MEDALS FOR EVERTON PLAYERS
Liverpool Daily Post - Tuesday 01 June 1915
Permission was given Everton to present extra medals to Palmer, Kirsopp, and Grenyer who had played in seventeen, sixteen and fourteen matches respectively.  

EVERTON’S “INQUIRY” PEROPOSAL FAILS
The Liverpool Echo- Tuesday, June 1, 1915
Bee’s Notes
The main point of yesterday’s meeting of the F.A. was the Everton proposal that failed. Everton proposed to add to rule 41 the following;- In the event of dismissal of a player from the field of play the council shall, at the request of the club of which the player is a member, appoint a committee, to inquire into the circumstances attending the dismissal of such player, and it shall be competent for the club at such inquiry to adduce evidence, both oral and written, as they may desire; provided always that such request for the appointment of a committee shall be made within four days of the date of such dismissal from the field as aforesaid.” In bringing the proposal before the meeting Mr. W.R. Clayton (Everton) said that there was no desire to attack, but one to be helpful to the Emergency Committee. He urged that players should be protected and have the right, if charged with an offence, to bring every evidence to disprove such assertion, and contended that great benefit must be deprived from personally cross-examining both the referee and player. Having adduced three illustrations, which he contended, showed the need for the alteration, he concluded by saying that his proposal ought to be welcomed in the best interest of the game. Mr. Bainbridge (Liverpool) seconded. Mr. J.C. Clegg, in opposing the motion, said he would, of course, give credit to Mr. Clayton for the motives, which had actuated Mr. Clayton and the Everton club, but he dissented very strongly from the story as to complaints against the players. He asked how many times had anybody seen a referee order a man off without justification, and how many times had offences for which most people would order a player off escaped penalty from the referee. He considered the terms of the motion undesirable, and strongly protested against the idea of taking out of the hands of the council matters which they had dealt with for twenty years. The proposal in making the club and not the council decide would reverse the general order of things. The consideration of such matters should not rest with one of the parties concerned. On a show of hands 24 voted for the proposal and 48 against. A two-thirds majority being necessary for an alteration in the rules, the Everton motion thus failed altogether.

EVERTON F.C.'S AFFAIRS
June 3, 1915. The Evening Express
The annual meeting of the Everton Football Club is to be held on Monday. In the course of a letter on the subject of the selection of directors a correspondent signing himself “Sinceritas” writes;-
“The annual meeting of the Everton Football Club is again approaching and the usual manifestations of the all-mighty syndicate party are in evidence. Unfortunately for the sake of the club and its traditions a strong opposition appears to be working up against a certain director whose only “crime” appears to have been the exercising of his own discretion and judgment, instead of tending to a clique who appear to be trying sole to run the club. This time gentleman against whom they would seem to allege all sorts of trumpery grievance is an old player and ardent club worker, who has done more in a practical way for the good of the club than probably any director who has ever had the doubtful privilege of sitting on the board. One can hardly call to mind the extent of his marred labours in obtain from all parts of the country, the football talent which the old supporters of Everton will treasure in happy memory and looked at from a business point of view this gentleman is an asset which no club can afford to despite. “The gratitude as mooted out by the syndicate for such services is quite alien to the best interests of the club – nor to stay the game itself – and it will be well for the shareholders not to permit any so called syndicate of monopoly to rule the club's affairs to the detriment of true sport which seems to be rapidly becoming a thing of the past. It will certainly be a tragedy if Mr. D. Kirkwood is not returned to the board on Monday next and if, therefore behoves all shareholder to rally round him and ensure that he receive the support which he only deserves.

EVERTON ELECTION
The Liverpool Echo-Thursday June 3, 1915
Bee’s Notes
Football seems out of place, and be but for the fact that the records of the finances are being issued, and Everton’s sheet showed that an election was to take place-one imagined that winning the League and running well for the Cup, together with the times we are passing through, would be sufficient guarantee that satisfaction had been obtained, and that no change would be the order. Mr. D. Kirkwood, who is being opposed has been the subject apparently of some talk regarding a team selection for one match. It is all very extraordinary if, as I am told, it is true, for never yet heard of a shareholder offering thanks to anyone for selecting the right man. In any case the idea that Mr. Kirkwood was responsible for the selection is entirely wrong, for four directors with unanimity selected the player, and therefore must be held jointly responsible. I have two letters regarding the election, and I give as much as I can of the letters, the cutting process being necessary through lack of space.
  “Sinceritas” writes;- A strong opposition appears to be working up against a certain director, whose only “crime” appears to have been the exercising of his own discretion and judgement instead of toadying. This game gentleman, against whom they allege all sorts of trumpery grievance, is an old player and ardent club worker, who has done more in a practical way for the good of the club than probably any director who has ever had the doubtful privilege of sitting on the board. One can hardly call to mind the extent of his unaided labours in obtaining from all parts of the country the football talent which the old supporters of Everton will treasure in happy memory, and, looked at from a business point of view, this gentleman is an asset which no club  can afford to despise. The “gratitude,” as meted out by the syndicate for such services is quite alien to the best interests of the club- not top say the game itself- and it will be well for the shareholders not to permit any so-called syndicate or monopoly to rule the club’s affairs to the detriment of true sport, which seems to be rapidly becoming a thing of the pasts. It will certainly be a tragedy if Mr. D. Kirkwood is not returned to the board on Monday. All shareholders should rally round him and ensure that he receives the support which he richly deserve.
MR. E. C. ASHWORTH WRITES;-
Surely this is a time when the Everton F.C should show a front that is united. Mr. Davies, jun, is no doubt a “jolly good fellow.” He has I am sure, the welfare of the club at heart, is it the game to come in at this particular time? I want you to know that I have not seen Mr. Kirkwood for two years to speak to. He has no knowledge of this letter. What I have said is purely my opinion as a shareholder. If Mr. Davies decides to go to the poll, I ask shareholder.  If Mr. Davies decides to go to the poll, I ask shareholders who have not given proxy and those who go on Monday next to vote, to remember the old Everton, and in doing so I am sure the name of D. Kirkwood will not be forgotten. 

FREEMAN'S SIGNING
June 5, 1915, The Liverpool Football Echo
Did Nothing Great But Scored
Anecdote As Antidote To War-Wore Readers
Last week we talked of some signings in which I was interested. For but a short time let us talk of the best signing that ever I had a hand in. Everton at a certain period in their history showed signs of A.D. Players such as Settle, Sandy Young, McDermott, and Co were beginning to come to the end of their tether, I had an idea that Bert Freeman would be capable of picking up a lot of good football points from such as Settle and McDermott and that Everton by signing him would do a sensible stroke of business. He would learn more football trickery in five games with Settle and Young or Settle and Tommy McDermott than he would gain in five years with Woolwich Arsenal. Freeman was essentially a goal-getter. I never claimed for him that he was otherwise -then Everton wanted a goal getter, and I so rammed home in my “Notebook” the need for Everton to get Freeman's signature till the matter became as obnoxious to me as it did to my readers. Correspondents wrote and suggested that the club might give him a run, but nothing was done for a long time. Freeman was watched and he scored four goals, but I believe the report concerning him was something to this effect; “He scored three goals but he did nothing great!” After weeks of waiting Everton had a shot at his transfer. Aston Villa asked about £300 if I remember correctly. They had Hampson at his best then, and they were not keen on getting rid of their local produce. However, while Everton were debating about a sum of £50, Woolwich Arsenal stepped in, paid the money, got their choice, and Freeman started scoring goals for them. He was rushed off to Nottingham the next day, and set out on goal-getting. This was in January, mark you. Yet he finished at the head of his clubs scorers list by April. When he came with Woolwich to Anfield I went to see him in the old Anfield road dressing room –what a hole it was, and how different our dressing rooms are nowadays –and I expressed regret that he had not been signed by Everton, where I told him I through he would have fared well. Bert replied that he, too was sorry as he would have liked Everton.
Voice of The Critics
After my booming of Freeman, and recommending him to a local club, it was only natural that the local public and the local critics should take a deep interest in his appearance at Anfield. Generally speaking the folk didn't fancy him –they laughed at his darts forward and his funny little steps. The critics in certain quarters “went” for me in a mild way and showed plainly enough that they would not have signed him if the matter had rested with them. Later Woolwich fell on evil days, and Freeman was transferred. Note this; if he had been signed when the idea was first published he would have gained much in the way of training and experience and class football. Woolwich had done Freeman no great good. If he didn't score regularly he was “no good” “Tim” Coleman came to Liverpool at about the same time and I watched the new-comers very closely –and kept an eye on the critics too. The “Official” programme gave it out one day that with Freeman at centre Everton cannot hope to success or combination”? That's a fair sample of some of the critical comments passed upon this much-booned player, I knew Freeman's ability and his solo goal scoring method, and I knew too that a few of those thrilling runs would make the critics from tail. They did so in short time. And what was their next move? Mainly this; they suddenly found that Coleman made all Freeman's goals for him? I bow to no one in appreciation to one in appreciation of “Tim Coleman's skill in putting a ball forward. I tell you candidly, however, that the talk of Coleman virtually providing Freeman with a record of records, in scoring 38 goals in one season was a lot of tarradiddle. In later years Burn Campbell used to attribute to Jack Taylor much to the credit of the record put up by the centre forward. Here again, I yield to no one in my estimation of Jack Taylor's help. But to laden Freeman's goals with assistance from the inside partner and centre half back, and say that he got most of his goals through their agency is not accordingly to fact.
The Other Side of the Goal
Further you'll note that Freeman has rarely been given credit for being one of the most unselfish players that ever toed a ball. He was always anxious to give the pass direct across the goal of he had become boxed in, and time and again he had refused to take a fair chance of goaling so that a better-placed man could make “sicker” (or should it be “sikkar” or nicer?) Not a word passed their lips about the fact that Freeman often used to score after taking up a pass in the middle of the field. Fancy a pass (of ordinary character) made in the centre of the field, being made a hook upon which to hang a Freeman goal. A half-truth had got them down. Coleman was canny enough to know that Freeman wanted the forward pass, that he could not head a ball “for nuts” as the junior would say, and that he simply loathed taking a ball at an acute angle. Coleman was an old soldier you know, and he fed Freeman with the passes he liked. I'll tell you something more important. Coleman used to do a deal of pin-pricking. He found Freeman wanted shaking up now and again and had spells of inactively when nothing but a taste of Coleman would make him “gee-up.” Coleman has told me more than once that “Bert was like a heavy horse, he lolled of to sleep if you didn't keep slicking pins in him” Even to this day Freeman seems to me to have his lax moments but it must not be forgotten that when he gets up steam he puts plenty of push into work and is capable of taking and giving a chance when he is on the run. When he was in his first experiences with Everton, I reckon he was one of the fastest dashers I had seem. This fact recalls the troubled time caused to me through declaring that over a short distance, say forty yards Harry Makepeace was one of the stiffest I had known. The matter was much denied and much debated, but I hold that even now Makepeace in football toggery can give most of the youngsters a start and a beating over a short course.
Fell From Grace
Great was the scene when Freeman broke Sam Raybould's record and I shall not forget it in a hurry. But a crowd which had been well fed in the goal line cried for plenty of goals the next season. They did not realize that by making a record Freeman was making a rod for his old back. His fame fed to his being marked in more than one sense of the term. I stood up for him hard and fast now, for he was asked to do too much and his reasonably good goal crop was not bad enough to be sacfied at. The matter cut another way if Freeman was being watched by more than one man whenever he put down his feet where were his co-forwards, and how was it they were not succeeding in splashing; it was not granted that Coleman and some others were showing still further signs of age. No, Freeman was the marked man. By the next season the crowd began to bark at him. Everton's crowd had a record that does not do them proud in this respect. Freeman in one game (Lancashire Cup) injured his shoulder badly, and was out for some time. This was a novelty for him, for he was always ready and anxious to play despite his mauling. Further, no one ever saw him retaliate; he was one of the cleanest players the game had known. When he recovered from his injury he showed slowness in coming back up his former style. He is a speedy flesh-maker I fancy and that statement reminds me that it was after a trip of England that he had a stale time on the field. All though his football life Freeman has had these black patches –some footballers get them once in a lifetime. Freeman had spells at Woolwich, Everton and Burnley aline showed patience and reaped the benefit of their wise refusal to transfer a man who hail in the tick of the clock lost his form. Former Everton “guardians” have told him that they could not keep Freeman at Everton because the crowd had got at him. He had been tried at outside left and shaped fairly well- he nearly always turned to the extreme left if his solo runs were likely to be baulked. However the plan of playing him in away matches was not tried and therefore the crowd's bark was as hard as its bite, me effect being that Everton decided to transfer Freeman and Mountford at a paltry price.
Re-Enter Freeman
I well recall the day that Freeman and his pal left Exchange Station. I was coming out of the station and strange to say, bumped into them. Asked where they were going the reply was Burnley. I was astonished –so were the players. They had neither of them ever gamed a benefit and Freeman in particular had three seasons in senior service to his name. However, Burnley proved a good change to the players named, and Burnley to this day declare that they are ready and “bursting today if there are any more such transfer going about. Mainly through the signing of Boyle, Taylor and Freeman Burnley got into the leading places of the League and Cup. Time came when Freeman's successes were cut short. He didn't score. Burnley simply waited on him. They knew he would come again, and wished him well. He came. While Everton were getting knocked out at Glossop in the first round of the Cup Freeman was helping his club to start their famous walk to the “Sportsman's Final” in 1914. Burnley won the Cup, Freeman scoring the only goal of the game against Liverpool. Four memories of that final stand out with exceeding strength. First King George was present. Next a shot from Nicholl would have scored in the first half of the game and not Taylor's head blocked the way –it was sheer good luck that Taylor's protected the goal, but like Merutio wound, I sufficed. Next Freeman's goal and finally a meeting with Freeman and his father at night. Maurice Parry, who was present at the final had high praise for the goalkeeper. He told me that the way Freeman snapped the ball and rammed it home proved to be a top-notcher. Only a clever man dare have taken the chance, as Freeman did he said. At night in a crowded street an accidental meeting with Bert, who was “arming” his aged father. It was a line, homely sight and a lasting pleasure to me. I shall always look with delight and some pride upon my association with Freeman. He's a gentleman and a capable footballer, and I only regret that Everton did not sign him earlier in his life and keep him later in his life. Bee.

EVERTON MEETING
Liverpool Echo - Monday 07 June 1915
To-night Everton's annual general meeting will be held. I find that, the "outside ' public are following the election with keen interest. f t is surprising that any election is necessary when one looks over Everton's performances in Cup and League last season, and when the state of the country is considered. However, there will be an election, and Mr. D. Kirkwood the director the syndicate are attempting defeat. Mr. Kirkwood's record for the club merits attention, and it must not be overlooked that he ia the medium. What mean to say is that a player finds he can tell his wants a former player with an easy thai is not always the case when he puts his case before man who has not been through the pro's playing fields. That the election will be sternly fought is certain, and there will doubtless be inquiries upon the main point. Why change when all has gone so well this season ?

MR. KIRKWOOD BEATEN AT EVERTON POLL
The Liverpool Echo- Tuesday June 8, 1915
Bee’s Notes
When the figures of the Everton election were read out there was a significant silence for a moment. Suddenly, however someone set a handicap round on its measured rate, and the result was eventually received with cheers. Everton lost a really good man yesterday by the defeat of Mr. Dan Kirkwood. If shareholders will remove men of long service when the season has been one of the best, then I am left wondering what their course will be when the season is a black one. I did not have the pleasure of being at the meeting when the chairman’s address was being delivered but I am told that there was a tilt at the critic who declared that the club had been greatly assisted in winning the championship by other teams failing. Well, I leave readers to judge for themselves. I know that a little group outside the Cup Final ground was exceedingly delighted to know that Liverpool had beaten Oldham, and thus “made good” Everton’s chance. By the way, this victory was not even hinted at by the speakers last night. It has not yet been forgotten that Chelsea did not lose to Everton on Everton’s ground! I give and have given every credit to the players for their wonderous away performances, but these do not blind my view of the whole situation. Time and again it has been noticeable that officials have a habit of looking to one part of a match -not reviewing the whole ninety minutes. The Oldham match was a case in point, and there was an inclination to blame. Oldham for the remissness of one of the home players! Which was not logical or fair. It was good to see, by the way, that notice is being taken of the barracking that is growing in Everton matches. The crowd has latterly gained an unenviable reputation for “barking.”
A BRIGHT YEAR
Proceedings, Mr. Clayton remarked that the past year for them as a club had been a particularly bright one, though for football generally it had been gloomy. The war had taken away some of their players, one of their directors, a number of their shareholders, and a very great number of their spectators, who were now helping to fight the country’s battles. It was a charge against football in the earlier stages of the war that it should not take place, because it was keeping men away from joining the colours. It was necessary for some of the directors together with some of the directors of the Liverpool Club, to meet Lord Derby and those who acted with him, and they were able to convince him, through facts and figures, that instead of football acting as a deterrent it had the opposite effect, for it really fitted men to fight for their country (hear, hear). During the past season their gates had been depleted 50 per cent, and the majority of the spectators were men who were too old to join the Army or too young.  He felt it would be an advantage when September came that they should have football in some limited way. He did not think they should offer inducements for people to play, but they might be able to get a strong team against those engaged in making munitions of war, who would provide games interesting to watch. He paid a special tribute to Galt, who, as captain of the team, had done much to bring about the victories which they had achieved (hear, hear). It was largely due to that spirit that they had won the League Championship (applause). Their team was looked upon throughout the country as one composed of gentlemen (hear, hear), and he deprecated the audible criticism which many shareholders and spectators made about the players when matches were in progress. Mr. H. Halsall seconded the resolution. A vote of condolence to Mrs. Walton and family was passed. Dr. Whitford congratulated the club heartily upon winning the League Championship. But he thought it was unfortunate that at a time like the present there should be opposition in re-electing one of the retiring directors. The doctor was ruled out of order.

EVERTON
June 9, 1915 Daily Record
A man must evidently leave his own country to be properly appreciated. At the annual meeting of the Everton F.C., the chairman, Mr. WR. Clayton, complimented J.H. Galt on the excellent influence he had on the team generally, and stated that much of the credit for winning the League championship was due to his captaincy. The old Ranger is now in the Motor-Machine Gun Service.

HARRY MAKEPEACE
Liverpool Echo - Thursday 10 June 1915
Here let me tell readers that harry Makepeace, who was at the Everton annual general meeting, has an appointment as coach to the Liverpool Colleague at Huyton.  Here a number of ladies enjoy their sports games, and Harry is showing them the proper way to play.  

JOHN HOUSTON
Ballymena Weekly Telegraph -Saturday 12 June 1915
“Johnny” Houston, the well-known Irish International and Everton F.C footballer, whose parents reside in Ballmena, has joined the colours.

EVERTON CAPTAIN'S BROTHER DIES
June 14, 1915. The Liverpool Echo
Bee's Notes
James Galt the Everton captain, has suffered an unexpected blow by the death of his elder brother. He was killed in action last week while fighting for the Dublin Fusiliers. Our sympathies go out to James.

GROUPING OF FOOTBALL CLUB’S
The Liverpool Echo- Wednesday June 16 1915
Bee’s Notes
All along this column has vowed that there will be “football of a kind” next season, and though the League scheme is not known it will be found to be something concerning the carrying on of the games. Mayhap there will not be the usual leagues, but some variety would lead to the interest in the game being kept up, even though some minor clubs, from a playing point of view, would be pitted against superior forces. I think it will be found when winter comes round again that football of a kind is in full swing and has been found very necessary. In the summer the hubby can take his wife to the seaside, or for a country walk, but when the dreary afternoon come the wife will want hubby out of the way, and the best way out, she’ll say, is for him to go to his footer match. In this morning’s “Chronicle” Mr. James Catton has been grouping League clubs, and I give you an idea of his placings;-
Discard all ideas of such names as North, Midlands, and South we could devise two fourteens and a twelve on these lines;-
“A” Division.- The two Bradford clubs, Middlesbrough, Newcastle, Sunderland, the two Sheffield clubs, Barnsley, Huddersfield, Hull, Leeds and Grimsby.
“B” Division- Blackburn, Bolton, Burnley, Everton, Liverpool, the two Manchester clubs, Oldham, Blackpool, Bury, Preston, Stockport, Glossip, and Lincoln.
“C” Division;- Aston Villa, Notts County, Tottenham, West Bromwich Albion, Arsenal, Birmingham, Bristol City, Clapton, Derby, Fulham, Leicester Fosse, Nottingham Forest, and Wolverhampton. 

DAVIE JARDINE
Liverpool Echo - Friday 25 June 1915
Old Everton F.C., followers will regret to learn that Davie Jardine, the former Everton player, has been seriously injured through being thrown off a restive horse.  he broke his ribs and collar-bone and his hands were badly damaged.  We hope that his critical condition will soon turn to a brigther state.  

JAMES GALT
Star Green 'un - Saturday 26 June 1915
James Galt, the famous Everton half-back, finds the making of machine guns a very interesting occupation, and he is making considerable progress in the work.