EVERTON 0 HUDDERSFIELD TOWN 2
December 1 1924. The Daily Courier.
EVERTON'S FOURTH HOME DEFEAT.
HUDDERSFIELD TWON MAKE PROGRESS
By F. McN.
Everton must look to their laurels. Their position at this critical juncture of the campaign must give their supporters real concern. The Blues have won but three games out of 17 League fixtures, and were beaten for the fourth time on their own ground by Huddersfield Town. After their revival in the Lancashire Cup-tie against the Rovers, it was hoped that Everton had at last found their true form, but again they fell away in defence and lacked power near goal. True, Everton enjoyed a greater share of the play than the score would indicate, but the team as a whole was not nearly so effective as were Huddersfield, the champions deservedly gaining the day. The Town were more virile in attack, sounder in defence, and on the chances opened out by the forwards the visitors should have won by a greater margin. The winners scored a goal in each half, Cook obtaining the first point, following a seductive forward pass by T. Wilson, and C. Wilson scored the second goal after Stephenson and Smith by subtle footcraft, had opened up for him a clear course. There were two other occasions when Cook and C. Wilson should have netted, but the inside right was robbed by McDonald a few yards from goal, and the centre forward on another occasion hit Harland with a rapid shot when a judicious place kick would have gained its reward.
EVERTON FLATTERS.
Everton flattered to deceive. They went off with a burst, and only the skill of Mercer in goal prevented a score, but the keeper is part of the defence, and I must say that he made many fine saves. The home side on the whole, however, were not at their best, and later in the game lacked decision in the forward line and in the defence. Harland made several fine clearances, but the backs were not always reliable against forwards who rarely hesitated when a chance presented itself. The halves worked hard enough, McBain again being to the fore, while Peacock and Hart were sound and resourceful. Forward Chedgzoy accomplished many fine things and Irvine worked with skill up to a point. Cock too, dribbled well without imparting the desired finish. Chadwick was not fortunate with several well-meant efforts, and Troup was always a trier. The little man dislocated his shoulder just before the finish, and he left the field. The displaced joint was reset, and he returned to the field. It was no new experience for Troup as he has on several occasions suffered in this respect. The joint is easily displaced, and apparently replaced with the ease, though the little man mist experience some pain. Huddersfiled are a fine forceful side, who must take another bid for honours. In Mercer they have secured a reliable man in place of the injured Taylor, and Wadsworth and Goodall are a pair of really good backs. T. Wilson is still a great centre-half, and he had good men in Steele and Watson on either side of him. Forward Stephenson was the bright star, with Cock and C. Wilson forceful and at the same time clever forwards who fed their wingmen and always had an eye for a shot at goal. Teams: - Everton: - Harland goal, McDonald, and Livingstone, backs, Peacock, McBain, and Hart (captain) half-backs, Chedgzoy, Irvine, Cock, Chadwick, and Troup, forwards. Huddersfield Town: - Mercer, goal, Goodall, and Wadsworth, backs, Steele, T. Wilson, and Watson, half-backs, Williams, Cook, Wilson, Stephenson, and Smith, forwards .

DISTURBING DEFEAT
December 1, 1924. The Evening Express
Everton's Home Failure
By CRI
Seldom in the history of Everton has the club been so precarious a position as that occupied today. Third from the foot of the table, the Goodison Park club's record is one which must cause grave concern to the directors, and supporters alike, particularly as the most critical part of the campaign has been reached. Six games are on the card during December and this trying period must be faced by the players with the utmost determination of the club is to be lifted into a safer position. The cup-ties too, are coming on, and altogether the out-look at the moment is not good.
Form Mystery
The falling off in Everton's standard of play is mysterious. Compared with last season there are few changes, and yet the men who progressed with rapidity in the closing half of the campaign, and earned the reputations of being the most entertaining side in land, have been unable thus far to reproduce their proper form. Individually the men ate skilled and energetic in every respect but as a combined force they so not blend or finish off otherwise clever movements with the necessary shooting power. Everton were mastered by the champions a strong and resourceful side, which will again figure among the honours this season. The lesson of the game, to my mind was the great advantage to be gained by positional play for receiving transfers up the middle from the pivot to the centre and inside men. Wilson (T) has been playing a long time, but he can still give more youthful opponents points, and his passes down the centre of the field in the game proved of immense worth to his side.
Brainy Methods
Everton would do well to utilize this move more frequently. The back-heel pass when Bache and Hall of the Villa were in their prime frequently opened out scoring positions. Stephenson, the old Villa man, now the brains of the Huddersfield attack, has cultivated this intricate move and when he adopted it at the Park one of the prettiest goals seen on the ground resulted. Stepheson was going forward at full speed deluding the opposition into the belief that he would try to cut into a goal. Instead he back heeled the ball to Smith, who passed to Wilson (c) the Huddersfield centre being afforded the easiest of openings of which he took full advantage.
Everton's failing.
The falling of the Evertonians in this game was the old one –lack of penetrative power. True, the shooting at times was strong and Chadwick was not fortunate in many of his efforts while Mercer is a worthy understudy to Taylor, but there was times when manceurving in front of goal might have been less elaborate. Against such backs as Wadsworth and Goodall this was fatal. Everton must go in for more rapid and direct methods. There should be more combined effort. On the showing against Huddersfield the backs were not of the standard required and the halves as a line only shadows of their former greatness.

ASTON VILLA RESERVES 3 EVERTON RESERVES 4
December 1, 1924. The Daily Courier.
CENTRAL LEAGUE
Aston Villa Reserves had a tremendous tussle with Everton Reserves and finer football than both sides displayed one could not desire to see. The Everton combination was magnificent. Bain and Broad in the first half and Broad and Rooney in the second were the scorers for the winners, and they played clever and confident football. Their victory by 4 goals to 3 was thoroughly deserved. Broad played remarkably well in the centre.

PIONEERS & PRESIDENTS
Athletic News- Monday, December 1 1924
PEEPS BEHIND THE SCENES IN THE PROGRESS OF ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL
By “Tityrus”
Leaders of the game!  Who are they? To say exactly who is a leader is somewhat perplexing. At least this may be said that they are men who by virtue of some quality, or by a variety of talents, have climbed to a summit so that they can be seen of all men and listened to. There have been and there are workers in this great winter game of the people who may justly be counted leaders in their own circles, if consecration of self to a club and constant thought and application are be considered as evidence of their claim to greatness. I have before me a letter written 25 years ago. The writer says: “The last three weeks I have been living on the ground—buck-navvying until there is not a ‘buck’ left in me. I am quite doe.’ Previous to that time I always had the front door locked to keep out the bumbailiffs, and you would have to knock at the front-door till the devil fetched you before I should have shown myself. We have had the honour of having the gas cut off. To see half a-pound of candles- eight to the pound-weight—stuck in four ginger beer bottles, all alight and aglow, at a directors’ meeting is immense. It knocks the electric light to Hades. At the ground we have, I think, done some hard work.” Would you call a man of attainments and of industry like that a leader! Perhaps not, but I should. The author of that epistle was Mr. A. H. Albut, a Birmingham man, who give up the career of a commercial traveller, and became the secretary and the life of Newton Heath, a working man’s football club at Miles Platting, Manchester. Now had there not been Newton Heath and Mr. Albut there would not have been Manchester United, who have had one of the finest teams of modern times, and are hoping to regain the prominence of years ago. Of course we, who are interested, Know the men who are now identified with the United, who built on the foundations of Newton Heath, but let us not forget the pioneers of such big clubs. And what is a pioneer but one who prepares the road, who leads the way, and ergo is a leader!
IN A LOCKED CHAMBER.
There are various kinds of leaders. It is astonishing what men will do for football. I have known of directors who have rained themselves owing to their fascination for the game. I have known the chairman of a great club who came to an untimely end. ’Tis long ago, but it was said that he blew his brains out, and yet another who drowned himself. It is not my province to moralise on such sad events. There are those who have shortened their lives by the intensity of their feelings for the success of the team. They have undermined the strength of their hearts. There was once a director, apparently a quiet little man who looked the picture of health and composure, but he died of heart-disease, and for a long time before that could he not watch a match. He would walk about under the grandstand, orjust outside the ground in the public street, because the excitement of the struggle was dangerous. To-day there is another director who prefers to sit with a telephone in his hand, in a locked chamber, waiting for the news how the League match is pro-progressing. He is unable to see a match and get any joy from the combat and all the swift changes of the game. Years ago there was a band of directors who hypothecated their watches with avuncular friend, a Johnsonian euphemism for saying that they pawned their “tickers,” that the players might travel to keep faith as the visiting club. And I have even known a chairman give £300 out of his own pocket to a young forward that the Board ardently desired to sign. But that was before the amnesty. All the wild horses of Tartary would not bring the names of these sacrificing leaders, either from my lips or from my pen. They may have been mistaken men, but blessed be their memory. These are types of leaders, but not quite the variety I wish to place in these rambling recollections.
MARINDIN, THE MARTINET.
These men have been the leaders of clubs, and as the club is the unit of the game, they have been the founders of the spectacular side of the sport.  But I want to pay a tribute, however inadequate, to those who have been leaders in the larger sense, who have never spared themselves for the good of the game as a whole, who have endeavoured to take the best steps for the welfare of all football, and to keep it, whether as a pastime for amateurs, or as a spectacular sport for the delectation ofthe populace, honest, wholesome, andexemplary, and as a means of drawing men from the base, brutal, and degrading amusements which were not unknown to our forefathers. Among the first of these I must place Sir Francis Arthur Marindin, who was a major in the Royal Engineers, and the son of a parson born at 'Weymouth. The Majaw,” as he was always called by Georgie Drummond, of Preston North End, looked what he was, an aristocrat of Huguenot descent, for he was a tall man, of splendid and commanding presence, dark, of handsome features, and piercing eyes. Educated at Eton, he was a lover of all manly sports, and a full-back for the Royal Engineers. He was in the Sappers’ team who undertook the first football tour ever made in 1873. They visited Sheffield, Nottingham, and Derby, and were the first English eleven who demonstrated the value of combination, concerted action, of lining up and thus destroying the old idea that football was a game m which the forwards were essentially dribblers, one man taking the ball as far as he could, with a backer-up.
BY FORCE OF EXAMPLE.
Major Marindin helped to found the Old Etonians, and he was one of the Old Boys who played in a memorable tie for The Association Cup with Darwen in 1878-79—a tie which necessitated three attempts before the men of Eton won. And the Old Etonians subscribed towards the cost of the training of their opponents at Blackpool. I was told as a secret, I think by Mr. Tom Hindle, of Darwen, that their donation was £5. Think of that. In 1889 Major Marindin was placed on the committee of the Football Association, as it was then called, and in 1874 he succeeded as president Mr. E. C. Motley, of Barnes, who died during this last month of November at the age 94. In fact Major Marindin was the Clegg of his era, for he became both president and chairman of committee. Doubtless “The Majaw” was a military autocrat, but no man in his day accomplished more for the popularity and the good government of the game, unless it was “Charlie” Alcock, of whom I have already written. Still the old Etonian finally retired as he was not fully in sympathy with unrestrained professionalism. I never had the pleasure of seeing him play, but I often saw him act as referee in big matches, for he was in eager demand as a firm controller. When he said: “If you do that again I’ll send you off the field,” every player knew that he would be as good as his word. No other man has been in charge of eight Final Ties for The Cup—seven of them in succession.He was the man who was alleged to have “robbed” Queen’s Park of the trophy, but he was just and feared not. To such gallant gentlemen as Sir Francis the game owes much to-day. Let us keep his memory green—and never forget a pioneer of purity in this and any other sport.
BY FORCE OF EXAMPLE.
Nor should we ever forget the Hen. Arthur Kinnaird, afterwards Lord Kinnaird, with his yeoman build and shaggy auburn beard, did not quite look the part of a Scottish laird, until one spoke to him, and heard his rich, resonant voice and his short ejaculatory sentences. Of course, he had the voice and the manner of an educated man of distinction. He was a leader, and above all things a muscular type of Christian, and after being the Honorary Treasurer of the F.A.. became the President. His value in that position was exalted by the fact that he was at the same time the President of the national Y.M.C.A. movement. I do not believe that his worth as a football legislator and administrator was so great as that of Sir Francis Marindin, or of his successor, Mr. J. C. Clegg. As a player, in any position, Arthur Kinnaird was, however, an exemplar of mainly robust football. He popularised the game by his activity as a  footballer among every class. He was as much at home with the boys of the Polytechnic, London, as he was with the Old Etonians. There was a time when the white ducksof Kinnaird, for he always wore trousers in a match, and his blue and white quartered cricket cap were as familiar on the field as the giant figure W. G. Grace with his yellow and red cricket cap as he emerged from the old pavilion at Lord’s ground. In his way he was just as much a personality as The Leviathan on the green pastures summer. I cannot forbear to reproduce two anecdotes, which are well known, of Kinnaird, because they show the man and the player that he was. Charles Alcock used to tell the tale that he was once talking with Lord Kinnaird's mother, who said: “I wish that Arthur did not play so much football, for I am always expecting to have him brought home with a broken leg.” "My good lady,” replied Alcock, "if anybody's leg is broken it will not be Arthur’s.” Again Mr. Alcock’s story of how they would turn out for a match, and Arthur Kinnaird would say to him, Well, Charlie, is it to be hacking day?” “If you like,” was the answer. “ Very well,” added Kinnaird, and they hacked away when they could. Clearly they made their own rules, and understood each other. Lord Kinnaird used to say that he played four or five matches a week and never grew tired, but he added, late in life, that he would never have been allowed to stay on the field five minutes in these latter days. Nevertheless, he was fair, above board, and was prepared to receive all the knocks that came his way without a trace of resentment. The duty of a referee did not appeal to him. There was not enough life in it, but I have seen him on the line in important Cup-ties, and there he could enjoy the atmosphere of combat.
THE STERN PRESIDENT.
I should place Mr. J. C. Clegg, of Sheffield, with these twain, and probably he has done more for the unadulterated aspect of football than any other man. From youth to age as a player, a referee, and administrator, his record is unsurpassed, for he combines the benevolent autocracy of Marindin with all the fine fervour of Kinnaird. The game owes more to Mr. Clegg than anyone can ever compute, as he has been in the forefront of this great movement for well over fifty years.
The key-note of his character is rectitude. I have had the pleasure of many long conversations with him, and the one point which always emerges is that the Football Association should never do anything that will not stand the closest examination, and that could not be justified before the highest tribunal in the land. That is his motto, and I honestly believe that this has been the guiding line of his private life, which has been sacrificially devoted to the game and all the game for its own sake and not for any other reason. That Mr. Clegg is not without boldness is well known. That has been seen in many a decision, but I remember the semi-final tie for The Cup between Notts County and Sunderland, in March, 1891, when the Midland team won by 2-0, after a draw (0—0). Mr. Clegg was the referee on that occasion, and the first goal to Notts he awarded from the centre line of the field.
J. C. CLEGG AS REFEREE.
The ball hit the underside of the crossbar and fell down. Then the whistle sounded. All the people on one side of the field believed that he was right, but the spectators on the other side, and among them Mr. J. J. Bentley, had grave doubts about whether the whole ball was over the line. That was an example of Mr. Clegg’s courage and decisiveness. So far as I remember no one among the players questioned his ruling. That showed his authority. With all the sternness of the Puritans Mr. Clegg combines a sense of humour. He loves tell a good Yorkshire tale, and he sees a situation as quickly as any man I know. At a match many years ago between Sheffield United and Blackburn Rovers. R. 0. Evans (the Welsh international) was in goal. He jumped in the air, and fell on his knees, which were so injured that he was unable to continue, and William Bradshaw, the half-back, became the custodian. I was grumbling at the positions that Bradshaw took, and Mr. Clegg, who was sitting next to me, silenced my fault-finding with this pointed question: “Have you ever kept goal under such circumstances?” Although a tale against myself, it is too good to be forgotten, for I have no doubt that he was, for the moment, quite unconscious of my similarity to Zaccheus. Mr. Clegg abounds in practical righteousness, and however severe he may appear, be assured of this, that every man has justice from him after a straight trial. Such as he are the salt of the game.
LEADERS OF THE LEAGUE.
Several have done fine work for The Football League. Mr. William McGregor, the Father of The League, long ago entered into his rest, but his portrait is ever with us in the handbook of this organisation.  A Scotch lad, born at Braco, In Perthshire, he only saw rough, crude football, without rules, as a boy. When he took up his residence in Birmingham, he eventually became Identified with Aston Villa. He saw the difficulties clubs were placed in and the only way out of them. Above all things Mr. McGregor was practical, and from what he told me years after The League was a success, his one regret was he did not insist upon a territorial qualification for all the players. He said: “It’s too late now.” But if he had taken that view, and his notion had been incorporated in the rules, I doubt whether such a regulation would have endured to this day. When he was young the late Mr. J. J. Bentley accomplished much valuable work for this federation of clubs, and he was, moreover, one of the keenest and cutest judges of a player I ever knew. At heart he was a generous man. His successor, Mr. John McKenna, has always appealed to me as the personal embodiment of John Bull, as straight as a ramrod, as blunt and as frank as a man can be, and yet full of the milk of human kindness and of Irish humour. It is the universal opinion that, like Ur. Clegg, he is the right man for the Presidential chair, and has lieutenants in Mr. John Lewis and Mr. C. E. Sutcliffe helpful and loyal. Mr. Lewis it very much of the same disposition as Mr. Clegg. I can pay him no higher compliment that I can conceive. Generally known as “the brains of The League,” Charles Sutcliffe carries great weight in the chamber of the Management Committee and at the annual meetings of The League, for he has an inventive mind and carries a solution for every football problem in each of his pockets. Such have been the leaders of the people’s game and are to-day. Is it any wonder that Association football is the people’s pastime?

EVERTON DISCOVER THE OLD HUDDERSFIELD
Athletic News - Monday 01 December 1924
EVERTON 0 HUDDERSFIELD TOWN 0
By Impressionist
Nero fiddled while Rome burned. Everton are just as irresponsible in the happier surroundings of sport. There is not any conflagration at Goodison Park; simply dismay that an honoured name should be among the dregs of competitive football. Undoubtedly Everton are falling- falling, into the sear and yellow. In these days it is the survival of the fittest, and the devil take the hindermost. If the instinct for polished football and individual indulgence counted for aught, Everton would be among the patricians of football. So far as results, the material, matter, they are the plebians. Everton have a reputation, which is not altogether enviable, of being able to do anything with a football except pilot it to the objective. I can imagine all that from what I saw at Goodison Park, providing they have the latitude in the open. But this was not permitted by Huddersfield Town, and the rest, having regard to Everton’s inherent distaste for driving the ball between the posts, was easy. One can conceive the assertion of forward skill some time. On the other hand the evidence is very positive, weakness, sheer incapacity. Huddersfield Town simply employed what was beneath the surface, were a team of units. Where was the vaunted half-back power? McBain who can bestow the ball with a subtle touch, was discovered in presenting it to the rival goalkeeper, with all his forwards in array. Everton were confounded without the consolation, which maybe they formerly have treasured, of having commanded the play. The gilt-edged securities never were created, as was the case with Huddersfield Town. A margin of two goals did the visitors scant justice. Do noy hastily conclude that the champions have abdicated. Indeed, no, not by five months remaining of this season of grace.
ALL ALIVE HUDDERSFIELD
They played the virile non-stop kind of game. While Everton were caressing the ball, the Town treated it for what it was -the medium for quick, mobile, and determinate movement. They were the whole, and Everton the remnants, except during the first ten minutes. Even so, regarding this opening flourish, one had respect for the potency of only one forward-Chedgzoy. He swept in and out, shot and centred. True he placed more balls just over the goal than is customary. Yet none but Chedgzoy had the line for goal. To his free kick Mercer made a masterly response- the goalkeeper feature of the match. Chadwick had the will do shoot, but not the direction. Flitting hither and thither, utilising the ball with dispatch, naturally falling into the position scheme, and always following up upon a wavering defence, Huddersfield were the definite combination. The half-backs were more in accord with their past repute for repaid recovery and close contact with the attack. So it was a finely graduated movement on the left which finally sent Wilson through. The centre stalled off a challenge, but shot against advancing Harland. However, cane a replica of this movement on the right, with Steele as its source, and this time COOK sailed through to beat Harland with a grand left-foot shot. Huddersfield led by this goal at the interval only because Stephenson delayed the decisive touch a few yards from goal, and was harassed out of a certainty, and because Charles Wilson, not more than three yards away, drove against Harland. Afterwards Cook headed Smith’s centre against the post, but a great goal settled all arguments after twenty minutes.
THE STEPHENSON TOUCH.
Stephenson and Smith collaborated. The former found himself awkwardly placed, but a back-heel was a stroke of genius which left Smith clear on the inside. A transfer to C. WILSON, and the discomfiture of Everton was complete. They had not a Wadsworth or a Tom Wilson in defence, and not a general comparison of effect. Really the toll should have been increased. The presence of Mercer in goal seems to have restored confidence. He was very good in the early need. Harland was useful if not striking. The great departmental Huddersfield advantage was at back, where Goodall and Wadsworth, each asserting his own craft, nevertheless blended into a formidable barrier. Both were stylists in their kicking and resourceful in Intervention. Watson was a trifle slow to get back after being beaten, but this did not disturb Wadsworth’s serenity even with Chedgzoy the best Everton forward. Between these backs, always covering up for an emergency, yet never palpably out of touch with his forwards, hovered T. Wilson. Many an Everton phantasy split on the practical nature of Wilson’s football, while Steele was more like himself in thrust and parry. Forward, Stephenson was the genii of the ring, as it were, producing magic with a touch or a feint. None made the ball so obedient. But all were in harmony, with Cook another craftsman, Williams and Smith maintaining power on the wings, Charles Wilson’s tenacity being the crowning virtue. From what I have said of Everton, as a whole, it will be gathered there is little to recommend individually. Allowing that McDonald was out of position, the backs were feeble, and the half-backs a wraith of old times, with Peacock best. Next to Chedgzoy, who suffered from an injury, most was accomplished by Troup, with fewer opportunities than he deserved. Everton.- Harland; McDonald, Livingstone; Peacock, McBain, Hart (Captain); Chedgzoy, Irvine, Cock, Chadwick, Troup. Huddersfield Town; Mercer; Goodall, Wadsworth; Steele, Wilson (T), Watson; Williams, Cook, Wilson (C.), Stephenson (Captain), and Smith. Referee; G. D. Nunnerley, Ellesmere, Salop.

AT GOODISON PARK
Huddersfield Daily Examiner - Monday 01 December 1924
TOWN FORWARDS RETURN TO FORM
MERCER TESTED
EVERTON 0 HUDDERSFIELD TOWN 2 (Cook, C. Wilson)
Conditions were all against good football at Goodison Park. The ground was in the uncertain state between dryness and complete wetness, with the turf treacherous to a degree. As the game proceeded the ball took on similar characteristics, with a tendency to swerve unduly. The sun shone from one end of the ground to the other, and the wind was fitful and gusty, yet so strong at times as to cause all calculations to go astray. In spite of these difficulties -and perhaps because of the first-the game between Town and Everton made a fine spectacle. Defenders lost that almost too easy grip on the attack to which we are accustomed. One false step and it was no easy matter to recover against the forward who had outwitted them. Accordingly there were a great number of corners conceded and a great many shots at goal, and it speaks well for the quality of both Harland and Mercer that only two goals were scored during the match. Undoubtedly Town were superior and deserved their win. Yet Everton played a good game, and it is a puzzle why they remain so low in the League table, with only Preston having earned fewer points. One thing stands out about them- the clean quality of their play. So consistently do they avoid doubtful tactics that the local evening paper, commenting on the match, made special and pained reference to an occasion when Livingstone brought down a Town forward with what seemed a deliberate trip. The very notice excited by the incident went to show how exceptional it was. For this reason alone it is to be hoped that the Liverpool side makes up the ground it has lost, and that the reward of virtue will not prove to be relegation.
LONG-DISTANCE SHOOTING
Town lost the toss, and Mercer began his first testing game with the Town with the sun in his eyes. The first ten minutes sufficed to prove that the new goalie is going to do the club credit. Almost from the kick-off Wadsworth just flicked the ball instead of heading it, and thereby put Chedgzoy onside with an open goal. Mercer stopped in a workmanlike way of low drive along the ground. Just after he brought off a fine save in the top corner of the net from one of Chadwick’s shot that seemed to be going outside up to the last yard or two of its flight. These were two of a number of fine long-distance shots, and the way in which Mercer tackled them showed not only his ability, but also that he possessed any amount of coolness, a quality in which Town’s deputy goalkeepers have been lacking for some seasons. The first goal, scored after eighteen minutes’ play, was a model of penetrating, incisive attack. It was prefaced by a very exciting movement. Cook drew the Everton defence in a masterly way, and then passed to C. Wilson, who had a stern race for the ball with the full-back, which he just won. His shot was saved, but the defence did not profit by experience. In the next moment they allowed Steele to draw them with a dangerous looking dribble. He stabbed the ball forward to Cook, who slung it into the net, well out of Harland’s reach, with a low, raking shot. Twenty minutes of the second half had passed when the Town set the seal on their superiority by a goal so effortless and ingenious that one could hardly believe one was witnessing the forward line that has done such deplorable things in the last few weeks. Smith toyed with the ball until Stephenson had taken up his position in front, and then passed forward to him. But Stephenson, instead of making ground and centring, as the Everton defenders obviously expected, back heeled at once and Smith was off for goal with the whole pack a dozen yards behind his heels. His centre to C. Wilson was beautifully placed, and the centre-forward, who was also quite clear of defenders, scored at once.
STEHENSON RETURNS TO FORM.
The way in which the whole game abounded in incident was due largely to the improvement shown by the Town captain, since his return to the team he had been a shadow of his old self. We were beginning to fear that in the battle against Anno Domini he had succumbed, but against Everton there was a revival sufficient to silence the critics. Stephenson was passing beautifully all along the line, and sparkling in quite the old style. The rest of the line was correspondingly improved. Cook showed once more what a fine marksman he is, and C. Wilson had more pace and went for the ball with unusual determination. Williams was making rings round the defence and Smith, if he did very little else, deserves all praise for the part he took in the second goal. The halves played a good game, with T. Wilson continuing in the reliable form he has now shown for one or two matches. Wadsworth’s duels with Chedgzoy were the feature of the game, and though the back did not have things all his own way, he prevented Chedgzoy’s centres from being of much use. Goodall’s general uncertainty must be attributed largely to the conditions. On the slippery turf he found if difficult to recover, with the result that he lost confidence. His clearances were often sliced, and on one occasion at least his pass back to Mercer was so speedy that it required a little saving. The Everton team, individually, played quite a good game, and if they learn to get into position for a pass, instead of causing the player with the ball to dribble uncertainly about the field looking for them, they should do well. Everton.- Harland; McDonald, Livingstone; Peacock, McBain, Hart (Captain); Irvine, Cock, Chadwick, and Troup. Huddersfield Town.- Mercer; Goodall, Wadsworth; Steele, Wilson (T.), Watson; Williams, Cook, Wilson (C.), Stephenson (Captain), and Smith.

BEE’S NOTES
The Liverpool Echo- Monday, December 1 1924
Everton team played badly for once? Yes, it gets off the chest and in part it is a truth that cannot be debated. The backs were not good, in that matter of free-kicking or in the tackle and punt. They were hard-worked, but they had a goalkeeper who was doing well behind them and there was no cause for the talk of fear about the last line of defence. Harland played very well and everyone was glad to see this part of the machinery working well. Then the defence slipped up and not only that, but the forward line failed to get the better of a back such as Goodall, who was kicking badly and mistiming a ball now and again. Moreover, Mercer showed that he could be beaten, even if he made one or two electric goals; he was not too clean in his defence, and when Cock chased up and dispossessed him, one said, “Well, Everton have not so very much to beat.”
YORKS-FOR SKILL.
But they had. Huddersfield were a hotter side than many had given them credit for. They do not appear to be moving, but they are eating up space by their upward passes. Even the full backs made passes as distinct to a punt. Wadsworth revealed his well-known wheeling and wheedling power with the ball and the body, and gave a joyous exhibition against Irvine and Chedgzoy, both of whom did much good in part, yet did not live up to the effect that such work merited. I blame Everton most because they will work a ball at all costs before they make a pass. It is all wrong theoretically or in a playing sense. Time and again Huddersfield started their attacks through an Everton man refusing a gilt-edged chance of passing, because he wanted to pull the ball this way or that way. That is not constructing attacks; it is helping half-backs. The half-backs, too, were inclined to indulge themselves in dribbles. That is all right against a side when you are the leading side, but when your side is bleeding practical methods must come first. Blackburn Rovers in mid-week got goals through the same fault. Everton always start like champions and then drop away as if shot. Why is it? Huddersfield certainly gave us some joyous football and bore off the old saying, “Yorks for pluck” and I should add “grit.”
A TAP AND A GOAL
The difference in tactics between the sides was made all too manifest for our liking when Charlie Wilson scored. Clem Stephenson, an artist, put his foot on the ball. The sole of his foot was used remember. Thus he did not move the ball -which is worth remembering when you hear of his having “back-heeled the ball.” He simply put his foot on it and dragged it the merest trifle. Notice the sequence. W.H. Smith had come in a bit from the wing. He was not startled out of his life by the tactics of his captain. No, he took the ball first time and with a centre left Wilson with a child’s work. That was the sort of trinity goal with which defences cannot get into touch. Swift movement, effective onward march; no special energy, just a wise touch, a wise pass and a solid shot. Cannot Everton do something similar? Are they not sufficiently clever? I fear they are a bit too clever. Troup to my mind was the man who did the most damaging things to the Huddersfield defence.

EVERTON BRING SOUTH AFRICANS TO OUR CITY AGAIN
Liverpool Echo - Tuesday 02 December 1924
Bee’s Notes
South Africans came here unsung and almost unwanted. They play their final game to-morrow at Goodison Park, and remembering what we saw at Anfield in their early appearance here, I have no doubt that a big crowd will attained to see these touring men who have revolutionised our ideas of football. The game has also a draw in it, in that Jimmy Broad will make his first appearance at home for his new club. There is nothing tickles the local supporter quite so much as the appearance of a new man, and a shooter! Broad is there in strong doses! He got a goal at Aston on Saturday against the Villa Reserves side, so he has broken his duck, as the boys say. He, like the other Everton players, will find the South Africans very fast, in spite of the turf being so much heavier than they are accustomed to play upon. The beauty of the touring side’s game is their splendid combination on the run and their earnest and strong shot at the first show of goal.
WHAT’LL HE DO?
The tourists came to this land without anyone’s blessing. Their own critics suggested that it was folly to send a team, and our F.A. did not officially invite them, but said they would be glad to see them. The S.A. critic, squirming under the results that were cabled through, published a heading, “And who is Wimbledon?” But since then the same critic must have wondered how he could squeeze out a smart headline to cover the tourists’ slamming of famous sides of the First Division. They gave England a rare game last week, and many thought they should have won. That is neither here nor there. What I want to recall to local sports people is that this is the sort of game at Walton that will produce real football, and all those who saw the tourists at Anfield will be there again to watch a side that is full of life and goes a pace from start to finish. The Liverpool players said at half-time, “Ah, they’ll not keep their swift pace to finish!” But they played stronger at the finish than at the start. Many clubs have taken a fancy to the inside right and to the goalkeeper; and all spectators have taken a fancy to their particular pattern of play. I could wish that some of our England sides would move up the field by the same sweeping movements, wherein the ball is not deadened. The stopping of a ball before a pass is made is one of the greatest faults of football in England. I hope it keeps fine for our good friends, the visitors, for they have had frost, fog, and rain almost from the moment they landed here early one morning, Longworth being alone in his greeting at the Landing-stage! They have since found us much warmer in our welcome; and as to-morrow’s game at Walton is their final effort of a fine tour, I hope there will be a big crowd to watch them- and Broad, Glover, and Company.
HIS IDEA.
“Very Anxious Blues” writes to make a few remarks, which he would like to be seen by the management of the “Blues.” “It has occurred to me for some time now that both the club and great majority of Everton supporters are lulled into a sense of security by that portion of the team which they think is strong, but which to me, and particularly after last Saturday, is cause of all the trouble. Goals are too easily scored against our side, and it seems to me that if they are to win a match the forwards will have to score at least three goals. Now to the point; Undoubtedly the weakest part of the team is the half back line. Prettiness and cleverness are not effective, and I venture to say that opposing centre forwards are very little worried by neatness. I guarantee this team would beat Blackburn;- Harland; McDonald, Livingstone; Brown, Reid, Peacock; Chedgzoy, Irvine, Broad, Cock, Troup.”

SOUTH AFRICANS’ FINANCIAL FAILING
The Liverpool Echo- Wednesday, December 3, 1924
Bee’s Notes
The South African tourists, at Everton to-day, go back with happy memories and probably a call on their guarantors in view of the tour having been attended with happy results on the field and at the dining table, but not at the seat of custom! The tourists have our sympathy. They were worth financial backing and they were well worth seeing on the football field, but they ran into a combination of bad things-our weather was their greatest barrier. They will surely be glad to get out of our atmospherics. However, judging by the statements their chiefs made last night, when, at the Exchanges Hotel, Everton F.C. entertained the players and officials to a farewell dinner, the tourists go back with happy memories of a grand re-creative tour. They came to learn and stayed long enough to teach some of our pro’s, a good deal about the game! But let me sink self and tell you what passed at this convivial meeting of sportspeople, with Mr. W.C. Cuff, the Everton chairman, at the head- incidentally I will let you into a secret; the S.A captain after the meeting told me that in all their experience of the tour and the many speeches made, none had come up to that of the Everton chairman.
PRESENT TO PRESIDENT
First let me show you the people present; Mr. John McKenna, English League president and F.A vice-president; Mr. James Grant, Liverpool County F.A; Mr. R. Ledsom, Tranmere Rovers’ vice-chairman; Liverpool directors (Messrs R.L. Martindale, A.R. Bainbridge, H. Webb, W. Cartwright, J. Troup, Secretary G. Patterson, with Mr. W. Wood “Intervening” for a few moments after dragging himself away from Mr. Tom Crompton and Company as the Licensed Victuallers’ dinner at the same hotel); Everton directors (Messrs W.C. Cuff, E. Green, A.R. Wade, A. Coffey, H. Banks, W.J. Sawyer, J. Sharp, and W. Gibbins). South Africa represented by Manager Wheeler, Major Fyfe, and the company of players. Mr. J. McKenna had a surprise sprung upon him when he was presented with a memento by Mr. Wheeler by the South African kinsmen. Another surprise during the evening was the wonderous work of Mr. Easler Kesson, who started hardy Scotsmen into buttoning up their pockets in case of accident. He made a loaf “loafer” by his watchful process. His never-ending flow of royal tricks caused the tourists to desire to take him back with them on the boat so that they might make up the financial deficit on route to home! The tourists gave their famous war-cry near the end of the evening, and the rafters shook again with the vibrating influence of this stout call. It was all very engaging, and the speeches touched a high mark. Let me quote you the main points;-
Mr. Coffey proposed the toast of the “Football Association,” and coupled with it the name of Mr. John McKenna. Mr. Wheeler seconded, and said that they had felt the benefit of the kindness of the F.A., and they were particularly appreciative of everything that Mr. McKenna had done for them. He had met them at Waterloo on their arrival, and had gone out of his way to fill in their fixture list. He (Mr. Wheeler) had got Mr. McKenna to promise to go out to South Africa every five years, so that he would live another hundred years! He presented Mr. McKenna with a token of their regard, and the president, in reply, spoke from his own knowledge of the excellence of the men on tour and of their game. It was extremely difficult to fix up for an amateur side to tour this land, but he was sure the tourists had made good, and would be welcome here any year.
RIGHT!
Mr. McKenna chaffingly suggested that he might make this journey, and there he would not encounter offside and corner-kick debates. Hen mentioned the writer of the “Notebook,” and declared that I was quite right in my reading of the corner-kick rule. Mr. McKenna added “We are overdue in Australia, and when we have got that promise fulfilled then we must set about doing all we can to further the great sport in that great country of South Africa.” Mr. Cuff said South Africa was the youngest and latest offspring of the F.A., and he neatly described them as the Benjamin of the football family. The birth of the South African team, he reminded them, synchronized with the England contingent making their appearance there in 1910-they had survived a lusty infancy, and their great adventure had been attended with rare success. Their youthful impetuosity and pluck had carried them through, and although when they first met they were a team of units and had to appear on strange grounds and uncommon turf, they had put up a record that did them proud, namely, played 25, won 15, no games being drawn. Everyone recognised that they were most unlucky in the international match. In a word, they surprised the natives.
Mr. Ernest Green, the vice-chairman of the Everton F.C., gave the toast of “Our Visitors,” naming Liverpool, Tranmere, and, although not represented, New Brighton. Mr. Green very tersely “sawed off,” as it were, Mr. John Burns, whose remarks on football were remembered, Mr. Green declared that professional clubs stepped in to fill a gap, and they provided a healthy topic and a healthy tone to the public in congested industrial arena.
Mr. Wheeler declared his thanks, and suggested that they thought they would hold their own with the amateur clubs, but were rather dubious about their chances against the pro, sides. They came over to finish their education, and they would go back to South Africa with improved ideas, and much over which to ponder. They had a stout rival at home in Rugby football, and they must encourage all the boys out there to play the Soccer code.
Mayor Fyffe made a sterling call; and he startled the whole company with his facts and figures regarding the amateur clubs of England in comparison to South Africa’s spread-eagle combine of clubs. It appears that there are 2,000 amateurs clubs within twelve miles of Charing Cross; and he called upon us to arouse ourselves and organise an All-British touring side, to be sent to South Africa for further missionary work, with Mr. John McKenna as baggage master.
Major Fyffe declared that the pro, plays as clean as the Oxford man.
Mr. R. Martindale, Mr. R. Ledson, and Mr. Grant also made happy and appropriate speeches. The “Press Gang” brought up the rear, and the whole was interspersed with some good music from Messrs. Herbert Hope, Harold Bebbington, and Charles Megginson. The South Africans leave to-night for London, and sail on Saturday. We wish them well aboard and at home. I do not wish to meet a better set of gentleman, a more modest combination of players and officials, nor do I wish to miss any further happy meetings like last night’s affair, which was under the guidance of the M.C., which does not stand for Mac., although it represents Mr. McIntosh.

SOUTH AFRICANS AT EVERTON
The Liverpool Echo- Wednesday, December 3, 1924
TOURISTS WIN BY ODD GOAL OF FIVE
By Stork.
There was not the crowd at Goodison Park that the Africans attracted to Anfield-road earlier in the season, for there were many blank spaces round the arena. Everton made several changes. Everton; Harland; Kerr, Glover; Peacock, Bain, Hart (Captain); Parry, Wall, Broad, Cock, and Forbes. South Africans.- J. Riley; C.R. Thompson, G. Brunton; C. Parry, F. Howell, H. H. Williams; P. Jakelie, J. Greem, D. Murray, G. Hodgson, and E. Stuart.
LONGING FOR GOALS
The early moments were mainly confined to bouts of passing, but Greem tried a surprise hook shot which travelled wide. At any rate it showed the Tourists longing for goals. Everton made clever combined efforts without bringing any material result, though it was all pretty to watch. Whatever the cause, the Africans’ game had tempered down since I saw them at Colwyn Bay. Nowadays they deaden the ball whereas they used to part with it first time.
BROAD EQUALISES
Everton’s good football was of no avail against the South Africans’ strong defence, and at the end of twenty-three minutes the Tourists took the lead. Kerr brought down Greem in the penalty area, and Murray scored with the resulting spot kick. Kerr’s offence, to my mind, was a very tame affair, but the referee, without the slightest hesitation, pointed to the fatal spot. The South Africans’ lead was not long lived for Broad made a spirited run down the middle, and with Riley advancing out of his goal shot the ball into the net like an arrow. It was a good point, and Broad received many handclaps for his effort.
TOURISTS LEAD
The South Africans were not content to let the score remain at one all, and Stuart found a flaw in the Everton defence to make a powerful drive which Harland caught, fell down, and let it slip out of his hands for Stuart, who had sensibly followed up, to slam the ball into the net at a great speed. Parry placed a corner kick so well that one of the Everton forwards was able to get his head to it and steer it towards goal, but it was just cleared. Wall was a trifle unlucky when he hit a great shot that Brunton headed out. Half-time; South Africans 2, Everton 1.
There were very few incidents of note in the first quarter of an hour in the second half, though Wall might have profited from a nicely-placed centre from Hart. Play at the far corner became very hard to follow owing to the mist; still it did not prevent us from seeing Bain make a great drive, which was turned into goal by either Wall or a South African defender. This placed Everton on equal terms.
HOT FOR THE LEAD.
The South Africans were out for a leading goal, and but for a clever scoop away by Harland they would have got it when Murray headed down instead of up. Harland’s work was not finished, for he had to get down slick to another effort by the South African centre-forward. Everton retaliated to this with a determined attack, and Peacock struck the upright prior to forcing Riley to make a good save. Forbes also entertained the idea of scoring, and Riley had again to come into action. The South Africans came near to obtaining their heart’s desire when Murray forced Harland to tip over the bar. Murray was not to be foiled, however, and when on the half-turn hit a splendid drive that flashed into the goal and down the back of the net.
CHANGED COLOURS
When Everton resumed they looked like a team of giants, for they had discarded their blue jerseys and appeared in all white. The change had bene necessary owing to the club clashing with the dark green of the Africans. Final; South Africans 3, Everton 2.

EVERTON 2 SOUTH AFRICAN 3
December 4 1924. The Daily Courier.
SPRINGBOKS' TOUR ENDS WITH VICTORY.
EVERTON BEATEN BY ODD GOAL IN FIVE.
The South African Soccer team concluded their tour at Goodison Park yesterday, when they defeated Everton by three goals to two. Although the tourists had played 26 matches in a comparatively short time winning 16, they showed little trace of staleness and won because of their staying capacity. Although the visitors were leading 2-1 at the interval, Everton had been the better side, and remained so for some time after the resumption, but in the failing light the South Africans displayed sound, forceful tactics, and secured the honours of an interesting game. Everton had seven reserves in the side. Harland made some fine saves, but might have been beaten more often, as the tourists were not always lucky with their first time shots. The South Africans had some capital exponents of the code, notably G. Brunton, the left back; Riley a cool custodian; E. Howell, the pivot; and D. Murray a powerful centre-forward. Bain Peacock, and Broad were the best for Everton. Mr. J.T. Howcroft penalised Kerr, and Murray opening the scoring. Broad equalised after a dashing run, and Stuart again scored for the tourists, after Harland had failed to hold his first shot. In the second half a shot from Bain turned off Wall into the net, and Murray obtained the winning goal with the best shot of the match. Teams: - Everton: - Harland, goal, Glover and Kerr, backs, Peacock, Bain, and Hart (captain), half-backs, Parry Wall, Broad, Cock, and Forbes, forwards. South Africans: - J. Riley, goal, CR Thompson, and G Bruton, backs, G. Parry, E. Howell, and HH Wiliams, half-backs, P. Jakelie J. Greem, D. Murray, G. Hodgson, E. Stuart, forwards.

EVERTON’S KIND ACTION TO THE SOUTH AFRICAN TOURIST’S
Liverpool Echo - Thursday 04 December 1924
BAIN AT CENTRE HALF- M. McBAIN ILL
Bee’s Notes
Kind acts can never die. The origin of football included one law which suggested that the League was formed so that each club should be a companion to its rival and the whole exist for the benefit of each club. Since then the financial side of the game had grown to such an extent that clubs have apparently forgotten the first ruling of the league, and they are out for “No. 1” – which is a fault not entirely centred in football circles! However, there comes upon then football air a breath of decency when fellows are hard pushed to keep their heads above water. The South African tourists came here without guarantees and the games that were ruined by weather at Southampton and White Hart-lane hit them so hard that the guarantors and others had the unpleasant prospect of dipping deep into their pockets. Yesterday Everton and the tourists played before a good-sized crowd, and the arrangement had bene “50-50,” otherwise half-half-shares. Everton at their meeting last night sprung a surprise upon the tourists by forsaking their half of the goods, and thus the tourists went away with the whole of the gate- £252.
GENUINE
If ever a football combine was genuine, this South African side and its management is, and their joy knew no bounds when they were informed of the kind act of the Goodison Park club. The tourists were simply overwhelmed. Let Mr. John Burns, and others who ask us to join together in our thousands at the parks and art galleries, remember these acts when they desire to "slam" the man who dares to spend a shilling watching a sporting game for an hour and a half. Everton have done many good things, but the spontaneous outburst for a touring team stands to their credit for all time. Everton on Saturday, at the Blackburn ground, have to make alterations, the main one being the appearance of Broad at centre, Cock is at inside-left, and Bain at centre-half-back. Kerr gets a chance at full-back after his capital show against Blackburn Rovers in the Lancashire Cup-tie, and as Neil McBain is in bed with a severe cold, the club are bringing in Bain, as pivot. This is the position he held yesterday, and it is one further instance of Everton’s movement whereby a forward becomes a half back- you may remember similar cases -Fleetwood, Grenyer, Abbott, D. Reid, Peacock, Jack D. Taylor and others. The full team reads;- Harland; Livingstone, Kerr; Peacock, Bain, Hart; Chedgzoy, Irvine, Broad, Cock, Troup.
GOOD-BYE, SOUTH AFRICA
The South Africans leave us this weekend- more’s the pity (writes “Stork”). Although the tourists have dropped the idea which was their greatness in the early months of the season-that of passing instanter-they had not lost any of their staying power despite their big fixture list. They say they have learned some things through their games in England, but I do hope they have not given up that quick passing game which was so impressive and effective. Broad can shoot. His goal after his swift run-through was a gem, and he introduced that little bit of dash which has been wanted in the Everton attack for some time past. He was pitted against a clever half-back in Howell, but he often outwitted this man of anticipation. Broad should make the line into a fighting factor. Bain is not a McBain, but it must be remembered that he came as a centre-forward, not as a centre-half. He did well, taking everything into consideration, but he must check his desire to wander. Kerr was solid in all his work. Never once did he quit the fray for want of grit. Harland has recovered some of his best confidence. Cock, at inside left, spoon-fed his centre-forward and outside left, varying his methods with a surprise wide pass out to the right wing, which often placed Parry in a position entirely his own. the goal scorers were Wall and Broad (for Everton), Murray (2) and Stuart.

NEW LEADERS ON VIEW
Lancashire Evening Post- Friday, December 5, 1924
Everton, invariably a big attraction, make their 35th visit to Ewood in a game of peculiar interest. The reinstatement of McKay in the Rovers’ attack, but in the unusual position of leader, took local football enthusiasts by surprise, and this experiment alone would be sufficient to draw one of the season’s biggest “gates” to Ewood, that is, if the weather holds good. But for that matter, Hulme is the only man in the line to retain the position he held in the last home game, and Blackburn people will get their first opportunity of sizing up the reconstructed attack for themselves. The side’s good showing at Nottingham against the League leaders has to some extent revived enthusiasm, so that altogether it looks as if this match will mean a lot to the club, from both financial and playing standpoints. The changes in the Everton side are very interesting too, particularly the inclusion of “Jimmy” Broad, the newly-signed centre forward, who got three goals and played a “blinder” on his last appearance-he was with Stoke then- at Ewood. And then, to add further spice to an uncommonly interesting match, there is that Lancashire Senior Cup tie last week, when Everton won by 4 goals to 2 after Rovers had led until 10 minutes from the end. A convincing win by the Ewood side would be worth a great deal.

EVERTON’S EXPERIEMENTAL SIDE AT BLACKBURN
Liverpool Echo - Friday 05 December 1924
THE EXPERIMENTAL SIDE
Bee’s Notes
James Broad at centre, John Cock at inside-left Kerr at full-back, Bain as pivot. Thus the Everton side will not look quite the same to-morrow when it steps on the famous Blackburn field. Blackburn have had their troubles, too, and their little forward line has always been well held if the young boys were tackled sharply and truly early on. They soon fade out. Having beaten them in that sensational Lancashire Cup 4-2, when Blackburn took the lead twice-Everton certainly have the encouragement of remembrance-which is so big a factor in the matter of “horses for courses.” Kerr will bring his youthful spirit into the defence, and even though the Rovers are trying clever Jock McKay at centre-forward, I still think Everton have a really bright chance of putting paid to the Rovers’ attacks, and probably Broad’s introduction will lead a fiery lot of raids on the right and left- and some goals! Well, my sincere belief is an Everton victory. Everton; Harland; Livingstone, Kerr; Peacock, Bain, Hart; Chedgzoy, Irvine, Broad, Cock, Troup. Blackburn Rovers; Sewell; Rollo, Wyllie; Roscamp, Healless, McKinnell; Hulme, Crisp, McKay, McCleery, McIntyre.

ROVERS AND BLUES EXPERIMENT
December 6, 1924. The Daily Courier.
BROAD'S LEAGUE DEBUT FOR EVERTON.
When clubs are doing badly it is not surprising to find the directors resorting to all sorts of moves in order to strike a winning combination. Two such cases occur at Ewood Park, where Blackburn Rovers and Everton are in opposition. The Rovers, who a week ago considered McKay not worthy of his position in the side, this afternoon, are trying him as leader of the attack a position in which he has never appeared before. It is a drastic move, but like that of Healless may come off trumps. The last-named has in turn played a centre, outside right, inside right, left half-back, right half-back, and centre half. It is in the last named position he has made the biggest success, so much so that the English selectors chose him for the International with Ireland. If McKay takes to his new position it will remove a big weight from the minds of the Rovers. The same for that matter can be said of Everton, who are trying young Kerr at back, Bain in the centre-half position, and Jack Cock, a centre, at inside left, with Broad, the new player, as leader. Cock and Broad did well together in the game against South Africa, and it looks as though this move will prove successful. The Rovers, however, are a difficult obstacle to overcome on their own ground, where there is so much local “atmosphere” introduced, and it looks as though the Blues will have to surrender both points.

JUNIOR BLUE
December 6, 1924. The Liverpool Daily Post and Mercury.
Everton have signed a local youth named Callanan, who has played left full-back for port Sunlight. He is 18. This is a step in the right direction

CALLANAN SIGNS FOR EVERTON
The Liverpool Football Echo, Saturday, December 6 1924
Everton have signed a local youth named Callanan, who has played left full back for Port Sunlight. He is 18. This is a step in the right direction.

EVERTON AT BLACKBURN
The Liverpool Football Echo- Saturday, December 6, 1924
McKAY MAKES HIS DEBUT AS A CENTRE-FORWARD
EVERTON’S MANY EXPERIMENTS
BROAD MAKES FIRST LEAGUE APPEARANCE FOR NEW CLUB
By F.E.H
Everton; Harland; Livingstone, Kerr; Peacock, Bain, Hart; Chedgzoy, Irvine, Broad, Cock, Forbes. Blackburn Rovers; Sewell; Rollo, Wyllie; Roscamp, Healless, Campbell; Hulme, Crisp, McKay, McCleery, McIntyre. Referee Mr. J. E. Telford, of Preston.
Jim Broad, the new Everton centre, made his first appearance in a League game for the Everton club to-day at Blackburn against the Rovers who also tried a new centre, McKay, the clever inside man being given his first run as leader of the attack. Everton also brought in Kerr to make his League debut, and Bain appeared for McBain, who is down through a severe chill. David Reid, another centre half-back, has had great trouble with a septic toe, but hopes to be right soon. There was an eleventh-hour change in the Everton ranks, in addition to those already published. Troup, it appears, is still suffering from the dislocated shoulder which he sustained last week, ands his place was taken by Forbes.
BROAD LOSES A CHANCE.
The game started before 15,000 people. The home forwards went off at once on the right, and Hulme swept the ball straight across to McIntyre, who tried a fast shot, but the ball cannoned off Livingstone. Everton immediately took up the running, and the leather was served up to Broad, who hesitated and so lost a promising opportunity of winning his spurs with his new club. There were some smart exchanges in midfield, in which the Everton halves played a prominent part. Chedgzoy was off on the wing when the ball went into touch. The visitors were now rapidly getting into their stride, and there were several exceptionally brilliant bits of play on the part of Peacock. From one of his passes Chedgzoy got off at top speed, and was just in the act of shooting when he was fouled by Healless, but the free kick came to nothing. A moment later the Rovers were attacking strongly. Campbell dribbled the ball almost half the length of the field and gave it to Crisp, who put it wide.
HEALLESS HEEDLESS
Everton resumed the offensive and Forbes, getting away nicely, put the ball to Broad, who headed into Sewell’s arms. The wearers of the blue jersey were now showing greatly superior football to their opponents. Their half-back and forward play showed good combination, and Chedgzoy once more looked like getting through when he was again deliberately grassed by Healless. The subsequent place kick afforded no advantage, and we had another spell of more or less scientific exchanges. The Rovers’ left threatened danger and McIntyre from close range let a golden opportunity go by. A breakaway on the Rovers’ right gave Kerr something to think about, but he eventually cleared his lines, and the next episode was a solo effort by Cock, who made ground on the outside berth and centred well but Broad was not up to meet the pass. The Rovers then raced away in most determined style, and this time they met with success.
McKAY BEATS HARLAND.
McIntyre sprinted down, and drawing Livingstone, put the ball to McKay. The home centre forward made no mistake, for he beat Harland with a timely shot after the game had been in progress 20 minutes. This was bad luck for Everton, who had been enjoying the best of play so far, and I am not quite sure that there was not a suggestion of offside about McKay’s successful point. The visitors rallied strongly on the right after Bain had done useful spade work, but Chedgzoy was stalled off at the critical moment by Wyllie. Blackburn retaliated with a frontal attack on both wings from the left, McKay was given an open goal, which he missed amid disappointing cries from the crowd. After this we had a temporary lull, though it was not long before the Rovers, worried the Everton defence with long range shots which lacked accuracy in the matter of direction. They persevered, however, and five minutes from the interval McIntyre paved the way to another goal.
SECONDED BY CRISP.
He beat Livingstone cleverly, and the ball was pounced upon by Crisp, who scored at close range. Everton made a plucky response, but they were unfortunate. A good header from Broad was well gathered, and a couple of low drives by Irvine passing just wide of the mark. Blackburn in turn were active through Hulme, who got clear, and gave the leather to McKay, who headed over the bar.
DETERMINED FORWARDS
Just before the interval the Everton van-guard made a determined attempt to reduce the lead, and Broad, who had worked through on the right wing, finished with a strong rising shot, which in nine cases out of ten would have scored. The Rovers made more play on the left, but this time McIntyre was not permitted to get through, and McCleery was rather luckily baulked by Livingstone with a wild kick. Half-time; Blackburn Rovers 2 Everton 0
Taking a rapid review of the first half, Everton ought certainly not to have been in arrears at the interval. They had shown superior football, but the forwards would not dash into it as they should. Broad was the only man who went full tilt at the target, and his headers deserved a better fate. There were 20,000 people present when the second half was entered upon. The Rovers at once began to bombard the Everton goal, and shots were fired in by the three inside men with “Gatling-like” rapidity. McKay gave Harland a very hot one to deal with, and Healless from long range put offside with a tremendous drive. The visitors did not appear able to get going, and both Kerr and Livingstone were frequently flurried in making their clearances. Fortunately for them, the Rovers attacks lacked the necessary quality of combination, and wildness in firing stood Everton in good stead.
EVERTON REFORMED
BROAD MISSES AN EARLY OPPORTUNITY
LOSE BY THREE TO NIL
PLAY THAT DESERVED A KINDER FATE
KERR IN COLLISION
After Everton made play in workmanlike fashion, through both Forbes and Chedgzoy, their efforts came to nothing; and when the Rovers were once more on the warpath Kerr was damaged in collision, and had to be attended to. Forbes distinguished himself with a clever run, but his parting shot went woefully wide, and a further spell of midfield work was more vigorous than polished. Irvine tried to mend matters by breaking through, and showed a rare turn of speed; but he finished badly. At the other end the Rovers showed more aggressiveness and Harland, from a shot by McIntyre, pulled the ball down from the bar at the cost of a corner. Hulme forced another corner, and this caused some excitement, but danger was finally cleared, and the later stages of the contest proceeded on somewhat commonplace lines. Forbes twice centred well, but there was no one up to meet the ball, and when the home left swooped down Harland ran out at least thirty yards in order to effect a clearance.
LOVELY GOAL BY CRISP
A brilliant effort on the part of Cock looked a certain winner, but his shot was finely fielded by Sewell. The Rovers ran down on the right, and Hulme, drawing the Everton defence, put the ball to CRISP, who scored a lovely goal.

EVERTON RES v.  WOLVES RES
Liverpool Football Echo –Saturday 6 December 1924
CENTRAL LEAGUE
Everton entertained the Wolves to-day with every prospect of gaining a further two points, the Blues having advanced during the last month to third position in the League table. Play opened rather quietly, and the best attempt came from Green, the home centre, with a shot that Hampton cleverly saved. Bowen and O’Connor, on the Wolves right, made a dangerous advance towards goal, and Glover saved the situation. The first goal came to the visitors in rather lucky fashion through a melee in goalmouth, the ball entering the net off Caddick. The home side had several chances to equalise, but failed to clinch at the right moment. Ten minutes from the interval Harris gave the Wolves their second goal, and later Getwood was carried off injured. In his absence Everton reduced the lead through the medium of Williams.
Half-time; Everton Res 1, Wolves Res 2
In the second half Wolves were again at full strength, and after attacking for the first ten minutes Everton took up the running and from a penalty Williams made the scores equal. Everton team from Argus;- Kendall; Raitt, Glover; Brown, Caddick, Virr; Parry, Hargreaves, Green, Williams, Houghton. Wolverhampton Wanderers; Hampton; Tyler, Fox; Getgood, Davies, Kay; O’Conner, Bowen, Harris, M, Edwards.

STUD MARKS
The Liverpool Football Echo- Saturday, December 6, 1924
By Louis T. Kelly

• Everton’s Brown has recently been troubled with an attack of the ‘flu
• While some reporters are inclined to the view that Everton’s McBain is playing as well as ever, personal opinion is that the Toffees’ centre-half has of late been distinctly below last season’s best standard on the score of all-round effectiveness.

DOWNFALL OF EVERTON
December 8, 1924 The Evening Express
Blues' Lost Confidence
CRI
The chief concern of football followers in this district is the tremendous decline of Everton, inexplicable to those of us who saw practically the same eleven do so well in League games last season. The directors are leaving no stone unturned to stop the rot, but find clubs are not prepared to part with good man, even at a high fee. However, Everton will not remain in such an ignominious position in the table if unceasing Endeavour can lift them up. It should be remembered that one season Liverpool had a similar experience, yet won so consistently in the last three months that they finish at the top.
Lean Times
Everton have fallen on lean times and……they occupy a lowly position in the League table. That was what the Blackburn Rovers programme stated on Saturday, and after seeing the game I came away fully convinced that every word of the opening sentence was true. Everton have indeed fallen on lean times, writes Robin. That a club with the history of Everton should be flourishing about the bottom of the League seems incredible, yet it is painfully true. What is more the side does not seem able to get itself out of the rut into which it has fallen. The men play good football to a point yet when it comes to the pinch they waver, and as a consequence pay the penalty. This is not the case with one section of the side, each and all seem to be infected with the idea that no reliance can be placed upon the other members and this is causing all manner of slips. Livingstone –whether it was he was afraid to trust Kerr or not I cannot say –failed repeatedly in the opening half to take the man, and as a consequence McIntyre was out on his own. The first goal was due to this fault and the knowledge that they were a goal down subsequently affected the play of the whole side.
Unenviable Task
The process of experimenting, I suppose will have to be continued in the hope of eventually hitting upon a winning combination and I can say I do not envy the directors their task. This is the time when they should get not only the sympathy of football followers but also their support. Cock did not maintain the form of mid-week while Broad was lacking in speed, especially in the second half, and when the ball did come his way he was generally overhauled before he could become dangerous. If Everton were bad the Rovers were not much better and I think there was a deal of truth in the statement of one onlooker who said a good side would have beaten the two of them.

BLACKBURN ROVERS 3 EVERTON 0
December 8, 1924. The Daily Courier.
SECOND FROM THE BOTTOM.
EVERTON STILL UNABLE TO TOUCH WINNING FORM.
By S.H.H.
Everton surrendered, another two points on Saturday, and now join Preston North End at the bottom of the table, having won but three games in 18. It is an unenviable position to find two clubs in with traditions such as those of Everton and North End. What is more, the Blues do not seem capable of getting out of the rut of surrendering points. One week it is the forwards, who will not force home their attacks. The next it is the turn of the defence, and so the merry game of presenting points to your opponents goes on. At Ewood Park on Saturday we had somewhat of a change –the whole side as a team did badly. They opened strongly enough, it is true, suggesting thet were going to break the spell, but no. Livingstone them made the error of not taking his man, and at the 20 th minute paid the penalty. McIntyre was unmarked on the left, and when he put the ball across McKay had only to tip it through. There was certainly a suspicious of offside as regards McKay, but as the referee allowed the point it did not alter things.
SECOND GOAL.
The second point was also one that might have been prevented, and as in the first instance came from the left. But Bain, who by the way played exceedingly well, being speedy in recovering, made the mistake of letting the ball go on to Kerr, for the latter was badly placed, and before the back could get to it Crisp had dated in and netted. Crisp got the third and best goal of the match when he snapped up a Hulme centre to slip between the backs and score. This finished the scoring, and thus the Rovers did something towards rehabilitating themselves in the eyes of the their supporters. At the same time, they are a poor side, and a god team would have beaten both eleven's comfortably. So far as Everton are concerned, the team, like the curate's egg, was good in parts. Harland did not have a great deal to do yet; at the same time, the movements that led up to the goals were such as to give him little chance of saving. At back both Livingstone and Kerr did well under pressure, but the former showed a poor working arrangement with his half-back, and in consequence McIntyre was allowed far too much rope. The halves were the best part of the team, but all their scheming went for nought as the men in front could not turn to account the openings worked for them. Cock and Irvine were very weak, while Broad was lacking in speed. In the first half he headed the ball well, and was the only one to cause Sewell any trouble, but in the second half, when the Rovers' defence was rather open, he failed to produce that burst of speed so necessary for taking advantage of an opening. Chedgzoy and Forbes were the best of the line, and got across centres that should have been turned to account.
FORWARD PROBLEM.
Blackburn, although they won against Everton, have not yet solved their forward problem. McKay is not a centre forward, and the line as thus constituted will not. I am afraid get many goals. Crisp is a worker and schemer, but Hulme has fallen off considerably. McIntyre and McCleery were the more prominent wingers, but in their case the failure of the Everton “shadowing” tactics rather helped to bring them more in the limelight than would otherwise have been the case. Team: - Everton: - Harland, goal, McDonald and Livingstone, backs, Peacock, McBain, and Hart (captain) half-backs, Chedgzoy, Irvine, Cock, Chadwick, and Troup forwards. Huddersfield Town: - Mercer, goal, Goodall, and Wadsworth, backs, Steele, T. Wilson, and Watson, half-backs, Williams, Cook, Wilson, Stephenson, and Smith forwards.

EVERTON RESERVES 2 WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS RESERVES 2
December 8 1924. The Daily Courier.
CENTRAL LEAGUE
Everton gave a poor account of themselves, the chief weakness being in the front line. Houghton who was included in place of Forbes was strange in the position, and the best winger was Parry. Glover was much better back, and Brown the outstanding wingman in the intermediate division. Wolverhampton scored first in lucky fashion, the ball going into the net off Caddick. The second gaol was an excellent point, a shot from Harris being well wide of Kendall. Williams crowned a good win with a capital goal, and the same player but his side on level terms from a penalty awarded for a handling offence . Everton: - Kendall, goal, Raitt and Glover backs, Brown, Caddick, and Virr half-backs Parry Hargreaves, Green, Williams, and Houghton, forwards.

A LITTLE WIT OVERCOMETH GREAT CROWDS
Athletic News - Monday 08 December 1924
“THRUTCHIN” THROUGH; SOME ODD EXPERIENCES IN 40 YEARS OF SPORT
THE RECOLLECTION OF “TITYRUS”
NEARLY twenty years ago a brother journalist, writing in C. B. Fry’s Magazine —unhappily no longer issued —was kind enough to say that I was so small that he shuddered for me in a football crowd. With a little common sense on one side, and much humanity on the other, I have not really suffered, and can honestly say that I have been in greater peril in other places—notably in the cotton trade riots of 1878, when Dragoons and Lancers were patrolling some high roads in Lancashire, and when Colonel R. R. Jackson’s house was burned down at Blackburn. Those were rather exciting days—but they are not for these recollections of our winter game. On the first day of the Ides of March, 1900, I roused myself and looked out the window and saw a little Union Jack waving from a neighbour’s residence. The bit of bunting bravely stood out in a cold breeze, and the morning newspaper acquainted the world with the relief of Ladysmith. General Sir George White and his gallant troops were no longer invested by the Boers, who had been drawn away by Lord Dundonald’s cavalry riding North from General Butler's lines. This was to be a day of general rejoicing and thanksgiving—a prelude to the Mafeking celebrations in May. As it happened, on that day Bury were to meet Sheffield United in a replayed Association Cup-tie at Gigg-lane. By common consent every football enthusiast who could, set out for the little town celebrated for blankets, black-puddings, and the barracks of the first Manchester's, a regiment which had taken a momentous part in the South African War. So I bent my steps towards the Bury football ground, about eight miles from home. The factories had closed. Business was at a standstill. This was Ladysmith Day, and there was a pulse-quickening Cup-tie against a team which were the holders of The Cup—a team which included William Foulke, the mighty, Needham, the tiny Titan, "Cocky” Bennett, the sure-foot, who could shoot a ball with wonderful velocity, and many another fine player, including Beer, who is now connected with Birmingham after years in the Colonies. No doubt Beer will recall the events of that day.
“WAYTE AWHYLE.”
When I got into the thoroughfare leading to the gates in Gigg-Jane it was thronged with thousands of folk struggling to gain entrance. The position looked hopeless. As the folks say in Lancashire, “There’s always most thrutchin’ where there’s least room” and thrutchin’ means pushing, shoving, squeezing, and crushing. It was all very good tempered, as, of course, everybody wanted to go one way. Still, when thousands of folk are eager to pass through one gate, one bottleneck, the situation is tense withall the good humour in the world. I was behind a heap of struggling and grunting humanity, and I wondered how I should get inside that old farm which Bury have converted into a football arena. My motto was: "Wayte awhyle—wayte awhyle.” When I was getting anxious a group of soldiers, of the Manchester Regiment, the linked battalion at home, marched up. The crowd ceased to jostle and began to cheer. As if by order they voluntarily opened out to let the men in khaki through to the ground. The platoon virtually marched In, and espying my opportunity I dashed to their rear and' practically walked in under cover of a military escort. The little trick amused me—almost as much the tie itself—for had not this contingent  arrived the match would have been half over ’ere I should have reached the gates. As the Bury ground was at that time, a gathering of over 20,000 excited and joyous folks was a splendid frame to the moving picture of earnest teams.
ON LADYSMITH DAY.
Eight or nine of the players have joined the ever-increasing majority, but they all acquitted themselves like true athletes. I always considered that Bury won the Cup on Ladysmith Day, although they had afterwards to meet Nottingham Forest in the semi-final tie and Southampton in the last scene of all. In that era Bury had a Cup team to be proud of—in my opinion, a side superior to that which carried off the trophy a second time in 1903. With such back divisions as Darroch and Davidson, and Prey, Leeming, and George Ross, it is not astonishing that Sheffield United and Nottingham forest were the only opponents who could score against them. Think of the vanguard with such sturdy Lancashire lads as Richards and Wood, both from Middleton, on the right, the late James McLuckie, of Jordan-hill, the tall and menacing Scottish centre, the late Charles Sagar, of Turton, nearly six feet of willowy wizardry, and J. Plant, the Bollington boy, who always played in such tattered and supple shoes, held together with yards of tape, that he called to mind Tom Bury, of Darwen, who preferred such fragile footgear that it was always said he played in his wife's elastic-sides boots. Tom Bury was a gradely Lancashire lad, and there were three of them in this forward line of Bury on Ladysmith Day, while Jack Plant, as harmless as a dove, but such fine player, came from the next county—the plains of Cheshire.
SQUEEZING THE LIFE OUT OF ME
And that is how I escaped a bit of rib-cracking at Bury, and enjoyed a match that will never fade from memory. Not always was such luck vouchsafed me. In March, 1893, Preston North End and Everton were battling for practically a whole month to settle two ties- one in the English Cup and the other in the Lancashire Cup. They begin their frolics on March 4 and finished them on March 30. This was the semi-final stage of the Association Cup, and I went to Blackburn on March 20, this being the first semi-final that my friend John Lewis took charge of a referee. Everton managed to win a glorious game and thus step into the Final for the first time —that game at Fallowfield. When the match was over I decided to get out the ground by way of two huge gates to my left, for the Pressmen had been given a table on a cinder trac., A few other people fancied this mode of exit, with the result that I was pushed against one of the gates and pinned there with the pressure of a crowd in my back. As it was not likely that the gate would give I felt that my breast bone would be forced in. The position was painfully unpleasant until the police rescued me. But for a couple of months I was sore on the chest—and can only remember such another squeezing, and that was on one day when West Bromwich Albion and Aston Villa had been playing at Stoney-lane. The exit was not very long, but it seemed a day’s journey before emerging into breathing space. There was a very big fellow near me that compact mass, and his oft-repeated comment was, “Never again.” He required more room than myself, and I was inclined to think that Providence was all-wise in fashioning me. I have written of the sorrows of a small man, but there have been occasions when I have been thankful for a very modest stature which concealed some strength of limb.
A TRIP TO TYNESIDE.
One day in the long ago I set out on a Saturday morning from Manchester for Newcastle, where the United were to meet Sunderland. Their tremendous rivalry always enthralled me, as it did the whole of Northumberland and Durham, on what the miners call “Baff” Saturday. The exact meaning of that phrase cannot tell, but the colliers have drawn their wages and are free to gang to the football—with the “a” in ball pronounced short. They are keen sportsmen, and they may well be attracted to “the football" considering the magnificent struggles these keen rivals have produced for over 30 years. I have had the pleasure of enjoying the hospitality warm-hearted Northerners, and of witnessing many of their Olympian battles. I cannot forget either so long as memory is left to me.
On this particular Saturday the train steamed into the Central Station at Newcastle-on-Tyne nearly an hour late. Reaching St. James’s Park I found every door and gate shut, and I could hear an immense assembly cheering until the sky was rent, and then groaning in despair. The sound waves overflowed and filled the countryside. I hammered on doors and kicked galvanised iron to no purpose for some time. At last the janitor appeared, opened the door an inch or two, and banged it in my face with this soothing remark: I dinna care who ye are. Ye canna’ come in. Oot awa’ with ye.” I reflected, and decided to walk round to the offices of the club on the other side of the ground. These premises were in a narrow weind, and there were probably one hundred or mote people gathered outside the door that I could not approach. Just at that moment a myrmidon of the government in the form or a telegraph boy, e'en smaller than my wee body, came on the scene. His uniform and buff-coloured envelope carried him to the door which was opened by my old friend Frank Watt, the secretary of the club. As soon as his fine, familiar figure was seen in the niche I yelled Frank, Frank!” and held up my hand like a schoolboy. Anything to attract attention and get out of that crowded passage. “What are ye doin’ there mon?  Make way for that gentleman,” he shouted, and so I gained admission. But Frank Watt had not a conventional seat for this belated traveller, and so he got a chair, and I sat on the touch-line. My next door neighbour, on another chair, was Mr. C, Renwick, who was then one of the members of Parliament for a Newcastle constituency. He proved to be a rare sportsman, and I confess that his conversation, especially about Rugger, which his sons played, was so interesting that the match was not so closely followed for critical purposes as it might have been. But that was the narrowest squeak I ever had of being shut out of match that I had journeyed the greater part 200 miles to see.
A SENSATIONAL LEAGUE MATCH.
Mention of these magnetic matches in the North country brings to mind the most remarkable League match it was ever my fortune to see. It was early December, 1908, that I hied to the Newcastle ground. When the teams were drawn up for the twenty-first match between them—the “majority match” it was styled—the vast crowd simply buzzed with the pleasure of anticipation and the burr of the Northumbrian throng.At half-time the score was one goal each. This should not have been, for the referee—Mr. A. E. Farrant, of Bristol —had, just before the interval, given a penalty-kick for “hands” by Charlie Thomson, of Prestonpans, the famous centre-half back and Scottish International. Throughout his career Thomson has been very pernickety about penalty kick being awarded against him. It is a long time ago, but I feel now that his indignation was righteous and that he had not intentionally played the ball with his hands. He was very disturbed when Newcastle equalled Sunderland's goal from the dreaded spot. Thus the teams retired on terms as level as they commenced. What Sunderland said or resolved in their dressing room I cannot say, but events proved that they were mightily piqued, smarting under a sense of injustice.
EIGHT GOALS IN 28 MINUTES.
They expressed their feelings in a way which was most disastrous to the reputation of Newcastle, but it was almost worthwhile for the referee to much such a mistake. If every blunder by the controlling official brought such football what games we should have. I managed to preserve a record of this sensational match for Newcastle were overwhelmed. In 28 minutes during the second half Sunderland piled on eight goals, the scorers being George Holley, William Hogg (who was inside-right to Mordue), Holley, Holley, Arthur Bridgett, Mordue, and Hogg. The last five of these goals were obtained in eight minutes. The curious part of this performance was that of the nine goals got by Sunderland three were from inside-right, three from inside-left, and three by the wing men—and not one by the centre-forward, Arthur Brown, who had been considered worthy of his place for England when he was 18 years of age. I should say that Tony Whitson retired after the sixth goal, leaving “Dick” Pudan, of Leicester, to battle alone. Talking about this match some years afterwards, James Lawrence, who was for so long the distinguished goalkeeper of Newcastle, told me that the Sunderland shooting was so wonderful that he never touched the ball as it whizzed past him in that stormy 28 minutes. This match shows what possible- but nine goals on the ground of one’s opponents must surely be a rare feat. I hesitate to use the word record because so many extraordinary performances have been done. All the same, I cannot recall eight goals registered in so short a time by a team away from home in a First Division match between giants of the game. I am still thankful to have been at St. James’ Park on that notable day.
CULTURED GIANTS OF THE GAME.
When one chooses to dwell on the players, and think of Lawrence, Pudan, Colin Veitch, and L. R. Roose as among them, I can only say that there was in these four a fine debating class, for they were all men of education, and what is more, even of culture. Whatever may have been the eccentricities of “Dick” Roose, he was a remarkable man, for his knowledge on many subjects was extensive and peculiar. James Lawrence, now of Preston, was a student of good literature and a friend of Tom Burt, the English Labour leader, and probably the first representative the miners sent to Parliament. The captain of Newcastle was Colin Veitch, a man of such varied accomplishments as to a Bachelor of Science and a fine musician. The last time we had chat he told me that he was writing a book on football, and would send on the manuscript. I am still waiting for his magnum opus. Where is it?

LOWLY EVERTON
Athletic News- Monday, December 8 1924
UNHAPPY EXPERIENCE AT BLACKBURN
BLACKBURN ROVERS 3 EVERTON 0
By Quiz
There have been times when a visit by Everton to Ewood Park would have attracted a huge attendance, but on Saturday the spectators did not reach 15,000. The Rovers tried the experiment of playing McKay at centre forward, and Everton’s front line was led for the first time by Broad. The opening play was distinctly poor.  Neither set of forwards were capable of settling down to consistent effort. Everton displayed much pretty foot craft in making ground, but once they had got within the danger zone all their good work was frittered away by over-elaboration and weak shooting. The Rovers, too, were very long way from being convincing, but when after 22 minutes had elapsed McKay, accepting a neat centre from McIntyre, with a cool flick of the foot turned the ball into the net there came a decided improvement in the home attack. Twelve minutes later the ball was swung by McCleery over to the left. The ball passed in front of Kerr, who hesitated in turning round to clear, and CRISP, seeing his chance, rushed in and easily beat Harland at close quarters. The Rovers continued to dominate the game in the second half, and seventeen minutes from the end CRISP made theissue quite safe by scoring the best goal of the afternoon, after a very clever piece of individual play in which he outwitted two opponents.
McKAY’S NEW POSITION.
Though they won BY SO decisive a margin the forward play ought to have been of a much higher order. It can hardly be said that McKay, in his new position, was a great success, though he was always about when his wing men middled the ball. The one success of the line was McIntyre at outside right. He sparkled in the first half, but fell away a tittle after the interval, for McCleery was not exactly a very serviceable partner, though he was always trying to afford him assistance. Hulme for once in a way was much below form. His centres in the first half often went agley, and later on he was too prone to try and beat two or three opponents before parting with the ball. This is a new aspect of his play he would do well to cut out. Crisp found the inside berth to his liking, and he shared with McIntyre the credit of being the two most effective forwards on view. The Rovers were very well served at half-back, and Roscamp, particularly in the opening stages, was very noticeable for clever tackling and sound constructive play. The men behind were not highly tried.
NO ATATCK.
Everton’s greatest weakness, as I have already indicated, was in attack. There were times when the whole five forwards moved along as a solid phalanx by short, crisp passing, but when challenged by the home backs they entirely faded away. Chedgzoy worked untiringly for a long time in effecting capital centres which went and when he eased up and Troup on the opposite flank began to get the ball well front of goal he met with no measure of success. Broad was trying from the first moment to the last, but he accomplished little. Irvine was perhaps the cleverest forward on the field, but he did too much of it, and Cock was only seen at odd intervals. With less elaboration and more attempts at shooting the line would have here appeared to much better advantage, for, after all, pretty football is not sufficient in itself win matches. Peacock was a good half-back who was given a busy afternoon by McIntyre, and Bain and Hart were likewise very serviceable. Livingstone was a little the better of two capable defenders, whilst Harland in goal made many clever saves. Blackburn Rovers.—Sewell; Rollo, Wylie; Roscamp, Healless, Campbell: Hulme, Crisp, McKay, McCleery, and McIntyre. Everton.—Harland: Livingstone, Kerr: Peacock Bain, Hart (Captain); Chedgzoy, Irvine, Broad, Cock, and Troup. Referee: J. E. Telford, Preston.

POOR EVERTON
Lancashire Evening Post - Monday 08 December 1924
LUSTREESS GAME AT EWOOD
It was a game of shreds and patches at Ewood. Frankly it would be very easy to make too much of the fact that the Rovers achieved their biggest win of the season. That the margin might have been much bigger was more in the nature of a reflection on Everton’s weakness than of tribute to any outstanding penetrative power on the Rovers part. For Everton- though in justice it ought to be said here that through various causes they were left with a strange-looking side- were as unconvincing as any team seen at Ewood for a long time. There is quality and skill in the side, but no solid foundation, and moves begun promisingly enough ended in muddle nine times out of ten. That was the way they began this game; a series of bright raids that gave the Rovers’ defence as much as it could do to check, and then, after promising so much, a gradual continuing throughout the game. Having said so much it is due to the Rovers to point out that after the opening 20 minutes the game never looked like being lost. Before it had been under way very long, the visiting attack was so completely mastered the Sewell had scarcely more than two likely scoring efforts to deal with for the rest of the afternoon. It was well for the Rovers, too, that Rollo and Wylie were so convincingly masters of the task, for the unsteadiness conspicuous in Everton’s defensive work seemed to infect the home halves to an unusual degree, and an unconscionable number of passes went astray. With the work at half-back so undistinguished-for the Everton trio, despite the fact that Bain, a reserve forward, did by no means badly as McBain’s substitute, brought precious little sparkle into their game-there were periods of drab, lustreless football for minutes on end.
A SUCCESSFUL EXPERIMENT.
Clearly, however, the big point is that the Rovers’ new-framed attack raised three goals. There cannot be any doubt at all now that the transposition of Crisp and McIntyre from the left wing to inside forward and vice versa has had a stimulating effect on the line’s efficiency. Crisp was about the best inside forward on view, and his influence on the game did not end with his two opportunistic goals. And, beyond doubt, McIntyre was far ahead of any other winger. His craft in losing the ball at the right moment was an object lesson in its way, and paved the road directly to the first and second goals. Moreover, there were to be seen the beginnings of what should prove to be a very useful working arrangement between him and McCleery, though the Irishman was not so mechanically accurate as usual. If McKay took rather a long time to settle down in his new place, he was nevertheless the best leader the Rovers have had this season, though, like nearly everyone else in this game, his best game was done in patches and was not generally sustained. Playing further back than most centre forwards do, at times he pushed the ball through for the inside men and served the wings with delightful judgement, and if he was not a particularly dangerous raider, he scored a beautiful goal. He fully justified the experiment. -ROVER.

MORE DISASTER FOR EVERTON
Liverpool Echo - Monday 08 December 1924
Bee’s Notes
Woe to us! We seem to be undone in many particulars. Everton have touched a very nasty position. It is uncommon for a side that two years ago was dicing to have the season prolonged a month so that they might overhaul the championship side to find itself bottom but one. It is unpalatable. It is unthinkable to some people who wear Everton colours across their hearts. They need not go into hysterics, though the defeat from Blackburn reads black because Blackburn are not so good now as they were at the outset of the season. The fact is that Everton are not going strong, cannot go strong just yet through a combination of circumstances, and will only begin to mend when they begin to blend in every department. Needless to say all sorts of rumours are being cast about, but I shall not be a party to encouraging these by naming them. They are not true. Everton have simply reaped what they have sown. They have gone for transfer of the senior instead of the prospective good junior, and the reserve side that has done so well has had all too many instances of players not being promoted to the first eleven when a vacancy arose. At Blackburn the reserve had a chance. It would be folly to rush in to condemn the youngsters-they must have a chance to settle down.

THE BLACK MARK
The Liverpool Echo- Monday, December 8, 1924
By F.E.H
Returning from Blackburn on Saturday evening, a chastened and despondent scribe, I asked myself musingly; “How long are the Evertonians going to travel along the via delorosa?” and a still small voice replied; “It’s a long lane that has no turning.” So may it be. The display at Ewood Park was frankly disappointing from almost every point of view. There were frequent occasions when the Goodison Park men played very pretty football- but they simply would not finish. What, I ask you, is the use of carrying the ball to the goal mouth and then standing still in order to allow either the backs of the goalkeeper to get rid of the ball? Yet this is what happened more than once on Saturday, and to this must be attributed Everton’s defeat. For fully twenty minutes the visitors played really good and promising football, and then they simply faded away until the interval put a temporary relief to their comparative ineptitude. The first goal, gained by McKay, who was figuring at centre forward, was, to my mind, the determining factor. Everton “wilted,” and when Crisp came along with a second they were quite out of the picture. The second half saw the visitors in slightly improved form, but there was still that fatal hesitation in front of goal. Both Broad and Bain impressed me favourably, and the first named “mucked into it” – excuse the phrase-with vigour, and at back, Kerr showed a distinctly coming on disposition. He should do well. Forbes also put in a lot of good work on the left wing, but his efforts, as well as those of Chedgzoy, came to nothing. One have no desire to become a pessimist, but the Everton directors must certainly look to their guns if they desire to avert disaster.

EVERTON BEATEN BY BOLTON
The Liverpool Echo- Wednesday, December 10, 1924
Bee’s
Everton can get nothing to go right for them just now. McBain is in bed through influenza, and Broad copied his example to-day, although he was on the training yesterday afternoon. Glover was played as right-back instead of left, and his first duty was to extend the glad hand to Finney, his former comrade at New Brighton.  Everton; Harland; McDonald, Glover; Brown, Bain, Virr; Parry, Irvine, Cock, Williams, and Forbes. Bolton; Pym; Howarth, Finney; Nuttall, Rowley, Jennings, Butler, Jack, J.R. Smith, Cassidy, and Eatock.
YOUNGSTERS DO WELL
Considering the heavy turf the football served up in the first half was of a class description, and the young Everton players did quite well, despite the fact that they missed one or two easy chances and that Jack scored after nineteen minutes. It was a delight to see Bain making use of the ball, and it was a point in Virr’s favour that he stuck to the clever Bolton right wing and made up the middle passes. Virr was acting in place of Hunter Hart, who has gone to Blackpool to recuperate after a number of strenuous seasons. J.R. Smith headed over from Butler. Headers from centres, and in doing so was slightly knocked out. He was off the field for a time, and when he came back he saw Harland kick away a shot from Jack. Irvine, like the rest of the forwards, was clever enough in the middle, but not in completion tasks. For instance, he got right through on one occasion, and should have passed to Cock. Harland had only just had time to make a one-hand push away from Jack before that player came through with a pass from Butler and stole three yards on McDonald.
IN THE NICK OF TIME
The tall forward make an unstoppable shot to complete a piece of perfect practical play. Irvine was again well placed when he preferred to pass instead of shoot, and when Howarth had a ball skid from his ankle, Williams did his rapid dash but pushed the ball outside. J.R. Smith found himself in front of goal as a consequence of McDonald slipping up at an awkward moment. McDonald, however, would not give in, and he prevented the “giftful” chance by and pushing the ball away, a great piece of work. Within a minute of the interval Parry made a spurt, and Cock nearly converted a ball that was passing outside. Irvine followed with a solo, and he apparently tried to centre, but the ball spooned towards the corner of the goal, when Pym punched away for a corner.
Half-time.- Bolton 1 Everton nil.
A FLASH IN THE PAN
In the second half Everton started in a manner that suggested that Bolton would have to fight for a place in the final tie. Admitting that J.R. Smith had to go to outside left, and that Jack, though an injured thigh, had to go outside right, there still remained the fact that Everton were now playing more sensible football. The equalising goal at the hour was scored by Williams. It was a smudged type of goal, with the defence at sixes and sevens. This equaliser brought back Smith to centre forward, and after Harland had pushed away cleverly from Cassidy, Irvine made Pym catch and clear. McDonald charged Jack down the slope, and when David collected himself he headed a goal from Eatock.
SWIFT GOALS
This was the beginning of the end. Eatock had a hand in each of three goals, and when Harland pushed out a centre from him J.R. Smith was troubling the goalkeeper and the ball carried out to Rowley, who scored quite unconcernedly. Jack gave J.R. Smith one of the sweetest openings any forward could wish for, and J.R., having missed it, had the good luck to have another freewill offering, this time from Eatock, and J.R, made the score 4-1, and made the fog seem denser to Everton than ever. Eatock, with one exception when he carelessly shot instead of centring a good length, was without fault. It was he who supplied the goals. He had twice the size of Glover and twice the speed. Even so, Glover did one splendid piece of tackling that gained him applause from the 4,890 people who had paid to come in. final; Bolton Wanderers 4 Everton 1.

BOLTON WANDERERS 4 EVERTON 1
December 11, 1924. The Daily Courier.
LANCHASHIRE CUP SEMI-FINAL
FIVE GOALS IN LANCS, CUP SEMI-FINAL
BOLTON WANDERERS, FLATTERED BY THE SCORE
Bolton beat Everton 4-1 at Burnden Park yesterday, in the semi-final of the Lancashire Cup, and now meet Blackpool in the final. At first blush one would think that Bolton won easily. Such was not the case. Everton did exceedingly well for fully an hour, when there was little in the game, not only from the scoring –each side had netted once –but then the Wanderers got a goal about which there was an element of luck, after which they were on top. Taking the goals in their order, first fell to the Wanderers at the end of 19 minutes, Jack taking the ball from somewhere near the middle to wind up with a fierce drive. This was all the scoring to the interval though if Everton had used their chances they would have been 2 up. In the second half Williams equalised, but it was one of those goals that the Everton defence have had credited against them in the past –that is of the “soft” nature. However, it counted, and that was that mattered. Jack soon afterwards got the second for Bolton, while Rowley notched the third after Harland had fisted out, and the fourth was registered by J.R. Smith. This completed the scoring. Considering that Everton owing to sickness and injuries had to field practically a reserve side, the display was very promising. Cock was much more effective and distributed the play well, while Forbes and Parry got in many good centres. Williams and Irvine however, were rather too anxious, and made poor use of the chances given them. Brown, Bain and Virr did remarkably well as a middle line and held the Bolton forwards in check, though the first named tired towards the end, and Eattock then did much as he liked. This lengthy Wanderer had much to do with the success of his side, as three of the four goals resulted from his centres. He was the best of the Bolton team, with Jack next best. Glover and McDonald defended ably, though the first named found his lack of inches against him when it came to tackling Eattock. In goal Harland showed resource and confidence and the goals that beat him would have beaten any other keeper. Teams: - Bolton Wanderers: - Pym, goal, Howarth, and Finney backs, Nuttall, Rowley, and Jennings, half-backs, Butler, Jack, JR Smith, Cassidy, and Eattock, forwards. Everton: - Harland, goal, McDonald (captain), and Glover, backs, Brown Bain, and Virr, half-backs, Parry, Irvine, Cock, Williams, and Forbes forwards. Referee Mr. MT. Bunnell .

ASTONISHING STORY FROM BOLTON-PLAYER’S SACRIFCE.
Liverpool Echo - Thursday 11 December 1924
Bee’s Notes
Eatock is a familiar name. One remembers him winning the Powderhall Handicap. There have been endless cases of runners who tried to be footballers, and many who saw Eatock at Everton in a trial game, and at Wigan Borough’s ground,  thought he would never be anything but a runner, and that his football would not “come on.” But Bolton took a chance, and with patience and wise coaching by precept and practice they have made Eatock into a potential flier at football as well as at running. Eatock “shed” the Everton colours yesterday in a cup-tie, and while it is true he was up against Glover, who has neither height nor weight to help him to combat opponents, he was also up against a biggish-built man like W. Brown. Eatock simply cats space, and those who thought that he would not fare well against a taller opposing defence will probably be surprised to find that after the selection if Vizard for Saturday’s game the Wanderers have put in Eatock. But underlying this team change is something infinitely more important. Ted Vizard, after yesterday’s game, went to the directors and said “It would be a downright shame if you left Eatock out of the first team on Saturday. I am prepared to go to the second team and play at Aston. I have been out of the team for five weeks and it will give me a chance to get warm to the game. In any case it would be folly to leave out Eatock in view of the yearning he has had to get into the first team, and in view of the great game he has played to-day.
THE RIGHT SPIRIT
Such sporting spirit should be placed on the right pedestal. The exclusive item I have given above will make many another club say to themselves “we could do with much more of this sacrifice by players, instead of the jealously and fitful temper that arise sometimes through team sheets. Let me give you a pen picture of the man who made three goals for Bolton in the last quarter of an hour against Everton. When I say made the goals I mean he did everything except put on the finishing touch. He just made his co-forwards score goals. Eatock glides through space. It is no effort for him to give a man two yards start in ten and leave him two yards behind. He simply leaps forward, yet his action is so smooth that he appears to be strolling along! He is built on Buchan lines, save that he has stronger legs and thicker thighs. His body, too, is more symmetrical than Charlie’s, and though he has not the fancy flights of the Sunderland man, he has something which will stand him in equal stead- he has a great idea of going forward, ever forward. I did not see him double back once through the game, and only once did he permit himself to dare to shoot from an angled view. That was folly, and it was possibly due to the flattery of the crowd who ate every movement he made. There is a great danger that Bolton folk will fall on this Vizard deputy and make a tin god of him. Eatock may be unduly marked and he may be unduly unbalanced in the thinktank if Bolton spectators do not take a strong hand on themselves. Eatock’s special charm, after his forward march, is that splendid hanging centre which he digs towards the goal. He has thus early in his life- he is only 22, but looks more like 26 through his dark countenance and his athletic frame and size- learned the lesson of putting the ball near to goal, but far enough from the goalkeeper to allow a centre-forward to head, and the goalkeeper, by advancing, to take a risk. With such men as David Jack and Cassidy and the fiery J.R. Smith, to complete centres from the left wing. Bolton are sure to be big scorers in the future.
EVERTON AFFAIRS
I have hundreds of letters, some fair and otherwise, from men who want to right Everton. It is easier said than done, for the Everton club is piling up a hospital ward and also a succession of defeats that are heart breaking. Yesterday they lost to a good side and for a solid hour there was nothing between the teams except an inability on the part of the Everton forwards to shoot hard and often before trying an extra pass. Bolton got very windy about their position, and still they won 4-1, a score that suggests Everton were mediocre, whereas the youngsters played quite well, and the team altogether offered a lot of promise so long as the forwards will risk a shot. For some time I have found that the Everton attack is capable of a lot of good things, and yet there has been that fatal habit of making one more square pass when in front of goal instead of hitting the ball first time and taking a chance. Had they done that yesterday they would have been leading 3-1 at the hour. Instead of which they were still all square. I do not wish to see better work than that put up by Harland in goal-he has fully recovered his lost confidence-by McDonald at full back and by Virr in particular, and Bain in minor degree at half back. Virr is a trifle slow to get the ball to his foot, but he makes splendid use of the ball, and Bain did likewise. These are two young men the club should try whenever possible. Experience and first team matching will carry them well up the ladder. Glover was overweighted and outraced. He has some charming measures, and his delivery of the ball when he has got it is excellent football, but physically he had little chance against such an opposition. Frankly, the wing men were disappointing. Forbes could not act in the heavy going, and Parry had few chances. It was a disappointing, aggravating result, and it was not surprising that last night the directors should revert to the old formation for the week-end game. The team is;-
Harland; McDonald, Livingstone; Peacock, McBain, Hart; Chedgzoy, Irvine, Broad, Chadwick, Troup. West Ham have chosen the following team; Hampson; Henderson, Young; Bishop, Kay, Cadwell; Yews, Jennings, Watson, Williams, Ruffell.

EVERTON FACE GOOD CENTRE
Liverpool Echo - Friday 12 December 1924
AND HOPE FOR GOOD THINGS
A CALL TO ARMS- AND BOOTS
Bee’s Notes
Everton are not in that happy state that they can afford to try on their costs for the Cup-tie gales; they want points so badly that they must not take a chance. They are home to West Ham to-morrow, and remembering West Ham’s latest win one is forced to the conclusion that the directors did the right thing in returning as far as possible to the old formation. Jim Broad comes into the League side for the first time at home, and on that score alone the game will cause Everton spectators to roll up in critical mood. But there are other things-first the return to form of Victor Watson, one time England’s centre forward. West Ham have for years bred centres at will, and Victor is the best they have ever brought out. He has come back to his strength after a long spell of absence, and with new men like Yews and Williams, both young and clever, to help them the Hammers’ attack will probably be its strongest point. Fortunately for Everton they have no qualms about goals now that Alfred Harland is keeping goal so very finely. His work at Blackburn was stamped in every link. It is now up to the Everton supporters to offer the men encouragement, to give the men a further chance to shine, and it is up to the home attack, and other departments, for that matter, to pull out that extra bit that counts for so much. They started well enough against Huddersfield and others. The continued effort and the sharp short shot that comes in view near goal must be tried rather than the elaborated scheme of making an open goal for someone to-miss it! Go in Everton! Confound the critics, and give your supporters a merry Christmas. Everton; Harland; McDonald, Livingstone; Peacock, McBain, Hart; Chedgzoy, Irvine, Broad, Chadwick, Troup. West Ham; Hampson; Henderson, Young; Bishop, Kay, Cadwell; Yews, Jennings, Watson, Williams, Ruffell.

BLUES MAY BREAK SPELL.
December 13, 1924. The Daily Courier.
HOPES THAT HAMMERS' VISIT WILL PROVIDE POINTS.
Everton against West Ham United, revert to the side that carried their colours last season and for a portion of the present one. The experiment of trying reserves players has not yielded the result expected and, therefore the “Old Brigade” get a chance of reestablishing themselves. Broad is, of course the exception. He will lead the line in place of Cock. There is not much difference between the Hammers and the Blues so far as the League position go, but what there is favours the Southerners. However, it is long lane that has no trying and if Everton but do themselves justice this afternoon, they will secure as welcome victory. It is gratifying to note that Harland, judging by his display at Bolton, has quire recovered his nerve, so that in at least one position the directors of the Goodison Park Club should have no fear.

FAMOUS OLD-TIMERS.
December 13, 1924. The Liverpool Football Echo
BERT AND JACK SHARP, BROTHERS WHO MADE GOOD IN BOTH GAMES.
By Victor Hall.
In an earlier article we referred to the cases of brothers, mentioning a few who had distinguished themselves in contemporary play for the same teams. The brothers Bert and Jack Sharp are another instance of individual brilliancy budding and blossoming together in maturity, and associating together with the same club. The two brothers came to Everton together about the end of 1889-89 season, and were early drafted into prominent playing positions in the League team. Jack, the younger as a forward, and Bert, the elder, in the rear division. The speed of Jack, speedily marked him for a distinguished career as a forward and, as all football historians are aware, that career took him eventually to the star position as a forward in the Everton club, and in 1903 brought his international cap against Ireland, and in 1905 crowned his football career with the international cap against Scotland. Bert Sharp played a long sturdy, and honourable career in the Everton ranks, not always in the League team, but dependable whenever he played, and while he did not attain the international distinction of his younger brother, he certainly left his career as a football player an honoured and distinctive one. Of his cricket career we will speak again.
LANCASHIRE'S GAIN.
It must always seem strange that these two brilliant sportsmen were ever lost to the Midlands, although that loss was very much our gain here in Lancashire. It seemed almost too good to be true when, in those far off days of the late nineties, the news came North that the brilliant Everton intelligence burenu of those days had again bagged “big” game.” This time no less than in Birmingham, when Mr. Pinder and Mr. Ramsey, of the Aston Villa club, and Louis Ford, of West Bromwich, were said to have future players for their respective clubs allotted and labelled while they were still sitting in the children's “gallery” at school. Still, there was the report, “Both Sharp brothers signed,” so it must be true. Would they come? Well they did, as all the world knows, and that was a bad day for both football and cricket in the Midlands. But what would Lancashire (Or Bootle) say to that to-day? A Birmingham newspaper, commenting on the transfer at that times, wrote as follows: - “john Sharp” the younger of the two brothers who are leaving Aston Villa, for Everton this season, may be given a trial at cricket with Lancashire. “Both the brothers are good with bat and ball, and as professionals for the Leyland club for the past few years they are qualified for Lancashire. “Both the Villa and Warwickshire C.C. may regret that they have allowed the players to go. The lads were born at Hereford, where they founded the Thistle Football Club. After the Sharpe left the club deteriorated, and the end of the present season see its collapse.”
That writer, whoever he was knew what he was talking about and as a piece of sporting prophecy his intelligent anticipations would take some beating. Of Jack Sharp playing career at Everton it is still too recent to require any laudation. He left his mark on the game and inspired many a young player, who is today reaping the benefit derived from perfection in style and applied knowledge as an art. Elsewhere, in these series, we have had to chronicle of almost every player of distinction, it has to be noted, that they “took care” of themselves in their physical condition, and gave no anxieties to the club trainer. This distinction was equally true, and exemplary true, in the case of the two brothers Bert and Jack Sharp. During their whole career at Everton, they were the ideal and perfect athletes in their mode and manner of health and exercise, and an admirable pattern of cheeriness and good humour at all times with their fellow players and even with visiting clubs and players too. Playing on the field upto the last ounce of their capacity in every match, good-tempered and resourceful in all points of the game, they were individually careful of their own and the club's reputation, and never brought a stain or blemish to mar their good name. Mr. Sharp senior the father of the players was a frequent visitor to the Everton grounds during their playing career, from his home in Hereford, and took pride in the popular esteem to which his sons were held by the club committee and public generally, and not without good reason. Even before the brothers came back they had become almost equally famous with cricket as with football, and it was not therefore surprising that in their summer time leisure between the football seasons they should have taken to a "recreation"” such as the willow and the smaller ball. The Stanley Cricket Club in Stanley Park always made the members of both Liverpool and Everton clubs honorary members of their cricket club, and gave them the freedom of the ground and the hospitality of the club house during the cricket season, with the result that prominent members of the football clubs met each other at Cricket and played friendly games versus each other, and jointly played each season a match combined against Stanley. Those were the occasions of very happy re0unions in which old foes became old friends again, and forgot for a while their football rivalries. In those merry games Jack and Bert Sharp, Geo. Kitchen, Tom Booth, Crelly, and Sam Wolstenholmes, and Harry Makepeace, of Everton were at home with harry Scorer and others of Liverpool team, Fred Geary, the late Shirley Moore, and others of the old Stanley team, and quite a local gate attended the mixed teams at Stanley Park. Mr. Keates, the faithful historian of the Stanley Cricket Club, has many an interesting souvenir of those mid-season games.
AN IDEAL PARTNERSHIP.
It is, of course Cricket history now, how meantime Jack Sharp had qualified and nobly won his place in Lancashire cricket, and it is a wonderful tribute to that same Jack how last of all has come the greatest and final honour of his career to lead his tem on the field of play as captain of Lancashire. All honour to the brave boy of Hereford, who casting his eye on the then far distant goal of 100 per cent, set out to dribble and shoot his way to fame, and carry his bat to the highest score and the place of highest honour for the Red Rose. If brother Jack has brought the supreme honour of the county club home, let it be equally recognised by all followers of the game, what honour brother Bert has won, too, since he left the larger for the smaller ball. Ask any member of the Bootle Cricket Club of the last ten years what they think Bootle way of Mr. Bert Sharp. Playing cricket regularly for Bootle at the end of his football career, Bert Sharp brought honours and records to the club equal to the best of their palmy days, and endeared himself to players committee, and public is a manner almost unique. Under his admirable tuition the prestige of the club was worthily sustained, while the younger members had in him a coach and guide whose painstaking efforts were ever at their services. There is an ideal partnership in mainly sport for all youngsters today looking for the particular “star” to which they would, in all modesty, “hitch the wagon” of their ambition.

EVERTON’S FOURTH VICTORY OF THE SEASON
The Liverpool Football Echo- Saturday, December 13, 1924
A WELCOME CHANGE AFTER SIX WEEK’S BARREN PLAY
BEE’S REPORT AND REFLECTIONS
Everton; Harland; McDonald, Livingstone; Peacock, Reid, Hart (Captain); Chedgzoy, Williams, Cock, Chadwick, Troup. West Ham; Hampson; Henderson, Young; Bishop, Kay, Cadwell; Yews, Jennings, Watson, Williams, Ruffell. A cold and dull day. Everton hoped to bring Broad before their patrons for his first League game at home, but he, like Irvine, was not fit for service. Thus Everton started once again with a handicap. Everton kicked off, on a filthy ground, before the smallest attendance of the season. They started with a merry rush on the right, Troup first putting the ball out and afterwards putting one to hand, Hampson showing smart handling to a ball that was very difficult to grip. Ruffell, West Ham, outside left, spoiled two openings that promised goals. With the first he screwed the ball wide, and with the next he over-ran the ball at a critical moment. Young, on the same flank, showed some splendid tackling and timing against Chedgzoy, who shot into goal while Hampson was recovering his balance after a save from Chadwick.
HAMMERS ON THE STRETCH
Everton were playing like a team working for a place in the sun, and West Ham could not have caught them at a worse time than the present. For quite a long period Everton kept the Hammers' defence on the stretch, and Kay did not improve matters in trying to dribble instead of making a first time shot on the sticky turf. Not only was the turf troublesome in the middle-piece, but the wind came in gusts and it often blew across the ground. Little Yewcharged Hart clean over, and while the home crowd was thinking over an appeal for a foul Chadwick , playing an enterprising game, was making way for Williams to let in Chedgzoy. Chedgzoy was on the turn when he decided to shoot instead of pass. He delivered a hot ball that pulled a yard wide, after which Watson came into the picture for the first time with a shot. With a free kick. West Ham showed a plan of campaign, Watson being a danger.
OFFSIDE DISAPPOINTMENT.
On the other hand, Williams wasted time with a chance which was in contrast to Jennings, who made a useful long shot. Cock headed through, and was disappointed to find himself ten yards offside. Chedgzoy, becoming a centre forward for a moment, headed over Henderson, and then was beaten in sped. Both the Everton inside forwards hare suffered the lash of the term “slowness,” but each got offside through speed to-day, and when Troup was allowed to go on, although plainly offside, it was poetic justice that Mr. Hopkinson's blunder should be remedied by Chadwick kicking over the ball when trying to make a fierce shot. Hampson was possibly numbed by the cold when he picked up in the mouth of goal. Certainly he was nearly charged through the goal by Williams when handling an easy ball. The crowed was good enough to offer encouragement to the home players, and they did not like the undue offside game played by West Ham's defence.
A GOAL ESCAPE.
One of the most interesting pieces of play was that where McDonald made it awkward for Hampson to punch away, and while the goalkeeper was yards out, Troup kicked over the ball, and Hampson, running still further out, chested the ball away. West Ham could count themselves fortunate to escape a goal in the neat few minutes because Troup made one shot that passed everybody in the goalmouth. and after atip-tap arrangement between Cock and Chadwick, Cock shot and the ball trekked inches out of its right mark. Chedgzoy followed up with a lovely hook, and Cock, finding Young making a blunder, had no one but the goalkeeper to beat.  Cock shot once he had got the ball down to toe, the ball sagging against Hampson and trickling towards the goalmouth.
MAKING HARLAND JUMP.
Fortunately Henderson dropped back and kicked away. Watson, without much chance, was always a dangerous man and when in possession he shot without hesitation and put plenty of steam into his effort. No player was so accurate, however, as Jennings, who made Harland jump to a hard ball. Right on the interval Hampson was saved by Bishop, who had fallen into goal, and headed out a sharp shot while Hampson was nowhere to be seen.
Half-time; Everton 0, West Ham 0
The second half had not been going long before Everton bore down on a defence that was tiring of excessive work. Bishop made one mistake that let Cock down the middle channel. The overdue goal seemed sure, but as he tried to pass to the right, the muddy ball glanced upward instead of across.
SCOTCHING WATSON
There had hardly been a foul in the game. When Everton got a free kick it was because Ruffell had lived up to his name in meeting McDonald. Prior to this, Williams had kicked over a possible goal, and McDonald, playing the most inspiring game, had stopped Watson scoring from seven yards out when nothing seemed more certain than a goal. McDonald, by a super-human effort, smothered the goal, but hurt his thigh to such an extent that he had to go to outside right, Peacock becoming full back. Once more nothing could go right with Everton, and after Hart had been applauded for splendid extrication, we found Chedgzoy at right half-a movement which surely weakened two positions. The crowd were yearning for a goal, and although West Ham were not over-dangerous, Hampson was not getting any work, partly because they engineered the one-back game so cutely. Nearly twenty minutes had passed when McDonald returned to his proper position, and 16,000 people were delighted at the change.
GOAL BY COCK
The change worked wonders in a minute, Cock scoring after Henderson had made a very bad blunder in front of goal. The crowd went wild with delight, and when the Everton centre, making a fine individual burst, nearly scored a second, the home man was pretty badly knocked out, and was off the field for five minutes. When he returned Williams, from inside-left, made his best shot, and Hampson had done nothing better than time his fall to a second. Hampson was pretty busy now, and Cock, a yard from goal, could not quite convert Chedgzoy’s centre. West Ham had quietened down very considerably, and the defence had become unsteady. Harland had quite an easy time, thanks to McDonald’s lusty kicking and Livingstone’s surety.
COCK INJURED.
Ten minutes from the end Cock, who had been badly injured earlier on, left the field in a grave condition. Williams netted, but he was offside, and the point was, of course, disallowed.
Final; Everton 1 West Ham nil.

MANCHESTER CITY RES v.  EVERTON RES
The Liverpool Football Echo- Saturday, December 13, 1924
Daniels scored for City after thirty-five minutes. Half-time; Manchester City Res 1, Everton Res 0.

STUD MARKS
The Liverpool Football Echo- Saturday, December 13, 1924
By Louis T. Kelly

• The absence of McBain and Troup last week left Sam Chedgzoy with the distinction of being Everton’s only surviving ever-present.
• The Toffees have been busily engaged sliding rather than cutting any ice.
• Harland’s League team experiences have indeed been discouraging this season, viz., played four and all four matches lost without Everton scoring so much as the odd goal.
• Here is the list; Liverpool 0-1; Huddersfield 0-2; Sunderland 0-3; Blackburn 0-3
• Three of the four at Goodison, too.
• No goalkeeper can be expected to give of his best under such discouraging conditions.
• Everton, ‘tis said, were negotiating recently for Harry Scott, the goalkeeper of the Irish club Bangor.
• Scott is on the retained list of Queen’s Island.
• Everton’s recent plight has been the subject of much comment.
• However, if the corner has been turned to-day we shall expect to find their position considerably improved before the dawn of the New Year.

EVERTON TRUBLED AT THE POULTON GROUND
The Liverpool Football Echo- Saturday December 13, 1923
COUNTY COMBINATION
Everton had to return home from Poulton Rovers ground minus two points. This ground is the minimum size, and is a problem to the visitors every Saturday, and I can understand it from my own experience many years ago on the ground of the old team dead and gone. “Aigburth Vale.” Players do not adapt themselves to the conditions prevailing, consequently the home team get going long before their visitors. On such grounds the game is to sling the ball from wing to wing or quick short passing, constantly on the move in triangular form. But no visitors must play just as if they were on a large ground, out of play and nothing gained. The difference between the two teams on Saturday was the Everton lads playing against a robust side, who gave no quarter and made for the goal, whilst they tried the neater and spectacular game, pretty to watch, but did not score goals, and that is what counts. Hamilton and McGrae, for Everton, worked like Trojans, but could not get their mates going at all/ these two players would do justice to better teams. The goal scored by Stan Robinson was a beauty, as he ran half the length of the field, and gave no chance to Jones with his resultant shot.

EVERTON A v  LIVERPOOL A
The Liverpool Football Echo- Saturday, December 13, 1924
LIVERPOOL CHALLENGE CUP
At Townsend-lane. The opening exchanges were even. Shears made a poor attempt to score, the ball going wide. At the other end Cook sent over. McGrae opened Everton’s account after Connell had mulled a shot from Houghton. The slippery nature of the ground made it difficult for the players to get a firm hold of the ball, but in the circumstances they did well, especially when Charters went very near to equalising with an overhead kick, which just went wide. Harrington next tried a shot from long range, but Connell brought off a good save. Malone later sent in a good centre which gave Fairclough a good opening, but was badly mulled. Liverpool goal had a narrow escape when Barton struck the crossbar. Cook added a second goal for Everton. Just before the interval, Hughes after an individual run reduced the lead, and in the next minute the same player added a second goal.
Half-time; Everton A 2, Liverpool A 2.

EVERTON 1 WEST HAM UNITED 0
December 15 1924. The Daily Courier.
VALUABLE POINTS FOR EVERTON.
OFFSIDE TACTIS SPOIL GOODISON GAME.
By F. McN.
Although the form of Everton in their match with West ham was not at all convincing, the victory was welcome, particularly at this critical stage of the season. The points will encourage the club to greater efforts to get away from the lower steps of the ladder. It may be that this win will mark the turning point in the long lane of misfortune, which the club has traversed, in recent weeks. It was only the fourth victory in 19 games so that there is plenty of leeway to make up. Cock, who was brought into the side at the last moment as it were, scored the all-important goal, and he certainly has not recorded a more valuable point since he joined the club from Chelsea.
COCK DAZED.
Unfortunately Cock sustained a knock on the head which dazed him so badly that he walked aimlessly about for ten minutes before being assisted off the field. He almost collapsed when he reached the steps, but recovered later in the dressing room. The game was of a moderate character, the play being spoiled by infringement of the offside rule. The West Ham backs were adept as putting the opposition out of play. The referee, too, erred on several occasions when the players appeared, from the stand, to be onside. These continual breaks annoyed the 20,000 spectators, and if a further reason were needed why the offside rule should be altered, this display provided it. Until the rule is altered, however, players are quite within their rights, but it struck me that Henderson and Young were clever enough to dispense with such tactics. The pair played a sound game, and the West ham men must be given credit for using their brains. They seemed to tire near the end, however, and it was a misskick by Henderson, which enabled Cock, midway through the second half, to break through and score. Hampson, too, played a great part, but he was lucky not to be debited with further goals. Henderson headed out a ball from Troup when Hampson was out of his goal. This was indeed a lucky escape. The West ham forwards were clever without finishing, and on the whole Harland had a quiet afternoon. Kay was a sound pivot, and Bishop a splendid wing half.
STRONG PIVOT.
The Everton backs did well, McDonald dashing into the fray with gusto, and though injured remained to finish strongly. David Reid rendered the defence valuable assistance's. He is a strong attacking half as well as reliable defender. Peacock played an improved game, but the forwards as a line were not convincing. Of course the slippery turf handicapped the men, and scoring chances were missed, the shooting for the most part being badly directed. Still, the day altogether was not conductive to accurate footwork. Williams who deputised for Irvine, was a worker without applying the finishing touch with his old skill, and Chedgzoy was the best man on the line. Teams: - Everton: - Harland, goal, McDonald, and Livingstone, backs, Peacock, Reid and Hart (captain), half-backs, Chedgzoy, Williams, Cock, Chadwick, and Troup, forwards. West Ham United: - Hampson, goals, Henderson, and Young, backs, Bishop, Kay, and Cadwell, half-backs Yews, Jennings, Watson, Williams, and Ruffell, forwards.

MANCHESTER CITY RESERVES 1 EVERTON RESERVES 0
December 15 1924. The Liverpool Daily Post and Mercury.
CENTRAL LEAGUE
Max Woosnan, the Corinthians appeared at centre-half for the City. Everton, who had Bain at centre half and Green at centre-forward, played clever football, but lacked shooting power. Their inside forwards tried to walk the ball into the net, but these proved bad tactics in the heavy going and against too such backs as Thompson and Calderwood. Bain played hard and was responsible for the best attempts to defeat Goodchild in the City goal, Raitt was the better back, but incurred the ire of the crowd by a flagrant foul on Daniels, the City centre-forward, in the second half. The only goal of the match was scored after thirty-five minute's play, Daniels taking a forward pass from Woosnam in his stride and defeating Kendall with a shot in the corner of the net.

EVERTON IN AN OFF-SIDE AVALANCHE
Athletic News- Monday December 15 1924
EVERTON 1 WEST HAM UNITED 0
By Ivan Sharpe
It was cold. It was wet and cheerless. The ground was a mass of slippery mud; the ball a lump of grease. It bounded away from the player’s toe; often went where it liked. But the elements did not win the battle for points at Everton-the whistle won. The time was called by the offside experts. So they are glibly called. Is it expert? The back joins the half-backs and shouts. If the legislators are content to call it subtle football, the public must grin and bear it. Some fifteen thousand people -loyalists of Everton in the hour of disappointment and danger- suffered it at Goodison Park, but not in silence. They condemned the tactics of the West ham defence and they criticised the decisions of the referee. This is wrong, of course, but human. When the whistle sounds 41 times for off-side -for forty-one interruptions of attack on top of the many inevitable stoppages of play- the patience of the average football followers is overtaxed. Occasionally the referee was wrong- who could give 41 off-side decisions in 90 minutes and fail to make an error? Occasionally the forwards were to blame. But the one clear fact that emerged was that as Henderson, West Ham’s right full-back persistently took up the position of a fourth half-back experienced forwards like those of Everton were continually snared and stranded. Five minutes from the end John Sharp, once the outside right of Everton and England, sent along a message. It contained “the score”: Everton 29, West Ham 10.” Two more interruptions of home attacks made the totals; Everton 31, United 10. There was a footnote about the death-knell of the present law, but we will leave it at that. Everton won and earned the success. The offside tactics were not defeated- far from it-but they did not emerge triumphant. They merely marred the game.
FITS AND STARTS
The victory is their first in seven games, but I would not like to say that Everton are now on the road to recovery. They played a better game on the whole, than their opponents, but it was a game in which the course of true football was never allowed to run far. The whistle would intervene; “Stop! Start again!” And, as the ball was treacherous and difficult to control, it was a match of fits and starts, a case of struggling on and hoping for the best.  I would not care to estimate the true merits of any player in a helter-skelter such as this. Collectively, Everton usually had the advantage. After 18 minutes Cock headed an artistic goal with a flick as pretty as the student of football could ask. But he was off-side. Then Troup kicked above a ball from Chedgzoy- one of a series of delightfully-delivered centres that marked a man with a sure touch. Next Cock shot wide- a fine flash-and later blundered when Williams sent him through “all on his own,” as they say on the terraces. Another centre that surely the accurate foot of Chedgzoy alone could have delivered from a position of such difficulty, and Hampson was drawn out of goal, to be tricked by Troup, who shot for the empty goal. The head of Henderson, however, barred the way. West Ham had been busy between times, blazing away, according to plan, it seemed, at every opportunity. But Everton should have been ahead at half-time. Came the second half and a miss by Everton’s Williams, who, like Troup, kicked air for ball. Then Watson had a chance, like that of Cock, but dallied and went down to a charge when he should have shot without pause. Much effort, few scares for the goalkeepers-until the grease deceived Henderson. The ball shot past him and COCK raced clear for goal, shooting through as Hampson advanced. The goalkeeper was late in falling when seeking to smother the shot, but faced a pretty hopeless prospect, and for the defeat could not be blamed.
EARNEST CHEDGZOY
These were the principal incidents of a match bright in patches, but drab on the whole. Everton earned precious points. McBain and Irvine were absent, but they struggled through. I liked no man quite so much as Chedgzoy, who played very much for his side, and, without falling a victim to over-anxiety, showed quite clearly that the position of the club called for a special effort. Neither was Troup, at outside left, ever really held. He was trapped like the rest, but on the wings Everton have little cause for concern. At inside forward the artistry we have come to expect at Everton was absent. Neither was there much power in marksmanship. At half-back the strength was on the wings, and, although Reid managed to subdue Victor Watson, the touch of McBain was missed. The much-criticised full-backs came through with credit, so that Harland had not many troubles. Everton overcame the day’s many difficulties well enough to win. Their display was not of the high, if unsuccessful, standard they have set, but, as I have said, it was not an afternoon for fault-finding. Temporarily, the club could be content. Similarly, the only growl coming concerning West Ham is on the score of offside play, which was too persistent to be pleasant. They were game to a man, and they contested the issue under dreary conditions to the closing minute of the match. In defence they were spirited and stubborn, Hampson’s work, on the whole, being satisfactory, and Henderson and Young staunchly guarding the goal. Henderson made timely interventions, so that one regretted the more that he preferred the company of his half-backs. A question of wits, he will call it, and so it may be, but it spoils sport. The half-backs were toilers all, with Bishop capable of remarkably good recoveries, but of the forwards little that was really impressive was seen. They played a hard, persistent, strenuous game, without being able to shake off the Everton half-backs’ challenge. I do not care to single out a man in the line. For that ,matter there were few individuals who came to prominence, apart from an overworked referee. Everton.- Harland; McDonald, Livingstone; Peacock, Reid, Hart (Captain); Chedgzoy, Williams, Cock, Chadwick, and Troup. West Ham United.- Hampson; Henderson, Young; Bishop, kay, Cadwell; Yews, Jennings, Watson, Williams, and Ruffell.
Referee; H. Hopkinson, Rochdale.

EVERTON HAVE AN UPWARD GLANCE
Liverpool Echo - Monday 15 December 1924
Bee’s Notes
It was a dismal, dirty day, but it brought some light into dark places. First of all it brought me into touch with a regular follower of Everton who, by a chance meeting at dinner, told me things I could never have hoped to discover by other means. “Strange bed-fellows” is the subject of an old stage; we shall have to add “Strange dinner-table topics” if Saturday’s example goes further! Often I am asked how I get my news, and I reply “Accidentally.” Saturday’s was another case in point. I hope to meet the lady and gentleman again! Another light on a dark subject was the win for Everton. It was not conclusive, but it counted, and as we had not experienced such a pleasure since October 29, it was a welcome turn in the affairs of men who have been buffeted about by ill-fortune. Jim Broad and Neil McBain looked on and looked seedy. Davie Reed, I thought, played particularly he has been out of the game some weeks through a septic foot. Irvine’s deputy was Williams, who has not got the strength of direction or foot that he showed two years ago, try he never so hard. Then Cock got the goal and a nasty bump at the back of the neck. Add to the misfortunes the injury which Jock McDonald sustained when he covered up Watson, just as that good centre was making the first goal of the match, and you see that misfortune chased Everton all through, there was a better understanding in defence, and McDonald inspired by the very nature of his work. The club have no netter back at the moment, and he is revelling in hard labour.
HAMPSON AND OTHERS
We were much interested, if not unduly impressed, by young schoolboy Williams, of the Hammers side. He is small, canny, and possibly would be conclusive if his partner, Ruffell, had found his game, but the little winger was no good on the soft turf. West Ham have the team-spirit all right judged by Saturday’s display. They fell into each other’s positions with ease, and when Hampson, the goalkeeper, took a risk, there was always someone to carry out his work, notably Bishop when he stayed Troup’s direct shot. But Hampson cannot go on all times making these daring runout efforts, and there won’t always be a Bishop in pawn at the critical moment. The team-spirit was made more patent when the side adopted the offside-throw. They did it in unmistakable manner and many a time an alleged slow member of the Everton side was offside through being too quick into his stride. There were many cases of offside created through the man with the ball not making a quick pass upward or across. Thus the companion forward had gone ahead in anticipation and he had to he pulled back.
WATSON’S COMNE-BACK
It was plain to the verist novice that Victor Watson was back to his old-style form. He had precious few chances, yet his work was always of the dangerous order, and Jennings alongside him was an astute worker, and a man who troubled Harland not a bit by his efforts to score with a shot from a fair distance. It is odd that on such a heavy place of turf and with a wet ball players did not chance their foot more readily. A mistake by a back or a goalkeeper could be excused on such a day; yet there was not an undue number of efforts from long range. Watson and Jennings, supported well, would be a hot line to deal with, and it redounds to the credit of the men concerned that the two dangerous men did no damage. West Ham may not go far in the Cup-ties because the forward line is not very big, and the wing men were not what one expected after reading the glowing accounts about Yews and Ruffell. I began to wonder whether Yews had done anything else except provide the yarn “Yew’s done!” He must have done better in home gallops to have got the rather big name that has been printed for him in London. It was clean, hard football throughout, and if not exactly tasty to the local folk owing to the offside decisions, it was certainly an open game. In the first half Chedgzoy played with a strength of will and surety of centre that Everton should have taken toll of the defence. Later, with positional changes, Chedgzoy did not come so much in the picture, and it was then that Williams leapt forward and once drifted to inside left, his old spot! Let us hope that the road has been made clear for Everton by this victory and that with cup-ties coming on the side will continue to grow in strength and gather in much-needed points.
CORRECTED
A large number of correspondents have written to correct the Everton-Sunderland answer. One of the best is from P.C., Newlands, who encloses a programme for the season showing Everton winning 7-1 on September 30, 1894.
“True Blue” recalls that Everton scored 7 against Sunderland at Goodison park in 1913-14 when Bobby Parker helped himself to 4. He adds;- “I think Clennell got 2, and I think Chedgzoy got the other. The match followed Everton’s away victory over Sheffield Wednesday, when Everton won 4-0, parker scoring on each occasion.”
Watson adds;- “I have distinct recollections of them winning by 7-1 about 1914, November. Sunderland gave Boe his first trial in goal.
“Everblue” sends this.- In the season 1914-15, Everton beat Sunderland 7-1, at Goodison Park. Half-time score 5-0 and for about twenty minutes in the second half Sunderland played delightful football, such as we have been treated to by Everton during the last two seasons.

F.A. CUP DRAW
Liverpool Echo - Monday 15 December 1924
Many will be pleased to see that Everton are pitted against a First Division side, for they have had a nasty habit of falling when they have bene brought up against “unknown quality.” Burnley will be a severe test; but there is no reason why Everton should not succeed, if they will buckle in and shoot.

BLUES' TEAM TO MEET SHEFFIELD U.
December 17, 1924. The Daily Courier.
IRVINE INCLUDED AT INSIDE RIGHT.
By S.H.H.
Everton have a stiff hurdle to negotiate at Sheffield on Saturday. The United like the Blues, are in a position in the table that demands drastic measures if they are to get away from the bottom and for that reason they can be rended upon to strain every nerve to secure the points. Everton last week broke the ice of adversity, and are looking forward with confidence to their visit to the cutlery centre. One change has been made in the side that beat West ham United. Irvine taking his position in the attack, Broad is fit again, and he will lead the Reserves teams. Teams: - Harland, McDonald, and Livingstone; Peacock, Reid, Hart; Chedgzoy, Irvine, Cock, Chadwick, and Troup. Reserves team against bury at Goodison Park; kick off 2.15: - Kendall; Glover, and Kerr; Brown, Bain, Virr; Parry, Hargreaves, Broad, Williams, and Forbes.

EVERTON’S BIG TASK
Liverpool Echo - Wednesday 17 December 1924
Bee’s Notes
Everton go to Sheffield United’s ground and know they have a rough task on hand. The directors met yesterday and picked Irvine again as inside-right, Reid continuing at centre half-back, and Cock being well- I saw him stepping it out sharply this morning-goes in at centre. I had a chat with Hunter Hart yesterday, and the Everton captain said, “We do not need telling that we are not playing well, and we don’t desire to plead injuries-although our big list warrants is in so doing. However, I feel sure the turn has come and that we shall now begin to move up.” I wished him well on my own and on your behalf. Hart is a very conscientious player, captain and man-9n-general, and naturally the whole side has been cut-up by reason of the lack of success. The beginning of the season was so bright; the actuality was so black! However, one hopes that many victories will be recorded in the remaining months of the fast-moving season.
The team is;
Harland; McDonald, Livingstone; Peacock, Reid, Hart; Chedgzoy, Irvine, Cock, Chadwick, Troup.
The Reserves will have Bury Reserves as visitors in the Central League match at Goodison and the side will be;-
Kendall; Glover, Kerr; Brown, Bain, Virr; Parry, Hargreaves, Broad, Williams, Forbes.
EVIDENCE.
Mr. H.P. Craig-McFeely sends the following instructive letter from Woolton;
As a regular reader of your “Echo” notes and a spectator at the “ball-game” at Goodison Park, and having read a good deal lately concerning the present-day one-back game craze (condemned in some quarters) the following may interest you; in the second half a to-day’s game I kept “tract” (count) of the number of offside decisions (owing to one-back game, exploited so successfully by the West Ham right full back-to the disgust of the crowd) against Everton; these numbered sixteen (including eight prior to the scoring of the only goal). At one period during the first half of the game I counted twelve offside decisions against the “Blues.” I think there were during the latter half of the game five offside decisions against West ham. It was quite apparent that, in addition, on several occasions, the Everton forwards “pulled up” expecting to hear the offside whistle. It would be interesting to know the actual time taken up by offside decisions, e.g., until the ball is in play again. When a “full back off-side specialist” exploits this. One, of course, realises that clever forwards should be able to “thwart” this method of stopping attackers. I am merely giving you the figures overleaf in case you are interested in the “one-back game controversy.” Personally, I consider that spectators are quite justified in “being” in such cases. My attendances at Goodison are unfortunately rare; otherwise I would endeavour to note the actual time in the course of ninety minutes wasted by off-side decisions, “touch,” &c. I prefer to watch a Canadian or American baseball game (having resided in Canada) instead of the “k McCracken” football methods so often practised nowadays.

COUNTY COMBINATION
December 18, 1924. The Liverpool Football Echo
Everton Troubled at the Poulton Ground
Everton had to return home from Poulton Rovers ground minus two points. This ground is the minimum size, and is a problem to the visitors every Saturday, and I can understand it from my own experience many years ago on the ground of the old team dead and gone. Aigburth Vale.” Players do not adapt themselves to the conditions prevailing, consequently the home team get going long before their visitors. On such grounds the game is to sling the ball from wing to wing or quick about passing, constantly on the move in triangular form. But no visitors must play just as if they were on a large ground, the passing being too strong; result, out of play and nothing gained. The difference between the two teams on Saturday was the Everton lads playing against a robust side, who gave no quarter and made for the goal, whilst they tried the neater and spectator game, pretty to watch, but did not score goals, and that is what counts. Hamilton and McCrae, for Everton, worked like Trojans, but could not get their mates going at all. These two players would do justice to better teams. By Stan Robinson was a beauty, as he ran half the length of the field, and gave no chance to Jones with his resultant shot.

ADVANCE, EVERTON!
The Liverpool Echo- Friday, December 18, 1924
Bee’s Notes
This headline is suggestive. It may be proved wrong to-morrow when the “Football Echo” shines its light on hard facts, but it is the fact that Everton have something like their normal team together for to-morrow’s game at the Lane, and they, and we, hope that they will surprise the United, who until they beat Bolton, were in a sad way for defenders. The signing of Birks and others brought the eleven relief, and Bolton people declared to me that the United looked to be the best and brightest side in the tournament. But it so happened that all the Bolton team went off their game on the same day, so that United looked better than they were. We do not forget their game at Anfield, where there were many holes in the defence. The defending portions of the United side have long since been poor, and I do not see that they have made so much improvement since their visit here as to suggest a victory to the home side. What does, and will, help the United is the fact that Bramall-lane is now at its worst-which means there is no grass; there is a clumpy sort of mud that will stick to anything, and United know its every “suck” and reveal in this going. Everton, with Irvine back as partner to Chedgzoy, and with all the side having gained some refreshing confidence, will put up a bold show, and I am confident. These are the sides;-
Everton; Harland; Livingstone, McDonald; Peacock, Reid, Hart; Chedgzoy, Irvine, Cock, Chadwick, Troup. Sheffield United; Sutcliffe; Cook, Milton; Longworth, Waugh, Green; Partridge, Sampey, Johnson, Gillespie, Tunstall.

WELL-MATCHED SIDES.
December 20, 1924. The Daily Courier.
VALUE OF AN EARLY GOAL AT BRAMALL-LANE.
Everton and Sheffield United find themselves in uncomfortable positions in the League table, so much so that today's meeting at Bramell-lane is fought with more than ordinary interest. Both clubs are able to field what are looked upon as their best elevens, for in the case of Everton Irvine is able to resume as partner to Chedgzoy, while the United have Birks once more at left full back. When one looks at the composition of the two forced lines, it seems remarkable that Everton and Sheffield United should be in the last four in the table. Yet such is the case. An early goal will mean much to either side for it will play a big part in the subsequent movements of the sides. Everton in their previous games have shown a readiness to get off the mark quickly, and I am hoping they will do so today. If they do, I think they will improve their position. After the game the players go to West Kirby in preparation for the strenuous Christmas programme.

Bain, not Mcßain.
Derby Daily Telegraph - Saturday 20 December 1924
Neil McBain the noted Everton centre-half, has been out of the game for a fortnight, and most people who have noticed that Bain was playing at centre-half would have accounted it a slight newspaper slip. However, the fact is that young David Bain, who went to Goodison from Old Trafford last summer asa  understudy Jack Cock at centre-forward, has been tried with success at centre-half. His elder brother plays that at Old Trafford.

SHEFFIELD UNITED 1 EVERTON 1
December 22, 1924. The Daily Courier.
EVERTON BRING HOME A POINT.
HARLAND SAVES A PENALTY KICK.
By S.H.H.
Everton secured a point at Bramell-lane, though on the run of the play they should have had both. However, half a loaf is better than no bread, especially on your opponent's ground. Considering the Blues, found themselves a goal down at the end of five minutes, and were thus early working against odds, Everton can be considered to have done remarkably well in holding their own.
THE GOALS.
The goal was got Johnson, following a free kick given against hart, the United centre heading through, while Everton got on terms some 15 minutes after the interval, when Troup defeated Sutcliffe, with a cross drive that went under the keeper's body. Just previously the latter had kept out a similar drive. Taking the game on the whole, however, it cannot be described otherwise than scrappy, for both sides were lacking in the finer points. Even so, the play was interesting, and when Waugh the United centre-half, ricked his neck and had to leave the field in the second half Everton took command. But Sutcliffe was then seen at his best, and he twice saved while lying on the ground, and on another occasion Troup had paved the way for a clear run down the middle the keeper showed excellent judgement in coming out to Cock. Had to stayed in his goal he would have been beaten. As it was he was able to hold the Everton man's drive. Near the close Sheffield had a chance of taking both points, for Johnson was through the defence when Peacock raced back, and in going for the ball brought the centre down. Mr. Mason had no hesitation in giving a penalty kick , but Patridge could do no more than shoot straight at Harland, and Everton breathed freely once again.
SHADOWS OF THE PAST.
Coming to the players Tunstall and Gillespie are but a shadow of their former selves, and the only man forward that lived up to reputation was Johnson. Sampey and Partridge did well up to Waugh's injury, but when the former dropped back the effectiveness of the right wing vanished. Waugh was the best of the halves, keeping a watchful eye on Cock, while further behind Sutcliff kept an excellent goal. On the Everton side the defence was excellent but the halves and forward made the mistake of crowding each other, and often two or more were going for the ball at the same time. This was due largely to over anxiousness, as was apparent after Troup's goal, for the forwards played more openly. It was then that they looked like taking the spoils, and during the last ten minutes it was one bombardment of the Sheffield goal. The Everton team on returning went into special training at Hewall in order to fit them for their strenuous Christmas programme. Teams: - Sheffield United: - Sutcliffe, goal, Cook, and Birks, backs, Longsworth, Waugh, and Green half-backs, Partridge, Sampeys, Johnson, Gillespie, and Turnbull, forwards. Everton: - Harland, goal, McDonald, and Livingstone, backs, Peacock, Reid, and Hart (captain), half-backs, Chedgzoy, Irvine, Cock, Chadwick, and Troup, forwards. Referee Mr. H. Mason.

EVERTON RESERVES 3 BURY RESERVES 0
December 20, 1924. The Daily Courier.
CENTRAL LEAGUE
Everton gave one of the their best displays on Saturday. Wall was in great form, and from his pass Broad had little difficulty in opening the score. The second goal was also scored by Broad after Harrison had parried a drive from Wall. Midway in the second half Williams fastened on a pass by Winn and ran through to score a brilliant goal. Bury spoiled clever play in the open by faulty finishing. Glover and Kerr were fine backs. Everton: - Kendall, goal, Glover and Kerr, backs, Brown, Bain, and Virr, half-backs, Parry, Hargreaves, Broad, Williams, and Forbes, forwards .

UNITED WANT A PENALTY KING
Star Green 'un - Saturday 20 December 1924
PRECIOUS HOME POINT DROPPED TO EVERTON THROUGH ANOTHER “SPOT” FAILURE
INJURY TO WAUGH CAUSES A PROBLEM
SHEFFIELD UNITED 1 EVERTON 1
By Free Lance.
Everton, who were visitors to Bramall Lane, this afternoon, had only won one match since October, and they and Sheffield United had every cause to realise the importance of being earnest in this critical encounter. Both teams were urgently in need of points. Everton appear to have been unfortunate in the matter of goalkeeping, as were United early in the season, but the visitors had plenty of talent in to-day’s eleven, which included five International players in Harland and Irvine (Ireland), Troup (Scotland), and Chedgzoy and Cock (England). For them, Reid played at centre half-back, vice McBain, who is ill, while Birks returned to the United back division. In the corresponding match last season Everton were beaten by 4-0. The weather was fine, though dull, when the teams lined up as follows;- Sheffield United;- Sutcliffe; Cook and Birks; Longworth, Waugh and Green; Partridge, Sampy, Johnson, Gillespie, and Tunstall. Everton.- Harland; McDonald, and Livingstone; Peacock, Reid, and Hart (Captain); Chedgzoy, Irvine, Cock, Chadwick, and Troup. Referee, Mr. H. Mason, (Birmingham). On account of the early kick off the crowd was on the small side. Everton kicked off and were rather taken aback by the United who scored after three minutes’ play. There had been considerable fencing, and then United were awarded a free-kick outside the penalty area. The Everton men drew back and covered the goal, but Sampy, using his headpiece instead of shooting for the goal, passed the ball out to Partridge, who was unguarded. The outside right put across a beautiful centre at his leisure, and JOHNSON placed the ball just inside the goal with a splendid header. Thereafter the Everton men pressed and their movements displayed good intentions, but the United half-backs and backs intervened, while Waugh and Green in particular were smart in anticipation.
BRAINY UNITED ATTACKS.
In the next advance Tunstall made a fine cross ground drive to Partridge who beat Livingstone and centred only for Reid to clear, United made several brainy attacks and one in particular was most praiseworthy, in which all the home forwards except Partridge took part. It ended in a weak shot by Sampy. Partridge put over a delightful first-time centre, the ball being thumped out by Harland as he was charged by Johnson. He lost the ball, but Sampy could not get it in. Everton were constantly on the move, and Chadwick had an opening. But shot wide. Troup came into the picture with a lot of pretty footwork, particularly as a half-back, but when he sought to advance Cook easily dispossessed him.
EXCITEMENT IN UNITED GOAL.
Most trouble to United came from Chedgzoy, who forced several corners off Birks. He placed these well, and there was always danger from them. Later, the English International delivered a magnificent long dropping shot, which Sutcliffe put over the bar for a corner. From this flag0kick Sutcliffe footed away weakly, for Cock to head towards the goal. On the goal line Birks coolly headed the ball away. Harland had to save another header from Johnson, following a centre from partridge. Then Chedgzoy trier another long shot, and later Chadwick was on the mark with a sound drive. The exchanges were pretty even, but there was greater virility in United’s attacks. The Sheffielders put in some long shots, notably from Gillespie and Tunstall.
ESCAPES AT EACH END
The home goal had two narrow escapes. First Troup got away from an offside position, and crossed the ball Chedgzoy passed to Irvine, who missed it and lost a grand opportunity. On the next occasion Cock charged Birks over, and Chadwick put the ball over. Cock missed a grand opportunity later, and though Troup returned the ball, Birks cleared. Towards the interval United provided the thrills. Partridge had taken Everton by surprise, but Harland bowled Johnson over in the nick of time. In another fierce assault Johnson miskicked, but Partridge blazed in a great shot. It was quite exciting hereabouts, with United on top. Half-time; Sheffield United 1, Everton 0
Restarting there would be about 16,000 people present. The most interesting items early on were a full-blooded rising shot from Gillespie, and a header from the same player. Harland capably dealt with both efforts. The next incident was a pretty run by Troup which, however, ended in smoke, so to speak. A second effort by Troup resulted in Cock heading past the post.
A “SWEVER” BEAT SUTCLIFFE.
Birks misjudged a long ball and it fell to the feet of Cock, who had only Sutcliffe to beat. But the goalkeeper ran out and saved splendidly-really good goalkeeping. After that United were on the warpath and there were exciting incidents. Partridge was prominent with a long run and shot, and Harland had to save from Tunstall, Partridge, and twice from Johnson, while Green was twice wide with great long drives. It was quick and hot work. Sutcliffe brilliantly pushed out a cross ground drive from TROUP, but after twelve minutes the Scottish outside-life, from long range, equalised the scores. The low ball which travelled fast swerved in its course, and this beat Sutcliffe.
WINGER’S GREAT SHOTS.
Tunstall was not up to his best form, but went away and struck the side net with a terrific shot. Mainly through Gillespie’s enterprise, United won a couple of corners, but they were of no avail. Everton got on top again and won two abortive corners. From the second, Troup, with a magnificent shot, hit the side net, the ball glancing off an Everton man. Waugh went off after twenty minutes, apparently hurt in the chest following a low tackle. Sampy dropped to centre half-back. United revived a little, and Johnson headed wide from another pass by Partridge.
PARTRIDGE FAILS WITH PENALTY
Later the centre-forward was going through, when Peacock deliberately brought him down in the penalty area. The referee at once awarded a “spot-kick.” Gillespie called on Partridge to take the kick in view of Tunstall’s misadventures last week. Partridge, however, shot straight at the goalkeeper, who saved the ball waist high. Towards the end play deteriorated, United were at sixes and sevens. Sutcliffe saved from Hart, and later did very well to push out at the second attempt a fine cross drive from Chedgzoy. In the last few minutes it was the biggest wonder that Everton did not score.
Result; Sheffield United 1 Everton 1
COMMENTS ON THE GAME
The accident to Waugh seemed to upset United, they seemed to lose all their confidence, and in the later stages were over run by Everton. In short, United were lucky to get off with a point. It was the third penalty failure in succession and was, of course, another disturbing factor. In the first half and in the opening play of the United, United deserved their lead, for they had more sting about them. Afterwards Everton improved and Troup, who had done nothing in the first half, revealed fine power with his shooting, while Chedgzoy was a dangerous man all the time and played splendidly. So far as tactics and ball control were concerned, Everton were superior. Sutcliffe kept a very fine goal and was applauded as he came off the field. Birks was not a sound back, and was not at all sure in his tackling and kicking to-day. There was little amiss with the half-backs, but Tunstall has lost all his dash and confidence and was weak. Partridge shone, Johnson was very thrustful, but unlucky in his finishing. Gillespie did his best, but he suffered owing to the cloud under which Tunstall appears to be. Everton are a very capable team, but their weakness is near goal, for in the first half they had three golden opportunities which they should have utilised. What they need is fire.
MSUCLES BADLY BRUISED
WAUGH MAY BE OUT OF GAME FOR SAME TIME.
It appears that Waugh had no bones broken, but the muscles at the back of his neck were very badly bruised, and the club doctor states that he may be out of the game some time. After the match our representative was told that Waugh has sprung a muscle at the back of the neck and shoulder, and it is one of those instances when the recovery may be quick or take a long time. He is hardly able to move his head to one side, or the other. It was decided to send him home, and not to hospital.

EVERTON’S CASE
Liverpool Football Echo- Saturday, December 20, 1924
VISIT TO FAMOUS SHEFFIELD GROUND
UNITED’S FORM AT A GLANCE
F.E.H REPORTS ON HAPPENINGS AT BRAMALL LANE
Everton; Harland; McDonald, Livingstone; Peacock, Reid, Hart (Captain); Chedgzoy, Irvine, Cock, Chadwick, Troup. Sheffield United; Sutcliffe; Cook, Birks; Longworth, Waugh, Green; Partridge, Sampey, Johnson, Gillespie, Tunstall. Referee; Mr. H. Mason, of Birmingham.
Everton having broken the ice of defeat hoped to gather a point or two at Sheffield, Cock was able to play in spite of last week’s big blow on the neck, when he was so dazed that he did not know the name of the opposition side! Sheffield having beaten Bolton and having found Birks a big help, made no change. Everton to friend Tom Parr’s, Victoria Hotel, Heswell, to-night-and take their club with them. Sheffield won the toss, and Everton started in the face of the sun. they at once made play on the left, where the ball was swung across to Chedgzoy, who passed to Irvine, but the latter lost possession and Birks was able to clear. The visitors had all the better of the next exchanges, but Sheffield gradually moved down cleverly, and Hart, in trying to clear, handled the ball just outside the penalty area.
UNITED’S EARLY GOAL
Partridge put the ball nicely to the goalmouth and Johnson, seizing the opportunity, headed the ball into the net. This success came after five minutes’ play, and for some time afterwards play ruled in midfield. Everton were the first to make progress on the left, but Chadwick was just too slow, and a nice opening was lost. The home left wing was next in the picture with a pretty run, but Gillespie was smartly dispossessed by McDonald. Play continued to be pretty even, the half-back work of the forwards on both sides was, to say the least, erratic. Sheffield were the more dangerous and they had the ill-luck to miss another fine opportunity of adding to their lead, for after Partridge had beaten Hart the ball was luckily headed away by Reid. After a time, Everton once more made ground on the left and the ball was given to Cock, who put the leather just too far forward, and so enabled Sutcliffe to come out and clear. The visitors were now busy on both wings and shots were fired in by both Troup and Chedgzoy. Sheffield again got going, and Johnson was in the act of adding a second point when Harland cleared. There was a further spell of midfield work, and Everton got off smartly on the right, and Chedgzoy, getting the better of Green, put the ball to Irvine, who was stopped by Birks at the cost of a corner.
AN EXCITING CORNER KICK.
Almost immediately afterwards the Everton international winger forced another corner, and this led to some excitement. The danger was ultimately cleared, and United came down in combined order. Gillespie finished with a shot, which was cleared. So far the football had been interesting to watch, if not positively thrilling. The visitors showed cleverness up to a point, but the three inside men were very frequently found wanting. An aggressive movement initiated by Reid gave Chadwick a chance of shooting, but the effort came to nothing and once more the United right wing proved troublesome, but they were well held by Hart and Livingstone. It was not long before the wearers of the blue jerseys were on the go again, and Chedgzoy tested Sutcliffe with a warm handful, and a few moments later Irvine made rather a bad mess of a good opening. Tunstall made ground promisingly but Peacock successfully barred his progress, and when Gillespie came through he also was stalled off by the same player. Chedgzoy flashed down the wing and put the ball right across to Troup, who ought to have scored, when Birks, fortunately for Sheffield, intervened.
APPEAL FPOR PENALTY
Cock led a forward movement cleverly, but finished ineffectively. Cook clearing his lines with comparative ease. Another dash down on the part of the United forwards nearly brought disaster to the visitors, for Reid appeared to give a penalty, for which a strong appeal was made, but the referee would not allow the claim. Just before the interval Everton forced yet another corner on the right, and Sheffield responded with a tremendous breakaway, in which Johnson got clean through; but he was stopped at the critical moment by Harland who effected a brilliant save.
Halt-time -Sheffield United 1, Everton nil.
The first period had proved altogether of an even character, and taking a general view, Sheffield were rather lucky to find themselves leading at the interval, though they ought to have scored one when Johnson was frustrated, as I have already mentioned. The Everton halves had in the main good football, and the defence had been sound. There were 30,000 people present when play was resumed. Sheffield at once took up an aggressive attitude, but Livingstone checked them, and Everton returned the compliment with a breakaway on the part of Chadwick, who failed with a long, raking shot, which passed across the goalmouth.
SHUUTLE COCK
Cock tried to mixed matters with a strong individual effort, but his final shot was wrong, and when he came through again the home defenders were waiting for him. The centre-forward, however, persevered gallantly, and he put in a swift ground shot which the ‘keeper put straight back to him. Cock immediately tried another shot, but this time Sutcliffe got safely well away with it. At the other end United dangerous. Tunstall went clean through and put the ball to Johnson, who made a bad mess of the pass. Everton were soon on the run again, and this time they were distinctly out of luck, for Troup, beating all-comers, sent in a swift shot which passed the far post by a mere matter of inches.
EVERTON MAKE A DRAW
AN EARLY GOAL FOR THE UNITED
TROUP’S SPARKLING SHOT
The crowd had scarcely breathed a sigh of relief at this escape when the fair-haired little man, taking a centre from the right, scored with a beauty, which left Sutcliffe simply guessing. It was a fine effort on the part of the diminutive Everton winger, and was no more than the visitors deserved. They continued to play up with renewed vigour, and Troup and Cock were again prominent, the former forcing another couple of corners, which were cleared in scrambling fashion.
WAUGH RETIRES
Just before this Waugh left the field, for what reasons I cannot definitely say. He appeared to have been hurt in one of the bullies in front of the home goal. Sampey dropped into the centre-half position, and, in spite of their depleted ranks, the Sheffielders held their own against the not very brisk play of the Evertonians. They forced a corner on the right, which brought Harland out in order to clear from the ruck. A few moments later Johnson was pulled down in the penalty area, apparently by Reid. The referee allowed the appeal, and the spot kick was taken by Partridge. The latter drove straight at the Everton keeper, who saved the shot. Final; Sheffield United 1 Everton 1.

MRS. MAHON                                                                    
The Liverpool Football Echo- Saturday, December 20, 1924
Old-time followers of the Everton club will learn with regret of the death of Mrs. Mahon, widow of the late Mr. George Mahon, one of the pioneers of the Everton club. By a strange coincidence it was just sixteen years ago that Mr. Mahon died.

ANOTHER SIGNING
The Liverpool Football Echo- Saturday, December 20, 1924
Everton have signed on Hogan, of St. Edward’s Orphanage, and are said to be after Search if Bowring Athletic.

EVERTON RES v  BURY RES
The Liverpool Football Echo- Saturday, December 20, 1924
CENTRAL LEAGUE
At Goodison Park. Everton made one change, Wall playing for Hargreaves at inside right. Bury played Seymour at right full back in place of Morgan. Porter taking the place of Seymour at right half. The game opened in favour of Everton, who maintained a strong attack, Harrison, the Bury keeper, making two wonderful saves from Broad and Williams. Bury then attacked through the right wing, Robbie giving Hughes a good opening but Glover was in time to thwart the latter getting in his final shot. Kerr was very conspicuous in defence for Everton, many times checking the advances of the visitors’ right.
BROAD SCORES TWICE IN THREE MINUTES
Two goals came to Everton through good work chiefly by Wall, who cleverly manipulated the ball to give Broad the chances which he promptly accepted, the home centre forward scoring his two goals inside three minutes. Everton were undoubtedly the superior side, and fully deserved their lead. Bury improved, but Kendall was rarely troubled, the only difficult shot he had to contend with coming through Hughes. Broad was prominent with his first-time shots, and was well applauded. Everton continued to have most of the attack up to the interval.
Half-time; Everton Reserves 2, Bury Reserve 0
In the second half Williams scored a third goal for Everton after a fine solo run. Towards the finish of the game Bury played a very improved game. Final. Everton res 3, Bury Res 0

UNITED’S MISFORTUNES
Sheffield Daily Telegraph - Monday 22 December 1924
ANOTHER PENALTY FAILURE AND WAUGH HURT
Since August, Sheffield United have travelled from one misfortune to another. Glad to have Birks back on duty for the match against Everton, at Bramall Lane, upon recovery from an injury, they received yet another blow. Waugh, in the course of the game, pulled a muscle at the back of the neck and shoulder and possibly may be unable to play for some time. The mishap occurred midway through the second half, and it had such a weakening influence on the Sheffield team that a quarter of an hour from the end it was a disorganised and disheartened brigade. Indeed, so marked was the decline that the side bordered on a collapse and United were fortunate to escape disaster. They managed to draw by 1-1. The club must have been thankful for that one point, but United really ought to have consolidated a leading position before the interval, when they led by a goal finely headed by Johnson three minutes after the start. They were too headstrong in finishing, however. Again they had an opportunity to take the lead a second time after Troup’s equalising goal, shot 12 minutes after the interval. They were awarded a penalty kick for a foul committed on Johnson, who was brought down in the penalty area by Peacock as he was darting through. There were 13 minutes to go. Recollecting Tunstall’s unhappy experience at Meadow Lane, where he failed to score from two penalty kicks, Gillespie called on partridge to take this third penalty. To their dismay, Partridge failed. He hit the ball hard enough, but straight at the goalkeeper, who easily held it and cleared.
DISQUIETING FEATURES.
The game contained plenty of entertaining passages, though only few may have been of a pulsating character. Still, there were disquieting features from the Sheffield aspect. One may ignore Everton’s pronounced superiority after Waugh’s injury; nevertheless, there remains the fact that Tunstall was but a shadow of his real self. It was stated after the match that he had slightly strained a foot early on, which statement must be borne in mind; yet, it does not wholly dismiss the impression that the winger was much below form and out of confidence. Most men, of course, have these chastening periods. Then, in finishing work, though for 55 minutes the United’s attack was better than Everton’s because it possessed a stronger fibre, a lot of the energy ran to waste through youthful anxiety or over-eagerness. This was shown once when Sampy and Johnson charged into each other. Furthermore Green and Birks were never able to get Chedgzoy under their thumb. The back is said to have felt the ache of his old injury. At all events, he was uncertain in his kicking, and sought the shortest route to safely. The corner-kicks yielded on this wing were numerous and the surprising thing was that they proved to be barren. However, Birks saved a certain goal by heading out an effort by Cock, when Sutcliffe had failed to fist away properly from one of these flag kicks.
WHAT EVERTON LACKED.
Everton played better football than their position their attacks were open and were often well constructed. The point of attack was frequently quickly changed, and the ball was kept on the ground. What they stood in need of was a bit of United’s dash and fire at the end. They only provided odd sparks and missed several scoring chances. For a long time Everton’s inside men were weak near the goal and when circumstances veered in their favour Sutcliffe foiled them, save when Troup equalised with a stinging ground drive. Not over-much was seen of the Scotsman until the second half, when he blossomed out and shot with rare power. Chedgzoy was consistently good and dangerous throughout and very rarely wasted a ball. He was always on the goal or thereabouts with his efforts. Harland was reliable in goal, but the defence was inconsistent. For United, Sutcliffe kept a very good goal. Possibly, he was a trifle late in getting down to Troup’s shot which scored, but a similar drive from the same man just before was brilliantly turned away. Cook and Longworth harmonised effectively until after the interval, when they allowed Troup too much latitude. Waugh played splendidly until he was hurt. Forward, Partridge shone on the wing and his centre which led to Johnson’s goal was excellent, Sampy’s free kick to him was an inspiration. Gillespie was always enterprising and planning, but a lot of his labour was lost.

HOPE FOR EVERTON
Athletic News - Monday 22 December 1924
SURVIVAL OF THE BEST AT SHEFFIELD
UNITS- NOT UNITED
SHEFFIELD UNITED 1 EVERTON 1
By Impressionist.
In these days of football developed into a mechanical driving force, as a contrast to the times when scheming and constructive instincts counted for something, there has not been a place for the maintenance of Everton’s traditional art and craft. This much can be gathered from the League tables. It seems that Everton are condemned to the mode of the era; not utterly, I hope. The germs of much expediency, however, was clear in the opening movements at Bramall-lane. They were determined to adopt the open game- a hackneyed term which covers a multitude of sins so long as full speed ahead is conducive to goals. It was Sheffield United’s style, and they revealed that long kicking and far-flung hazards at combination can be a distressing spectacle. The real football, without logical issues, has its irritations, but there are compensating pleasures. The effort not meet the United on terms did not suit Everton. The sought remedy was worse than the disease; yet a touch of the craftsman glinted here and there. Latterly they took command, blossoming to a most fruitful and alluring cohort. For this much relief much thanks. It raised the proceedings from abysmal depths. The transformation coincided with the equalising goal, ten minutes after the resumption. It is true that, directly afterwards, the stalwart in United’s defence, and the motive towards attack, Waugh, badly wrenched his neck muscles and did not take any further part. This misfortune for one side did not discount the arresting re-animation of the other. It was of their own making.
THE INSPIRATION.
A weight of suspense was lifted by that goal. Everton became a team of cultured variants, one moments in subtle accord or individual manoeuvre; the next creating a delightful diversion. Undoubtedly they can deliver the football to take them out of danger. One renewed source of conviction arose from the defence which now played the part-not as I saw the weaklings against Huddersfield. Admitting the difference in the opposition the measures were better. Such wasted energy and pursuit of the obvious-stereotyped drives to the wings, anticipated by the Everton half-backs as they were attempted -as embodied in the Sheffield forwards, I have not seen for some time. It was just sheer futility. Johnson was the exception. He scored the opening goal and was the only one capable of adding thereto. Partridge was provided with the certainty as near as one can visualise it- in a penalty kick. This, awarded through an infringement by Peacock, with the teams on terms, was a match-winning concession. Recollecting that he failed twice last week, in these circumstances Tunstall evidently dare not trust himself. So Partridge unerringly put the ball into Harland’s arms. But defeat would have been an injustice to Everton. They lost a goal within four minutes, for while they were shaping to cover up, against a free kick, Sampy surprised with a pass out to Partridge whose centre JOHNSON neatly headed through. Even so the United forwards reminded one of jacks-in-the-box, craning to head the ball, which persistently they put in the air. The half-backs were not entirely to blame. Thrust without thought did not make the same impression as Everton’s attack, from whence came a hanging shot by Chedgzoy which Sutcliffe easily turned over. Then Sutcliffe was out of his goal and Birks stepped beneath the bar to avert disaster. Several times Johnson, to whom following up on the vaguest chance was second mature, almost burst through.
THE GREAT ASSERTION.
A response to this medley was that the Everton right wing generated a progressive power that conveyed itself to the whole of the line. Sutcliffe twice stood splendidly in the breach, but after turning one shot by TROUP just to safety, another which he seemed to have covered passed beneath him to the net. United’s defenders, all awry after Waugh’s departure, were fortunate to escape downfall in the subsequent assault of craft and harmony. Even Birks faltered from being a back rich in resource for timing his advances, and for placing himself shrewdly to use either foot. Milton was strong in support of Longworth, who wandered rather, and was most valuable when the forces were depleted. The half-backs’ play was always in patches, with Waugh the asset. On their wings Everton reduced Green and Longworth almost to impotency, especially Chedgzoy, with deceptive feint, and versatile ball play he was eventually centring and shooting almost at will. Then Irvine put his foot dexterity to more profitable use than formerly has been the case, and Troup and Chadwick became a partnership. Chadwick was not happy in his shooting. The ball came too often to his wrong foot. Cock gave a lead from the first, and was a strong link when the attack came into perfect concert. The Sheffield forward bore no comparison. Gillespie was ever industrious, but Tunstall, manifestly lacking in confidence, hardly did a thing right. Among Everton’s accomplished half-backs, the thoroughness of Reid in the centre set off the subtleties of Hart and Peacock. Livingstone was unobtrusive, yet dominating in the rear, where McDonald was something like the back one knew, while Harland contributed to the revived solidity. Sheffield United;- Sutcliffe; Cook, Birks; Longworth, Waugh, Green; Partridge, Sampy (.,), Johnson, Gillespie, and Tunstall. Everton.- Harland; McDonald, Livingstone; Peacock, Reid, Hart (Captain); Chedgzoy, Irvine, Cock, Chadwick and Troup. Referee; H. Mason, Birmingham.

MY THRONE IN IRELAND
Athletic News - Monday 22 December 1924
HEROES & HUMOURS OF HIBERNIA
A HULLALABALOO
By Tityrus
So much is heard of the distressful country, of the woes of Ireland, its political issues, and its hurly-burly and faction fights that it is a genuine surprise to the stranger to find so many Irish people, in their own land, full of hospitality and cheerfulness. There is ever a welcome for English sportsman in Erin’s Isle. Naturally one’s feelings respond to experiences. These are the conclusions which are warranted by the receptions invariably accorded to me after crossing the dark and stormy waters between Holyhead and Dublin, Fleetwood and Belfast. Whatever be the woes of Ireland sport is the panacea which makes life not only endurable but bright and comfortable. Sports is a bond of union and produces a brotherhood on all the earth. Possibly this is why the welcome given to all football folk is so cordial on the other side of the Channel. They meet the boat and they line the quayside to say au revoir. The difficulty is to dodge their attentions which are so well meant but are often so embarrassing. For instance, long years ago on the Distillery ground I found that in the Press Box they had raised the seat for me and placed a specially elevated desk. Both were covered with crimson drugget. It was evident that the gentlemen in charge of the match were determined that I should be able to see the game. I once complained that this was not possible.
An Irishman said; “Faith, he said he couldn’t see and he wrote two columns. We’ll just build the little beggar a throne and watch how much more he’ll spin out about the game.” Now thrones are embarrassing and so is so much prominence. Folk laughed, and I laughed with them. There was nothing else to do unless you wanted to look a fool and be judged as hyper-sensitive. I took it all as a joke, and only last October at Windsor Park, Charles Watson, the kindly soul who is the secretary of the Irish Football Association, had put me a raised desk and seat. Most of my friends do not realise that I am as long in the back as the majority. When I could not see the obstacle was not in me, but largely due to members of the Royal Irish Constabulary who always appeal to me as capable of lighting the tobacco in their cutty at any street lamp.
THE OLD LADY OF BELFAST.
People who have never seen you before are most lavish in hospitality. One morning many years ago Dr. Whitford, then the chairman of Everton, and himself a North of Ireland gentleman, told me that he was going out to lunch with a well-known magnate of Belfast, and asked me to join him. I demurred, as I did not know the people, and, of course, had not been invited by them. The doctor brushed the objection aside with his brusque geniality, for he concealed his kindness in this manner. I went, and found that I might have been a friend of the family for years. This was the occasion when the host and the doctor went into another room to take the wine of the country. I was left to talk to a dear old lady, and wondered what I could say that would be mutually interesting. At a venture I presumed that the dame did not take any interest in sports and pastimes. “But I do,” she replied, “a very great interest. You see I have sons who play Rugger, and I have a girl who plays hockey. I lobe them to play these games where the rules are rigidly observed. They have to learn that they can’t always win, and that they can’t always have their own way. That is a lesson in life that no one can be taught too early. I only wish their father had played games when he was young.” To this I made a discreet answer. This was a philosophic comment that one could not have anticipated, and, of course, one dared not laugh. One day I was on the top of Cave Hill, which affords a picturesque and rugged back ground to the enclosure of the Cliftonville Club. There I met some folk whom I had never set eyes on before, and this chance acquaintance ended in their pressing me to join them at the family table, where there was a rich repast followed by delightful music. Such an open-handed greeting to one whom they did not know appealed to me as remarkable, and I would like to take this, the only opportunity I have ever hand, of expressing not only my admiration of Irish character, but of the invariable kindness and courtesy of the officers of the Irish Football Association, whether in Dublin or Belfast.
“KNOCK ‘EM AND PICK ‘EM.”
On one of my very early visits I went out to Larne and met a man who was locally known as the King of Larne. He kept an hotel and provided the coaches which ran to Cushendall, and so on round the coast to Giant’s Causeway, and the majestic ruin of Dunluce Castle. I heard an irreverent Pat, fond of his joke, refer to him as “Knock ‘Em.” I inquired the reason. It was explained, for the truth of the story I cannot vouch, that he of Larne sold whisky that had its effect in a very potent way. Now on the other side of the Lough there was another Irish innkeeper of exactly the same surname, living at Bangor, and his whisky was a tonic, a superb pick-me-up. Thus the gentleman in Larne was dubbed “Knock ‘Em,” and his rival was called “Pick ‘Em.” Thus were these men of county Antrim and county Down distinguished in the vernacular. It was a pretty wit- and satire. I give it as a sample of what one meets on the countryside, but of its truth I cannot tell, as I never sampled the distillation on either side of this arm of the sea.
“CAN’T ALWAYS WIN.”
Mention of county Down calls to mind pleasant days at Newcastle where English teams have so often spent the interval between landing at Belfast and the commencement of the match on the Saturday. There we were taken and cast our tents for twenty-four hours under the cloud-capped summit of Slieve Donard, where the mountains of Mourne roll down to the sea- which is Dundrum Bay. These happy gathering of officials and players in this beautiful and exhilarating spot, and the occasional games of golf will never fade from memory. More particularly shall I recollect a game when Harry Chambers, of Liverpool, and myself were so unwise as to play Sam Wadsworth and Ted Taylor, of Huddersfield. The morning round finished all square, but in the afternoon self and Chambers were annilhilated. Some of the shots that England’s left-back, Wadsworth made were like the hands of the Heathen Chines- “frightful to see.” When he sunk his ball with a mashie shot from fifty yards I felt inclined to pack up and go home. Still, as the dame of Belfast said one “can’t always win.” I cheered and Chambers laughed, but Wadsworth only smiled as if such an approach was as common to him as robbing an outside-right of the ball.
THE DASH AND THE CRASH
When I first knew the International side of Irish football it was quite common for the sons of Hibernia to show all the dash and impetuosity of their character for the first 20 minutes of the match and then to fade away to a comparatively helpless lot. They used to receive their annual thrashing with a composure which showed that early in life they had assimilated the philosophy of the old lady of Belfast. Each year they came up smiling, and even sanguine; splendid fellows. In 1905, at Middlesbrough, when Ireland was able to draw, there was a sign of another era- even if my old friend, “Tim” Williamson, did make a mistake and give a goal to the foe. Still, the custodian who never had a mishap would be a wonder!  Next year, when the call was to Belfast, the score was 5-0 for England, but then there were such men as Stanley Harris at inside-left and Samuel Day at inside-right, with the boy Arthur Brown in the centre, and wing raiders like Bond and Gosnell. With defenders such as James Ashcroft, Bob Crompton, Herbert Smith, the Reading amateur, Ben Warren, Colin Veitch, and “Kelly” Houlker, what could be expected, valiantly as Sherry, of the Bohemians, Darling, of Linfield, and McIlroy, of Cliftonville, fought out the issue?
A ”TENNER” AND TWO GUINEAS.
Two years later, when we took our seats in the saloon en route to Slieve Donard, there was a wisp of a fellow curled up in a corner that I had not seen before. I wondered who this man with a small dark face and piercing eyes could be. Seated, he suggested a jockey, but I discovered that he was George Hilsdon. I was soon to know who this sharpshooter was, for he scored two of the prettiest goals I remember. But think of that forward line;- Rutherford, Vivian Woodward, Hilsdon, Windridge, and Wall. Ireland deserved to be congratulated on a defeat of only 3-1, especially as this English eleven, with only two alterations, drew with Scotland. This match of February, 1908, might not have been lost at all if William McCracken had played. Why did he not turn out? The younger generation may not know that he was selected, crossed to Belfast, and demanded £10 for his services. This John Ferguson, then the secretary for Ireland, indignantly refused. He did not play, the backs being Craig, of Glasgow Rangers, and McCartney, of Belfast Celtic. McCartney was the man who was requisitioned to take the place of McCracken. At the time this sensation occurred McCracken was fiercely attacked in these columns, and I remember that I concluded my comments by saying;- “Possibly McCracken would have been a loyalist had he been born in a gold mine. But Ireland as a birthplace- Faugh!” I am still of opinion that McCracken was a hot-head. I sympathise with his point of view as a professional, but he took the wrong steps to enforce his claim and to secure better emoluments for everybody.
McCRACKEN’S SUSPENSION
At the same time it should be remembered that the Irish Association offered £2 2s and expenses to all their players, while England had resolved to pay £10 to each man taking part in an international match. The Football Association had the money to do so, and the Irish F.A. had not such means. Rutherford, of Newcastle, was to receive £10, and his fellow club-mate, McCracken, was to be rewarded with about one-fifth of that sum. The comparison was very odious, and McCracken could only see the difference in cash. As a professional he seemed to think that a man could not live by honour alone. The sequel was that McCracken was suspended not only from appearing in any international match, but from ever playing in Ireland. There were many attempts to heal the breach, and I do not think that it ever would have been but for the perseverance and tact of Mr. A.H. Thompson, a member of the Irish Association, who fought for the impetuous offender. Both parties were obdurate, and had it not been for Alec Thompson and the gentle influence of Herbert Broomfield, of the Players’ Union, amicable relations never would have been restored, but on march 22, 1919, McCracken turned out again for Ireland against Scotland at Ibrox, and the long feud was finished. It was a thousand pities that it was ever begun. Still, it must be remembered that McCracken in 1908 was not much more than a rollicking Irish boy, and had not sobered in thought and matured in judgment. These things were added unto him, and he became known among his mates for his sound views, his logical faculty, and his good heart and generous disposition. IRELAND’S FIRST WIN
Gradually Irish players lost that 20 minutes’ dash and became skilful and steady. In spite of the 6-1 victory at “dear, dirty Dublin” in 1912, when Harold Fleming and Jocky Simpson were so wonderful, it was clear to any observer who was impartial that Irish football was improving. Even so, few anticipated that at Windsor Park next year the sister isle would gain their first victory over England. “Tim” Williamson was again fated to be goalkeeper; poor “Tim,” he never could do right against “Pat.” I have seldom seen a more abject picture of misery than George Elliott, “Tim’s” clubmate, on that Saturday night, February 15, 1913, in the Grand Central Hotel, Belfast. It was after this match that John Mordue protested against my criticism of his play. He declined to take the blame for England’s failure- but all the same he would not release the ball. Ah! Well, that is all of the past. If George Elliott, the English centre, was the picture of despair, William Gillespie, the Irish centre, was happy, but not exuberantly or radiantly so. The spectators at Windsor Park were in a state of frantic joy, and they carried Gillespie shoulder high off the field to the dressing-rooms, for he had scored both goals. But the remarkable fact of the match was that not a single player of Ireland’s triumphant team was associated with a Belfast club, as there were two from the Bohemians, one from Shelbourne, five “bhoys” engaged by Yorkshire clubs, two by Everton, and one by Grimsby Town. From that day Ireland has not been receiving an annual thrashing from England. That was Gillespie’s first match against England, and next year he assisted to rout the Old County. Ten years after the first victory at Windsor Park I saw England again defeated on the same pastures; again was Gillespie the master mind that brought about success for the Green Isle. Times had changed, and so had Gillespie, after the rigours of the war. But age cannot wither his craft and his touch.
A BIT OF A BREEZE
I have seen many enjoyable games in Dublin, for there was inaugurated the series of international matches for the amateurs of Great Britain in 1906, and on the same ground at Dalymount seven years later there was a fine hullabaloo after a match when Scotland beat Ireland by 2-1 -thanks to Willie Reid and Alec Bennett, both of the Rangers. At that time G. Robertson was playing foe The Wednesday of Sheffield, and he was called up by Scotland for this match. This flying Scotsman was partnered by James Croal, then at Falkirk. When the match was over there was a bit of a scramble for the ball, but unfortunately some of the spectators joined in, and there was an alteration between one of the invaders and Robertson, who was alleged to have hit out from the shoulder. I say this was the allegation, but I never saw such an incident. The “gentlemen” of Ireland made for the Scottish dressing room and attacked it with battering rams. I left them battering, and contrived to get out of the ground just after the equipage of his Excellency Lord Aberdeen. Luckily the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland did not see any of this excitement, but there was plenty of it in the Scottish camp, and his mates were glad to enable Robertson to make his escape without molestation.
THE BEST OF HUNDREDS
Football in Ireland is not quite on the sober lines of England, for I have been on grounds when revolvers have been fired, but no harm has been done. Occasionally there is, as I say, a hullabaloo as an antidote to the monotony of existence. Still, considering all circumstances, there is nothing to grumble about in Irish football. The spectators may be a little irresponsible and excitable, but such scenes have been known to occur in other places. At least this can be said that the “Ould Counthry” has turned out some fine players. Lingering in memory are William Scott, the goalkeeper, and backs like W.K. Gibson, McCracken, Rollo, and A. McCartney. I have vivid recollections of such stalwarts as S. Torrans, J. Darling, R.G. Milne, E. McConnell, Val Harris, and Michael Hamill. Of forwards I think most of J. Kirwan, J.T. Mercer, F.W. Thompson, J. McDonnell, and D. J. Hannon (both dashing Bohemians), W. Gillespie, that wonderfully versatile artist William Lacey, and H.A Sloan. These are the men who stand out as the stalwarts during the time that I have watched Irishman dragging the tail of their coats, metaphorically speaking, along the green.

SHEFFIELD & PENALTY KICKS
Liverpool Echo - Monday 22 December 1924
By F.E.H
A fortnight ago Sheffield United, through Tunstall, failed to spot two penalty kicks. Another went astray on Saturday and Everton were glad, because Harland’s save meant a draw and a point in their holiday mission. “F.E.H” writes of the Everton and Sheffield United encounter at Bramall lane on Saturday. “There is much consolation in half measures, and I opine that thousands of frequenters to Goodison Park will feel fully satisfied at the wearers of the blue jerseys annexing a point. It was an extremely valuable one, and is indicative of Hunter Hart and company now getting into their real stride. I trust that the fine atmosphere of Heswell will do them good. And this reminds me of a satirical passage from W.S. Gilbert, which has the merit of being metaphorical.
   “Hearts just as pure and fair
     May beat in Belgrave-square
     As in the lowly air of Seven Dials.”
  It is not altogether an easy thing to carry off the full points from the famous Yorkshire football-cum-cricket enclosure. It is true that United are in equal plight with Everton in the competition, but they are a strong bustling side and possess both balance and dash. They displayed this to some purpose within the first five minutes, when Johnson headed a goal following upon a free kick. The work of the visitors after this was very pretty, but I am sorry to say ineffective. This was mainly due to the inside forwards who were over anxious and frequently flurried. Still much of their footwork was good, and they enjoyed quite as much of the first period as their opponents. In the second half they were in their most brisk and merry mood, and that goal of little Troup’s, after a wonderful shot, a minute previously opened out possibilities. These were almost realised in the last seven minutes of the game, when the Everton attackers came along like a veritable tornado and almost swept the Sheffield decks. Cock and Birks, however, kept their barque on an even keel (this nautical smile is for theespecial benefit of Mr. Tom McIntosh, the breezy Everton secretary), and so both sides were- more or less- satisfied.
FOOTBALL AT GOODISON TODAY
Liverpool school boys v Southport School boys, for a third round tie of the English School Shield

NEWCASTLE’S DECISION FOR EVERTON GAME
Liverpool Echo - Tuesday 23 December 1924
Bee’s Notes
Newcastle’s team against Everton on Christmas Day will be minus Harris, but Cowan and Urwin resume on the right wing to the exclusion of Lew and Clark. The United proceed to Leeds on Christmas night, completing the journey on Boxing morning for the return match at Newcastle that afternoon. Newcastle.- Bradley; Hampson, Hudspeth; Mackenzie, Spencer, Mooney; Urwin, Cowan, Keating, McDonald, Seymour.

EVERTON SECURES BURNLEY WINGER.
Lancashire Evening Post - Wednesday 24 December 1924
The chairman of the Burnley club. Mr. H. Windle, met representatives of the Everton club at Preston last night, and the transfer of Walter Weaver, outside left, to the Goodison Park club was completed. .The transfer fee is stated to be over £2.500, in which the player will share, seeing that he is in his sixth season with Burnley and had not had a benefit. He is a native of Birkenhead and joined the Turf Moor club from South Liverpool at the begining of the 1919-20 season, but as Mosscrop was then Burnley's regular left winger, he did not get a chance in the League team until the following March.   Weaver really came into prominence when Burnley's senior team started their record run of undefeated League games in September. 1920 and it was a coincidence that he and fellow townsman, Cross, then became associated on the left wing in the famous aide. They had played together in a Birkenhead school team. In the following season Weaver, who was superseded by Mosscrop, only made seven appearances m the League team, but he again became Burnley a regular left winger when the Southport school teacher dropped out of the game the end November, 1922, and this season completed 100 League appearances. Since then he and Waterfield, formerly of Mexborough Town, have alternately figured on the extreme left with the Turf Moor side. Weaver will be available for the Cup-tie between his new club and Burnley  at Goodison Park.  In last season’s cup tie he scored three goals.  Her has played for representative Central League sides against selected Lancashire Combination, Southern league, and Northern-Eastern teams. 

WALTER WEAVER
Burnley Express -Wednesday 24 December 1924
Because they both hailed from Birkenhead and had played together as schoolboys footballers Ben Cross and Walter Weaver have been dubbed the "Birkenhead Twins"   They have certainly formed at times a delightful left-wing, but latterly their fortunes and positions have varied somewhat.  Though Weaver has a somewhat sterotyped style, his speed and "cutting in" always bodes danger to the opposition, and he has scored many goals for the club; in fact, it was mostly due to him that Burnley reached the semi-final of the F.A Cup last season.  He is certainly a player to have on one's side rather than as an opponent.  Weaver and Cross were partners in the Final for the English Schools Championship Shield while playing for the Larid-street Council School, Birkenhead.  After leaving school Weaver was employed by Lever Bros, at Port Sunlight, and at 17 years of age joined the East Lancashire Regiment.  Early in 1918he was drafted out to France and saw fighting around Bethune.  On his return to England after the Armistice he played several times for South Liverpool.  He was secured by Burnley and made his debut for them with the Reserve against Blackpool Reserve on September 6th, 1919.  He made seven appearances that season with the premier team, and 31 with ythe Reserve, scoring two goals and four goals fdor the respective teams.   In the campaign of 1920-21 he took a more promient part, for he figured in the championship team on 29 occasions, and only made nine appearances with the Reserve.  His success was not measured by the number of goals directly scored, for in that department he only achieved about the same amount of success as the year before.  In 1921-22 he only played eight times with the seniors, but figured 29 times with the Reserve, scoring two and eight goals respectively.  The following season Weaver played in 35 first team matches and scored seven goals; and in 1923-4 he took part in 30 League games, and notched five goals.  He took part in the three opening games of the present season, and after three short breaks he is once more in favour. 

EVERTON SIGN WEAVER.
December 24, 1924. The Daily Courier.
BURNLEY WINGER JOINS THE GOODISON TEAM.
By S.H.H.
Everton came to terms yesterday with Burnley for the transfer of Weaver, the forward who has done such good service for the Lancashire club on the left wing. Weaver is a native of Birkenhead, who with Cross, a fellow townsman, were at one time considered the finest club pair in the country. Weaver and Cross-started their football together for the Birkenhead schoolboys. Weaver, who has been with Burnley for five and a half seasons, is one of the fastest players in the country and is a clever marksman. He has been anxious to return to the Liverpool district and last season there was a possibility that he would go to Anfield. Weaver is due for a benefit, and as the Burnley club are in need of funds they have parted with the player. Yesterday was the last day on which transfer could be carried out for players to be eligible for Cup-tie.

BLUES' HOLIDAY TEAMS.
Weaver will not be in the sides that play on Christmas Day and Boxing Day but in all probability will make his debut at Goodison Park against Birmingham on Saturday. The teams to represent the Blues on Christmas Day and Boxing Day are: - V. Newcastle at Goodison Park on Christmas Day Kick off 2.15: - Harland; McDonald, and Livingstone; Peacock, McBain, and Hart; Chedgzoy, Williams, Cock, Chadwick, and Troup. The same side will play the return game on Boxing Day at Newcastle. Reid and Irvine travel as reserves.
Everton Reserves (V. Preston N.E at Preston on Christmas Day): - Kendall; Raitt and Kerr; Brown, Bain, Virr; Parry, Hargreaves, Broad, Wall, and Forbes. V P.N.E at Goodison Park on Boxing Day: - Kendall; Raitt and Kerr; Rooney, Bain, and Virr; Parry, Hargreaves, Wall, Houghton, and Forbes, forwards.

NEW JUNIOR
Everton have signed on Hegan of St. Edwards Orphanage, and are said to be after several of Bowring Athletic

EVERTON’S NEW WINGER
The Liverpool Echo- Wednesday, December 24, 1924
Bee’s Notes
Everton have signed Weaver of Burnley. Thus the young fellow comes home, for he is a Merseyside player, having played for his school at Birkenhead and having partnered Ben Cross, who will be remembered as having been on Liverpool’s books and later was loaned to Burnley, as they were short of a player. Cross scored against Liverpool -and Burnley signed him and found him more than usual. Two seasons ago Weaver and Cross made a very fine wing, spite of the lack of inches of the inside man. Weaver is a tallish man with raking stride and a wise centre. He makes ground very rapidly and does not live up to his name of “Waver,” which is perhaps as well, as Everton have suffered an over-dose of weaving this season. The Goodison Reserve side is unusually strong this season in youth and in earnestness, and Weaver will add to its strength and be useful if a call is necessary in the first team, he having had plenty of First Division experience. Newcastle, cupholders, are visitors to Walton to-morrow (2.25) and Everton will have to be at their best to secure the points. Two changes are made from the side which shared the points with Sheffield United last week, McBain returning at centre half in place of Reid, and Williams displacing Irvine in the forward line. Irvine and Reid, however, will accompany the side to Newcastle for Friday’s game. Newcastle United’s team shows two changes. Cowan and Urwin returning to displace Low and Clark. The teams are;- Everton;- Harland; McDonald, Livingstone; Peacock, McBain, Hart; Chedgzoy, Williams, Cock, Chadwick, Troup. Newcastle United; Bradley; Hampson, Hudspeth; Mackenzie, Spencer, Mooney; Urwin, Cowan, Keating, McDonald, Seymour.
Everton Reserves visit Preston North End Reserves to-morrow, and are at home to the same team on Friday. For the first match the team will be;- Kendall; Raitt, Kerr; Brown, Bain, Virr; Parry, Hargreaves, Broad, Wall, and Forbes. For the second game Rooney displaces Brown, and Broad is dropped from the centre forward position, Wall moving to centre and Houghton coming in at inside left.
Everton First team games
Christmas Day v Newcastle (home)
Boxing Day v Newcastle (away)
Saturday v. Birmingham (home)
New Years Day v Burnley (home)
January 3 (Saturday) v West Brom (away)
All kick off at 2.15
Second team
Christmas Day v Preston (away)
Boxing Day v Preston (home)
Saturday, v Birmingham (away)
January 3 (Saturday) v West Brom A (home)
All kick-off 2.15

EVERTON 0 NEWCASTLE UNITED 1
December 26, 1924. The Liverpool Echo.
Keating, deputising for Neil Harris, scored the only goal at Everton before 30000 spectators who sampled all sorts of weather, including rain, and period in the second half suggested abandonment. It was clearer on the field than on the grand stand, and all around a Christmas fairly scene was enacted through spectators lighting their smokes. But Everton could not “light” on a goal, although Williams, who had been badly kicked, contrived to get through twice and make strong shots, Williams never had a less lucky game. Hampson headed out one of his shots when the goalkeeper was beaten, and another time Bradley made a clever save top stop him from scoring. Add to this the severe blow he received, and it will be seen that Williams did not spend a happy Christmas. Certainly the football served up by both sides was interesting, and had some fine points, but to the local folk it presented once again the tragedy of cleverness without result. The inside wing forwards could not be accused of not shooting. They hitout a shade too far to do any damage, but one could recommended them for at least using some driving force.
LACK OF FIGHT.
Everton played beautiful football to start with Chedgzoy's work bore the mark of class and effect. However, once Newcastle had scored the side seemed to lose confidence, and they had not that fighting back spirit that should have been shown. In defence there was a steadiness all though and though the half-backs started brilliantly, McBain playing one of his old style games Newcastle were allowed plenty of room and the backs had a stiff task. Hart stopped a certainty immediately before Keating scored a header, and them after Everton were fighting all too desperately, yet without result. There was a lack of shooting in the centre berth, and the match became odd on that Bradley had a lot more work to do than Harland, yet Newcastle's forwards were always the more dangerous set. Everton appearing dangerous but petering out when near goal. Bradley's work was chiefly confined to long shots and to a punch out of a centre. Not a word could be said against McDonald, Livingstone, and Harland. Newcastle did particularly well through Bradley, Hampton, Maitland, McKenzie, at half-back and McDonald and Cowan in the forward line. Keating had a cut head through collision, and was probably unable to do himself justice. The position of the Everton club through this unexpected defeat at home has made the Goodison position extremely difficult and dangerous. Fortunately they are still four months in which to work off the deficits. But if they are to be wiped off there will need to be much more determined shouting from every forward, rather than an excess of passing when a chance shot could have been made. One of the funnlosities of the game was a draw-back by Troup, who was going to hit a ten-tonner shot, and rededed so that he might have a run-up to the ball. In the meantime he alone did not understand that a Newcastle defender was running from the rear to clear the ball. Teams: - Everton: - Harland, goal, McDonald, and Livingstone, backs, Peacock, McBain, and Hart (captain), half-backs, Chedgzoy, Williams, Cock, Chadwick and Troup, forwards. Newcastle United: - Bradley, goal, Hampton and Maitland backs, McKenzie, Spencer, and Currie half-backs, Urwin, Cowan, Keating, McDonald, and Seymour, forwards. Referee Mr. E. Wood.

PRESTON NORTH END RESERVES 0 EVERTON RESERVES 1
December 26, 1924, The Liverpool Echo.
CENTRAL LEAGUE
A goal by Hargreaves a few minutes from the end of a vigorous and hard-fought game gave Everton Reserves a belated but deserved victory at Deepdale yesterday. With the North End Reserves it was the old story of poor forward play and missed chances, otherwise there was little to choose between the teams. The game, which was seen by 3,600 spectators, was played in continuous rain, and was marred by the glue-pot nature of the ground. Everton: - Kendall, goal, Raitt and Kerr backs, Brown, Bain, and Virr, half-backs, Parry Hargreaves, Broad, Wall, Forbes, forwards.

UNITED TOO GOOD FOR EVERTON
Newcastle Evening Chronicle - Friday 26 December 1924
It was a good performance of Newcastle to win 1-0 against Everton at Goodison Park, before 30,000 spectators. The day was all against good play, because there was wet and fog, and near the finish the crowd claimed that the game should be stopped. However, the fog lifted, and the game was carried through. Keating scored the only goal at the end of an hour, with a header, after Hart had saved, and the strong Newcastle defence then became even stronger and held out the ultra clever Everton forwards who were never really dangerous in front of goal. Newcastle won through practical methods with a heavy ball. They swung it about, and were much more dangerous then their rivals, although Harland had, strangely enough not a deal to do. It was good football on the whole, both sides being desperate and the tide was turned through the Newcastle half backs being more reliable. Cowan and McKenzie excelled, and Hampson and Maitland played a sterling game. Bradley made useful saves from Chedgzoy, who was the home side’s one reliable raider. McBain started well, but Keating eventually got the better of him.

CENTRAL LEAGUE
Lancashire Evening Post - Friday 26 December 1924
NORTH END’S POOR ATATCK
North End Reserve met with another home defeat, Everton Reserve deservedly winning by a belated goal in a game that was marred by the wretched weather and ground conditions. There was not much to choose between the sides in a defensive sense, and neither goalkeeper had much to do, but Everton was far superior in attack. It was to the forwards’ inability to round off their attacks that cost North End both points. Except on two occasions, when Sapsford, who was the best of a poor line, tested Kendall with stinging drives, there was scarcely a shot worthy of the game. Thompson, in the first half, and Ratcliffe, when the strenuous nature of the game was slowing some of the players, did well in the middle line, and Hamilton, though an early slip of his presented. Wall with a chance to shoot at an open goal, which he missed, was a clever and resourceful defender, who have his colleagues plenty of support. Forbes was always a dangerous raider in the visiting front line, but Everton though they failed to utilise several good chances, were a much more compact and penetrative line. Hargreaves scored the winning goal a few minutes from the end, when the ball came to him from a mix-up in front of goal. There was an attendance of 3,600 in spite of almost continuous rain.

A KEATING GOAL
Liverpool Echo - Friday 26 December 1924
Bee’s Notes
Keating, deputising for Neil Harris, scored the only goal at Everton before 30,000 spectators, who sampled all sorts of weather, including rain, and a period in the second half suggested an abandonment. It was clearer on the field than on the grand stand, and all around a Christmas fairy scene was enacted through spectators lightning their smokers. But Everton could and “light” on a goal, although Williams, who had been badly kicked, contrived to get through twice and make strong shots. Williams never had a less lucky game. Hampson headed out one of his shots when the goalkeeper was beaten, and another time Bradley made a clever save to stop him from scoring. Add to this the severe blow he received, and it will be seen that Williams did not-spend a happy Christmas. Certainly the football served up by both sides was interesting, and had some fine points, but to the local folk it presented once again the tragedy of cleverness without result. The inside wing forwards could not be accused of not shooting. They hit out a shade too far to do any damage, but one could recommend them for at least using some driving force.
LACK OF FIGHT
Everton played beautiful football to start with, and Chedgzoy’s work bore the mark of class and effect. However, once Newcastle had scored the side seemed to lose confidence and they had not that fighting-back spirit that should have been shown. In defence there was a steadiness all through and though the half-backs started brilliantly, McBain playing one of his old-style games, Newcastle were allowed plenty of room and the backs had a stiff task Hart stopped a certainly immediately before Keating scored with a header, and there after Everton were fighting all too desperately, yet without result. There was a lack of shooting in the centre berth, and the match became odd in that Bradley had a lot more work to do than Harland, yet Newcastle’s forwards were always the more dangerous set, Everton appearing dangerous but petering out when near goal. Bradley’s work was chiefly confined to long shots and to a punch out of a centre. Not a word could be said against McDonald, Livingstone and Harland. Newcastle did particularly well through Bradley, Hampson, Maitland, McKenzie at half-back, and McDonald and Cowan in the forward line. Keating had a cut head, through collision, and was probably unable to do himself justice. The position of the Everton club through this unexpected defeat at home has made the Goodison position extremely difficult and dangerous. Fortunately there are still four months in which to work off the deficits. But if they are to be wiped off there will need to be much more determined shooting from every forward, rather than an excess of passing when a chance shot could have been made. One of the funniosities of the game was a draw-back by Troup, who was going to hit a ten-tonner shot, and receded so that he might have a run-up to the ball. In the meantime he alone did not understand that a Newcastle defender was running from the rear to clear the ball. Final; Everton 0, Newcastle 1
Teams; Everton.- Harland; McDonald, Livingstone; Peacock, McBain, Hart (Captain); Chedgzoy, Williams, Cock, Chadwick, Troup. Newcastle United; Hampson; Maitland, McKenzie; Spencer, Currie, Urwin, Cowan, Keating, McDonald, Seymour.
EVERTON RES BELATED WIN
A goal by Hargreaves a few minutes from the end of a vigorous and hard-fought game gave Everton Reserve a belated but deserved victory at Deepdale yesterday. With the North End Reserve it was the old story of poor forward play and missed chances, otherwise there was little to choose between the teams. The game, which was seen by 3,600 spectators, was played in continuous rain, and was marred by the glue-pot nature of the ground.

EVERTON AT NEWCASTLE
Liverpool Echo - Friday 26 December 1924
SEYMOUR EQUALISES IN THE CLOSING STAGE
BROAD ON THE MARK
Newcastle;- Bradley; Hampson, Maitland; McKenzie, Spencer, Turry; Urwin, Cowan, Meating, McDonald, Seymour. Everton; Harland; McDonald, Livingstone; Peacock, Reid, Hart (Captain); Chedgzoy, Irvine, Broad, Williams, Weaver. Referee.- Mr. E. Wood. Newcastle team was unchanged from the side that won on Christmas Day at Goodison Park, but Everton had five positional changes, Irvine coming in at inside left with Weaver as his partner, this being the ex-Burnley man’s first game for Everton. Broad appeared as the centre, and Reid substituted McBain. The weather was spring like, and the attendance was 25,000 strong when Keating started the game for Newcastle. Everton were the first to assume the offensive, and Weaver was beating Hampson when a foul occurred. The free kick was well placed, but Broad headed past. There was a further burst away by the Goodison men, and when Chedgzoy had Maitland well beaten all that was needed was a centre, for the goal was uncovered. Hampson, who had dashed across, was fortunate in his interception, and saved what was decidedly a ticklish situation.
A TEST FOR HARLAND.
United were more in the picture after this, and Seymour was decidedly troublesome. Following a free kick for a foul on Seymour the ball was flung back for Urwin and the left winger had a shot, but sent in tamely. Everton had the pull for some time, but found both Hampson and Maitland in sound form. Keating got through, but was hampered by Reid, and a few seconds later from another Urwin pass Harland feebly punched out, and he was fortunate in being ably to get to the ball a second time. Gradually Seymour and McDonald blossomed out, and the former was just a shade too high with a lovely swinging shot from near the touch-line. Weaver was being given no rope by McKenzie, but Broad twice essayed drives, only to find Maitland dead on the line of fire to return clean volleys.
BROAD SCORES.
Weaver caused some consternation to the Tynesiders when he swept past Hampson and put in a centre from the goal line. It was Irvine who drove in only to miss by inches. In tackling Weaver, Hampson was rather badly knocked out and required a deal of attention before he could resume. Meanwhile Urwin had pursued Urwin had pursued Weaver, but was tricked. Offside spoiled the movement. Irvine tried a long drive which missed badly, and then a return by Livingstone just missed the corner flag. Chedgzoy could not gauge the passes to him for three times in succession he failed to collect passes that must have been a rare advantage. The best shot of the match followed after twenty minutes, Irvine giving Bradley a long hot shot, which was diverted for a corner. Then Newcastle got one by means of Cowan playing up to Livingstone, but Urwin mulled his flag kick badly. Reid, when hard pressed, nearly put through his own goal, but as it happened a corner accrued -a near thing. There was some poor combination at times, and of shooting there was little or ordinary standard. Maitland hurt his leg in a tackle and had to receive attention. Broad was spoken to by the referee when he made an observation after being pulled up for offside. A minute later he scored as Bradley advanced, following a pass from Chedgzoy. This occurred after thirty-seven minutes’ play. Half-time.- Everton 1, Newcastle nil.
SEYMOUR EQUALISES.
Seymour scored for Newcastle after twenty minutes of the second half.
McDONALD SAVES FROM FREE KICK
Weaver raced past Hampson in a rare start on the resumption and looked a scorer but McKenzie bowled him over as he attempted to shoot. Seymour was fouled a yard from the penalty area, but Hampson’s kick was cleared by McDonald. The Everton halves were a fine line and repeatedly checked the United close passing raids. Harland was penalised for carrying the ball, but the free kick fizzled out tamely. The equaliser seemed certain when Seymour put in a perfect centre, but both Keating and McDonald, six yards out, clean missed the ball and Reid softly hooked it to safely. There was an appeal for a penalty against Hampson for hands on the goal line, but the referee turned it down. From Urwin’s centre Seymour equalised twenty minutes from the restart. McDonald was again at fault, but the left-winger was lying handy, and steadied himself before he hit the roof of the goal with a short half drive. Final; Newcastle 1, Everton 1.

EVERTON RES v PRESTON RES
Liverpool Echo - Friday 26 December 1924
CENTRAL LEAGUE
At Goodison Park, this return fixture took place before a good holiday attendance. The first item of note came through good work by the visitors’ right wing, and Marquis looked like getting through when Kerr intervened. This was followed by splendid combination between Parry and Hargreaves, who carried the ball to the goalmouth, the latter being only inches wide with a good effort. Everton proved smarter on the ball, and made many advances; but the ground was in dreadful condition, which caused little sting in the shooting. The visitors were having a fair share of the attack, but Kendall was kept idle for some time. Eventually he made two smart saves from Marquis and Hetherington, and later a free kick to the visitors, which was taken by Thompson, and Kendall was applauded for a remarkably good save. The best change of the game came through splendid individual work by Parry, who out-manoeuvred Hicks to place the ball at the feet of Wall, who blundered badly. As the interval drew near Everton put on pressure, and both Houghton and Wall missed chances. Half-time;- Everton Res nil, Preston North End Res nil.

NEWCASTLE UNITED 1 EVERTON 1
December 27 1924. The Daily Courier.
BROAD AND WEAVER DO WELL.
EVERTON SECURE A POINT AT NEWCASTLE.
Had Newcastle United been able to crown the great work of the wing players Urwin and Seymour as it deserved Everton would have sustained a severe reverse at St.James' Park instead of carrying off a point. Newcastle's wingers were practically neglected until the last 20 minutes, but when their presence was fully utilised the Everton defence came in for a grulling time, and while due credit should be apportioned Harland McDonald, and Livingstone, it cannot be denied that Newcastle should have scored more than once.
SEYMOUR'S GOAL.
However, not one of United's inside forwards could locate the goal, and it was left to Seymour to snap up a chance provided by Urwin to save a point. Everton made a number of changes from the side beaten the previous day, and judging by the display in the first half, they made for improvement. The lead was gained by Broad, and was merited at the interval. In this period Newcastle, whose side was unaltered played like a tired team, and there was not a department except goal that Everton did not hold the superiority. Their forwards, in contrast to those of Newcastle, swung the ball about in refreshing fashion on the heavy ground, and it was due to Hampton, the best back on the field that Everton's scoring was limited to a goal.
BROAD AND WEAVER.
Only Curry of the Newcastle halves, played up to reputation, and he did well in opposing Everton's best wing. Broad was most effective, sweeping the ball out to the wings cleverly and being ever ready for the return from either Chedgzoy or Weaver, the latter of whom made a successful debut. Hart and Reid were successful halves, the latter having much to do with subduing the Newcastle inside forwards. The full backs McDonald and Livingstone, tackled well and seldom miskicked their worth being proved in the closing 20 minutes. Harland effected some fine saves. Teams: - Newcastle United: - Bradley, goal, Hampson, and Maitland, backs, McKenzie, Spencer, and Currie; half-backs, Urwin, Cowan, Keating, McDonald, and Seymour forwards. Everton: - Harland, goal, McDonald, Livingstone, backs, Peacock, Reid and Hart (captain), half-backs, Chedgzoty, Irvine, Broad, Williams, and Weaver, forwards. Referee E. Wood.

EVERTON RESERVES 0 PRESTON NORTH END RESERVES 0
December 27, 1924. The Daily Courier.
CENTRAL LEAGUE
The game at Goodison Park should have resulted in a victory for Everton, but they lacked finishing power. There were times, however, when Prout, the Preston goalkeeper, brought off brilliant saves. Parry and Forbes were excellent wingers Bain and Virr, at half-backs, and Kerr further behind, also did well. Everton: - Kendall, goal, Raitt and Kerr backs, Rooney, Bain, and Virr half-backs, Parry, Hargreaves Wall, Houghton, and Forbes forwards.

FAMOUS OLD-TIMERS.
December 27, 1924. The Liverpool Football Echo
HOW ALEC LATTA “SAW THINGS” AFTER BEING UNCONSCIOUS FOR TWELVE HOURS.
In many old photographic groups of the Everton team of the nineties there will be seen a forward line that was famous. The right wing of the line will include a keen-eyed smiling profile of a man in early youth. The sharp well-moulded features will show a strong chin, a broad forehead, and keen, clear eyes, with a mouth firm set, with every indication of will-power and strength. The body is sturdily built, the chest broad, the arms and limbs strong and well-formed. The picture will be Alec Latta. Beside him will be a boylish well set up figure, with strong limbs, a countenance full of grim determination, and yet brimming over with the joy of youth, and kicking ahead for the next conquest. That will be Joe Brady, the inside right. In the same group, behind the pair, will be found familiar features of Mr. Dan Kirkwood, the right half-back of those days, and later associated with the club as director, and now responsible in other official directions. This wing, for three players formed a working entity, Latta, Brady, and Kirkwood, formed in themselves one of the most perfect examples of wing and half-back play that any club has ever produced. Used as they were to playing continuously together, they understood one another's play and capacity to a nicety, and the understanding between them was so perfect, that once the trio were in motion –towards goal –it was hard to say where the half back play finished and the forward work begans. At need either of the three came half-back to defend, at used all three were forwards, and shots of deadly accuracy; at need all three were the perfect blend of combined play and inter-play, so that the opposing forwards had to vow they had to play against six forwards and four half backs.
LOST ART.
This was combination; some of our present-day critics tell us it is a lost art! But always when players are left together long enough to appreciate one another's style and limitations always there will grow and develop that same understanding that we call combination, and that in Everton's famous right wing trio led to such brilliant play and sterling results. Mr. Kirkwood is still playing an active part in club direction, and no one could tell better than he of that wonderful team work of those three players; and probably no one could better appraise the sound work put in to make that wing play by Alec Latta, who had come to Everton from Dumbarton Athletic. In his prima, and pride of playing youth Alec Latta was a fine taking figure on the field. He had a long stride for his medium height, and in action he ran with a high stepping gait, and was sharp to turn, and sharper still to swung across a lofty centre at unexpected angles. Today we lament the fault of some players who must trap or steady a ball before they shoot or centre. Latta could take the ball in his stride and with instant decision either swing it across to Chadwick or Geary in the centre, or sent it lofting for a deadly drop in the actual goal mouth. When the play served though, he dearly loved to outdistance the pursuit, and take the ball down almost on to the corner flag appearing almost to have lost control, and then, when hands were being raised for a goal kick, there would suddenly come a swerve of the body to the right and an unexpected lift of the ball to bring it soaring again into the deadly breach of the goal. And at corner kicks, too! What a deadly centre was Alec! And true he would place his shot, rarely did he waste it with a miskick or a badly-placed effort, unless the wind or a sudden ball hampered true marksmanship. Fred Geary at centre and Chadwick and Milward on the left wings were always in the “offing” when Alec Latta got going. Certain they were that one of the three of them would be in the picture before the run was over. If Latta did not pass direct to them, he would about and they would be there to attend to the effort, be it either misdirected or thrown clear by the goalkeeper. What a loss to first class League football when brilliant Dan Kirkwood had the knee injury that put him out of first class play, practically for the remainder of his career. A benefit, one might say, to the management control of clubs, and giving his fellow players the benefit of his long experience as their counsellor. But what a loss to the better class of good football. That game with the Liverpool Caledonians robbed football of a grand player. Latta and Brady were great chums. Once playing a match at Birmingham Latta was unlucky enough to receive a blow on the head during the game that brought on concussion. He was carried from the field unconscious, and Everton finished the match with ten men. The doctor in attendance advised leaving the injured player behind, Birmingham over night; it was less dangerous than attempting to bring him back to Liverpool. The Everton secretary and some of the directors offered to stay behind to look after Latta, as he was exceedingly popular with everybody, but Brady would not hear of anyone staying behind but himself. Latta was “his pal,” and he had the right, and no one else “mind you,” to see him “come to,” for poor Latta was still unconscious, twelve hours after the injury. When Latta slowly filtered back to consciousness in the early hour's of a Sunday morning he found himself in strange surroundings –he was in a silent ward of some strange institution, carefully wrapped up in bed, with his head almost completely bandaged, and amid strange odours of tinctures and liniments. Somewhere in the dimness were whispered voices one of, which was strangely familiar. As his eyes got accustomed to his dim light he made sure he was in heaven, for there was a white-robed figure close at hand. But the throbbing brain at last made out another figure, and heard a very familiar voice. “Ah tell yer that lad lying there is one of the greatest wonders of the world as an outsider.” Dlye mean to tell me you never hear of Alec Latta, of Dumbarton. And than Alec Latta regained his scattered wits, and listened to his crony Brady, expounding his (Latta's) virtues as a footballer to a wondering and very impressed hospital nurse. For that was the figure in white that to Latta's distorted brain had seemed one of his waiting angles. And that's the sort of pals were the footballers of these days. Latta worked long at his trade as a yacht builder at Hoylake, and in after years was said to have made more than good when football days were over. Everton still holds cheery memorys of his brilliant outsiders.

WITH NEWCASTLE UNITED
Football Gazette (South Shields) - Saturday 27 December 1924
CUPHOLDERS DROP A POINT AT HOME AFTER DEFEATING EVERTON AT LIVERPOOL
MAITLAND MAKES GOOD
On the eve of the busiest period of the season with extra games at Christmas and New Year. The Newcastle team returned to their winning way on Saturday at the expense of the First League leaders, Notts County were only beaten by the narrowest margin possible, 1-0, but the Tynesiders superiority was by no means reflected in such a score, and had it been 4-0 it would not have been underserved. We have seen teams at the opposite end of the League table enjoy a greater share of the play than Notts had and be beaten by a bigger score, and their goals immunity from further downfall than that occasioned by a clever goal by McDonald was solely due to Albert Iremonger, their lengthy keeper, and the lusty defence of the two backs.
MAITLAND’S FINE DISPLAY
The most pleasing feature of Newcastle’s 1-0 successive at Everton on Christmas Day was the brilliant display at full back of Maitland who was making his first appearance in the senior side. Keating again proved an able deputy to Neil Harris at centre-forward and he crowned a splendid afternoon’s work by scoring the Cupholders’ goal. In the return match at St. James’ Park yesterday, however, the United had to be content with a share of the honours, a goal by Seymour in the second half saving the game. Everton were outplayed in the second half, and only a sound defence enabled them to get away with a point- “ALBION.”

UNITED’S BAD TACTICS
Newcastle Daily Chronicle - Saturday 27 December 1924
INSIDE FORWARDS HAVING BALL TOO MUCH
SECOND HALF RALLY
Newcastle United lost a fine opportunity of recording their first “double” of the season when they entertained Everton at St. James’s Park, Newcastle yesterday. The weakness was at inside forward, where a persistently in playing the close game was responsible for scoring chances going astray in a manner that was irritable to the bulk of the 25,000 spectators. A draw of a goal each was as much as the Tynesiders deserved, for whilst they crowded in a lot of attacking during the greater part of the second half, finishing ability was generally conspicuous, Seymour and Urwin proved very dangerous raiders, but their centres, especially from the left, were bungled on many occasions. It took the Tynesiders a long time to develop any real attacking power, and up to the interval Everton were the more progressive side, even if their shooting was also below par. Still, Weaver and Chedgzoy made so many incursions that the home halves were frequently beaten, and but for Hampson, who was twice knocked out, the defence must have capitulated more than once before the interval. Broad, a sturdy leader scored for Everton, meeting a cross from Irvine and crashing the ball into the net as Bradley advanced. Against a resourceful line of halves, Newcastle’s forwards could make little real progress, but when Seymour equalised about midway through the second half more vim was put into their play, only to see fine openings frittered away. United’s wingers were well plied, but all their efforts were wasted, and Everton’s defence prevailed. It was by no means a great game, although there were many fine pieces of play. Apart from the extreme forwards, Curry, Hampson and Bradley, who was not unduly tested, the locals appeared tried out. Everton’s strength was at half, where Reid and Hart accomplished good work. Newcastle United; Bradley; Hampson, Maitland; McKenzie, Spencer, Curry; Urwin, Cowan, Keating, McDonald, Seymour. Everton.- Harland; McDonald, Livingstone; Peacock, Reid, Hart (Captain); Chedgzoy, Irvine, Broad, Williams, Weaver.

“BLUES” CHECKED
Sports Argus - Saturday 27 December 1924
NARROW DEFEAT AT GOODISON PARK
TIRED PLAYERS
By “Old Blue.”
After twice defeating Arsenal on successive days Birmingham to-day visited Goodison Park in the hopes of taking points out of Everton, who drew at St. Andrew’s on the opening day of the season. Birmingham played the same team as won at Highbury. Several players, however, were feeling the effects of hard knocks in the preceding matches, and it was only their enthusiasm which impelled them to turn out again to-day. Everton had Broad, the former Stoke player, in the centre position, and Livingstone as left back. The ground was damp and sticky, and shortly before the game started a strong wind uprooted one of the goalposts, which took some time to replace, with the result that the match was delayed a few minutes. Everton; Harland; McDonald, Livingstone; Peacock, Reid, Hart (Captain); Chedgzoy, Irvine, Broad, Williams, Weaver. Birmingham.- Tremelling; Womack, Jones; Liddell, Cringan, Barton; Harris, Crosbie, Briggs, Islip, Linley. Referee; Mr. W.L. Day (Derby). There were 30,000 people present when play commenced. Birmingham had to face the sun, and Chedgzoy made progress on the right wing, getting in a useful centre, which Cringan cleared well. Then Weaver forced a corner that was not improved upon. Broad subsequently tried to break through, but found Womack in the way. Weaver showed pace and cleverness on the left wing, but finished poorly, and when Reid put across a straight centre, matters looked awkward until Barton cleared. Birmingham replied strongly, but Harris’s forward pass gave Briggs no chance at all, and when Crosbie tried to place the ball for the centre-forward, it stuck in the mud, which was very thick and troublesome in the centre of the field. Crosbie tried hard to open out play, but the ball refused to travel, and his good work was in vain. Birmingham persisted in their attacks, and Ireland only left his charge just in time to stop Briggs, who showed plenty of dash as leader of the line. Up to this point neither goal was placed in real danger, and when Briggs made another effort close in the referee wrongly penalised him. However, Birmingham had the better of the play for a long period. Linley then put across a straight centre, which briggs tried desperately hard to convert, but his shot was turned behind by McDonald for a corner. Another good centre from Linley enabled Crosbie to place the ball usefully for Briggs, but the leader had the misfortune to fall and a good chance of scoring was lost. Irving changed the scene of action with a splendid solo effort but Tremelling smartly cleared his shot- taken at short range. The next raid brought success to Everton. Livingstone punted the ball up the field and Jones, who was facing a strong sun, misjudged its flight with the result that BROAD was left with an open goal. He took full advantage and shot into the net well out of reach of Tremelling after 17 minutes’ play. It was an unfortunate slip on the part of Jones, but the sun was responsible for it. Encouraged by this success, Everton did a lot of pressing, swinging the ball about in smart fashion. The Birmingham defenders having a busy time in preventing them making further openings. The visitors, however, managed to force play to the other end through Crosbie’s cunning work and Linley again got to the ball before Briggs. Everton then had the better of the play and following a good centre from Chedgzoy. Irvine came near to scoring, but Tremelling tipped his shot on to the bar and it went behind. Birmingham went off to the attack again and the ball was put forward to Briggs, who successfully challenged McDonald. The dashing centre-forward beat his man but was then tripped by McDonald in the penalty area. The referee promptly awarded a penalty. Jones hit the post with the kick and Linley had a shot from the rebound, but Livingstone cleared. This time the ball came to ISLIP, who made no mistake, shooting the ball into the net after 27 minutes’ play. With the scores level, the teams fought desperately and Birmingham showed up well in the flight. Harris put in a centre that placed the home goal in peril. Ireland, however, cleared and Islip’s subsequent shot went wide. At the other end Irving missed a good chance to get the lead. Tremelling ran out to clear a centre from Chedgzoy and the ball went to Irvine, who had a fairly open goal at which he shot, but his aim was at fault. Birmingham made further strong raids before the interval, but the advantage in play was with Everton who, however, were prevented from doing any further damage. Half-time; Everton 1, Birmingham City 1
Soon after resuming Linley got in a centre, and again Ireland was only just in time to stop Briggs, who worried the opposition whenever he had a chance. At the other end, however, Broad got clean past the Birmingham defenders, but Jones recovered beautifully, and robbed the home centre forward just as he was about to shoot at goal from four yards range. The ground was in a terrible state, and good football was out of the question, Birmingham attacked strongly, and Harris made a big effort to get through, but Livingstone stopped him just in time. Briggs opened out a smart raid, and it ended in the ball going to Crosbie, who was waiting in the penalty area, but his shot went off the left back for a corner. At the other end Linley caused the goalkeeper to handle, but Everton again strongly attacked, and Broad narrowly missed putting his side ahead, the ball going inches wide of the post. The mud defeated most of the efforts of the players and however well intentioned the work was it generally ended in favour of the defenders, who got through their work very smartly considering the conditions. Jones, however, made another mistake, being stuck in the mud, letting in Broad, whose shot was fortunately stopped by Tremelling. Womack completed the clearance. Everton continued to do more of the pressing and the visiting defenders had a very anxious time under the difficult circumstances, for they seldom got a clean kick at the ball owing to the mud surrounding it. No wonder mistakes were made, Williams got another clear opening inside the penalty area, but he shot hard and straight into the hands of Tremelling, who cleared, and the Blues’ goal again escaped while Islip was on the ground injured. The home right wing pressed, and Chedgzoy put the ball into the centre for WILLIAMS to head into the net after 75 minutes’ play. Tremelling smartly tipped over the bar a free kick by McDonald near the penalty area. Everton had the best of the play in the closing stages. Result Everton 2 Birmingham 1.
THE GAME AT A GLANCE
After 17 minutes; Everton 1 Birmingham 0 (Broad scored)
After 27 minutes;- Everton 1 Birmingham 1 (Islip scored)

A GOAL WRECK AT GOODISON PARK
The Liverpool Football Echo- Saturday, December 27, 1924
CURIOUS HAPPENINGS AT EVERTON IN THE BIRMINGHAM GAME
By Bee
Everton had a goalpost blown down through a tarpaulin “jacketing” against the crossbar. Everton; Harland; McDonald, Livingstone; Peacock, Reid, Hart (Captain); Chedgzoy, Irvine, Broad, Williams, Weaver. Birmingham; Tremelling; Womack, Jones; Liddle, Cringan, Barton; Harris, Crosbie, Briggs, Islip, Linley. Everton had a rush back to the city from Newcastle to get through their home fixture with Birmingham. The day was dull and the going very awkward. The goal posts on the Everton ground were blown down during the gale, and Directors Banks and Sawyer, with the ground staff, were busily engaged re-erecting the structure. This is an uncommon kind of accident, and it arose through the tarpaulin that covers the front portion having been caught by a gale of wind and the sheet was thrown up full tilt at the bar. Temporary measures were adopted by the ground staff and directors, and the game started a little bit late.
A WAG ON THE INCIDENT.
Referee Day, of Derby, eventually blew his whistle to signify that he was content with the propping arrangement. A wag suggested that the goals had been widened so that Everton could get more goals. Everton won the toss, and the game started eight minutes late. The sun was shinning in spite of the morning downpour, and the Birmingham defence had to combat with the sun’s rays and against a forward line that was very anxious for an early goal.
BROAD PROPS
Weaver and Broad who made their debut for the first time at home, had many keen followers. Weaver opened with a corner, and Broad tickled 30,000 people by letting the ball pass through his legs. Crosbie was as dainty as ever, and Barton as dour as usual. Briggs, at centre-forward for Bradford, was a sharp moving centre. Briggs was a warmish handful and when he made a first-time shot for an awkward position it showed that business only was meant. Hart did well to stop him from scoring. Then came an Everton revival that lasted three minutes and brought a welcome goal. First there was an individual idea on the part of Irvine, who went in to inside left position of beating his back, and made an oblique shot that Tremelling caught very cleverly. Everton tried a second raid, and Tremelling fisted away a very awkward header.
BROAD MAKES A BULLSEYE
Fortune for once smiled upon Everton. A long punt up the middle found a weakness in Jones’ defence, and Broad was left with a gift chance two yards in front of goal. The former Stoke man was shocked to find this Christmas gift handed out to him by the opposition, but he made no error. Great was the joy at Goodison. It would have been greater had Chedgzoy not been off the mark with his centres. However, he got one across that provided Irvine with a half-chance, and the ball eventually bounced on the cross-bar and toppled over onto the net. Ten minutes after the first goal we had the spectacle of Harland having to face another penalty kick in this unlucky month of his. Jock McDonald made a mistake in the mud and in the mind. McDonald was facing his own goal, pretty far out, when Briggs challenged him. Twice he delayed his pass back to the goalkeeper, and when Briggs beat him for possession McDonald from behind, legged him down. A penalty was ordered and Jones’ hard shot hit a yard on the upright and rebounded out to Linley, Livingstone clearing that man’s shot, only to find Islip rushing through with a very fast drive. Livingstone also made a mistake against Harris, and only a good thump away by Harland prevented Birmingham taking the lead. Everton could not complain that they had no chance to take the lead, because Irvine twice was close in with a corner kick, and when Chedgzoy centred, Irvine shot outside when the goalkeeper was out of his lair. Weaver also got a ball to hand, Tremelling juggling with it and risking a charge. The Birmingham side was more impressive than usual owing to the work of Linley, Cringan and Womack. Jones, however, was not too sure, and another mistake by him let in Irvine, who was tripped. Peacock after seeing the free kick changed down, expected a goal when Irvine was seen to be placing the ball rather than shooting it, Tremelling having left his goal. Unfortunately the ball had too much loft and scared over the bar.
LEVEL TERMS AT INTERVAL
McDonald wound up the half with a good shot that Tremelling caught when receding.
Half-time; Everton 1 Birmingham 1.
During the interval the spectators were surprised at the number of X’s, that is matches abandoned, and they were surprised too, to see the Liverpool X blown off into the crowd. Fortunately the square tin did not hit anyone. When the game was restarted some of the Everton fellows went on with their insistent dribbles that, when it came to a pass, they had little idea of hooking the ball out of the mud. The ball wanted hooking not driving on such a glue-pot. Cringan made a pass that was taken confidently, and then Broad broke clean through, and was boring on to goal, with Jones in close proximity. On an ordinary day a goal must have arisen- to-day the ball wanted moving, and Broad could not get it under way before Jones had recovered.
THE MAINSPRING OF ATTACK
Crosbie hesitated in front of goal, and lost a rare chance at this point. Everton were doing better in attack, Weaver being the main-spring with speedy runs and centres. He made one centre, which Jones completely missed, Broad driving straight at Tremelling. This was a let-off for Birmingham, who had further good fortune when Williams dribbled nicely and without elaboration for Broad to shoot at the goalkeeper who had advanced. The keeper seemed to touch the ball as it trickled round the post. The referee did not award a corner, however. The crowd was having fun, excitement and disappointment all in one. Irvine was playing a most uneven game, his forward movements consisting of over-dribbles and he rarely finished anything that he began.
THAT HOLIDAY FEELING
Interest in the game had gone to a low abb. The players were tried, the spectators were tired, and the conditions and that holiday feeling were responsible for a lot of uncertainty. There was some interest from a heated argument between Chedgzoy and Burton, old friends, and the point at issue being a faulty throw in. more important was the shot, very close in by Williams, the being Tremelling’s best save of the game. Everton had been attacking for ten minutes on end, when Hart went amongst the forwards and was injured in the penalty vicinity. The referee saw nothing of it, and consulting a linesman, decided there should be no spot kick.
GOAL BY WILLIAMS
However, Everton got a Christmas box when broad centred for Williams to head well out of the reach of Tremelling. Williams has been rather unlucky in his shots this season, and consequently was over-joyed at the turn. Tremelling made another wonderful save when broad got through from Chedgzoy’s pass, but at this stage Birmingham were having more of the attack than they had for some time.
A CHANGE OF PALCES.
Hands against Jones just outside the penalty area gave Everton a free kick, and McDonald sent in a tremendous shot, which Tremelling just touched as it went over the bar. Shortly before the end Briggs and Harris changed places. Final; Everton 2 Birmingham 1

BIRMINGHAM RES v  EVERTON RES
The Liverpool Football Echo- Saturday, December 27, 1824
CENTRAL LEAGUE
Before a small attendance at St. Andrew’s, the conditions being farcical. The ground was almost under water. Ball control was difficult, but Everton adapted themselves to the conditions, and had the better of the opening exchanges. They took the lead after 15 minutes’ play, Chadwick netting from a corner by Parry. Immediately afterwards Devlin missed a good opportunity of opening Birmingham’s account, shooting tamely outside with only Kendall to beat. Everton again took up the aggressive and Cock scored a grand goal from a difficult angle. Everton were immeasurably the superior team, and deserved their interval lead. Half-time Birmingham nil, Everton 2.

EVERTON 2 BIRMINGHAM CITY 1
December 29 1924. The Daily Courier.
VALUABLE POINTS FOR EVERTON.
STRENUOUS GAME ON HEAVY GROUND.
CROSSBAR BROUGHT DOWN BY WIND.
By F. McN.
The two points gained by Everton were welcomed and deserved. The Blues' position at the bottom half of the table has occasioned great concern, and these points will encourage the players in their efforts to get further away from the lower steps of the ladder. It was a timely success, and their supporters were greatly relieved when the winning point was scored. It was a strenuous game on a glue-pot pitch, the rain rendering the ground heavy and holding, particularly in the middle. It was difficult to move quickly, and when well-intended passes were executed the players found that the ball pulled up short and an opponent usually obtained possession. Under such conditions the only thing to do was to hit the ball hard and swing it about. The Everton inside forwards, particularly Irvine, made the mistake of holding the ball too close and attempting to dribble. Irvine was clever in controlling the ball, tactics would have paid on a harder surface, but in the mud it was so much wasted skill and energy.
OPEN METHODS NEEDED.
Had more open methods been adopted in the second half Everton must have won much more conformably. Still, victory came along, and on the whole the Everton men lasted longer than Birmingham. The backs were sound, and McDonald played a good, hard game, marred only by a fatal mistake in trying to pass back to the goalkeeper. The ball struck in the mud each time he kicked it, and the back was eventually penalised when Briggs, who had beaten the Everton back for possession, was brought down. This incident followed 14 minutes after Broad had opened the score for Everton in 16 minutes. Jones took the penalty kick and smashed the ball against the post. From the rebound Lindley shot in Livingstone cleverly saving, but Islip caught the ball and drove it into the net. It was a quarter of an hour from the end when Williams from a Broad centre, scored the winning goal. Everton had enjoyed the greater spells of attacking and Broad was unlucky in not getting through several times. Harland had not a great deal to do, so well was he covered by the backs.
STONG HALVES.
The strongest part of the Everton team, however, was the half-back line, all three playing a strong forceful game, and they held up the Birmingham forwards in masterly style. Peacock played one of his best games. Forward, Weaver pleased by his sprightly runs and well-judged centres, and I fancy he will be force for good on lighter grounds. He is skilful and fast, and controls the ball cleverly. Williams made him a useful partner, and Broad is a dashing leader who will get a lot of goals. The right wing was not so effective, Chedgzoy suffering from lack of opportunity. Birmingham are a strong bustling side who have the advantage of a good goalkeeper in Tremelling and a sturdy pair of backs in Womack and Jones. Cringan and Barton were sound halves, and forward Islip and Crosbie were dangerous raiders and Briggs, until he was injured and changed places with Harris was a worthy deputy for Bradford. The start was delayed as a result of an unusual incident. The wind had got under the tarpaulin sheet used to protect the gaol area, and drove it heavily against the post, smashing it and bringing down the crossbar. The ground staff, under the direction of Mr. Banks, the director, had to make burried repairs. They succeeded, and play started about seven minutes after the advertised time. Teams : - Everton: - Harland, goal, McDonald, and Livingstone, backs, Peacock, Reid, and Hart (captain), half-backs, Chedgzoy, Irvine, Broad, Williams, and Weaver, forwards. Birmingham City: - Tremelling, goal, Womack (captain), and Jones, backs, Liddell, Cringan, and Barton, half-backs, Harris, Crosbie, Briggs, Islip, and Lindsay, forwards.

BIRMINGHAM CITY RESERVES 0 EVERTON RESERVES 3
December 29 1924. The Daily Courier.
CENTRAL LEAGUE (Game 23)
Everton Reserves had a very fine win at St. Andrews, though the ground was in a bad condition. Chadwick and Cock scored in the opening half, and Chadwick headed through a second time near the end. Everton had a powerful side. Raitt and Bain played finely in defence.

A PEEP BEHIND THE SCENES
Athletic News - Monday 29 December 1924
RANDOM RECOLLECTIONS OF RENOWNED PLAYERS FROM FORTY YEARS OF SPORT
By Tityrus
Football folks are very superstitious. Were they not life would be duller than it is. Directors seem to think that certain people bring them luck on the field, and players are believers in mascots. If a black cat, quite a stranger, walked into the dressing-room on the day of a match the players would stroke and pet it, provide it with milk, and almost worship it. Players believe in charms. The aid of Aladdin’s lamp, which was really a pantomime “property” at Leeds, there is no doubt whatever in the minds of some who have faith in false gods that Huddersfield Town reached the Final Tie for The Cup in 1919-20, and gave the Aston Villa team such a fright that Andrew Ducat and his henchmen will never forget it. This lamp involved secret incantations and processions in the dressing-room before every tie; ‘twas almost like Obeah worship. But all the rites, ceremonies, and witchcraft failed in the extra half-hour. No doubt the lamp was perfect, but it was the human machinery which broke down, even if the team did not meet a funeral or a squinting beldame, on the way to Stamford Bridge.
A PERFECT “JOHAH.”
This train of the occult has obtruded itself not because I attach the least importance to signs, omens, amulets, or any such artificial mummery and abracadabra. The finest mascot is a clever, well-balanced team. But the fact is that certain clubs declare that they never win when I happen to watch their matches. As soon as I have walked on to the ground I have seen the faces of directors and secretaries and managers grow glum as if the last hope of success had gone. One director used to come up and hold out a shilling; “For heaven’s sake go to the pictures.” That was his joke, but there was a grain of truth, founded on experience, to prompt his remark. I have known officials say with a sigh; “That’s done it,” as soon as they see me. Players have been icy in their reception. “We can never play our game when you’re looking on.” This has been told me dozens of times by footballers. One directors said to me a year or two ago;- “We shall never let our players know when you are coming. Can’t a little man like you conceal yourself!” of course, I have laughed at their superstitious nonsense. What a relief it was to me when the secretary manager of Swansea Town remarked this season;- “Our boys have done their best and played well because you were here.” What in the name of all the prophets have I to do with the form of teams and the exhibitions of players? I have introduced the last of my football recollections in this way because players, at least some of them, have been so silly as to blame me when they have not received their international caps, and others have come up and thanked me when they have been honoured. One man, who was a Scotsman, got his place in the big match at Hampden Park against England. I happened, by the kindness of a friend, to look in thedressing room of the Scottish team because I wished to see James Gordon of the Rangers. The Scot who had received his first cap came up to me and said; “I wish to thank you for all that you have done for me.” I asked him who he was. He told me, and my reply was;- “You have nothing to thank me for. You have played well and I gave you the praise you earned. If you had not earned it in my opinion you would not have been praised. That’s all there is about it, friend.” All that I have ever done in accounts of matches and criticisms of players has been to express honestly what appealed to me and what I felt. That was my duty, and no man is entitled to thanks for doing his duty.
PRAISE AND CENSURE
Many years ago, when I used to see so much of Nottingham Forest, they played two young amateurs, Albert Smith at half-back and Martin John Earp (generally called “Jack”) at full back. They were not very sure of their places, and they came to me in order to see if I could help them to get a permanent position in some other team. I certainly secured Albert Smith a season with Blackburn Rovers, and I had reason to believe that Jack Earp found an opening with The Wednesday of Sheffield and led them to victory in The Cup through such influence as I could exert. I once had the pleasure of recommending an outside right for England, and he played capitally. Had he been a man with a level head and even normal ambition he would have gone far. But he was rather a ca’ canny sort of person. Unfortunately I had something to do with a certain player being tried as a centre-forward. He was a horrid failure, and when a member of the Selection Committee said to me;- “Have you any more centre-forwards in your top-coat pocket?” I passed a mental resolution about minding my own business. And I have kept it. You know I was supposed to carry some little weight in the construction of International elevens. But this idea was all moonshine- although it is difficult to convince players to the contrary. I prefer the remark that was once made to a colleague who told me that “Mr. Snaffle” said to him; “That chap Tityrus is not a football critic at all. That fellow’s a blooming poet. That’s all.” No such luck, for I would far sooner have been a “blooming poet.” (using blooming in its legitimate sense) than one who had to write about all sorts of matches, and all sorts and conditions of players. What some folks have said about me has had no effect whatever, for I know my limitations and my liability to err. All I can say is that for over 40 years I have just expressed honest convictions and tried to gibe pictures of the play and the players. I have never been such a mad man as to expect that everybody would agree with my views, but I have hoped that they would feel I was honest, and the generally I was charitable, because those are qualities which should be the foundation of all criticism worth reading about.
THE LATE ROBERT BENSON.
Many years ago, on February 18, 1905, Southampton had to visit Wolverhampton Wanderers for a tie in the second round of the Association Cup. The teams were well matched, had some excellent players, and the Southerners won a glorious struggle by 3-2. There was a fair-haired, strongly-built, robust fellow of about 5ft 9in., and 12 ½ stone, playing right-back for Southampton. I was told he was a Cumbrian of about 22 years of age. He sailed in and tackled bravely, and his returns were splendid. His name was Robert Benson, and in the next issue of The Athletic News I gave him the praise that was his right, for he had won it-as well as the match. A little time elapsed, and then I received a letter from Sheffield United- I think from that able and judicious secretary, John Nicholson- inquiring if I thought that Benson would be of any service to the United in the First Division. that was a question easily answered, and the result was the engagement of Benson by the Bramall-lane club. Splendidly he served them, played for England, and went on tour with the first F.A team which visited South Africa. Afterwards Benson joined Arsenal, and most of us will remember that he died on the ground at Highbury in the course of a match during the war. He had been so busy on ammunitions, for he was a steel worker by trade, that he had lost all physical fitness, and tried to play with his old vigour. His heart could not stand such a strain. Poor Benson! I never spoke to him, but I shall never forget him, for he was a hearty player of sound ability. Few will ever forget the way he cantered over the length of the field to take a thundering kick from the penalty-spot. I attended the banquet which the F.A. gave to the team about to leave for South Africa in May, 1910 when Benson, Wedlock, and Joe Lievesley, the goalkeeper, were a little group who interested me.
“TED” TAYLOR’S DEBUT
Lievesley expressed the feeling that was uppermost in the minds of all when, in answer to my question, he replied; “I am delighted to be going to The Cape. A tour like this is as good as going up to Cambridge University.” And Benson and Wedlock nodded their assent. Lievesley was a fine fellow, and his one ambition was, as he told me later, in fact during the war, to give his family, his sons, a better start in life than he himself had. Benson, Lievesley and Wedlock were men of the right type, and as eager to play good football and do the right thing as anybody could be. Another case where I managed to help a man on the way occurred a few years later. On January 29, 1912, I attended, in the course of my duty, a match at The Den, the ground of Millwall, when the amateurs of the North met the amateurs of the South. There were some excellent players in both elevens, and I was able to use my voice-as well as my pen- in favour of one man on each side. The South won by three clear goals, but the North would have been absolutely overwhelmed had it not been for the goalkeeper of Edward Taylor, who was described on the card as a player of Liverpool Balmoral, a small club in an amateur league, under the title of the Zingari, in the seaport city. Taylor protected his charge in magnificent fashion. Not for years had I seen a goalkeeper with such judgement and handicraft. Although his side was beaten I, of course, awarded to Taylor the tribute that his prowess had earned. Nor were my words measured, for the ink was enthusiasm and the pen my who slaved away to express what I felt. A few days later David Ashworth, who was then the manager of Oldham Athletic, rang me up on the telephone and coolly asked me if Taylor was as good as I had said! I told him that I was not in the habit of writing what I did not believe. He replied that he would try and sign Taylor for his club, and if he did he would send me a £5 note. David Ashworth, as usual, signed the man he hunted, but the Bank of England note must have got into some aerial bank en route, for it never reached me. I was never anxious about it; did not expect it, and did not want it. Of course you know ‘ere this that Edward Taylor, of Liverpool Balmoral, is now Edward Taylor, of Huddersfield Town, and as Oldham Athletic received £4,000 for his transfer I reckon that that club owes me a bit. But, as Jack Point would say, we can let that pass. Taylor is England’s keeper, and I had the pleasure of first telling the world what a fine fielder of a ball he was. So Taylor went to Oldham and thence to Huddersfield, but I never met him and never spoke to him until ten years after that match at Millwall. Then I was introduced to him in the Queen’s Hotel, Birmingham, before he appeared in his first international match against Ireland at West Bromwich.
“CARRYING CORN.”
In this same match at Millwall was Edward Hanney, then the amateur centre half-back of Reading, and he played such a fine game behind S.C. Seaders, of Nunhead, G. Bell, of Barking, and W.G. Bailey, of Reading, that I went out of my way to advise Manchester City to the assistance of this player. They hesitated, and went down to Elm Park to watch him before they did so, but eventually they brought him to the old ground at Hyde-road, and never regretted it. If I have helped some players on the way- merely in the exercise of any office as Editor of the Athletic News- I have, sad to say, “Killed” others. Years ago The Wednesday had an outside right named Sam Kirkham, a Bury boy. He was a good player- beyond all doubt. But Mr. Arthur J. Dickinson, the hon. Secretary of the old club, told me again and again that I utterly ruined him by extravagant praise. If it is wrong to give a man the praise that he has earned I plead guilty, but surely I was not to blame if the player began to walk on the air. He should have come down to earth and kept his feet there. Every sportsman should be able to “carry corn.” Of course, any critic who is not merely an appendage to a club has to distribute praise and blame with a free and firm hand if he does his duty by the game, the team, the player, and himself. Unfortunately, there is a lot of egoism in this article. This cannot be avoided, and does not arise from conceit or vanity. In the middle of last August I had the pleasure of receiving this letter;-
Dear Tityrus,-
  Have just written my letter of resignation to the Swindon Club, and the thought came how nice it would be to write to wish you “So Long.” You see you were very nice to me at the first international matches I played in as a new-made friend and as a fair and impartial critic. Now that my time is over dare I say that your criticisms, although not always nice reading to myself, were never wrong, and often proved helpful? All the best that the world can give be yours, and if we play in the other world let Tityrus be my critic. – Yours sincerely, Harold J. Fleming.
This letter cane as a tremendous surprise to me, and pleasant, as we were both severing a long connection- he as a famous player and I as The Editor of this newspaper. What pleases me in this letter is that I tried to be fair and helpful. I said before that honesty and charity were the fundamentals of all criticism, but I should like to add that the constructive side is more valuable than the mere finding of faults. The heavy hammer must be used at times, but let nails be driven in so that they hold together a working platform for the future. My thanks to Harold Fleming and all other players who take praise and blame with equal serenity, and remember that life is not a playground but a period of probation and discipline. I must not ape the illustrious parson.
PLAYERS OF MANY TYPES.
Players are not by any means of one pattern. They are as varied as men can be. Never was this brought home to me so forcibly as years ago, when I had occasion to visit two footballers in their homes. The first was an international of renown, a first-class forward, than whom a better is seldom seen. Although the hour was approaching noon, he had to come downstairs. It was a cheerless house, almost bare of furniture. Indeed, the apartment, I went into had nothing but some rickety chairs, an infirm table, and some old boxes, no better than orange boxes, strewn about. The players wore a tattered shirt, his face was unwashed, his hair uncombed, and his arms were thin, even emaciated. He looked a poor wretch in a miserable home. Yet he was a great player, the idol of crowds, and extremely popular with his intimates. Of his private habits I cannot speak, for I do not know, but I never had such a disillusionment, and I have had a few. Contrast this was a visit I once paid to the house of Steve Bloomer-near to the baseball Ground at Derby. His home was a palace, well furnished, everything so neat and clean and orderly, that it was a pleasure to be there. His little girls- one of whom is now the wife of Quantrill-were in white muslin frocks, and looked like fairies, so tastefully and daintily were they dressed. On the walls of Bloomer’s apartments were framed photographs of may teams in which he had played for club and country-and footballs, lettered in gilt, setting forth the big occasions when they had been used-hung from the ceiling, more luscious to my eyes than Yorkshire hams in an old farmstead of the great country. Bloomer’s residence was a credit to his wife, and in a lesser degree to him, for, after all, the woman is the factor in the home. I have never forgotten the half-hour I passed with “Steve” and his family in their own surroundings, and I should say that with such a helpmate it was no wonder that Bloomer played until he was turned 40, and is still able to train the young in the way they should go.
A PLAYER-STATESMAN.
About players I could ramble on for ever and a day. I should like to close these rambling memories with a real tribute to Colin Veitch, whose statesmanship as the leader of the Players’ Union was seen when the F.A. and the professionals held a conference over 14 years ago, on the eve of the opening of a season, when there appeared the probability of a strike, and a complete collapse of all the provision made for the sport of the nation. Mr. Clegg, then the chairman of the F.A., allowed the disgruntled players to “let off steam” to their hearts’ content, and then Veitch poured oil on to the machine, lubricated the parts, and a smooth working was realised. The Players have never had a man of such vision and suave power as Veitch. Once he was mentioned as a Parliamentary candidate for a division of Newcastle. I would that he had prosecuted his candidature when he returned from the wars. May we never have the threat of another strike by the professionals of the national game. And now my thanks and salutations to all readers, with this announcement- that I shall commence of a series of recollections of great cricketers and great matches at the beginning of May.

HAPPY EVERTON
Athletic News - Monday 29 December 1924
GOALPOST SMASHED BY THE GALE
EVERTON 2 BIRMINGHAM 1
By Junius
An hour before the commencement of the game at Goodison Park there was an unusual happening which threatened to cause an abandonment of the fixture. While the tarpaulin in front of the goal was being removed a strong gust of wind blew the sheet against the woodwork with such force that one of the posts snapped at the socket. Eventually matters were righted, but it was not until eight minutes after the advertised time for starting that repairs were completed. The conditions were such that one's judgment ought rather to be on the brain work of the players than on their foot-craft. In this game willingness was not nearly sufficient, and foot-craft was often useless, but brains were always an asset, and method was necessary to reap any tangible award. Both teams quickly tumbled to the idea that mistakes would occur, and following up would be a paying policy. The Birmingham forwards were keener in this latter respect, for Everton almost throughout failed to judge the holding capacity of the sticky surface, and with their passing failing short, and kicking and shooting bereft of power, they frequently compared unfavourably with the forces arrayed against them.
A GOAL FOR BROAD
Everton's first goal was obtained after play had been in progress seventeen minutes. Prior to this, Briggs, playing for Bradford, who is suffering from knee trouble, twice came near to scoring, but on the general play up to this point Everton deserved their success. The ball was lifted into the goal area and dropped dead just behind Jones for BROADto dash in and score with a strong shot. The point unmistakably showed the value of direct effort under the existing conditions. Following this the Birmingham forwards gave a sample of nicely combined play, and covered much ground with apparently little expenditure of energy. Their movements suggested danger, and their equalising point was well deserved, though McDonald was at fault. In kicking back he failed to gauge the pace of the ball, and in attempting a recovery in the penalty area came under the ban of the referee. Jones took the spot kick and drove against the post, Livingstone getting away a return from Linley, but ISLIP followed up and beat Harland with a hard drive. For some time after the interval, Tremelling was a busy man, and often rose to great heights. Half an hour had gone by when Everton clinched the issue in their favour. This was the reward of long sustained pressure, which crumpled the Birmingham defence. The movement started on the right, and as Islip was lying injured at the time, it seemed that the defence became hesitant. At any rate, Broad raced on, and placed the ball in front of Tremelling for WILLIAMS to deflect it into the net. The occasion served to introduce Broad and Weaver, the latter signed last Tuesday, to Goodison Park habitues, and though it would not become one to be too critical with playing conditions so unfavourable, I can state with confidence that their inclusion was beneficial to the side. The dash of Broad and his firsttime efforts, which might easily have materialised in pronounced degree, were assets.
WEAVER PLEASED
The ex-Burnley man, too, showed up well. Keeping his position, hit passing and middling were frequently cleverly executed, and he was often a thorn in the side of Womack. He undoubtedly was a worker of merit, and generally was the only player to make real progress. Of course he was more favourably placed than his colleagues, as he was operating the outskirts of the mud as it were. Irvine, I thought, attempted too much and did not conserve his energy, which reflected itself when it became a matter of finishing movement. The whole line was well supported, but further behind there were occasions when Livingstone and McDonald dribbled over much in close proximity to their own goal. Womack and Jones were a strong resisting pair in front of Tremelling, who was a much harder worked man than Harland, but the Birmingham half-backs did not impress me as they frequently failed to hold the Everton forwards. Of the forwards I preferred Linley, who gave a practical display, dropping in shots from any and every likely favourable position. But grit, resolution, and stamina rather than skill were the dominating factors of the game. Everton.—Harland; McDonald, Livingstone; Peacock, Reid, Hart (Captain); Chedgzoy, Irvine, Broad, Williams, and Weaver. Birmingham.-Tremelling; Womack, Jones; Liddell, Cringan, Barton; Harris Crosbie, Briggs, Islip, and Linley. Referee: W. G. Day, Derby.

BIRMINGHAM’S DEFEAT AT GOODISON PARK
Birmingham Daily Post - Monday 29 December 1924
ERRORS IN DEFENCE AGAINST EVERTON
EVERTON 2 BIRMINGHAM 1
After having successfully emerged from the ordeal of two strenuous games with the Arsenal on Christmas Day and Boxing Day, Birmingham fell on the third successive day of football after a hard game at Goodison Park. It is remarkable that the Midlanders’ few defeats have included two at the hands of lowly-placed clubs like Everton and Preston North End, and particularly that they should have ceded three points this season to the former club. On the present occasion, although Birmingham were fittingly defeated, there are excuses to be offered for them. The absence of Bradford was a decided factor in the reverse, for though Briggs is a forceful and well-made youngster, he has naturally yet to acquire the finish of his older clubmate. Islip, who was among the most efficient inside men on the field, was hampered in his progress by a recurrence of recent leg trouble, and both wing men were well marked by the opposing half-backs and backs. Added to this, they were less well served by those behind them than usual. Neither the backs nor the half-backs could cope with the heavy conditions to the extent of placing the ball far enough up the field. Certainly the pitch was more like a lake of mud than a turf-covered area, and before the game had been long in progress the ball was as heavy as lead. Still, the conditions were the same for both sides, and the game was lost and won because one side could not lift the ball with force and precision, whereas the opposing side succeeded in that endeavour.
BROAD’S LUCKY GOAL
Reference has been made to the adequate manner in which Linley and Harris were marked; indeed, for once the Birmingham defence met its equal in the fine art of covering, tactics in which they usually outshine opposing sides. Jones, usually very reliable in his clearances, miskicked frequently, and often it was Womack’s province to have to cross over to assist his partner, rather than the reverse. It was one of Jones’ errors of judgement that let in Broad. The home centre-forward had got close in when Jones, endeavouring to head clear, had the mortification of seeing the ball drop a yard or two behind him, and before he could turn Broad had dashed in and netted at close range. Birmingham’s equaliser was a remarkable one. Briggs had cut in between the backs, out-pacing McDonald for possession, and was well within the area, with Harland advancing cautiously to meet him, when the Everton right back tripped him over, and the referee, who was quite near the offender, justly awarded a penalty kick. Jones, who took the kick, put the ball hard against the upright, whence it rebounded to Linley. The later shot, but the ball, bouncing off a defender, came to Islip, who made no mistake. The winning goal came a quarter of an hour from the end, after a keen half-hour in which honours had been easy, thanks to a series of fine saves by Tremelling. On this occasion the goalkeeper seemed to be rather hesitant, for Chedgzoy’s capital centre came to the middle of the goal, and only two or three yards out. Had he dashed out, Tremelling might have punched the ball away, but he elected to stand in the goal mouth, and Williams had no difficulty in heading clear of him. Apart altogether from errors of defence, Birmingham were on the day an inferior side, and once more they made the mistake of keeping the ball close. The long swinging passes of the home team, for whom Weaver was a shinning light, were in marked contrast. The cleverer touches were Birmingham’s; the more effective work and the better judged adaptation to conditions on a ground which was barely playable, came from Everton. The teams were;- Everton; Harland; McDonald, Livingstone; Peacock, Reid, Hart (Captain); Chedgzoy, Irvine, Broad, Williams, Weaver. Birmingham;- Tremelling; Womack, Jones; Liddell, Cringan, Barton; Harris, Crosbie, Briggs, Islip, Linley.

CENTRAL LEAGUE
Birmingham Daily Post - Monday 29 December 1924
EVERTON’S ADAPTABILITY AT ST. ANDREW’S
In conditions not conducive to good football, Everton proved at St. Andrew’s that it was possible for a side to be adaptable; and as a result of this capacity the visitors retired victors by three clear goals. The state of the ground was execrable; but Everton were undoubtedly the better side in the first half-quite good enough for their two goals lead (obtained through Chadwick and Cock), although Pritchett had hard luck with a capital centre from Harvey (W,H.). Dale also did his best before the interval to reduce the visitors’ lead, a powerful shot just missing the bar. Birmingham did well in the second half up to a point; but good work leading up to a promising position was wasted by weak finish. Towards the end Chadwick headed a good third goal for Everton, who fully deserved their victory.

BLUES’ GO DOWN FIGHTING
Birmingham Daily Gazette - Monday 29 December 1924
EVERTON’S WEIGHT TELLS ITSB TALE ON HEAVY GROUND
BRADFORD MISSED
EVERTON 2 BIRMINGHAM 1
By Forward
A muddy, slippery ground at Goodison Park, following two heavy but successful Christmas matches, had the effect of turning the tide against Birmingham, and the enthusiastic side had to submit to defeat by an odd goal at the hands of what must be acknowledged to be the superior side on the day. Probably it would have been wise to have rested two or three of the Birmingham men after their hard games with the Arsenal, for several of them suffered from knocks and strains, but the whole of them expressed a keen desire to play for what would be the third day in succession, and they put up a very plucky fight against Everton, who, however, fully deserved the points for their superior play. Without reflecting on the dashing work of Briggs, who did his very best under trying conditions, Bradford was seriously missed in the Birmingham attack. The heavy rains had made the ground in a terrible state, and the mud was so thick in the centre of the field that it needed a man of extraordinary physique to plough his way through the mire, a task to which Briggs was not equal. The ball, too, was like a lump of lead, and it required a hefty kick to take it out to the wings. Altogether the conditions were against Birmingham, and the heavier side gained their victory by greater thrustfulness in the mud. Birmingham were by no means disgraced, however, and put up a hard fight right until the end, the defence doing nobly in the second half when the odds were against them. Quite early in the game- after seventeen minutes, to be exact-Livingstone punted the ball up the field, and Cringan tried to head it, but merely deflected the ball back beyond Jones, who was waiting to clear. This left Broad with only Tremelling to beat, and he did it in approved style, leaving the goalkeeper helpless.
THE EQUALISER
Birmingham got level a few minutes later through Islip. Briggs was tripped up by McDonald in the penalty area, and Jones hit the upright with the penalty kick, Linley making an unsuccessful effort on the rebound. Livingstone cleared the latter’s shot and the ball passed to Islip, who scored with a beautiful first-time shot. It was not until 75 minutes had elapsed that Everton got the winning goal, and this might have been prevented, for Tremelling had an opportunity to fist out Chedgzoy’s centre before Williams could get his head to the ball and put it into the net. The centre came within a couple of yards of the goal and Tremelling left himself helpless by not making an effort before Williams approached, but it was the only semblance of an error the goalkeeper made all through the match, and it was due to him more than any other member of the defence that the score was kept so low. On three or four occasions in the second half the Birmingham backs were completely beaten, but Tremelling saved the situation by clearing the shots directed at goal, and for this brilliant work it would be unfair to criticise him for this one error of judgement.
EVERTON SUPERIOR
Without doubt Everton were the superior side. Birmingham were at their best in the first 20 minutes, and up to this point gave every indication of continuing their winning ways, but after the interval the wretched state of the ground began to tell upon them, and try as they would things refused to go the right way for them. On the other hand Everton bustled into their work cleverly, and swung the ball about to greater advantage, with the result that they practically monopolised the play in the second half. At times it was impossible to more the ball through the mud more than a few inches and with the home attack pressing upon them relentlessly it was no wonder the Birmingham backs made mistakes. Indeed, any errors were quite excusable on such a churned-up pitch, and the home attackers often found the mud as great a handicap as did the visiting defenders. Broad and Williams both got right past the backs and then found themselves almost unable to lift their feet out of the mud to take a shot at goal. The mud was also responsible for spoiling one of Birmingham’s best chances. Before Everton had scored Linley put the ball nicely into the centre, and Crosbie provided a capital chance for briggs, but the latter fell headlong in the mud in his effort to seize the opening. Considering everything Birmingham did very well and an odd goal defeat under such trying circumstances was no reflection upon the team.
GOALPOST UPROOTED
An hour before the match the gale uprooted one of the goal posts and despite the feverish activities of several workmen they were unable to replace the post in time for the game to start at the scheduled time. The work was completed seven minutes after the advertised time of starting. Another unusual incident happened when Broad opened the scoring. An enthusiastic spectator ran right up to the centre of the field to shake hands with the scorer, and when escorted from the field added to the amusement of the crowd by shaking hands with the police constable who conducted him beyond the fencing. Everton.- Harland; McDonald, Livingstone; Peacock, Reid, Hart (Captain); Chedgzoy, Irvine, Broad, Williams, Weaver. Birmingham;- Tremelling; Womack, Jones; Liddell, Cringan, Barton; Harris, Crosbie, Briggs, Islip, Linley. Referee; Mr. W.G. Day (Derby).

AND NOP FOR NEW YEAR AND THE CUP TIES
Liverpool Echo - Monday 29 December 1924
Bee’s Notes
A victory, obtained against the grain and against the mud-paths! Everton were glad to get it over. It meant the third of their hard Christmas “treats” and if only the home game with Newcastle had been won the outcome would have been very useful. As it was, three points helped to raise the side in confidence and in the League chart. Confidence seems to count for a lot with Everton’s players, but when they got the first goal of the day against Birmingham one saw visions of an unusual score. A lapse by the back who has been playing so well for them, and the state of equality put the wind up the local players, so that we saw once more a startled Everton side trying too hard and not using their brains to save their legs by a direct pass. No one will surely contend that Irvine, for instance, isn’t a clever player. He can beat man after man. That is the trouble. He tries to do so rather than to save his wind and limb, and he has developed this game to an extent that makes it seem a fetish with him these days. Where is his first-time pass? Where is the value of his ultra-dribble by which he gets covered up as easily as a train is covered by a tunnel? Irvine has gone all wrong tactically; yet his footwork is strong and his power over the ball is too well know for me to repeat it. Irvine has simply lost his power through not realising that his “trick play” will not pay on turf as we are experiencing in these floody days.
BROAD AND WEAVER
Broad did not waver, but Weaver did weave. These two new men-first time out with the first team-certainly made tracks to goal by the nearest route on most occasions. James Broad loves a tilt at goalkeepers, and if the going had been drier he would have taken toll of Jones, the back, on three occasions. As it was, he could hardly drag the ball with him when be intended to shoot. He kept onside, kept his head, and showed an enthusiasm for upward movement that one was glad to see. By the same token Weaver went ahead and made ground. A pass to him meant that yards of our defending portion were released, and the Burnley-Birkenhead boy had a nice type of centre to swing across. Weaver at times was inclined to “weave.” I do hope he will get well into his system the fact that Everton have had many weavers in recent times and that a man who makes two yards sure by plain knitting is preferred to the man who goes back, beats in a dribble three men and then comes to the same spot covered up by a defence. There has been too much ability in Everton for some time; there has not been sufficient direct method. There is no doubt that all the players found Saturday’s conditions troublesome. Many a ball driven along the ground travelled half a yard and then stuck. The hook-up shot was required.
NOT HARSH
I hope my criticism will be taken in the way it is intended. It is intended to help Everton to a better understanding in the League games. They were well on top of a side that has only lost one away game before this season. They should never have been in doubt about victory, for they opened the scoring and were playing better football. Then came some great goalkeeping by Tremelling and a slip by a full-back, who, like Livingstone often does, did not clear first and think afterwards. A goal came through this-aided by a penalty kick which did not get there first time through sheer accident. Everton felt once more that nobody loved them, and it was only when Williams got the lead that Everton played like a real side who could win games. Birmingham suffered in consequence, and only the steadiness of the goalkeeper and Womack, who wears as well as Longworth, kept the score to 2-1. I congratulate Everton and hope the lesson of the match has been learned. Open the game. Swing the ball about. It isn’t your!
STRANGE HAPPENINGS TO EVERTON FOOTBALLER
On Saturday Everton beat Birmingham 2-1, but Irvine knew little about it. He had no idea until told that Birmingham had a penalty kick, not did he know that Islip had equalised. All the spectators present noticed that Irvine was dribbling unusually insistently-he tried to beat four men every time he got the ball. He reminded one of the story of the man, who went to a fancy dress ball, tied himself in knots, and said he was “a piece of string.” We learn, however, that Irvine’s faulty work was due to a surprising cause. He played through the game in a mase, and he must have sustained a severe knock from the heavy ball, for his mind was a blank after the first fifteen minutes’ play. The doctor attended him on Saturday night on the call of a fellow-player who had noticed his strange behaviour. Word from Heswall to-day states that Irvine is now all right, and that all the men save Chedgzoy are well. Chedgzoy soon after half-time, strained a muscle. The team left for Heswall on Saturday night, and are spending their time on the golf course. Mr. Ernest Green, the director, and Mr. McIntosh, secretary, are in charge.

GOOD GOING
Liverpool Echo - Wednesday 31 December 1924
Bee’s Notes
Everton Reserves have had a triumphant time for some weeks now, and when they meet the West Brom Reserve side at Goodison on Saturday, they face the champions of the league, and in view of what we know of those champions from the Midlands, we are assured a hot game. Everton Reserve have in the last four matches not had a goal against them, and have beaten Bury at home, Preston away, and Birmingham away, while they drew at home with Preston in a return fixture. Four matches- no goals-that is uncommon progress.
EVERTON’S FIRST ELEVEN
To-morrow we have a cup-tie rehearsal. There is nothing quite so enticing as a league match that precedes a meeting of the same pair in cup-tie warfare. Burnley have in recent times come back to improved form, and the inclusion of Hill against Jim Broad will produce one of the toughest parts of the game at Goodison Park to-morrow. Burnley fancy their chance in the heavy going, but Everton seem to me to have made an upward turn and they are sure to be all out to make the club’s position safer. It is a holiday, and when the following teams turn out there will be a big attendance;- Everton; Harland; McDonald, Livingstone; Peacock, Reid, Hart; Chedgzoy, Irvine, Broad, Williams, Weaver. Burnley; Dawson; Smelt, Waterfield; Basnett, Hill, Tresadern; Tonner, Cross, Roberts, Beel, Lancaster.