aggregate. Whatever happened to Steve? As always, I dug deep to satisfy my fascination, intrigued to find out what happened to hhim after Everton. Enjoy. Steve originated from down south at Berkhamsted. At the age of…
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Any Dream Will Do: Don Donovan – (Son of my Father Part 13)
24
Jan
By Steve Zocek
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1950-1959, 1970-1979, Articles, Latest, Players, Steve Zocek

Any Dream Will Do: Don Donovan – (Son of my Father Part 13)

Don Donovan arrived in England from Cork, the second largest city in Ireland located in the south west of the country, an area which also produced Roy Keane. Don played junior football for Maymount Rovers then Dalymount Rovers, where he was spotted by an Everton representative whilst the club was on a pre-season tour. Don was invited to cross the Irish Sea in 1949, just after the war, leaving his close family and moving to new surroundings in Liverpool, only to be welcomed by a fellow countryman, Tommy Eglinton. Tommy later became the godfather of Don’s son, Terry. Other members…
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‘When Skies are Gray’ – Everton at Leicester in 1985
23
Jan
By Francis Hickey
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1980-1989, Articles, Francis Hickey, History, Members Work

‘When Skies are Gray’ – Everton at Leicester in 1985

Supporters of a certain age will remember Steve Lynex’s well-taken goal at Filbert Street on 23rd February 1985, in a match featuring numerous future teammates and TV pundits. On a cold afternoon, it sent an icy blast through Evertonian hearts. It was also the day on which an Everton legend grabbed the iconic number nine shirt for the first time since September, to change his goal scoring fortunes and steer the Blues towards glory. Everton’s squad depth was being tested by a season-ending injury to top scorer Adrian Heath and the absence of striker Graeme Sharp, injured in the FA…
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