...some ratio Bobby Parker had.
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...some ratio Bobby Parker had.
That's the whole point of Alternate history, the whole premise usually - like real life - hangs on small things - all for the want of a horseshoe nail etc, like Labone's Achilles, hitting the post, twice Vs Parthenikos...Collina and the bung, Clive Thomas being...well Clive Thomas etc.
...Joe Parkinson currently on The Everton Show.
You tell him Dixie.
[/QUOT
That's brilliant ,"why do you think it's not been surpassed is it because the CF is mark better". No their not good enough I had 2 or 3 marking me made no difference, said with total believe and not an ounce of cockiness.
summerisle
The rain, it raineth every day
I started it because of the propensity for me to post long articles and I thought that it might disrupt the flow of the Everton picture thread.
summerisle
The rain, it raineth every day
Interesting article on the fantastically named Columbian club the Millionarios, and their attempt to sign Everton players in the 1950s.
http://www.efcstatto.com/stories/who-wants-to-be-a-millionario/
http://www.efcstatto.com/stories/who-wants-to-be-a-millionario/
summerisle
The rain, it raineth every day
http://www.efcstatto.com/stories/the-fog-fiend/
EFC STATTO
Everton have won the top-flight title 9 times. However, they could easily have had another one under their belt. Bad judgement, bad weather and bad luck ended up costing Everton dearly.
On November 26th, 1904, Everton were playing newly-promoted Woolwich Arsenal at the Manor Ground. There was speculation whether the match would go ahead because it was very foggy. The fans and the players could hardly see a thing, and the ground was very slippery. The match, logically, could not be played. But it went ahead regardless.
Around 13,000 fans watched the match (to the best of their ability). Arsenal took the lead thanks to goal from future Everton player Tim Coleman after 10 minutes. Everton bounced back with Sandy Young scoring the equaliser 59 seconds later. Harold Hardman then scored a few minutes later and Everton went into half-time with a 2-1 lead. But the further the game went on, the thicker the fog became.
The game was played in a fog, and though at the commencement the varying stages of the contest could be followed with little difficulty, it soon became doubtful as to whether the game would be finished or not. As matters eventuated, the fog increased in density, so much so that when the last quarter of an hour was reached, it was quite impossible for the spectators to follow the run of the game.
Liverpool Daily Post and Mercury
On the 75th minute, Sandy Young headed in a third for Everton. But after the goal was scored, Arsenal captain Jimmy Jackson approached the referee Frederick Bye and talked about the “increasing darkness”, implying that the match shouldn’t continue. Bye then consulted the linesmen, and they came to mutual decision to abandon the game. Frederick Bye, who in the previous month saved a school pupil from drowning, went from hero to zero.
Everton were, unsurprisingly, furious with the decision.
The Everton players and officials were very indignant at the referee’s action, and the visitors’ secretary [Will Cuff] and a number of their directors walked onto the field and waited until time was up. They complained that the referee stopped the game prematurely, but it was admitted by all that he must have stopped it at least five minutes before full time had expired.
London Daily News
The annoyance with the decision was shown in the club’s programme.
The Everton players and directors were welcomed in London by a special sample of the green log for which the metropolis is noted, and which robbed them of the reward of a well-deserved victory. What is most annoying about the affair, is that the fog did not necessarily interfere with the proceedings at Woolwich, until about fifteen minutes from time, when Everton had their opponents’ guns pretty well spiked. Two points were in their possession as surely as it is possible to be certain about anything in football, and a more tantalising experience it is difficult to imagine. Of course, the game has to be completely replayed; and the gunners really ought to fire a salute in honour of their friend, the fog-fiend.
The Everton and Liverpool Official Match Programme
The London Daily News criticised Bye’s performance in the abandoned match.
Mr Bye, however, might have terminated the game a few minutes after the interval without displeasing an impartial spectator. Many of his decisions were faulty in consequence of his being unable to properly follow the play. On one occasion, he gave [William] McLoughlin, of Everton, offside when he had three opponents in front of him, and more than once he allowed forwards to go on when they were palpably offside to the spectators who happened to be in a line with them.
It was obvious that Frederick Bye’s decision to allow the game to be played was a disastrous decision. But what happened in the replay made it a lot worse.
The two met each other again at the Manor Ground on April 22nd, 1905 – over two weeks after their Goodison meeting, which Everton won 1-0. At that time, Everton were top of the First Division, one point ahead of their nearest rivals, Newcastle United and Manchester City. Everton took the lead after a Jimmy Settle penalty. However, Arsenal bounced back to win 2-1 courtesy of a goal from Andy Ducat and another five minutes from full-time by Charlie Sattherthwaite. Everton ended up with nothing, robbing them of two points. And to make matters worse, Everton eventually lost the First Division title to Newcastle United by ONE point. If the game hadn’t been abandoned, Everton would have been champions.
It just wasn’t meant to be for Everton. However, after what happened a couple of weeks prior to the abandoned match, luck was never on Everton’s side.
EFC STATTO
Everton have won the top-flight title 9 times. However, they could easily have had another one under their belt. Bad judgement, bad weather and bad luck ended up costing Everton dearly.
On November 26th, 1904, Everton were playing newly-promoted Woolwich Arsenal at the Manor Ground. There was speculation whether the match would go ahead because it was very foggy. The fans and the players could hardly see a thing, and the ground was very slippery. The match, logically, could not be played. But it went ahead regardless.
Around 13,000 fans watched the match (to the best of their ability). Arsenal took the lead thanks to goal from future Everton player Tim Coleman after 10 minutes. Everton bounced back with Sandy Young scoring the equaliser 59 seconds later. Harold Hardman then scored a few minutes later and Everton went into half-time with a 2-1 lead. But the further the game went on, the thicker the fog became.
The game was played in a fog, and though at the commencement the varying stages of the contest could be followed with little difficulty, it soon became doubtful as to whether the game would be finished or not. As matters eventuated, the fog increased in density, so much so that when the last quarter of an hour was reached, it was quite impossible for the spectators to follow the run of the game.
Liverpool Daily Post and Mercury
On the 75th minute, Sandy Young headed in a third for Everton. But after the goal was scored, Arsenal captain Jimmy Jackson approached the referee Frederick Bye and talked about the “increasing darkness”, implying that the match shouldn’t continue. Bye then consulted the linesmen, and they came to mutual decision to abandon the game. Frederick Bye, who in the previous month saved a school pupil from drowning, went from hero to zero.
Everton were, unsurprisingly, furious with the decision.
The Everton players and officials were very indignant at the referee’s action, and the visitors’ secretary [Will Cuff] and a number of their directors walked onto the field and waited until time was up. They complained that the referee stopped the game prematurely, but it was admitted by all that he must have stopped it at least five minutes before full time had expired.
London Daily News
The annoyance with the decision was shown in the club’s programme.
The Everton players and directors were welcomed in London by a special sample of the green log for which the metropolis is noted, and which robbed them of the reward of a well-deserved victory. What is most annoying about the affair, is that the fog did not necessarily interfere with the proceedings at Woolwich, until about fifteen minutes from time, when Everton had their opponents’ guns pretty well spiked. Two points were in their possession as surely as it is possible to be certain about anything in football, and a more tantalising experience it is difficult to imagine. Of course, the game has to be completely replayed; and the gunners really ought to fire a salute in honour of their friend, the fog-fiend.
The Everton and Liverpool Official Match Programme
The London Daily News criticised Bye’s performance in the abandoned match.
Mr Bye, however, might have terminated the game a few minutes after the interval without displeasing an impartial spectator. Many of his decisions were faulty in consequence of his being unable to properly follow the play. On one occasion, he gave [William] McLoughlin, of Everton, offside when he had three opponents in front of him, and more than once he allowed forwards to go on when they were palpably offside to the spectators who happened to be in a line with them.
It was obvious that Frederick Bye’s decision to allow the game to be played was a disastrous decision. But what happened in the replay made it a lot worse.
The two met each other again at the Manor Ground on April 22nd, 1905 – over two weeks after their Goodison meeting, which Everton won 1-0. At that time, Everton were top of the First Division, one point ahead of their nearest rivals, Newcastle United and Manchester City. Everton took the lead after a Jimmy Settle penalty. However, Arsenal bounced back to win 2-1 courtesy of a goal from Andy Ducat and another five minutes from full-time by Charlie Sattherthwaite. Everton ended up with nothing, robbing them of two points. And to make matters worse, Everton eventually lost the First Division title to Newcastle United by ONE point. If the game hadn’t been abandoned, Everton would have been champions.
It just wasn’t meant to be for Everton. However, after what happened a couple of weeks prior to the abandoned match, luck was never on Everton’s side.
summerisle
The rain, it raineth every day
Newspaper report on the meeting to give Houlding the elbow. Particularly like the reference to the 'perfumed gentleman'.
https://playupliverpool.com/1892/01/25/the-everton-football-club-dispute/
The Everton Football Club dispute
January 25, 1892
Rival companies in the field.
Extraordinary development.
A few days ago it seemed inevitable that the decision arrived at by the members of the Everton Football Club last week would involve their early departure from the ground in Anfield-road.
Mr. John Houlding has repeatedly declined to reduce his rental of £250 per annum as long as the club are financially able to pay that sum; and as the general meeting last week decided only to offer him £180 a year, or in the event of his refusal to remove to Goodison-road, it appeared to be beyond doubt that the present tenancy, with all its historic associations, was virtually at an end.
And such would unquestionably have been the case had not Mr. Houlding promptly taken measures to form a new company and register it under the existing title, with the view of still carrying on the club on its present ground.
The College-hall. Shaw-street was the scene of this, as of so many other Everton meetings. Mr. W. E. Barclay, by virtue of his position as vice-chairman of the club, presided, and conducted the business throughout with such curtesy and strict impartiality as to win the hearty approval of both sets of combatants.
Between three and four hundred persons were present, and of these I bet to tender my special and individual thanks to the gentleman seated next to me, whose delicately scented breath – and he generally supplied me with vast quantities of it – betrayed an intimate acquaintance with something far stronger than tea.
Mr. Molyneux set the ball rolling by submitting the report of the “Special Committee” which has been investigating this ground question.
These gentlemen, it appears having first ascertained that Mr. Houlding required £250 and Mr Orrell £100 as rental for their respective plots of land, applied themselves to the question of other sites, with regard to which they reported as follows:
1) The ground in Goodison-road, at the top of Spellow-lane may be acquired on lease, for any period from 7 to 12 years at £50 per annum. The owners are willing to give the club the option of purchase, but the price is not fixed yet.
2) The ground in Lower Breck-road, about 100 yards from Breck-road, at present used by Walton Breck and other football clubs, is offered on lease for 12 years at £100 per annum, the club having the option of purchase at 5s 6d per yard.
3) We have received an estimate of the cost of removing and rebuilding the erections from the present ground to either of the above grounds, including drainage of new ground – the cost being £330.
Signed: WR Clayton, Wm Henderson, Robt Wilson, J Griffiths, Geo Mahon and James G Baxter.
When the question had been thus laid bare before the members, the chairman asked someone to make a definite proposal. He repeated his request several times, but no one volunteered to step into the breach until Mr. Clayton, with characteristic modesty and self abnegation, proceeded to take over the whole conduct of the meeting.
This was extremely thoughtful of him, especially as his one desire had been to remain a silent spectator of the proceedings. He told the meeting so.
Mr. Clayton’s first proposal was that the members refuse to form a company and buy the land on the terms mentioned by Mr Houlding – namely 7s 6d a yard.
In vain the chairman pointed out that this proposal was of a purely negative character.
In vain Mr. McKenna argued that a resolution to remove to some other site would effectually dispose of the idea of a company.
Mr. Clayton, with the firmness peculiar to all great men, loftily discarded the suggestion of inferior mortals, and said he had it on excellent authority that land in the vicinity of Anfield-road, was not worth more than 4s 6d a yard.
He communicated the plesant intelligence that probably little, if any, balance would be in hand at the close of the season, and asked, very pointedly, and with every appearance of reason, how the club was under such circumstances to pay four percent on their mortgage and five percent as dividend to the shareholders.
This statement about the finances of the club necessary led to the shelving of the company project, and Mr. Clayton’s motion was carried almost without dissent.
Then Mr. Clayton, having again his aversion to take any active part in leading the members, moved:
“That we offer Mr. Houlding £180 per annum for the ground used by Everton Football Club on lease for 10 years, rent to be paid quarterly in advance, the tenants to have the option of purchase at 7s 6d a yard, such purchase to be arranged between now and the 30th April 1894. All fixtures to be the property of the club. Mr. Houlding not to have the right of a nominee on the committee. This offer to be open for three days and failing, – Mr. Houlding’s acceptance the committee lease one of the other grounds on the terms of the committee’s report.”
Mr. Clayton, assuming for the nonce the role of the Old Man of the Sea, announced that he should follow the members wherever they went.
If they decided to pay Messrs. Houlding and Orrell £350 as rental, he should agree.
If they offered a smaller rental he should equally be a consenting party; and if the resolved to remove to another ground he should be there also.
Having thus satisfactorily assured the members that under no circumstances would they lose the benefit of his services, he warmly repudiated Mr. Houlding’s right to nominate a member of the committee, and explained the process by which he came to £180 as a fair rental for the present ground.
Mr. Houlding, he said, had always asked four per cent, on his outlay, and as his outlay only amounted to £5,400, he ought simply to be paid £216.
But there were portions of the ground which the club did not use and for which he contended they ought not to pay, and these if subtracted from the total, would reduce their rent to £180.
He condemned Mr. Houlding for procrastination in this matter, and said the members would long ago have been called together to settle this matter had the committee been able to get a reply from that gentleman.
Finally, he concluded with a glowing, eulogium upon the Goodison-road ground, which he pronounced to be altogether superior to the present enclosure; but at the same time he confessed his preference for the Anfield-road ground because of its associations.
Mr. McKenna was the only real opponent of Mr. Clayton during the evening, but his utterances were not to the liking of the members, who frequently interrupted him, the perfumed gentleman next to me being particularly noisy and troublesome.
Mr. McKenna boldly accused Mr. Clayton himself of procrastination, and hotly declared that personal animus was the bottom of his action.
This assumption produced great uproar and loud cries of “Withdraw” with the result that Mr. McKenna was listened to with but scant courtesy, as he subsequently attempted to show that the initial cost of draining and equipping the Goodison-road ground would be so great as, even spread over a number of years, to saddle the club with a larger rental than Messrs. Houlding and Orrell were now jointly asking.
Once when speaking of Goodison-road, Mr. McKenna used the profane expression, “God forgive me for calling it a road. It is not even made ground.”
Mr. Mahon earnestly asked that a spirit of compromises should characterise all their deliberations.
He preferred to remain where they were if Mr. Houlding would accept the £180, and he pointed to their recent defeats as evidence of the necessity of avoiding if possible all the internal dissension.
He also added the significant phrase, “Mr. Houlding is not a weak man to compete against.” Had he the establishment of a rival football club in his mind?
Mr. Crosthwaite’s remarks hardly received the attention they deserved.
He said that Mr. Houlding had expressed to him the willingness to accept 7s a yard, while Mr. Orrell had refused to take less than 7s 6d. This was rather at variance with the view put forward by the “Special Committee”, but no-one seemed to pay heed to the matter.
Mr F. C. Everitt remarked that the allusion to “three days” in the resolution had a kind of “stand and deliver” appearance, and it would certainly be more courteous to Mr. Houlding to extend to seven or ten days.
Mr. Clayton agreed to respite Mr. Houlding for seven days utterly regardless of the fact that that gentleman had declared again and again that he would agree to no reduction of his rental as long as the club is in a flourishing financial condition.
After considerable discussion, Mr. Clayton’s motion was carried almost unanimously, and immediately afterwards the meeting decided to lease the the Goodison-road site in the event of Mr. Houlding refusing their terms.
With a suspicious haste which seemed to betoken little faith in the success of the new policy, Mr. Clayton then rose to his feet, then moved that the club be formed into a limited company, with a capital of £500, in £1 shares, each member to be allocated one share.
He strongly advised the members to adopt this course, as it would protect from financial loss – a protection which they do not enjoy at present.
But he failed to explain who is to pay the piper in the event of the club sustaining loss.
Is John Houlding still to bear the brunt of the battle? Or are the confiding creditors to be the victims?
This resolution was also carried, and upon a member asking what were to be the qualifications of the directors, Mr. John McDermott promptly replied, “cheek.”
No one else, however, vouchsafed an answer.
A very cordial vote of thanks having been passed to Mr. Barclay for his admirable conduct in the chair, that gentleman, in a few dignified and earnest words, bade farewell to the club as at present constituted, and expressed a hope that it might be long continue to have a prosperous career.
He added with a touch of irony, that a company with a capital of £500 was too great a financial responsibility for him to bear.
He should send in his resignation immediately believing that the club had not on that occasion adopted the right course, but that it has taken a leap in the dark.
(Field Sports: February 1, 1892)
A bombshell from John Houlding
Liverpool F.C. – the rocky road to March, 1892
https://playupliverpool.com/1892/01/25/the-everton-football-club-dispute/
The Everton Football Club dispute
January 25, 1892
Rival companies in the field.
Extraordinary development.
A few days ago it seemed inevitable that the decision arrived at by the members of the Everton Football Club last week would involve their early departure from the ground in Anfield-road.
Mr. John Houlding has repeatedly declined to reduce his rental of £250 per annum as long as the club are financially able to pay that sum; and as the general meeting last week decided only to offer him £180 a year, or in the event of his refusal to remove to Goodison-road, it appeared to be beyond doubt that the present tenancy, with all its historic associations, was virtually at an end.
And such would unquestionably have been the case had not Mr. Houlding promptly taken measures to form a new company and register it under the existing title, with the view of still carrying on the club on its present ground.
The College-hall. Shaw-street was the scene of this, as of so many other Everton meetings. Mr. W. E. Barclay, by virtue of his position as vice-chairman of the club, presided, and conducted the business throughout with such curtesy and strict impartiality as to win the hearty approval of both sets of combatants.
Between three and four hundred persons were present, and of these I bet to tender my special and individual thanks to the gentleman seated next to me, whose delicately scented breath – and he generally supplied me with vast quantities of it – betrayed an intimate acquaintance with something far stronger than tea.
Mr. Molyneux set the ball rolling by submitting the report of the “Special Committee” which has been investigating this ground question.
These gentlemen, it appears having first ascertained that Mr. Houlding required £250 and Mr Orrell £100 as rental for their respective plots of land, applied themselves to the question of other sites, with regard to which they reported as follows:
1) The ground in Goodison-road, at the top of Spellow-lane may be acquired on lease, for any period from 7 to 12 years at £50 per annum. The owners are willing to give the club the option of purchase, but the price is not fixed yet.
2) The ground in Lower Breck-road, about 100 yards from Breck-road, at present used by Walton Breck and other football clubs, is offered on lease for 12 years at £100 per annum, the club having the option of purchase at 5s 6d per yard.
3) We have received an estimate of the cost of removing and rebuilding the erections from the present ground to either of the above grounds, including drainage of new ground – the cost being £330.
Signed: WR Clayton, Wm Henderson, Robt Wilson, J Griffiths, Geo Mahon and James G Baxter.
When the question had been thus laid bare before the members, the chairman asked someone to make a definite proposal. He repeated his request several times, but no one volunteered to step into the breach until Mr. Clayton, with characteristic modesty and self abnegation, proceeded to take over the whole conduct of the meeting.
This was extremely thoughtful of him, especially as his one desire had been to remain a silent spectator of the proceedings. He told the meeting so.
Mr. Clayton’s first proposal was that the members refuse to form a company and buy the land on the terms mentioned by Mr Houlding – namely 7s 6d a yard.
In vain the chairman pointed out that this proposal was of a purely negative character.
In vain Mr. McKenna argued that a resolution to remove to some other site would effectually dispose of the idea of a company.
Mr. Clayton, with the firmness peculiar to all great men, loftily discarded the suggestion of inferior mortals, and said he had it on excellent authority that land in the vicinity of Anfield-road, was not worth more than 4s 6d a yard.
He communicated the plesant intelligence that probably little, if any, balance would be in hand at the close of the season, and asked, very pointedly, and with every appearance of reason, how the club was under such circumstances to pay four percent on their mortgage and five percent as dividend to the shareholders.
This statement about the finances of the club necessary led to the shelving of the company project, and Mr. Clayton’s motion was carried almost without dissent.
Then Mr. Clayton, having again his aversion to take any active part in leading the members, moved:
“That we offer Mr. Houlding £180 per annum for the ground used by Everton Football Club on lease for 10 years, rent to be paid quarterly in advance, the tenants to have the option of purchase at 7s 6d a yard, such purchase to be arranged between now and the 30th April 1894. All fixtures to be the property of the club. Mr. Houlding not to have the right of a nominee on the committee. This offer to be open for three days and failing, – Mr. Houlding’s acceptance the committee lease one of the other grounds on the terms of the committee’s report.”
Mr. Clayton, assuming for the nonce the role of the Old Man of the Sea, announced that he should follow the members wherever they went.
If they decided to pay Messrs. Houlding and Orrell £350 as rental, he should agree.
If they offered a smaller rental he should equally be a consenting party; and if the resolved to remove to another ground he should be there also.
Having thus satisfactorily assured the members that under no circumstances would they lose the benefit of his services, he warmly repudiated Mr. Houlding’s right to nominate a member of the committee, and explained the process by which he came to £180 as a fair rental for the present ground.
Mr. Houlding, he said, had always asked four per cent, on his outlay, and as his outlay only amounted to £5,400, he ought simply to be paid £216.
But there were portions of the ground which the club did not use and for which he contended they ought not to pay, and these if subtracted from the total, would reduce their rent to £180.
He condemned Mr. Houlding for procrastination in this matter, and said the members would long ago have been called together to settle this matter had the committee been able to get a reply from that gentleman.
Finally, he concluded with a glowing, eulogium upon the Goodison-road ground, which he pronounced to be altogether superior to the present enclosure; but at the same time he confessed his preference for the Anfield-road ground because of its associations.
Mr. McKenna was the only real opponent of Mr. Clayton during the evening, but his utterances were not to the liking of the members, who frequently interrupted him, the perfumed gentleman next to me being particularly noisy and troublesome.
Mr. McKenna boldly accused Mr. Clayton himself of procrastination, and hotly declared that personal animus was the bottom of his action.
This assumption produced great uproar and loud cries of “Withdraw” with the result that Mr. McKenna was listened to with but scant courtesy, as he subsequently attempted to show that the initial cost of draining and equipping the Goodison-road ground would be so great as, even spread over a number of years, to saddle the club with a larger rental than Messrs. Houlding and Orrell were now jointly asking.
Once when speaking of Goodison-road, Mr. McKenna used the profane expression, “God forgive me for calling it a road. It is not even made ground.”
Mr. Mahon earnestly asked that a spirit of compromises should characterise all their deliberations.
He preferred to remain where they were if Mr. Houlding would accept the £180, and he pointed to their recent defeats as evidence of the necessity of avoiding if possible all the internal dissension.
He also added the significant phrase, “Mr. Houlding is not a weak man to compete against.” Had he the establishment of a rival football club in his mind?
Mr. Crosthwaite’s remarks hardly received the attention they deserved.
He said that Mr. Houlding had expressed to him the willingness to accept 7s a yard, while Mr. Orrell had refused to take less than 7s 6d. This was rather at variance with the view put forward by the “Special Committee”, but no-one seemed to pay heed to the matter.
Mr F. C. Everitt remarked that the allusion to “three days” in the resolution had a kind of “stand and deliver” appearance, and it would certainly be more courteous to Mr. Houlding to extend to seven or ten days.
Mr. Clayton agreed to respite Mr. Houlding for seven days utterly regardless of the fact that that gentleman had declared again and again that he would agree to no reduction of his rental as long as the club is in a flourishing financial condition.
After considerable discussion, Mr. Clayton’s motion was carried almost unanimously, and immediately afterwards the meeting decided to lease the the Goodison-road site in the event of Mr. Houlding refusing their terms.
With a suspicious haste which seemed to betoken little faith in the success of the new policy, Mr. Clayton then rose to his feet, then moved that the club be formed into a limited company, with a capital of £500, in £1 shares, each member to be allocated one share.
He strongly advised the members to adopt this course, as it would protect from financial loss – a protection which they do not enjoy at present.
But he failed to explain who is to pay the piper in the event of the club sustaining loss.
Is John Houlding still to bear the brunt of the battle? Or are the confiding creditors to be the victims?
This resolution was also carried, and upon a member asking what were to be the qualifications of the directors, Mr. John McDermott promptly replied, “cheek.”
No one else, however, vouchsafed an answer.
A very cordial vote of thanks having been passed to Mr. Barclay for his admirable conduct in the chair, that gentleman, in a few dignified and earnest words, bade farewell to the club as at present constituted, and expressed a hope that it might be long continue to have a prosperous career.
He added with a touch of irony, that a company with a capital of £500 was too great a financial responsibility for him to bear.
He should send in his resignation immediately believing that the club had not on that occasion adopted the right course, but that it has taken a leap in the dark.
(Field Sports: February 1, 1892)
A bombshell from John Houlding
Liverpool F.C. – the rocky road to March, 1892
summerisle
The rain, it raineth every day
lol
https://playupliverpool.com/1895/12/03/everton-f-c-eleven-employees-sent-to-gaol/
Everton F.C. – Eleven employees sent gaol
Tuesday, December 3 – 1895
At Liverpool on Tuesday twelve employees of the Everton Football Club were convicted of robbing the club by manipulating the turnstiles at matches. Three were sentenced to three months’ imprisonment, seven to two months’, and one to one mouth, the remaining defendant being liberated on his own reconnaissances.
The modus operandi of the custodians has been something of this style. Before the responsible officials of the match had gone round to take the final figures for the match, the registering machine had been opened with the fake keys, and to give an instance of how the fraud has been perpetrated it must be supposed that the hits figures of the checker stood at 700. These have been put back, perhaps, a couple of hundred, and the record shown as 500.
At a sixp-enny entrance this would mean a matter of £5. It must, however, be understood that the larger the “gate” the greater the opportunity given for the operators to benefit themselves. It is estimated by some people that the Everton exchequer has this season been defrauded of sum between £700 and £1,000, and as this has been going on for several years it can easily be gathered what the conspirators have netted by their daring and ingenious method of fraud.
(Evening Express, 03-12-1895)
https://playupliverpool.com/1895/12/03/everton-f-c-eleven-employees-sent-to-gaol/
Everton F.C. – Eleven employees sent gaol
Tuesday, December 3 – 1895
At Liverpool on Tuesday twelve employees of the Everton Football Club were convicted of robbing the club by manipulating the turnstiles at matches. Three were sentenced to three months’ imprisonment, seven to two months’, and one to one mouth, the remaining defendant being liberated on his own reconnaissances.
The modus operandi of the custodians has been something of this style. Before the responsible officials of the match had gone round to take the final figures for the match, the registering machine had been opened with the fake keys, and to give an instance of how the fraud has been perpetrated it must be supposed that the hits figures of the checker stood at 700. These have been put back, perhaps, a couple of hundred, and the record shown as 500.
At a sixp-enny entrance this would mean a matter of £5. It must, however, be understood that the larger the “gate” the greater the opportunity given for the operators to benefit themselves. It is estimated by some people that the Everton exchequer has this season been defrauded of sum between £700 and £1,000, and as this has been going on for several years it can easily be gathered what the conspirators have netted by their daring and ingenious method of fraud.
(Evening Express, 03-12-1895)
the Premiership's then youngest scorer
summerisle
The rain, it raineth every day
http://www.efcstatto.com/stories/dixie-dean-the-joy-of-sixty/the-60th-goal/
EFC STATTO
5th May 1928. Everton were playing Arsenal. Dixie Dean was only a hat-trick away from George Camsell’s seemingly unbeatable goalscoring record he made just the previous season. It all came down to this.
There will be a great crowd at Goodison Park today to see the final match with the Arsenal. They have promised themselves the treat of seeing the League trophy on the field. Dean will be a central figure at today’s match, for he will be out to make his 57 goals 60, and thus break all goal-scoring records of all three divisions of the English League. B.C. Freeman had formerly held the Everton’s club’s record by scoring 38 goals in the season 1908-09. It is a coincidence he went to Burnley, the club which enabled Dean last Saturday to improve his chances of beating Camsell’s record of 59 goals. “Dixie” has played a great part in Everton’s triumph. He is deservedly the most popular figure in Mersey sporting and athletic circles today. Everton have to score but one more goal to reach the 100 for the season.
[…]
W.R. Dean, otherwise “Dixie”, natural centre-forward. Everton be congratulated on their securing him from Tranmere Rovers who they face competition from about 20 clubs. His remarkable record in League representative football is well known, will be out today for the goal record of all Divisions. He no means a selfish player, but the question is frequently asked. What would Everton be without Dean? Dean certainly the cleverest player, especially in the vicinity of goal scoring today. His previous clubs are Heswall and Tranmere Rovers. He is 5ft 10 and half in., weight 12st 7lb.
“How The Championship Was Won” – The Daily Courier, 5th May 1928
Everton fans were energetic as the players walked onto the pitch. There were approximately 60,000 attendees to witness football history.
Arsenal took the lead after only two minutes, courtesy of James Shaw. However, just one minute later, Dixie Dean equalised.
Everton in the next minute, straight from the kick-off, hurled themselves on the right flank, where [Ted] Critchley took a corner kick, the ball coming to [George] Martin, who flicked it to the head of Dean, who was standing to the left of [Arsenal goalkeeper, Bill] Paterson.
Dixie, in his own inimitable way, glided it sweet and low with his head right into the net. It was a capital goal and complete recompense for an early blunder.
Dixie Dean’s first goal in Everton v Arsenal – The Football Express, 5th May 1928
A couple of minutes later, Everton were awarded a penalty. Who else to take it but Dixie Dean? Did he score, or did the pressure get to him?
Everton, again in the next minute, after their first goal, launched their devastating attack straight from the kick-off, and Dean was seen leaping headlong through the defence when he crashed on bare, hard ground when tackled by [Arsenal’s Bob] John.
The Everton leader was clearly dazed by the impact of his fall. The crowd howled “Penalty” and Mr. Harper approved and pointed to the spot.
The crowd roared “Dean”—and it was Dean—and another Dean goal.
Dixie Dean’s second (and record-equalling) goal in Everton v Arsenal – The Football Express, 5th May 1928
Dixie Dean converted his penalty and was on 59 goals. He had over 80 minutes to complete his hat-trick and break George Camsell’s record. It was only about a month previous that it seemed unlikely to happen.
Dean continuously tried to complete his hat-trick and he was continuously stopped in his tracks by Arsenal’s Bob John. He was then stopped by the woodwork, and soon the entire Arsenal defence. The Arsenal defenders were surrounding him like, to quote the Football Express: “flies around honey.”
Once he got past the defence, there was one more obstacle – Arsenal’s goalkeeper, Bill Paterson.
Everton, again, began to worry the Gunners, this time on the left wing, and Dean, who was, again, plied with passes, had run into position for a vital shot. Paterson hastily beat it down and finally extricated himself with Dean trying to force him and the ball through.
Dean was going all out for his 60th goal.
Dixie Dean’s unsuccessful attempt for his 60th goal – The Football Express, 5th May 1928
Dixie Dean subsequently had a few more attempts, but to no avail, with Bill Paterson carrying on preventing him from making history:
It was then Dean again. The first time Paterson thumped clear with Dixie on top of him. Then twice the Everton leader had a shot.
[…]
Towards the interval, Dean missed a couple of chances, one being a tap by his head from a pass from [Alec] Troup.
[…]
Dean was plied with chances innumerable, and each man gave him the ball in all positions.
His first chance was when [Hunter] Hart gave to Critchley, and the winger sped down and lobbed to Dean. The Everton centre bore down on [Arsenal’s Tom] Parker, and Paterson advanced as the full back kicked clear.
[…]
Dean twice in almost as many seconds was right on top of Paterson, but at the second time of asking, Paterson punched clear as he was falling on the goal line, and repeated the performance a minute later.
[…]
The Arsenal then got into the Everton ball for a brief moment, but the ball was again punted to Dean, who flung himself headlong between the backs, swerved to the right and crashed in a drive which Paterson dropped to on the goal line and only gathered the ball as it was passing for a corner.
Maybe “a few” is understating it a bit, but the fact is Bill Paterson became a bit of a nuisance. Maybe not in Dixie Dean’s eyes as he’s too nice, but more likely in the other Everton players’ eyes and most definitely in the Everton fans’ eyes.
The game was then temporarily stopped after Bill Paterson requested a stoppage, which was granted by the referee, in order to obtain a handkerchief from a policeman and get dust out of his eye. He was then helped by the referee and other players. Another incident soon followed. While Everton were attacking, the ball hit a boy who climbed over a wall onto the ground – the boy was unhurt.
Normal service resumed, and the game was going into the final 10 minutes. And what happened a couple of minutes later changed English football forever.
Paterson saved from [Tony] Weldon seven minutes from the end, and then Martin hit a high drive, which Paterson put behind for a corner.
Troup took the flag kick and Dean headed it past Paterson. Dean, as usual, got his head to the ball from a bunch of players before anyone could get to it.
The success of Dean was the signal for unprecedented scenes of enthusiasm. The ground rang with the volumes of cheering for several minutes. He was mobbed by his fellow players.
While this was going on, a small boy evaded the policeman, who were chasing him, and insisted on shaking hands with Dean, despite the efforts of the referee to stop him. The boy reached Dean, shook him by the hand and then proceeded to ruffle his hair amid the merriment of the crowd. The referee finally got the youngster by the scruff of the neck and he was escorted of the field.
Dixie Dean’s record-breaking 60th goal of the 1927/28 First Division – The Football Express, 5th May 1928
The history-making game was not one of Dean’s most spectacular in a way, although it was characteristic of him, for when the ball came in from a corner, Dean was in the midst of a bunch of players – friend and foe, and when it was a case of whose head was going to reach the ball first, it was a foregone conclusion it would be Dean’s. He nodded the ball into the right hand corner of the net. The air was full of electrical disturbances after that, and it was just possible the crowd might have over-run the ground as they saw Dean’s colleagues hugging him. Instead, the crowd cheered themselves, out for more than five minutes without stopping.
Reactions to Dixie Dean’s 60th goal – The Daily Courier, 7th May 1928
Football history was made: Dixie Dean scored his 60th goal, breaking the record George Camsell held for only 12 months. After beating the record, Dean thanked the whole squad for helping him break the record. After all, “football is a team game.” The team didn’t have much time to celebrate though as they were heading to Switzerland for a post-season tour, and Dean was going on international duty.
The breakdown of George Camsell’s goals (1926/27) and Dixie Dean’s goals (1927/28):
George Camsell (1926/27) Dixie Dean (1927/28)
Date Opponents Goals Cum. Total Date Opponents Goals Cum. Total
28 Aug Chelsea 0 0 27 Aug Sheffield Wednesday 1 1
30 Aug Southampton 0 0 3 Sep Middlesbrough 1 2
4 Sep Preston 0 0 5 Sep Bolton 1 3
11 Sep South Shields 0 0 10 Sep Birmingham 2 5
18 Sep Hull 0 0 14 Sep Bolton 1 6
22 Sep Bradford City 2 2 17 Sep Newcastle 2 8
25 Sep Wolves 1 3 24 Sep Huddersfield 2 10
29 Sep Bradford City 1 4 1 Oct Tottenham 2 12
2 Oct Notts County 3 7 8 Oct Manchester United 5 17
9 Oct Clapham Orient 0 7 15 Oct Liverpool 0 17
16 Oct Nottingham Forest 1 8 22 Oct West Ham 0 17
23 Oct Barnsley 1 9 29 Oct Portsmouth 3 20
30 Oct Darlington 1 10 5 Nov Leicester 3 23
6 Nov Portsmouth 4 14 12 Nov Derby 2 25
13 Nov Oldham 1 15 19 Nov Sunderland 0 25
20 Nov Fulham 4 19 26 Nov Bury 2 27
27 Nov Southampton 1 20 3 Dec Sheffield United 0 27
4 Dec Blackpool 2 22 10 Dec Aston Villa 3 30
18 Dec Swansea 4 26 17 Dec Burnley 0 30
25 Dec Manchester City 5 31 24 Dec Arsenal 1 31
27 Dec Manchester City 2 33 26 Dec Cardiff 2 33
1 Jan Port Vale 3 36 27 Dec Cardiff 0 33
15 Jan Chelsea 0 36 31 Dec Sheffield Wednesday 2 35
22 Jan Preston 1 37 2 Jan Blackburn 2 37
5 Feb Hull 2 39 7 Jan Middlesbrough 2 39
8 Feb Grimsby 3 42 21 Jan Birmingham 0 39
12 Feb Wolves 1 43 4 Feb Huddersfield 1 40
23 Feb Notts County 2 45 11 Feb Tottenham 0 40
26 Feb Clapham Orient 2 47 25 Feb Liverpool 3 43
5 Mar Nottingham Forest 0 47 3 Mar West Ham 0 43
12 Mar Barnsley 0 47 10 Mar Portsmouth 0 43
16 Mar South Shields 3 50 14 Mar Manchester United 0 43
19 Mar Darlington 0 50 17 Mar Leicester 0 43
26 Mar Portsmouth 1 51 24 Mar Derby 2 45
2 Apr Oldham 1 52 31 Mar Sunderland 0 45
9 Apr Fulham 1 53 6 Apr Blackburn 2 47
15 Apr Port Vale 0 53 7 Apr Bury 1 48
16 Apr Grimsby 1 54 14 Apr Sheffield United 2 50
20 Apr Reading 0 54 18 Apr Newcastle 1 51
23 Apr Blackpool 1 55 21 Apr Aston Villa 2 53
30 Apr Reading 3 58 28 Apr Burnley 4 57
7 May Swansea 1 59 5 May Arsenal 3 60
(Italics mean they didn’t play in those games.)
EFC STATTO
5th May 1928. Everton were playing Arsenal. Dixie Dean was only a hat-trick away from George Camsell’s seemingly unbeatable goalscoring record he made just the previous season. It all came down to this.
There will be a great crowd at Goodison Park today to see the final match with the Arsenal. They have promised themselves the treat of seeing the League trophy on the field. Dean will be a central figure at today’s match, for he will be out to make his 57 goals 60, and thus break all goal-scoring records of all three divisions of the English League. B.C. Freeman had formerly held the Everton’s club’s record by scoring 38 goals in the season 1908-09. It is a coincidence he went to Burnley, the club which enabled Dean last Saturday to improve his chances of beating Camsell’s record of 59 goals. “Dixie” has played a great part in Everton’s triumph. He is deservedly the most popular figure in Mersey sporting and athletic circles today. Everton have to score but one more goal to reach the 100 for the season.
[…]
W.R. Dean, otherwise “Dixie”, natural centre-forward. Everton be congratulated on their securing him from Tranmere Rovers who they face competition from about 20 clubs. His remarkable record in League representative football is well known, will be out today for the goal record of all Divisions. He no means a selfish player, but the question is frequently asked. What would Everton be without Dean? Dean certainly the cleverest player, especially in the vicinity of goal scoring today. His previous clubs are Heswall and Tranmere Rovers. He is 5ft 10 and half in., weight 12st 7lb.
“How The Championship Was Won” – The Daily Courier, 5th May 1928
Everton fans were energetic as the players walked onto the pitch. There were approximately 60,000 attendees to witness football history.
Arsenal took the lead after only two minutes, courtesy of James Shaw. However, just one minute later, Dixie Dean equalised.
Everton in the next minute, straight from the kick-off, hurled themselves on the right flank, where [Ted] Critchley took a corner kick, the ball coming to [George] Martin, who flicked it to the head of Dean, who was standing to the left of [Arsenal goalkeeper, Bill] Paterson.
Dixie, in his own inimitable way, glided it sweet and low with his head right into the net. It was a capital goal and complete recompense for an early blunder.
Dixie Dean’s first goal in Everton v Arsenal – The Football Express, 5th May 1928
A couple of minutes later, Everton were awarded a penalty. Who else to take it but Dixie Dean? Did he score, or did the pressure get to him?
Everton, again in the next minute, after their first goal, launched their devastating attack straight from the kick-off, and Dean was seen leaping headlong through the defence when he crashed on bare, hard ground when tackled by [Arsenal’s Bob] John.
The Everton leader was clearly dazed by the impact of his fall. The crowd howled “Penalty” and Mr. Harper approved and pointed to the spot.
The crowd roared “Dean”—and it was Dean—and another Dean goal.
Dixie Dean’s second (and record-equalling) goal in Everton v Arsenal – The Football Express, 5th May 1928
Dixie Dean converted his penalty and was on 59 goals. He had over 80 minutes to complete his hat-trick and break George Camsell’s record. It was only about a month previous that it seemed unlikely to happen.
Dean continuously tried to complete his hat-trick and he was continuously stopped in his tracks by Arsenal’s Bob John. He was then stopped by the woodwork, and soon the entire Arsenal defence. The Arsenal defenders were surrounding him like, to quote the Football Express: “flies around honey.”
Once he got past the defence, there was one more obstacle – Arsenal’s goalkeeper, Bill Paterson.
Everton, again, began to worry the Gunners, this time on the left wing, and Dean, who was, again, plied with passes, had run into position for a vital shot. Paterson hastily beat it down and finally extricated himself with Dean trying to force him and the ball through.
Dean was going all out for his 60th goal.
Dixie Dean’s unsuccessful attempt for his 60th goal – The Football Express, 5th May 1928
Dixie Dean subsequently had a few more attempts, but to no avail, with Bill Paterson carrying on preventing him from making history:
It was then Dean again. The first time Paterson thumped clear with Dixie on top of him. Then twice the Everton leader had a shot.
[…]
Towards the interval, Dean missed a couple of chances, one being a tap by his head from a pass from [Alec] Troup.
[…]
Dean was plied with chances innumerable, and each man gave him the ball in all positions.
His first chance was when [Hunter] Hart gave to Critchley, and the winger sped down and lobbed to Dean. The Everton centre bore down on [Arsenal’s Tom] Parker, and Paterson advanced as the full back kicked clear.
[…]
Dean twice in almost as many seconds was right on top of Paterson, but at the second time of asking, Paterson punched clear as he was falling on the goal line, and repeated the performance a minute later.
[…]
The Arsenal then got into the Everton ball for a brief moment, but the ball was again punted to Dean, who flung himself headlong between the backs, swerved to the right and crashed in a drive which Paterson dropped to on the goal line and only gathered the ball as it was passing for a corner.
Maybe “a few” is understating it a bit, but the fact is Bill Paterson became a bit of a nuisance. Maybe not in Dixie Dean’s eyes as he’s too nice, but more likely in the other Everton players’ eyes and most definitely in the Everton fans’ eyes.
The game was then temporarily stopped after Bill Paterson requested a stoppage, which was granted by the referee, in order to obtain a handkerchief from a policeman and get dust out of his eye. He was then helped by the referee and other players. Another incident soon followed. While Everton were attacking, the ball hit a boy who climbed over a wall onto the ground – the boy was unhurt.
Normal service resumed, and the game was going into the final 10 minutes. And what happened a couple of minutes later changed English football forever.
Paterson saved from [Tony] Weldon seven minutes from the end, and then Martin hit a high drive, which Paterson put behind for a corner.
Troup took the flag kick and Dean headed it past Paterson. Dean, as usual, got his head to the ball from a bunch of players before anyone could get to it.
The success of Dean was the signal for unprecedented scenes of enthusiasm. The ground rang with the volumes of cheering for several minutes. He was mobbed by his fellow players.
While this was going on, a small boy evaded the policeman, who were chasing him, and insisted on shaking hands with Dean, despite the efforts of the referee to stop him. The boy reached Dean, shook him by the hand and then proceeded to ruffle his hair amid the merriment of the crowd. The referee finally got the youngster by the scruff of the neck and he was escorted of the field.
Dixie Dean’s record-breaking 60th goal of the 1927/28 First Division – The Football Express, 5th May 1928
The history-making game was not one of Dean’s most spectacular in a way, although it was characteristic of him, for when the ball came in from a corner, Dean was in the midst of a bunch of players – friend and foe, and when it was a case of whose head was going to reach the ball first, it was a foregone conclusion it would be Dean’s. He nodded the ball into the right hand corner of the net. The air was full of electrical disturbances after that, and it was just possible the crowd might have over-run the ground as they saw Dean’s colleagues hugging him. Instead, the crowd cheered themselves, out for more than five minutes without stopping.
Reactions to Dixie Dean’s 60th goal – The Daily Courier, 7th May 1928
Football history was made: Dixie Dean scored his 60th goal, breaking the record George Camsell held for only 12 months. After beating the record, Dean thanked the whole squad for helping him break the record. After all, “football is a team game.” The team didn’t have much time to celebrate though as they were heading to Switzerland for a post-season tour, and Dean was going on international duty.
The breakdown of George Camsell’s goals (1926/27) and Dixie Dean’s goals (1927/28):
George Camsell (1926/27) Dixie Dean (1927/28)
Date Opponents Goals Cum. Total Date Opponents Goals Cum. Total
28 Aug Chelsea 0 0 27 Aug Sheffield Wednesday 1 1
30 Aug Southampton 0 0 3 Sep Middlesbrough 1 2
4 Sep Preston 0 0 5 Sep Bolton 1 3
11 Sep South Shields 0 0 10 Sep Birmingham 2 5
18 Sep Hull 0 0 14 Sep Bolton 1 6
22 Sep Bradford City 2 2 17 Sep Newcastle 2 8
25 Sep Wolves 1 3 24 Sep Huddersfield 2 10
29 Sep Bradford City 1 4 1 Oct Tottenham 2 12
2 Oct Notts County 3 7 8 Oct Manchester United 5 17
9 Oct Clapham Orient 0 7 15 Oct Liverpool 0 17
16 Oct Nottingham Forest 1 8 22 Oct West Ham 0 17
23 Oct Barnsley 1 9 29 Oct Portsmouth 3 20
30 Oct Darlington 1 10 5 Nov Leicester 3 23
6 Nov Portsmouth 4 14 12 Nov Derby 2 25
13 Nov Oldham 1 15 19 Nov Sunderland 0 25
20 Nov Fulham 4 19 26 Nov Bury 2 27
27 Nov Southampton 1 20 3 Dec Sheffield United 0 27
4 Dec Blackpool 2 22 10 Dec Aston Villa 3 30
18 Dec Swansea 4 26 17 Dec Burnley 0 30
25 Dec Manchester City 5 31 24 Dec Arsenal 1 31
27 Dec Manchester City 2 33 26 Dec Cardiff 2 33
1 Jan Port Vale 3 36 27 Dec Cardiff 0 33
15 Jan Chelsea 0 36 31 Dec Sheffield Wednesday 2 35
22 Jan Preston 1 37 2 Jan Blackburn 2 37
5 Feb Hull 2 39 7 Jan Middlesbrough 2 39
8 Feb Grimsby 3 42 21 Jan Birmingham 0 39
12 Feb Wolves 1 43 4 Feb Huddersfield 1 40
23 Feb Notts County 2 45 11 Feb Tottenham 0 40
26 Feb Clapham Orient 2 47 25 Feb Liverpool 3 43
5 Mar Nottingham Forest 0 47 3 Mar West Ham 0 43
12 Mar Barnsley 0 47 10 Mar Portsmouth 0 43
16 Mar South Shields 3 50 14 Mar Manchester United 0 43
19 Mar Darlington 0 50 17 Mar Leicester 0 43
26 Mar Portsmouth 1 51 24 Mar Derby 2 45
2 Apr Oldham 1 52 31 Mar Sunderland 0 45
9 Apr Fulham 1 53 6 Apr Blackburn 2 47
15 Apr Port Vale 0 53 7 Apr Bury 1 48
16 Apr Grimsby 1 54 14 Apr Sheffield United 2 50
20 Apr Reading 0 54 18 Apr Newcastle 1 51
23 Apr Blackpool 1 55 21 Apr Aston Villa 2 53
30 Apr Reading 3 58 28 Apr Burnley 4 57
7 May Swansea 1 59 5 May Arsenal 3 60
(Italics mean they didn’t play in those games.)
summerisle
The rain, it raineth every day
Here's another one, shenanigans about a new ground from a John Houlding supporter.
https://playupliverpool.com/1892/02...iends-and-its-enemies-of-the-everton-dispute/
The friends and the enemies of the Everton F.C. dispute
BY KJEHAN ON FEBRUARY 15, 1892 • ( 1 COMMENT )
February 15, 1892
How many of the present supporters and followers, or even members, of the Everton Football Club are fully acquainted with its origin, rise and fall? Very few. In the old days when ”gates” were not forthcoming, when the workingmen knew nothing of the game, when the number of spectators could be counted on fingers, it was a struggle for existence, and it was only by the generosity of some of the members that enough money could be raised weekly to pay the traveling expenses for matches away from home.
At that period of the club it had no enclosed ground, but played and practised in Stanley Park. As the game became more popular the number of spectators increased until (the ground not being enclosed or fenced) the matches were seriously interfered with owing to the encroachment of the onlookers. It became necessary, if good fixtures were to be obtained, that the club should possess an enclosed ground, and after considerable trouble a field on a farm in Priory-road, Anfield, was rented, and for the first time the Everton Club could boast of “gates”.
But such gates! The total proceeds at the opening match were 14s 7d, and 30s was considered fair; the largest amount taken for admission on the old ground only reached a few pounds.
Some of the players at that time were working lads unable to contribute to travelling expenses, rent materials &c., and the club was in debt – among other items, part of the rent being due. The outlook was not bright, but it became more gloomy when the landlord gave notice to quit, as he found he could turn his land to better use.
Fortunately at this period influential friends of the game and the club came to the rescue, and the permission was given the members to play on a piece of waste land lying between Anfield and Walton Breck-roads, on condition that a benefit match should be played annually in aid of the Stanley Hospital.
It became necessary to enclose the ground from entrances and exits, and remove a large quantity of rubbish in order to make the ground fit for play. This cost a large sum of money, which was entirely subscribed by the old members and their friends while some of the more skilful gave their valuable aid with shovel and saw and hammer. Not a single penny spent in the erection of the first stands, boarding, fencing &c, came out of the funds of the club. With a suitable and convenient enclosed ground the gates began to increase, but even at that time £20 to £25 was considered very good, and £40 was wonderful.
By pursuing a strong policy, enrolling new members, engaging clubs of renown, such as the Rovers, Burnley, Bolton Wanderers &c, to give exhibition matches, securing good players, the executive were soon able to welcome an increase of public interest, and at the close of that season the club was in a satisfactory financial position.
About this time the executive had to face another difficulty; the ground so kindly lent them was in the market to be sold for building, and it was felt that unless something could be done to secure the ground for the use of the club a collapse would be inevitable. Many anxious consultations took place, inquiries were made as to other grounds, meeting after meeting was held, and, amongst other things, a company was suggested. The capital raised, however, did not give much encouragement, the amount being somewhere about £11.
At this juncture Messrs Barclay and Jackson, who for some time had cordially worked together for the welfare of the club, arranged to approach Mr John Houlding and ask for his aid in the matter. The bold suggestion that these gentlemen made to Mr Houlding – that he should purchase the land, and rent it to the club – was carefully considered by him. He was naturally taken aback by their proposal and his inquiries as to security&c, only elected guarded replies. Mr Houlding asked what rent the club would pay? The answer was that the club might see its way to £100 a year.
– Do you know the cost of the land?
– Yes.
– And you advise me to purchase it at the cost of nearly £6,000 with the prospect of having only a return of £100 per annum, and no security that even that amount will be paid to me. Is the club, or any responsible member of it, prepared to lease the ground if I buy it?
Messrs. Barclay and Jackson could give no assurance. They simply threw themselves on the generosity of Mr Houlding, who, whilst giving them no hope, promised to think carefully over the matter and give a reply at an early date. And now let it be known to those who knew it not before, how the ground was secured, and who saved the club from complete collapse.
Not withstanding that there was no security, that the land at that time was a bad investment, seeing that the same land is now valued by his detractors at 3s per yard less than he paid for it, that the club had not a penny in the bank, that it involved a large expenditure of capital which could have been spent to infinitely better account; that he was placing himself at the mercy of the members, who might if they chose leave him at any moment, Mr Houlding bought the land, and placed it at the disposal of the executive.
The odd members, the backbone of the club in its dark days, who knows him as a man of integrity, honour and generous disposition, are with him to a man and are also determined to stand by him in the present crisis. But unfortunately the general body of the members appear to have been led or misled by the vapouring and plausibility of a few irresponsible individuals who joined the club long after Mr Houlding purchased the ground, and when financial success was assured – men who have never contributed a penny to the funds beyond their entrance fee and annual subscription, for which they receive more than full value because members’ tickets entitle them to admission to ground and covered stand to all except a few charity matches.
Mr Houlding has a large amount of money at stake, and has advanced large sums to the committee from time to time at the rate of 5 per cent, without any security whatever beyond the treasurer’s receipt. This is the man who has been called a shylock, who has been and is attacked in a most unscrupulous manner from a quarter and by men whence and by whom he had the least reason to expect such cowardly tactics and such base ingratitude.
Last year Mr Orrell, the owner of the land adjoining the present football ground, gave Mr Houlding notice that it was his intention to build, and, calling upon him to give up part of the ground for the purpose of making a street. It may be explained that when the land was divided by the late Mr. Orrell between his two sons there was a covenant made to the effect that in the event of either party building the dividing line would be the centre of a street, and both parties should join at the making of such street. When Mr Houlding bought the land he had to buy it with this covenant inserted in the deeds. This was known to the old executive, but not much attention was paid to it for several reasons
viz.
1) because the committee were only too glad that Mr Houlding had secured the ground
2) the ground necessary for playing purpose at that time was not so wide, so that even had a street been required there would have been ample room for football
3) because it was felt that Mr Orrell was not likely to begin building operations Of course the present would be rulers of the club knew nothing of the motives which actuated the old committee. Mr Houlding was called upon to fullfil his part of the covenant. He interviewed Mr Orrell, who expressed his determination to build, but as an alternative suggested that Mr Houlding should purchase his land. Mr Houlding could not see his way to undertake any further financial responsibility, and finally seeing no other way out of the difficulty, recommended the committee to consider the question of purchasing both grounds, and advised them to adopt a scheme of limited liability, to be laid before the members. After some delay and much deliberation the committee passed the following resolution:
“That the committee consider to form a limited liability company to purchase Mr Houlding’s interest in a portion of the adjoining land.”
Mr. Houlding drew up a scheme which the committee approved of, and he at their wish presented it to a special general meeting, at which about one half of the members attended. This meeting led by a member of the committee who had previously signified his assent to the scheme, rejected it. Mr Barclay presided at this (as at subsequent meetings), but in spite of his earnest appeals to the members to avoid personalities most disgraceful epithets were hurled at Mr Houlding, and any chance which might have been to afterwards approach the question in a calm and thoughtful spirit was ruined by the unnecessary heat thrown into to debate by Messrs. Mahon and Clayton, and by the indiscreet and uncalled for remarks of some of their adherents.
And now a paper-warfare was inaugurated, in which the leaders to the opposition to Mr Houlding, took a leading part. All sorts of wild schemes were suggested as to the removal to other grounds &c. It was ascertained, however, that Mr Orrell would be willing to suspend building operations until the close of the season on condition that he be paid £100. This course was strongly advocated by Mr Barclay, who moved a resolution to the effect that the club pay Mr Orrell the £100, and in doing so he pointed out that it would give the members’ time to think over the matter and secure possession of the ground till the end of the season.
But no, the majority on the committee would not have this. Mr Houlding must pay £100. Mr Houlding peremptorily refused, but offered to pay £20 onwards the amount if the club could not afford it, provided the committee would raise the rest among them. It was one thing to ask Mr Houlding to put his hand in his pocket: a different matter altogether for these gentlemen to “fork out”. No, they “did not see why they should be taxed”.
Another meeting was called. All sorts of promises were made to the members as to some mysterious ground which could be had for the proverbial old song, and which would prove a veritable El Dorado. There was a hitch somewhere, however, and in spite of questions frequently repeated, Messrs Mahon and Clayton would not disclose the situation, rental, or any other particulars regarding the “coat tail pocket scheme”. Something had to be done, however, and it is significant that the members decided to do what the majority of the committee refused viz., adopt Mr Barclay’s suggestion, and pay Mr Orrell’s demand out of the funds of the club. A special committee was appointed to make full inquires as to rental, purchase, leasing &c, of new and old grounds and to report to a future meeting.
Mr Houlding, who had grown thoroughly tired of the whole business, and disgusted with the tactics of his opponents, had previously given the club notice to quit, not that he wished the members to go elsewhere, but he felt that an end must be put to the difficulty somehow, and as one of the charges laid against him was that he only supported the club because of the custom it brought to his licensed hotel the Sandon – it would be advisable to prove to his detractors, as his friends already know, that no such base motive actuated him. This public house-question will be referred to further on.
Well, the special ground committee got to work, and after a long interval, during which they endeavoured unsuccessfully to induce Mr Houlding to reduce his rent, which the members themselves fixed at £250, they, or rather a sub committee appointed by them, drew up a report which left things worse than before, owing to the uncertain information given, and the absence of any recommendation or even suggestion for the guidance of the members.
Two new grounds were mentioned, one most inconveniently situated at Goodison-road, and the other, equally inconvenient at Breck-road. The rental of the Goodison-road ground was stated to be £50 per annum, but mark this well; the price had not been fixed. It was not stated whether the ground was freehold or leasehold. No proper and authenticated estimate, as to the cost of enclosing, fencing, draining, leveling and turfing the ground, and erecting stands &c, was laid before the meeting.
And, so far as those best capable of judging could see, the numbers in adopting Mr Clayton’s proposal that the club remove to Goodison-road were committing themselves to a scheme which, instead of involving them in an expenditure of £1,800, according to an approximate estimate would mean the expenditure of at least £4,000, including the players` wages during the summer months, and this too, in the face of Mr Clayton’s strongly expressed opinion that there would be no balance at the end of the current season. Of course something was said about the cost of removing and rebuilding the old stands &c, and the report stated that the cost, including the drainage of the new ground, would be £330.
The members could not have given this statement the slightest consideration, or they would have at once seen its uttest absurdity. Why, to drain, level, and turf the Goodison-road ground alone will cost nearly £600 if it is to be rendered fit for play. This is not a mere approximation, but is based on careful calculations. Assuming, then, that Mr Houlding is willing to permit the removal of the stands, this will be an additional charge. But are the stands worth removing? And, if so, by the time they are pulled down and removed, what will be their value? The timber might sell for chips, the iron for scrap, and the bricks, such as are whole, might be used for building; but as to putting the stands up in anything like the condition they are at present, it cannot be done without a very large expenditure, because the greater part will require renewal.
The readiness with which the majority of those present at the last meeting swallowed Messrs Clayton and Mr Mahon`s scheme, supported not by argument but only by declamatory clap – trap,would be ludicrous were it not for the fact, since patent for every unbiased supporter of the club, that an organisation which has been the means of bringing first class football to Liverpool, and providing healthy outdoor sport for the workingmen, is threatened with absolute ruin by a set of irresponsible nobodies, who have never been a penny out of pocket through their connection with the club, and who risk nothing in their foolishness except their own reputations. And think of it. Mr Houlding has nearly £6000 at stake – money sunk in land which he personally did not want, and which he was persuaded to buy on the strength of promises which are now ruthlessly broken. Of course Mr Houlding is wealthy enough to let the club have the ground for nothing, or he might let it for a mere normal rent; but Mr Houlding and those who support him are fighting for principle and fair dealing, and are not to be browbeaten or intimidated into adopting proposals contrary to their conscience. One part of the report says: —
Mr Orrell is willing to accept seven shillings and sixpence per yard for his land, and he is prepared to take any lower price that Mr Houlding will be willing to accept for his land.”
The writer has seen a letter in Mr Orrell’s own hand denying the accuracy of this. Notwithstanding all the talk about Mr Houlding’s procrastination, his opponents at the same meeting (and subsequently) evinced a string desire to procrastinate, as, in spite of repeated refusals to reduce his rent, they were good enough to move and carry a resolution, offering him (their final ultimatum) £180 per annum and giving him three days to consider it. This was immediate afterwards increased to seven days, and at a subsequent committee meeting another seven days were given him. Finding, however, that their game of procrastination did not succeed, the mechanical majority of the committee instructed their solicitor to arrange for leasing the Goodison-road ground. Meantime Mr Barclay and Mr Joseph Williams had resigned their seats on the committee, finding themselves so completely at variance with the majority that they felt there was no other course open to them. And to the disgrace of the mechanical majority let it be known that, notwithstanding long services, neither gentleman was asked to reconsider his decision.
The Goodison-road party sought to institute a comparison of the rentals of the Anfield-road and the grounds of other leading clubs. For all practical purposes this was useless. Everyone knows that for accessibility, convenience, accommodation, and power to attract the “crowd” the Anfield-road ground is unique. Besides, no sensible person would argue that because other clubs paid only from £25 to £60 a year, Mr Houlding should perforce bow to the mandate of his opponents and accept whatever rentals paid by other clubs, ignoring altogether what would be a fair return on the money sunk on the ground, and the fact that the members themselves fixed the rent at £250 per annum.
As to the limited liability scheme, with a capital of £500, of which £250 was to be called up, it should never have been purposed by Mr Clayton, as Mr Houlding distinctly told him, “that he would not consent to such a company being formed to carry on football on his ground. “If we are to have a company, said Mr Houlding, “let it be a real, bona fide one.”
What do sensible men think of a capital of £500 to work an organisation such as the Everton Football Club – at Goodison-road, too – with an initial expenditure, as before stated, of some thousands before the ground is fit to accommodate the public in sufficient numbers to even defray the players` wages?
The absolute failure in the very near future will be the lot of the Goodison-road club cannot be doubted. As to the old ground, the scene of some many triumphs, Mr Houlding, supported by the great majority of the spectators, by all the old members, and a considerable section of the new members, is determined that good football shall be played on it, not for the benefit it is to confer on his hotel – for the Sandon Hotel is only one of many licensed houses in the close proximity to the ground, and all of which benefit (if there is any benefits at all) quite as much as the Sandon but because the workingmen, who have a large share in building up the club by patronising the matches, want to see football there, and because the ground was bought for the purpose of football.
Signed X
(Field Sports: February 15, 1892)
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