EVERTON RESERVES 3 BIRMINGHAM CITY RESERVES 0
September 1 1925. The Liverpool Daily Post and Courier
CENTRAL LEAGUE (Game 2)
Everton Reserves last night beat Birmingham by 3-0 in a fine fast game, wherein the youngsters of the home side showed how good they can be. Their victory of three clear goals was chiefly due to the coherent way the three half-backs played. Bain, at centre-half, has grown into a wise controller and leader; Rooney and Virr are graduates from the “A” team, and being tall and long of leg are essentially the type with which to persevere. They were the secret of Everton's success and the culminating shots of Dean, Chadwick, and others brough the victory. Rooney went out of his way to dribble beyond four men and he shot from inside right, and scored early on. This disheartened Birmingham, who had a rugged side, whose forwards can manipulate the ball, but the easy chance is their greatest difficulty. Chadwick got home two goals, each from a dean pass, and if there had not been an especially good display on the part of Hibbs in goal, the Birmingham side would have taken a ten goals deflect. Well-built, Hibbs had a solid and sure way with him, and some of his saves of the pile-driving shots of Chadwick gained him a special rally from a crowd they must have been near the 6,000 mark. The spectators had full value the first half, in which all the goals scored were of a fine rustling character. Rand giving much pleasure by his doggedness and a dodging runs, and Weaver pairing off with Chadwick to nice effect. Birmingham were outclassed before the end, and their best were the defenders and, perhaps Ashworth and Russell. Kendall made one good save and made one slipshod effort. Teams: - Everton Reserves: - Kendall, goal, Raitt and Livingstone, backs, Rooney, Bain, and Virr half-backs, Parry, Rand, Dean, Chadwick, and Weaver, forwards. Birmingham City Reserves: - Hibbs, goal, Ashworth, and Hamby, backs, Staley, Dale, and Bruce half-backs, E. Harvey, Devlins, Castle, Russell, and Scrivan, forwards.

EVERTON RESERVES 3 BIRMINGHAM RESERVES 0
Birmingham Daily Gazette - Tuesday 01 September 1925
Visiting Goodison Park.  Birmingham well beaten by three clear goals.  Rooney, a half-back, scored early on by a great solo effort, and Chadwick added two and would have added more but for the goalkeeping of Hibbs who had a royal reception.  The secret of Birmingham’s failure was twofold.  They would not take the easy chances close in against a nervous goalkeeper, and they could not beat Everton’s great half-back line of constructive and destructive players.  Dale, Harvey, Hamby and Ashurst stood up well to a severe attack, but Scriven was hurt and unable to do himself justice.

WEST BROMWICH ALBION 1 EVERTON 1
September 3, 1925. The Liverpool Daily Post and Mercury
EVERTON'S PLUCKY DRAW.
HARLAND INJURED EARLY IN THE GAME .
By common consent Everton did wonderfully well to leave the West Bromwich ground having earned a point, and this view was sincere and totally without partisan sarcasm. The game gave each side a goal, and although the evening was cheerless and cold, Everton's display must be written down as their most dogged for some season's, because a single incident was automatically followed by a wholesale rearrangement. Everything went well until a quarter if an hour's play had gone. They had shown a sparkle, which promised great things, and Harland had made a thrilling save off James's feet in addition to other good work. At this point, however, the trouble started, Harland, in again making a dangerous save from Byers, was thrown in the air and fell heavily hurting his right leg. He was taken off with O'Donnell going into goal. Hart came back a position, and Kennedy filled his captain's berth. James was also carried off for the last quarter of the first half, but whereas he was able to come back following the interval, Everton were still without Harland until ten minutes after the restart. Even them he could only hobble, and Troup went inside left.
ALBION'S MANY RAIDS.
The Albion whose forwards proved very difficult to hold, in the meantime had bad raids after raid, but O'Donnell and his backs had played a sterling defensive game. Broad was ever lying waiting for that chance of opening and after many hardworking yet fruitless efforts –he was generally unsupported owing to the rearrangement –he back-heeled the ball to Irvine, who just after the restart had time to recover from a stumbling in order to beat Ashmore with a ball the goalkeeper touched but could bot hold. It was amazing that the visitors should have gained the lead, which however, Wilson, who was in Stanley Davies's place, terminated when he scored after beating Hart. Everton stayed the course well, and considering their big handicap, it was no surprise that they, as a team, and O'Donnell in particular, should receive an ovation for their great work. Everton deserved their share of the points, and it was fitting that their opponents should force a draw. Harland pluckily played on after his injury, but he was materially of little use to his side.
A DOUR DEFENCE.
The feature was the defensive work done by all. Kennedy, McBain, and Brown, who was slightly injured in the last minute of the game were tireless in their efforts, and they were successfully in holding a tricky forward line, even if they wasted chance after chance. McDonald was the best back on the field, and O'Donnell found plenty of work in goal, which he disposed of in surprising fashion. Irvine was the best forward, followed by Chedgzoy, and Troup without his partner was apparently lost and waiting for chances, which were few and far between. Albion have kept up last season's standard of play and as a team they are sure to do well. It was the dourness of the Everton defence which prevented them from having a handsome win, although James and his colleagues were not deadly in his shooing department. Everton might have snatched a win, and even though they did not, they put up one of the best display's they have given for a long time. Teams: - West Bromwich Albion: - Ashmore, goal, Smith, and Baugh, backs, Magee, Reed, and Richardson, half-backs, Glidden, Carter James, Wilson, and Byers, forwards. Everton: - Harland, goal, McDonald, and O'Donnell, backs, Brown, McBain, and Hart (captain), half-backs, Chedgzoy, Irvine, Broad, Kennedy, and Troup, forwards. Referee Mr. T. Crewe, Leicester.

ALBION DISAPPOINT IN FIRST HOME MATCH
Birmingham Daily Gazette - Thursday 03 September 1925
EVERTON SECURE A POINT AT THE HAWTHORNS
QUITABLE RESULT
WEST BROMWICH ALBION 1, EVERTON 1
By the Throstle
Whatever the new season may hold in store, it can hardly provide the regular patrons of the Hawthorns with a more entrancing contest than last night’s game with Everton.  The result, a draw of one goal each, was unquestionably a disappointing to those fierce partisans who are content with nothing short of the wholesale annihilation of the “enemy,” but it was an equitable result.  The appeal which the contest made to the crowd of 20,000 found its source in the rapidity with which the centre of play veered from end to end, and the uncertainly of the ultimate issue.  This latter element was emphasized in a startling fashion, for when Irvine broke through the Albion defence and scored a really good goal fourteen minutes from the end it seemed a sure harbinger of victory for Everton.  But Albion rallied strongly, and inside three minutes Wilson registered an equalizer with a shot taken with such leisurely ease that some of the crowd wondered if it were really true! 
PERFECT EXECUTION. 
As a matter of fact the scheming which produced it was so perfectly executed that the Everton defence was spread-eagled and Wilson left with an easy task.  The game was not lacking in its personal interest. Both clubs fielded the sides which represented them in the opening matches on Saturday, but they were not able to maintain full strength.  Harland ricked a thigh muscle after 25 minutes' play and was off the field for half an hour. When he resumed he operated—perhaps "hop"-erated would be the better term!—at outside left, from which isolated position he watched O'Donnell give a good account of his emergency stewardship of the Everton goal.  Nor did Albion escape injury. James damaged his right shoulder and arm and was of little service to his side in the second half, even after seeking the seclusion of the right wing.  What, effect these mishaps had upon the game is speculative, but it is significant that up to the moment of Harland's injury the play had been methodical rather than forceful, and afterwards the reverse obtained.  It was a transformation which made for thrills, and every time the forwards advanced on the goals there was general liveliness in the penalty area which suggested a score.
EVERTON'S BID. 
Towards the end a note of desperation crept into the play, and Everton forsook the even tenour of their earlier way in a boisterous bid for victory.  It is obvious that teams have not yet settled down to a plan of campaign, and that fact must disarm the critic for a time. The personal feature of this particular game was that the older player were quicker to appreciate the potentialities of the new offside rules, and Chedgzoy, Broad, Smith and Baugh were the outstanding men on the field.  The Albion pair were engaged for the greater part of the game in frustrating the devices of the Everton couple, for they were not covered so well by Reed and his companions as they ware at Hudderfield.  The consequence of those midfield lapses was that Broad played the role of Micawber and waited for something to turn up from Chedgzoy. Both of them gave a delightful show of brainy football, and Broad's subtlety in keeping ahead of his colleagues was a constant menace to the home defenders. Twice, however, he was convicted of "loitering with intent" between Ashmore and his backs, and these were the only offside judgments of the match.
ALBION BELOW FORM. 
Albion did not play so well on Saturday. Ashmore, Smith, and Baugh were easily the best players on the side, with Carter and Glidden the most successful forwards. Byers did a lot of good work on the wing.  Wilson, who made atonement for many mistakes by scoring, might well have shared the resentment which another Albion player sorely felt when the crowd grew peevish. That is not the way to help a man to recover form, and the only excuse that can be made for the remonstrative section of the crowd is that they were generous in their appreciation of O’Donnell’s very skillful goalkeeping.  West Bromwich Albion. Ashmore; Smith, Baugh: Magee, Reed, Richardson; Glidden, Carter, James, Wilson, Byers.  Everton.—Harland; Macdonald, O'Donnell; Brown, McBain, Hart; Chedgzoy, Irvine, Broad, Kennedy. Troup.  Referee: Mr. T. Crew (Leicester).

EPIC STRUGGLE BY EVERTON
Liverpool Echo - Thursday 03 September 1925
Bee’s Notes
The biggest thing of the day is the pat-on-the-back to the Everton club and players. Theirs was a remarkably fine performance, and when my colleague tells you of the absence of Harland and the shuffling of the side, you will see that Everton must have "put their backs" into the Hawthorns' game. O'Donnell kept goal, and Albion only snatched a point near the finish. To be quite candid, no one in Liverpool before the match thought Everton would be able to hold their own in view of the young and nippy Albion players. We were all proved wrong, and therefore our joy is the greater that Everton, against all manner of odds, should rally to the tune of forcing a draw. Read what my colleague wires this morning.
CROWD FIRED. 
Although the evening was cold and cheerless Everton's fiery play, despite their big handicap, was received by the home crowd as a great piece of football ability.  Chedgzoy and Irvine promised great things for the first ten minutes, but Harland, who had done well to that point, made another daring and dangerous save, and Byers and he had a nasty collision, Harland hurting himself badly. He returned to become outside left!  With the wholesale shuffling that followed Everton were disjointed as an attack, but the whole team shared defensive troubles.  O'Donnell made some superb one -hand punches, and Hart and McDonald, the Trojan workers, were able to repel Albion's tricky youngsters, who, however, spent their chances in riotous shooting. All the Everton halves were good, especially McBain, whose chief work was nipping-in-the-bud solid attacks when well on the way to goal. Irvine and Chedgzoy were excellent, and Broad. Although almost invariably on his own, waited for the chance opening for a long time and was rewarded, back-heeling to Irvine, who scored after having stumbled. Wilson, who turned out instead of Stanley Davies, equalized, and West Bromwich were prevented from scoring many times in the first half; even so, their forwards were wasteful. Everton played a great game and were appreciated by the spectators. They must be complimented on their best game for some time.  A draw was a fair reflex.
Everton have chosen the team that did so well at West Bromwich but they have yet to have report of Harland, Irvine and McBain. 

DOUBTFUL QAUNTITIES
Liverpool Echo - Friday 04 September 1925
Bee’s Notes
Everton got home from the Hawthorns after 1 a.m. although I have give the Everton team in full below it must not be imagined that this team is sure to play.  Harland, McBain, and Irvine are doubtful up to a point, and though O’Donnell provided a rich surprise with his goalkeeping at the Hawthorns the natural selection for goal, if Harland, the unlucky, is not serving, is Kendall, ex-Lincoln.  In any case Everton are blessed with good reserves that they can call up at will when the occasion demands.  The standard of play they put up at the Albion ground set the home folk wondering what sort of a side this was.  Let us hope they’ll serve another measure for the benefit of the Cardiff people.  Cardiff at Manchester played well up to a point and them fell though Nelson’s alleged guilt.  He was, it is said, the retaliator, but then footballers should know by now that the retaliator is the man who retails to the commission how he was first offended and was “answering back.” The governing body can only take the word of the referee, who has generally missed the first chapter in the kicking business.  Cardiff will be very keen to get in the good books of their followers, who are rather of the “winning team” variety.  So Everton will need to be brisk, sure-footed, and determined in front of goal.  The “Football Echo,” will tell you how this got on;- Everton; Harland; McDoanld, O’Donnell; Brown, McBain, Hart; Chedgzoy, Irvine, Broad, Kennedy, Troup. 

EVERTON AT CARDIFF.
September 5, 1925. The Liverpool Daily Post and Mercury
Everton visit Cardiff City, and are quite likely to play their third drawn game. The City have opened with two defeats, both away from home, and will be hopeful of striking a winning vein before their own supporters. Everton played finely at West Bromwich on Wednesday though Harland, the goalkeeper was injured, and had to play outside left, with O'Donnell disputsing as goalkeeper. Everton gave a fine display on that cohesion, and a reproduction of that form today, should enable then to secure at least a point. As a result of his injury Harland may not play today and probable team is: - Kendall, McDonald, O'Donnell; Brown, McBain, Hart; Chedgzoy, Irvine, Broad, Kennedy, Troup.

OLD TIME AND TIMERS
Liverpool Echo - Saturday 05 September 1925
PRESS CRICISM AND ITS EFFECT ON PLAYERS
VICTOR HALL POINTS A MORAL
Last week we reviewed some of those early journalists who wrote of football in in testing days and linked the interest of the followers of the game with the personality of the players.  Equally so they aroused and directed the appreciation and interest of the football public in the finer points of the game, guiding the critical faculties into the subtleties of forward and defensive tactics.  In the wise became developed and articulate the laws of strategy and constructive play as understood by the mass, and so to those early journalists and writers we owe a debt for all the improvement on the finer points of the game, we enjoy to-day.  Some players of those days were restive under criticism and were slow to appreciate that the first duty of the journalist is to be true and accurate, and to have but one interest in his writing –the public service.  If I should happen that truth compels the play of a certain man to be held at fault, then truth must be served, even if the telling should hurt.  The instincts of the journalist will always contrive to put the best case for the man in fault.  But, if he plays badly, it is no good to say that he played well.
THRUTH MUST BE SERVED
Even if friendship are strained.  One goalkeeper cost a certain club in the opinion of many –the English Cup! In the final match he played poorly.  Perhaps he was nervous-the ordeal may have been too much for him.  But he let a simple sort of shot go bye, and the players in front of him got panicky.  If those sort of shots were going to get past him-well, anything might happen.  But they bucked up and kept going, and then- he let another go past him, and the line wavered.  That unsteadiness cost the side the match –and the Cup went elsewhere that year.  One journalist, faithfully recording his impressions of the game afterwards for his paper, stated that in his opinion the play of the goalkeeper had lost the Cup, as it had unsettled the rest of the team and destroyed their confidence in their own defence.  Later the goalkeeper having read many criticisms of his own play, no doubt, took occasion to rebuke the writer who had so described him.  “He wanted none of his ‘praise,’ “he said, “nor would we have either that or his blame.  Leave me out of your ‘writing,’ said he.  “I don’t want you to mention me at all in your paper.”  Now while that state of mind might have quite accurately represented his true opinion at that time, it should be remembered that he was sore at the knowledge that his play had really lost the Cup for his team.  Not only did he realise it himself, but everyone else who saw the match did, and had probably spread the report.  Would he have been equally wishful to have his name left out if his play had helped materially to a victory?  No player can be left out or ignored in all that goes to make or mar a team.  Eleven men playing together fit in perfectly as the works of a watch, and it depends on the perfect fit and regularity of those working parts, whether the watch or the playing machine is a perfect fit or a misfit.  If they fit well together, they “keep good time,” to follow the simile of the watch, and that particularly team, while it plays together in similar good style, wins oftener than it loses, and so we call it a winning team.  And it does win, in the end! But upset the balance! Introduce a false spirit or an ill-fitting part-be it man or method- and the order and regularity of the beat is disturbed.  Rhythm is upset, and the harmony of movement and the spirit of “fitting together” is gone!  While that lasts, there are no winning moods and points are lost that may never come back.  A journalist who knows his job, knows how much he can do to keep the harmony and rhythm of a team in the right vein, and this thought is never from his mind.  Once upon a time professional football was not the serious part of a player’s business career.  The wages offered were comparable with what an ordinary tradesman might earn at his trade –not usually more.  But the gates of those days did not permit a more generous wage.  The player of those days was satisfied- or, rather, the majority were.  There were always however, men playing who realized that their playing career was likely to be a limited one and if they worked at their trade, as well as kept themselves fit for the weekly games. They would be able probably to save the whole of their football pay, and so have a foundation on which to start in business when their playing days were over. 
THESE WERE THE WISE MEN
Of those days.  Their daily work- no matter how hard it was –never seemed to unfit them for the strenuous hours of training for the weekly game.  Indeed, they seemed to thrive on the extra exertion.  The hardest workers were never stale for the Saturday game.  And their very prudence and care of their physical condition had its compensation by actually lengthening the days of their playing career; so that they seemed to be playing football long past the age of those fellows who found the weekly training and the Saturday match hard work.  Very little thinking will remind most readers that the men who have played longest at football are the men who have been known to have been actively and ceaselessly engaged in other responsibilities besides, and who, while taking care of their bodily fitness for business, have contrived to keep themselves always fit for their game and reliable to their committee and club.  So on this we can venture one safe prophecy –that the player who has a business interest in which he can take an active part, provided it does not interfere with his bodily activity and fitness for his game, is always a reliable player for his club, and likely to go far in the service and being profit to himself.  If this were true of the days when wages were moderate how much more true is it to-day, when great gates permit more adequate return to the player, with the certainly, if he will but do his best, of an additional and substantial reward in the shape of a benefit match that may bring him one sum more than some of the great international players ever earned in the whole of their playing career.  Think of hat, young players of to-day, and, thinking of it, give of your best while you are at it.  no time like the present.  Let the next match be your “great game.”!

STUD MARKS
Liverpool Echo - Saturday 05 September 1925
By Louis T. Kelly

• Everton have some nice half backs developing and so the form of Bain, Virr, and Rooney made very promising
• And what of Wilf Chadwick’s shooting boots on Monday night?
• Everton and Liverpool came very close to fielding two entirely Scottish half back lines on opening day.

EVERTON GAME
Liverpool Echo - Saturday 05 September 1925
DEBUT OF MURRAY ON CARDIFF GROUND
WELSH ENTHUSIASM
F.E.H. TELLS OF CHANGES IN THE SIDE
Everton; Kendall; McDonald, O’Donnell; Brown, Reid, Hart; Chedgzoy, Murray, Broad, Kennedy, Troup.  Cardiff City; Ferguson; Nelson, Blair; Waki, Keener, Hardy; Lawson, Gill, L. Davies, Beadles, W. Davies.  Referee; Mr. Spruther, of Nottingham. 
Everton at Cardiff had need of their best resources, for the Welsh side showing enthusiasm expected to register a home win. Thus Everton could ill afford to be in the doubtful state, as they were concerning three members—Harland, Irvine, and Neillie McBain. Incidentally, Everton play Birmingham next Wednesday at Goodison Park at 6.15, then Spurs on  Saturday, and Albion the following Wednesday—a nice hat-trick performanceis thereby possible.  The Evertonians travelled to Cardiff yesterday, and spent the evening quietly this morning. The weather was dull, and at noon a dismal drizzle set in, which promised materially to affect the opening match of the season at Ninian Park. 
A TRIO OF CHANGES. 
At three o’clock it was raining in torrents, and there was a very sparse attendance when play began. Everton had to make three changes from last Saturday.  Kendal came in fur Harland, Reid for McBain.  Irvine was not fit, and his position was taken up by Murray, the South African, who thus made his debut in English football.  Cardiff were at full strength, and on the wet turf they looked like giving their opponents a good game.  The rainstorm moderated a little just as the players appeared, but the outlook generally was gloomy in spite of the verdant freshness of the turf.  Evertonwho appeared in white jerseys, met with a cordial reception when they started before a crowd of about 10,000 people.  KENDALL THWARTS BEADLES. 
The opening exchanges were even in character, but it was not long before Cardiff got going and Beadles put in a swift shot which was well saved by the Everton custodian.  Then there was a very pretty combined movement between Len Davies and Beadles, but it came to nothing. Everton replied in a spirited fashion, and Chedgzoy getting away in characteristic fashion, centred well, but Broad was just too late to turn the pass to account.  A little later Murray was at fault when well placed. The pace was exceptionally fast, considering the watery conditions, and Cardiff continued their aggressive tactics.  AGGRESSIVE CITY. 
They were, however, over-anxious, for Len Davies shot straight at Kendall, and Gill had worked his way through when he was dispossessed. The City, nevertheless, were very persistent, and Hardy, from long range, drove the ball just over the bar.  Troup made tracks for the Cardiff goal, but he was well held, and at the other end Davies forced a couple of corners in quick succession, which were safely negotiated.  It was not long before Cardiff were again attacking, and a centre from Lawson was luckily intercepted by McDonald, who saved the situation by a marvelous effort.  Immediately afterwards Keenor came through, but fortunately for Everton McDonald was again in the picture. The visitors made clever play through Murray, who put the ball neatly across to Chedgzoy; but the latter's shot was met and gathered by the home 'keeper. 
KENDALL'S ALERTNESS. 
The City once more made ground, and this time the Everton goal escaped in wonderful fashion. Lawson trapped the greasy ball, and shot with great skill. Kendall, however, once again displayed adequate judgment, for the managed to tip the ball over the bar.  The visitors attempted to open play out on the right, but Hardy was a regular stumbling block and it was not long before Cardiff were once again hammering at the Everton gate.  Everton subsequently developed their attack in more promising fashion, but they were still well held by the home backs, and both Murray and Broad were stopped just as they appeared to be making good.  A little later the Everton centre forward again worked his way through, but he shot feebly, and the slippery conditions of the ground no doubt hampered him.  Cardiff were equally affected by the weather, for Beadles had an open goal when he headed over the bar.  MURRAY STIRS UP THE CROWD. 
Towards the interval Everton played up with a refreshing spirit, and Murray electrified the crowd with a splendid shot, which the home keeper just managed to push clear.  A few seconds later Kennedy dashed down, and with a tremendous shot brought the Cardiff keeper to hisknees.
GOAL BY GIL
The danger, however, was cleared, and Cardiff to make an onslaught on the Everton goal.  Len Davies and Gill both missed chances, and at the opposite end a long drive by Troup was easily dealt with.  Cardiff then took the bit between their tenth, and Len Davies ran right through and pout the ball to Gill, who beat McDonald with a tricky movement.  Kendall ran out to clear, and Gill, tricking him in turn, practically walked the ball into the net. 
SECOND BY BEADLES
This set the Welsh club wild with enthusiasm, and in response to the cheers their forwards moved rapidly on the Everton goal, Lawson out-manceurved their halves and put the leather to Beadles, who scored with a fine first-time shot.  Half-time; Cardiff City 2, Everton 0. 
EVERTON LOSE 2-1
MURRAY GETS HIS FIRST GOAL ON TIME
GILL AND BREADES SCORE
FIVE DISPLAY BY KENDALL IN GOAL
The first period had produced good and exciting football in spite of the incessant downpour.  The Cardiff forwards had proved themselves a nippy and adroit quintet, and on the run of the play they deserved their lead at the interval.  They had made more of their chances than Everton, though a tribute must be paid to the sterling work of the Everton defence.  There were probably 16,000 people present when play was resumed.  The City at once went away at a great pace and Billy Davies getting the better of both Brown and McDonald finished with an effort that deserved a better fate. 
HARD PRESSED
Len Davies and Gill tried to improve matters, but Reid stepped into the breach.  Still Cardiff came on, and O’Donnell saved a well-place corner kick after an exciting tussle.  Play was now more in the open, the visitors altering their style of action, and as a result they were able to assume an aggressive attitude, which gave Keenor and his wing halves cause for grave anxiety.  On several occasions Broad, who is notably dangerous in wet weather, attempting to force his way through, but he was very closely watched by both the home backs.  Hart was conspicuous with a couple of clever clearances, and on the other wing Brown checked in timely fashion.  But the game ran in favour of the City, and a long drive from Reid when Everton next got down went harmlessly over the bar.  The next item of interest was a pretty movement on the part of the City vanguard, but it was nullified when Gill, after being prevented with the passes, ballooned the ball over the bar at close range. 
DEARTH OF OFFSIDE RULINGS
In the concluding stages the pace was not nearly so fast as formerly, but Everton had the satisfaction of enjoying a full share of the attack as a matter of interest that up to within a quarter of an hour of the finish there had not been a single off-side ruling.
MURRAY’S FIRST GOAL
Murray scored for Everton with the last kick of the match.  Final; Cardiff 2, Everton 1. 

EVERTON RES V BRADFORD RES
Liverpool Echo - Saturday 05 September 1925
CENTRAL LEAGUE
At Goodison Park.  Several changes were made in the home team owing to first team calls, Jones and Dean playing for Kendall and Murray.  Everton opened in promising fashion, and Rand made a great shot in the first three minutes, the Bradford keeper making a very fine save.  After five minutes’ play Bain gave Houghton a good opening, which that player accepted.  With the exception of couple of raids by the visitors, caused chiefly through their left wing, Everton monopolized the play, and Houghton soon scored a second. 
DEAN POPS THEM IN
Bradford made one spirited attack, and when Wright looked to have an opening he came in collision with Raitt and was injured and had to be carried off the field.  In the meantime Dean scored a third with a header from Weaver’s centre.  Jones made his first save after twenty-five minutes’ play from Smith and then another bombardment on the visitors’ goal ended in Dean scoring a fourth after the ball had hit the crossbar three times with successive shots.  Seven minutes from the interval the score stood;- Everton Res 4, Bradford City Res 0.
DEAN’S SEVEN GOALS
BRADFORD CITY SWAMPED BY EVERTON RES
Weaver scored Everton’s fifth and Dean headed a sixth from Weaver’s centre.  Dean scored seven in all.  Final; Everton Res 10, Bradford City Res nil. 

MARINE V EVERTON “A”
Liverpool Echo - Saturday 05 September 1925
Everton pressed on opening, and Streets nearly let them in but the ball was put over the bar.  Marine attacked, and a good effort by Hudson just missed.  Everton were sound and Harrington opened the score.  A few minutes later Whitlow added a second.  After these reverses Stevens rubbed off one of the arrears from a corner.  Clayton equalized just on half-time.  Half-time – 2 each. 

CARDIFF CITY 2 EVERTON 1
September 7, 1925. The Liverpool Daily Post and Mercury.
EVERTON FAIL.
A FOUL FREE GAME AT CARDIFF.
SOUTH AFRICAN MAKES A SUCCESSFUL DEBUT .
Although the conditions at Nianian Park was against an inspiring exhibition Cardiff City and Everton provided a game which at times sparkled, in spite of the persistent rain. The contest throughout was carried through in the happiest manner, and no foul occurred and there was only one rulings under the new offside law. It was evident from the start that the Welsh club intended to make a good impression upon their supporters in their first home fixture. They certainly set the pace, and if it had not been for the wonderful work of the Everton defence their victory would have been much heavier than by 2 goals to 1. The work of their forwards showed that nimbleness of foot, which stood them in such great stead last season, and in the first half especially they dominated the general run of the play.
SOUTH AFRICAN'S DEBUT.
The Everton forward line, which had to be changed at the last moment, was not particularly convincing, though in the latter stages' they settled down to decent combination, and troubled the home backs with one or two well-judged shots. This was proved by the fact that in the last kick of the game Murray, who throughout had done good service, down the ball into the net, and so reduced the adverse margin. Owing to Irvine being found unfit, his place was taken by the South African Murray, who partnered Chedgzoy in the most successful manner, and well won his sours with his new club. Cardiff were not slow to get on the move, and in the first few minutes strong shots were sent in by Len Davies and the two inside forwards, both Gill and Beadles being particularly dangerous. Fortunately for Everton, McDonald and O'Donnell were at the top of their form, the former being particularly clever in his clearances while Kendall in goal, proved his worth. Indeed throughout the match he maintained an attitude of anticipation and alertness which warded off what might have proved a deluge of goals.
TWO QUICK GOALS.
It was not until five minutes from the interval that Cardiff managed to make their superiority definite but they did this in no uncertain fashion, for a combined effort on the part of the front rank led to9 Kendall being drawn out, thus enabling Gill to score a clever goal. Two minutes later Beadles, who throughout played an attractive game, added a second, and so the interval arrived with the Welsh club being two up. In the second half Everton showed some improvement though their forward work was frequently very ragged. Reid, who was operating in place of McBain worked like a Trojan, but his forward passes were not turned to account. Chedgzoy had several chances to reduce the leeway, both he, Broad, and Kennedy threw them away, and it was not until the last minute of the game that some slight consolation was afforded when Murray got through and netted with a stinging shot.
EXCELLENT DEFENCE.
Generally speaking Everton had their defence to thank for so slight a besting, Reid did a lot of hard work at centre half, but he was not so well supported as might have been desired, while the forwards seemed to lack the necessary combination. There were of course, individual touches but neither of the outside men came quite up to their reputation. Cardiff City were sound in defence, though for the most part both Blair and Nelson were given a fairly easy task. Keenor was mainly responsible for breaking up the Everton attack and he served his forwards with customary skill. Len Davies was speedy as ever, at centre forward and he was admirably supported on either side. Altogether it was a brisk and enjoyable game and the City were entitled to their points. Teams: - Cardiff City: - Farquharson, goal, Nelson. And Wake, backs, Keenor, Hardy, Lawson, half-backs, Gill, Len Davies, Beadles, W. Davies. Everton: - Kendall, goal, McDonald, and O'Donnell, backs, Brown Reid and Hart (captain), half-backs, Chedgzoy, Murray, Broad, Kennedy, and Troup, forwards.

EVERTON RESERVES 10 BRADFORD CITY RESERVES 0
September 7, 1925. The Liverpool Daily Post and Mercury
SEVEN GOALS FOR DEAN.
CENTRAL LEAGUE (Game 3)
Dean, the Everton centre forward, scored no fewer than seven goals in the Central League match against Bradford City Reserves at Goodison Park, on Saturday, five of them in succession. Everton won the game by 10 goals to nothing. Everton were the superior team throughout, and though good play by Bain were early two goals up. Jones, the Everton keeper, had a quiet time and was not called upon until after twenty-five minutes when he saved a good shot from Wright, who later had to leave the field through a collision with Raitt. Everton had a comfortable lead at the interval with four goals scored by Houghton (2), and Dean (2). Although playing a man short Bradford put up a plucky fight in the second half, but failed to pass the Everton defence Raitt and Livingstone along with Bain playing a good game. Weaver scored the fifth goal after the crossbar had been struck three times. Then in the last half hour Dean helped himself to five goals, making his total seven and Everton's score 10-0. Everton: - Jones, goal, Raitt and Livingstone, backs, Peacock, Bain and Virr, backs, Parry, Rand, Dean, Houghton, and Weaver, forwards.

MARINE 6 EVERTON “A” 3
September 7, 1925. The Liverpool Daily Post and Mercury
LIVERPOOL COUNTY COMBINATION
A good hard game was witnessed at Great Crosby. On opening, Everton appeared to have the game well in hand, but at the interval the score was 2 –nil. On resuming Marine greatly improved and gave a much better display eventually running out winners by 6 goals to 3. Clayton, Hudson, and Simond were their outstanding men. Although the whole team played well in the second half. For Everton Harrington and Whitlaw, the extreme wingers were always dangerous, and in spite of the score their goalkeeper gave a good display.

FASTANDFURIOUS
Athletic News - Monday 07 September 1925
EVERTON PROVIDE FINE GAME AT CARDIFF
CARDIFF CITY 2 EVERTON 1
By Cymro
Victory by the odd goal in three does not accurately reflect the run of play in Cardiff City’s match with Everton.  The home players gave a most satisfactory account of themselves, and pleased the 12,000 spectators who had braved the bad weather conditions.  Rain had fallen throughout the morning, and it continued during the game, yet there were no disgruntled supporters in the crowd, for there had been much to enthuse over and sufficient good play to sustain interest.  The first minute produced an exciting incident when a sparkling burst by the City forwards terminated with Kendall diving for and effectually saving at the expense of a corner.  Cardiff had by far the better of the argument in the opening half, and they were always a menace to the opposing defence when good play had carried them into shooting range.  Everton were also aggressors, but they were weak finishers and there was marked difference between the methods adopted by the respective teams in making headway.  Cardiff engaged in close passing reminiscent of last year’s style, while Everton, with Broad taking up an advanced position, hit the ball hard with the hope of benefiting from the latitude allowed under the new off-side rule.  The opening score came after thirty-eight minutes, and no one finer individual effort has been seen on the ground than where Gill covered more than half the length of the field, beating Reid and McDonald, before he was challenged by Kendall.  The latter raced out of goal and made a good attempt to smother the shot, but GILL cleverly controlled the ball and after side-stepping walked it into the net
SUCCESS OF KENDALL.
Five minutes later BEADLES increased the lead with a rising shot at close range following transfer from right to left wing.  The last kick of the match produced the next score, and the City’s lead was reduced through an opportune effort by MURRAY. On the other hand Kendall was frequently able to distinguish himself, though he should have been beaten on one occasion when Len Davies passed low to Gill in front of an open goal.  The greasy ball rose at a tangent and dropped over the bar.  No weakness manifested itself in Cardiff’s side, while Everton were well served in defence, where McDonald and O’Donnell got through an immense amount of work.  Their forwards could not successfully cope with Cardiff’s strong intermediate line.  Cardiff City; Farquharson; Nelson, Blair; Wake, Keenor, Hardy; Lawson, Gill, Davies (L), Beadles, and Davies (W).  Everton; Kendall; McDonald, O’Donnell; Brown, Reid, Hart; Chedgzoy, Murray, Broad, Kennedy, and Troup.  Referee; Mr. P.G. Strouther, Nottingham. 

CARDIFF CITY OUTPLAY EVERTON IN THE RAIN
Western Mail - Monday 07 September 1925
CARDIFF CITY 2 (Gill, Beadles), EVERTON 1 (Broad)
By Citizen
Until last year Cardiff City enjoyed fairly good luck in the matter of weather for their home games.  Then they had only one or two disastrous experiences.  They have commenced in none too promising a style this season, and it is safe to say that they lost 1,000 pounds owing to the bad weather which prevailed for their first home game with Everton.  The rain was so heavy that it might well have damped the ardour of the most enthusiastic.  Even so, there were about 14,000 present, and they saw a game which at times was most attractive.  It slackened down for a period in the second half, but, generally speaking, the standard of play was remarkably high considering the conditions.  Cardiff won, and more comfortably than the score would suggest.  There were times when Everton were completely outclassed, and but for the efforts of one man- McDonald, their veteran left-back –they would have been swamped.  He may have lost a good deal of his speed, but his judgement is as keen as ever, and his sense of taking up position saved his legs time after time.  His kicking was powerful and well directed, and he was the only Everton player who did not appear to ever lose himself.  And it was a fortunate thing that Everton did have one strong man in the defence.  As well as McDonald, there was Kendall, the reserve goalkeeper, who was frequently in action and was very safe all through.  But, on the other hand, Kendall had very few really awkward shots to deal with.  Most of them were high, and he had little difficulty in putting them down and clearing.
CARDIFF FORWARDS WEAKNESS.
Had the shooting of the Cardiff forwards been of the same high standard as their approach work, they would have doubled the score at least, despite the vigilance of McDonald.  It is in this direction that the City have been lacking so far this season, and it is a falling which will have to be remedied before we can feel thoroughly satisfied with the team.  It may seem churish to find fault after the first victory, but on Saturday the shooting was certainly weak.  The team played well together, showed a rare understanding, and individually there was a not a weak man in the side.  But the marksmanship lacked the snap and direction which a necessary for success under this new rule.  In the old days, a lead of two goals was generally sufficient to guarantee victory.  Not anything might happen in very quick time, and on Saturday Everton, although they had been quite outplayed for seven-eighths of the game, might easily have pulled a point out of the fire.  With the last kick of the match they scored a goal.  The game commenced in a style which gave promise of plenty of goals.  Right from the kick-off Wake, Gill, Len Davies, and Beadles combined to such good purpose that they had the defence spread-eagled and the inside left was in a position for a shot.  He hit the ball hard enough, but Kendall got across and pushed it around the post.  This effort of Beadles was one of the best scoring attempts of the game and was only approached by Gill, who had a low swerving shot turned round by Kendall.  In refusing a corner kick the referee was doing an injustice to a fine example of custodianship.  Apart from one or two attempts in which Chedgzoy was the moving spirit, the Everton forwards were held in a vice-like grip by the Cardiff halves and backs- so much so that Farquharson was not kept very busy.  He proved his calibre, however, once when Troup received the ball close in and fired in a red-hot shot.  The Cardiff goalkeeper got his fists to it in splendid style and relieved a most dangerous situation at the expense of a corner. 
GILL’S MASTERLY GOAL
Attack after attack was made on the Everton goal and a score, when it did come, seven minutes from the interval, was long overdue.  It was Gill who got this goal, and it was obtained in masterly style.  Len Davies pushed the ball up to him, he beat McDonald, and drew out Kendall.  The ball was nearer the goalkeeper than Gill, but the latter put on a spurt, rounded his opponent, and practically walked the ball into the net.  Goal number two came two minutes from the interval.  Lawson got the ball right across to W. Davies, who was well positioned for a shot.  He tried one, but miskicked slightly, and Beadles gained possession. A swift shot from close range, and Kendall was beaten for the second time.  The second half was largely a repetition of the first.  The City did practically all of the attacking until the closing stages, but let their scoring chances slip.  Len Davies and Gill both made ball misses.  The latter was only about six yards out when he ballooned the ball –a feat he would probably fail to accomplish if he tried again.  Towards the end, Everton made efforts at recovery.  Two long shots by Brown were rather troublesome, but it was not until the very last minute that the Cardiff defence was caught napping.  Chedgzoy lobbed across a centre, and Farquharson failed in his attempt to punch it away.  Before he could recover his position Murray had scored.  This was the last kick of the match. 
FOUNDATION LAID BY HALF BACKS
Apart from the weakness in shooting, already referred to, and which can be remedied fairly easily if the players reproduce their usual form, the City’s display was promising enough.  Nelson made a most polished right back, and gave a perfect sense of security.  Blair partnered him well, and played a thoughtful and very effective game.  The half-backs laid the foundation of victory.  Kennor, study and vigilant, absolutely dominated Broad, and the Everton centre was never in the picture.  Keenor, too, swung the ball about well.  Hardy was as good as ever, and he and the wily Chedgzoy had some rare duels, which were generally won by the half-back.  Wake is one of the mystery men of football.  Where he gets his wonderful stamina from I cannot think.  But by lasts out every game, and he played a big part in subduing the Kennedy-Troup wing.  Lawson is, perhaps, the most improved man in the side.  He is just now in rare form, and was the best forward on view on Saturday.  Gill played to him splendidly, and these two should make an ideal wing.  Len Davies is not getting much luck in the scoring line, but he is leading the attack well.  Beadles did well, and W. Davies, even if his centres were rather erratic, should certainly be persevered with at outside left.  Cardiff City; Farquharson; Nelson, Blair; Wake, Keenor, Hardy; Lawson, Gill, Davies (L), Beadles, and Davies (W).  Everton; Kendall; McDonald, O’Donnell; Brown, Reid, Hart; Chedgzoy, Murray, Broad, Kennedy, and Troup.  Referee; Mr. P.G. Strouther, Nottingham. 

EVERTON’S PLUCKY FIGHT
Liverpool Echo - Monday 07 September 1925
Bee’s Notes
Everton lost, but they must have put up a useful fight at Cardiff.  Dean meantime was helping himself to seven goals out of ten.  He can hit the ball all right, but if the ball comes to him at about 6 feet he cannot be expected to boot it.  Spectators please observe!  Murray, by getting his first goal for his new club, will be encouraged to go ahead. 
“F.E.H.” writes;-
Everton have great cause for congratulation in the fact that their defence was in full form at Cardiff.  If it had not been for the work of the rear-guard one wonders what might have happened.  The forward line was by no means convincing, though Murray made a distinctly favourable display in place of Irvine.  Combination, however, was conspicuous by is absence, and though there were plenty of opportunities offered Broad and his wings threw Fortune to the winds.  It is only fair to say that they tried hard enough and were unlucky in finishing – thanks to the work of a well-known gentleman named Kennor.  If the art of punning had not become out of date I would say that there is no keener half-back playing football.  Cardiff enjoyed all the best of the game, and were good value for the two points which they were able to put to their account, but they were well tried at the close of the encounter, and the Cymric character gave itself full vocal force when Gill and Beadles found the target.  There was another shout-though of a different musical scale –when just on the stroke of time Murray cemented his adoption with the Goodison Park brigade.  It was a good and pleasant game in spite of the wet weather, and It served to show- which is all important –that Everton are all out to do good things.  Cardiff’s two goals were thoroughly well deserved, and Murray’s came as some slight amelioration. 

EVERTON WITHOUT CHANGE
Liverpool Echo - Tuesday 08 September 1925
Bee’s Notes
Everton F.C in tackling Birmingham to-morrow night at Goodison Park, are likely to produce a very strenuous effort to gain their first victory.  There will be plenty of encouragement for them, as the Goodison side has at least that personal touch that commands something more than respect- it commands a hope and belief and a joy.  Hence there will be to-morrow against the well-known Midlands side a very strong “home” element, and many will go there to see Murray, among others, making his first show in a League game at home- not to mention the pleasure that always arises from the sight of men of the fame of Barton, Bradford and Co.  I am sorry we shall no be seeing Briggs, for the Brums secretary tells me he is damaged.  They have transformed him into an outside right, and thus the difficulty of playing this go-ahead Sheffield boy and Joe Bradford has been solved.  This is how the teams will frame up;- Everton; Kendall; McDonald, O’Donnell; Brown, Reid, Hart; Chedgzoy, Murray, Broad, Kennedy, Troup.  Birmingham; Tremelling; Womack, Jones; Dale, Hunter, Barton; Harris, Crosbie, Bradford, Islip, Scriven. 

DERBY COUNTRY'S CENTRAL LEAGUE VISITORS
September 9, 1925. Derby Daily Telegraph
Everton Reserves when visiting the Baseball Ground in a Central League fixture on Saturday will be represented by a strong side in; Kendall; Raitt, Livingstone; Peacock, Bain, Virr; Parry, Band, Dean, Chadwick, and Weaver.

NO CHANGES.
September 9, 1925. The Liverpool Daily Post and Mercury
Everton meet Birmingham at Goodison Park, the kick off taking place at 6-15, and the home side hope to secure their first victory of the season. Birmingham have obtained four points out of a possible six. Everton are playing the same side that lost at Cardiff on Saturday Harland, McBain, and Irvine being on the injured list, and Murray, the South African, thus makes his debut at Goodison park in a League match. Birmingham are without Cringan, their centre-half, and Briggs outside right, who are injured. The teams will be: - Everton: - Kendall; McDonald, O'Donnell; Brown Reid Hart; Chedgzoy, Murray, Broad, Kennedy, Troup. Birmingham: - Tremelling; Womack, Jones; Dale, Hunter, Barton; Harris, Crosbie, Bradford, Islip, Scriven.

EVERTON 2 BIRMINGHAM CITY 2
September 10, 1925. The Liverpool Daily Post and Mercury
EVERTON'S LUCKY DRAW.
BIRMINGHAM EMPLOY THREE FULL-BACKS.
STRANGE MISHAP TO BROAD.
REFEREE “KNOCKS OUT” BROAD.
O'DONEELL MOMENTARILY BECOMING A GOALKEEPER AGAIN.
By “Bees.”
Twenty-five thousand spectators at Everton, last night, must have seen that Everton have not yet solved the mystery of the new offside rule, by which a pile of goals were to be obtained for the asking. Everton have by reason of their second half rally shown they have some fight left in them, and their enterprising finish will at least save them the blushes that would have arisen had Birmingham gone home with the victory they deserved! A draw of two each was the verdict, and Everton never seemed capable of getting the goals, while the methods employed by the visitors suggested they had marshallied their forces in a way that make goal getting easy. Birmingham must have slept through the Inter stages of play, or they would never have frittered away the simplest of chances after they had constructed their attack in quite an artistic and effective manner. Forwards so good in combination should never have been content with two goals. They did not score in the first half, chiefly through Kendall's good keeping, and through O'Donnell momentarily becoming a goalkeerper (as at West Bromwich) falling on his knees and keeping the ball out of goal without having resource to handling. Surely, there rarely has been so much bungling in front of goal as one saw last night when Everton were penned in. Full backs screwed the ball high or at a tangent; forwards were so startled by these grif chances that they could not shoot straight; yet Kendall made some good saves, none better than his pick-up of a fiery shot from Bradford that seemed to have beaten him all the way. But Kendall had faults, so had the other Everton players, and even McDonald at times risked too much.
EVERTON'S ENERGY.
Perhaps the biggest blow to Everton was after Harris had scored had scored from outside left, aided by McDonald's blunder, and Islip had taken one of Bradford's charming pass-back grits. McDonald was hurt and took up the outside right position. Chedgzoy who had failed went to half-back, and Brown dropped to full back. The team was transformed in a trice. From being lethargic and uncertain, they became a live force. They had been proverty-stricken in attack, save on the part of Broad's dash and Troup's fine feeding. McDonald could only use one leg, but he saw to it that the ball was lobbed to goal, just far out to be irksome to the goalkeeper Tremelling, and just near in be irksome to the three back principle, which the Midland side uses. Hunter, the centre half keeps his full backs company, and the backs each take a wing. The combination is a new one, after seeing it worked one can recommend it in these days of many goals, poor football and backs who won't go up the field, and half-backs who stay at the back and call of full backs. McDonald's hurt was Everton's gain. He inspired the crowd and the players and in spite of further injury he went on with his gallant work, and near the close Kennedy scored, and two minutes from time another similar type of goal –not clean made was put up by Troup. Everton's best forward all though. A draw –and it never seemed possible.
THE TEAM'S SPIRIT.
The secret of Birmingham's clever football spirit that was not evinced by their rivals. They were not slaves to their wing-men with passes, each linked up with the other; a half-back would put the ball up and go up to the right position to receive a pass; the usual thing was not done. Harris, on the right wing, was a trouble to all defenders, Islip was slippery as an eel. Hunter at half back served the purpose for which he was planted –a stop between the two full backs. Tremelling made one glorious save from Broad at the foot of the post, and it was from this that Broad, running up to the referee to claim a penalty kick, was accidentally hit in the face by Referee Kingscott, who was swinging his arms around in token of the phrase “play on.” It was an uncommon accident, and Broad was knocked out by the blow, but the spectators seemed to think the referee to blame, and they roundly booed him. Which was absurd. The first half of the game would have been positively dull had not Birmingham played pretty football, the second half would have been an avalanche but for the backs, and Kendall and but for the sensational finish which brought Everton a very lucky point. Teams : - Everton: - Kendall, goal, McDonald, and O'Donnell, backs, Brown, Reid, and Hart (captain), half-backs, Chedgzoy, Murray, Broad Kennedy, and Troup, forwards. Birmingham City: - Tremelling, goal, Womack, and Jones, backs, Dale, Hunter, and Barton half-backs, Harris, Crosbie, Bradford, Islip, and Scriven. Referee Mr. Kingscott of Long Eaton.

RESULT AGAINST RUN OF PLAY
Birmingham Daily Gazette - Thursday 10 September 1925
“BLUES” PAY THE PENALTY FOR MISSED CHANCES
EVERTON DRAW AFTER BEING TWO DOWN
EVETON 2, BIRMINGHAM 2
Everton were a very lucky side to get away with a point as an outcome of their home match with Birmingham.  If ever there was a lucky side on the run of the play, on the run of shots, on any angle of criticism you might care to take up, then that side was Everton.  They were well and truly tried by the Birmingham side, whose close dribbling, wise tackling, and solid formation, by keeping Hunter in between the two backs, surprised the spectators, who turned up to the extent of 25,000.  Birmingham charmed the populace, though they hurt their feelings by the simple yet effective way they moved their path to goal.  It was too easy for words, and if Kendall had not kept an exceptionally good goal a cricket score would have been the outcome maybe.
TOO EASILY SATISFIED
Birmingham were too easily satisfied.  They could see they had nothing to beat, and after O’Donnell went on his knees in a sort of prayer attitude to keep the ball from going over the line, his goalkeeper being yards away, they got good goals through the canny young Harris and Islip, who got his point by special permission of Bradford, who passed back.  These, which came after about an hour of penetration of the Everton defence, Birmingham apparently thought would suffice.  When McDonald, the Everton back, hurt himself and went outside he became their star forward, however.  He only had one good leg, but his enthusiasm inspired his comrades, and late on Kennedy scored in the failing light, and very near time Troup scored from close range after the ball had bobbed against the crossbar. 
LESSON FOR “BLUES”
It was a real turn up, and was not deserved.  Still, if it serves to show Birmingham that they should be more particular about simple chances in front of goal it will do good.  Birmingham hit the woodwork three times, and must have missed five “sitters.”  It was appallingly poor finish to delightful craftsmanship.  To the point of shooting there was not a weakness in the side.  Their team work was grand, for hey kept the ball on the ground and they kept their heads, yet they only drew.  Well, Everton were at least grateful.  The draw never seemed possible; it was all against the run of the play.  One funny incident was the “knock out,” blow delivered by Referee Kingscott, who waving play on, did not notice Broad running up to appeal for a penalty kick, and accidentally hit him in the face, causing him to fall down.  The crowd booed what was quite an accidental affair.  Everton; Kendall; McDonald, O’Donnell; Brown, Reid, Hart; Chedgzoy, Murray, Broad, Kennedy, Troup.  Birmingham; Tremelling; Womack, Jones; Dale, Hunter, Barton; Harris, Crosbie, Bradford, Islip, Scriven. 

BIRMINGHAM RESERVES 1 EVERTON RESERVES 1
Birmingham Daily Gazette - Thursday 10 September 1925
Birmingham gained their second Central league point of the season as the result of their return match with Everton at St. Andrew’s last evening, and also scored their first goal of the season, but they were lucky both to get the goal and the point.  Unquestionably Everton, comprised of more seasoned and experienced players, were the better team, and it was only the soundness of the defence that saved Birmingham from a further defeat.  Everton were certainly fortunate to be awarded a penalty that produced a goal.  Ashurst in stopping Millington, who was making for goal, chanced to fall and quite accidentally handled the ball, but the referee gave a penalty from which Dean scored.  Before the interval arrived Cringan brought the score level by heading a goal following a corner.  The best man on the field was Hibbs, the home goalkeeper.  He gave a superb display and but for him Birmingham would undoubtedly have suffered another defeat.  Ashurst defended nobly, and Cringan, who had a trail run in the second team after his injury, helped materially to combat the hefty Everton attack.  The Birmingham attack, however, was wretched. 

EVERTON IN THE DUMPS
Liverpool Echo - Thursday 10 September 1925
BIRMINGHAM TACTICS
THREE FULL BACKS CHANGES OVERDUE AT GOODISON PARK
Bee’s Notes
All the talk is about Everton.  No one seeing them last night could go away from Goodison Park without a pang of regret.  They were outplayed, out-generaled, and marked down, on that form, as commoners. They lacked fire until Providence brought in an injury to send McDonald to outside right, Chedgzoy to right half, and Brown to right back.  That strange formation brought a new life to the Walton side, and with altered tactics they began to press.  Why?  Simply because the man with one leg and a big heart (Jock McDonald) saw the right way to get the ball to the goalmouth.  He simply lobbed it, without ceremony or tic-tackling, to the middle, just far enough away from Tremelling and just a shade too near to be easy for Birmingham’s three-back principle.  One must give credit for the fiery finish and for the pluck of the home side; but having done that let us be frank with ourselves, and say that Everton on the play were extremely fortunate to get a point from such puerile football.  They ought to have been soundly thrashed in view of Birmingham’s superior skill, speed, tactics, and wise method of moving up.  Birmingham stood out as a team.  Everton stood down in that category.  There was no system, there was no plan of campaign. 
WORTH COPYING
It may be that the home club have not yet a scheme to fit the new offside rule, a rule that I fear is going to cures the game, because you may say.  “The spectators like goals,” but I don’t see how Newcastle spectators can subscribe to that view after last night’s seven against them.  It may be the new rule will ruin gates, and then clubs will soon put a notice on the agenda asking for the old rule to be brought back next season.  At times last night I noticed a defender punt the ball up the field, and his centre half, at that point, decided to go further back into his defending lines! What an absurdity! When one of your side’s rare guard is attacking surely a half back should move up, not back.  Birmingham’s three back principle was quite a sound idea.  Hunter, they told me, was quite as good as Cringan, which, I was inclined to believe was stretching the long bow of imagination, but having seen.  Hunter, a centre half, playing between two backs all through the game, I can see how good he is.  He is no attacker, but he can head a ball with force, and he is very strong and sure.  His heights gives him a command over a centre forward, and Everton and other clubs will do well to attempt the game the Brums showed us last night. 
AND ELSEWHERE.
Everton could also do worse than copy the fine combined efforts of the Birmingham side.  They kept the ball on the ground where possible, but at rock bottom the secret of their combination was the fact that they took up fine positions, were unselfish, passed to unmarked men, and in the matter of first time passes and cute hooking of the ball they were really splendidly tactful.  Harris, for instance, at outside right, is a mere stripling –nephew of a director, he has got his place by merit, and his lightness is made up for by his brightness.  He times his stretch of the leg in a manner that may bring him injury.  Till he does he will continue to beat defenders.  The Brums side, as a whole, played to each other, and that they hit the upright, the crossbar, &c., and missed half a dozen sitters is their own fault; they thought it was too easy a game to win, and when two up they proceeded to sleep.  Then came Everton’s rousing rally and plucky fighting finish. 
REFEREE “SENT-OFF”
One of the funniest things in football life was the incident where Broad and Referee Kingscott came together in a strange manner.  Broad was running ahead, and on the half turn was challenging he referee about a penalty kick claim, and the referee swinging his arms around in token of “play on” caught the player in the face and knocked him out. A wag wanted to know whether in such a case the referee should be ordered off the field for striking a player.  The referee in question was Mr. Kingscott, son of the one-time referee and present F.A official.  The referee of last night was in charge of the last final tie at Wembley.  What Everton will do for the Spurs match on Saturday I know not, at the time of going to Press, but I think it can be taken for granted that the changes will not be confined to the defence (where injury will stop McDonald), but will be spread to the forward line.  Thus we may look for the re-entry of Wilf Chadwick, I suppose. 

EVERTON’S INJURED LIST
Liverpool Echo - Friday 11 September 1925
BIG PROBLEMS FOR DIRECTORS TO-NIGHT
When Everton directors meet to-night they will have to face the awkward fact that McBain, Chadwick, MacDonald, Irvine and Harland are all under doctor’s orders. 

TOP O’ TH’ LEAGUE TEAM AT GOODISON
Liverpool Echo - Friday 11 September 1925
Bee’s Notes
The song each Friday in the various dressing-rooms is “What shall the harvest he?”  And the losing sides do not look to the morrow with any degree of confidence.  However, we are not going to throw up the sponge without a good run for our money, and I am sure the Everton team selected to do duty in the all-important and real test match to-morrow at Goodison Park will go on the field with the knowledge that the loyal following will give them every encouragement to “go through with the good work” from first to last.  In taking on the Spurs, Everton are up against a side that has quickly assimilated ideas about the new offside rule.  Spurs are, in fact, at the head of the chart, and so far have not lost a game, and have escaped even the half-loaf.  Four games four wins is what the famous London side has to show for its opening, and some of the games have been away, remember.  They had a fright last week when they got up to save their record, so that it is plain they are beatable, and are quite human.  If Everton can win to-morrow they will at least have the joy of pegging back the leaders and their shock would rise accordingly. 
ALSO IN TROUBLE
Like the Goodison people, ‘Spurs are in difficulties about their team selection.  Skitt and Skinner, two stalwart half-backs are on the injured list, and Walters and Smith are the most likely reserves.  There is also a possibility of a changed forward line.  In any case we know the ‘Spurs, and remember that they have in their ranks some of the best reserve talent in the country.  Moreover the Clay touch, the Grimsdell raid, and the Dimmock “double” have always appealed to locals, and the team is sure to get a rich welcome from a big crowd to-morrow. 

EVERTON'S CHANGES.
September 12, 1925. The Liverpool Daily Post and Mercury
The Everton directors have experienced considerable difficulty in selecting the team for today's match, as a number of players are on the injured list. Harland McDonald (who was injured on Wednesday), Irvine, Chadwick, and Parry are all unfit to play, but McBain returns to the side. Raitts comes in at full back, Peacock will partner Chedgzoy on the right wing, while Dean, who scored seven goals for the Reserve team last Saturday, will be at centre forward. The kick off is at 3-15, and the team will be: - Everton: - Kendall' Raitt, O'Donnell; Brown, McBain, Hart; Chedgzoy, Peacock, Dean, Kennedy, Troup. Tottenham Hotspur: - Hinton, goal, Clay, and Forester; Smith, Lowe, Grimsdell; Osborne, Seed, Lindsay, Elkes, Dimmock.

OLD TIMES AND TIMERS
Liverpool Echo - Saturday 12 September 1925
Memories of Genial Tom Bush and the Old “Bee” Hotel
By Victor Hall
Sometimes a face, or a well-remembered name, drops out of prominence for a while, and then one recalls with a pang that there is someone, or something missing, whose place, somehow, does not seen to be adequately filled.  You may not notice the empty place for a while, but when you do you will become increasingly amazed at how much one man, or one personality, has meant to you in a particular niche of memory of association.  Such a thought occurs when one recalls the interest centred round the personality of Tom Bush, one time of the Bee Hotel.  I suppose in certain Bohemian circles in Liverpool –for over twenty-five years in Liverpool –no name commanded greater personal esteem, one might say affection, than that of the popular host who for so long presided over the destinies of the Bee Hotel in Liverpool. 
A GOOD TURN
In masonic, in operatic, in theatrical, and certainly in football circles, there was no more engaging personality than that of the genial “Tom,” whose very smile was a welcome and whose handshake was a passport to all that was hospitable in Liverpool’s “Bohemia.”  I first recall Mr. Bush a many years ago in the days when he was fast enthroning himself in that seat of charitable hospitality that later he so well adorned.  There was no call to charity or benevolence in Liverpool that found in him a deaf appeal.  To all worthy causes he lent the warm approval of a generous nature, but the shiftless or unworthy found in him no less a stern judge and enemy of humbug.  It was in theatrical matters, however, that he earned and deserved his greatest esteem.  For many years he was the only choice of the committee of the Theatrical Football Gala as honorary treasuer, and in all matters of theatre or opera he was the official disburser of public and private charity. No name carried greater weight or public confidence than that of “Tom,” nor was any public man in sporting circles held in greater esteem.  In football matters, for many years the League meetings in Liverpool were held at the “Bee,” and most of the League teams playing matches in Liverpool stayed at the ‘Bee.” Here prominent players were sure to be found whenever they passed through Liverpool, and here, too, many a great player has put his signature to a League professional form.  Here stayed Sunderland, Aston Villa, Newcastle United, and those giant teams of the game, here came their committees and their managers, and their hosts of the morrow to meet them.  In the private dining rooms upstairs inter-league teams and international teams breakfasted before the games, and dined after the games that made- or broke –many a reputation, and for all of them Tom Bush was the smiling, genial, attentive host.  I have seem a team of Scotsmen who had not been in Liverpool for a year rush to “Tom” on arrival and great him as a long lost brother, and I have seen him greeting them- each by a well-remembered name- as if Liverpool had stood still since their last visit a year ago.  Such was the personality and charm of those old managers who made their business their pleasure, and not a wearied task.  And if this was the charm of the Football Association of dear “old Tom” what can be said of his influence on the theatrical world during the year in which he so admirably represented the fortune of matters musical and theatrical here.  There was probably no place outside London where you would be more sure to meet a star, than in the “Snug” at the Bee- one time or another.  There was no more welcome host or hostess than Tom and his well-esteemed wife, and there was no more quoted hostelry in Liverpool whenever the “gags” of pantomime were let loose, than the famous “Bee” Hotel.  Everyone of fame, in theatre or opera, met there, and everyone considered it an honour to have his photograph there enshrined.  When the house changed hands the number of framed photographs was a positive anxiety.  And what names? To quote but a few of them would be but to catalogue the names of history.  Irving, Toole, Hare, Bancroft, Tree, Terris, all left their mark and their portrait, and with them every other name that has adorned the stage for over fifty years.  Gone are the fireside stories and the “greengage” yarns, re-echo of a popular refrain, and the thrill of the high soprano; all have passed, with the laughter of the chorus ladies and the gentlemen of the orchestra.  Gone, too, are the trainers and the internationals of old who passed the “night before” and the “night after” under its hospitable roof, and with them is gone the genial presence that made “Tom Bush” and the “Bee” the hub of all things good in sport in Liverpool. 

STUD MARKS
Liverpool Echo - Saturday 12 September 1925
By Louis T. Kelly

• The Spurs had won all four matches to date, yet their goal average was only 8-4
• Page, the ex-Everton man, has been Burnley’s best forward to date
• Everton’s Murray has been troubled with a torn toe-nail

A CONSISTENT DEFENDER
Liverpool Echo - Saturday 12 September 1925
Bee’s Letters
One of the four West Bromwich Albion players unable to turn out against Sunderland, owing to injuries was Joseph Smith, the international right full-back, who helped Everton during the war.  Smith has been a wonderfully consistent defender since the war, having missed only six of a possible 255 League games.  On three occasions his absence was due to the calls of representative games, and the other three to the injury.  Saturday’s miss ended a run of 117 consecutive appearances for he was last out of the side in October 1922, when he played for England v. Ireland.  Here is his record;-
1919-20  Possible 42 Actual 40
1920-21  Possible 42  Actual 40
1921-22  Possible 42 Actual 42
1922-23 Possible 42 Actual 41
1923-24 Possible 42 Actual 42
1924-25 Possible 42 Actual 42
1925-26 Possible 3 Actual 2  (To Date)
Total Possible 255- Actual 249

EVERTON GLAD OF A POINT V. SPURS
Liverpool Echo - Saturday 12 September 1925
By Bees
Everton; Kendall; Raitt, O’Donnell; Brown, McBain, Hart (Captain); Chedgzoy, Peacock, Dean, Kennedy, Troup.  Tottenham; Hinton; Clay, Forster; Smith, Lowe, Grimsdell; Osborne, Seed, Lindsay, Elkes, Dimmock.  Everton to-day brought in a new team owing to the number of injured men on their first team staff.  Dean became centre, Peacock, a half-back, once again tried his hand as a forward –years ago he was tried as centre and scored three goals –and Raitt deputized for Macdonald, McBain returning to the half-back line.  ‘Spurs fielded their usual clever side, and the fact that they top the League was sufficient to draw a crowd of fully 30,000 spectators.  It was a perfect day, and the big crowd took an unusual pleasure in the baby mascot, who shook hands with Troup.  Mascots at Everton are rare, but this little fellow, with his Manny’s eyes, was quite a nice little chap.  Everton began by losing the toss and facing the sunshine, which meant that they kicked towards the Park goal. 
A CHANCE OF TACTICS   
In the very first moment it seemed that the Everton forwards had decided to change their tactics, as when Peacock moved the ball to the left Kennedy, on the half turn, fired in a shot without a moment’s delay.  The ball passed over the bar, but there could be no mistaking its speed.  ‘Spurs tried to respond on the right, Osborne’s electric burst being almost too much for his own men, who risked getting offside.  Elkes, by dandy dribbling, was also a prominent figure, and the way he collected three men round him and beat the lot kicked the crowd, who love dainty football.  Everton had their lucky charm, as when Dimmock centred, the ball went out to Seed, who had taken up the outside right position, and his head turned the ball square, and apparently outside so that Kendall and everyone else got a shock when they found the ball cannon from the woodwork. 
FORSTER SAVES THE SPURS
Peacock was nothing if not dogged, and he ploughed through three men to find himself falling when he was about to shoot.  This was the beginning of an Everton rally, and after Hinton had made one clever save to a header by Kennedy, Clay, standing near his goalkeeper, was happy to head the ball over for a corner.  Kennedy followed up smartly, and as Hinton was out of goal there should have been a score.  Certainly the Spurs had caught Everton in a most resolute mood, and Lowe was not shaping so well in the half-backs, the result being that when the home left wing got going again Troup shot with intense fierceness.  Hinton was well beaten, but he found a safety clause in Forster, who, from the goalline, kicked the ball out.  It was an astonishing save and was followed by a useful effort on the part of Dean.  The Spurs had a hard struggle, and they were relieved when Seed careered off.  O’Donnell was too stern for the inside right and thus another good attack was nipped in the bud.  Spurs got going in dainty fashion, and it was only that Seed was harassed that prevented him from shooting hard.  He was close in, but was unable to get any sting in the shot. 
A NEEDLESS RISK
Troup was a joy, and another joy to Everton folk was the sight of Osborne breaking away towards centre forward without challenge and failing to get the ball near goal even when he was unhindered, which was a let-off.  Succeeding it came the dispossessing of Hinton, the Spurs goalkeeper taking needless risks.  The crowd very wisely encouraged Everton to do their utmost and after Dean and Peacock had got each other’s way just as a shot was to be delivered.  Dean made a lovely pass to Kennedy, whose shot was crowded out.
A CRY FOR PENALTY
Most of the work thus far had come on Everton’s left flank, and there had not been a weakness.  All in a minute Chedgzoy followed up for the half chance, and, having got it, he centred hard to the left.  Nothing came of it, however.  There were loud cries of “Penalty” when Grimsdell charged Peacock off the ball just as the former half-back was about to deliver a goal-scoring shot.  There was not a whimper about a penalty when, in my estimation, Raitt brought down Lindsay in the penalty box.  Everton were doing exceedingly well, considering they were against the topmost team; and allowing for that does not minimize for one moment the fact that the Spurs had been entitled to a spot-kick and Everton had not.
LIMPING SPURS.
The London side went on with their attacks, and Lindsay, limping, made a shot that Kendall did not get down to in clean confident manner.  Elkes also limping slightly, drove far away from the goal area.
BUR ONE COMPLAINT
In a dull patch Kendall came out to make a good dive after a shot by Seed, and O’Donnell hurt his neck through keeping the Spurs out in this particular attack.  The football had been enjoyable, clean, and comforting.  So far as the visitors were concerned, there was only one complaint, that their shooting was horrid.  Half-time; Everton 0, Spurs 0. 
The first point of the second half was a further ambulance case amongst the spectator.  The second was a fine piece of assistance for Hart by Troup, which prevented a corner at the cost of a throw-in; and some dogged defence by the home trio when the Spurs looked at their best and finished at their worst. 
DEAN PROVIDES A FOUL
One could not expect a continuation of the pace of the first half, and it was soon seen that the heat of the day was too much for many of them.  Not so Dimmick, however, who had a quiet time, and now put in a hanging centre that brought as lot of corners.  Fouls had been infrequent, but there was now one against Dean and one against Bert Smith. 
PEACOCK SCORES, DIMMOCK EQUALISES.
Spurs were weak on the right-wing, and on the left Dimmock came with a wet sail and passed back in such a way that even the lengthy Elkes could not trap the ball.  Dimmock next thought he would shoot, but sent the ball into the top deck of the stand.  The shooting all round had been of a very rare character, so that when Bert Smith shot with sting Kendall brought off a good catch.  Dean replied with a very earnest, pushful attack, in which he was outnumbered, and the corner he forced by sheer resolution led to a goal, Peacock scoring with a left hook.  The crowd was very enthusiastic about the turn of events, but this ardour was curbed when Osborne, for a change, did something practical, and by getting the ball across let in Dimmock, whose shot bounced awkwardly through the ball coming into contact with Raitt’s foot.  In three minutes two goals had been scored.  Dimmock waved his hand as a token of his pleasure at Osborne’s help.  The Cup final scorer has collected quite a nice number of goals already this season. The shooting began to improve, and after Hinton had saved from Peacock, Kendall made two bonny saves when all seemed lost.  Spurs did not improve in front of the goal, and Lindsay crowned the day’s work when, from right under the bar, he lobbed the ball high over the top. 
BAD SHOOTING
Everton did not improve, and the ‘Spurs continued to play delightful football, but their great weakness was still poor finishing.  They should have won easily, considering the number of chances they had, but they simply could not shoot accurately.  Final; Everton 1, Tottenham 1. 

DERBY COUNTY RES V EVERTON RES
Liverpool Echo - Saturday 12 September 1925
Facing a brilliant sun, Everton’s forwards served up some pretty football against Derby County Reserves this afternoon, and were unlucky to be two goals in arrears at the interval.  Their early attacks were met by a strong defence, and Derby’s first goal came after ten minutes, following a free kick by Rowe.  Punford followed up to beat Jones from close range.  Five minutes from the interval Derby went further ahead, W. Punford heading in a perfect centre from Bromage.  Half-time; Derby C Res 2, Everton Res 0.
Final; Derby Res 4, Everton Res 2. 

THEIR OWN FAULT
Reynolds's Newspaper - Sunday 13 September 1925
SPURS DRIBBLE BRILLIANTLY –BUT DISCARD THEIR CHANCES
EVERTON 1, TOTTENHAM 1
By Toffeeman
To Everton fell the distinction of talking the first point conceded by the ‘Spurs this season.  It was largely the visitors’ own fault, for they could blame only themselves that they were not well in front at half-time.  They played beautiful football against a side that had begun to be desperate, and in playing Dean at centre forward and Peacock, a half-back in the forward line, Everton thought they had mended their ways.  Certainly they were as enthusiastic band of players, but more incisive and urgent than skillful.  Their best portion was their left flank, in which there was a general experience.  On the other hand, the ‘Spurs could have claimed, had they wished, that they ought to have had a penalty.  The referee should have seen Raitt send Lindsay to grass, and the crowd gasped with astonishment when they found that their team had been let off.  Lindsay, Seed, and Osborne had missed a “sitter” but there was nothing quite so bad as when Lindsay left Raitt toiling in the rear and then passed back nobody in particular. 
TOOK COMMAND
In the second half the ‘Spurs took command of their rivals, and after getting the measure of Everton they simply toyed with them.  But could they shoot? –Not a bit of it.  Lindsay was only four yards out from under the bar when he tamely put the ball over.  Bert Smith was the only one who tested Kendall in a long spell of dull play.  Osborne, after a poor period, livened up to become a force, Kendall having to make two good saves.  However, Everton opened the score, through Peacock, with a hook shot after a corner, and Dimmock equalized in three minutes with a bumping ball centred by Osborne.  ‘Spurs were a joy to watch until they got near the goal when they were marked “fragile.”  Everton were really glad to get away with a point, for they knew they did not deserve it.  On the run of play, however, the ‘Spurs must take their own medicine in regard to ineffective forwards.  The best on the home side were Kendall, O’Donnell, McBain and Troup.  The ‘Spurs were a good all-round side, and the team spirit was there.  I was only that they lacked a good shot.  The spectators were delighted with the display of Everton, but they recognized in the ‘Spurs a very clever eleven. 

EVERTON 1 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 1
September 14, 1925. The Liverpool Daily Post and Mercury
SPURS CHECKED.
DRAWN GAME AT GOODISON.
FORWARSDS MISSED CHANGES OF SCORING.
Tottenham Hotspur experienced their first check of the season at Goodison park on Saturday, when they drew with Everton, each side scoring one during the second half in a game which was quite the best seen in Liverpool during the present season. Neither side attempted any distinctive methods with the result that the flow of the game was not interfed with, and bright, fascinating football produced. Once again, however, Everton were fortunate in sharing the points, because Tottenham were a much better side. Three was little wrong with Everton's display in the first half –indeed, it might fairly be said they surprised everyone with their sparkle and dash; but the second half presented a different picture. They fought hard and were never overplayed, but the vigour and buoyancy, which characterised their movements in the first half, evaporated after the interval.
VISTORS' WEAK POINT.
Tottenham on the other hand played cleverly right through the game and finished a much stronger side. The London team, however, had one glaring and fatal fault. They shot badly. Their cleverness was beyond dispute, yet they missed chances that should have made success certain. Kendall did good work in the Everton, but he was spared many anxious moments through the poor shooting of the Spurs' forwards. McDonald was missed, because Raitt was not so steady nor yet as sound in his tackling. O'Donnell struck to his work well, although he found Seed an elusive forward to deal with. The Spurs' defence was more reliable and confident. In addition, they had a plan that worked admirably. Lowe, the centre-half, frequently fell back when danger threatened, and became a third full back, while Forester's policy of standing in the goal saved at least one certain goal, because he was able to kick the ball away when Troup shot early on with Hinton yards away from the spot.
GOOD GOALKEEPING.
Hinton kept a splendid goal, and he timed his dashes for the ball to a nicety. Clay was cool and clever and displayed excellent judgement in taking up positions. The Spurs had an advantage, the half-backs, Grimsdell was as effective as ever, and Smith a hard-working, and resourceful player. Brown was Everton's best in this section. McBain was moderate, and Hart found the pace of the Spurs' forwards rather too fast. There was no comparison in this respective forward line. The Spurs were fast and clever yet quite ineffective when the goal area was reached. Lindsay missed a great chance of winning the game when he put the ball over the bar from almost pointblank range. Dimmock was the best shooter and Elkes the cleverest forward on the field. Seed was not as successful as usual, and Osborne's best effort was the centre that provided Dimmock with the opportunity of scoring Tottenham's goal.
DEAN'S LEADERSHIP.
Dean led the Everton attack and was by no means a failure, for he kept the line well together, and was always prominent in the attacks upon the Spurs' goal. Troup and Kennedy made a useful wing, but Peacock hardly got the best out of Chedgzoy, because he was inclined to roam and leave Chedgzoy to work single-handed. Everton scored first at fifty nine minutes, Peacock driving the ball into the net from a corner forced by Dean, and three minutes later Dimmock equalised from Osborne's centre, the ball going into the net off Raiit. Teams: - Everton: - Kendall, goal, Raitt and O'Donnell, backs, Brown, McBain and Hart (captain), half-backs, Chedgzoy, Peacock, Dean, Kennedy, and Troup, forwards. Tottenham Hotspur: - Hinton, goal, Clay, and Forester, backs, Smith, Lowe, and Grimsdell, half-backs, Osborne, Seed, Lindsay, Eikes, and Dimmock, forwards.

DERBY COUNTY RESERVES 4 EVERTON RESERVERS 2
September 14, 1925. The Liverpool Daily Post and Mercury
CENTRAL LEAGUE (Game 4)
In the game at Derby, Everton Reserves enjoyed a full share of the exchanges before the interval weak shooting by the visiting forwards explaining Derby's two goals lead. Pumford scored for the home side following a free kick after ten minutes, adding the second thirty minutes' later. After the interval Everton were outplayed. Pumford and Bromage adding excellent goals, while Wade and Fazackerley were distinctly unfortunate. After giving a brilliant display in home goal Fox was beaten twice in the last five minutes both goals coming from Weaver.

GIFTS GALORE
Athletic News - Monday 14 September 1925
STORY OF MISSED CHANCES FROM EVERTON
SUPERIOR SPURS
EVERTON 1 SPURS 1
By Junius
The big majority of spectators at Goodison Park,must have come to the conclusion that the ‘Spurs are a great side, and had their marksmanship been in keeping with clever positional play, they must have added another to their list successes.  Yet during the first half-hour, when the real Everton were view, the Londoners were concentrating mainly on defence.  Dean, after his big scoring feat the previous week, was brought to lead the forwards, and Peacock, who made his first appearance since his accident against Burnley in a Cup-tie last January, displaced Murray, while McBain returned, and Raitt filled  McDonald’s position owing to the latter’s leg injury Wednesday.  During the early stages Everton were the faster, cleverer, and better team all round, and yet made poor use of their superiority. 
SPURS GET TO GRIPS. 
The 'Spurs evidently had been biding their time to embark upon their own particular plan of campaign. They had conserved their energy, and before the interval got a real grip on the game, which was emphasized during the second period, and near the finish Everton had to fight hard to held point.  Well as the teams played the marksmanship of both left a great deal to desired. There were gift goals galore, and the greater number of chances came the way the visitors.  Elkes was a master of footwork, and with Dimmock formed a clever wing, while Seed was a great schemer. But from Dimmock to Osborne the finishing touches would not have done credit to a second rate organisation.  They, however, compensated for much in ball control and subtle movement.  Grimsdell gave them every assistance, and behind the middle line Clay’s experience and clever positional play told much in favour of his side.  Forster, too, was a source of strength in front of Hinton, who was a busy man, especially in Everton’s aggressive period.
SCORES AND SCORERS. 
The goals came within three minutes after the second half had been in progress a quarter of an hour. Dean led on a spirited attack and forced a corner, from which Peacock scored, and on Osborne swinging the ball across to Dimmock, who was unmarked close in, Kendall was helpless. Two goals—there ought to have been quite a harvest.  Everton. Kendall: Raitt, O'Donnell;  Brown, McBain, Hart; Chedgzoy, Peacock,  Dean, Kennedy, and Troup.  Tottenham Hotspur; Hinton: Clay, Forster; Smith, Lowe, Grimsdell; Osborne, Seed, Lindsay, Elkes, and Dimmock.  Referee: E. R. Westwood, Walsall. 

EVERTON CONTINUE TO BE A “DRAW”
Liverpool Echo - Monday 14 September 1925
SPURS CLEVER ANY-WHERE SAVE AT GOAL
Bee’s Notes
It is a pity the Evertonians had been transshipped from the Mersey to West Brom, a week or so ago.  They would then have seen that Everton could play and were full of diligence and team-spirit.  So far the crowds here have seen them draw, and each time they have drawn we have gone away saying. - “Thanks very much; but I daren’t look too deeply into that draw or I would find Everton should have been well whacked.”  It sounds like crying in the wilderness, but it is a fact that with the points they have gained Everton have not satisfied, and the sides they have met should have romped home.  There was another case, on Saturday.  ‘Spurs overplayed the Walton side after half-time, and it was plain Everton had shot their bolt through that engrossing and pushing and pugnacious fight for the first “45.” 
I congratulate Everton upon their stirring first half efforts.  I congratulate ‘Spurs upon a solid defence that wouldn’t be shaken off by resoluteness of the opposition.   I congratulate Everton spectators upon their whole-hearted assistance, and, I think-well, I think we see a little daylight coming in at the Goodison door. 
GOING UPWARD.
Everton are getting better.  They started in a way that was all commendable.  Instead of the dribble that went to nowhere and gained no ground, they started shooting and taking first-time passes and shots.  That’s the way in these new rushing days.  Jock McDonald and Bon Irvine sitting in front of me were as enthusiastic as anyone in clapping their pals towards victory.  Everton may not be wisely-framed at the moment, but they surely have got some victories in store.  I think Dean did very well under the special circumstances.  If he could get a goal he would have a new heart put into him.  He is young; he feels he has to perform miracles, and he can’t get off the mark.  Nor will he till Everton begin to play more like “fives” instead of twos.  That particular style of play has been the undoing of the side for more than here season.  The attack is a thing of one-set plan; instead of variety.
ELKES’ IDEAS
Did you see Seed and Elkes change places?  Did you see Seed go outside right for a moment? Did you see Bert Smith’s really good drive, which Kendall held so well?  That is variety.  That is what is wanted at Goodison –a wider span of operations, a forgetfulness of the slavishness called “wing play.” I say this spite of the fact that Alex Troup has taken a new lease of life, and has been the most consistent forward on the side this season.  Peacock as a forward?  Well, it is not new, and it may take time to develop.  Peacock can dribble with the best forward.  If he and Dean had not got in each other’s way, either could have scored early on, and Everton would then have been ablaze.  No forward did quite so much Buccaneering as big Elkes, the rejected of the South-end (was it Southampton) and Birmingham.  He looks clumsy, but his work with the ball is worthy a special study.  He has got the out-of-date fashion of putting his boot on the top of the ball and dragging it back.  I have preached that particular type of play as being the one way to open out when you are clustered around by players till I think some people thought it was used as a filling-up plan.  Yet here is Elkes working it in simple manner and getting out of a lot of work and trouble by so doing.  Go ye and do likewise, forwards.
FORGING AHEAD.
Kendall has got over his scratchy period of last season and is going ahead.  Few can take the rising ball as he does, and the boy with experience is proving what was said of him after the Spurs match last season.  “He’s great,” O’Donnell, too, is coming to fruition, and if he does not take too many knocks and risks he is going to be a big asset to the Walton side.  I thought all the half-backs stuck to their difficult work with something more than avidity; there was a “spirit” in the team that suggested they were going to do big things.  Therefore, spite of Spurs chucking the win away, we say “Good fortune, Everton.  Go on improving.” 

WEST BROMWICH ALBION RESERVES 5 EVERTON RESERVES 2
September 15, 1925. The Liverpool Daily Post and Mercury
CENTRAL LEAGUE (Game 5)
Everton fielded a powerful side for their match at the Hawthorns, but the Throstles dominated the play until Murray scored for Everton after eleven minutes. Subsequently play favoured the Albion, and after Wilson had struck the post Spencer equalised from the rebound and short gave the Albion the lead soon afterwards. The Everton goal underwent a terrific siege, Jones playing magnificently in goal. At half time the Albion led by 2 to 1. Short increased the advantage immediately after the restart. The game developed into a fierce bombardment of the Everton goal, and Jones played valiantly without adequate support, Broad converted a penalty, and Wilson and Spencer added goals for Albion, who won easily by 5 goals to 2.

EVERTON AND SCOTTISH PLAYERS.
September 15, 1925. The Liverpool Daily Post and Mercury
Everton had a representative at Kirkcaldy on Saturday watching the game between Raith Rovers and Airdrieonians. The object of the visit was to see Alex James, inside-left of Raith Rovers, but it is stated that the mission was a double one, the report being that the Goodison club are also interested in Bennie, Airdrieonians left-half back. However James is on the transfer list of his club, and it is here that business may be done especially as James was one of the best players on the field in the game, referred to. He belongs to Strathaven in Lanarkshire and was picked up by the Rovers from Glasgow team Ashfield. He is not much height, but is stockily built, and has great power in his shooting. Some trouble arose between the club and James after the opening of the season, and he then expressed the desire for leaving. The club were not inclined to let him go, but when his father in law David Willis, the former Newcastle United player, who was trainer for the Rovers, left for a similar position with Notts Forest, the desire to be placed on the transfer list was again expressed and accended to.

EVERTON’S GAME AGAINST THE ABLION TO-MORROW
Liverpool Echo - Tuesday 15 September 1925
Bee’s Notes
There are some who believe Everton would play with better result if they formulated their game on the style of the Birmingham defence.  Certainly no team has ever given so much pleasure and yet caused so much heartburning (by its losses or draws).  Probably they wills settle down all in a minute, for everyone I have spoken to the Midlands concerning their game at West Bromwich said, “They played fine football, with and without their goalkeeper, and they put the wind up us.”  I told the Birmingham people that they had a chance of drawing, and their answer was, “We saw Everton at the Albion ground, and know what we are up against.” Thus you see when the Albion come to Everton’s ground to-morrow night for the six o’clock kick-off they will remember what they have been through, and will realize that Everton are not so bad as their draws suggest.  The Albion are always a big attraction up here, for there is a fine sporting ring about them, and their young players are nothing if not nippy movers.  Their win at Blackburn stamps them as useful, and the appearance of Cater, among others, at Goodison Park will be relished.  The prospect is decidedly in favour of a rousing game and plenty of effective football.  Everton chose their side to-night.
CENTRAL LEAGUE
Everton fielded a powerful side for their match at the Hawthorns, but the Throstles dominated the play until Murray scored for Everton after eleven minutes.  Subsequently play favoured the Albion, and after Wilson had struck a post Spencer equalized from the rebound, and Short gave the Albion the lead soon afterwards.  The Everton goal underwent a terrific siege, Jones playing magnificently in goal.  At half-time the Albion led by 2 goals to 1.  Short increased the advantage immediately after the restart.  The game developed into a fierce bombardment of the Everton goal, and Jones played valiantly without adequate support, Broad converted a penalty, and Wilson and Spencer added goals for Albion, who won easily by 5 goals to 2. 

EVERTON AND ALBION SIDES DECIDED FOR TONIGHT
Liverpool Echo - Wednesday 16 September 1925
Bee’s Notes
Speaking wits the Old West Bromwich Albion captain, international, and present chairman of directors, at the Hawthorns, I learned that for to-night’s gamer the club  has been unable to get the clever Carter fit; owing to ‘flu and tonsillitis he has had to go to Rhyl to recuperate.  This is a big loss to the Albion because Carter is the Buchan of the side –and a bit more, for he has that “devil” which the oldest has lost owing to ceaseless marking of “his papers” by opposing defenders.  Magee, of course, is nursing appendicitis –nasty spreading little things, these! However, the Albion have some trusty young reserves, and believe they will do well, even though, says Mr. Bassett, they were much impressed by he way the Everton men played a week or so ago.  The visitors will bring a new centre half-back to us in Rooke, who, I believe, has not played for the first team up here, though he has been with the reserve side for three years.  The “everlasting” Joe Smith appears at full-back; he played for Everton during the war-time period, and altogether seems to have been with the Albion for well on fourteen years.  Baugh, the back (pronounced “Boff”), is a son of the former Midland player, and was signed from Wolverhampton; if memory does not play me false, he played for Wolves in a famous fourth round tie up at Goodison Park, when Everton were beaten 1-0. 
IRVINE COMES BACK
Bob Irvine, after a long spell of waiting has come back to fitness and he and Chedgzoy from the right wing, as of yore.  Both have suffered some pretty severe knocks in recent games, but no one can gainsay their enthusiasm for the cause.  I thought Chedgzoy on Saturday had little chance of doing anything, the ball going any way but his.  It sometimes happens that the game naturally learns on one wing rather than another.  These are the teams to line up at about 5.55 to-night;- Everton; Kendall; Raitt, O’Donnell; Brown, McBain, Hart; Chedgzoy, Irvine, Dean, Kennedy, Troup.  West Bromwich Albion;- Ashmore; Smith, Baugh; Richardson, Rooke, Dutton; Glidden, Jones, James, Davis, Byers.
FOOTBALL HISTORY
JUBILLE
The fact that the Wednesday Football Club has started the present season better than in any previous campaign since the war has aroused marked enthusiasm in Sheffield, where the old club is regarded as an institution.  Particularly is the team’s success welcome because in September next year the Wednesday will celebrate their diamond jubilee.  The club was formed on September 5, 1866.  It is felt that there could be no happier celebration than the return of the team to the First Division, after extremely trying years in the lower house.  The Wednesday have made great history, for they have been in three English Cup finals, have won the Cup twice, have figured in eight semi-finals, and have won the Second Division championship once and the First Division championship twice- two years in succession. 
OLDEST CLUB
Sheffield, of course, is regarded as the home of football, for the Sheffield Club is the oldest existing club in the world, dating back to 1855, while the Sheffield County Association was formed in 1867, and is one of the oldest, and contributed in no small measure to the drawing up of regulations and laws of the game which govern football to-day. 
In searching for old history, however, a “find” of considerable interest has been made.  It is a record of a match played near the city in 1793, and the chronicle of it is very fascinating.  The story runs;-
  “A great football match took place between Norton and Sheffield.  There were selected six young men of Norton dressed in green, and six young men of Sheffield, dressed in red.  The play continued for three consecutive days, at the arch, which was created at each end of the ground.  There was a hole in the goal, and those on the Sheffield side would prevent the ball from passing through the hole.  Then those on the Norton side, not being so numerous as those of Sheffield, sent messengers to the Peak and other places in the County of Derby, and in consequence a great number of men appeared on the ground.  Then those of Sheffield sent a drum and fife band through the streets of Sheffield to collect recruits and sufficient forces against the Derbyshire men. 
A GENERAL ROW!
“The fashion then was that all respectable gentlemen, tradesmen and artisans of Sheffield should wear long tails, hence that at the close of the third day’s play a general row or struggle took place between the contesting parties.  The men of Derbyshire cut and pulled off nearly all he tails from the heads of the gentlemen of Sheffield.  “There was many slightly wounded, but none were killed.  Thus ended a celebrated football match which aroused bad passion by both parties and the hostile feeling continued so that several years afterwards the people of Norton felt a dread to come to Sheffield, even about their necessary business.”  Norton, it may be said, is now a suburb of Sheffield. 

EVERTON 4 WEST BROMWICH ALBION 0
September 17, 1925. The Liverpool Daily Post and Mercury
EVERTON'S FIRST VICTORY.
FOUR GOALS AGAINST THE ALBION.
A LESSON IN CENTRE-FORWARD DOGGEDNESS.
DEAN ASSISTED “THREE GOALS.”
By “Bees.”
Everton gained their first victory of the season last night when before a crowd of 25,000 spectators, they defeated West Bromwich Albion by 4 goals to nil. It was noticeable that Everton's inside forwards, Kennedy and Irvine were inclined to hang back a few yards, and the forward line gained by this, in addition to which the men named could give help to a harassed defence. No one contend that there were four goals between the two clubs, but Albion have only themselves to blame for not taking the lead in the first half, when they had the measure of Everton, and with Stanley Davies playing against his old comrades and providing fine ground passes, Kendall should have been tested, whereas he escaped practically the whole of the first half thanks to Byers and Glidden getting in each other's way to a simple shot, and thanks also to Byers being erratic and hasty in his judgement when he stood on the goal line. All this time Everton were suffering from a fear that comes of a vexatious start to the season. But the turn in the game came after the Albion had allowed goals to slide away.
A DEBATED GOAL.
A corner kick was given and Kennedy scored from it. The referee Mr. T. Crew, of Leicester. Had given a goal kick; a linesmen was adamant that it was a corner kick, and in view of Kennedy's urgent effort to try to keep the ball from going over the line for a goal kick it is hard to reconcile the linesman's verdict. However, the goal was scored from a corner, –which in itself –is unusual, because corners do not produce many goals –and the Albion side went away protesting, and at half time went away with a grievance. They took a long interval, and when they returned they found Irvine a thorn. He dribbled to excess at times and one moment ran into a full back full tilt. That stopped his roaming and the ball was taken up by Dean, who offered a nice pass to Troup, and the latter scored a thrilling goal.
DEAN'S ENERGETIC PLAY.
This was the beginning of Dean's justification. He offered two passes near the end of the game to make goals for Kennedy and Irvine, and he did more than at any previous match to justify his position as leader. His sallies against the defenders, his heading his passes, his ground movements all these stamped him a natural footballer, and showed that Everton's play had been more combined and cohesive he would have got goals. It seemed that he was trying to do too much because he had not yet scored but having given passes for three goals, he can take heart. Moreover, he gave such staunch backs as Joe Smith and Baugh a rougher passsager, in the best sense of the term. He was always challenging them and refusing to let them have free kicks. He can charge lustily; he can head, he can shoot –and he has come to stay in Everton's good books. For months there has been a doubt whether he was ripe for First Division football. His misfortune was that he played in a side that had temporarily lost its form. There can be no debate about his ability after last nights work. Moreover, the work and of McBain, Hart and Rochardson was of a high standard, resolute in tackling and good in feeding up the field passes. The good play of the Everton half-backs line must have counted much towards victory.
GRUELLING GAME.
Yet one would not hasten on without recognising that there are still faults in the full back division. Albion showed this up just as patently as they showed up their own failty with grit-goals. The Albion are nippy, slightly on the small side, and not as good as usual at half-back, where Rooke, acting for Reed, had an awkward time. James was not at his best and Byers was too concerned with a bother with Raitt to do himself justice. Glidden is still a joy and Richardson and Stanley Davies were splendidly up to a point. It was a grueling game with few stops for injuries, too many stops for fouls and wrong throws, and Hart and James in colliding cracked their heads. Baugh and Richardson hurt their thighs early on, and in spite of this Richardson was possibly the cleverest half back on view. Everton by winning have set the ball rolling and they should improve in future games. But there must be no change of practical measures, the side must move up when a forward dribbles, and they must make passes when they can rather them roam till they become smothered out of sight of goal. Teams: - Everton: - Kendall, goal, Raitt, and O' Donnell, backs, Browm, McBain, and Hart (captain), Chedgzoy, Irvine, Dean, Kennedy, and Troup, forwards. West Bromwich Albion: - Ashmore, goal, Smith, and Baugh, backs, Richardson, Rooke, and Dutton, half-backs, Glidden, Jones, James, Davies and Byers, forwards. Referee T. Crew.

ALBION FRITTER AWAY THEIR CHANCES
Birmingham Daily Gazette - Thursday 17 September
WRETCHED SHOOTING AT GOODISON PARK
MISLEADING SCORE
EVERTON 4 WEST BROMWICH ALBION 0
It was unfortunate for Albion that they visited Goodison Park last night, for Everton were without a victory, and there was a very spirited opposition as a consequence.  The score is totally foreign to the run of the play, but Albion courted disaster when they did not take easy chances in the first half, and thus lay the foundation of victory.  They were frightfully poor in front of goal, and the goals never forgave them.  Moreover, the class of work put in by the Albion forwards was such that goals should have bene gifts.  They got the Everton defence nettled and maybe their lack of shots against Kendall till five minutes from the finish was accounted for by the fact that the team lost is confidence through an incident near the interval which turned the course of the game.  The referee pointed for a goal kick; a linesman insisted it was a corner kick, and a corner kick it became the result being that Kennedy opened the score.
PROBABLY A GOAL-KICK
That it was probably a goal kick was made the more evident in that Kennedy was trying to keep the ball in play.  In the second half, however, the Albion were outplayed, and though it is true that Baugh, Richardson and others were injured the patent fact came out that Albion could not withstand the virile work of Everton’s now inspired team, and Rooke had a bad time with Dean, who was wholehearted and clever to boot.  Three goals were added, the first being by Troup, who hit a slashing drive to the top of the net.  There was no further scoring till close on time when Kennedy and Irvine scored, each from Dean’s pass.  The Albion defence stood well up to their task, but the half-backs and some of the forwards began to tire early on.  No forward played quite so well as Stanley Davies, who, on his old ground, made great dribbles. 
STOUT DEFENCE
Richardson was the best of the visitors half-backs, and when there was any danger to the Albion goal Smith and Baugh went onto the goal mouth and saved the danger.  They played a stout game against odds, but had the side gone through with their early brilliance and given Kendall any work to do the result must have been different, as the Everton side was not confident, was erratic and confused.  It was after Albion’s misses that they began to believe in themselves.  Everton; Kendall; Raitt, O’Donnell; Brown, MacBain, Hart; Chedgzoy, Irvine, Dean, Kennedy, Troup.  West Bromwich Albion; Ashmore; Smith, Baugh; Richardson, Rooke, Dutton, Glidden, Jones, James, Davies, Byers. 

EVERTON’S BRILLIANT VICTORY AND DEBATED GOAL
Liverpool Echo - Thursday 17 September 1925
WHY THE SIDE WON SO WELL
Bee’s Notes
We breathe easily at last. I don't think I can do better than give you who were there a remembrance or the match, and those who were not there lines from the notebook. It was such a joyous victory and so securely made that I propose to give the matter fully. First came the boy mascot, with his two feet of stature, and a horseshoe for Kendall. It must have worked the oracle, for Kendall was idle nine-tenths of the game. Kendall should hair the shoe tied to his singlet for future matches. Whist amused me most was the stance on the boy, with his arms behind him; and he surveyed the field with an easy air and conscience.  He looked like a spec on the ocean, standing with anything up to 30,000 spectators eyeing him. Now to the game.  Everton aimed at the Aintree goal. Rook, three years with the reserves, came in, because Reed had got the bird from the Albion crowd. Rook was too strong with his up pass, and Glidden and Byers not sufficiently strong with their centers. 
BROWN'S BRILLIANCE. 
A silent crowd owing to the lack of atmosphere, people pouring in, and the general assembly not having settled down until quarter time.  They made up for the quiet opening by the magnificent finish.  Baugh hurt his thigh.  Richardson did likewise, and went outside-right for a time.  Brown was brilliant with a fine upward run, and Chedgzoy centred for Dean to make a good header. Stan. Davies, equally grand in dribble, posted himself well behind Byers.  This was by order. It worked at Blackburn, and it should have worked last night, for when Stan was closeted he back heeled the ball, and a goal should have resulted. Ivor Jones had gone slow, but he can make a drive.  The first quarter of an hour was all Albion’s.  Kennedy inclined to wild shooting, but we forgive anyone who takes a chance after seeing Albion and Spurs at Goodison Park
LET OFF WITHOUT A CAUTION. 
Byers and Glidden could have taken a simple shot front easy range; gross hesitance ruined the chance. O'Donnell twice headed away brilliantly. He saved certs.  Dean is a better header than most centre forwards, and his long legs allow him to make an overhead shot.  Byers and Raitt had a bout near the paddock, Joe Smith fouled his old friend Chedgzoy, and Hunter Hart banged in a lovely shot, Smith being on the line to save. The Albion defence covers up quicker than any defence I know, and they have helpmates in the half-back line.  Ashmore made a clicking catch from Kennedy, after which Glidden always dribbling upwards shot badly, and Byers on the goalline failed to drag the ball into the net.  This was an adsorb miss.  Everton from now took charge; Albion had lost their chance.  Kennedy scored close in thirty-nine minutes, and 29,000 voices clattering about the legitimacy of the point.  The referee had said goalkick, and once again a linesman interfered.  He insisted it was a corner.  Kennedy by running across the field to keep the ball from passing out for a goalkick, showed plainly he knew it would be a goalkick.  It was from this “turn-round” of Referee Crewe, of Leicester, that Everton took the lead.  It is the first goal they have got in the first half this season, if memory is right.  McBain all the way through good, and falling back made a great clearance from Stan Davies.
SECOND SPELL
A ten minutes’ interval is too long.  It is not legal, and on a dark night it is courting abandonment.  Dangerous play; why will they do it?  Brown and Chedgzoy penalized for false throws.  Is it necessary?  Brown had one foot on the line; Chedgzoy was not facing the field.  Players tried to get too near the line instead of going as far away as possibly.  Irvine and Kennedy excellent now.  O’Donnell, while not always kicking in a direct line, played gallant football.  Dean burst through solid defence, but in excitement he let fly over the bar.  Of Freeman’s 38 goals, half the number were scored by his walking up to the goal line with the ball.  Centres ought to do more of this year.  Dean please note.  Stan Davies thrown in the penalty area claimed a penalty kick.  Irvine got struck in collision with a defender, and Dean’s pass went to Troup, who hit one of the best shots we have seen.  He is very powerful, and in view of his games with the first and the reserve team on Saturday, Wednesday, Saturday, Wednesday, his form has been uniformly good, and perhaps the best of his line.  This makes me wonder why he went into the reserve side.  He bumped another ball against the upright, and there was a lot of this ship and escape football favouring Albion in the last ten minutes, James and Hart had a tete-a-tete, the result being that both had to be repaired.  Hunter suffers much, but goes on with his good work with an earnestness and thoroughness that compel admiration. 
BRILLIANT FINALE
Ashmore saved again from Kennedy, and Chedgzoy got over one of his very best swinging centres.  Dean had “a hand” in each of the last three goals.  It was his pass that led to Kennedy scoring seven minutes from the finish and Irvine three minutes later.  People have wondered whether he was a footballer, whether he was ripe, whether he was ready for the first division. He is the best natural footballer I have seen for many a year, and I am only sorry his experience was curbed last back-end when he was relegated to the second team.  I believe he started this season with an appearance with the “A” team.  Well, he has youth to help him, and I hope he keeps a level head, because if he does not he won’t be the first Everton boy who has been spoiled.  I think one of the best features is his heart (he fears nothing) and his heading ability.  More and more he reminds me of that classic centre example Billy McLuckie, except that he has “better understandings,” McLuckie being of the pigeoned-toed variety.  If present day tactics were altered so that a centre was recognized as part of the machinery in combination we should see without delay how good Dean can be with a low ball.  So far it is safe to say his chances have been in the main with the head.  Everton are wrong in over-winging and failing to get the ball more up the middle.  It struck me last night that they had changed their tactics in more than one way, and most noticeably in the fact that Kennedy and Irvine lay back a little
BRAVO!
Anything was better than what they had shown before, and now they have overcome the faulty start and have the memory of a clear-cut victory they should give many more such exhibitions.  I congratulate every member upon his part in a victory over a side that has since the war simply helped itself to points at our expense.  Perhaps it will be taken in the spirit it is meant if I offer the directors and officials hearty congratulations.  They have had a worrying time, as I have reason to know, and I hope that this victory will set everybody happy. 

ON WITH THE GOOD WORK!
Liverpool Echo - Friday 18 September 1925
Bee’s Notes
Everton will go to Manchester City’s ground with happy memories.  They always shape well there, and it is strange how some clubs can pile up a collection of wins at one away spot, and yet fail persistently at another away ground.  Neil McBain has played some of the greatest games of his left at Manchester –no, at City’s ground, I mean; and City once took a rare interest in his penmanship.  He has been troubled with injuries in the last week or so, but it is not expected that any of the men who triumphed over Albion will be absent from the ranks.  City are banking a good deal on McCloy, the Scottish international back, and it is rather strange that Everton should, in two successive games be brought face to face with their former centre forwards-namely, Stan Davies and Tom Browell.  Hicks is rather new to First Division stuff, but Roberts and Austin are known as fleet, clever forwards who have different ways to the average wingers.  Cowan at centre half, is also newish, he having been signed to replace Max Woosnam.  Everton should win, can win, and will.  Everton; Kendall; Raitt, O’Donnell; Brown, McBain, Hart; Chedgzoy, Irvine, Dean, Kennedy, Troup.  Manchester City; J.F. Mitchell; Cookson, McCloy; Sharp, Cowan, Pringle; Austin, Roberts, Browell, Johnson, Hicks. 

EVERTON CHANGES.
September 19 1925. The Liverpool Daily Post and Mercury.
Everton generally give a good account of themselves, against Manchester City, and if they play as well as they did against West Brom on Wednesday they will not be beaten. Everton make no changes from the side that beat Albion, which for City Browell plays at centre forward. Roberts going inside right. The kick off is fixed for 3-15 and the team is: - Kendall; Raitt, McDonald; Brown, McBain, Hart; Chedgzoy Irvine, Dean, Kennedy, Troup. Manchester City: - Mitchell, Cookson, McCoy; Sharp, Cowan, Pringle; Austin, Roberts, Browell, Johnson, Hicks.
RECEIPTS FOR TRIAL GAMES.
Everton are now receiving acknowledgment of the £931 they have paid out of receipts from the trail matches, the proceeds of which are always devoted to local charities. A sum of £250 was added to the trail figures and thus the actual total made one of the best in the history of the club. The allocations were as follow, Stanley hospital £230, David Lewis north hospital £105, southern hospital £105, royal infirmary £105, Bootle borough hospital £52-10, national institute for the blind £30, Liverpool child welfare £30, women's hospital and Samaritan home £25, national lifeboat institution £25, Wallesey Victoria hospital £25, children's infirmary myrtle-street £25, Liverpool home for incurables £20-4-3, west lancs mental welfare £20, Bootle cc £21, the maternile home £20, St john ambulance £10, lances FA benevolent fund £10, inst. of journalist orphan funds £10, john Howard fund £10, Liverpool union of boy clubs £10, N.S.P.C.A, £10, Walton nursing association £7-1-=0, St Paul's eye and ear hospital £7-10-0.

OLD TIMES AND TIMERS
Liverpool Echo - Saturday 19 September 1925
TWO GREAT LIVERPOOL PRESSMEN WHO JUDGED AND WROTE THE GAME
By Victor Hall
The Liverpool Press has done its share towards the recording of football in the archives of the game.  If ever football produces “Annals of the Four Masters,” two Liverpool pressmen will tie, at least, for one of those niches.  We refer to the names of Piewtriell and Ramage, of the “Football Express,” two brilliant writers, who contributed in succession to the columns of our contemporary. 
Piewtriell had joined staff of the paper as a boy, in one of the usual junior offices of a great newspaper staff-indeed, at Anfield at one time he served as assistant to one of the senior journalists, but when he started to turn out “copy” himself, he developed a style and a descriptive manner that stamped him as one of the masters of football reporting.  There are in Liverpool to-day journalists of distinction who worked in Piewtriell’s time, some, indeed, who were senior to him in status, and years, and who have since attained the highest positions that provincial journalism has to offer, and it is to these older men that his memory will ever be held in the highest regard.
 BORN WRITER
He had a peculiar gift of being able to sense the spirit of every game almost from the kick-off.  With a subtle instinct, he seemed to assay the spirit of the individual players, so that as the game developed so did his description portray the fluctuating impulse of the field.  One good judge of the game once said to the writer, that Piewtriell’s accounts was like watching a moving photograph of the game.  And that was before the days of the cinema, remember!  No journalist came less into the public eye than did he.  Most of his articles were unsigned, and few of the players knew him personally, but to those who did come into contact with him there was revealed a certain shy reserve that was at once a revelation and a charm.  He was a marvelously good judge of a player’s possibilities.  Rarely was he at fault in his judgement, and rarer was he in fulsome praise.  Keen, incisive, definite- his verdict was generally found to be the true one; let others say what they would.  Except in the columns of his paper there is but little of his writing now on record, though some local issuer still contain extracts from his earlier writings.  As an all-round journalist, he had won fame locally, wherever descriptive writing was appreciated, and his early and sudden end cast a gloom over Local Press circles, that football followers in particular were proud the share.  As “Peter Hykson,” Ramage followed Piewtriell in the columns of the “Football Express,” and immediately created for himself an atmosphere that was distinctive and congenial.  He wrote with a quaint whimsical humour that was a once arresting, and his weekly column was for a long one of the popular features of the Saturday evening issue.  A friend once asked him why he had chosen so singular a “nom de plume.”  He at once became eloquent; “Do you know, my dear follow, that then elder Hyksos was one of the most revered scribes of the ancient Egypt of Ptolemy’s days! Do you know that this same Hyksos, before he handed on the tablets of records to his nephew, insisted that nothing had true records should ever appear over the scared scarab of the Hyksos who inscribed it?  Do you further know----?” but the rash inquirer had fled!  As a football writer pure and simple, Ramage was less a critic then a devotee.  He loved the game, and loved to write about it, but entered so fully into the spirit of the game that he saw good in everything, and lavished hi superlatives on all that pleased him.  Occasionally he would rise- metaphorically –in a spirit if wrath and lay about him with the cudgel of chastisement, but his blows were friendly, and usually he melted in a spirit of benevolence that left no sting.  Good nature and elfin humour were characteristic of all he wrote, and if one charm excelled another in his writings, it was the suave, happy phrases of a joyous soul, who adorned simple matter with the halo of portray, and made the reading of it a sheer delight.  Of all the journalists of those days who journeyed with committee and players on their frequent voyages no company was more acceptable than that of Peter Hyksos.  No more pleasant companion could be had to vary the tedium of long journeying, and no more engaging raconteur to liven the hour of leisure.
THE HYKSOS SCARAB
Once at Bolton a stern-faced commissionaire barred the Press Box entrance.  Hyksos had mislaid his Press pass, and endeavored –informally- to put the janitor “wise” to his predicament.  The official was stolid, however, and impervious to “Peter’s” blandishments.  He tried another course, and became dominant and austere.  The janitor countered, and menacingly shook his fist in admonition!  A scuffle seemed imminent, as the ball was about to be kicked-off and the journalist seemed “for it” 
Then there was a happy churtle of relief from the two contending forces –a handshake –and “Peter” triumphantly emerged through the portal and joined us in the press box.  “How did you manage it?” we asked.  He grinned.  “I passed him my flask to mind for me!”  “We didn’t know you had a flask,” we protested.  Again he grinned. “I forget myself,” he said.  “It’s halt full of cough mixture.” 
Poor Peter Hyksos, he didn’t live long to wear his laurels, and when he was taken with a premature illness football and its lovers lost a friend.  Someday “the Prior” of those early days may give us some reminiscences, and when he does we will be in for a treat.  For “the Prior” has some wonderful tales to tell. 

STUD MARKS
Liverpool Echo - Saturday 19 September 1925
By Louis T. Kelly

• Everton’s chief consolation on Saturday lay in the fact that they were No 1 to take a point from the Spurs
• Everton and Liverpool must needs show improvement, else they will merely figure once again among the also-rans.
• Kendall went a step nearer winning his spurs against the North Londoners.
• It was pleasing to find Jack Peacock successful in getting Everton’s goal on the occasion of his re-entry into the team.

INTER-CITY RIVALRY
Liverpool Echo - Saturday 19 September 1925
MAINE-ROAD HOUSED BIG CROWD OF ENTHUSIASTS
EVERTON V MANCHESTER C
F.E.H’S SPECIAL REPORT AND COMMENTS
Everton; Kendall; Raitt, O’Donnell; Brown, McBain, Hart; Chedgzoy, Irvine, Dean, Kennedy, Troup.  Manchester City; J.F. Mitchell; Cookson, McCloy; Sharp, Cowan, Pringle; Austin, Roberts, Browell, Johnson, Hicks.  Referee; A.J. Coseley (Wolverhampton). 
After their enthusiastic win over Albion Everton had to sit up and study certain damaged member. All were reported fit, however, and the same team was chosen to work at Main-road today, a favourite ground of Everton's, and all Goodman Park habitues hoped that the revival of the side would be added to by an away victory.  Everton go to Birmingham on Monday for the return league match with the Brums.  We found the weather in tears as usual, and there were only 15,000 people present when the game started, in dull, dismal conditions. The teams were as selected. 
GOAL BY DEAN. 
Everton, who appeared in white jerseys, were immediately on the job, and is the first minute of the game Mitchell had to save at the cost of a corner. This was cleared. But the visitors came racing down again, and Dean missed the target by a mere matter of inches when he put the ball over the bar.  It was at once evident that the Evertonians were out for blood, for Troup got off the mark like a Sheffield handicapper, and lobbing the ball into the goalmouth, Dean put it into the net.  This success came within three minutes, and it had the effect of setting the pace at a quicker stride than ever.  The City forwards made several advances, and both wings and Johnson once put the ball over the cross-bar. 
SECOND BY KENNEDY. 
This, however, was only a flash in the pan, for the Merseyside men came close again in great style, and the left wing and Kennedy sent in a high shot which went just out of Mitchell's reach.  The City forwards were for a time all at sea and though Cowan tried to pull the forwards together. Browell and his wings were most erratic, fine chances being missed by both Johnson and Roberts.
The visitors continued to play remarkably good football, and fine work by Brown nearly came to scoring. The combination of the halves and forwards was at times absolutely perfect.
THIRD BY IRVINE
After 25 minute play Irvine, picking up a neat pass from Brown, succeeded in beating Mitchell with a good shot.  Everton at this period were making the home side look distinctly small, and both the backs were run off their feet at times.  They altered, however, and Browell sent in a stinging shot which hit Kendall in the face, and the leather rebounded into play.  The situation was saved when the backs stepped in. 
BROWELL’S FINE GOAL
It was not long before the visitors were in an aggressive mood, and a series of shots were fired in, and, fortunately for the City, were intercepted, and the home forwards a little later made desperate efforts to reduce the leeway, and eventually they were successful.  Austin put in a pretty centre which hit Raitt, and as the leather cannoned off the Everton back, Browell stepped into the breach, and scored a capital goal ten minutes before the interval.  Half-time; Manchester C 1, Everton 3. 
BROWELL’S DAY
EVERTON THWARTED JUST ON TIME
DEAN IN COLLISION
HAD TO BE ASSISTED OFF THE FIELD
Rain was coming down in torrents when play was resumed.  The pace, however, was as fast as ever, and the Manchester forwards were quickly on the attack.  Troup handled the ball, and Cookson took the free kick, for which Browell headed a great goal ten minutes after the interval.  Everton were dangerous for a time, but the City defence was mow much more solid in character, and the finest points of the contest were lost in a heavy downpour. The visitors were not prone to reply, for Hart took the ball along in wonderful style and he finished with a pass which enabled Kennedy to score a good goal.  The City made superhuman efforts to reduce he lead, and Johnson hit the post with a hard drive.  This was hard luck, for Everton were full value for their handsome lead.  Their attack had been brilliant, and as I have said there were times when the City defence was quite off its feet.  Once Austin centred with accuracy but nothing happened, and a little later Roberts failed when he had a great opportunity.  Play, though slower, was now much more even, both sides attacking alternately.  The shooting was not so deadly.  Nevertheless, the City continued in a determined mood, and Raitt, making a rather bad blunder, let in Roberts, who struck the post with a fast shot. 
FEVER HEAT.
The visitors replied gallantly, but they were held up by Mitchell, and the City returned to the onslaught with a sudden spasm and vigour, and Johnson put in a header which Kendall saved by conceding a corner.  In the concluding stages of the game the excitement rose to fever heat when the City forwards developed their attack.  They moved off in good order, and Sharp putting the ball to Browell the latter scored a third goal. 
BROWN DAMAGED
I should have stated that in the second half Brown retired after ten minutes owing to damaged ankle.  Chedgzoy went to right half back, and thus depleting the Everton ranks accounted in great measure for the aggressive and successful movements.  Ten minutes from time Cookson retired hurt, and then Dean, who was in collision with Mitchell had to be assisted off the field.  Browell equalized for City three minutes from time; Final; Manchester City 4, Everton 4. 

THE MASCOT
Liverpool Echo - Saturday 19 September 1925
Everton’s Baby Mascot is a third generation “Evertonian,” his grandfather being one of the oldest shareholders.  This family have done this mascot business just to try and buck the old club up, says “Evertonian.”  Perhaps they will be good enough to send “Bee” full address. 

ACKNOWLEDGED
Liverpool Echo - Saturday 19 September 1925
The Hon Treasurer of the Royal Liverpool Children’s Hospital acknowledge with grateful thanks a donation of 25 pounds from the Everton Football Club, being amount granted by the directors out of practice match receipts. 

EVERTON RES V MANCHESTER CITY RES
Liverpool Echo - Saturday 19 September 1925
At Goodison Park.  The game had only been in progress a couple of minutes when Reid, in attempting to clear, skied the ball in his own goalmouth, and the Everton keeper, Jones, in punching clear, placed into his own net.  Afterwards Reid and Murray made good attempts to equalizer.  Everton held the balance of the play, but the City were displaying good combination, and shots by Warner and Bradford were just wide.  Just before the interval Murray equalized.  Half-time; Everton Res 1, City Res 1.  After fifteen minutes in the second half City took the lead, and Rand equalized.  Final; Everton Res 2, City Res 2. 

HARLADIC V EVERTON “A”
Liverpool Echo - Saturday 19 September 1925
At Pirrie Park.  From the outset Harladic completely monopolized the attack and on several occasions were unfortunate for not opening the score.  Cook, in the home goal, was rarely troubled; the Everton forwards being easily held.  Considering inclement weather and the state of the ground served up by both teams was exceptionally good.  Quarter-time; No score. 

MANCHESTER CITY 4 EVERTON 4
September 21, 1925. The Liverpool Daily Post and Courier.
EIGHT GOALS AT MAINE ROAD.
BRILLIANT DISPLAY BY EVERTON.
HOME SIDE'S REMARKABLE RECOVERY.
Those spectators who braved the elements at Manchester on Saturday had the satisfaction of seeing a remarkable game, full of surprises and thrills. This may be gathered from the fact that eight goals were scored, and that the home side, after being apparently hopelessly beaten, snatched the game out of the fire and made an honorable draw. The ground at Maine-road, which has not yet knit properly, was in a treacherous condition, but in spite of this play was not only vigorous but fast and clever. Indeed, in the first half the Everton players excelled themselves, the work of the half-backs and forwards being brilliant, and when the interval came they were full value for the lead they held. Apparently, however, they had rather overtaxed their staving capacity, and this, added to injuries to Brown and Dean, so depleted their ranks that their combination was thrown completely out of gear. Manchester City were not slow to profit by the misfortunes of the visitors, and thanks to Browell, who was at the top of his form, they succeeded in dividing the spoils. Altogether it was a memorable game, Everton are entitled to commiseration for their disappointment, but at the same time one cannot overlook the fact that the City fought a losing battle in the best and gamiest spirit.
DEAN'S DISTINCTION.
Everton got off the mark with startling alacrity, for the game was less than five minutes old when Dean earned for himself the credit of scoring his first goal in first class company this season. This appeared to have an electrical effect upon the visitors for, after the lapse of another ten minutes Kennedy got past Mitchell's defence in very clever style. The City backs were kept absolutely on the defensive, and after another ten minutes they were beaten for the third time, Irvine getting a clever goal. It was than that the City, apparently in a fit of desperation, took up the attack, and from a good half-back play Browell beat Kendall. The visitors, however, swooped down again, and just before the interval Kennedy registered a fourth goal for his side. In the second half matters went all against the visitors. Two minutes after the resumption Browell, who was splendidly fed, reduced the lead with a second good goal, and he repeated this performance twenty minutes later. During this period the Everton goal had been subjected to a severe bombardment, but Kendall displayed brilliant custodianship. Everton's chances of holding their own were reduced by the fact that brown owing to damaged leg, had to leave the field, and with Chedgzoy falling back into the halfway line their ranks were completely disorganised. Matters were made even worse when Dean was forced to retire. Meanwhile the City forwards exercised their pace and skill to the full, and Browell secure the fourth goal.
KENDALL THE “STAR.”
In the Everton defence the bright star was Kendall. O'Donnell also did extremely well, but Raitt at times was inclined to take risks. McBain was the master mind of the centre line, and the most conspicuous forwards were the three inside men, Kennedy showing great skill and trickiness in the work, while Dean when he got the opportunity, was ever ready to shoot. The City forwards were splendidly led by the ex-Evertonian Browell. Austin put in a number of fine centres, and Johnson was frequently on the mark. The half-backs were sound, but the backs were occasionally on the shaky side, and though Mitchell saved reveral shots he was not quite as confident in his clearances as he might have been. Teams: - Manchester City: - J.F. Mitchell, goal, Cookson, and McCloy, backs, Sharp, Cowan, and Prongle, half-backs, Austin, Roberts, Browell, Johnson, and Hicks, forwards. Everton: - Kendall, goal, Raitt, and O'Donnell, backs, Brown, McBain and Hart (captain), half-backs, Chedgzoy, Irvine, Dean, Kennedy, and Troup, forwards. Referee A.J. Costley, (Wolverhampton).

EVERTON RESERVES 2 MANCHESTER CITY RESERVES 2
September 21, 1925. The Liverpool Daily Post and Mercury
CENTRAL LEAGUE (Game 6)
Incessant rain left the ground in a bad state, and the game had only been in progress a few minutes when Reid skied the ball into his own goalmouth, and Jones in attempting to clear, helped the ball into his own net. Everton afterwards attacked strongly for an equaliser, and chiefly through good work by Murray and Weaver the former made the scores level before the interval. Elwood the City centre-half played a great game and frequently broke up the Everton attack. He also had the satisfaction of placing his side in front with a long kick. Everton were slightly the superior side, but were handicapped for some time through the services of Weaver who had to leave the field injured. After his return the home side put on pressure and in the last five minutes Murray paved the way for Rand to equliase.

HARLANDIC 0 EVERTON “A” 0
September 21 1925. The Liverpool Daily Post and Mercury.
LIVERPOOL COUNTY COMBINATION.
Harlandic by virtue of a draw with Everton “A” at Pirrie Park, kept their unbeaten record intact. Harlandic, however, were unfortunate in not securing both points as throughout they enjoyed the greater portion of the game. Stubbs at centre forward, was the pick of the home players, while Carney and Sharp formed an excellent right wing, being ably fed by Massey at right half. Everton were best represented by Davis (goal) and Hamilton, the former playing exceedingly well.

ALL FOUR GOALS
Athletic News - Monday 21 September 1925
THRILLING TRANSFORMATION AT MANCHESTER
BROWELL’S BAG
MANCHESTERR CITY 4 EVERTON 4
By the Pilgrim
WHAT a pity was the weather was so unkind. The supporters of Manchester City will never have a greater treat than was provided in this match at Maine-road, but with rain falling from early afternoon there were comparatively few present to enjoy the fun. It was game of thrills, with a wonderful transformation. There may have been optimists in the City camp, but I certainly would not have given much for the chances of the home team when Everton were leading three clear goals within half hour of the commencement.  A heavy defeat seemed inevitable, for were playing in irresistible fashion.  There was simply no holding their forwards, and yet not only did the City save the match, but only brilliant display of goalkeeping Kendall prevented them from winning outright. And they would not have been undeserving of the reward had they done so.  The man who turned the tide was Browell or, rather, was the man who consummated the efforts his colleagues.  Now approaching the veteran stage, was brought into the side to remedy what has been the City’s great defect, lack finishing power, and right well did he disconnected club from whom was secured. 
EVERTON’S BRILLIANT ATTACK. 
If this is the new football then everyone one must want more of it. Not for a long time have I seen better forward play than that which Everton served up in the first half. They undoubtedly gained a big advantage when they won the toss, and had the wind and rain behind them, but how their forwards played—so clever, so quick, so dashing, and so deadly!  They completely overwhelmed the City defence the rapidity with which they developed their attacks. They never wasted a moment and never looked twice at shooting chance.  And almost invariably they were dead on the mark and with power behind the ball, except it may have been in the case of Dean’s first goal, which, it seemed to me, the centre-forward flicked into the net as it was turned inwards by Kennedy.  Rarely two minutes had elapsed when this arrived, and eleven minutes later Kennedy himself whipped up opening with the speed of thought and had Mitchell hopelessly beaten with a glorious drive. Ten minutes more and Irvine had penetrated the haven with another magnificent drive, and though Browell spoiled the sequence by nipping in with one for the City after a shot by Austin had rebounded from Raitt, Kennedy restored Everton’s  three goals lead four minutes from the interval as Hart pushed the ball to his feet. 
CITY’S GRAND REVIVAL. 
The City had not been so thoroughly out of the picture as the score would suggest. They had done a lot of attacking, and had gone very close on several occasions, but if Kendall was their greatest enemy, there was no mistaking the superiority of Everton.  But the ascendancy of the visitors was never greater than that of the home team the second half. The City might not have shown the same skill in attack as their adversaries had done, but what they lacked in this respect they more than counter-balanced by their energy, their grit, and their determination.  It is true that Everton were playing under great handicap. Almost immediately the second half had been commenced Brown had to leave the field with an injured ankle, and for the rest of the game they were left with only ten men, but so, too, were the City labouring under a disadvantage, and it a tribute to his courage that Cookson continued to the end in the condition he was in.  But these unfortunate happenings apart, the City must be given every credit for their wonderful rally. They literally stormed the Everton goal, and were in no way flattered the triple success Browell, who each lime turned the ball into the net with his head, his last success being achieved four minutes from the finish. 
KENDALL’S GREAT DISPLAY. 
Every man on the side contributed to the revival, but Browell was the hero of the match. Hicks ought to have scored on one occasion, but, like Austin, he did some very good work, and all the forwards must be commended for their spirit.  Once they got a grip of the game the half-backs never relaxed it, and none was happier than Pringle, while the backs recovered from an uncertain start, and Mitchell, if he did not always dispose of the ball as promptly as he might have done, could not be blamed for any of the goals recorded against him.  Nor could Kendall, who served Everton magnificently, and behind two backs who did no inspire confidence.  Neither Raitt or O’Donnell was distinguished and there was no reason at all why the last-named should have lashed the ball on to the terraces as he did in the second half.  If the half-backs were driven largely to a defensive game after the change of ends, they were, before the mishap to Brown, a splendid line, and of the forwards I can say no more than I have done, escept to command fine enterprise of Dean and the shooting of Kennedy.  Manchester City; J.F. Mitchell; Cookson, McCloy; Sharp, Cowan, Pringle; Austin, Roberts, Browell, Johnson, and Hicks.  Everton; Kendall; Raitt, O’Donnell; Brown, McBain, Hart; Chedgzoy, Irvine, Dean, Kennedy, and Troup.  Referee; Mr. A.J. Caseley, Wolverhampton. 

BROWELL’S FOUR GOALS AGAINST HIS OLD SIDE
Liverpool Echo - Monday 21 September 1925
SCORES TOPSY-TURVEY AND AT TIMES COMIC
EVERTON’S CASE.
By F.E.H.
The whirling of Time brings in its train strange exchanges.  Some years ago a young gentleman named Thomas Browell left the Everton camp and moved to Manchester.  Even here he had the experience of playing in the reserve team.  On Saturday, against his old clubmates, he scored four brilliant goals.  These were of exceptional value for they put the Mancunians on level terms after they had been three goals in arrear.  It was a triumph.  It was a triumph for the tricky centre-forward.  The game, in spite of the wretched weather and a most difficult playing pitch- the turf at Maine-road has not yet knifed- was quite the best I have seen so far this season.  In the first half the work of the forwards was brilliant.  McBain pushed the ball forward with such skill and judgment that the vanguard were provided with unlimited opportunities of shooting.  The narrative of the goals need not be repeated here.  One can only say that the score would certainly have been heavier-and victory secured –but for the unfortunate happenings in the second half.  Brown’s retirement threw the whole combination out of gear, and when Dean also had to leave the field, Everton were obviously heavily handicapped.  It is good news to know that neither of these players is seriously damaged, and will no doubt be in harness again on Saturday.  The display of Kendall in goal was wonderfully good, and should do much to consolidate confidence in the defence of the side.  McBain was a tower of strength, and in the front line Kennedy especially took the eye. 
Bee’s Notes
Everton’s wonderful draw will go a long way towards heartening the Goodison followers, who have been shown that the team is not nearly as bad as it stared.  Everton’s was a wonderful feat, because I contend that if a team loses one man that team cam look for defeat, with the new rule obtaining –the backs have to stand in their special pitch, whereas in the days that are gone the one-back game reduced the gamble of a player going off the field.  Everton not only lost Brown for a long time, but they also had Dean knocked-out.  Thus although it was a blow to know Everton were leading by three goals and then drew, the facts made it plain that Everton put up a grand performance.  The hand of Fate added another smack, for it was Tommy Browell who scored each of the four goals by which the City side rallied to the drawing point! Tom Browell- the boy from Everton and Hull; the man not wanted by City at the back end of the season; left unsigned for a long time, in fact; but he came back to the signing-point at a later date- this is how he showed his appreciation; by scoring four. 

BIRMINGHAM CITY 3 EVERTON 1
September 22, 1925. The Liverpool Daily Post and Mercury
EVERTON HEROES.
KENDALL OFF THE FIELD MOST OF THE GAME.
O'DONNELL AS GOALKEEPER AGAINST BIRMINGHAM.
By “Bees.”
There seems some peculiar fate overhanging the Everton team. They do not seem capable of completing a game at full strength. Harland, their goalkeeper, was hurt at West Bromwich and O'Donnell, the full-back took his place in goal and helped to make the game a draw. Then came McDonald's injury against Birmingham at Goodison Park. Following that on Saturday last brown and Dean were injured, Brown so much so that he could not take part last night in the heroic defeat of 3-1, at Birmingham's ground. Dean was able to play but the chapter of accidents was made still worse by Kendall getting a blow on the thigh and knee-cap and being rendered unconscious for a time. This occurred after the game had been going fifteen minutes and O'Donnell once again donned the green jersey without being quite able to save three goals. All the Everton men seemed to put forward that little bit more when Kendall went off the field, and at three distinct stages of the game they made such a gallant fight and played such earnest football that they threatened to draw. Nothing went their way save the applause of the 12,000 spectators and the last goal of the four to Irvine.
LOST THE TOSS.
They started by losing the toss and facing the sun as well as a strong wind. For the first few moments Briggs and Bradford were a source of trouble to them, but their defence having weathered the storm the Everton side were just beginning to play a good combined and rousing game when the blow that befell then dashed their hopes. Any side playing under the new rules of offside minus any one man is almost automatically a losing side, therefore it was no surprise when Bradford scored by glancing a swift ball into the corner of the net. Thereafter till the interval. O'Donnell with one-handed punches saved in real goalkeeper fashion. At one point he turned a somersault when challenged by a crowd of players and with out releasing his grip was able to make a clearance. The crowd showed much sympathy and encouragement which was more than one could say of Briggs, who took a risk with O'Donnell's limbs, Raitt intervening Kendall appeared at outside right for a few minutes of the second half then feeling faint had to retire. He had no sooner done so than Bradford beat the defenders and the game seemed as good as won. However, Everton took command and Irvine shot to the foot of the post, and also gave Tremelling a hot shot to save, while Dean headed against the post. Everton found new life and inspiration, and every man was pulling out the best when Dean went near again.
HOME DEFENCE CRUMBLE.
The Birmingham defence crumbled and Hart joining Raitt at full back and Kennedy becoming left half-back, easily held up the Birmingham forwards who were very erratic. However, Briggs scored at the seventy-seventh minute a goal that would have been null and void through offside, but for Hart walking into the playing area after having been outside the line. Irvine got a good goal within a minute of the previous goal, and in the closing stages O'Donnell saved from three yards' range and also punched over from a corner in the accepted manner. There was merit in defeat. Everton played a better stamp of football than their rivals, and found fate against them. Words can not hardly describe O'Donnell's work in goal, nor yet Raitt's work at full back. Peacock, McBain, and Hart were brilliant, McBain in particular, playing with vim that did not rob him of his subtlety nor yet his artistry. Irvine, was the best forward on the field. He did two's men work. In fact despite what the score suggests there was not a weakness in the Everton's side. The plain matter of fact is that ten men cannot hope to beat eleven, in the season of grace 1925-26. On the Birmingham side Womack stood out as a leader and defender. Cringan had many duels with Dean, Barton was often at fault, and Crosbie and Bradford were the brains of the home attack. Briggs would have been good had he been less selfness. Teams: - Birmingham City: - Tremelling, goal, Womack, and Jones, backs, Liddell, Cringan, and Barton, half-backs, Harris, Crosbie, Bradford, Briggs, and Scriven, forwards. Everton: - Kendall, goal, Raitt and O'Donnell, backs, Peacock, McBain and Hart (captain), half-backs, Chedgzoy, Irvine, Dean Kennedy, and Troup, forwards. Referee Mr. Kingscott.

EVERTON OUT OF LUCK
Birmingham Daily Gazette - Tuesday 22 September 1925
GOALKEEPER OFF FIELD FOR OVER AN HOUR
BEATEN BY “BLUE”
BIRMINGHAM CITY 3, EVERTON 1
By Forward
When Birmingham and Everton met at Goodison Park, Everton had the good fortune to draw in the last few minutes of the match, but Birmingham made no mistake in the return encounter last evening, and won comfortably by three goals to one.  Everton suffered the misfortune of being a man short for over an hour, and this had the effect of disorganizing their team, but even apart from this Birmingham were well worth their victory, and the only fault to be found with their display was that they did not avail themselves of all the scoring chances with the object of further improving their goal average.  However, they won comfortably, and it is to be hoped the success is only a prelude to further victories at St. Andrews’s in the near future. 
BLOW FOR EVERTOR. 
The loss of Kendall, the goalkeeper, after rather more than a quarter of an hour's play, was a severe blow to the Everton side. He sustained a severely bruised kneecap in a collision with Bradford incidentally  saving a certain goal - and  was unable to take any further part in the match except for three or four minutes, when he appeared at outside-left after the resumption.  O'Donnell was called upon to fill the breach. Hart dropped into the defence, and Kennedy left the attack to help the half-back division, with the result that the Everton front line suffered.  Before this handicap occurred, however,  Birmingham were the superior side, and their smartness in attack should have brought a goal before Kendall was carried off. There was not the best of understanding between the inside forwards, and whenever a chance of scoring occurred they appeared somehow to get in each other's way.  However, Bradford, who was in one of his most thrustful moods, despite a vigilant opposition, flicked the ball into the corner of the net with his head, and left O'Donnell helpless, giving Birmingham an interval lead they richly deserved.  Everton, without question, made a very plucky fight in face of their handicap, and made sufficient raids of a threatening nature in the second half to make the home side realize that the issue would be in doubt until the end.  Chedgzoy was a regular “box of tricks," treating the spectators to some delightful bits of play, and Dean did quite well in the centre despite the strength of the opposition.  In the second half Everton played in such gallant fashion as to frequently earn the applause of the crowd, and were far from a beaten side, although Bradford scored a second goal only three minutes after the interval. 
BRIGGS' GOAL. 
Later on Briggs, who had been a considerable trouble to the visiting defenders, obtained a third goal, but Everton replied so quickly that before a minute had elapsed Irvine had registered a goal for his side, but the subsequent play ruled largely in favour of Birmingham, who, withthe least bit of luck, would have secured a much heavier lead over their smart opponents.  The display of the Birmingham attack was a big improvement, and the team should do even better in future matches.  For one thing the ball was kept on the ground, and with Bradford in the centre went out to the wings rapidly.  Brings, however, was rather inclined to do too much "off his own bat,” and Scriven was hardly so successful as usual, but Crosbie was at all times a great schemer in making openings for his colleagues.  Liddell played a sound game, and was the best of the Birmingham half-backs— Cringan being a trifle unsettled in his kicking.  The defence was as sound as a rock and rarely gave a chance to the opposing inside forwards, though Dean was a big handful to deal with when once in possession of the ball.  Everton were handicapped by the loss of their goalkeeper, but in the emergency O'Donnell did nobly between the posts and the other defenders, by clever play, helped to keep down the score.  Everton deserve full praise for their splendid display in face of difficulty.  Birmingham.- Tremelling; Womack, Jones; Liddell, Cringan, Barton; Harris, Crosbie, Bradford, Briggs, Scriven.  Everton; Raitt, O’Donnell; Peacock, McBain, Hat; Chedgzoy, Irvine, Dean, Kennedy, Troup.  Referee; A.H. Kingscott, (Long Eaton). 

MERIT IN DEFEAT
Liverpool Echo - Tuesday 22 September 1925
EVERTON’S HEROIC
NEVER-ENDING
Bee’s Notes
Would that you had been at St. Andrew’s to see Everton.  You would have shouted your hoarse at Everton’s players.  They needed a bit of encouragement and then they would probably have drawn the game with the Brums.  We went down per the good engine “Harrowby,” which was a much better timekeeper than the “Zulu,” which returned us to our homes at midnight.  Directors A.R. Wade and Banks, Secretary McIntosh, and the Everton mascot were present to give evidence of Everton’s heroic fight against odds and fate; and if anyone needs further evidence he can “take it from me.”  The mascot’s appearance at St. Andrew’s was a big surprise to me, as I never imagined him popping over the barrier surrounding the ground, and with all decorum marching up to his player-pals and shaking them by the hand.  Unfortunately his “salt” had lost its savour so far as Kendall was concerned, unless the goalkeeper had forgotten the horseshoe presented to him at a previous date.  Kendall got a very bad injury within fifteen minutes and not only was his thigh and kneecap injured, but he had a spell of unconsciousness.  Returning at half-time at outside left, he only stood the walking test three minutes before he had to go off the field and give up hope of playing again.  It is to be hoped that massage, &c., will bring him back right for the game on Saturday at Anfield.  There is a good chance of this. 
CRIMINAL LUCK.
The luck Everton have had this season has been criminal.  They have hardly played one game with full forces.  Irvine’s early injury is well remembered; Harland came next with a blow that let in O’Donnell as a goalkeeper; little did the merry party think yesterday en route for the Midlands that O’Donnell would be called upon to show his prowess again.  Jock McDonald had his big bang at a home match; Brown and Dean were off the field for a longish spell on Saturday, and now came Kendall’s discomfiture.  It arose at a moment when Everton were settling down; they had worn out Birmingham’s rushing torrential inside forward game as put up by Briggs in particularly and Bradford in minor key.  Birmingham have certainly started with a furore.  They had been vexed about that 1-0 defeat from Notts County, which I am able to tell you, exclusive, is going to be debated by the clubs concerned.  Birmingham complain that, the while it is true the referee’s decision is final, the referee did not turn up until half an hour from the start, and they could not open the gates till he came.  Thus they lost money, and when the referee kept the players “waiting resumption” for fifty-five minutes they say he did a thing that was really dangerous to their health.  Birmingham complained, before, during, and after the game, that the day was impossible; the referee could not blow his whistle (it was choked by water!); and they said, “Win or lose, we shall complain to the League.”  Birmingham can have little hope of a replay; that would be impossible.  Naturally, they wanted to get back to the good books of their supporters, and Everton happened to run into that straits. 
SPITE OF THAT
In spite of this urgent desire, Everton, as said, had just got the measure of their rivals, and were beginning to play havoc with the home defence when Kendall’s injury turned the game inside out.  Nowadays, any side losing a man loses the game- that is my new dictum.  It may not always prove correct; but it should be proved because the loss of a man nowadays means that you must not reduce your defence, and you cannot hope for four forwards to break down the opposition defence.  When a goalkeeper is the man to take his leave the barrier to the handicapped side becomes even worse.  I asked O’Donnell whether he had ever kept goal in his youngster days- he is still a very young man, mark you.  “No.” he replied.  “I started as a centre forward, and one day one of our men got hurt, and I went full-back.  I was asked if I would stay there as it seemed to suit me, and I said, ‘Anywhere ‘ll do me.”  I suggested to him that at the rate he was going he would soon become a referee! I think he was the second man asked to keep goal when Harland went out at West Brom., but he’ll be first call for the future, for he has shown a swiping handiness in punch, and one occasion last night, when in getting low to the ball he made a catch, and being surrounded by players he performed a somersault, never releasing his grip of the ball, and finally making a clearance that sent the crowd into ecstasies.  The crowd, I may mention, gave due appreciation to the work of O’Donnell and other members.  They got quite “windy” about the home team’s lead, even when it was 2-0 –and they had good cause to, for the Boys in Blue played grand, earnest football. 
WELL DONE, SIRS!
As I say at the start, Everton were heroes.  I don’t think Bob Irvine ever played so heartily, so effectively, and so cleverly.  David Raitt was a David and Goliath in one; he never put a foot wrong, and his tactics throughout were a model of consistency and strength.  Hunter Hart became a full back, with happy result.  Kennedy, a bonny worker, fetcher, and carrier, played his customary canny game, even though appearing at half-back.  Neil McBain never did better n his Everton career; he was the most subtle and artistic man on the field- this said after remembering the wiles of Crosbie.  McBain by feint, by strategy, by unselfishness, did the work of two men, and I question if he was “blowing” at the finish, because he expended just the necessary amount of energy; the brain saved the foot.  It is hard in such circumstances to individualize, but I feel I must give special prominence here and there, even where every man played with a heartiness and a grit that did him credit.  Birmingham deserved their win; but you who were not present cannot possibly imagine how near Everton came to a well-deserved draw, and what a game fight they put up against great odds.  They started by losing the toss and facing the sun as well as a strong wind.  The crowd showed much sympathy and encouragement which was more than one could say of Briggs, who took a risk with O’Donnell’s limbs.  The plain matter of fact is that ten men cannot hope to beat eleven, in the season of grace of 1925-26.  On the Birmingham side Womack stood out as a leader and defender.  Cringan had many duels with Dean, Barton was often at fault, and Crosbie and Bradford were the brains of the home attack.  Briggs would have bene good had he bene less selfish. 

EVERTON AND LIVERPOOL DO NOT CHANGE THEIR SELECTIONS
Liverpool Echo - Wednesday 23 September 1925
BUT EVERTON MAY HAVE TO FIND A GOALKEEPER
Bee’s Notes
The enormous interest centred in the time-honored meeting of Everton and Liverpool never fails in strength; it seems to get greater every year, and this season I have noted a special sort of revival among the lady folk that threatens to make Saturday’s meeting at Anfield the greatest, in attendance and sport, that has ever been registered at the ground named.  To show you the full strength of the talk that goes on all round the globe about our two clubs I have this day received a letter from Devon asking me for particulars concerning the meetings of the two clubs.  He is on the well-named ship Defiance, which name recalls certain turf pleasantries this year! The following list shows the meetings of the two sides –it will serve to remind one of the days that have gone by;-

Liverpool, in answer to this shipmate of mine, were in the Second Division in 1904-05.
TEAM SHEET
The boards met last night, and while Liverpool could go nap on their Saturday side, no one being in the state known as “doubtful,” the Everton directors were faced with an awkward problem,  it is a vexatious matter when you line up your goalkeepers in this fashion;-
Harland. Cannot play; not fit
Kendall.- May play; doubtful.
Jones.- Good; young, but inexperienced.
O’Donnell.- A full back
Menham.- Still on books, I believe
That was their position, I take it.  Menham is the amateur international of Nomads and other fame, and at a pinch, I suppose, the club would call him to give them aid in a match that requires men of nerves as well of strength.  Kendall may be fit by Saturday, for they have a few days left in which to work on his damaged knee.  If the worst comes to the worst, O’Donnell would not disgrace the selectors.  I have rarely seen a man who fitted the goalkeepers’ bill better than this Darlington boy.  He is all life,” and he has his own way of getting down to a low ball, while his thumping of it with one hand has proved more than testy –it has been hefty.  The position at the moment is blank.  It will be till late in the week that we shall know who holds the fort.  These are the teams.- Everton.- Kendall; Raitt, O’Donnell; Peacock, McBain, Hart; Chedgzoy, Irvine, Dean, Kennedy, and Troup.  Liverpool will be at full strength the side that defeated Manchester United being chosen-namely, Scott; Lucas, Mackinlay; McNabb, Cockburn, Bromilow; Rawlings, Welsh, Forshaw, Chambers, and Hopkin.
TOM FLEETWOOD WILL PLAY
From 87, Stalmine-road, Walton, I get the following notification from Tom Fleetwood, who is anxious to play again;-
 “Just a few lines, hoping it finds you in the best of health, as it leaves me.  Well, I am asking a favour of you; do you think you can get me a club? I am dying for a game.  I just feel as fit now as ever I did, and if you get me a club I won’t let you down.  I have though many a time of writing you, but was waiting to see if there was anything doing at clubs to which I wrote.” 
I am sure Fleetwood will soon be sought by some club desiring a capable old head, who as a defender can still hold his own in daring and skill.  Secretaries write him direct, please. 
One is glad to know that the wife of the Everton secretary is improving in health, after having been very ill at the week-end.

MORE SYMPATHY
Liverpool Echo - Thursday 24 September 1925
Bee’s Notes
Yesterday I told how the wife of the Everton F.C secretary had been ill, and while the game was in progress at Anfield yesterday, I learned that Mr. McIntosh’s boy had a few minutes earlier bene taken to the fever hospital.  Everyone will join me in wishing that the health-tide will turn forthwith.  Talking of injuries, everywhere I go I hear sympathy extended to Everton in the matter of their injured goalkeepers, Donald Mackinlay in the number.  Nothing can be said at the moment concerning young Kendall, except that so far so good is the dictum. 
A correspondent, “H.D,” in an endeavor to straighten things, suggests; O’Donnell; Raitt, Livingstone or Hart; Brown, or Peacock, McBain, Hart or Reid; Chedgzoy, Irvine, Dean, or Murray, Kennedy, Troup or Weaver.  He adds; “Please accept this as a little attempt to help to solve the difficult problem from a staunch supporter of the Blues,” I’m afraid it is not very helpful! 
EVERTON “A’s” “AT HOME”
Everton “A” team is playing at Goodison Park on Saturday, and there there is interest in the “Nursery,” Skelmersdale United their opponents, are “stamped” a good side by their fine win over Liverpool “A,” who had on that occasion a strong team.  The kick-off is 3.30 (to watch the Anfield overflow), and Everton will chose their team from; Davies; Breswick, Hamilton, Alford, Shone, Fairfoull, Rankine, Buckley, Gaffney, Ryding, O’Beill, Houghton, Dodd, and Whitlow. 

THE NEW TACTICS IN FOOTBALL.
Diss Express - Friday 25 September 1925
How the Offside Change Is Making Everybody Think.
By Sam Chedgzoy. ( The famous International outside right of Everton.)
Not once, but scores of times in the past has it been said that the trouble with football is that all the big teams played the game in the same way, and that the big majority of the players were tarred with the same brush. Perhaps there is something in the suggestion, because it is naturally difficult to resist the temptation to carry on with tactics which prove themselves successful. Possibly we haven't thought as much about the game in the past as we might have done ; we may have been inclined to play with our feet only, instead of with our heads as well. For this state of things there is a possible explanation, with which I shall deal later. First of all, however, I want to deal with what is a hot topic of the moment, because it is not outside the scope of this article. I refer to the new offside rule. Personally I think it is still far to early too make up our minds definitely that the change in the rule will have this or that effect on the game. In the end it may prove for good, while on the other hand it may do something to eliminate the finer arts of the game. For the moment I am welcoming the new condition for this one very good reason—that it is causing us all to think. We have not been able to start this new season as we have started many seasons past—in the same old groove. Something new has been offered to us, and although some people hold the opinion that the offside nile had to be changed because forwards would not use their brains, the change to my mind, has compelled us to think. The alteration has called for new methods in attack and in defence.  Full backs can no longer rely on that astute move up the field to throw opponents offside, while on the other hand, forward experiments have had to be tried with a view to getting the most out of the new order of things. Not yet can it be said that a perfect system has been evolved, but we are all thinking, and it seems to me that if we all get into using our brains as a habit, the football which is eventually provided for the public will certainly be different and really ought to be better. After all, it isn't so much the present generation of footballers who will use to the full the new conditions. It is the new generation and it is to this younger and coming generation that I would speak for a minute or two. One of the faults of the younger players as I have seen them in recent seasons is that they have been apt to take their football education as completed the minute they have got into the premier eleven of a big club. Really, of course, the opposite is the case : they are just at the beginning of their learning, and as my old friend Billy Meredith told me when he was on the verge of fifty years of age, he would like to spend another twenty years in the game to learn the things which he had not time to learn in that amazingly long career. The Meredith attitude towards football is the right attitude. The young lads must use their brains —and never finish learning. After all why should it be assumed that we older players have made the very most of our opportunities : have developed the game in the only way in which it can be developed. There are all sorts of avenues open for the players and the team with original views. I believe it is a fact that in the olden days a team used to be composed of six forwards, three half-backs, one full-back and a goalkeeper, while another old-time formation was two half-backs, two full-backs and six forwards. We have now settled down, more or less, to five forwards, three half-backs, two full-backs and a goalkeeper. Is it absolutely certain that this is the best formation both for offence and defence ? May not somebody in the near future get busy with a brain-box and think out a new scheme ?  Mind, I not saying that there is a better formation, but what I do say is that it is a mistake to conclude that the last word has been said on tactics. Let us encourage the young players to think, and here I want to lay emphasis on that word encourage, and switch ray remarks for a moment from the player to the spectator. You onlookers, you people who have often charged the footballer with lack of brains : have you encouraged the young players to break out into some new line of play ? If my readers answer that question conscientiously, think they will also answer if with a very direct negative. I have seen young lads go on the field with ideas bristling out of them like the points on the back of a porcupine. He may have been a forward who has taken on himself a sort of roving commission : a fullback who has dashed up among the attackers and had a shot goal, or a custodian who can bang the ball half-way down the field with his fist. What has happened to these players with ideas For the most part they have just flabbergasted the onlookers at first, and then they have called down on their heads severe criticism. My conclusion is that one reason why we footballers may give the impression that we all come out of the same mould is that spectators would not have it otherwise. But I repeat that the possibilities for development in the game lie in the direction of encouragement of brain. Give the lads with ideas their heads a bit : let them develop their schemes, not shout them down the minute they begin to show us football off the beaten track. If I may be excused the personal note for moment, will give example of this pandering to the ordinary and the orthodox which occurred to me last season. You will remember that when the corner kick rule was altered the authorities seemed to leave it open for the player taking the corner to dribble. Well, I tried the dribble from the flag as an experiment. The referee in that particular game allowed me to do so, and 1 did it few times. Yet I was criticised for trying it : spectators wanted to see the corner-kick taken in the old way should not go so far as to say that the dribble from the corner-kick which I tried wasjbettcr than the old straight kick into goal, i But surely there could be no harm in giving 'the new idea a trial.

THE GREAT MEETING OF EVERTON AND LIVERPOOL, AT ANFIELD
Liverpool Echo - Friday 25 September 1925
MENHAM MEMORIES
Everton and Liverpool F.C’s meet in another of their deadly, but friendly engagements to-morrow at the Anfield ground, and at the time of writing there is only one difficulty- the difficulty of Everton in regard to their goalkeeper.  There is nothing settled, as I write, but the club have naturally taken times by the forelock, and in the possibility of Kendall not being ready for service I believe the club will at once call in Gordon Menham, the Nomads goalkeeper, who is on their books.  Menham is a tall, strong goalkeeper, who has represented his country in amateur international warfare; he, like Mitchell of Manchester, plays in spectacles, and he has power of kick and catch that makes him one of the most difficult men to pass.  Menham has Everton associations, in that it was his uncle who sued to keep goal for Everton. 
MEMORIES
Talking of injured goalkeepers, &c., at once sends one to the memory stake; one recalls the day that an ex-Everton back, Murray, played for Liverpool, in front of Doig, and was readily beaten back.  Then there was an occasion when Liverpool were stuck for a goalkeeper, and went to Garston for help from one Marshall, who, unfortunately, could not marshall his forces that day, and “fell” rather heavily.  Thus another Derby game was commented upon in this strain; “If we had only had so-and-so.”  As Donald Mackinlay said to me on Wednesday.  “It is very hard lines on the club and player, and we are all hoping Kendall is fit, for there is no credit due to anyone to win when the other side is at a loss in so vital a position as goalkeeper. 
THE DIFFICULTY
One can sympathize with Everton over so big a matter as the doubt in the goalkeeping department, for there is no more awkward position, and they have been buffeted about for over twelve months in this post.  Harland is, unfortunately, still unwell; Kendall is the doubtful quantity.  Jones is a capital young goalkeeper of tender years, and probably the directors feel it would be too big a task to ask the boy to face 56,000 spectators in so important a game.  I believe the club went for another local last week or the week before, and picked up a goalkeeper of the Bibby club, who impressed everyone by his smart action.  There again the club could not take a risk.  So they got into touch with the Nomads’ secretary and Menham, and the latter said in effect;’- “I’ll be there, if I’m wanted.”
Those who have not witnessed a Derby game in this city can have no knowledge of the cleanliness and spirit shown by all concerned.  I make bold to say that the players in the Derby games of the last twenty years have shown less spleen than the spectators!  I make no apology for returning to an old theme; We in Liverpool have had clean sporting games when the rivals have been meeting.  This excellent and wise state of affairs must be continued to-morrow, and I here call to players and spectators to “act the man.”  As showing how partisanship feeling runs riot in this city when Everton and Liverpool meet, I have only mention a letter received this morning from “Jackie Coogan,” who read the simple line given under the chart of two days ago.  It told that Liverpool were in Division II in 1904-5.  This correspondent infers that I am Everton-inclined, and his belief on the fact that I ought to have gone further with the Liverpool statement and said; “They won the Second Division of the League and then went on top of the First Division.”  But the correspondent doesn’t happen to know that he was reading into the statement something that was not asked.  The line referred to was simply an answer to a Devon correspondent.  I mentioned the matter to show how people read into simple fact-lines a belief that I am Red or Blue, as the case may be. 
THE TEAM SHEET
However, enough of this; let me get on with the plan of the field.  Everton; Kendall (?); Raitt, O’Donnell; Peacock, McBain, Hart; Chedgzoy, Irvine, Dean, Kennedy, Troup.  Liverpool; Scott; Lucas, Mackinlay; Macnabb, Cockburn, Bromilow; Rawlings, Walsh, Forshaw, Chambers, Hopkins. 
WHERE THE MATCH MAY TURN
For years I have given a definite selection rather than take the easy way adopted by others who say, “I expect a draw.” Well, as Everton played at Birmingham, I expect a win for the Anfield side, because of the confident feeling there is in the Reds camp after their win over Manchester United.  It should be a fine, close game, and if Liverpool forwards do not start quicker and better than a week ago, it is quite possible Everton forwards will take command, and they will not want much encouragement, for they are hard to keep under control when they are “on the way.”  It is a toss-up in these days of new rules which side wins, and it is like asking for a solid hiding from the Everton supporters to suggest a defeat.  However, that is my considered judgment, and it is only left for mew now to remember that I am going against all the old record- which showed Everton winners at Anfield and Liverpool winners at Goodison Park- and to wish the twenty-two players the very best of good fortune, and may the better side be on top at the finish. 

JUNIOR BLUE
September 26,1925. The Liverpool Daily Post and Mercury.
Everton have signed on an amateur form, the clever old Xaverians goalkeeper J. Morris. He kept goal for his school team and was captain of the college side last year: - twenty-one year of age, and standing 6 feet 1 inches, he is engaged in the veterinary department of the university.

DERBY DAY
September 26, 1925. The Liverpool Daily Post and Mercury
There are many attractive games to be played under Football League auspices today, with the fifty-first meeting between Liverpool and Everton as the outstanding game. The game at Anfield, which starts at 3-15, will draw a hugh crowd, and there should be a keen, clean, and exciting struggle for supremacy. As already pointed out in this column, Everton at one period monopolised the points in these games on the Liverpool ground, but the Anfielders in recent years have had the better of the argument. The clubs met for the first time in 1894-95 season, and prior to League football being stopped by the war, Everton had won ten times and lost on only two occasions. In post-war games at Anfield, however, Liverpool have four times been successful and lost once only, in six matches. The records of the clubs at Anfield are: - Played 25; Everton won 11, Liverpool won 6, drawn 8; goals Everton 36, Liverpool 31. The prospects today appear to favour Liverpool. The Anfielders will be at full strength, having the side that beat Manchester United a week ago by 5-0, while Everton are doubtful as to their goalkeeper, Kendall was injured on Monday, but it is hoped he will be able to turn out today. The side will not be cloven until this morning and if Kendall is fit again the team will probably be the same as at Birmingham. It should be a game in keeping with the high traditions of both clubs, and though anything may happen in a local “Derby” one inclines to the view that Liverpool will win by a narrow margin. The probable teams are: - Liverpool: - Scott; Lucas, Mckinlay; McNabb; Cockburn, Bromilow, Rawling, Walsh, Forshaw, Chalmers, Hopkins. Everton: - Kendall; Raitt, O'Donnell; Peacock, McBain, Hart; Chedgzoy, Irvine, Dean, Kennedy, Troup.

OLD TIMES AND TIMERS
Liverpool Echo - Saturday 26 September 1925
JOHNNY JACKSON A FAMOUS BOOTLE GOALKEEPER WHO TOOK TO THE PEN
By Victor Hall
When one recalls the various personalities in local journalism that have been prominent in football lore, the list is surprisingly interesting, and the individuals themselves equally so.  Who recalls, for instance, the great Bootle amateur goalkeeper who afterwards became equally famous as a football journalist, and more famous still as an educational authority of national fame?  It is well over thirty years ago that John Jackson won fame as a fearless goalkeeper on the famous Bootle ground, where later, Everton, then Liverpool, fought fierce games with Bootle’s strong team of those days.  John Jackson had won great praise as a player in the football games then played between the teaching staffs of the various Catholic elementary schools, and when Bootle sought his signature as an amateur player they were considered to have scored over the neighbours in having secured the dauntless custodian of the pupil teachers. 
AN IDEAL GOALKEEPER
The “Johnny” Jackson of those days was an ideal athletic, and an absolutely courageous player.  Taller than the average (he must have been 5ft 11ins, or so), he had a great reach, and was as strong and active as perfect physical condition could keep any man.  A great favourite with the Bootle people, and with visitors, too, he shone in the goal mouth, and had a reputation for never being beaten and never accepting defeat while a kick was left in the game.  Supporters of those days used to say that it was Jackson in goal who often spurred the forwards on to victory, and we have bene told of games where he left the sticks and came up amongst the forwards in the closing stages of a struggle when a goal was wanted to secure the match.  Although a keen and critical football player and all-round athletic, John Jackson was a studious teacher of distinction, and beloved of his schoolboy pupils.  Later on, when he became appointed to the teaching staff of St. Francis Xavier’s school in Haigh-street, his duties became more onerous, and the time available for football and practice was restricted.  Mr. Jackson’s principal contributions to the Press of those days appeared in the columns of the “Football Field.”  He had a great following of readers in the columns of the popular Saturday journal of those days, and his “nuggets” were eagerly welcomed in local circles, being crisply written, brimful of humour, with never an angry note or ought set down but what was good tempered and good humoured.  He had a most happy gift of rhyming- of a sort –that hit off in popular parody the songs and jingles of the day, with popular allusion to players and personalities that made the “Field” welcome everywhere in sporting circles. 
  “Dicky Sam,” which, with “Richard Samuel,” alternated as Jackson’s nom-de-plume, was popular everywhere; and Feed Geary to-day, and other old Anfield and Everton friends, have many happy recollections of the grifted rhymester.  Mr. Jackson often contributed to the columns of the local Press at those times, and was equally popular with the directors and committees of all local clubs, as with the players themselves- a sure test of a writer’s honesty of purpose, and the fearlessness of his criticism.  Whenever concerts among the players were held, he was in great demand as a contributor, too, having a repertoire distinctly of his own, and racy of his own native Ireland. 
In bowlings circles at Anfield, Walton, and Clubmoor he was an ever welcome player, and no “Sandon” main was ever complete without the company and humour of the old Boole “goalie.”
Later on in life Mr. Jackson was offered and accepted the superintendentship of the great truant school at Manor Park, Ilford, near London, and in taking up his residence there with his growing family, his associations with the active football life of Liverpool gradually came to a close.  In London athletic circles, however, his winning personality soon made headway, and in a few years he had formed and developed a league football system among the London training and truant schools, that his earlier work in Liverpool eminently qualified him for.  His own school at Manor Park (St. Nicholas) speedily became champions of the newly-formed league and it was surprisingly to find those young Cockney children of misfortune and misadventure rising into athletic fame by the genius and painstaking care of their own respected “super.” On the staff of St. Nicholas School at Manor Park, Mr. Jackson had under him a large staff of teachers and assistants, and it was a sight for the gods to witness the staid and severe “old man,” as he had then affectionately become, take the field in their practice games and keep the goal in a style that must have bewildered the little London kids, who, of course, would never have recognized in their superintendent the former idol and “goalie” of the old Bootle Club. 
TIMES WONDERS
Ah, well! Time works many wonders, and to have seen the John Jackson of old, then the founder and chairman of the London Trunt Schools’ Football League, with his own sons taking their place in the football teams of their own public schools, would have awakened many memories with Liverpool people of the old Anfield days.  Toi the last, however, Mr. Jackson maintained many friendships in Liverpool circles, and his death a few years ago suddenly, followed by his wife’s came with a painful shock to many Liverpool friends.  To the late Tom Watson and Dr. Baxter and Chairman Cuff, of Everton, he was ever a welcome visitor, and at all times a welcome guest, and many an old player of today has cause to treasure his memory as a friendly and helpful critic.  Dick Molyneux, the former Everton secretary, was a great admirer of Jackson.  They once went to a Lancashire Cup “final” together.  Everton were out of the “final that year!  Molyenux was spotting a player, and Jackson was aiding-unofficially-in the quest.  At the entrance to the players’ dressing room at half-time, a vigilant committee man had been posted to see that “Molyneux, of Everton,” did not get across to the “wanted” man.  As the two approached the room during the interval he espied his quarry, and confidently challenged them.  “Which of you two is Mr. Molyneux from Everton?”  He asked.  Dick pointed to Mr. Jackson, who extended his hand in greeting “Come with me to meet the committee,” said the custodian, linking his arm in Mr. Jackson’s and leading him away from the “chicken roost.”  Mr. Jackson spent a delightful interval with the committee –until someone pointed out that the sentry had brought the wrong man to their room.  When he recovered the missing “Dick,” the damage was done.  He had “signed on” the wanted man in the interval.  Next season that player wore Everton’s colours! 

STUD MARKS
Liverpool Echo - Saturday 26 September 1925
By Louis T. Kelly

• Local left full-backs have a tendency towards the ambidextrous
• Thus Donald Mackinlay, at Anfield and now O’Donnell, at Birmingham and the Albion’s ground.
• All the same the season’s mishaps have already hit Everton hard.
• A dozen years ago Everton had their “boy” Browell; now it is the boy Dixie Dean
• It was strange to find them in opposition on Saturday.
• Stranger still is the penchant of Mancunian manipulators for getting four goals against our local sides
• Accidents have already cost Everton at least three points
• Irvine has found the net in four of his first five games
• So that he has already equaled last season’s goal record
• In the light of recent injuries to Everton players Liverpool were slight favorites during the week for to-day’s tit-bit
• Since football proper was resumed after the war Liverpool and Everton had met six times to date at Anfield
• Liverpool securing nine points out of the twelve possible, and scoring 14 goals to 6.
• Kendall’s mascot must have forshaken at St. Andrews
• Both Brown and Dean stand out at centre forward who made their league debuts at about the “18” stage
• Everton partisans were hoping that the man of the moment at Anfield today would love to be that stupendous be Dean!
• But he was being asked a very tall question
• Crossley the former Everton left winger is now player manager to Ebbw Vale.
• Harland, McDonald, Brown, McBain, Irvine, Kendall, and Dean have already bene on Everton’s injured list
• Everton might have had two more wins with mis-fortune out of the way

LIVERPOOL WIN LOCAL “DERBY” WITH EASE
Liverpool Echo - Saturday 26 September 1925
FORSHAW IN SPITE OF LIMPING, HELPS HIMSELF TO GOALS AGANST EVERTON
BEE’S DESCRIBES
EVERTON’S FAULTY TACTICS
Everton; Hardy; Raitt, O’Donnell; Peacock, McBain, Hart (Captain); Chedgzoy, Irvine, Dean, Kennedy, Troup.  Liverpool; Scott; Lucas, Mackinlay (Captain); MaNabb, Cockburn, Bromilow; Rawlings, Walsh, Forshaw, Chambers, Hopkins. 
Everton v. Liverpool –historic meetings these, and always certain of huge assemblies.  Everton at Anfield, to-day, were fearful about the goalkeeping position.  Kendall was hurt at Birmingham and could not play; Harland had been hurt at West Browmich three weeks ago, and was not expected to be fit; he was the one man of whom it was said, “He’ll not be able to play.”  So the club got in touch with Menham, the Northern Nomads’ goalkeeper, only to find after getting his permit, that Harland was reported fit last night.  Liverpool made no changes from a side that wen nap against Manchester United. 
TOMMY THE MASCOT
Little Tommy Tucker Tembey, and Liverpool’s regular mascot, who followed them to Southampton last year, kept the crowd of 50,000 spectators in comfort with their jolly burlesque.  Tucker did not give the crowd a dance, which was unfortunate, for I understand that he is something of an expert.  The ground the policing, the Kop and the conditions at the start were excellent.  There were one or two ambulance cases, but nothing serious.  I have seen bigger crowds.  It was a gathering that was strangely silent prior to the entrance of the gladiators.  Winning the toss meant the value of a fairly sharp wind and the bright sunshine, and Mackinlay began with first blood and elected to kick towards the Stanley Park goal.  They started a few minutes before time, and instantly Mackinlay was called in to stop Dean.  Then there followed a free-kick against Irvine for a simple trip upon Bromilow.  Rawlings made a lively run on the right without being able to get his centre to the right place.  Naturally both sides suffered in the early stages through the stress of the moment, and for some time the players did not settle down. 
STEMMED BY A BACK HEELER
In fact, Kennedy, in his haste to make a first-time shot, kicked right over the ball, which is uncommon for him.  Afterwards he made a shooting chance for Irvine, but the ball passed outside.  Everton had distinctly the best of the opening raids, and they looked like scoring any time in the first five minutes.  It was only a clever idea on the part of Walsh, acting as a defender, in back-heeling, that helped to stem the tide.  Mackinlay also offering help with a header.  However, Chedgzoy was left two yards in front of the goal, but put the ball over the bar.  This was a let-off, and perhaps it was as well a goal did not come, because if it had we should have had the everlasting debate as to whether the referee should have ignored the linesman’s appeal for offside.  Peacock’s persistence in the next phase of attack was worthy of special applause, and so often happens in football, the side that had attacked practically from the start until this moment was a goal in arrears at the sixth minute.
FORSHAW HEADS THROUGH
It all occurred in a simple manner, Hopkin fell before making a pass, scrambled up, and eventually, as he was trying to centre, the ball struck Peacock in the face and passed for a corner.  Hopkin took the flag kick, and in spite of the plan of campaign adopted by the Everton defenders.  Forshaw, with the greatest of ease, headed the ball to the left-hand side of the goal.  It was his fourth goal on this ground within the last seven days.  Naturally Everton were disappointed at such a turn in events.  Troup and Hart did very clever things on the left flank, but Liverpool, having tested blood, improved in their style of play, and Chambers from Rawlings’ centre, was inches off heading a goal, while Hopkin made the ball swing not more than a yard over the bar. 
REPELLED BY SCOTT.
On the contra account there was a fine straight drive by Irvine, which his fellow countryman Scott caught sharply and surely.  The swerving run was favoured by some of the Liverpool men, and when Rawlings let the ball pass by him so that he could swing first to right and then to left he performed a sort of crescent –quite a graceful movement, and not in the same category as his subsequent wild shot.  Bromilow had three little dainties in the left hand corner, and surprised the defence, and the spectators, with a swinging shot that was quite near scoring.
SECOND GOAL BY WALSH
Then came a goal to the English-South African Walsh, who copied Rawlings’ swerve and got the left flank of the Everton defence in a knot.  Walsh moved up as though nothing on earth worried him, and as if he had an hour and half in which to sink the putt.  Moving in almost impertinently slow fashion, he eventually elected to make a drive from fifteen yards out, the ball entering the left corner of the net –a good ground shot and a goal that was characteristic of the man.  Neither Dean nor Irvine could find a mark when fairly well placed, and when Forshaw went off with an injured foot some of the home folk got windy.  Forshaw’s return in less than five minutes pleased them, until they saw him limping on his left leg.  His lameness seemed to wear off a little bit, and seeing just a particle of a chance of squeezing in a shot, he drove the ball to the right hand side, where Harland seemed to be in two minds.  Having pushed the ball away, he was doubtless glad when Rawlings, running up was only stopped from getting a goal by a special urgent S.O.S piece of work by O’Donnell. 
THIRD BY CHAMBERS
Everton moved mainly by their left wing, and Liverpool’s right wing replied, Forshaw becoming inside right for the time being and opening a way for Rawlings.  Harland this time was able to pat away. Chambers helping the defence, had the misfortune to crock Chedgzoy’s ankle.  After inquiring whether Chedgzoy was all right, Chambers went on with his attacking work, and when Forshaw, with a diagonal centre, put the ball into the goalmouth Chambers thoroughly relished a nodding acquaintance with the goal.  He placed the ball up to the top netting, and thus Everton were three down in thirty-six minutes.  Harland a moment later failed to catch and clear, and nearly made the score 4-0.  There had not been much enthusiasm for the game so far; in fact, it was one of the most uneven Derby games we have seen for a long time, and speaking thus early it seemed to me that the bottom had been knocked out of it. 
Half-time Liverpool 3, Everton 0.
STATESMEN AT THE GAME
During the interval I had the pleasure of a handshake with the Right Hon.  Arthur Henderson the late Home Secretary, and Mr. Jack Hayes, M.P.  the latter has always been kept upon Liverpool sport.  Mr. F. O. Roberts was also present.  The second half started with Liverpool looking into the sun and smiling at their lead.  Everton would never have been in their troublesome position had they not inclined to the close game rather than the open road.  They were a totally different side to that which I saw at Birmingham. 
THAT IS THE QUESTION
Certainly Kennedy and Troup from close range threatened to reduce the margin, but they could not get the ball underweight, and the result was that the massive Cockburn and the equally massive McNabb smothered out their effort.  The game was concentrated in this anxious inquiry.  – “Would Everton do to Liverpool what Manchester City had done to Everton last week, when the Blues held a lead of four goals?|  The prospect was not encouraging.  There was a rustle in the leaves at this moment, the referee apparently taking exception of an action of Scott on Dean.  If, as is alleged, Scott stuck up his foot, then play should have been suspended at once, and not have been allowed to proceed for some time before mention was made of hat matter.  Kennedy, taking a free kick against McNabb, made the ball swerve half a yard in its flight, so that Scott did well to catch it.
DOUBLE BY FORSHAW
Peacock was near with a good one, whereas Kennedy, catching the defence in error for once had no one but the goalkeeper to beat, and should have done infinitely better than kick outside.  There were some other kinds of kicks just now, Forshaw catching both full-backs without incurring the referee’s displeasure.  It was Forshaw who scored the fourth goal at the fifty-sixth minute.  His work was easy.  He simply had to conclude the lesson of the day, Bromilow and Hopkin having imitated the attack.  Bromilow put the ball up the line.  Hopkin was able to keep it in play by a sturdy effort, and his centre produced just sufficient length to enable Forshaw to make an easy goal.  This seemed to settle the issue.  Everton seemed to believe that they had a chance up to the third goal, but their hearts must have sunk into their boots at such a leeway. 
EVERTON SPREADEAGLED
Everton’s shooting was tragic- Hart put one ball to the right, Kennedy fired a rocket up to the top of the stand, and altogether the shooting of the Everton players was only on a par with their general failure.
FORSHAW GAINS HONOURS
Everton could do nothing right in front of goal, and it was not surprising that even O’Donnell thought fit, in the circumstances, to have a shot at goal.  However, after a lot of pressure on the Liverpool backs Liverpool broke away once again, and Forshaw netted with a swift and again a low shot. Thus in two weeks Liverpool had got five goals in each game.  Their opportunism was their mainstay, but in addition one could not fail to see the team work of the side and the fact that whenever the ball was there two or three Liverpool players were gathered together.
A COMPENSATING GOAL!
Everton got some compensation for their long spell of pressure when Kennedy, after missing a number of splendid chances, scored at the 84th minute.  He got the ball from Chedgzoy, and swung in a capital shot from close range.  Kennedy’s goal was the first scored against Liverpool at Anfield this season.  Final; Liverpool 5, Everton 1. 

EVERTON A v. SKELMERSDALE U
Liverpool Echo - Saturday 26 September 1925
At Goodison Park, before a moderate attendance.  The opening stages were fairly even, and for a time neither side could claim the advantage.  Everton’s best opening came from Dodd, who, however, shot wide with only the goalkeeper to beat.  Another time Holford shot over the bar.  O’Neill opened the score for Everton, and before the interval Lees equalized. 
Half-time; Everton A 1, Skelmersdale United 1. 

LIVERPOOL 5 EVERTON 1
September 28, 1925. The Liverpool Daily Post and Mercury
ANOTHER FIVE GOALS.
DECISIVE VICTORY FOR LIVERPOOL
EVERTON FORWARDS MISS MANY CHANCES
The first of the local “Derbys” games between Liverpool and Everton was decided at Anfield on Saturday, and resulted in an easy win for Liverpool by 5 goals to 1. The goal scored by Everton late on was the first Liverpool have conceded at Anfield during the present season. They might have yielded many more goals, however, had Everton taken the exceptionally easy chances that came their way. This, however, was Everton's great failing. They could not shoot accurately, and although the actual play did not reveal such a wide margin between the sides, there was a difference in finishing which fully justified the final score. As an exhibition the contest fell much below what was anticipated, chiefly because Liverpool scored easily and often. Instead of having to fight hard for their points, they had their progress to victory made exceptionally easy.
EASY CHANCES MISSED.
There were two periods in the game when Everton's faults were glaringly apparent and when they should have credited themselves with more than one easy goal. Faulty shooting prevented them gaining what their excellent work really entitled them to. Early on Chedgzoy missed an open goal, and in the second half Kennedy faltered and failed with openings that almost begged to be converted. On the other hand, Liverpool missed nothing. They took all their chances that fortune and their own sensible work provided and by their swift open tactics swept through the Everton defence like a March gale. Under the new laws much depends upon tactics and the side that is confident enough to set the pace and strong enough to maintain it usually scorers freely. It, was so on Saturday, when Liverpool put into operation the “W” formation, met with early success struck to their plans, and made it soon obvious that Everton had not the ghost of a chance of winning.
EVERTON'S STRONG LINK.
Everton's failure was all the more remarkable in view of the fact that the forwards were so splendidly supported by the half backs, the middle line was Everton's strongest link. No forwards could wish for better support than was offered by Peacock, McBain, and Hart, yet the attack was so obsessed by close and intricate movements as to become an easy prey to the rapier-like interception of McKinlay and Lucas. Insufficient use was made of Troup and Chedgzoy, and when they did get the ball they rarely had a clear field. Dean was hard working, but rarely effective, and both Kennedy and Irvine dribbled to excess and shot badly. Raitt and O'Donnell had a poor understanding. They were frequently caught too far apart, and showed little skill in dealing with Liverpool's fast wingers.
HARLAND'S RETURN.
Harland made a surprise appearance in the Everton goal. It was his first outing since his injury early in the season. He made no real mistakes, although some of his clearances showed that he had not regained his old confidence. The Liverpool forwards were great opportunists. They kept the game open, passed judiciously, and never allowed a shooting chance to go abegging. Forshaw in spite of a damaged knee which handicapped his movements in the second half repeated his performance of the previous week by scoring three goals, which his general work was skilful and effective. Walsh and Chambers were excellent inside forwards. Crafty and clever, they both played a big part in Liverpool's success while Rawlings and Hopkin responded with fast and accurate runs that were difficult to check.
FORSHAW'S THREE.
The Liverpool middle line was sound, but hardly as good as the Everton line. Bromilow was consistently good throughout the game, while Cockburn and McNabb were chiefly useful in defence. The combine play of Lucas and McKinlay was far in advance of that of the Everton backs. They tackled judiciously, and were a splendid pair. Scott was not overworked, but what he had to do he accomplished with confidence and skill. Forshaw scored the first goal by heading through from a corner after six minutes play and Walsh following with a splendid single-handled effort at eighteen minutes, while Chambers added a third goal ten minutes before the interval. The fourth and fifth were scored by Forshaw and six minutes from the end Kennedy got Everton's only goal. Teams : - Liverpool: - Scott goal, Lucas, and McKinlay, backs, McNabb, Cockburn, and Bromilow, half-backs, Rawlings, Walsh, Forshaw, Chambers, and Hopkins, forwards. Everton: - Harland, goal, Raitt and O'Donnell, backs, Peacock, McBain, and Hart (captain), half-backs, Chedgzoy Irvine, Dean, Kennedy, and Troup, forwards . The attendance was 55,000, and the receipts £3,033.

EVERTON “A” 1 SKELMERSDALE UNITED 1
September 28, 1925. The Liverpool Daily Post and Mercury
LIVERPOOL COUNTY COMBINATION.
At Goodison park. The home team were the more scientific but their shooting efforts were weak. Houghton and O'Neill both missed fine openings. The United were a very nippy lot, but Davies the home keeper made some clever saves. O'Neill opened the score for Everton, and Lees equalised. The teams started the second half on level terms, but neither side could gain the winning point, although the United failed in the last five minutes to convert a penalty taken by Harris, who shot ridiculously wide.

TEN TO ONE MATCH
Athletic News - Monday 28 September 1925
EVERTON’S FATAL FORWARD FAILINGS IN LIVERPOOL’S LEAGUE “DERBY.”
LIVERPOOL 5 EVERTON 1
By Ivan Sharpe
THIS was match of hit and miss. Liverpool hit and Everton missed.  But the case was worse from the Everton point view. Everton held up the target so that Liverpool could record bull, and then failed to help themselves when well-nigh a dozen chances presented themselves of responding to the home club’s score.  However the game be regarded, the result was tragic to the Goodison team.  They were the prettier side. Their half-backs served up the ball in the proper way—far better than nineteen teams in twenty in the First Division support attack. But the forwards blundered, blundered, blundered.  Their weakness in front of goal was sufficient not only to ruin their chance of getting goals, but to dishearten the men behind, who, during an afternoon when a failure by an Everton forward was followed by a goal to Liverpool, patiently and persistently —to the bitter end—pushed along the ball almost perfect style. In support, Hart, the captain, was magnificent, and McBain, as ever, was deft and delightful, whilst Peacock, an attacking force, played his part well.  Because these half-backs Everton had most the ball, and most of the play. Why, then, the smashing defeat?  There were vital flaws. The first was that eight good scoring chances down in my notes of the play not one was accepted. Nor did one expect a goal, so badly did Everton shoot. The one point obtained Kennedy came a few minutes from the end from chance not half so good as seven or eight, that had gone before, and arrived when the good folk from must have given up hope of seeing a straight shot or an effort worthy of a forward in first-class football.  That was the fatal flaw. There were others. Harland, whether fit or unfit, was recalled into goal. After Forshaw had headed the opening point from a corner kick, Walsh was allowed to press forward from position near midfield, shoot from just over 20 yards out, and score. McBain did not tackle or harass him, and Harland, I thought, was late in his dive for a shot of which had a long and dear view. 
TACTICS
It seemed to me, too, that Harland might have intercepted the centre from Rawlings that brought Chambers the third goal.  He stayed at home.  This remember was first-class football, and I fancy the man between the other pair of posts would have presented both goals.  A chapter of accidents?  By no means! Liverpool flung the ball to the wings and Everton failed to fill the breach in defence created by the tactics of the wing forwards, who were quick to lob the ball to the centre for the quick feet of Forshaw, hovering just on-side.   Rawlings, on the right wing, was brushing by O’Donnell, and Raitt was not always able to get to grips with Hopkin on the other flank, yet when these wing men placed the ball for the incisive thrusts the centre-forward, the backs had to play a lone hand.  McBain, charming in support, either did not appreciate the peril placed too much faith in the belief that attack is the best defence.  A fourth score came soon after the interval, when Hopkin outpaced and  outwitted Raitt and placed a sweet pass to Forshaw’s toe—a clever goal—and a fifth when Forshaw took another forward pass from, as I believe, off-side position and shot through.  Half-chances were good enough for Forshaw. Everton had gift goals and persistently refused them. It was pitiable. Perhaps the half-backs grew a weary the failures. Theirs was thankless task.
LIVERPOOL'S LIVE LINE. 
That is the story the game. It was Everton’s failure as much as Liverpool’s triumph. Liverpool missed little; Everton missed practically all. The wonder was that they got a goal all. They held the ball too long when stout backs like McKinlay and Lucas—in the order of merit—thrived on close play, then would shoot execrably. Bad in judgment; bad in aim. The inside forwards passed well, then collapsed before the goal.  The centres Troup—beat man of the five —went to waste.  Liverpool profited by progressive methods, and by Everton’s failings.  Theyplied the wings a fashion that told. Their half-backs, apart from Bromilow—scarcely the subtle provider of a season or so ago— were labourers alongside the intermediates of Everton, and McNab and Cockburn were merely destructive— sometimes, when kicking out, monotonously so.  But the forwards had a winning way.  They took the short cut and forced a passage. They were brisk and businesslike, with and the most consistent members of the line. Ten goals in two games, and successive sets of three goals for Forshaw, speak for the effectiveness of the methods adopted by the Anfield attack.  Liverpool; Scott: Lucas, McKlnlay; McNab, Cockburn, Bromilow; Rawlings, Walsh, Forshaw, Chambers, and Hopkin.  Everton. Harland: Raitt, O’Donnell; Peacock, McBain, Hart; Chedgzoy, Irvine, Dean, Kennedy, and Troup.  Referee: D. H. A West, West Bromwich. 

LETTER
Liverpool Echo - Monday 28 September 1925
Bee’s Notes
Win or lose, Everton followers stick to their colours.  Here’s a letter sent from Forest Hill, Southampton, by a lady Evertonian;- Dear Bob,- Just to ask you to give them one great big shout for me on Saturday.  I do wish I could see them.  And still a true “blue” you see.- “Molly.”

WHY LIVERPOOL WON EASY
Liverpool Echo - Monday 28 September 1925
WHY EVERTON LOST EASILY
Bee’s Notes
S’SEASY!
It was very simple.  Liverpool started off as slowly as they had done against Manchester United- which is a fault, mark you.  But in the case of playing against Everton I fear it lulled the Everton folk into a false security for after five minutes’ real good attacking in which time the Everton men should have “stabbed” one goal and thus unrooted Liverpool’s confidence we found Liverpool go up and off and Forshaw had scored.  That goal was against the balance of play, but pardon me if I take some severe measures with those who talk unto death-point about this balance of play.  Everton had themselves to blame for not taking the lead.  Liverpool showed them the way.  They did not copy it?  Why?  Was it so very hard to perform?  I don’t think so, judging the Everton side by what they did to the Liverpool defence between the fiftieth minute and the seventy-fifth minute.  Everton did enough attacking in that time to warrant one talking of the balance of play.  But they did more- they showed us the folly of the balance if there was no weight behind the shooting from easy range. 
OFFERS OF GOALS.
Everton had positive offers of goals and would not take them.  No one could say Scott was worked hard; he was a busy, lively man, but he is always that, and if Everton had the right powder Scott would not have been consulted.  These offered goals were scattered.  Everton’s forward line must take the brunt of this criticism.  They had chances; they were lamentable in front of goal.  Each man suffered in turn, and in the end it was surprising to find Kennedy, who had been impish with his shots, whereas he generally hits a ball very true and hard, got the only goal that so far has been debited to the Anfield side.  I am not so thoughtful after Saturday’s game, except about the future of the Everton club if the shooting of the side does not improve.  That was not the game they played at Birmingham; they played a delightful game with an added zip to it; on Saturday, against big half-backs like Mcnabb and Cockburn, and a strategist like Bromilow, they played the daintiest of stuff, and were easily covered up. 
THE REMEDY
And the remedy? Everton must open out; they must once again revert to the fives-forward line; they must get the ball down and away without courting a half-back’s intervention; there must be less wheeling about and more definite hammering at goal; a little less belief in the dribbling code and definite policy in making ground.  Liverpool won by their practical measures and their team spirit.  They believed in their ideas and crowded on sail, crowded on to help one another, and whenever there was a ball there the Liverpool men went for it heart and soul.  They had a plan by which Forshaw should be on point duty.  He was not allowed to move from his beat, and thus he beat Everton.  He scored three goals for the second week in succession, and Liverpool got five for the second week in succession.  It is very suggestive that Liverpool’s tactics are worth copying.  Forshaw, spite of limping after the first goal, got so far up the field that he had to beat but one man and shoot instantly! There’s the difference.
PRAISE TO THE WINNERS
Forshaw was just part of a whole; but he is ideally situated and built for the job; he loves this new rule, and has passed a vote of thanks to those who saw it put on the books.  He has speed, control, and is rarely beaten in his initial dribble against any foreman.  Thus he has but the goalkeeper to face.  Pity it was that twice his “footwork” was not what one could desire, and glad was I that neither Raitt nor O’Donnell took the customary course of retaliation.  I noted that Forshaw did not always get the up-the-middle pass; there was a prearranged idea that the winners should be sent on their errand and they should middle the ball so that Forshaw could meet it, as he strode along.  Chambers took one such chance and Forshaw took the other two, while Walsh bringing in some of the tricks he learned from Elkes, scored one of the most cheeky goals I have seen.  The winners gain points at every turn.  You cannot separate them; all did well, so individual items in this programme would not be fair.  Hence the blank.  Now, with Everton, one has to remember that Harland, making a rather remarkably quick recovery at the week-end, had been short of trial tackle- actual-play that is, than which there is no better test.  One sympathized with him in his luckless position.  It was a daring stroke to include him, but, there, the club had to do something, and if they had played Menham-he agreed to play if called upon, but was not, I think, very keen on the job on hand- then the crowd of Everton followers might said things.  It was difficult for directors and Harland.  The backs did well under the circumstances, for they could not play quite their normal game.  At half back Peacock was very clever, spite of Hopkin’s rousing display from end to end.  It was Peacock who came nearest to scoring in the half-way stages, I thought Troup again he most dependable forward on the losing side.  But there, it was a hollow victory and a tribute to tactics over trimmings.  Need one go further? 

EVERTON MAKE THREE ALTERATIONS
Liverpool Echo - Tuesday 29 September 1925
Bee’s Notes
Everton are probably the most discussed team in the country just now, and when their defeat had sunk into the hearts of those who follow the side the debate began concerning the next team-sheer.  Well, I leave it with the debaters; it shows three changes, but they are of a type that will not create the surprise one would expect if “real changes” were made; that is to say the changes are simply the return of Kendall, McDonald, and Brown-which one might term natural inclusions.  Generally speaking, I have heard demands for changes other than those notified.  This is the team for the very big match at Goodison Park against Huddersfield, who are the only unbeaten side in the First Division of the League. Kendall; McDonald, O’Donnell; Brown, McBain, Hart; Chedgzoy, Irvine, Dean, Kennedy, Troup.
LETETRS
“All Over” of Walton, has this conundrum;- If a brilliant, classy centre half lets a centre forward through seven times in two matches how long will it take Everton to find a goalkeeper and a new right wing.
   “Birkenhead Blue” writes;- I think the Everton directors would get much better results were to give the following team a trial;- Kendall; McDonald, Hamilton; Peacock, McBain, Virr; Parry, Bain, Dean, Chadwick, Troup. 
EVERTON’S GOALKEEPER
Everton have signed on an amateur form the very clever Xaverians’ goalkeeper Joe Morris, who stand six feet one inch in height; has been tipped for county amateur honours.  He kept goal for his school team, and was captain of the College side last year.  Twenty-one years of age, he is engaged in the Vetermary Department of the ‘Varsity.  In view of the number of injuries sustained by Everton’s goalkeepers, it is wise that the club had a call upon an amateur, for on last week’s showing they needed a call and put in that call to Menham, who of course, plays regularly with the Nomads. 

FRIENDLY-LIKE
Liverpool Echo - Wednesday 30 September 1925
Bee’s Notes
Joseph Morris whom Everton have signed on a League form as goalkeeper, Is 6ft 3in, in height and not 6ft in, as exclusively stated yesterday in our column.  He is under twenty-one and is looked upon as one of the best amateur goalkeepers in the Liverpool district.  This signing is a further example of the fine services of Old Xaverians to this district “footer,” for the Old Boys have on two previous occasions, before the war, when our local League clubs were pressed for players, provided the right man at the right moment.  There was in the case of Liverpool, the case of John McKenna, who turned out against Newcastle United at outside right, and later on, for Everton, William O’Brien came along to help the Goodison Park side out of an outside-left difficulty against Sunderland.  Morris makes the third Old Xaverian to play for the local senior sides.
TEAM IDEAS
“spectator” asks this selection;- Kendall; McDonald, O’Donnell; Brown, McBain, Peacock; Bain, Rooney, Dean, Kennedy, and Weaver.  He adds; “I have all young blood in forward line and believe me, each individual one of them can play football , win or lose. 
  “Reckitts Blue” asks;- “Why isn’t Davie Reid played?  I write on behalf of 25 solid supporters of the Blues.  I have followed Everton as long as I can remember, but I must confess the defence on Saturday was had.  Everton’s need is apparent- two 5ft 11in., with plenty of beef, full-backs, are immediately required at Goodison, and let’s have Davie Reid in. 
  “Bluecoat” says; “Let Reid occupy a position he has long deserved.”
“Old Blue” asks for forward changes.  Parry and Rand should be given a trial at the first opportunity.  There are men like Reid, Bain, Parry, Rand, and Weaver that should be given a run with the first team, not kept forever in the reserves or put in the first team when an accident arises.
“Constant Reader” suggests that I am to blame!  He adds;- Don’t interfere with the Everton style of football.  My belief is that yes, who criticize the team, are making them as they are.  You want Everton to play the “kick and rush” style of football.  Well, I hope I never live to see it.  I would like to mention the heading of Saturday’s night’s “Echo”; “Liverpool Win With Ease.”  This certainly goes to show you had your red glasses on, or you don’t know football when you see it. 
My correspondent has the advantage of me! He can criticize and I must not play my part in that category!  I don’t want Everton to drop stylish football; I do want Everton to be definite in front of goa, and as far as headings are concerned I can justify my leadline by the bare result.  Evertonians must get out of their think-tanks the idea that pretty football “all round the Wrekin” makes a team deserves a win.  I am tired of the everlasting call; “They played all over their opponents.”  That phrase has no value if the players will not take simple chances in front of goal.