Steve Zocek
Graham Brindle
Graham Brindle first signed for Everton at the age of thirteen. He played for a Sunday league team called Bovis, managed by former Everton scout Sid Benson.
Graham was a versatile a midfielder, comfortable playing either side of midfield. His versatility rewarded him as he went on to represent Liverpool schoolboys. He was recognised for his performance in the semi-final of the British Home Stores trophy, facing Essex boys at Anfield. It was the visitors that looked promising in the early stages of the game as Danny Maddix who years later had a career with QPR and Sheffield Wednesday respectively, saw his shot from 25 yards hit the underside of the bar, giving the hosts a reprieve. The pressure paid off six minutes later as Lawrence Osbourne put Essex in front. The Liverpool Daily Post report was full of praise for the Merseyside boys, stating that they were starting to show some authority as the game matured with Graham Brindle showing up well. Trailing by the one goal with nine minutes remaining, Brindle fed Steve Redmond (later of Man City) who drove home from 20 yards to level the tie. With extra time looking a strong possibility, Jimmy McDonald chipped Lake in the Essex goal to send them through to the final.
Brindle enjoyed success with Merseyside boys in the U15’s team, winning the British Home Stores trophy against Berkshire Schoolboys with four goals without reply at Goodison Park. The Liverpool Daily Post single out Brindle for praise: ‘For the winners none did better than Graham Brindle who had a great game.’
Sid Benson’s Everton connections led the young Brindle signing schoolboy forms for Ray Minshull, the youth team development officer at Everton. Brindle used to train each Thursday night at Bellefield under coach Graham Smith. Brindle was called up for the “A” team to make his Everton debut at Bellefield (opposition unknown). His performances impressed his coach leading to further appearances.
He trained on a regular basis during his school holidays, utilising the time to improve his game. In his last year of his school days, Brindle was called up for Everton to participate in the FA Youth Cup 4th round tie at Millwall, after defeating Huddersfield Town and Blackpool in the two previous rounds. The Lions had Teddy Sheringham, Brian Horne and Keith Brannigan in their ranks, who later became household names when they reached the top flight in the Football League (1988/89). That night at the Den, two goals from Rob Wakenshaw and a single strike from Paul McKenzie saw the Lions off, to earn a home tie against Newcastle United in the quarter final of the competition.
Brindle’s services were not required for the quarter final tie against the Magpies as the Everton squad was at full strength. He was recalled for first leg of the semi-final tie against the Tykes of Barnsley. Everton took a slender one goal advantage from the first leg, courtesy of a Neil Rimmer goal. Brindle sat out the second leg at Oakwell, ten days later, due to injury but Everton held on to go through to the final as the second leg ended equal with a goal apiece as Steve Agnew’s goal took the tie into after extra time. With the game looking to go to the dreaded penalty shoot-out, John Hood hit a shot from distance, hitting the target, seeing the Toffees through 2-1 on aggregate.
Stoke City were the opponents in the final but Brindle’s disappointment continued as he was still absent through injury.
Everton were handed the home advantage in the first leg, utilising the first 45 minutes well as the young Blues found the net twice, leaving them in a comfortable position. Stoke turned up the tempo in the second period pulling one back on 58 minutes and equalising on 75 minutes. This was to set the return leg up for a thrilling encounter.
Stoke, installed as favourites, were urged on in front of 13,875 at the Victoria Ground. Wakenshaw for the visitors spurned a good chance in the early stages of the contest but Stoke also had two opportunities seeing their efforts come back off the woodwork. Relief for the Toffees. Everton got themselves in front just after the hour with a blast from full back Darren Hughes. Wakenshaw made up for his first half miss to score what turned out to be the winner 14 minutes from time.
Brindle’s association with the youngsters led to signing apprentice forms for a period of one-year. He remained under the guidance of Graham Smith.
The youth team won the league that season too. Their hands slid off on the FA Youth Cup at the first attempt in 1984/85 as Newcastle smashed the Toffees with a six-goal mauling at St. James’ Park. A certain Paul Gascoigne scored four. As well as Gascoigne, the Geordies had goalkeeper Gary Kelly, Ian Bogie and Paul Stephenson who went on to represent the senior team. Incidentally, Newcastle won the FA Youth Cup that season. Brindle gained some experience appearing for the reserves on ten occasions under Terry Darracott.
Sadly, Brindle was never offered a new deal after twelve months which led to a move to Wigan Athletic, which was for a short period of six months spending time with their youth team. Things never really took off for Brindle, which led him into non-league football enduring brief spells with Burscough and Altrincham before settling for Sunday league football in his Liverpool home.
Young Graham took great delight by telling me that he scored the winner for Everton youth in a Merseyside derby, describing it as a nine-goal thriller at Mellwood. Today, Graham is earning his living as a taxi driver, which he enjoys.
Graham Smith his youth team coach spoke very well of young Graham: “He was a rosy faced youngster who wore a cheeky smile. What I liked about him; he was someone that I would call a proper midfield player. He certainly didn’t have the same power and physique as Ross Barkley but had a similar in style of play, always wanting to pass and move. Another similar player was Asa Hartford, a box-to-box player who would also pass and move. We had a couple of schoolboys in that team too I recall.’
Billy Brindle
Graham’s father, Billy, also played football for Everton.
Brindle senior, like all youngsters, took a shine to the game of football from an early age – five in his case. He would kick a ball against the wall in the area where he lived. He later played for a team called Solway Rangers from the age of around 10. He also went along to Goodison on a Saturday afternoon joining kids of his age in the “Boys Pen” cage situated in the corner of the Gwladys Street/Bullens Road, worshipping none other than Alex Young, an idol adored by many of all ages.
His passion for playing saw him invited along for trials at Liverpool. Next, he represented Lancashire Schoolboys where he would play with two lads that would also wear the royal blue: Archie Styles and Alan Whittle, who both went one better progressing to the England schools.
Football scouts attending schools matches were now eyeing talent, with North West clubs in particular wanting to sign the red-headed Brindle. Blackpool, Bolton Wanderers, Burnley and Everton were interested. But it was an obvious choice for the Everton-mad youngster, committing himself to the club at the age of 15. He was one of 3 youngsters that had signed for Everton along with Alan Whittle (Liverpool boys), Frank Thornton (Scottish schoolboy international), and GK Richard Humphreys (Cheshire boys). Brindle had represented Liverpool schools, playing in what was the English Schools Trophy, reaching the last four in the competition where they would face Leicester schools. The game took place at Anfield on 22nd March 1965. It ended1-1 in front of over 11,000 spectators, the largest crowd for that level that season, earning gate receipts of £980, (£19,322.14) in 2024. The y lost the replay at Filbert Street, 2-1. Between the sticks that day for the opposition was none other than Peter Shilton. Playing for the Liverpool boys alongside Brindle were Archie Styles, Alan Whittle, Chris
Young Billy was sitting in the bath after the game, not feeling too happy when his teacher came in with news that someone wanted to speak with him. That person turned out to be Matt Gillies who was the manager of Leicester City. He showed an interest in Brindle, requesting his signature which wasn’t possible as he was already signed up by with Everton.
His duties as an Everton ‘boot boy’ included chores such as cleaning the dressing room floors on a Friday, especially when a home game was 24 hours away. On a match day, it was a case of hanging up the strips and laying the boots out for the players.
Brindle featured for the youth team in the FA Youth Cup in December 1966. The Everton youngsters drew 0-0 at Goodison against Manchester United before going down 3-2 in the replay at Old Trafford 6 days later. Frank Thornton and Brindle scored the blues consolation goals.
The season after, the youngsters started the competition by off seeing off Tranmere Rovers (A), Bury (H), Stoke City (A) with Brindle taking the plaudits for scoring the winning goal against Sunderland in the quarter final at Goodison. The youthful blues reached the semi-final of the competition losing out to Burnley over two legs 3-2 with the Goodison home leg (first) ending goalless with 12,174 in attendance. Then return leg was watched by 8,452.
He turned out for the C team in what was known as the Lancashire League, a very competitive standard, making pleasant progress eventually reaching the A team. He began to hit a higher level, turning out for the reserves at the age of 17, making his debut at Bloomfield Road facing Emlyn Hughes who later became very familiar foe to amongst Evertonians in the red shirt of Liverpool. Also wearing the Tangerine shirt that afternoon was a very experienced player and hot shot called Ray Charnley. He had been Blackpool’s leading marksman in senior competition for nine consecutive seasons between 1958-59 and 1966-67. Billy gives credit to coach Ron Lewin for guiding him during his early days at the club.
It was also an honour for Brindle to go on to captain the reserves and he was proud to have led the team to the Central League (reserve team) title in 1967/68. He was part of the second string with Alex Young, Mike Trebilcock, Jimmy Gabriel and Alex Scott whose time at the club was drawing to a close.
Billy signed professional forms for the Toffees, along with Arthur Styles, on Wednesday 2nd August 1967. This was on the day when the Everton party was selected to go play a pre-season game at Dalymount Park against Shamrock Rovers before heading on to Amsterdam to face the Dutch masters Ajax the following Wednesday.
Billy’s big moment had arrived where he was selected to make his debut at Nottingham Forest on Monday 22nd April 1968, a 1-0 defeat. Alex Young had been named substitute which came as a shock for all of his followers.
Brindle had played in the reserves two days before his debut, injuring his ankle. It was very sore but there was no way he was going to miss the opportunity of living his dream. There were a number of youngsters (Jackson, Owen, Humphreys, Kenyon, Bennett) that made their debuts that evening. Harry Catterick wasn’t too concerned for the loss (1-0), as his mind was on the FA Cup semi-final five days later against Leeds United at Old Trafford.
Billy’s second appearance came in the championship-winning season of 1969/70 in the league cup 4h round in the October. The Sky Blues of Manchester City won comfortably by a two-goal margin. Alan Ball, Colin Harvey and Johnny Morrisey were injured with Tommy Jackson, Billy Brindle and Gerry Humphreys coming in to cover. His memories of the game are not clear other than playing in front of a very big crowd (45,643). He did remember playing against two of their big-name players, Francis Lee and Colin Bell. I reminded Billy that those two scored the goals. It was City that had denied Everton a place in the FA Cup final the season before when Tommy Booth scored the last-minute winner at Villa Park.
Billy was devastated to have been released by the Blues on a free transfer. He was about to sign for fourth division Chester managed by Ken Roberts, only for the deal to fall through, which led to a move to Third Division club Barnsley on 19th May 1970.
Barnsley’s squad reported back for the 1970/71 season on the 13th July with Brindle excited for a new chapter in his career. He turned out once for the Tykes as a substitute, in what turned out to be a miserable season. He replaced George Boardman on 64 minutes in a 1-0 defeat, a goal scored by former Liverpool player Alf Arrowsmith on 37 minutes at Rochdale’s Spotland. He described his time at Oakwell as a nightmare, which resulted in going through the exit door. He headed homewards when Don Moore, manager at Runcorn FC, approached him. He joined on 8th August 1971, the club’s fourth summer signing. Moore even considered making Brindle his club captain.
Brindle was known to be a fiery-tempered character. Even in his early days at Canal Street, he wasn’t shy in making his feelings known to Don Moore when not being selected for games Matlock and Ellesmere Port. A decision was reached mutually that his contract was to be terminated with immediate effect.
Bangor City become the next stop for Billy Brindle in June 1972, albeit for a month which got extended for another month. He was accompanied by Eric Brodie (ex-Shrewsbury) and former Everton goalkeeper Alex Clarke. Brodie and Brindle were key signings for newly appointed manager Alex Smith who had played for Middlesborough during his playing days. Bangor’s season was going to be a very demanding campaign with 46 league matches and four cup competitions. However, Brindle’s contract was not extended further, which paved the way fr his departure from Farrar Road.
In September 1973, Colin Welsh, manager of New Brighton took a chance on Brindle. Then, a month later, Blaenau Ffestiniog made a swoop as Brindle and Tony Rainford were two of seven signings for the club. Finally, in September 1974 he joined Bootle – renewing acquaintances with Dave Turner who had played with him at Everton.
Fast forward ten years to March 1984. A competition for semi pros was taking place in the Victoria area of Australia. 16 teams took part in what was known as the “Mini World Cup”. The team from Liverpool was coached by former St. Helens player Eric Lesbirel. The competition was designed for semi-professional clubs from the Victoria area, the state’s soccer federation supplied the match officials. The tournament was played on the same basis as the real World Cup was at the time, with four groups of four. The team was made up of “Scousers” wanting to call themselves Liverpool, but the organisers refused to accept it, so they called themselves simply “England”.
Billy Brindle and Steve Moore, once on the Everton books, also included ex-Liverpool player John Higham. The squad also included Billy Morrey (formerly of Marine FC) plus former Liverpool schoolboys David Webb, John Cullen, Dave Griffiths, Steve Wild, Jimmy Williams, Tony Heery and George Horrock.
Fighting successfully through the group and knockout stages, they (England) reached the final. In a match televised live from Knox City’s ground in Melbourne, they beat Holland, 1-0.
Many thanks to;
RobSawyer – proof editing
Mike Royden – photo research
