Stories

Super Kev – A Goodison Hero

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“Never fall in love with a loan player.” Kevin Campbell was very much an exception to the rule. After avoiding relegation by the skin of their teeth in 1998, it looked like Everton had to go through that turmoil all over again the following season. But Super Kev made sure that did not happen.

At the end of February 1999, Kevin Campbell’s spell at Turkish club Trabzonspor – who he had only joined the previous summer – was over after the president Mehmet Ali Yilmaz criticised his performance at the club, telling Turkish television that Campbell was a “discoloured cannibal”. Following his comments, Campbell said in a statement:

I am first of all a black man. I can accept routine criticism but when comments are made concerning my race, football is not important.

Campbell refused to play for Trabzonspor again. Everton manager Walter Smith hoped to get him out of this difficult situation by having talks with his agent Paul Stretford about a possible loan deal or maybe even a free transfer if FIFA allowed Campbell to invalidate his contract after Trabzonspor missed a deadline to pay his wages. Trabzonspor manager Gordon Milne did not want Campbell to leave:

Kevin is very upset and still sees it as a racist attack. This has happened because we’ve had a couple of defeats and the president has come under pressure. He said something on television and did not fully realise the consequences.

The bottom line is I do not want Kevin to leave because he has been playing well.

At that time, Everton needed some firepower up front. Up to just before their home game against Wimbledon, when Campbell was first linked with the club, Everton were 15th – just 3 points above the relegation zone – and were the lowest scorers in the league (19 goals after 26 games). They had only scored 8 goals at Goodison Park in the Premier League (5 of them coming in just one game – a 5-0 win over Middlesbrough) and failed to score in 9 out of 13 home league games. Although they were defensively solid at Goodison – only 6 goals conceded and 10 clean sheets – they only earned 16 points (3 wins, 7 draws – all goalless – and 3 defeats). Only Nottingham Forest had earned fewer points at home than Everton (6).

There was concern about whether Kevin Campbell would be the right man for Everton. Len Capeling of the Liverpool Daily Post wrote a comment with the heading “Model striker Campbell a recipe for disaster” described him as “an Arsenal misfit from way back and an overpriced failure at the highest levels,” adding his goalscoring record “tells you that Campbell has been in the soup more time than he’s been in the spotlight.”

Despite Campbell’s case being backed by the international players’ union, FIFA refused to intervene and Campbell’s contract at Trabzonspor remained untorn. A reported plan B was Anderlecht’s Ole Martin Aarst but Kevin Campbell remained Everton’s main priority. A loan spell would still suffice but that would mean the club would have to pay all of Campbell’s reported £27,000-a-week wages, which Everton would struggle to afford because of their own financial predicaments.

While it looked like the move had collapsed, mere days before the transfer deadline – 5pm on March 25th – there was a breakthrough. Paul Stretford had spoken to Gordon Milne in Turkey and talks were looking positive. It then transpired that Campbell’s wages were less than previously reported – they were actually £16,000 a week. A much more affordable wage that Everton can pay. After nearly a month, the move was finally completed the day before the deadline after Mehmet Ali Yilmaz approved the transfer following “delicate negotiations”.

After he joined the Blues on loan, Campbell said:

I am over the moon to be back. It is such a relief after all the troubles of the past few weeks. It’s been so depressing for me being at the club, and with my wife flying back home.

I thought I was stuck in Turkey because the transfer deadline was so close, but everything has worked out like a dream.

Campbell’s debut was expected to be the Merseyside derby:

It’s even better to know that my first game will be against Liverpool in the derby. You couldn’t want for anything more exciting than that.

Following his first day at Bellefield, Campbell added:

It is flattering that someone like Walter Smith and Everton came in to take me. It had become very difficult for me in Turkey but Everton are a great club and I jumped at the chance as soon as I heard they were interested.

I hope I can provide a little spark for the rest of the team. I know the supporters are fantastic from having played at Goodison Park before and if they get behind the team for the last eight games then I think we can stay up. I can help ease the goalscoring problems they have had here.

Between Everton’s initial interest and Campbell’s eventual move to Goodison, Everton had a mixed run of results. The lows were defeats to Arsenal and Manchester United and getting knocked out by Newcastle in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup. But an important high was coming from behind to beat relegation rivals Blackburn thanks to a Bakayoko brace. Ahead of the derby, Everton were 16th – just 2 points above the relegation zone with 8 games to go.

Everton had a dream start in the derby with Olivier Dacourt scoring after just 41 seconds. But in a classic case of scoring too early, Liverpool turned it around and won 3-2. Following the defeat, Everton dropped to 17th and were only 1 point above the relegation zone. Their next match against Sheffield Wednesday was just 2 days later as both games fell on Easter weekend. Again Everton broke the deadlock and again their opponents turned it around. Francis Jeffers scored his 2nd goal in 3 days to give the Blues a half-time lead but a Benito Carbone double sent Everton into the relegation zone on goal difference.

A defeat to your local rivals and another at home in 3 days were not ideal. Kevin Campbell failed to score in both games, although he did contribute to a goal by assisting Francis Jeffers’ consolation against Liverpool. He also played a part in Jeffers’ goal against Sheffield Wednesday after goalkeeper Pavel Srnicek spilled the ball following pressure from Campbell.

The next match was against Coventry. Even though Everton had beaten the Sky Blues in the FA Cup a couple of months prior, they had not beaten them in the league since March 1993 (11 games). But that run came to an end and it was the start of Kevin Campbell’s heroics. For the third game in a row, Everton broke the deadlock – Nick Barmby poked the ball to Campbell in the box and the loanee converted in the 28th minute. With 6 minutes to go, it remained 1-0 but Everton found themselves down to 10 men after Marco Materazzi was sent off for a second yellow card. A goal up but a man down with little time left, it was going to be a nervy end to the game. The nerves were soon settled as Campbell scored his second goal of the game with 2 minutes to go to give Everton an invaluable 3 points. Following the win, Everton were 3 points clear of the relegation zone but the two teams below them, Charlton and Blackburn, had a game in hand.

After his brace, Campbell said:

It was just good to be out there on the pitch where you could influence things because in the stands, there was real heart-wrenching stuff going on.

When I scored the first goal, I touched the ball past the goalkeeper then looked up. My eyes went wide because I could see all the supporters behind the goal! Fortunately, the ball went in and they were all over the moon.

The fans are tremendous here. You could see that even in the Sheffield Wednesday game. They were still behind us, even when we went 2-1 down. I like the lads, too. They’re all good lads and Walter Smith’s an excellent manager. I wouldn’t hesitate if they offered me a contract. I’d sign it tomorrow.

The next match was against Newcastle at St James’ Park. Everton had a poor record at the ground – they had lost each of their previous 7 games there, including the FA Cup quarter-final the previous month. They ended one bad run and hoped to end another – and they did. Campbell broke the deadlock after just 42 seconds by slotting the ball past Shay Given following a terrific pass by Don Hutchison. Newcastle had a chance to equalise from the penalty spot after a David Weir handball but Thomas Myhre saved Alan Shearer’s effort. Just before half-time, Campbell made it 4 goals in 2 games by just about converting a cross by Francis Jeffers as the ball slowly sneaked under Given’s arm. Campbell was worryingly subbed off after the hour mark with a hip injury but Everton still managed to earn another crucial 3 points by winning 3-1. Alan Shearer had a second chance from the penalty spot and converted to half the deficit but deadline day signing Scot Gemmill made sure all 3 points were going to the Blues by making it 3-1 with 2 minutes remaining.

Their next opponents were relegation rivals Charlton. The Addicks had lost their game in hand against Tottenham, meaning that Everton were 5 points clear of the relegation zone with 4 games remaining. Because Charlton were 18th, a win would nearly ensure another relegation escape. After scoring 4 goals in his last 2 games, Kevin Campbell was already the Blues’ joint-top goalscorer in the Premier League that season (along with Ibrahima Bakayoko, Danny Cadamarteri and the departed Duncan Ferguson). Despite the injury scare, he retained his place in the starting XI and produced another heroic performance. After Everton took the lead through Don Hutchison, Campbell directly contributed to the next 3 goals. He doubled Everton’s lead by shooting from a tight angle after his initial effort was blocked. He then scored a brace for the third game in a row on the hour after heading in Francis Jeffers’ cross. A quarter of an hour later, he returned the favour – following a counter attack from a Charlton corner, Campbell guided the ball to Jeffers and Jeffers calmly finished to make it 4-0. The match ended 4-1 after ex-Blue Graham Stuart scored a consolation penalty. That win against Charlton meant Everton were 8 points clear of the relegation zone with 3 games left. Only an absolute disaster would send Everton down.

Kevin Campbell’s performances in the last 3 games earned him Premier League Player of the Month for April – the first Everton player to win the award since Andrei Kanchelskis for April 1996.

It’s been a very good month for Everton and myself. This award is the icing on the cake really. 6 goals in 5 games is more than I could expect but we still need 1 more point at Chelsea.

Hopefully I can help Everton do that to secure their Premiership status and get myself a permanent contract here.

In response to his own comment after Campbell joined Everton, Len Capeling said:

Very soon, I’ll be forced to eat my words over Kevin Campbell, whose hardworking, honest approach has won him many admirers since he swapped a place Bob Paisley once memorably described as a doss-house for the spit and sawdust of Liverpool 4.

Campbell is the manager’s masterstroke. Muscular, menacing with an eye for the skilful strike that wasn’t always evident at Arsenal, he has already ensured that if he does nothing else, he will be remembered for getting Everton out of the soup.

The job was not completely done, however, as they needed to avoid defeat in any of their last 3 games to confirm their place in the Premier League next season. Their next opponents were title challengers Chelsea. Survival celebrations had to be put on hold as Everton lost 3-1 at Stamford Bridge and Campbell’s goalscoring streak came to an end. Although they were 7 points clear of the relegation zone with 2 games to go, 18th-placed Blackburn still had a game in hand.

Their penultimate game of the season was against West Ham, who were vying for a European place. It was the last Goodison match of the season and the crowd comprising of nearly 40,000 Everton fans were hoping this would not be the last time they would see Kevin Campbell in royal blue. But those lucky fans were treated to a spectacular performance. Everton confirmed their place in the Premier League next season after annihilating West Ham 6-0 with Campbell scoring a hat-trick to make it 9 goals in 5 games.

After a 2-0 defeat to Southampton, Everton ended the season in 14th place and 7 points clear of the relegation zone with Kevin Campbell as their top goalscorer with 9 goals, despite joining in March and playing only 8 games. Despite interest from Sheffield Wednesday and Bradford City, Campbell only wanted to play for Everton.

Everton are in my heart. I want to stay here but obviously something has to be sorted out. If I had the money, I would put it in myself because I don’t want to go back to Turkey.

You look at what the club has going for it and there is a nucleus of a good team here. I want to be part of that, but it is time for the nitty-gritty to take place now between the two clubs.

It looked like the permanent move was not going to happen after Trabzonspor rejected a £3 million bid from Everton, wanting another £500,000 because they believed £3.5 million was the fee they paid when they signed Campbell from Nottingham Forest. However, there was a clause in Campbell’s contract with Trabzonspor which said he can leave for £3 million if manager Gordon Milne and ex-Blue assistant manager Ian Wilson had left the club, and they were both sacked not long before the bid was rejected. The difficult circumstances meant Campbell was once again in limbo, forcing himself to run laps of a football pitch at the Mottram Hall Hotel in Wilmslow to keep his fitness levels up while Everton players had started pre-season training. Furthermore, Mehmet Ali Yilmaz claimed his controversial comments were mistranslated and it was reported that he would accept the £3 million fee if Campbell corroborated his claims. After two chaotic months, the saga was finally over and Kevin Campbell was an Everton player again, this time on a permanent basis.

During his five-and-a-half-year spell at the Blues, Kevin Campbell’s highlights included scoring a winner at Anfield and becoming the club’s first ever black captain. But it was his loan spell that he will always be remembered and adored for. Undoubtedly the greatest and most important loan signing in Everton’s history, he stepped up to the plate when desperately needed. He will be greatly missed not just by Evertonians, but by football fans everywhere.

RIP Kevin Campbell (1970–2024)

Leasowe Pacific’s First Top-Flight Match

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On Sunday 12th September 1993, Leasowe Pacific, who were adopted by Everton two years later, played their first ever top-flight match. They faced Wembley in the WFA National League Premier Division at their home ground, the Cuemasters Ground in Moreton.

Leasowe Pacific earned their place in the top flight after winning the WFA National League Northern Division by 4 points, earning 33 points in 18 games – 16 wins, 1 draw and 1 defeat – and scoring 101 goals. The chief markswomen were Louise Thomas and Gayle Formston: Thomas scored 36 goals (51 in all competitions) and Formston scored 30 goals (42 in all competitions).

Leasowe Pacific’s promotion was sealed in unorthodox circumstances. The 1992/93 season had to end on 30th May, however due to postponements, Leasowe Pacific still had two games to play – home and away meetings against bottom-placed club Milton Keynes. Both games were played at Milton Keynes and lasted 60 minutes. Despite having to play two games in one day, they claimed back-to-back 11-0 victories – a goal every 5 and a half minutes!

Wembley were also making their debut in the top flight after winning the WFA National League Southern Division as District Line Ladies. They became Wembley during the summer following an amalgamation of District Line Ladies and youth team Pinner Park Girls and moved from Acton to Vale Park, the home of Wembley’s men’s team.

Unsurprisingly, reports on the match were very brief. The first half ended goalless, mainly thanks to Leasowe Pacific goalkeeper Gill Parkinson. Parkinson saved a barrage of shots, namely from Wendy Grant, Yvonne Baldeo and Justine Lorton. Lorton eventually broke the deadlock in the second half but then Leasowe Pacific scored their first ever top-flight goal, appropriately courtesy of the previous season’s top scorer Louise Thomas. With a little help from the inside of the post, Thomas slotted the ball past Jacky Eimermann from a tight angle to level the score. Neither team could find a winner, and Leasowe Pacific’s first ever top-flight match ended in a 1-1 draw.

Line-up: Gill Parkinson, Paula Oldham, Julie Griffiths, Michelle Berry, Mo Mallon, Nicky Gallagher, Vanessa O’Brien, Lisa Collins, Gayle Formston (Becky Easton), Louise Thomas, Andrea McGrady (Kathy Bell)

Thanks to Gayle Formston-Wright for providing match details from her spell at Leasowe Pacific from 1992 to 1994.

Pelé At Goodison

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On 22nd August 1960, England was chosen as the host of the 1966 FIFA World Cup, beating West Germany in the final round of voting, and on 1st May 1963, Goodison Park was selected as one of the stadiums. At the group stages, Goodison hosted three matches – all of them involving reigning World Cup winners Brazil:

  • 12 July – Brazil v Bulgaria
  • 15 July – Hungary v Brazil
  • 19 July – Portugal v Brazil

Since it was announced that Brazil would be playing all their group stage matches at Goodison Park, fans were calling in at a special World Cup booking office at a remarkable speed hoping to watch their Brazilian heroes, including the likes of Garrincha, Jairzinho and the greatest footballer in the world, Pelé.

There was an overwhelming demand for tickets for the World Cup matches at Goodison Park. The complete stock of application forms for tickets (around 3,000) was sent out on the first day. More application forms were eventually sent out but because of a high number of applications and requests, the switchboard at Goodison Park was continuously jammed. Brazilian fans played a part too – around 8,000 tickets were sold to them in the first couple of days of sale. Applications went into tens of thousands in the first few days but despite the early chaos, a combined total of over 150,000 fans attended the group stage matches at Goodison Park.

Prior to the 1966 World Cup, Brazil won the previous two editions in Sweden and Chile. 17-year-old Pelé exploded onto the scene in the 1958 World Cup. He scored 6 goals – all of them in the knockout stages: the winner against Wales in the quarter-finals, a hat-trick against France in the semi-finals and 2 goals against hosts Sweden in the final. Because of injury, Pelé played only 2 matches in the 1962 World Cup. He scored in Brazil’s opening match against Mexico but was injured in a goalless draw against Czechoslovakia at the Estadio Sausalito – the home of Everton’s Chilean counterparts, Everton de Vina del Mar.

Over 47,000 fans watched Brazil take on Bulgaria at Goodison Park in their first match of the 1966 World Cup. After 15 minutes, Pelé was fouled just outside the box by Spartak Sofia defender Dobromir Zhechev and he struck the ball low and hard past the wall and into the back of the net, just about beating goalkeeper Georgi Naydenov. His goal made him the first ever player to score in three consecutive World Cups. Brazil ended up winning 2-0 with Garrincha, like Pelé, scoring directly from a free-kick.

Pelé may have scored only one goal but he did more than that in the win over Bulgaria – 3 shots (including 2 on target) and he even became a supplier, creating 3 chances. He also had 8 successful dribbles and was fouled 7 times. He helped his teammates defensively as well, making 8 successful tackles and 2 interceptions.

Following the match, Liverpool Echo’s Michael Charters spoke very highly of Pelé’s performance:

Pelé’s artistry was there for all to see. For long periods, he was out of the game but he moves like lightning when the crucial moment arrives. His chipped passes with either foot, his deft and deadly passing through a wall of defenders opened the way for Alcindo and others. It was not his fault that Brazil did not have half a dozen.

The ideal start for Brazil and Pelé. But unfortunately, that would be only game they left Goodison Park with a smile on their faces.

Pelé suffered a knee injury against Bulgaria due to aggressive tackling from the opposition and was forced to miss Brazil’s second match of the tournament against Hungary. Brazil lost 3-1 – their first World Cup defeat since a 4-2 defeat to the same opposition in their ill-tempered quarter-final clash in 1954. The Liverpool Echo said Pelé’s absence “loses so much of its power and drive” and the Daily Telegraph said Brazil’s attack “lacked genius”.

Pelé returned to training ahead of Brazil’s crucial clash against Portugal, who had won both of their games in the competition. Although, he was stopping goals instead of scoring them; he was in goal during practice while he and Brazilian fans were hoping he would be fit. Brazil needed to beat Portugal by at least three goals to guarantee a place in the quarter-finals.

Pelé was named in the line-up, much to the relief of Brazilians everywhere. But seeing as he had just overcome an injury, it made him an easy target for the Portuguese opposition. Over 58,000 fans were at Goodison Park to watch Pelé’s comeback – the highest attendance for a non-Wembley match at the 1966 World Cup. Brazil had a terrible start, losing 2-0 after nearly half an hour through goals by Antonio Simoes and Eusebio. Their fate at the 1966 World Cup was all but sealed at the half-hour mark when Pelé was a victim of a vicious tackle by Sporting Lisbon’s Joao Morais, who had only made his international debut the previous month. Referee George McCabe controversially only gave Morais a telling-off instead of a sending-off. The tackle rendered Pelé ineffective and, because there were no substitutes at the time, he played the rest of the game limping on the wing.

Brazil halved the deficit thanks to a goal by Rildo but Eusebio scored another in the 85th minute. Brazil’s World Cup campaign was officially over the next day after Hungary beat Bulgaria 3-1, despite a slight glimmer of hope for the Brazilians after Georgi Asparuhov gave Bulgaria the lead.

The defeat to Portugal was Pelé’s only World Cup loss. His World Cup record was 14 appearances, 12 wins, 1 draw (the goalless draw against Czechoslovakia) and 1 defeat. The 1966 World Cup might not have been a tournament Pelé looked back on fondly, but at least Goodison Park had the honour of having one of the greatest and most popular sporting figures in history play on its hallowed turf.

Goodison Park’s First Women’s Football Matches

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During the First World War, female factory workers started to form football teams to raise money for charity; the most famous one being Dick, Kerr Ladies. Women’s football quickly became very popular with match attendances often reaching five figures and remained popular after the war ended. Some matches were staged at Football League grounds, including Goodison Park.

Everton allowed women’s football teams to train at Goodison Park to prepare for their games:

It was resolved that all persons other than our own players, (and the lady football players) be precluded from using the ground and dressing rooms for any purpose whatever. That the lady footballers be informed that they must arrange that they withdraw from our premises before 4:30 p.m. and that whilst training or practising they must use the visitors dressing room and that no male will be permitted to accompany them.
Everton’s minute books – January 1918

Aintree Munitions Ladies v North Haymarket Ladies

In an Everton meeting on 30th January 1918, the club allowed Goodison Park to stage a women’s football match on Easter Monday morning (April 1st). A women’s team from munitions factories in Aintree and North Haymarket played against each other in front of over 7,000 spectators at Goodison Park to raise money for the Sportsmen’s Ambulance Fund. They played against each other the previous January at Prenton Park with Aintree winning 4-0. In a match report by the Liverpool Echo, both teams “entered the arena attired in short skirts, Aintree having red sleeves, and Haymarket dark green.”

Aintree: M. Lewis, E. Geddes, Bessie Burrows, E. Thomas, Belle Saunders, M. Creane, Daisy Clayton, J. Jones, May Williamson, L. Reece, Lily Molyneux

North Haymarket: A. Blacklock, Nellie Woods, Mabel Wilson, M. Harrison, Ivy Fulford, R. Rose, B. Way, C. Murray, Amy Bragg, May Sale, Kitty Molyneux

Aintree started the more dominant side but the first half ended goalless. The red-sleeved ladies eventually broke the deadlock in the second half through May Williamson. Despite Aintree’s dominance, Haymarket had a chance to equalise but “the ladies forgot to charge, but shoved, pulled and pushed each other until the goalkeeper cleared.” Lily Molyneux doubled Aintree’s lead and a goalkeeping error made it 3-0. Reece hit a shot which slipped through Blacklock’s hands and went into the goal. Lily Molyneux had a chance to double her tally and make it 4-0 from the penalty spot but Blacklock made amends for her earlier error and saved the penalty. Aintree did make it 4-0 with Reece scoring her second of the game. The match ended 4-0 to Aintree, repeating the scoreline of the Prenton Park meeting.

This is the first known record of a women’s football match being played at Goodison Park.

The Liverpool Echo praised the match and women’s footballers in general:

Ladies are good at promising, men are always agreed, but in among the war-growths that have occurred recently, nothing promises quite so richly as the lady footballer. Time was when they tried to play the winter sport and were laughed to scorn. Many fans must have gone to Goodison Park on Monday morning for a pantomimical affair, and they had their eyes opened. There were laughable incidents, of course, but some of the players showed such good form that the possibilities of ladies’ football had to be recognised.

The cardinal fault was pushing instead of charging; but this is quite a minor matter, and time will remedy it more emphatically than a referee can. Aintree’s left-winger and all the full backs showed a keen perception of the game and its requirements, and I doubt not that if the playing area had been reduced to the size that obtains when school teams meet, the ladies would have done far better. It is too much to expect the weaker sex to last 90 minutes’ football on the full scale of football’s measurements. Whatever else the ladies have done, they have, in linking up with football, found a channel for charity that has fared well, and promises to bring with it some football in the future.

Aintree Munitions Ladies v Rest of the League

Just over a month later (May 8th), Aintree returned to Goodison Park to play against a Rest of the League XI in front of just over 1,500 spectators. Although, there does not appear to be any report of the match or record of the scoreline.

Dick, Kerr Ladies v St Helens Ladies

On Boxing Day morning 1920 (December 27th), England’s most famous women’s football team at the time Dick, Kerr Ladies played against St Helens Ladies at Goodison Park in what became one of the most famous matches in women’s football history. The date of the match has often been mistaken. In 1920, Boxing Day was on December 27th, not December 26th, because the 26th was on a Sunday and Boxing Day traditionally had to be on a working day. Furthermore, Sunday football was forbidden in England until the 1970s.

Everton had allowed Dick, Kerr Ladies to play at Goodison Park in January 1919 and a match was requested to be played on February 5th the same year. Although, Everton said the date was not suitable. A date was eventually agreed and Dick, Kerr and St Helens played against each other at Goodison Park to raise funds for the National Association of Discharged Sailors and Soldiers.

Dick, Kerr Ladies in 1920
St Helens Ladies in 1920

Dick, Kerr: Annie Hastie, Alice Kell, Lily Parr, Alice Woods, Jessie Walmsley, Sally Hulme, Florrie Haslam, Jennie Harris, Alice Mills, Lily Lee, Daisy Clayton

St Helens: Edith Waine, M. Makin, F. Gee, E. Britch, M. Ransome, Swift, Davies, N. Johnson, Scott, E. Woods, F. Hayes

Florrie Redford was in Dick, Kerr’s original line-up but she unfortunately missed her train to Liverpool. Minnie Lyons was also in the original line-up but missed the game for unknown reasons. Alice Mills and Lily Lee took their places. St Helens had a couple of late replacements themselves – Swift and Davies replacing Gornall and Bayley.

The match was kicked off by Ella Retford, a well-known music hall comedian, singer and dancer in the early 20th century, at 11 o’clock in the morning. Dick, Kerr wore black and white jerseys and St Helens were wearing blue. Jennie Harris broke the deadlock and Dick, Kerr went into half-time with a one-goal lead. In the second half, Alice Kell moved from right back to centre forward and scored a hat-trick. No more goals were scored and the match ended 4-0 to Dick, Kerr. According to the Liverpool Daily Post, the scoreline could have been a lot worse for St Helens if it was not for Edith Waine.

The attendance of the match has commonly been reported to be at least 53,000 with over 10,000 people being turned away because the stadium was too full. The day after the game, the Liverpool Echo reported the match was attended by around 45,000 spectators. According to Everton’s gate receipt books, the official attendance was 46,480 – far more than the other match at Goodison Park later that day, Everton Reserves vs Southport (just over 5,000), and more than the estimated attendance for Liverpool vs Chelsea at Anfield the same day (around 35,000 according to the Liverpool Echo). The official attendance was a record for a women’s football match in England until the 2012 Summer Olympics and remained a record attendance for a women’s club football match in England for over a century until 49,094 fans attended the 2022 Women’s FA Cup final at Wembley.

Following the match, both teams’ managers were full of gratitude. The Liverpool Echo reported:

Yesterday, Mr Frankland, of Dick, Kerr’s and Mr Gordon, of St Helens ladies’ football sides, having asked me to accept their thanks for, they said, “being mainly responsible for the excellent attendance at the ladies’ game.” To thank: also the Everton club’s officers and staff – and the ladies. They agreed and asked me to say to you all, “A big, big thanks for breaking the record.”

Both teams were lauded for their performances. The Liverpool Daily Post said referee Stan Peers “had no trouble with the ladies, who were not argumentative and played a hefty, fair game, and played to the whistle with a readiness that might be copied by the menfolk,” and the Liverpool Echo said:

The ladies at Goodison Park gave us all much pleasure. We appreciated their skill, their stamina, their determination, and their manner of taking hard knocks without “turning a hair.” Sometimes the cap didn’t fit, and there was a hair turned; still one must say that they all played well and hard throughout. One lady on the right wing of St Helens loved to dribble; she lived for it. But she did not succeed in the manner little Jennie Harris did – what a splendid little player. And what full-backs Dick, Kerr have; they study their kicks, and are the back-bone of the side.

The Dick, Kerr-St Helens spectacle was the last women’s football match at Goodison Park before the FA banned women’s football being played on FA-affiliated grounds in 1921 – a ban which lasted until the 1970s. The next major women’s football match to take place at Goodison Park was on 5th April 1997 when Everton Ladies played against Wembley Ladies in the Women’s Premier League. Everton lost 3-1 with Louise Thomas becoming the first female Everton player to score at Goodison.

Women’s football is becoming more and more popular with some WSL matches being staged at Premier League grounds. 5,998 fans watched Everton Women against Manchester City Women at Goodison Park in September 2021, which was a record attendance for Everton Women. Following England’s victorious Women’s Euro 2022 campaign, it is going to become even more popular. When Everton Women play at Goodison Park again, it is very possible that the ground will be full of women’s football fanatics again.

Alan Ball’s Goodbye

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On 18th December 1971, Alan Ball played in Everton’s 2-0 defeat to Derby at the Baseball Ground. Little did he know that when the full-time whistle was blown, he had played his last game for Everton. Just four days later, he left the Blues to join Arsenal for a fee of £220,000 – a British record fee at the time. Evertonians were devastated, and so was Ball.

Three days after the defeat to Derby, Alan Ball went to Bellefield for training. The Everton players were given an early break from training in the morning, and Ball was brought in to the office by club physiotherapist Norman Borrowdale for a meeting with Harry Catterick. Catterick told him that Everton were going to sell him to Arsenal and their manager Bertie Mee was waiting in another room to speak to him, which took him by surprise.

In Ball’s book Playing Extra Time, he said to Catterick:

Why? I don’t want to go. Why are you selling me? I am your captain. I am twenty-seven [sic] years of age. I am playing for England. I am playing for England. I am playing well and you want to sell me. I just can’t understand that.

Catterick’s responded:

It’s business, son. I am doubling my money. I’ve had you for six years. I am making a profit on you and I have had an awful lot out of you. Football’s business, son.

Everton chairman George Watts said the move started when Bertie Mee contacted Catterick to make an offer for him.

The Ball move started on Monday [20th December] when Arsenal manager Bertie Mee got in touch with Mr Catterick to make a firm offer. We called a quick board meeting and the directors agreed to allow Mr Catterick to handle the business as he thought fit. He has our full backing in this decision.

Ball was reluctant to talk to Mee, saying he was happy playing for Everton and he did not need any disruption so soon after the birth of his daughter Keely. Ball wished to talk to his father, Preston manager Alan Ball Sr. Catterick gave him the phone and Ball rang him, telling him that Everton accepted a bid from Arsenal for him. His father said there was no bigger club than Arsenal after they won the league and FA Cup double the previous season and told Ball Jr to head home as soon as he could. He eventually spoke to Bertie Mee and agreed to go to London for further discussions.

When Ball went home, his father tried to get him to move to a club in the north west instead. He rang Manchester United and Manchester City immediately, explaining to both of their managers that Arsenal were interested in signing Ball and Ball did not want to move to London. Manchester United manager Frank O’Farrell said he had little interest in signing him because David Sadler was doing a good job in midfield. Manchester City manager Malcolm Allison, however, was really interested and said he would talk to the board about making an offer. Manchester United then had second thoughts and had arranged someone to be at Euston Station to show that they were interested.

Alan Ball and his father left Manchester and arrived at Watford Junction – the last stop before Euston Station. When they stopped at Watford, Arsenal’s assistant secretary Ken Friar was on the platform looking for them. Arsenal had heard about Manchester United’s interest and the club had hoped to catch them before they go to Euston. Friar told Ball and his father to leave the train and he would drive them to Highbury. They discussed with Friar and Bertie Mee what moving to Arsenal could mean for Ball, talking about finances, bonuses, accommodation and more. Ball said in Playing Extra Time that he would receive a basic wage of about £250 per week – much more than he was on at Everton. Ball Sr left discussions to phone Malcolm Allison and told him about Arsenal’s offer. Allison said Manchester City could not compete with their offer. Terms were agreed and Alan Ball became an Arsenal player, receiving 10% of the transfer fee.

An hour after he sealed his move to Arsenal, Alan Ball spoke to the Liverpool Echo, upset at the fact he was no longer an Everton player.

I feel very sad. It’s not just a question of changing the colour of your shirt. It goes a lot deeper than that. I have just left a great club. Everything about it was great and I have spent some of the happiest years of my life there.

I was shocked when I was told that Mr Mee was waiting for me and that I could go to Arsenal. It is not for me to argue why. But I am going to miss that Everton crowd. I don’t think I would ever have asked to leave Everton but when you are faced with a situation like this, you have no alternative. I shall play my heart out for Arsenal just as I always did for Everton. I am not bitter about it – just a trifle sad.

Ball, talking to the Daily Mirror, also said the way he left Everton had shattered his faith in the club.

On Tuesday [21st December], I was down – about as low as you can get. Shaken by the shock news that my beloved Everton were ready to sell me and stunned by the follow-up punch that the boss, Harry Catterick, delivered – it was Arsenal or the axe.

Mr Catterick told me that he was going to leave me out of the side – even before Arsenal came in for me. All right, I’d had a stinker at Derby last Saturday. I’m not making excuses but there was a fairly human and understandable reason. Last Friday, my wife, Lesley, gave birth to our second daughter and that night, I didn’t sleep. I’d hoped the boss might understand. He didn’t, and that was it.

It wasn’t just my pride that had been hurt. My faith in the club, to whom I had given everything for five years, had been suddenly shattered. How could I be worth over £200,000 to Arsenal and not worth a first-team place to Everton? The only conclusion I could come to was that Harry Catterick must have thought I was going over the hill. Burned out at the ripe old age of twenty-six? Well, everyone’s entitled to an opinion.

Although, he was going to really miss Everton fans and he would always respect them.

It’s hard to imagine that I’m about to leave Merseyside. It’s hard, too, to think of those wonderful, wonderful Everton fans of mine as mere memories. I’ll give them a big welcome to Highbury if they come down for my home debut on January 1 against… wait for it… Everton.

Alan Ball Sr said they went down to Watford initially to not sign the deal, although not mentioning because he tried to get Ball Jr a move to one of the Manchester clubs, but the offer was too good to turn down.

We came down ready not to sign. He is a Northern boy and didn’t want, and didn’t need, to sign. But it was an offer he could not possibly refuse. This offer coupled with the one that took him to Everton five and a half years ago has gone a long way to securing his future.

Bertie Mee had been pursuing Ball for a long while and admitted to contacting Everton every so often asking if he was available.

Some time ago, I asked Everton to let me know if he ever became available. Since then, I suppose I called them once every third or fourth month. I rang them again on Monday. And it appears I called at just the moment they were prepared to sell. It really was a case of being in the right place at the right time.

Harry Catterick said the decision to sell him was not an easy decision to make but was done at the club’s best interests.

I expect to be criticised over Ball’s transfer. No manager parts with a top class player without criticism but – as is the case in every transfer negotiation – only the Everton directors and myself can be aware of all the facts.

We believed it was in the best interests of the club and player that we should part. I want to make it clear that contrary to reports the only we received for Ball was from Arsenal. He is still a very fine player – don’t forget, I bought him so I know all about his qualities. Some people said, when I bought him from Blackpool, that I had paid too much for him, but I have always thought very highly of him.

I am sure he will continue to do well and I am very sorry to see him go. The decision to let him go was not an easy one, believe me.

The day after his transfer, Alan Ball returned to Goodison Park. He despondently spoke about his return to the ground to the Daily Mirror, including saying his goodbyes to his former teammates, Harry Catterick, and the club groundsman.

People tell me I should be feeling the happiest, most contented footballer in Britain after saying, “Goodbye Goodison, hello Highbury.” A few might also be thinking that, apart from being the most expensive player in the country, I am also the luckiest. Well, let me tell you this. Yesterday [23rd December], Alan Ball wasn’t the happy-go-lucky fella you might imagine. He was sad. So sad that when he picked up those easy-to-find white boots and turned his back on the Everton dressing room for the last time, a lump the size of a football came into his throat.

Don’t get me wrong, I haven’t any second thoughts about joining Arsenal. They’re great and, if it’s in my power, I’ll try with all I’ve got to make them even greater. I’ll be out there training with them for the first time at Highbury this morning, feeling exactly the way I did on the day I joined Everton more than five years ago… jubilant, impatient to get on with the exciting challenge ahead. But that goodbye to Goodison really turned me over. It wasn’t easy. In a way, it was hell.

I’d always had it in my mind that when I left Everton, they would have to push me out in a wheelchair. That was until Tuesday, when everything changed and Harry Catterick, the boss, told me he had accepted Arsenal’s record offer. The rest you probably know – except about how flat I felt when the parting of the ways became a reality after I’d trained for the last time with my old teammates at Everton’s training centre yesterday.

There were a few laughs at first from the lads. Like “Where’ve you put the Rolls, Alan?”, “Are you going to commute by helicopter?” and “Rockefeller’s on the phone.” All good humorous stuff, typical of a great bunch of lads, and it helped to keep my chin up when I was feeling a bit down. So did the couple of goals I banged in during a five-a-side finale which my lot won 6-2. As I told them at the time, I’ll be happy to complete that little scoring flurry as hat-trick on New Year’s Day when, by one of fate’s strange quirks, Everton provide the opposition for my Highbury debut.

When I said goodbye to Harry Catterick, there was a bit of a strained atmosphere at each other, and both of us seemed as though we didn’t really know what to say. So we decided on a bit of small talk. And, of course, the handshake.

The real heartbreak I managed to hold over until I had left my teammates tucking into the club’s Christmas dinner and had nipped down to Goodison to pick up my playing boots and to say my cheerios to the staff. It was when I walked out over that famous and familiar Goodison pitch to shake hands with our groundsman, Sid McGuinness, that I felt it most of all.

Sid was trying to hold back the tears and so was I. All right, I know I’m wide open for the “crying all the way to the bank” punch. But only the real pro can truly appreciate how it gets you when you’re leaving a great club – even though it means going to another.

22nd December 1971 was a heartbreaking day for Evertonians and Alan Ball, but even though Ball left on fairly acrimonious terms, he still loved the club and the fans, and the club and the fans still love him.

Bengt Kjell – The Swedish Surrogate

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On Sunday (1st November 2020), Robin Olsen became the first Swedish goalkeeper to play a competitive match for Everton. Despite the defeat against Newcastle, his performance was praised and was arguably the Blues’ man of the match. His debut came 70 years after another Swedish goalkeeper played for Everton – Bengt Kjell.

In May 1950, Everton went on a post-season tour of Sweden – their first European tour since WWII and their first ever tour of the country. They played against AIK, Helsingborgs and a combined Gothenburg XI. Just before their first match against AIK, disaster struck. Goalkeeper George Burnett injured himself while warming up. To make matters worse, he was the only goalkeeper Everton took to Sweden. Even though he was reported to be not seriously hurt, the club decided not to take any risks and left him out of the match with right back George Saunders taking his place in goal. Everton ultimately lost 3-1 with Harry Catterick scoring for the Blues and Bertil Backvall and a brace from Gosta Nilsson for the Swedish opposition.

Four days later, they played against Helsingborgs. Unfortunately, George Burnett’s injury turned out to be worse than first feared. He suffered a cartilage issue, which meant he had to miss the rest of the tour. Without a goalkeeper available, it looked like Everton had to play an outfield player in goal in their remaining two matches. However, Everton’s first opponents AIK kindly allowed them to borrow their goalkeeper Bengt Kjell. Kjell made his first appearance for the Blues against Helsingborgs and kept a clean sheet. Everton won 1-0 with Harry Catterick scoring his second goal of the tour. By keeping goal against Helsingborgs, it is likely that Bengt Kjell became the first foreign goalkeeper to play a first-team match for Everton.

Two days later, Everton played their last match of the tour against a combined Gothenburg XI, which comprised of Gothenburg-based teams IFK Gothenburg, Orgryte and GAIS. Bengt Kjell was the goalkeeper for the Blues again in his second and final appearance. Despite losing 1-0 at half-time, Everton turned the game around by winning 3-1 thanks to a hat-trick from Oscar Hold, who came on as a substitute for Peter Farrell. Kjell’s performances in both matches were praised by the Liverpool Evening Express, who said, “his catching and throwing inspired confidence.”

In 2011, Bengt Kjell spoke to an Everton supporters group based in Sweden called Swedish Toffees about his brief spell at Everton for an article about the 1950 tour of Sweden. Everton asked AIK if they could borrow Kjell and AIK allowed him to as he couldn’t play for AIK in any of their remaining Allsvenskan matches. His licence wasn’t ready yet because he had recently joined AIK from Kalmar FF. In fact, the match between Everton and AIK was Kjell’s debut for his new club. He didn’t travel with the team for the Helsingborgs match however he did travel with his temporary teammates for the Gothenburg match.

After his final game for the Blues, he was asked to join Everton as a professional on a permanent basis but he refused because he wanted to play for Sweden and only amateur players were allowed to play for Sweden at the time. As a way of saying thank you for his contribution to the team during the tour, Everton gave Kjell a watch. He said he had no contact with the club since. Despite that, he added he still remembered his time at the club very fondly and he always checked how they were doing.

Everton’s First Overseas Match

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On 30th April 1905, Everton played their first ever overseas match in Budapest. It was the first of seven matches of a tour of Austria-Hungary. In January the same year, the club agreed to do a European tour, visiting Budapest, Vienna and Prague. There was originally a plan for a European tour in 1903 but nothing went any further. The first match of the tour was against a combined XI of two Hungarian clubs – Budapesti Torna Club and Magyar Atletikai Club.

Football was relatively new in Hungary at the time and several English teams visited the nation before Everton. However, results suggested that the Hungarians were far, far behind the English. When Oxford University visited in 1902, they won all four of their games against Hungarian opposition with a combined score of 58-0. Southampton played two matches in Budapest the following year and won both with a combined score of 29-0.

Hungarian teams’ results against English opposition weren’t all that bad but as a country fairly new to the sport, the tours were a learning curve for them, and Everton were their first major test. They were the first Football League club Hungarians played against. The Hungarian press was expecting another heavy annihilation when the combined Budapesti TC and Magyar AC team face the Blues but was nevertheless anticipating a club of Everton’s ability playing in their country.

The match took place at what is now known as the Millenaris Sporttelep, which was Magyar AC’s home ground, in front of around 7,000 fans. The opposition included a few Hungarian internationals, such as Gaspar Borbas, Ferenc Blaszek and Arpad Kisfaludy. Details of the match weren’t reported by the English press apart from the scoreline, however after discovering a Hungarian newspaper archive and attempting to translate reports to the best of my ability with a little help from Google Translate, here is how events unfolded in a historic match for Everton.

Everton kicked off and already dominated the match in the opening minutes before Tommy McDermott broke the deadlock after 7 minutes. Everton doubled their lead on the 11th minute through McDermott again and Jimmy Settle made it 3-0 six minutes later. The gulf between the sides became more and more evident as the match went on. Everton made it 4-0 after 21 minutes through Sandy Young. The combined team managed to avoid conceding another until 19 minutes later with Young scoring again. At the half-time whistle, Everton led by 5 goals to nil.

Three minutes after the restart, there was another goal – but this time, it was for the Hungarians. At the start of the second half, Sandy Young and Billy Scott switched positions – Young in goal and Scott in the forward line – due to Young suffering a knock and Gaspar Borbas took advantage. Sandy Young became complacent and gave the ball away to Ferenc Blaszek, who then crossed the ball to Borbas and he slotted it past Young. The crowd went into raptures, even though the Hungarians were still losing by 4 goals. Following the goal and because Everton were starting to struggle to score, Young and Scott switched back to their normal positions.

Everton regained their 5-goal lead near the hour mark through Jack Taylor. A few minutes later, Sandy Young showed that his knock wouldn’t affect him that much by completing his hat-trick and making it 7-1. Tommy McDermott then completed a hat-trick of his own and added his fourth and Everton’s ninth immediately afterwards, and then Jimmy Settle made it double figures for the Blues. The Hungarians redeemed themselves a bit by making it 10-2 five minutes from time through Ferenc Blaszek. In a role reversal of their first goal, Gaspar Borbas passed the ball and Billy Scott failed to deal with it, allowing Blaszek to shoot into an empty net, causing more celebrations from the crowd. But just before the final whistle, Jack Taylor scored Everton’s 11th goal of the game.

When the final whistle was blown, despite the heavy defeat, the Hungarian crowd cheered their footballing compatriots. Even though they conceded 11 goals, the Hungarian press praised the combined team for scoring 2 goals and said those were the only important goals of the game because they were against a team of great stature.

Full time: Budapesti TC & Magyar AC Combined XI 2-11 Everton

The Bradford Blizzard

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In the 1904/05 season, Everton were cruelly denied the First Division title by one point. “Cruelly” being the operative word here as in November 1904, Everton were leading 3-1 against Arsenal at the Manor Ground but the match was abandoned 15 minutes before full-time due to fog. In the rematch the following April, Arsenal won 2-1. If the original match had continued right to the end, Everton could have been champions. Luck was against Everton that season but in 1915, it made up for it.

On 13th February 1915, Everton started the day just 2 points behind league leaders Oldham. But it wasn’t just between Everton and Oldham where it was close – only 7 points separated the top 10. Everton, however, had a disadvantage of playing more games than anyone else in the top 10. Their opponents that day were top-flight debutants Bradford Park Avenue, who themselves were 10th at the start of the day, becoming an underdog in the title race.

The line-ups were:

Everton – Tom Fern, Bob Thompson, Bobby Simpson, Tom Fleetwood, Jimmy Galt, Alan Grenyer, Sam Chedgzoy, Billy Kirsopp, Bobby Parker, Joe Clennell, James Roberts

Bradford Park Avenue – Ernest Scattergood, Sandy Watson, Sam Blackham, Joe Crozier, David Howie, Jack Scott, Jock Stirling, Tommy Little, Fred Kirby, Jimmy Bauchop, Jack McCandless

The weather was horrendous – a combination of a storm of rain and sleet, strong wind and bitter cold should have made the match unplayable. The game, however, still went ahead, and it was played in front of around 6,000 fans who spectacularly braved the weather to watch their beloved teams. Everton lost the toss and had the misfortune of playing the first half against not only Bradford Park Avenue but also the torrential weather.

The weather at Park Avenue, this afternoon, for the meeting of Bradford and Everton was about as wretched as it could be. Rain and sleet fell heavily for some time before the time advertised for the commencement, and when the teams turned out, the ground was in such a state that it promised to be little better than a quagmire before the finish.

Yorkshire Evening Post

The Blues tried to threaten the Bradford Park Avenue goal early on in spite of the conditions but they were fruitless. Bradford Park Avenue had a great chance to break the deadlock by simply shooting into an empty goal but Jack McCandless missed. Jimmy Bauchop made amends by scoring after 11 minutes. The same player doubled their lead on the 22nd minute after a wind-assisted kick by Ernest Scattergood put Tom Fern in trouble. Following Scattergood’s clearance, Bob Thompson made an unsuccessful attempt to head the ball. That prompted Fern to leap to try and grab the ball but missed it completely and as a consequence, he hit the ground and injured himself. Bauchop then took advantage. It was reported that Fern didn’t hit the ground that hard – the severity of the injury was likely to have been down to Fern’s numbness from the cold. The fall resulted in him being carried off while semi-conscious. As there were no substitutes then, Bob Thompson took Fern’s place in goal and Everton were forced to play with 10 men. Immediately afterwards, the referee discussed with his linesmen about possibly abandoning the game, but they decided to let it continue.

Bradford Park Avenue made it 3-0 after 29 minutes thanks to a goal by Fred Kirby. As bad as things looked for Everton, their situation quickly became even worse. A few of their players were really struggling with the cold, particularly Alan Grenyer who eventually collapsed to the ground and was carried off. Two men down and three goals with another few players struggling with the conditions meant that Everton were in complete disarray. It looked like they were heading towards a disaster. Thankfully, their turmoil was over on the 37th minute – the referee acknowledged the seriousness of the conditions and abandoned the game.

The curious sight of a game being started with not a single spectator taking up a position behind the goals was the result of a blinding snowstorm at Bradford. Once when the ball was put behind the goal, there was no-one to scale the rails and give the ball to Fern until a fellow at the programme’s number board came down from his lofty position and punted it to the goalkeeper.

All told, four Everton players were seriously affected. First Fern became exhausted, next Grenyer. Finally, Galt and Roberts, through being “stone cold,” had to be revived. The referee, W. Chadwick, was unable to put the whistle to his mouth, and had to signal with his hands.

Liverpool Echo

The referee who eventually abandoned the game was Walter Chadwick, who was the younger brother of Everton legend Edgar Chadwick. He was also reported to be on Everton’s books at some point in the 1890s before becoming a Football League referee in 1902.

The rematch took place on 14th April 1915. Everton started that day 3 points behind Oldham. Both teams had 3 games remaining. The Blues had a second chance of grabbing an invaluable win that could prove crucial in the title race. This time, according to the Liverpool Evening Express, the conditions were “quite summer-like.”

Everton had 4 changes to the line-up of their original meeting while Bradford Park Avenue had only one, with goalscorer Fred Kirby missing the game having left the club.

The line-ups were:

Everton – Tom Fern, Bob Thompson, Louis Weller, Tom Fleetwood, Jimmy Galt, Bill Wareing, Sam Chedgzoy, Billy Kirsopp, Tommy Nuttall, Alan Grenyer, George Harrison

Bradford Park Avenue – Ernest Scattergood, Sandy Watson, Sam Blackham, Joe Crozier, David Howie, Jack Scott, Jock Stirling, Tommy Little, Jimmy Smith, Jimmy Bauchop, Jack McCandless

Everton may have had a second chance but they had a terrible start after Bradford Park Avenue were awarded a penalty after 10 minutes. Bob Thompson tripped Jimmy Bauchop, and Tom Campbell, instead of Walter Chadwick, was the referee who gave Bradford Park Avenue an opportunity to score from the penalty spot. Bauchop, who had up to that point scored 26 league goals that season (obviously not including his brace in the abandoned game), was the man to take it. Bob Thompson’s blushes were spared though as Bauchop struck it wide. Relief for Everton and at the 19th minute, they took the lead through Billy Kirsopp and a goalkeeping error. Ernest Scattergood tried to punch the ball clear but failed and like Jack McCandless in the abandoned meeting, Kirsopp had an open goal but unlike McCandless, he made the most of his chance.

In the first half, luck was on Everton’s side. However just before half-time, Bradford Park Avenue equalised after Joe Crozier headed in a Tommy Little cross. Everton still kept their cool and on the 62nd minute, they regained their lead. Sam Chedgzoy kicked the ball into the path of Alan Grenyer and he shot past Ernest Scattergood to score his first Everton goal, exactly 4 years to the day since he made his debut for the Blues. Grenyer’s goal turned out to be the winner. An important goal in not just the match but the entire season.

Everton beat Manchester City 1-0 in their next game and had to wait until Oldham completed their season so they can finish theirs against Chelsea. Oldham drew to Aston Villa, which meant that both Everton and Oldham were level on points with Everton playing a game more. However, Oldham then suffered home defeats to Burnley and Liverpool. They remained level on points but Everton had a superior goal average – they would need to lose to Chelsea by around 14 goals for Oldham to win the title. Everton drew 2-2 against Chelsea and they became champions for the second time, helped by a defeat in adverse conditions that turned into a victory.

Brawling Blues

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The start of the 1990/91 season was as bad as it could get for Everton. Star players requesting moves, no points and bottom of the league. Everton lost each of their first three games of the season and were the only team in the First Division without a point. Colin Harvey decided to take the players out for a meal, hoping that uniting everyone will help kick-start their season. But it all went horribly wrong.

On the evening of 4th September 1990, Colin Harvey took the team to Southport for a meal at a Chinese restaurant. Having a meal to boost team morale was a method commonly used by his predecessor Howard Kendall. Once the meal was finished, Colin Harvey left the restaurant and warned the players not to get into any trouble. The players then left the restaurant and a couple of them decided to go to the Red Rum Bar at the Carlton Hotel – Kevin Sheedy and Martin Keown.

Kevin Sheedy had a frustrating start to the season. Following Republic of Ireland’s heroics in Italia 90, Sheedy talked about his desire to play European football. He was linked with a move to Real Sociedad, who were about to play in that season’s UEFA Cup. He formally submitted a transfer request in August and was put on the transfer list. However, despite his wishes, he remained an Everton player and the lack of effort by the club to transfer him made him disgruntled.

When Kevin Sheedy and Martin Keown made their way to the bar, Sheedy himself said in an interview 24 years after the incident that he noticed when they got there, his voice became very slurred. He claimed that his drinks were “being tinkered with.” While at the bar, both Sheedy and Keown became embroiled in a heated argument and Sheedy purportedly said something which offended Keown, prompting the defender to push him over and kick him in the face. As a consequence, Sheedy had a split eye and required some stitches.

Colin Harvey fined both players and the money was donated to the Alder Hey Children’s Hospital. Harvey and Sheedy spoke to the media about the incident, saying the brawl was caused by a disagreement about football. Harvey said:

They have apologised for the incident. It was a discussion about football which got overheated. It should not have happened, it will not happen again and the matter is now closed.

Sheedy said after the brawl:

It was a petty disagreement between Martin Keown and myself about football. We have both apologised to each other and to the boss. We are sorry for any embarrassment caused to Everton Football Club. There is no falling out in the camp.

Neville Southall, said in his autobiography that Kevin Sheedy was goading and mocking Keown, which he didn’t react to. But then he said something about his brother – who was with them on the night – which resulted in Keown seeing red.

Sheedy then added while on international duty that his frustration with Everton inflamed him:

It shouldn’t have happened and I could hardly believe that I allowed such a situation to develop after 15 years as a professional footballer. But then I’ve been very frustrated at Everton since the World Cup and that had a lot to do with what happened.

A combination of alcohol (spiked or not spiked) and transfer frustration sparked an awful night for Everton – for the players and the club overall. Considering their poor start to the season, unrest and fights were the last thing the team needed. Kevin Sheedy and Martin Keown were subsequently dropped from the first team and Keown didn’t play until Everton’s match against Crystal Palace in mid-October while Sheedy didn’t play until their match against Sheffield United three weeks after Keown’s return..

It was difficult for Everton to avoid the ramifications of the punch-up. According to Kevin Sheedy, the press arrived at Bellefield training ground en masse as he was about to leave, wanting to know everything about the fracas. But he managed to avoid them with a little help from the club’s assistant manager Terry Darracott. Darracott drove Sheedy out of Bellefield but to make sure the press didn’t know the Irish international was in the vehicle, Darracott put him in the boot and Sheedy got away from the journalists inconspicuously.

Colin Harvey On VAR… In 1990

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Whenever VAR has been used, it has always been the hot topic, usually for the wrong reasons. While VAR is supposed to help referees by rectifying “clear and obvious” errors, clamping down on diving and avoiding another Kieran Gibbs-Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain fiasco, it has been producing more and more controversy instead of reducing it. It has been criticised for slowing the game down and raising more questions. Everyone has a view on it. And here’s another one from Everton legend Colin Harvey – but in 1990.

Nearly three decades ago, long before the introduction of and the furore over VAR, Everton’s then-manager Colin Harvey said football should introduce video-assisted refereeing to lessen controversy and criticism of referees.

In an article from the Liverpool Echo in March 1990, during the 1989/90 season, referees had been in the limelight for their contentious decision-making. In Everton’s case, there were a couple of incidents that season that were mentioned in the article that arguably unfairly went against the Blues that proved to be crucial in the outcome of the game.

In a League Cup tie against Nottingham Forest in November 1989, Neville Southall was penalised for time-wasting with seven minutes remaining. Everton players vehemently protested the decision but it fell on deaf ears and referee George Tyson awarded the free-kick and booked the goalkeeper. With the score at 0-0 and the free-kick placed in a dangerous position, Nigel Clough hit the ball to Lee Chapman in the six-yard box and Chapman converted, eventually knocking Everton out of the League Cup.

In the first of three FA Cup meetings between Everton and Oldham that season, Neville Southall was at the centre of controversy again. Everton were 2-0 up and near the hour mark, referee Tony Ward awarded a penalty to Oldham after Southall was adjudged to have fouled Roger Palmer. However, Neville Southall had his eye on Nick Henry, who had the ball, and as he dove to try and get the ball, his legs clattered into Palmer and the Oldham forward fell over. Oldham scored the penalty to make it 2-1 and then Palmer equalised. Oldham subsequently won the second replay 2-1 after extra time with Palmer scoring Oldham’s first goal.

Colin Harvey thought referees should be able to check an incident that could be pivotal to the outcome of the game by watching a replay of it on a monitor on the touchline, like in American football. He believed that a pause in the game would be worth the wait because the video would let the referee check whether he got it right or wrong or if they are unsure and it can allay referees’ fears of more condemnation.

He also said that referees had become more and more pressurised to make every decision the right one because of the rise of televised football, which allowed fans and pundits to voice their critical opinions of the referee by using the televised footage as evidence, such as replays of the incidents at different angles, while all referees had were their own eyes and very little time to make a decision.

I know that American football is all stop and start while our game tends to flow more, but if you are talking about something as vital as a penalty, then surely it’s worth a couple of moments’ delay to ensure that a referee’s decision is the right one. It would certainly help the official and end trial by television. As it is, refs give honest decisions based on what they see, only to find themselves pilloried later on.

Before the days of action replays, everyone tended to accept decisions without too much debate. It was one man’s view and it wasn’t open to public scrutiny. Now, all the First Division goals are usually seen on the box each week and we have regular “live” action on TV. It’s becoming increasingly important that every single decision a referee makes is the right one.

The Liverpool Echo reported that Harvey had accepted that if his idea was to happen, it would be the referee’s decision to check and they don’t have to if they don’t want to. So it would be difficult for the referee to escape criticism as there would be a good chance that they would be wrong not to check when they should have done.

While Colin Harvey empathised with the referees and believed VAR can ease pressure on their decision-making, Liverpudlian Football League referee Colin Trussell said it could ruin the flow of the game and diminish referees’ importance, credibility and relationship with players.

Our game doesn’t lend itself to that situation. Colin’s right when he says American football is all stop and start. It’s also very TV-orientated. English soccer is about continual flow. If a ref chose to consult the video evidence at a key moment, it might stop the flow of the game. And who would decide when to use it?

When a referee gives a decision, he believes it to be right at that moment in time. It’s unlikely any match official would want to reverse a decision because that might undermine his credibility. When he subsequently makes another decision in a game, the players might not trust his judgement. Loss of credibility inevitably leads to loss of control.

Trussell added the criticism of referees was unnecessary, particularly from television pundits, saying that the people who should judge the referees’ decisions should be referees.

We are experienced enough at the highest level to take into account the cameras and not be troubled by them. After 30 seconds, you have forgotten they are even there. It’s Reds vs Blues, or whatever. Teams don’t even come into it. But what gets us is that we are often castigated later on by so-called TV specialists.

When you listen to them, it’s clear that they haven’t got a clue about the laws. If they want to analyse a specific incident, why don’t they invite a referee on? Referees are part and parcel of the game. They make decisions honestly in a split second, but often find themselves cruelly criticised in front of millions of viewers by people who should know better.

Colin Harvey’s idea has become a reality. A lot of incorrect decisions have been corrected. But some VAR decisions were due to nitpicking. The recently updated handball rule hasn’t helped. But it looks like it’s something we have to get used to.