THE FINAL KICK AT EVERTON
Cricket and Football Field - Saturday 04 June 1887
Charity
By “The Rambler”
Everton have had long season, but just now Liverpool people are hot in to football, either in season or out of season, and there would be quite 4,000 spectators the match on Monday between Everton and Accrington despite counter Whit-Monday attractions. Everton always devote a match to the charities, and the receipts on Monday went towards the funds of the Stanley Hospital.  Councilor Houlding, President of the club, had induced his worship the Mayor to attend, and as he walked across the ground to the reserved stand he was heartily cheered. Just before the game started Mr. Ramsay, one of the enthumstic V.P’s of the Everton club, led Mr. B. Whitley, the M.P. for that division, to the side of the Mayor, accompanied by another outburst of cheering. Besides these gentlemen there were others of less note who patronized the match.
ACCRINGTON SCORE OFF THE POST
It took us little time to reckon up the Accrington team. They were all the well-known red Jerseys, but there were some fresh faces. The athletic-looking goalkeeper was easily recognized as J. McConnell, the Burnley secretary, but Bonar's partner was a mystery, until I heard some remark about Church, and then I found it was Beresford; whilst Jack Yates had Holden, of the same club, fora partner. George Dobson was on the stand nursing a sprained ankle, and his substitute looked rather uncouth in a dirty-looking jersey.  It was Griffiths, of the Oakfield Rovers, the runners-up for the Liverpool Cup, who, by-the-bye, is not a bad player. Archie Goodall was resplendent in a flaring blue jersey, but the others were the same old stock. The ground was very bare, and a couple of sheep with anything like appetites would stand a good chance of being starved to death, if they had to exist on the grass. The sun had come out all its splendor, but it did not seem to lessen the energies of the combatants, some of whom came on the hard ground with no small force. Accrington had the benefit of the wind but could not make much impression on Dick and Griffiths, whilst Archie Goodall was simply magnificent as centre half-back. Macpherson, another Killle man, came in for a lot of cheering, but he is not as good as Goodall. Several times McConnell had some difficulty in clearing, and Joliffe was hard pressed, but both were in good trim. It almost seemed as if we were to have a blank half, when Accrington obtained a throw in, which George Haworth planted to a nicety, and one of the Everton men headed it against the post, off which it passed through. No. 1, which was all the scoring before the interval.
ALTERNATE SCORING
Everton started off as they meant alternate business, but the Accrington men lay back and kept cool for a short time, and then they, too, did a bit of attacking. The game was of a very interesting nature, and after Everton had discovered that it was of little use trying to get past McLennan and Stevenson, the play became even. Yates put in some good heading, and Holden and he worked well together. Conway roamed about and had several tussles with Archer, in whom he met his match. Little Farmer dodged capitally, and Fleming and his new associate put in some clever work against the inimitable Peter. Conway added goal No, 2 from a corner, the ball going past Jolliffe off Bob’s head, like a cannon ball. Everton now thought it was time to improve matters, and getting the ball about 30 yards from goal Goodall made a clinking shot, which McConnell ought to have stopped but allowed it to go between his legs—2-1. Accrington did not like this at all, and presently they added a third. It was now the Everton turn to score, and score they did from nicely placed free kick by Goodall, which Fleming as nicely headed through. Just after this the Accrington umpire claimed a corner which wasn’t a corner, but the Everton official, as impartial an umpire as it has been my lot to see, said he couldn’t tell from the position he was in, and the corner was taken. It was well put in, and a most exciting time followed, the ball being headed out, fisted out, headed and kicked in dozen times, Dick eventually sending it down the field. However, the Reds had opened the scoring, and thought they would close it, though if Joliffe had displayed the ability he had already shown they would not have done so. The ball was sent across to Yates, and just as Joliffe was in the midst of an argument with Dick, Jack shot, and the Everton custodian only partially stopped it. We were now near the finish, and the sound of the whistle was heartily welcomed by the exhausted players, who were covered with grease and dust. Accrington thus won by four goals to two, and displayed the best form, the Everton men being along way below their usual standard.

NORTH END AT EVERTON
Cricket and Football Field - Saturday 04 June 1887
The splendid turn out at Everton last Saturday to welcome Preston North End would go to show the great respect felt for the “greatest team in the world,” for assuredly, says Evertonians, there is no club yet seen in this district who can “hold up a candle” to Mr. Sudell’s famous combination.  For an hour before the advertised time of starting the stand was packed to overflowing and the enclosure lined by a gathering of over seven thousand spectators.  The receipts of the gate would be note the presence of over 8,000, whilst even coign of vantage in the immediately vicinity of the ground was occupied by an eager crowd.  It had been expected that the best team of the North End would be on duty, but there were two changes, Howarth being replaced at full back by Holmes, whilst Sam Thomson’s place at centre forward was occupied by Goodall.  Everton also had two changes in their team, for Dobson and Costley were unable to play.  The former was occupied, Mirabelle dicta by Tom Veitch, the Bootle captain, whilst Archie Goodall again assisted Everton in front.  The rearrangement, it might be expected, would make much difference in the Everton play, but certainly did.  Veitch had been “to grass” for five or six weeks, and though he worked well did not compensate for the absence of the Everton captain, whilst by a bad error of judgement the disposition of the forwards could not well have been worse. The idea of playing Goodall in the centre and Briscoe on the left, whilst Richards partnered Fleming on the right, was a mistake not easily to be conceived, and which told with fatal effect against the efficiency of the front rank.
A QUIET GAME
I have rarely been present at a match carried so silently and witnessed by such a great crowd. North End won the toss and elected to play up the incline with the sun at their backs, and for a time from the start play was fairly even. By degrees, however, North End asserted themselves, and the play resolved itself into series of beautiful runs into the Everton quarters. Dewhurst and Goodall were far most prominent during this half, although Gordon and Ross, Junior, put in a lot work, and Drummond was the only player who did not seem to over exert himself. The passing not only between the forwards, but also amongst the backs and half-backs was utterly bewildering to the home players, who, nevertheless, were nearly breaking the ice on more than one occasion. Indeed, looked a thousand to one on Fleming getting the first goal, when Ross by a supreme effort just hampered him sufficiently to avert the disaster. At the other end Joliffe saved several splendid shots, until at last Goodall sent one flying past him just before half-time. Re-starting, it was at once apparent that North End meant business, and they almost went straight through their opponents’ goal. For quite a quarter of an hour the ball was kept within twenty or thirty yards of the Everton goal, numerous corners being taken, whilst many narrow escapes were experienced. At last Russell headed the second goal from a narrow kick, and a third goal was taken immediately. Everton made one or two attempts to stem the tide, but were completely outplayed, and two other goals were put by the visitors, who won by five goals to nil.
THE PLAYERS
The display of Everton was most disappointing after their brilliant victory over the Bolton Wanderers. But there is this to be said, that whereas the Wanderers had exhibited distinct signs lassitude, the North Enders put an astonishing amount of freshness and vigour into their play. At the close of last season Everton made an infinitely better fight, being defeated on that occasion by the narrow margin of 2to 1. Of the Everton forwards Fleming alone appeared to keep his head, most of the others seeming at times fascinated when in the presence of the opposing backs. Farmer was always attended by Robertson in his wanderings, and, sooth to say, sadly missed his partner Costley, The half-backs strove hard, but not well. Gibson and Macpherson both kicked well on occasions, but seemed quite unable to cope with the beautiful combination of the winners. Dick was not at his best at full back, and managed to raise the ire of Mr. Sudell, and Dewhurst did not by any means relish his attentions. Joliffe did remarkably well in goal, and although he was roundly rated on the stand for allowing the third goal to be scored, he was not at all to blame, as he was directed “to let it go,” which he did to his own chagrin. The winners played a very fine game, and though they may not have been seen at their best—it was too hot by a long way for this—they gave such a fine exhibition of purely scientific football will be long remembered at Anfield-road.