Old Everton Pictures

[BigMick]

Mick Bernard... as a general rule, if he didn't get the ball he got the man. Eddie Gray on the receiving end here. Mick was signed from Stoke the summer after we'd sold Alan Ball, so effectively he was Ball's replacement. That was the problem: there was no comparison between the two in terms of talent, and Bernard was a very different kind of player anyway. I can only think Catterick wanted to beef up our midfield as he sought to arrest our rapid decline. It worked only briefly as we topped the table in the early weeks of the 72/3 season, mainly on the back of the goals and peak form of Joe Royle. Sadly, once Joe did his back in we quickly fell away to mid-table and even lower, and the following year Bernard found himself converted to right back by new manager Billy Bingham.

 

[T LEAFE]

Mick Bernard... as a general rule, if he didn't get the ball he got the man. Eddie Gray on the receiving end here. Mick was signed from Stoke the summer after we'd sold Alan Ball, so effectively he was Ball's replacement. That was the problem: there was no comparison between the two in terms of talent, and Bernard was a very different kind of player anyway. I can only think Catterick wanted to beef up our midfield as he sought to arrest our rapid decline. It worked only briefly as we topped the table in the early weeks of the 72/3 season, mainly on the back of the goals and peak form of Joe Royle. Sadly, once Joe did his back in we quickly fell away to mid-table and even lower, and the following year Bernard found himself converted to right back by new manager Billy Bingham.View attachment 85068

A young Mick Bernard far right with the legendary Stanley Matthews

 

[alan ball]

 

[alan ball]

 

[alan ball]

 

[Eggs]

View attachment 85112

...ah, Tommy Wheeldon was an old teammate of mine in representative youth football. A good lad, we played in a few tournaments at home and abroad not long before he joined Everton.

 

[Joey66]

A young Mick Bernard far right with the legendary Stanley MatthewsView attachment 85073View attachment 85073

Alan Ball on Stanley Matthews when first breaking into Blackpool team - played a perfect ball to him as Mathews hugged the touchline as an old fashioned winger.....two feet ahead on him Mathews deliberately let the ball go out for a throw in Young Bally went mad & continued to pass that way the whole half - at half time Bally asked him what he was playing at -"Only to my feet son"
Hence Bally was dropped from the first team the next game ......

 

[Joey66]

 

[Joey66]

 

[Joey66]

 

[Joey66]

The Catt as a player -

 

[T LEAFE]

View attachment 85150

Henry Newton a "lively linkman"
Not when he played for us

 

[Major Gowen]

Henry Newton a "lively linkman"
Not when he played for us

Looked more like a heavily-sedated Fred West on day release...he was shocking for us. No idea why.

 

[T LEAFE]

 

[alan ball]

...ah, Tommy Wheeldon was an old teammate of mine in representative youth football. A good lad, we played in a few tournaments at home and abroad not long before he joined Everton.

I’m speaking with Tommy on Monday