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.’
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 district of Liverpool (formerly a township), there are many links worth celebrating and educating Toffees supporters about. Saturday 9 May 2026 was the date for the latest in the popular series of ‘Everton FC in Everton’ events, presented by the Everton FC Heritage Society (EFCHS), in tandem with the Friends of Everton Park (FOEP).
In spite of the threat of rain in the weather forecast, the sun shone on Browside and Village Street. With it being an away weekend for Everton’s men’s team, it was a somewhat lower turnout than for last year’s event (which took place on the day before Goodison Park’s last match of the men’s team era). Nonetheless, those who came along thoroughly enjoyed having a leisurely look at and inside the famous 1787 lock-up building that adorns the Everton crest.
EFCHS was represented on the day by deputy chairman Mike Royden plus Rev. Henry Corbett (chaplain to Everton FC), Jamie Yates and Rob Sawyer. Henry addressed the audience about the lasting legacy of Rev. Ben Swift Chambers of St. Domingo New Connexion Chapel, while Mike gave an interesting talk, explaining some of the background on the area and how the lock-up tower came to become a symbol of the football club. Jamie then led interested observers up to the site of the Queens Head, where the motion was passed in 1879 to rename the St Domingo team as Everton FC, just across the road from where Molly Bushell, creator of the famous Everton toffee recipe, lived in the mid-18th Century.
It was lovely to have actor and Evertonian of five decades Andrew Lancel attend the event and spend time chatting with attendees. Also there was Paul Walsh, who recently gifted an extremely rare 1790s vintage map of the district to EFCHS (the first to show the lock-up in situ) and Nori, a Japanese Blue now resident in Liverpool, who even brought along his miniature lock-up tower souvenir.
Finally, thanks go to Heritage Society chairman Ken Rogers, who has done so much to organise these events and foster links between EFCHS and FOEP, who couldn’t be with us on this occasion.
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Gallery
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And If You Don’t Know Your History and want to know more:
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Mapping the Lock Up and the History of the Everton Crest
by Mike Royden
All you want to know about the Lock-Up, the Everton crest and its use on team shirts throughout the club’s existence.
‘Everton FC in Everton Day’
by Ken Rogers
A background to the the day’s events, by our chairman, who was born and raised in Everton, before his successful career in journalism. Ken also plays a key role in the Friends of Everton Park, our co-hosts of this annual event.
From the Lock-up to Hill Dickinson
by Rob Sawyer
An article in the Everton v West Ham United matchday programme (29 September 2025) featured on our regular our EFCHS page.
Queen’s Head Hotel Archaeological Excavations
by Ken Rogers
Click here for a full account of the excavation project of the former site of the Queen’s Head, Village Street, where Everton FC were first given their name in 1879, including old prints, photos and contemporary maps.
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‘Everton Village and the Birth of Everton Football Club’ – A Documentary by Everton FC Heritage Society
Presented by Ken Rogers & Rob Sawyer
Filmed and Edited by Lewis Royden
Produced and Directed by Mike Royden
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Credits
Report and photos by Rob Sawyer
Video clips by Rob Sawyer, edited by Lewis Royden
Webpage and photo edits by Mike Royden
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