When you think of an Everton goalkeeper who scored a goal, the first name that comes to your head would obviously be Tim Howard. However, there was a goalkeeper who went to two better and scored a hat-trick – Jack Whitley.
On March 24th, 1903, Everton Reserves were playing Rossendale United at Goodison Park in the Lancashire Combination. Jack Whitley (a name more familiar with Chelsea fans) was in the line-up, hoping to keep a clean sheet. However, one of the forwards, Charles O’Hagan, failed to turn up. So the reserves were a player short and it was implied by the Liverpool Courier that there were no other outfield players at the game or nearby who was able to take O’Hagan’s place. So Whitley was chosen to become an emergency forward, with established first-team keeper George Kitchen taking his understudy’s place in goal.
After an even start to the game, Jack Whitley proved he was more than just a goalkeeper. After heading away a Rossendale free-kick, he was lacing up his shooting boots and, according to the Liverpool Courier, he “banged in a splendid long shot, which the visiting custodian only saved at the second attempt.” Whitley then had two more shots on target as his headers were denied by Rossendale’s goalkeeper. Rossendale then came into game with a few chances and eventually had a penalty. However, as one Everton goalkeeper was trying to score goals, the other was saving them as George Kitchen saved the penalty. A few moments later, Whitley finally succeeded and he broke the deadlock following a pass from Thomas Boardman. Rossendale was trying to find an equaliser but Kitchen denied them once again and their hopes of finding one were shattered after Whitley scored another goal. Right before half-time, Jack Whitley completed his hat-trick, and Everton Reserves went into half-time with a 3-0 lead.
In the second half, Jack Whitley could have had a fourth goal, however the goal was ruled out for offside. He wasn’t going to stop at three; he wanted to make the most of his time as a forward. However, his game came to an abrupt end after he had a leg injury following a kick from one of the Rossendale players. Everton Reserves eventually won 4-0, with Thomas Boardman scoring Everton’s fourth goal. It was a tale of two goalkeepers for Rossendale as they couldn’t stop one from scoring or score against one.
Jack Whitley couldn’t continue his goalscoring prowess as this was his only appearance as an outfield player during his two-year spell at Everton. But at least he made his sole appearance as a forward something to remember.