Rest in Peace

George Farmer – Grave Rededication Report

George Farmer – Grave Rededication Report

Anfield Cemetery and The Winslow Hotel 23 March 2024 Rob Sawyer In May 1905, a 42-year-old-man who was as working as a gas meter manufacturer in a corporation yard in Everton, succumbed to a heart condition. This was no ordinary man, however, but – in all likelihood – the first idol of Everton supporters in the club’s Anfield days. He was George Farmer, the celebrated ‘king of the screw shot’ and a potent attacking threat down the Toffees’ left flank in the mid-to-late 1880s, at the dawn of the Football League age. His premature passing left a pregnant widow, Louisa,…
Read More
George Farmer Grave Rededication – Photo Gallery

George Farmer Grave Rededication – Photo Gallery

Anfield Cemetery - 23 March 2024 (photos by Rob Sawyer / Mike Royden / Lewis Royden) Family and guests begin to arrive Jamie Yates opens the proceedings The headstone unveiling by Annette Kerry and Richard Edwards, two of George’s great grandchildren Mike Isherwood (Deputy Mayor of Oswestry and Everton fan) says a few words on George Farmer's Welsh links and family ties to Oswestry 'Don't Go Gently into that Good Night' by Dylan Thomas, read by Laura-Beth Murray, great-great-grandaughter of George Farmer Prayer of Thanksgiving, Rededication of Grave and Blessing, by Reverend Henry Corbett, Chaplain to Everton Football Club The…
Read More
George Farmer – Order of Service Artwork

George Farmer – Order of Service Artwork

Order of Service Souvenir Another aspect of the George Farmer grave rededication day, which should not be overlooked, was the lovely souvenir handed out by Jamie to all those who attended. Contained in an envelope was the order of service card, with additional inserts shown below. Jamie, a qualified and experienced artist, designed the complete package, a beautiful work of art in its own right, which was then silk screen printed by hand by his friend Erica Donovan. An excellent momento of the day.
Read More
‘George could bend it way before Beckham’

‘George could bend it way before Beckham’

George Farmer (1862-1905) - Everton Pioneer Grave and Headstone Rededication Project Liverpool Echo Article by Ken Rogers In the days running up to the rededication event, our chairman Ken Rogers - former Sports Editor of the Liverpool Echo - composed a fitting article for the newspaper he knows so well; In an age when commerciality pervades every aspect of top-flight football, it is encouraging to reflect on a remarkable initiative that continues to focus on those oft-forgotten heroes who helped transform Merseyside into the soccer hotbed it is today. Everton Football Club’s official Heritage Society (EFCHS) is driving a project…
Read More
The George Farmer Story

The George Farmer Story

Jamie Yates of Everton FC Heritage Society, who researched the story of George Farmer and directed the project, writes; Why George Farmer? Without the philanthropy of Everton Football Club and the local community around Liverpool 4 and beyond upon the death of George Farmer in May 1905, it is not unreasonable to assume that his widow and eight young children would not have survived the poverty-stricken future they were facing. Without George Farmer capturing the imagination of thousands of Evertonians - not to mention the thousands who went along to watch football for the first time in that era with…
Read More
George Farmer (1862-1905) – Everton Pioneer

George Farmer (1862-1905) – Everton Pioneer

* Grave and Headstone Rededication Project (Click images for further detail) . https://youtu.be/_rHA8qFxADQ?si=IQ09wDE2s3YgQADR A film of the rededication, with interviews at the graveside by Giulia Bould and Ken Rogers. Filmed and edited by Lewis Royden The Grave Rededication Event Full Film in production A short film of the rededication can be found above. The full film, including the Winslow event, by Lewis Royden, will be uploaded and announced on social media as soon as possible The George Farmer Story Jamie Yates George could bend it way before Beckham Liverpool Echo article by Ken Rogers Making of the Headstone Order of…
Read More
Jimmy Husband – An Appreciation

Jimmy Husband – An Appreciation

Jimmy Husband (15 October 1947 – 9 March 2024) An Appreciation The sad news of the death of Jimmy Husband comes just weeks after the passing of John Hurst, his teammate in the 1965 FA Youth Cup-winning side and the legendary championship-winning team of 1969/70. Harry Catterick spread the net wide in his search for the best young talent in the 1960s, and was hot on the trail of a precocious attacking talent from Newcastle, who had England schoolboy honours, by the name of James Husband. But Everton were not the only side keen to get the teenager’s signature. Jimmy,…
Read More
Tribute to John Hurst

Tribute to John Hurst

John Hurst John Hurst, one of the club’s most cultured centre-backs (and the previous Dixie Dean Memorial Award recipient) passed away recently, so it was fitting that his wife and daughters were present at our Dixie Dean Memorial Award evening as special guests. They joined other audience members in watching a moving video presentation, which captured the essence of this fine footballer and lovely man, who epitomised all that is great about Everton. Rob Sawyer then shared tributes from Joe Royle and Colin Harvey to their friend and former teammate, before asking Derek Temple to join him onstage to speak…
Read More