CHIPS
Athletic News - Monday 01 July 1889
The relation between Bootle and Everton are again a bit strained, and up to the present time next season’s matches have not been arranged. From what I hear, Everton want a single match at Everton on Boxing Day, the gate to be divided, and afterwards arrange home-and-home games if cup ties don’t interfere. Bootle object to this, and think that after playing two drawn games and winning the third last season, they are entitled to ordinary club fixtures.
Some people say Everton do not wish to be the means of improving their rivals’ finances, but on the whole, Everton takes the most money, and can do with it quite as well as their opponents.
The Everton F.C v, Gordon cases comes on shortly in Liverpool. Acting on Mr. Sudell’s instructions, Gordon intends to fight.
Everton still require a good back. Wages no object to a first class man, I should imagine.
The stand accommodation on the Bootle football ground will be greatly improved for next season.
CHIPS
Athletic News - Monday 08 July 1889
Everton, are, I believe, advertising for a back and half-back in the Scottish papers. Hannah of Renton, should have come down, but I hear from a friend of his in Liverpool that he has decided to stay at home. I should like to see him at Everton, for he is a good man and one of the steady sort.
I think the proposed new club at Everton had died a natural death. It wouldn’t have much chance with the present organization.
The Everton F.C are advertising for players and want a back, half-back and two forwards. From what I hear, the only stranger really settled is Geary, of the Notts Rangers, and he is good enough for any team.
EVERTON ADVISTEMENT
Glasgow Evening Post - Friday 12 July 1889
Everton are, I believe, advertising for a back and half-back in the Scottish papers, Hannah, of Renton, should have come down, but I hear from a friend in Liverpool than he has decided to stay at home. I should like to see him at Everton, for he is a good man and one of the steady sort.
A new football club has been formed in Everton. It is to be known as the Leek A.F.C. They are at present, says a correspondent comprise two international players, including the goalkeeper. It is whispered that several of the Everton players are to be approached and offered good situations.
NUGGETS
Cricket and Football Field - Saturday 20 July 1889
SOME FOOTBALL GOSSIP
Athletic News - Monday 22 July 1889
After the miserable weather we have had on the last two Saturdays, to talk about football is refreshing. Well, there has been a lot of gossip about Everton being unable to get players. There has, undoubtedly, been some delay in settling matters, but after last season's experiences the committee decided to have good men or none. Some people say that they were offering such big prices that players were chary about their ability to pay them. That's funny, isn't it? Fancy a footballer's conscience troubling him on that score. I hear that the team is practically settled now and duly registered, and from the following names I think it will be bad to beat. Here they are:—Smalley, goal; Doyle (Bolton Wanderers) and Hannah (Renton), backs; Weir, Holt, and Farmer, halfbacks; Brady (Renton) and Chadwick, left wing; Geary (Notts Rangers), centre; Groves (Celtic), and "A. N. Other, right wing. Smalley is a good man, hut nothing to boast about on last season's form. Hannah has a capital reputation, and I don't see that, with such players in front of him, it should stiffer. Doyle I am a bit surprised at finding included in the team, for a certain gentleman on the Everton executive told me some time ago “that, good player as Doyle is, I would not like to play him." Next come the familiar trio of halves, all tried men, and now that the committee have hold of the reins, they should do. In Brady and Geary, Chadwick should have no cause for complaint. Gordon's case is I believe, settled, and don't think he will be seen on the right with Groves. An unwilling man is not wanted in the football field, and, I think, no one knows this better than Everton. However, they will be able to fill the place satisfactorily. They open the season on September 2, with Stanley, just to give them a lift.
The threatened law proceedings between Everton and North End have been avoided. On Saturday afternoon the president of the Everton Club and one of the committee went over to Preston to see Mr. Sudell. The result of the consultation was that Everton withdraws from the case, and each side pays their own costs. This is a very happy settlement of a vexed question, but remembering the amount of bunkum which has been indulged in by Everton supporters re the Gordon case it seems strange that they should at last consider that prudence is the better part of valour.
From what I hear, the legal advice given to the Everton club advocated the withdrawal of the case, as the agreement entered into by Gordon was not in accordance with the rules of the Football Association, which provide for a professional residing within six miles of the ground.
I am not a lawyer, but, to my mind, this opinion will not hold water, unless the agreement is made with the club, and not with a private individual. In the latter case I fancy very few County-court judges would tags any notice of the rules governing a body with no legal standing, like the Football Association. However, I am glad Gordon's case has been settled, for he is more at home with the North End than he would have been with Everton.
GORDON STOPS WITH THE NORTH END
Cricket and Football Field - Saturday 27 July 1889
So the Everton versus Gordon case has been settled out of court. The well-known forward has escaped the terrors of appearing before the Vice-Chancellor’s Court, and the Everton Club have gracefully foregone the questionable pleasure of taking part in and perhaps losing a lawsuit, with an addendum in the shape of paying their own and their opponent’s costs. The line of defence which was to be adopted on behalf of Preston had evidently had some effect out Everton way the other week when an attempt was made on behalf of the Liverpool Club to have the venue removed from the Vice Chancellor’s Court to the County Court. In this they were not successful. They, therefore showed their wisdom in sending over to Preston last Saturday, and settling the dispute without aid of law. Mr. Holden and one of the Everton committee saw Mr. Sudell at the North End Bowling Club during the afternoon of the day named and agreed to withdraw from the case, both sides to pay their own costs. All’s well that ends well.
NUGGETS
Cricket and Football Field - Saturday 27 July 1889
EVERTON NEW PLAYERS
July 27, 1889. The Blackburn Standard and Weekly Express
After considerable negations the Everton have secured the following well-known players for the team to play in the coming season –Andrew Hannan (Renton), Daniel Doyle (Bolton Wanderers), backs; Groves (celtic) and Brady (Renton), forwards.
EVERTON NOTES
Athletic News - Monday 29 July 1889
It was said that Preston North End had no defence in the Gordon case, but they had, and a very good one. Too. Mr. T. Whitehead, the captain of the Preston cricket team, had the case in hand, and certainly took great interest in it, working it up splendidly. There are two clauses in the defence lodged, which show that when Gordon entered into the agreement he had no right to do so, according to the rules of the Football Association.
The said Everton Football Club was associated and constituted in accordance with the rules of the Football Association and the defendant was and is a professional player within the meaning of, and duly registered under, such rules: and the essential and only purpose of the said agreement of the 8th February, 1889, was that the defendant should play for the said club the game of football in accordance with the rules of the said association, and the said agreement was entered into upon the basis of such rules, and subject in all respects to their terms and conditions. The defendant is of Scotch nationality. and was born in Scotland, and he has not, and had not at the time of the alleged agreement, resided for two years within six miles of the ground or headquarters of the Everton Football Club. And he has not been, and cannot be. Registered to play for the Everton Football Club until after the 30th April, 1890. He was at the date of the said agreement and is registered to play for the Preston North End Football Club. The defendant could not, and cannot, in accordance with the said rules, play for the Everton Football Club at any time between the 1st May. 1889. and the 30th April 1890. The said agreement was at the time it was entered into, and still is, impossible of performance by either plaintiff or defendant.
ALEC BRADY
Brady, who has just signed for the Everton F.C., appears to be quite easy about attaching his fist to documents, for I understand that both Burnley and Sunderland Albion are rather anxious for him to make the acquaintance of a County Court judge. Marsden, of Darwen, is in the same fix with the Halliwell club. I hold a very strong opinion about these changeable football players, especially when they receive money from clubs on the strength of having their services for the following season. I don't know how the matter stands legally, but morally it is a clear case of obtaining money dishonestly, and, if it were possible, these persons should be proceeded against criminally.