Members Work

Articles and writing from Heritage Society members and contributors

Everton Proud

'Dr Everton is more than a football fan. 'Everton Proud' - also known as Everton Crazy - is more than a football book. Both are truly inspirational.' Alex Young 'There's obsession, then there's David France's love for Everton. This autobiography is the fascinating tale of a Blue who struggled to read until his teens yet became not only a hugely successful US Businessman but an an innovator and philanthropist who deserves our everlasting gratitude.' Andy Hunter, the Guardian 'After reading this terrific book, I realise that mine isn't the only life he has changed.' Tony Kay 'The titles of David France's books contain…
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Everton: The Official Complete Record

Everton: The Official Complete Record is the definitive account of one of Europe's most distinguished clubs. With nine league titles, five FA Cups and a rich club lore that boasts names such as Dixie Dean, Alex Young, Alan Ball and more recent heroes like Tim Cahill and Romelu Lukaku, theirs is a history replete with success and high drama. Boasting one of the most passionate and knowledgeable sets of fans, Everton are justifiably known as 'The People s Club'. Nearly 140 years after Everton's humble birth as a church team, Steve Johnson has painstakingly trawled through the archives to provide…
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Thank God for Football

  The original Thank God for Football! was published to great acclaim in 2006. This new edition, with abbreviated text, contains almost 120 illustrations. It gathers together a huge number of rare images of founders, founding churches and early teams. It includes contemporary photographs of streets where players lived, pubs in which they socialized and churches where they gathered. Furthermore, it offers images reflecting the impact of Thank God for Football! the restoration of founders' graves, the inducting of Christian founders into Halls of Fame, and features in match programmes and club magazines. Aston Villa Barnsley Birmingham City Bolton Wanderers…
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The Holy Trinity of Our Forefathers Part III:  Dr James Clement Baxter

The Holy Trinity of Our Forefathers Part III: Dr James Clement Baxter

  Previously there has been a concerted effort by the Everton FC Shareholders Association, and particularly by one fellow Evertonian, Paul Wharton, to endorse our song And if you know your history. Paul has been dubbed the Everton Sherlock Holmes. He has been driven to find out the true story behind our clubs formation and the founder fathers who delivered to us this fantastic club. When I read about our club's past it really does make your heart go whoohhoo! It is now generally accepted that the following gentleman were the driving force in forming and making Everton; Ben Swift…
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A Fascinating Insight into Will Cuff

A Fascinating Insight into Will Cuff

Arriving through the double doors of The People's Club Lounge at Goodison Park, I was greeted by the ever-friendly face of David Starsky. It's always great seeing David. I do enjoy his zest for life. We were present for the rather special occasion that was the unveiling of a quite amazing piece of artwork by Chris Wilson, this being an exceptional, life-like portrait of Mr Everton,  a man whose achievements are difficult to be tailored into words... one Will Cuff. As ever with such events organized by the Everton Heritage Society, and in particular Paul Wharton, the evening was informative,…
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Everton: League Champions – a Review of the 1986/87 Season

Everton started off the new campaign licking their wounds after conceding the league and FA Cup double to their rivals Liverpool the previous season. In came new signings Dave Watson who became Everton's record signing for £1m, also Paul Power, Kevin Langley and Neil Adams. Out went Gary Lineker as he left to join his new manager Terry Venables at Barcelona. Everton started their campaign where they had become accustomed by playing at their 'second home' Wembley, in the charity shield against Liverpool. Like so many times before, the name of Ian Rush cursed Everton as he cancelled out Adrian…
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The Life of Ken Birch

  Kenny Birch, who played forty-five times for the Blues in the 1950s, passed away on 24 April 2015 after a long and brave battle with illness. Born in Birkenhead, he joined Everton as a junior and made his debut in April 1956 in a 1-1 draw at Sheffield United, alongside the likes of TE Jones, Peter Farrell, Tommy Eglington and Jimmy Harris. The following season he played thirty times in League and FA Cup, scoring his one and only goal for the Club in a 4-2 victory at Maine Road against Manchester City, finding a way past the legendary…
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Alan Ball Remembered DVD

Former Everton star Ronny Goodlass is will have a DVD on sale at St Luke's Church and the Winslow every home game. The DVD pays tribute to one of the Club's most iconic legends, Alan Ball. Along with the DVD is a special tribute programme for the Ball of Fire play, both on sale for a special price of £9.99 instead of £12.99. Ronny will be at St Luke's to autograph the items. Winger Goodlass was a boot boy for Ball in his youth and came to be in awe of the man who scored 79 goals in 251 games…
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Why Leicester Fosse?

History will be made today when the present Premier League champions take to the field for what is their first ever FA Cup tie at Goodison Park. The visitors were formed in 1884 by a group of young men from a local evangelical chapel who decided to form a football team that they chose to call Leicester Fosse. This suffix was chosen because the old Roman Road, known as the Fosse Way, had once passed through the area and a military encampment was constructed to protect it from attack near to the spot where it forded the River Soar. The…
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George Harrison – Grave Dedication

George Harrison – Grave Dedication

A MOVING tribute was paid to 'one of our own' as representatives of some of Britain's biggest football clubs descended on South Derbyshire. George Harrison was a Church Gresley teenager with a dream of making it to the top when he started playing football for his local team, Gresley Rovers, back in 1910. It was the beginning of stunning career that later saw him win a top flight title with Everton and two caps for England. Amidst it all he was called to fight for his country on the front line during the First World War. THE Everton FC Heritage…
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