YOUNG CHOSEN
Liverpool Echo - Thursday 01 December 1960
EVERTON PLAYER LEADS ARMY SIDE
Alex Young, Everton's Scottish international, centre-forward,  has been chosen to lead the British Army attack against Middlesbrough at Ayresome Park next Wednesday. Young, who has not played owing to a knee injury sustained when a Hearts player, is not likely to be fit to make his debut for Everton at Goodison Park on Saturday and may well have to miss the Army match at Middleborough.

EVERTON CUP ARRNAGEMENT
Liverpool Echo - Thursday 01 December 1960
By Leslie Edwards
For Everton's Cup-tie against Sheffield United at Goodison Park on Saturday, January 7 (3 p.m,) reserved seats will be available at 10s, each for the Goodison Road and Bullens Road stands and 7s 6d for the Gwladys Street stand and the Stanley Park goal stand. Shareholders will be entitled to two tickets each and stand season-ticket holders will be entitled to one ticket each. These must be applied for by post enclosing correct remittance, third round Cup-tie voucher from the season-ticket and a stamped addressed envelope. The envelope containing the application should be marked “Shareholder “or” Season-ticket holder" as the case may be and also "Sheffield United." As the visiting club take a quota from all sections of the stand there is no guarantee that all ticket-holders will be allocated seats in their usual section. A limited number of stand tickets will be available to the public and these must also be applied for by post enclosing remittance and a stamped addressed envelope. The outside of the envelope should be marked "Sheffield United." Postal orders should be left blank in case they have to be returned.

JIM HARRIS MAY JOIN WEST BROM
Friday, December 2, 1960. The Liverpool Daily Post
£18,000 FEE READY TO BE PAID FOR EVERTON UTITITY FORWARD
By Horace Yates
Jim Harris, Everton’s under-23 international forward may be a West Browmich Albion player today.  Although there is no question of Harris having been offered for sale, Everton’s recent buying spree and the fact that Alex Young is almost ready to make his appearance in the forward line, has not gone unnoticed and yesterday West Brom’s manager, Mr. Gordon Clark, travelled to Goodison to pop the £18,000 question- will you let Harris go?  Everton manager Mr. John Carey, was taken by surprise at this sudden interest in a player who has missed only one game this season-that against Newcastle a fortnight ago-but Mr. Carey’s intelligent anticipation of possibilities found Mr. Carey willing to discuss possibilities.  Now, I understand the position is that West Brom are willing to pay a fee acceptable to Everton and only the player’s consent stands in the way of progress.  Harris was also surprised at development and not unnaturally asked for time to think over the proposition.  Mr. Clarke expects to receive Harris’s verdict today.  Like every other player Harris likes first team football and appearances just now suggest that when all men are available there can be no regular position available for him in Everton’s line-up and the thought of filling in only as a reserve is not a very pleasant sort of prospect for a man who has figured regularly in First Division football for several seasons.  Mr. Clark asked for and received permission to speak to Harris yesterday and no doubt impressed on him that a move to West Brom would guarantee him a continuance of top flight soccer.  It seemed obvious when West Brom were at Goodison recently that they needed punch in the forward line to pay tribute to the clever play of the men behind and I gather that it is the intention to employ Harris as an outside right if he agrees to the move.
NOT ANXIOUS TO PART
Mr. Carey last night said; “If it is in the player’s interests we are prepared to let him go, but we are not anxious to part with him.  Harris takes the view that with so many players available once the position with injured men is resolved he may have some difficulty in establishing a first team place.”  Harris a former Birkenhead schoolboy, became a professional on September 28, 1951 but it was not until August 1955 he made his League debut at Burnley.  Dave Hickson the man deposed, promptly asked for a transfer and within a matter of days joined Aston Villa for a £20,000 fee.  From that time Harris has commanded a more or less regular place in the team, mainly at centre forward or outside right, but with his appearance in the outside left position at Highbury last week he completed his tour of the forward line, having figured in every position.  According to my records he is only nine games short of his double century of appearances with Everton.  He was England’s centre forward against Scotland in an Under-23 international match and in November 1958 was inside right in the English League team against the Irish League at Anfield.  If Harris does agree to go the fee will provide a substantial slice off the £55,000 which Everton paid for the Scottish international, Young and Thomson a little over week ago.  This season Harris has scored four goals, compared with nine all last season.  Young has been nominated to lead the British Army attack against Middlesbrough next Wednesday but whether he will be fit though is another matter I understand that while he is making good progress from his knee injury, he can be ruled out to tomorrow’s home game with Sheffield Wednesday with some degree of certainly. 

PRESENT ENGLAND SIDE COULD BECOME TOP OF WORLD, SAYS ROY VERNON
Friday, December 2, 1960. The Liverpool Daily Post
If the next World Cup series was to be played in this country, I would stick out my neck and suggest that England would be the winners.  That is the conclusion I reached after being in the Welsh side to decisively beaten at Wembley.  It was an ambition fulfilled when I can put on to the famous pitch but I think there my pleasure ended, for even the ground disappointed me.  Not only was it heavy but it cut up far worse than I had ever thought possible.  If Wembley were like club grounds played on week after week it would respond like another pitch, and the famous turf renowned the world over would do the annual appearing trick like the rest of them.  England got an early goal and before we knew where we were Wales were three down and we were playing good football at that.  Not only did England play far better than I had believed them capable of, but they blended as a team in the way in which every team manager dreams he will one day accomplish.  If Wales cannot win the World Cup then I hope England do it.  There was no comparison between this England side and that which I opposed at Cardiff a couple of years ago.  I don’t think I have played against a better side than this, although Czechoslovakia in Prague in the last world Cup competition were a terrifically able combination.  This England side could kill stone-dead all the talk about the decline of English soccer and could become top of the world.  They need English conditions to bring about this desirable state of affairs, but so far the foreigners have had the advantage in weather conditions.  What is it that makes this English side tick?  Johnny Haynes, I believe is destined to become one of the greatest England captains of all time, with all due respect to Billy Wright.  He really takes control on the field and the players look to him.  They expect him to dictate and he does not disappoint them.  He is the schemer. 
ALL-ROUND PLAYER
His association with Jimmy Greaves is a natural partnership.  There is trouble in plenty with there two around.  I believe this boy Greaves is tops.  He is a greatly under-rated player although he is an international and that is possibly because he has acquired a reputation as a goal poacher and spectator’s look on him in that light instead of giving him the credit he deserves as an all-round player.  He is brilliant on the ball, his control is uncanny and his positional sense leaves one spellbound.  The ball goes to him as though to a magnet.  There is talk just now about the possibility of Greaves going on the transfer list.  If ever it does get to that stage I can imagine somebody, being killed in the rush for his signature, even though only those clubs with outsized cheque books can possibly begin to form a queue.  Without a shadow of a doubt clubs would have to start talking at about £60,000 that is supposing the lay relating to Italian football remains unchanged for no English club could complete with the sort of money the Italians would talk in if it really did become a free-for-all.  It is not stretching the imagination too far to think in terms of an Italian deal in the £100,000 class but it would be a fearful tragedy for English soccer if this lad were allowed to leave.  The English international side would certainly not be anything like the same and the building we like to think has been done with such good effect, would be in danger of tottering again.  So many teams play good football up to the fringe of the penalty area.  Those who saw West Brom at Goodison recently will know what I mean but they simply did not have the finishing punch, a complaint from which several suffer.  Greaves is the man to supply that touch of class, that infusion of power.  He could revolutionise the appearance of many a team.  After the Wembley fiasco from a Welsh point of view, my second disappointment of the week was the fall of Everton at Arsenal.  Had we been out-played by a better side the ending of our unbeaten run would have been more palatable but very few would class Arsenal as superior to Everton even on that display.  I don’t think it is a case of sour grapes but for me Arsenal were not in Everton’s class, but it is goals that count not class.  Three-goals Herd enjoyed what may be his match of the season.  It was his day and he celebrated most enthusiastically, if he had been trying to impress Mr. Matt Busby, manager of Manchester United he could not have been more deadly but I don’t believe Mr. Busby required any further impression. 
Mind Made Up
His mind has obviously been made up for quite a time that Herd is the player who has in abundance just what Manchester United lack.  Mr. Busby has dug his teeth right into this bargain and I don’t believe he will let go until Herd lands at Old Trafford, where the need for him is so much greater now, following the injury to Dennis Violett.  I was glad to see George Thomson come into his own before the end of the Arsenal game.  For any player a debut is an ordeal.  He is trying so desperately hard to please, that performance sometimes suffers.  It was even more trying for Thomson because this was not merely a debut, but also an introduction to a different class of soccer and I am one of those who believes that an Englishman going into Scotland would find the game far easier to play than anybody taking the reverse route.  Just as I do not believe we have seen anything like the best of Thomson, I am equally certain that Everton have only touched their best in fleeting moments.  They have the framework now for a really brilliant side and once we drop into the rhythm just as Tottenham have done this season, I would like to believe that Everton followers are destined for entertainment of the highest class.   The mason confessed to me that he was shaky at first; but felt much better as the game progressed.  Well that is very natural and I was able to comfort him somewhat by telling him that not every week will he meet a right winger as fast or clever as Danny Clapton.  The Scot’s style of play is very much that of Everton and I can foresee the time when George will be every bit as effective as Alex Parker, and that is tribute indeed.  Everton players are just as impatient as their supporters to see Alex Young in action.  We have seen him in training but with his speed and experience in the middle we are all looking forward to great deeds ahead, I don’t think we will be disappointed even if the forward line does not click immediately.  Future success I believe is assured. 

HARRIS WANTS TIME TO DECIDE
Liverpool Echo - Friday 02 December 1960
WEST BROM’S FIRM OFFER
SUBSTANTIAL FEE
By Leslie Edwards
West Bromwich Alblon have made firm offer for Everton forward, Jimmy Harris, but the player wants a week or two in which to make up his mind and will not therefore be in the Albion side at Chelsea to-morrow as Mr. Gordon Clarke, the manager, hoped.  I understand that Harris feels that he should make no move while he is still in the Everton first team. The fee which neither club would disclose, is a very substantial one and higher than that generally thought to be 'the case.  The West Bromwich Albion manager made a secret trip to  Goodison Park yesterday and 'was flabbergasted on his arrival home last night to find that the news had leaked—in Liverpool. He conferred with Mr. Carey about the possibility of players in general and then particularized on Harris whom he sought as a right winger or centre-forward. He was given permission to approach Harris and promised that if he went to The Hawthorns he would be left to play in his own individual style.
HICKSON'S SUCCESSOR
Harris, Birkenhead - born: came into the Everton team with a bang at centre-forward as successor to Dave Hickson. He has a big shot: is fast and has played on both wings and in the centre in the Everton first team this season. He has scored infrequently but has been the attack throughout Everton long spell of League success, broken only by this defeat at Highbury last Saturday.   The coming of Alex Young, and the presence of wingers Ring, Bingham, Lill and Temple might well mean that Harris could lose his place in the near future. When he does 1 anticipate he will be ready to move on to try his luck elsewhere. Harris has made one appearance in the England under-23 team—at Sheffeld three seasons ago.
EVERTON UNCHANGED
Everton announce an unchanged side for the visit of Sheffield Wednesday. The prospect of Alex Young being fit to take his place at centre forward was never hopeful, and it is unlikely that he will be fit for play for the Army at Middlesbrough next Wednesday. Wednesday's English international goalkeeper, Ron Springett, out of the team for the last four matches after a ligament injury when playing for England in Italy, returns. Otherwise the team is that which lost its last two games by two goals to one.  Everton; Dunlop; Parker, Thomson; Gabriel, Labone, Harris (B); Bingham, Collins, Wignall, Vernon, Harris (J)
Sheffield Wednesday; Springett; Johnson, Megson; McAnearney, Swan, Kaye; Griffin, Craig, Ellis, Fantham, Finney. 

A FIRST VIEW OF THOMSON AT GOODISON
Liverpool Echo - Friday 02 December 1960
By Leslie Edwards
The first home appearance of former Hearts full-back, George Thomson, who made his debut for Everton at Highbury last Saturday coincides with the visit tomorrow of Sheffield Wednesday.  Thus an early attractive match becomes a must for thousands of fans who want to see their team confirm the belief that they are a better side than the Championship rivals and one who may well demonstrate in a fortnight’s time that they are better than Tottenham, too!  Everton’s defeat a Highbury –a galliant one after being three down quickly- has been their only real set-back for a long time.  I don’t think it will affect their confidence and though Wednesday are the only team to have beaten Spurs this season one must not forget that Everton ran the London side goalless until the last ten minutes in the season’s opening game.  Everton have everything a good side needs- at least they will have when Young is fit to take his place “in the middle” –but Wednesday, who certainly don’t stand on ceremony, will pose a big problem for them.  The one certain about the match is that it will produce entertaining football.  Everton’s main aim is to do this and never in my memory has it been so possible to go to Goodison Park not hoping to see the game’s arts, but certain to have them display, whatever the result.  A man who has watched football for countless years told me yesterday that his opinion was that Bobby Collins was the finest inside-forward, offensively and defensively he ever saw.  When you study the little man’s repertoire of art, strength, punch and ability to head a ball his contribution to the side’s success is bound to be enormous. 

EVERTON MAKE FIGHTING COME-BACK TO WIN
Liverpool Echo - Saturday 03 December 1960
FORCE WEDNESDAY TO MAKE MISTAKES
EVERTON 4, SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY 2
By Leslie Edwards
Everton; DunIop; Parker, Thomsen; Gabriel, Labone, Harris (B), Bingham, Collins, Wignall, Vernon, Harris (J). Sheffield Wednesday;  Springett; Johnson, Megson; McAneerney, Swan, Key; Griffin, Craig, Ellis, Fantham, Finney. Referee: Mr. W. Clements  (West Bromwich).
The weather could not have been worse for the gala game_ against Sheffield Wednesday. Fortunately, the rain ceased as the teams came out. But the damage had been done and there were not more than 40.000 present when Everton kicked off towards the Gwladys Street goal.  It was a sensational opening.  Dunlop had no sooner saved a deflected shot by Fantham than the ball was punched up-field by the goalkeeper to skid into the possession of Vernon, who showed his speed to get clean through and with Springett having left the goal turned the ball into an empty net, to the accompaniment of tremendous cheering and such wild joy as we see rarely even at Everton.  Everton stated tremendously, quite apart from their goal, and now Bingham with a back-heel touch opened the way for Wignall to centre fast and had just the right height for Collins whose glancing header seemed long odds on scoring, but Springett saved as brilliantly as Hodgkinson had from Hickson a week ago. In the next phase or play Wednesday equalised in 5 minutes. A lovely pass by Finney found Fantham on the left and that player's good length centre was nodded in just inside the post by the big man Ellis, who got up high and nodded the ball downwards. Everton's new back from Hearts, Thomson, making his home debut, showed the crowd a good physique and a good deal, of artistry, and this early it was quite clear that Everton were going to have battle in spite of enjoying that dramatic lead. The heavy ground and Wednesdays propensity for keeping the ball close often led to the Everton defence stepping in and taking possession.  At this stage a misunderstanding between Bingham and Collins prevented either from profiting from a diagonal pass put up judiciously by Vernon. Wednesday were unquestionable the better equipped side physically, most of them being sizeable. 
Sharp Tackling

The tackling from both sides was as sharp as it was uncompromising.  Wednesday never gave Collins and Vernon a moment’s rest when they were in possession.  Thomson got right into the crowd’s good books by a most astute pass to find Jimmy Harris and enabled him to pivot quickly and hit the ball straight for the goal.  Springett fumbled this one, but regarded the ball at the second attempt.  The crowd did not like Swan’s foul on Wignall, but I think it was more accidental than intended.  Finney was now operating more on the right wing than on the left, and for the second time a right-wing corner kick, this time attempted by Parker and Bingham, came unstruck badly through misunderstanding.
DANGEROUS FINNEY
Finney was very dangerous at all times and a swerving low centre from him led to Labone and Ellis colliding and going to  earth slap in front of goal with neither of them able to make contact. Finney now beat both Gabriel and Thomson, took the ball to the line, and pulled it back to force Dunlop to make a half save. Parker hooking the ball away for a corner as a safety first measure. The corner at 27 minutes proved an unlucky one for Everton as immediately following it the ball was wiled back from the left for Craig to volley a vicious shot beyond Dunlop and give Wednesday the lead.  Vernon prized an opening for a shot but the ball travelled I slower than Springett anticipated and having gone down too early he was lucky to find the shot striking his foot and bounding away to safety. 
WEDNESDAY ON TOP
Little Craig with yet another close-in shot might well have scored it the ball had not been deflected for a corner by a rather lucky Everton intervention. Wednesday were now on top and looked as though they meant to stay there. They were a well-balanced side whereas Everton, in attack at least, were inclined to be hasty and rather hit or miss.
SUPERS PLAY
A truly superb bit of full back play by Parker now extricated himself and Everton from a bad position near the corner flag, and as a direct result the ball came straight down field to enable Jimmy Harris in the centre forward position to make a shot which Springett saved brilliantly. 
BRILLIANT MOVES
Nothing was better than the way Brian Harris, Collins and Jimmy Harris moved the ball up the left wing by gorgeous combined operation, and that Bingham’s header flew inches wide off Jimmy Harris' centre was desperate misfortune to one of the finest moves of the game. Alex Parker on the right was going up and passed them as though they did not exist, but Wednesday as a whole looked tremendously impressive and deserved. I thought, their 2-1 lead at the interval.
Half-time, Everton 1. Sheffield Wednesday 2.
Wednesday began the second half as they finished the first with the extreme wingers switched. The red-haired Kay was almost a team in himself.
ROUGH TREATMENT
The crowd did not like Megson's treatment of the tough little Bingham. The free kick produced an equalised for Everton as when Wignall went up to beat Springett to the ball and nodded it towards an empty goat a Wednesday defender dropped back on the line, handled the ball away and the decision could not be other than a penalty.  I think the offender was Swan. Certainly Mr. Clements, was in no doubt about the crime and Wednesday made', no protest though it must have been only justice when Vernon scored train the spot. Everton now looked as though they sensed their big opportunity, and the game became uproarious on field and off.
FIRST-CLASS SAVE
When the ball was passed to 'Vernon following a free kick he punched it towards goal without a second's delay and Sprnigett is to be congratulated on sensing this unexpected bullet, and in getting his hands to it to bring off yet another first-class save. Wignall will never do better than when linking up with a brilliant move on the left and pulling the ball square for Vernon to drive it straight at goal without challenge.
LUCKY WEDNESDAY
Wednesday were phenomenally lucky to deflect this one for a corner, and a moment later when Wignall again showed his tremendous potential and a good shot the referee seemed alone in think that Springett had not made the save. He gave Wednesday a goal kick believing the ball had spun off the root of the post and not off Snringett's feet.  Little Bingham was coming in for some pretty rough treatment from Megson. Once again a free kick against the full back passed his side goal. The kick was taken by Vernon who slid the ball through in the general direction of goal with Bingham flicking it between his outstretched legs as it came through to him. This finesse nearly succeeded, but the ball was within an inch or two of the line and had not crossed it, when Johnson, among others, came in to try and retrieve the situation and only succeeded in turning it over the line.  So Everton went 3-2 ahead in 59 minutes, and with Vernon threatening to make it 4-2 the din was deafening, and certainly a severe affliction on anyone like me who was using a telephone.

FIERCE TACKLING
Having felt the weight off Everton’s attack at its best, Wednesday were a bit shaken, but their tackling continued to be as fierce as it was accurate' sand Everton had to fight desperately for every yard of ground they gained. Harris (J.) joined the ranks of the shooters and Swan showed his class against Wignall whose game I thought suggested that he will yet become a great centre forward. Brian Harris' determination and his ability to be here, there and everywhere, was a feature of the Everton half back line.  As showing that Wednesday were far from beaten. Craig seized on a ball and, besting, his man in a space of an inch or two, went on to hit a shot which Dunlop reached only at full stretch--a most valuable piece of goalkeeping.  Then Bingham taking the ball on the half volley as it dropped from a deflection hit a shot which swerved Ant just outside the far upright.  At this point Wignall came to the right wing, leaving Bingham to operate at centre forward. Everton should have scored again when Wignall crossed the ball from the right and Johnson in trying to head clear, could only edge it to Harris (J.),  whose close-in shot struck the outside and not the inside of the net Harris (J.) scored for Everton 87 minutes. Everton 4, Sheffield Wednesday 2. 

ARSENAL DEFEAT A DISAPPOINTMENT
Liverpool Echo - Saturday 03 December 1960
AN UNLUCKY ENDING TO UNBEATEN RUN, SAYS ALEX PARKER
SO our unbeaten run is ended, and while we would have been disappointed to see it go at any time, the manner in which we lost it to Arsenal was doubly disappointing. I reckon the unluckiest defeat Everton have ever suffered since I have been with them was in the home match against Leicester City a couple of years ago, but last Saturday's ran it close. We were three down at halt-time to a David Herd hat-trick, all shots right out of the blue, and while we realised that we had not played as well as we could, it was really only Herd's shooting that had put us so much behind. His first was from a free-kick which was deflected by Jimmy Gabriel into the goal, and his others were from about 25 yards out, the first of these being the best goal I have seen for a very long time. I think David will agree that it may have finished up anywhere but in the back of the net, as is the case with many great goals, but it fairly whistled past Albert Dunlop, and even from so far out our goalkeeper stood no chance with it. We knew that in the second half we could make a fight of it for it was unlikely that Herd would find his shots coming off so well again. But, unfortunately, our luck was right out. 
HIT WOODWORK
Frank Wignall hit the woodwork once, Bobby Collins hit it twice, and offside spoilt another goal. Still, I am still convinced that the way we were playing, if the game had gone on another 10 minutes we would have gained at least one point. Talking with George Thomson, our new left back, afterwards he told me how much he had enjoyed his first game in English soccer, despite the defeat. The first question any Scot is asked when he comes down here is about the speed of the game, and George told me he found that he did not have same amount of time to move the ball as he had in Scotland. For instance, he said, with Hearts he had time to gather the ball, and then look to see where he was putting it. Down here he has realised that the gathering and passing have to be done in practically one movement. Highbury, of course is one of the finest stadium in the country, and George was very impressed. “But." he said. “It didn't impress me as much as Goodison does. I think that place is terrific." When I heard on Monday that we were playing Sheffield United in the third round of the F.A. Cup. I immediately thought of what I had read and heard about their display at Anfield on Saturday. Apparently they are much more than an average Second Division side.  They seem as certain as anything is in this game to gain promotion, and I hear they play very clever soccer. As we at Everton pride ourselves on trying to do the same it should be a very good match.
HAIG AVENUE VISIT
White on the subject of Cup-ties. I went to Haig Avenue to see the Southport v. Bangor City replay. There was quite a crowd of us for in addition to myself there was Roy Vernon. Bobby Collins, Alex Young, Jimmy Gabriel, Billy Bingham, Les Shannon and a few of the junior players. It was the first time I had ever been to the ground and we were all very impressed by the state of the pitch. It looked to be in excellent condition.  Of course, there were quite a few ex-Evertonians taking part in the match. In Southport's team there were Albert Harris, Alan Bentham, Brian Griffiths and Jimmy Blain, while Bangor's skipper is Ken Birch. The Welsh team started off in great style with magnificent headed goal by Ray Gryba, but I think the League side's training told in the end for they gradually got on top, and once there, never looked like losing. Still, it was a very enjoyable match and makes a pleasant change to see some of the smaller sides in action. On Wednesday night I became a spectator again, this time at Anfield to see the Liverpool-Nantes match.  
ONE SIDED
It was really too one sided to be interesting, for Liverpool were well on top. I doubt if Bert Slater had more than two kicks at the ball in the second half. Jimmy Harrower followed up last week's hat-trick with two penalties against the French team. He side footed the first in past the goalkeeper's left, the Frenchman diving too late He put his second in exactly the same place, but the keeper dived the other way and Jimmy stood with his hands on his hips shaking his head in disbelief. Naturally the crowd thought this very funny. In fact, most people on the ground did with the possible exceptions of the goalkeeper and his team mates. Alex Young travelled down from Scotland on Monday and reported for training at Goodison Park on Tuesday morning. He went up to Bellefield in the coach with the rest of the team, but as his knee is still sore he could not take part in the practice match with the rest of us. So he did as much training as he could with our other “knee" victim. Mickey Lill. Incidentally. Mickey is making steady progress and at the time of writing was hoping for a game in one of our teams either to-day or next week. Tommy Ring hopes to get his plaster off on Monday and should start training quite soon.

EVERTON ARE GOING RIGHT UP TO THE TOP
Monday, December 5, 1960. The Liverpool Daily Post
VERNON STARS IN EVERTON’S FINEST HOUR-AND HALF
EVERTON 4, SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY 2
By Horace Yates
With 50,000 spectators, many of them soaked to the skin and warned only by display of their team, roaring them off the ground at the end of their mighty triumph over Sheffield Wednesday at Goodison Park, Everton’s stock soared to new heights.  Undoubtedly their finest hour so far, at least for many a long year, it by no means represent’s the peak.  Everton are going straight to the top.  If this was a fair sample of the thrills, delights and suspense we can expect from soccer to a Super League, then I am all for it, and with Tottenham and Burnley (twice) to be opposed this month, December could provide an intriguing view of the possible shape of things to come.  With entertainment at such a high level week after week, the most a demanding spectator would find criticism difficult.  The ground was a revelation, almost as satisfactory in its way, as the team and I hope nobody will suggest disturbing it again; no matter how good a case may be made out for electric heating.  Wednesday came to Liverpool boasting the tightest defence in the League and despite conceding a goal, in 35 seconds it was not long before everyone realised that for once figures told a convincing story.  Their goal enjoyed some miraculous escapes due in part to the magnificence of goalkeeper Springett, but the barrack-square efficiency of their well drilled defence became increasingly impressive and for Everton to riddle it to the tune of four goals was a terrific attainment equalled only by Wolves. 
Composure Gone
In face of the prolonged Everton barrage in the second half, gaps began to appear where there had been one before, tackles seemed just that split second slower, and though Wednesday never hoisted the white flag it was obvious that their composure had gone.  Everton could not have achieved this performance by craft and artistry alone, for while I would hesitate to label this Wednesday rearguard dirty, some of them were robust sometimes to the extreme edge of the dividing line.  Wignall was knocked down like a skittle with a frequency which was only rivalled by the hammering which came Bingham’s way and any show of resultant hesitant might have been fatal to Everton’s cause.  There was none.  The Everton players took the punishment like sportsmen and far from folding under the pressure struck out bravely and resolutely so that it was Wednesday who broke first.  Sheffield Wednesday retiring at half-time with a 2-1 lead, brought about by goals from Ellis (6 minutes) and Craig (28) against Vernon’s opening thunderbolt had impressed everybody as a thoroughly efficient and able side.  They had swung the game round their way and I found no reason to grumble either with their lead or their place in the table, even if Springett had affected the most brilliant saves from Collins and Vernon, and Jimmy Harris had fluffed the offering of a lifetime from Vernon.  Plainly Everton were struggling but they resumed like fighting furies.  It is not sufficient for a team aiming to be truly great to have only class and quality to back their cause.  A huge fighting heart is always an urgent necessity and how comforting it was to find that this was a quality which is theirs in measure equally generous as their artistry. 
“Take It Roy”
When Collins stepped aside from a penalty kick after Johnson pushed out a Jimmy Harris header from under the bar, and said to Vernon.  “You take this Roy,” It was almost an acknowledgement of the fact that this was Vernon’s day.  With a disarming subtlety he lobbed the ball past Springett and Everton were on terms.  While Vernon danced, dominated and devastated to give his finest show in an Everton jersey, made the more commendable because it was achieved against opposition as tough and capable as there is to be found anywhere Collins was content to fill a minor role, well though he played.  Behind them Labone was less robust, but just as uncompromising as the flint-like Swan, and Brian Harris and Jimmy Gabriel, tackling like machine were always on the look-out for chances to convert defence into attack.  Although there was a general excellence about wing halves in this game, not easily matched none of them I though excelled.  Harris in his attacking excursions.  If there was ever a query about this lad’s qualifications to rank with Everton’s great players it must now have gone.  It took 61 minutes for Everton to lead for the second time and again Vernon was the man behind the goal.  His free kick following unceremonious treatment of Bingham skimmed along the ground, Bingham opened his legs to allow free passenger and at the last spilt second made a deflecting contact, which caught the defence on the wrong foot.  All Johnson could do was to stab out a protesting foot, which simply helped the ball over the line and Goodison echoed and re-echoed to an outburst of frenzied enthusiasm.
Alarms Sounded
One or two notable alarms were to be sounded particularly when Finney skied the ball over the top from an admirable position before Everton set all doubts at rest three minutes from the end, Vernon it was again who measured a through ball to Jimmy Harris to perfection for the winger-turned centre-forward to hammer the ball home.  This was Everton’s joy day complete, for the victory was emphatic, meritorious and positively inspiring.  In a scene crowded with talent, Vernon was gifted enough to undisputed the starring role.  He was the man Wednesday could not control.  Whether he was laying wide the way for others or tearing through on his own, he was equally effective and only a combination of bad luck and Springett splendour prevented him gaining his first Everton hat-trick, although he has now score fourteen League goals.  Finney needed only a few minutes to decide that an afternoon’s opposition to a Parker in tip-top form was just about the most futile way of spending an afternoon and promptly exchanged wings with Griffin, a move which imposed an impossible strain on Thomson on view at Goodison for the first time.  Still struggling to adapt himself to the change of pace, Thomson was on the losing end throughout but that he is a first class long term prospect I am convinced.  Until he settles into the rhythm there must inevitably be anxious moments.  One could scarcely be other than enthralled by the work of Kay, the essence of competence and Craig was a lurking menace who had to be kept on the tightest of tight-reins.  An incident which received more applause than most was when Vernon raced up behind an opponent and with a dexterous flick took the ball yet how many realised that this was a replica of the move which brought his dismissal at Nottingham.  The difference was that this time Vernon got the ball.  On the other occasion he got marching orders, but the game at least showed that Vernon has pushed the apparent injustice right out of his system.  Everton; Dunlop; Parker, Thomson; Gabriel, Labone, H. Harris; Bingham, Collins, Wignall, Vernon, J. Harris.  Sheffield Wednesday;- Springett; Johnson, Megson; McAnearney, Swan, Kay; Griffins, Craig, Ellis, Fantham, Finney.  Referee; Mr. W. Clements (West Bromwich).  Attendance 50,702. 

TUESDAY WEEK COULD BE STRIKE D-DAY
Liverpool Echo - Monday 05 December 1960
By Leslie Edwards
The whisper is that if there is a footballers strike it will be timed for a week to-morrow. I cannot see the players accepting less than their demands in which case the long - awaited Everton v. Tottenham game might be in jeopardy. With all stand tickets sold that would pose a pretty problem. Were there to be a strike, certain clubs might elect to break it by meeting their players' demands. This defection from the Football League by some of the finest teams in the land could only lead to chaos. I hope it does not come to that, but I fear it might. When and if the players' maximum is removed Everton will be among those whose weekly wage bill will rocket. We saw evidence again on Saturday, when they beat Sheffield Wednesday by four goals to two, that they have extraordinary talent in every department. They are riding the crest of the wave—a wave which shows no sign of breaking. Their forthcoming home fixtures against Spurs, Burnley and Aston Villa may, cause marked reshuffling of the top six. If these games produce the drama and sustained excitement of the match against Wednesday we shall be well satisfied. No one, it seems, is suffering indigestion from the rich mixture we are being given, almost match by match, at Goodison Park. This after starvation diet makes the pleasantest of changes.
Led deservedly
Wednesday were a great side for 45 minutes and led deservedly, by 2-1, at the interval. Then, as so often happens, Everton slipped into top gear and the others looked second best and finished second best. There was one moment at 3-2 when Fantham might have scored if he had chosen to shoot. Instead, he tried to tee-up a certainty for Finney and Finney's re-action—and shot—was deplorable. Thus Jimmy Harris (wanted at West Bromwich, but by no means certain to go there) was able to go on to get the clinching fourth, from a Vernon pass, a few minutes from time. And 4-2 about represented the difference between the sides. Few goals this season have been greeted as deliriously as the one Vernon got in the first minute. Craig had had his shot blocked by the towering Labone and Fantham had seen his deflected shot brilliantly anticipated by Dunlop before the goalkeeper, kicking from hand, punched the ball far up field to the region of the far side of the centre circle. Here Vernon, who had anticipated the skid of the ball as it struck the turf, was able to gain possession, draw Springett and then calmly turn the ball slowly into an open goal. The crowd's reaction was to jump for joy, and if you've never seen 50,000 fans do this, with a forest of waving arms for good measure. You’ve missed one of the sights of our football-crazed city. Wednesday might have been excused losing morale, but they didn't, and when they levelled the scores many must have had niggling doubts about the possible result.
Splendid volley
THE goal was a good one, starting at McAnearney and finishing via Fantham, at Ellis who was tall enough to leap higher than others and glance the ball in with his head. The volley the busy little Craig hit home for 1-2 was a splendid one. By this time Wednesday, the bigger and more commanding side, seemed set to win and with Finney switched almost from the start to the other wing, better serviced with chances in the second-half it could have been a different story. Yet there was no doubt that Wednesday had enjoyed what breaks were about. Springett, for instance, saved one shot with a foot after going down all too early. His save from a glancing Collins header (from Wignall's centre) was the finest of the match. Dunlop, not nearly so busy, showed his propensity for doing daring deeds after long spells of inaction. I put him in the Swindin class as a goalkeeper who has been most unfortunate never to get a full cap. It is not often free-kicks bring justice as satisfying as those given in Bingham's favour in the second half. Twice Megson cut the feet from under the Irishman; twice Everton "converted" Vernon's free-kicks. Wignall nodded the ball towards goal where Johnson fisted it out in the first case and Vernon scored from the penalty spot. In the second case Bingham, turning the ball as it sped between his outstretched legs, all but scored direct and what a goal that would have been ! -before Johnson, in trying to screw the ball clear, slipped and turned it, instead over the line.
Ovation for both
IT was nice to see both teams getting a standing ovation at the end. It was good to see Everton confirm the view that they can be unbeatable at best. Though Referee Clements, from West Bromwich, kept a firm grip on the pace at which the game was fought and the grim determination of both sides, especially in defence, made it one of the toughest and most difficult to handle. Except for Collins and the red-head Kay getting at cross purposes for a moment there was hardly a thing to which anyone could take exception. For me the outstanding figures were Finney, Kay, Parker, Brian Harris and Vernon. Finney's artistry in passing a defender or even two was lost on none; Kay's distribution of the ball and his tackling—lightning fast and unrelenting even when the first one failed—put him in a niche of his own, though not everyone in the crowd appreciated him. There were times when Vernon on a yielding surface held the ball too long and lost it when outnumbered, but he still played brilliantly and for once outshone " wee Bobby" who is surely entitled to have a game now and then which falls short of his consistent best. Brian Harris play was superb, Wignall came in for some stern handling from Swan, but I noticed him showing remarkable football acumen and if he could somehow quicken his mental reflexes and his stride he would emerge as dangerous a leader as there is. I like him more and more. Derek Temple, too, has a great potential if it can only be developed. Ellis, at centre, was the one weakness in the Wednesday eleven. The beaten side had non to compare with Alex Parker who had is best game for months and rather put new boy George Thomson in the background. Thomson is very new to English football and would seem to require more time than he was given on Saturday to show what he can do.

SANDY YOUNG THE SECOND
Liverpool Echo - Monday 05 December 1960
Amid all the excitement of the signing of Alex (Sandy-haired) Young from Hearts few have had time to recollect that this Is the second top-line Scottish International centre-forward of precisely the same Christian and surname who has been on Everton's books (writes Leslie Edwards). The first was the famous Alexander (Sandy) Young who scored the only goal of the game for Everton, at Crystal Palace, in the Cup final of 1906 against Newcastle United. He played for Scotland in 1903 against England and in 1907 against Wales. His Cup exploit led to famous song. “Heigh-ho, Sandy scored the goal, Sandy scored the goal, Sandy scored the goal." Alexander Young, the second, who has yet to make his debut for Everton has played for Scotland several times, the first occasion being against England last season. Sandy Young, the first, immigrated to Australia after leaving Goodison Park and was Involved, there, in a case of manslaughter. 

SHALE “PITCH” AT GOODISON
Liverpool Echo - Tuesday 06 December 1960
RESURACING OF PRACTICE GROUND
By Leslie Edwards
Everton F.C. have decided to put a red court surface on their 50 yards by 40 yards practice ground at Goodison Park. The firm which made such a good job of the relaying of then pitch has been given the contract.  The effect will be to provide a firm, dry surface under lights which will be available to amateur players for their twice-weekly training sessions held, until now, in the gym under the stand. Years ago the practice ground was wired experimentally against frost. In recent seasons it has tended to become water-logged.  First team players will use the ground as required—that is whenever it is felt their training ground at Bellefield, West Derby, does not provide decent “going. 

HE ENVIES EVERTON ONE THING- THEIR FANS
Liverpool Echo - Tuesday 06 December 1960
By Leslie Edwards
It will interest many to know that Sheffield Wednesday manager, the old Everton forward, Harry Catterick, envies Everton only one thing-those spectators ! He thinks, and so do his players who were here on Saturday, they're worth a goal start. And who am I to argue with those who have heard Everton's famous roar at close quarters ? Harry believes these terrace onlookers are reaping the reward for their enthusiasm over many postwar years when to watch some Everton teams was a chore and certainly not everyone's idea of the ideal Saturday afternoon. I confess to some surprise at the warmth of applause given to the play of visiting sides this season. That, too, is something, of which to be proud. It could be that Everton's and Liverpool's success—and the probability that they are winning or going to!-sweetens the spectator to the point at which he is prepared to show his appreciation of cleverness by our friends the opposition! Too often in the past the city has gained the reputation for being cruel to the players of both sides. Of this fault the barracking of a home man is much the more heinous. With Catterick, Joe Mercer and Harry Potts all leading teams in the first half dozen in the First Division table Everton can be proud of the former players they have sent on their way as managers, but Harry Potts must beware lest he sets some other river than the Seine on fire with his tantrums. My own belief is that the league should insist that none but the trainer sits on the trainers' bench. It is quite easy, with a telephone at hand, for any manages to his instructions to the field from a seat in the stand.  Then the trainer could hang up the receiver (and the conversation) whenever the spirit moved him!
Good enough is big enough
MR. BILL PRITCHARD, of Alaunia, Bushell Road, Neston, writes “I must comment on the views of your correspondent, Mr. D. Jones, regarding the signing of Alex Young.” Well do I remember sharing a billet in Tunis with the late Alex Jackson, then the Eighth Army Sports Officer, whom many will recollect as ranking as one of the best wingers ever. “Our conversation naturally turned to football and on so many points we agreed, but when I voiced the opinion that Bill Dean was the greatest centre forward I had ever seen, Alex voted Hughie Gallacher even better. " I argued somewhat on the lines of Mr. Jones and of Dean's advantage at taking centres from the wings, he being 5ft. 10ins, and Gallacher in the region of 5ft 6 ½ ins. But Alex pointed out firmly that the whole art of football was positional sense and a true ball player would always come out on top. He quoted the famous Scottish forward line of Blue Devils—Jackson, Dunn, Gallacher, James and Morton all wee except Alex himself. “Answering Mr. Jones further. May I say that I am content to back John Carey's judgment? He has bought big of his own choice and results have proved his sound football acumen. Thus, I see no reason to doubt that he has failed to pick the right man in Young, in whom he has been very interested for some time. Obviously Everton in their present mood have the pick of all players and so must consider Young the centre-forward for their line. "To play between two of the caliber of Collins and Vernon requires skill and brains and finally let us remember that Mr. Carey is no doubt implementing again his promise of entertainment by paying £XX,000 for Scotland's centre."

HARRIS SIGNS FOR BIRMINGHAM
Liverpool Echo - Tuesday 06 December 1960
Substantial Fee
By Harold Wolfe
Jimmy Harris, Everton's under - 23 international forward, was to-day transferred to Birmingham City at a fee said to be a "substantial" one. Harris has missed only one game for Everton this season, succeeded Dave Hickson at centre forward, but has appeared at outside left in the last two League matches. A native of Birkenhead, he has been with Everton since he was 15, and made his senior debut in August. 1955. He played in England's Under-23 side in 1956. Harris is likely to make his debut for his new club against Everton at St. Andrew on Saturday.

JIMMY HARRIS CHOOSES BIRMINGHAM
Wednesday, December 7, 1960. The Liverpool Daily Post
DID RELEGATION DANGER-TURN THE SCALE AGAINST W. BROMWICH?
By Horace Yates
Although Birmingham City did not make known their interest in Jimmy Harris, the Everton forward until Saturday, when they watched his score his fifth League goal of the season against Sheffield Wednesday, they signed him for £20,000 yesterday, and he makes his debut today at St. Andrews against B.K. Copenhagen in the Inter-Cities Fair Cup.  West Bromwich Albion were shocked by the announcement for they had been first in the field last Thursday, before there had been any hint that Harris might be on the move.  He had promised them an answer in the next week or so, after having had time to consider the proposal, but the Birmingham approach rapidly brought the position to a head.  Birmingham agreed terms by telephone yesterday and team manager Gil Merrick accompanied by chief coach Don Dolman travelled to Goodison to complete the deal.  Harris went back to Birmingham with them.  I gather that West Bromwich manager, Mr. Gordon Clark, rather sensed that unless he could clinch a deal with Harris quickly his hopes of getting the player would flag, as other clubs were alerted to transfer possibilities. 
Neighbouring Club
Not only did this prove to be true, but it must have been particularly disappointing to find himself beaten by a neighbouring club, who like themselves are making their strengthening moves now before the spectre of relegation becomes more substantial.  Why did Harris choose Birmingham?  Possibly he saw himself destined to Second Division football next season had he signed for West Brom.  They may be only four points worse off than Birmingham, but their recent record is not exactly inspiring.  Their last victory was on October 15 and since then they have scored only six goals while conceding 20.  In the same period Birmingham have won three and lost five.  Although Harris has only five League goals to his credit this season he will arrive at Birmingham as their second highest scorer, for Hellawell leads the way with a total boosted to six by two goals last Saturday at Blackpool.  Last season Birmingham took Don Weston from Wrexham in an abortive attempt to give more punch to their attack.  It is curious that Harris should go to the Midlands for £20,000 in view of the fact that Dave Hickson the man he originally supplanted at Everton also moved on to that area as an Aston Villa player for a similar amount when he first found his place in the Everton side in jeopardy. 
Against Everton
Providing he comes through today’s debut unscathed, Harris will make his first League appearance in Birmingham’s blue against his old team-mates in a match in which it is possible that Alex Young will be wearing Harris’s old jersey in the opposing Everton side for the first time.  Last night’s news was that Young was still not 100 per cent, fit and will not play in the Army game at Middlesbrough today.  Whether the extra couple of days rest will restore him to fitness for Saturday’s is something which no-one can yet say with certainty.  Young is eager to open his English league career as soon as possible, but will not be allowed to let enthusiasm be the only guide, if there is the slightest doubt the opening of a new career which may make such a wonderful difference to Everton, will be delayed a little longer.  It was good to hear that Mickey Lill was able to take part in a practice match yesterday, his first all-out action since his cartilage operation in October.  If there is no reaction to the exercise, Lill will be ready for a game in earnest this week-end.  Tommy Ring has had the plaster removed from his leg and replaced by a lighter gaiter but the report is of satisfactory progress.  Possibly encouraged by the fact that Birmingham have been able to prise Jimmy Harris away from Goodison Park another League club have sounded Everton about the possibility of being able to do business with the club skipper Tommy Jones but I gather there was no encouragement for their enterprise. 

YOUNG MAY MAKE DEBUT ON SATURDAY
Liverpool Echo - Wednesday 07 December 1960
Missed Army Game To-day
GOOD PROGRESS
By Leslie Edwards
Everton's new centre forward, Alex Young, disappointed at missing to-days game for The Army against Middlesbrough, at Middlesbrough, is pleased with his progress towards fitness and could be in the Everton side at Birmingham on Saturday. If he were available, Everton would be particularly keen to give him a full scale run with his new team-mates in view of the game against Tottenham a week on Saturday at Goodison Park. Jimmy Gabriel, another of Everton's star Scots is having hospital visits this week for penicillin injections after a tooth extraction. He played against Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday despite feeling off colour. Micky Lill, now well on the way to fitness after cartilage operation, played a full practice yesterday and is likely to get a game on Saturday but it is too early to think of his return to first team duty.
HARRIS LEADS CITY
Jimmy Harris signed from Everton yesterday, leads the Birmingham attack against (Copenhagen) in the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup match at St. Andrews to-night. He replaces Jimmy Stager, who joined City from Newport in September.

FIVE GAMES IN A WEEK
Liverpool Echo - Wednesday 07 December 1960
IN the days when Sandy Young played for Everton the weekly wage was not £24 but £4. Bob Trueman, from Birkenhead, was recalling this when telling me how Sandy, after leaving Everton for Spurs, joined South Liverpool in their Grafton Street days and was promised by the late W. J. Sawyer £2 a match for the rest of the season. “And we've plenty of matches." he added.  Sandy Young signed and, due to a glut of fixtures, played five times in his first week! Then he went off to Will Cuff, at Everton, and said. "Fancy, when I played for a great team like Everton I was on £4 a week; here in my first week with a village team I've drawn a termer!" Mc. Cuff's retort can only be imagined. Bob Trueman, who knew Sandy Young well, explained that he was one of a few with a gimmick (no such word in those days). He invariably went on field wearing a solid black, leather belt. Everton Idols, wee Alex Stevenson and Dixie Dean (whose life story strip begins next Saturday in the Football Echo) are again in action alongside each other. Dean has been licensee of the Dublin Packet in Chester for some Years; now to his left, the position he occupied when they were at Everton, is Stevenson who has become host of the Shropshire Arms. As soon as he heard of the arrival of Alex, Dixie went along to see the 5ft 4 ½ in, Irishman who played at inside-forward with him for three years. In Dixie's bar are ranged the impressive array of international caps he gained while playing for England. Alex has countered with his equally formidable collection of Irish caps—about 20—a few gained when he played for Glasgow Rangers and the remainder while he was with Everton. Stevenson left Everton in 1949 and became a national coach with the League of Ireland. Later he was manager of the Waterford club. Other Everton players who are now licensees are Norman Greenhalgh (Bromborough Hotel), Ted Sagar (Blue Anchor. Aintree), George Burnett (Pilot Boat. New Brighton) and Eddie Wainwright (Medlock Hotel, Liverpool).
“Daddy” of them all
READER Alfred E. Jones, 38 Snaefell Avenue, Liverpool 13. says:— "Your correspondent Mr. N. Jones, of Dinas Lane, is prepared to ignore the footballing ability of Alex Young simply because he is not a six-footer "Many more, like Mr. Jones are obsessed with the idea that if a player Is around the six-foot mark. He must be good. The command of the air is not won by height. It is a question of judgment and timing. "Most of the Everton centre-forwards, he says, were tall men. What about Sandy Young, Bobby Parker (Scotch), Boy Browell?  They weren't six-footers and they seemed to have done alright' "its football we want to see, not head-ball. After all the greater percentage of the game is played with the ball on the ground. "We have had some small men in defence too. Dicky Downs, Jack Taylor. Tommy Lucas, Jimmy (Parson) Jackson. All those could out-head the best. Do the big man brigade think Bobby Collins would be a better footballer if he was taller? "Oh! Mr. Jones if we could only, sign another Hughie Gallagher (5ft. 5in.). The 'daddy' of them all."

ROY VERNON SUSPENDED FOR FOURTEEN DAYS
Liverpool Echo - Thursday 08 December 1960
Will Miss Vital League Game With Tottenham
EVERTON SHOCKED
By Leslie Edwards
Everton F.C. were shocked to-day to receive notification that their star Welsh International inside forward. Roy Vernon, had been suspended for 14 days as from yesterday. This means Vernon will not be able to help his side in the most vital League championship match against Tottenham, here, on Saturday week and that he misses the game on Saturday at Birmingham and the League Cup tie at Tranmere on Monday. The suspension arises from his sending off at Nottingham, against Nottingham Forest, on October 29. Mr. F. Reid, of Letchworth, ordered him from the field four minutes from the end for a tackle, from behind, on Iley. Vernon was no less surprised than many spectators. He and his club have awaited, anxiously (but with confidence, I thinks) the result of the deliberations of an F.A. Disciplinary Committee. It was thought that the Committee which sat at Crewe about a fortnight ago would deal with the case, but the matter did not arise. A new Committee, sitting in London yesterday, decided on 14 days suspension. The news is sensational for more than one reason, Everton felt their case so good they did not demand a personal hearing. When Vernon had been given opportunity to review the evidence his club had got together he agreed, I understand, that no useful purpose would be served by asking for a personal hearing. The F.A. have plainly taken into account the fact that he has been sent off twice this year. Lost season not long before he joined Everton, he was ordered from the field in a fierce Cup replay between his club, Blackburn Rovers and Sunderland, at Sunderland. This offence also cost him suspension. Everton's feeling of optimism about the case is understandable. The evidence they offered included Press reports and letters (one I believe which bad appeared in the Echo). Many of the letters were from Nottingham Forest season ticket holders and included one from an official of the team's Supporters' club. All these writers of pleas for leniency spoke of their amazement that a player should be sent to the dressing-room for such a trifling offence. Mr. Carey, the Everton manager, whose wife's mother died last night, in Manchester, would offer no comment on the decision when I spoke to him, but it was plain that he was surprised and very disappointed about it. Having transferred Jimmy Harris to Birmingham Tuesday, he now finds that Vernon's absence for the game at Birmingham and more important, against Spurs leaves him with a restricted number of men from which to select his attack. Vernon, who is 23, comes from Holywell, in Flintshire. He joined Blackburn Rovers 'then managed by the present Everton manager straight from school and developed quickly into one of the finest forwards Wales have ever had. He is slightly built, weighing about 10 stones, but is strong on the ball.
SIGNED IN JANUARY
His rather fiery Welsh temperament, his artistry, his big shot for so light a man, and his ability to make the most telling passes are all facets of his football make-up. He joined Everton, unexpectedly last January after visiting Merseyside initially and returning to Blackburn saying that hit would not be coming here. Vernon confessed to "being shattered" that the referee at Nottingham should order him off. News of his suspension will be even harder to bear. Only one man, so far as I can see, will be pleased about It- the Tranmere Rovers' goalkeeper, George Payne, who now has no Vernon barrage to face in the Cup-tie at Prenton next Monday. 

REMOVING THE STING
Liverpool Echo - Thursday 08 December 1960
Is a manager to be judged on the players he signs?  Or the players he transfers'? Or both? The third would seem to be the answer. If it is take a look at these Everton transfers out in the period since Mr. Carey joined the club. It is an astonishing list of outgoings without equal anywhere else in League football; Peter Harburn, Dave Hickson, Jimmy Harris, Eddie O'Hara, Eddie Thomas, Alan Shackleton, Graham Williams, Wally Fielding. Ken Rea, Jimmy O'Neill, Alan Sanders. Alec Ashworth, Eddie Bramwell, Bobby Laverick, Jim Tansey, and Hood, Parkes, Godfrey, Griffiths, Bentham, Blain, Shepherd, Billington and Watson (these last rarely, if ever, used in the first team). Thomas and Ashworth and Bramwell were involved in deals by which players came to Goodison, but the cash return taken from others on this long list must go a long way toward removing the sting of the sums paid for such men as Gabriel, Ring, Lill, Young and Thomson, among others, The steady coming and going of players has not seemed quick, but when one looks at the existing team and at the army of those who have left, the almost complete change of staff is dramatic. And in spite of It Everton are playing better. I think, than in their great championship days pre-war when Dean's head and feet were the things which really mattered.
Mr. D. Hackworth, of 5 Stretton Avenue, Wallasey, writes:—" I am one of the many thousands of Merseyside soccer fans who is proud that football in our city is showing such great promise at last. It is revelation to have both senior clubs second from top in their respective divisions. "Perhaps the greater praise must naturally go to the Everton Board and to Manager Carey for their expensive but very astute acquisition of class players. It is apparent to all that the transformation of the team is now beginning to reap long-awaited rewards, and this new-found success is doubly enhanced by the fact that the team have not yet reached their peak, mainly owing to injury problems. Finally, a word about Liverpool. They should certainly gain promotion this season and thoroughly deserve to do so, but they may need to strengthen their team, in a similar manner to Everton, to gain further honours next season. “

SUSPENSION FEELS LIKE PRISON SENTENCE
Friday, December 9, 1960 The Liverpool Daily Post
14 DAYS WITHOUT OPTION MAKE ME AN OUTCAST FROM GOODISON PARK
Says Roy Vernon
Fourteen Days without the option!  It sounds like a prison sentence doesn’t it and that’s just what it sounded like to me when I arrived at the Everton club offices yesterday, except that bearer of the evil tidings, secretary Mr. W. Dickenson was not perched up on a bench, nor were there any of the legal trapping but for all that my heart sank right down to my boots.  “You’re joking,” I said as Mr. Dickinson announced my suspension.  “I couldn’t be more serious,” said Mr. Dickinson and for a moment my football world seemed to go up in flames.  If I had expected some sort of punishment as a result of my dismissal in the game against Nottingham Forest on October 29, the impact would have been far less severe but I was so confident that I had done no wrong and that I would be honourably acquitted that this verdict was like a slap in the face.  My legs went weak and now I know exactly how a pricked balloon would feel as the air rushes out if only a balloon were capable of feeling.  I am shattered by the apparent injustice of it all.  Possible I have been lulled into a sort of fool’s paradise by the flood of letters from impartial sources and expressions of opinion from people who owe allegiance neither in Everton nor to me; that so trifling was the offence for which I was dismissed that punishment of this sort was unthinkable.  It is not with the length of the suspension that I quarrel for it was fairly obvious that as this was the second time I had been ordered from the field a conviction would automatically carry that punishment.  It is with the conviction itself that I am at variance.  When I was sent off while playing for Blackburn Rovers against Sunderland and I make no bones about it.  I retaliated under extreme provocation, as I thought and I deserved my seven days, put if only I could feel that this suspension were equally meritorious it would be so much easier to bear. 
Marked Man
This decision must make me a marked me, for I have now been ordered off twice yet for the life of me I cannot even begin to regard myself as a dirty player.  All I can say is that I have taken very much more punishment that I can ever hand out if I play until I am forty.  The referee’s report on which the Disciplinary Committee has taken action stated that the marching orders came as punishment for an accumulation of foul-play.  His case was that he had spoken to me on three occasions in passing for offences committed by me.  I can honestly say that I recall only one exchange of words between us.  After Bobby Collins had been subjected to what I thought was a serious foul, I asked the referee if he was going to send off the player to whom he was talking, I was ordered away, and away I went.  I am neither deaf nor a liar and there is nothing wrong with my memory, so that when I say I have no recollection of any other word from the referee I am telling the whole truth as I reconstruct the situation.  My belief all the way through is that I was the victim of mistaken identity and as I see things the referee’s report confirms it just as forcibly as anything possible could.  He believes he spoke to me three times.  I say he didn’t, if he speak to someone else, in the belief I say he didn’t, if he spoke to someone else, in the belief it was me, then that could be the explanation.  In no sense do I criticise the club advice I was given not to ask for a personal hearing for such was the excellence of the report made out on my behalf that after reading it through I was even more confident that no harm could come my way.  Obviously the committee have backed the referee and accepted his view in preference to that of numerous others and of course it is light that referee should be supported always providing there is no reasonable doubt about the views he expresses.  I submit that in view of the evidence in was able to offer there should have been a reasonable doubt raised and as such I was entitled to the benefit of it.  For my part I believe the referee’s report was exaggerated, I more little relation to my view of the facts, but I am not accusing the referee of vindictiveness in any way.  My firm belief is that he made a mistake and throughout the piece he as labouring under a misapprehension.  I bear him no grudge, hard though this decision is to bear, for in my moment of acutest distress I do not believe he was in any way vindictive.  He made a mistake, such as we all make from time to time, but unfortunately it is not only Roy Vernon, who has to take the blow, I am worried in case it should do anything to undermine the wonderful team spirit we have built up at Everton.  I shall miss Everton’s game at Birmingham tomorrow, the League Cup game against Tranmere Rovers on Monday and the match of matches against Tottenham on Saturday week. 
Letting team down
Like the rest of the Everton boys I have been living for the visit of Spurs to Goodison and now I feel that through no fault of my own I am letting down the whole team, I know they feel almost as badly about the whole thing as I do.  Financially of course, it will be quite a blow especially coming as it does so near to Christmas.  I shall lose two weeks playing money at £20 a week, £13 against Tranmere Rovers on Monday, always providing Everton win, and £4 bonuses against both Birmingham and Tottenham assuming an Everton victory in each case.  In any event I shall have been deprived the opportunity of trying to earn those bonuses so if you should find a Father Christmas in one of the local stores in the next fortnight don’t pass him without a kindly word, it might be me.  Seriously I couldn’t feel worse about it than I do.  Imagine being barred from Goodison Park for fourteen days, not seeing the lads and engaging in the marry chatter and not being able to see my team in action.  I am an outcast from Goodison.  Is it any wonder, I feel badly about it?  The only consolation I derive from the sorry business is that the delay in hearing my case at least enabled me to play for Wales against England at Wembley.  I wouldn’t have missed that for anything but if I had been suspended then, I would not have had the consolation of opposing Tottenham.  There is also the question of training, I shall have to find some open space to try and keep myself fit, without all the convenience and advantages of Goodison.  To neglect training for a fortnight would necessitate a period of seven to ten days to get fit again and a fortnight out is bad enough.  I was just feeling on top of the world.  People told me that I was playing good stuff and whether that was flatters of not at least I was enjoying my games.  I have no right of appeal and so the only thing left for me is to express the hope that when I rejoin the club they will be four better off than they are now and ready to face their next foes in the League Cup. 

VERNON DID NOT DESERVE SUCH A HARSH DECISION
Friday, December 9, 1960. The Liverpool Daily Post
By Horace Yates
Roy Vernon, suspended for fourteen days as from December 7.  That was the announcement-made by the F.A yesterday and it went on to add.  “The suspension was on misconduct on the field.”  I can only say that I am appalled at the decision.  Having seen the game I can say with all the sincerity I can muster that Vernon never came within the proverbial mile of committing an offence worthy of dismissal and to impose upon him a suspension of this nature amounts in my estimation to a savage decision.  Readily do I concede that I was not on the field of play and consequently could not hear any of the asides which are said to have passed from the referee to the player, but at least I can say that the referee, if he did speak to Vernon on three occasions, was the soul of discretion, for I did not spot his action.  I can say without the slightest fear of contradiction that in nine out of ten of any League matches played on any day of any season it is possible to spot offences far more serious than that for which Vernon was dismissed, without so much as producing a word from the referee to the offender.  A free kick for a foul has so often replaced the extreme penalty which Vernon is now order to pay.  If the standard of conduct-which apparently is called for if this is to be taken as a criterion- were to be generally accepted football would cease to exist as we know it today.  Players would be fearful of making tackles and would hold up their hands in horror if the tackled player should happen to fall.  In nearly thirty years of sports reporting without hesitation I label the dismissal of Vernon as the hardest I have ever seen and that is a view liberally shared by those who saw the Nottingham Forest match, I hold no brief for any player, but I do like to see fair play all round. 
Mistaken Identity
Vernon, I believe the explanation lies in the fact that this was a clear case of mistaken identity.  If Vernon was guilty of the conduct for which he now goes into exile for a fortnight, I can only plead guilty to the grossest dereliction of duty in failing to fault his conduct.  There was one example of hacking and elbowing in this same game which was far and away more serious than anything else in the match not a dirty match by any stretch of imagination and yet the offenders in the case merely had their names taken.   The Disciplinary Committee arrived at their decision on the evidence before it.  The mistake is not theirs.  This was a case in my humble submission which should never have reached them at all.  If only there could be an independent arbiter at every game it would be a great help in cases such as this, although fortunately they do not arise very frequently. 
Personal Hearing
Could anything more have been done for Vernon than was done?  In my opinion, yes, I know that Everton acted as they thought best for their player in deciding against a personal hearing, but I admit that I was dismayed when I heard the decision.  The mere fact that a personal hearing was not asked far meant that there was no necessity for the referee to attend to give his evidence and submit himself to examination; I can imagine the framing of several questions to the referee which might have produced illumination answers.  It was only necessary to cast doubt on the accuracy of his observations to earn an acquittal.  Rightly or wrongly that could have been done, but without a personal hearing the referee’s report must be unquestioned.  In any event I would have felt far more satisfied if the referee had been questioned and had given completely satisfactory answers.  Vernon I know was happy to fall in with the recommendation made by the club and mine may be a minority view but if the full defensive battery had gone into action, as was the case when Dave Hickson faced a Disciplinary Committee I would have felt happier to accept the verdict than I do now.  Manager John Carey will not announce his team to visit Jimmy Harris’s Birmingham side until today, but if Alex Young plays as expected, there may still be a place for Frank Wignall in view of the enforced withdrawal of Vernon.  Jimmy Gabriel has not been all his best for several days following a gum infection after the withdrawal of his tooth, but I have heard no suggestion, that he will not be fit.  As expected Jimmy Harris will lead the Birmingham attack for the first time in a League game against his former team-mates and if this proves to be Jimmy’s biggest effort of the season, nobody will be surprised, for Harris will naturally want to impress both Birmingham and Everton.  Birmingham; Withers; Farmer, Allen; Watts, Smith, Neal; Hellawell, Stubbs, Harris, Bloomfield, Taylor. 

WIGNALL CONTINUES AS EVERTON ELADER
Liverpool Echo - Friday 09 December 1960
Alex young still unfit
Tyrer Comes In
By Leslie Edwards
Alex Young will not, after all, make his debut for Everton at Birmingham to-morrow. It had been expected that he would play there after recovering from the knee injury he suffered playing for The Army a few days before Everton signed him. Wignall thus continues to lead the attack. Collins is, switched to inside-left to take the place of Roy Vernon, who is under suspension, and Tyrer, the club's 18-years-old reserve forward comes in at inside-right and Temple returns at outside-left. Otherwise the team is unchanged. Everton; Dunlop; Parker, Thomson; Gabriel, Labone, Harris (B.); Bingham, Tyrer, Wignall, Collins, Temple.

COBBER WHO DID AN EIGHTSOME REEL…
Liverpool Echo - Friday 09 December 1960
With Leslie Edwards
The time is January, 1949. The crew of a B.0.A.C. plane (including a Liverpool man, Mr. D. A. Heald) have found, despite the rail and dock strike which has caused a shortage of beer, a little hostelry near Bowen, Queensland, where the tap still runs. To Australians who have worked all week in a climate of 95-100 degrees the prospect of a dry Saturday night is a nightmare unparalleled in terms of other disasters such as floods, bush fires and the loss of the Ashes. Mr. Heald and his crew members are on route from Southampton to Sydney and are billeted for four days' rest in a small wooden hotel, near the shore, five miles out of Bowen, a pleasant if primitive spot, but one of the few places with beer and a burly landlord character named Bill Koegler who keeps his clients amused with stories of war-time days when the area bad been a supply base for the Aussies as their last-line defence against the enemy in New Guinea. The little bar scarcely contains " Tiny” the aircraft’s navigator once one of Tommy Farr's sparring partners-he stands six feet 7 inches tall and weighed 19 stone —and who drinks nothing but milk.
Like a typhoon
The party are washing away the heat of the day in iced beer when the night is disturbed by the roar of arrival of a battered old car crammed with genuine slouch-hatted, bare-chested, brown-as-kippers. back-wood robbers ready for their Saturday night's spree. They hit the bar with the impact of a Coral Sea typhoon. The landlord protests unavailingly Residents only, here." To deny a bunch of red-blooded Aussies their birthright would be tantamount to wanting to have one's pub off its stilts and launched on its way to the Great Barrier reef quicker than it takes to say Waltzing Matilda. So the introduction is made of air crew to miners who had driven from over 90 miles away over rough track in the dark. An unerring instinct for the only place in Queensland where there was beer to be had. . - The festivities begin and before long the favourite Australian sport of Pommie-baiting is in swing. The landlord, a J.P., reaches under the bar for whatever he uses to help to keep the peace. Peace is restored. The Aussies, who know a heavy-weight when they see one, are staggered to see "Tiny" order (and drink) a glass of milk. . Unlaced. "I dinna believe it." says one, the owner, strangely enough, of a broad Scots accent. He looks incredulous. Mr. Heald asked him how long it was since he left Scotland. Skipped from Liverpool before the first World War." he replies. Mr. Heald says.—"Liverpool!—why that's my home town!" _The stranger's eyes light up: "Then ye’ll ken Goodison." Having been at a match at Everton the previous Saturday. Mr. Heald said he knew Goodison Park very well indeed. The stranger then talked on and on of great matches and great days of long ago, names and events which Mr. Heald confessed meant little to him.
And his son . . .
The old Scot-turned-cobber seemed transformed and transported by his recollections. In a final burst of reminiscence and with a pride his listener can still picture he said. — “I played for Everton ma'ser. I scored the goal which won the Cup." Mr. Heald looked at the brown, hairy, chest which had once heaved under an Everton jersey and asked: “Who are you” That was a mystery. He would not say. Then with the piano crashing out old songs and new the old man joined the singing and dancing and jigged an eightsome reel! When finally the Australians prepared to go the stranger sought out Mr. Heald and introduced him to his son, a magnificent specimen who towered over his father. At the door there were handshakes all round." Remember me to Everton when you get back," commanded the stranger. Mr. Heald was puzzled. "But who shall I say remembers Everton ?" "Tell them." said a man who seemed sure his name was among those of soccer's immortals." tell them ye met Sandy Young—the auld ‘uns’ll remember." With a valedictory wave of his battered old hat, his step light as a boy's and Mr. Heald swears the echoes of cheers from Goodison, Hampden Park and Crystal Palace, still in his ears he was gone back to the bush from which he had come. Still the indomitable warrior. Mr. Heald would like to think he was the last Evertonian to shake his hand, but he's no Everton fan and he had no knowledge of Sandy's fame. Only my paragraph last Monday, revived an eleven-years-old memory for him and assured him that he, of all the countless thousands of people who follow Everton, had met the man whose goal first brought the Cup here in 1906 and whose successor at Everton, Alexander Young, the second, may begin a Sandy Young saga afresh to-morrow at Birmingham. Meantime, Swansea Town (including our old boys, Alan Sanders. Roy Saunders and Graham Williams) have a date against potential promotionists. Liverpool, at Anfield.

EVERTON HAD £110,000 OF SPARE TALENT
Monday, 12, December 1960, The Liverpool Daily post
BIRMINGHAM 2, EVERTON 4
By Jack Rowe
Think, on this! Everton came through the mud-bath of St. Andrew’s with a fine victory, gained by a team which contained five players who cost no more than the £10 signing fee; Wignll, who cost little more, and five whose total value is something over £90,000.  There was no Vernon, no Young, no Lill, and no Ring, and I wonder if there has ever been another which had won an away victory with about £110,000 worth of talent sitting on the sidelines.  I wonder also just how good Everton are going to be when they can utilise all the star men they have, because when a team can do what they did on Saturday it proves beyond all doubt that the basic asset- signing spirit-is there all the time and it is this more than anything else which enables a club to buy big and have little fear that the blend will come.  When Young and Lill are fit and when Vernon is available they must play, but from Birmingham came the message that deputies like Wignall, Temple and Tyrer can always be depended on to play their hearts out in the cause of the club.  It was this which impressed me so much because it can be no secret that when Everton faced this match, they would be most thankful for a point.  Probably most of their followers believed they faced a defeat, but here are two more points-well earned-which came after twice being behind.
Not Lucky
Were Everton lucky to win?  Birmingham thought so and so did one or two nearer home, but I do not share that view.  They did not have as much of the play as Birmingham, for whom Jimmy Harris made his League debut, and had to contend with a second half barrage, but when a team fights as Everton fought, when they defended so competently and when they took their chances, such a victory is well merited.  Bingham and Tyrer did not have a good first half.  They were bogged down in the mud, but when Everton at the start of the second half were 2-1 down and Brian Harris off having two stitches in a badly gashed knee, there was no wilting and before Harris returned to continue his brilliance Bingham and Tyrer had played vital parts in the goal which Wignall scored, to make it 2-2.  They fought when the fight was necessary and I reckon Bingham and Tyrer illustrated this terrific will, for no sooner had Harris come back, then Bingham was lashing in the their goal and Tyrer finally completed the scoring.  I was glad Tyrer, also slightly injured in the first half scored for he was penalised –harshly I thought-when Neal scored Birmingham’s opening goal from a penalty in 14 minutes but again he was back helping in defence when the ball struck his arm.  The equaliser to this from Wignall was a beauty, for this tall centre forward hurled himself at a waist-high centre from Temple and sent it flashing into the net.  His second goal in 52 minutes after Stubbs had headed Birmingham ahead four minutes earlier, following a free kick which Dunlop could not reach because he was impeded by one of his own players, was taken coolly and excellently when Bingham nodded down Gabriel’s header from Temple’s corner.  Everton had their fortune when the referee did not listen to another penalty appeal- justified this time- and when Gabriel hooked away a header off the line from Jimmy Harris, on the first of the only two occasions he evaded the magnificent Labone, but so did Birmingham.  Wignall missed a chance early on and in the second half might easily have had two more.  It is almost impossible these days to find new praise for Collins.  For me he wins the architect of the victory.  His captaincy was superb, his inspiration and urging so plain to see.  His work in defence and attack had the genuine stamp and he was the one man, whose ability to make the most accurate pass was not dented by the ankle-deep mud.  He had a hand in three goals and surely no one can disagree that no matter what Everton have spent in recent weeks, he remains the best bargain in football.  I make him the best all-round player in the four counties and the satisfaction of those who brought him to Goodison is entitled to be immense.  Dunlop was also tremendous not only in the two wonder saves he made, but also by his handling and anticipation and how he misses recognition is beyond me.  Parker, Gabriel, and Thomson –his speed is still suspect- played efficient roles in the well-drilled defence, while magnificent describes Labone.  Next to Collins, I put Brian Harris.  His injury did not stop him and it is fantastic that a player should be so much improved.  His application, tinkling and distribution were first class and I have not seen a better wing half this season.  Stubbs was a better inside forward than Bloomfield and Hellawell a useful winger, but the defence was shaky in the second half.  Birmingham City; Withers; Farmer, Allen; Watts, Smith, Neal; Hellawell, Stubbs; J. Harris, Bloomfield, Taylor.  Everton; Dunlop; Parker, Thomson; Gabriel, Labone, B. Harris; Bingham, Tyrer, Wignall, Collins, Temple.  Referee; Mr. M.A Fussey (Retford).  Attendance 27,691. 

WEBBER NETS 3 FOR EVERTON
Monday, December 12, 1960. The Liverpool Daily Post
Everton Reserves 5, Preston N.E Res 1
Everton mastered the icy conditions in registering a long overdue win at Goodison Park.  The enterprising leadership of Webber brought him three goals with the lively Boner getting the other two, but the star of Everton’s heartening victory was inside-left Harland.  Green and Gorrie played immaculately in Everton’s sound defence, which yielded only a penalty goal to Spavin. 

EVERTON VICTORY WAS STAMPED WITH COLLINS’ GENIUS
Liverpool Echo - Monday 12 December 1960
Everton, I think, shook some of their more rabid followers by the margin of their fine victory over
Birmingham City in the mud of St. Andrews on Saturday. With Vernon out of the side and Young unfit, most of their fans would have been grateful for a point, in preparation for the great championship clash with Spurs next Saturday.  But Everton these days are not only a fine footballing side when they have their stars playing, but they are a fighting side in any circumstances, and it was this spirit which contributed so much to the 4-2 success over Birmingham.  City, of course, had Harris signed from Everton, making his Football League debut and this added drama to game. But Harris did not have a good match against his former colleagues, and yet never was the game without drama of another kind. One of the bit merits of Everton's win was that it was achieved on a pitch which down the middle was literally a sea of mud and which was all against the lighter type of forward like Tyrer and Temple. Another great merit was that was they were twice down and came back on each occasion to were level and then went ahead in a sensational three minutes spell in the second half. When Everton went in at half time at level 1-1 it might have been slightly against the run of the play, for Birmingham did more of the attacking, but on the whole I think they deserved to be on terms for Birmingham's goal was from a penalty—the kind which is liable to shake a side Young Tyrer, with this fighting Everton spirit, was back in defence when, to my mind, a shot from Neal struck him on the arm. But the referee’s decision was a penalty, and so in 14 minutes Everton were behind when Neal rammed it home it appeared then, especially as the Everton attack was not showing up at all well, although Wignall had missed a good chance earlier, that the Goodison Park side would be struggling.
GRAND PLAYER
One could understand the feelings of those supporters who thought they would not manage to hold the Midland club. However, a match in which Bobby Collins plays is always open, and this great little man illustrated yet again what a grand player he is and not even the mud could mar the precision of his passing and neither could it cut down the extent of his endeavour and work. Sure enough, it was Collins who in the 25th minute initiated a goal which even the, Birmingham crowd could not let pass without recognition. His pass to Temple was a beauty, so was the centre from the left winger, and there was Wignall plucking himself out of the mud, and flying through the air to make a header which flashed into the net. This was a goal which kept Everton level at the interval, and when Brian Harris did not come out with them after half time—he had to have two stitches in a cut knee—the task facing Everton was one of the top magnitude, and to make it worse Stubbs put Birmingham ahead in the forty-eighth minute. But Collins was here and there and everywhere and his part as captain must never be underestimated. In the fifty the second minute Wignall finished off a left wing corner, following a great shot by Bingham, and as Brian Harris reappeared so did Bingham lash in a tremendous drive to make it 3-2.  There was drama in plenty and there were thrills also as Birmingham hit back.
DUNLOP'S SAVES
But the Everton defence solid in its application and its tackling and when they beaten Dunlop, in spite of a nasty knock to the body, made super saves from Neal and Stubbs. to add to the one he had made earlier from Bloomfield. Birmingham's second half pressure was intense at times but never was there a sign of - fluster or panic in the Everton defence and one must record that even though Thomson started in a manner which suggested that speed is not his strong point, he fought as hard and as successfully as anyone else. Labone gave Jimmy Harris little chance, and one must have praise for each one of the Everton defenders and in particular for Brian Harris, who looked so good and so competent in the first half, and still contrived to play outstandingly well in the face of what must have been a painful injury. It is probably true that Tyrer and Temple cannot compete with men like Vernon and Young, but after the opening twenty minutes or so they improved and played rousing part In the victory. Tyrer got the last goal in 81 minutes, another fine shot, and he too had felt the effect of a first half knock.
BINGHAM IMPROVES
Bingham had a much better second half, when the quick pass revealed shakiness in the City defence, and Wignall in my view, in addition to scoring twice, made his mark by his non-stop battling and might
easily have had another couple of goals. But it is Collins who was the forward genius, and no matter whom Everton have bought since, for me he is the best bargain at the price in football.  Birmingham could not match Everton in the matter of taking chances. Their defence was suspect in the second half and in the forwards Hellawell did quite well, but of the two inside men I preferred Stubbs to Bloomfield. City might have considered themselves unlucky to be 3-2 down in the second half, but Everton's fighting spirit even though they were not at full strength was grand to see.

TRANMERE GAME OFF
Liverpool Echo - Monday 12 December 1960
The League Cup-tie between Tranmere Rovers and Everton at Prenton Park, due tonight was postponed at 4.p.m by referee Arthur Ellis because of the state of the pitch and thick fog.

YOUNG CHOSEN
Liverpool Echo - Monday 12 December 1960
Alex Young. Everton s Scottish international centre forward, has been chosen to lead the British Army attack against the Belgian Army at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday. Because of injury Young has not set played for Everton.

ALEX YOUNG TO HAVE FITNESS TEST TODAY
Tuesday, December 13, 1960. The Liverpool Daily Post
NEW TRANMERE –EVERTON LEAGUE CUP TIE DATE MAY BE DECEMBER 21
By Jack Rowe
Everton fans, asking the £40,000 question, “Will Alex Young play against the Spurs on Saturday?” could get an answer today- or they may have to wait another couple of days.  Everything depends on a fitness test which the Scottish international, yet to make his debut for Everton, is having at Goodison Park this morning.  Young, who has been having constant treatment for the knee ligament which has kept him out of the side, has been chosen to lead the British Army attack against the Belgium Army at Stamford Bridge tomorrow and if he is fit for that he will be fit for the Spurs match.  The fitness test this morning is to determine whether he makes the trip to London, but the prospects at the moment appear to be against him playing at Stamford Bridge.  Everton manager Mr. John Carey said last night; “I really don’t know whether he will be fit.  He was not quite fit enough to have played against Tranmere Rovers if the match had gone on last night and we are trying him out today.”  It is now nearly three weeks since Young was signed from Hearts and it was hoped that he would make his debut at Birmingham last Saturday, but Manager Carey will not put him in if there is the slightest doubt about his illness.  But even if Young is not fit for the Army game tomorrow night, it does not rule him out for Saturday because two or three days extra treatment can make a world of difference to an injury.  Of course, if he is fit for the Spurs classic, Everton supporters will await with great interest the announcement of which position he will fill in view of Wignall’s fine performance in the last two fixtures.
NO REAL PROSPECT
There was never any real prospect that the Tranmere Rovers-Everton League Cup match due at Prenton Park last night, would be played.  Early morning hopes that the weather would soften up the ground were soon smashed by the fog which bloated out the area and Referee Arthur Ellis, of Halifax postponed the match.

ALEX YOUNG DEBUT HOPE
Liverpool Echo - Wednesday 14 December 1960
KNEE SHOWS AN IMPROVEMENT
The question whether Alex Young will be fit or not to make his debut in the Everton team against Tottenham Hotspur at Goodison Park on Saturday, is still unresolved (writes Leslie Edwards). Young was forced to miss the Army match against the Belgian Army at Stamford Bridge to-day because of the injury sustained three weeks' ago which held up his first appearance with his new club. - Everton Manager. Mr. Carey told me that Young's knee trouble was improving and that the club very much hoped he would be fit for Saturday, but that it was too early to decide one way or the other. It may be significant that Young took part in a seven-a-side game at Bellefield today and came out of it feeling none the worse
TICKETS
As all the reserved seats at 7s 6d for the Everton v.Burnley match (December 27) are now sold. Unreserved tickets 'are available for the two goal stands at each either from the club offices or Messrs . Sharps.  Paddock tickets will be issued at 4s each for the match and these will be sold only at the paddock entrances at the Tottenham match on Saturday . No postal or personal applications either to the club offices or Messrs. Sharp's for paddock tickets will be entertained.
CUP-TIE
Paddack tickets at 4s each will be issued for the Everton v. Sheffield United cup-tie and these will be sold only at the paddock entrances at the match v Burnley on Tuesday. December 27. There will not be sufficient tickets for everyone as the visiting club take a quota of these and no postal or personal applications either the club offices or Messrs. Sharp's for paddock tickets will be entertained.

EVERTON MAY SKILL FROST WITH RUGBY CLUB’S BRAZIERS
Thursday, December 15, 1960. The Liverpool Daily Post
By Horace Yates
Everton are taking no chance about the fitness of their ground for their most attractive Championship engagement of the season on Saturday-against League leaders Tottenham Hotspur and it seems that only fog could provide an obstacle which they cannot overcome, for St. Helens Rugby League Club are willing to come to the aid of Everton by loaning them the braziers, which have been used with such good effect on occasions at Knowsley Road.  Yesterday football grounds on Merseyside were frozen hard and unless there is a thaw, it could be a real problem- without the braziers.  Mr. Jack Sharp chairman of Everton ground committee yesterday contacted the St. Helens club to seek their assistance in combating the problem.  Mr. Sharp remembered that St. Helens had made their ground fit to play a Rugby match at a time when games in the vicinity had to be called off and no doubt concluded that if the braziers could keep sufficient frost out of the ground to permit the playing of Rugby then it could do the game of soccer with even greater certainty.  He found the Rugby club only too willing to co-operate.  They promptly offered to make available their 176 braziers, together with the loan of their grounds man, Mr. Ernie Mills, to advise on silting.  St. Helens have no game this week-end.  Now that Everton know the braziers are theirs for the asking they can sit back in comparative ease until Friday.  If icy conditions continue without forecast of a break, then the brazier squad could go into action early in the day and by keeping the braziers burning throughout the night should be able to achieve their objective.  Everton need have no worry about damage to their ground, for St. Helens, with one of the finest playing areas of any football club for miles around, have found the method entirely satisfactory and harmless.  There will be those who will bemoan that Everton cannot simply switch on their ground-heating apparatus to do the job without difficulty, but such a good recovery has the ground made this season, following the disasters which followed the installation of the heating system, that it may be conceded that the inconvenience of the brazier system is to be preferred.  It may be a somewhat primitive way of overcoming the frost but the main thing is that it is effective, and I think Everton are to be applauded for taking this answer into their consideration.  The old idea of covering pitches with straw has gone out of favour, not principally because of the labour involved in laying and removing, but because of the damage done by weeds, the inevitable aftermath of the covering with straw.  In these days of modern weed killers, I wonder if that argument still applies.  I understand that weeds can be rigidly controlled and that within four to six weeks of their appearance they can be completely removed, merely by spraying the turf. 

FITNESS TEST
Liverpool Echo - Thursday 15 December 1960
Alex Young, the new Everton signing, who is hoping to be to make his debut against Tottenham at Goodison Park on Saturday, was in training at Bellefield to-day. No decision as to whether he will play be taken until to-morrow. He has been suffering from a knee injury sustained when playing for the Army a few days before his signing by Everton three weeks ago. The thaw early to-day means that the pitch at Goodison Park is unlikely to need the braziers the SL Helens R.L. club have offered for Everton's use in case of a hard frost.  The electric soil-warming system installed at the ground about three seasons ago torn up when the pith was re-drained and re-turfed last close season.
FULL STRENGTH SPURS
England centre forward, Bobby Smith, has recovered from the throat infection which caused him to drop out of last week's Tottenham team at Preston, and returns to the side at Goodison Park. He displaces Frank Saul at centre forward, which means that the Spurs will be at full strength. Tottenham; Brown; Baker, Henry; Blanchflower, Norman, Mackay, Jones, White, Smith, Allen, Dyson. 
Tranmere Tickets
Tranmere Rovers offices will be open from 6 p.m, to 8 p.m, tonight for the sale of paddock and ground tickets for the League Cup-tie against Everton, rearranged for next Wednesday night at Prenton Park.  Tickets can also be purchased during normal office hours for the rest of the week. 

OUR FINEST ELEVEN PAST AND PRESENT
Liverpool Echo - Thursday 15 December 1960
With Leslie Edwards
Following in father's footsteps—and reminded of it by Mr. W. L. Crosthwaite (15 Stoneycroft Close, Liverpool 13)—I yield to the temptation to put down, for the record, my idea of the finest eleven available from Everton and Liverpool players past and present. I hope I am not going to be deluged with letters from people who disagree and are prepared to give their reasons—at length! Starting at goal. Then, Campbell, Elisha Scott, Sidlow, Riley, Kemp, Young, Rudham and Slater, give Liverpool a strong hand. The only comparable ones at Goodison, in my view, have been Ted Sager and Albert Dunlop. What an embarrassment of riches. I vote for Scott and maybe my boyishness when I saw him first has something to do with the choice. At right-back the field is large, too. Warney Cresswell and Alex Parker at Everton and men like Eph Longworth, Jim Harley, Tom Lucas and Tom Cooper at Anfield. Cresswell, for me, was the "daddy" of them because he did it all so effortlessly; an almost lethargic swing of the right foot and the ball sailed, more often than not, far upfield and to where it could do his side most good. For left-back I am torn between Donald McKinley, Parson Jackson and Ronnie Moran, on one hand and a smaller number of opposites at Everton who include Billy Cook, the reigning George Thomson. I plump here for McKinley. He could not only do his defensive job, he could hit a dead ball with the best—then or now. And perhaps just that bit better!
Further into the maze
From this stage we get further into a maze of greats and near-greats, but at right-half there can only be one possible choice—yes. Matt Busby. He had everything, with a perfect temperament to put him in a class of his own. The pivotal place, in my experience, is competed for by Tiny Bradshaw, T. G. Jones, Tom Jones, Neil McBain, W. H. Jones, Brian Labone and Dick White. Bradshaw, a giant, was a great player and an artist, but McBain was the coolest, shrewdest centre-half I ever saw and headed the ball so well I swear he developed a special ridge of forehead flesh for the job. The name Joe Mercer comes up inevitably for the next spot at left half-back. Liverpool have had some good 'uns in their time here—few better than Tom Bromilow—but who matched Mercer's drive, his enthusiasm, his captaincy? If Busby wouldn't take the captaincy I'd hand it to Joe and have no qualms! At outside-right, because that's where he started, who'd be more effective, more menacing than Billy Liddell? Berry Nieuwenhuys was good; Everton have often had a top-class one there and have one now in Billy Bingham, but none of them fill the bill as Liddell did season after season. 
Equally, when did we ever see a better at inside-right than Bobby Collins? Both camps, here, I imagine, would give the award to the Everton man as the most complete bundle of football competence ever tied into one compact parcel. Jimmy Dunn, of Everton, was great, but Collins, I think, is the greatest.
Best by a Distance
FOR the centre-forward place the ever-recurring name of William Ralph Dean, is automatic. He's not only the best centre ever to have represented this city, but the best by a distance. Alex Young has got something on hand to overhaul him in popularity much less as a scorer. Harry Chambers, a beloved character on field and oft, springs to mind as inside-left. His swerving shots; his partnership with “Hoppy " and his England caps make him a must, for me. Billy Fagan, Jim Harrower, Jack Balmer, who, could play in either of the inside positions with equal facility. Alex Stevenson—all were, or are, top-flight men, but 'Smiler" was almost incomparable. If he is to be rivalled in future, Roy Vernon may be the man to overtake him as one of the greatest we ever saw in this city. Which brings me to outside-left. Here we have had Alex Troup, Jimmy Stein, Wally Boyes, Bill Lacey. Here we have Micky Lill, Alan A'Court, Troup, despite his swivel shoulder, which Trainer Harry Cook, always seemed to be able to put back, was perhaps the best. Thus our side reads: Scott (Liverpool), Cresswell (Everton). McKinlay (Liverpool); Busby (Liverpool), McBain (Everton), Mercer (Everton); Liddell Liverpool), Collins (Everton), Dean (Everton), Chambers (Liverpool) Troup (Everton). One Irishman (Scott) no fewer than six Scots and four — Englishmen—Cresswell,  Mercer, Dean and Chambers. Are my eyes dimmed by the past to the present? I think not. It could be that in ten years' time some of the great players now figuring in our city teams will displace some men in the team of my choice, but until they do that's it...

EVERTON FOR THE CUP-LEAGUE CAN WAIT
Friday, December 16, 1960. The Liverpool Daily Post
TOTTENHAM’S LEAD IS WEIGHTY HANDICAP FOR ANY OPPOSITION
By Roy Vernon
Can Everton win the League Championship?  Well of course they can, but it is a mammoth-sized task even if we have only reached the half-way stage in the season’s race.  It is not only the fact that Tottenham Hotspur are playing so well that leaves hope rather than confidence, but that they are eight points up at this stage, and that is a weighty sort of handicap for any opposition to have to face.  Now if we were starting the season instead of embarking on the second half, what a difference there would be.  I think I would be prepared to take Everton against all-comers.  “You can take it as certain that Everton will be trying all the way, for seemingly good things have come unstuck before now, and so they could again, but if you were to ask me for my honest opinion I would far rather say-Everton for the Cup rather than the League, although a double would suit us very nicely. I said that if the season were just beginning all thing would be possible.  Well the F.A Cup competition is in that happy stage, and don’t forget even now we are only five games away from Wembley.  We are 21 games away from the Championship.  Moreover we start on our own ground in the first round a ground on which no visiting team has triumphed so far, and while I am not under-estimating Sheffield United in any degree I can say that Everton have set their hearts on Wembley.  Before we kick off in the Cup, Alex Young will have had an opportunity to get himself run in ready to be ticking over nicely when the big call comes, if Alex can hit form to coincide with his reputation fairly quickly I am convinced Everton can be a really devastating side.  I have never known a team playing together with greater team spirit and co-operation and that goes a long way in Cup battles. 
Confidence
I know as well as the next man just now important Cup luck in the matter of the draw is in this greatest of all knock-out competition and naturally we are hoping that we have our share.  Obviously, no matter what the opposition is to be, we wonder rather confront it at Goodison, but it may be a mark of our confidence that the team feel that they are at least capable of forcing a draw on any ground against any opposition.  Whether that confidence is well founded we shall soon know.  No matter what others may think about the first year’s League Cup competition, we shall be all out to take that trophy, but there is no substitute for Wembley.  It would not grieve me tremendously if our championship-winning had to be left over to next season but there’s no time like the present so far as Wembley is concerned.  I believe this wants saying and I am glad of the opportunity of being able to say it here.  The Goodison roar we experienced for our match against Sheffield Wednesday was the sort of inspiration few players meet anywhere in a career.  After the Wembley game one of our players commented that to have a roar like that behind a team was more important than having half a gale at their backs.  That’s just how the team felt about it.  Brian Harris confessed that he just could not stop running.  He felt as though the crowd were pushing him forward and urging him to greater effort all the time.  It is amazing now players can pull out that little bit extra which so often turns the scales if they have such a crowd of enthusiasts behind them. I have heard the Kop roar at Anfield, but believe me, Goodison roar in the Wednesday game was tops so far as the Everton players are concerned.  If we can have the encouragement in the Cup battles that lie ahead we must be half-way towards our goal before we start.  I almost found it in my heart to feel sorry for the Sheffield Wednesday players.  To have to face Everton and that vocal thunder at the game time must have been a frightening experience.  I have heard Everton crowds give went to their feelings before now, but Saturday’s was a new sensation, it was almost as though they were getting us ready for Wembley.  That is why I consider the allocation of Cup tickets is so hopelessly unfair to my view, if either of the competing finalists require 20,000 tickets for the supporters to travel to Wembley they should get them.  For other people Wembley is a sort of show piece of a week-end but for the followers of the contestants, it is almost a pilgrimage, it is the alter at which they have worshipped, and it is wrong that the image should be taken from them. 
Ticket Ordeal
Friends of mine who have been fortunate enough to play in a Cup final tell me that disposing of Cup tickets is a fearful headache for them, and one of the most unsettling parts of the whole trip.  They would like to please everybody but their ticket allocation simply will not allow it.  I believe them, I can easily see what a problem it is-and yet, if there is no change in allocating I don’t mind going through the ordeal.  On behalf of the team then, I would like to pay tribute of our wonderful crowd.  Several people after the game commented; “You must be tired out after a game as tough as that on such a shocking afternoon.”  How wrong they were!  We all felt as though we could have gone on and on.  That is the difference a crowd can make to a player.  One is almost frightened of making a mistake, taking it as though an error is like a slap in the face for people who deserve something very much better.  I have no doubt of two things, Everton have the finest ground in the land, and they have supporters to match.  These are challenges to us and we hope that one day quite soon our faithful following will be able to add a third boast to the foregoing-that they have the best team in the land as well.  Football is a business and as such there is little or no ground for sentiment.  We all realise that there may come a day for each one when he is no longer able to hold his place in the side.  That is one of the risks anybody assumes when he takes up professional football as a career.  We are all sorry when a popular player leaves, and that is why we all said farewell to Jimmy Harris with a real tinge of regret for Jimmy has been a great club man and a fine colleague.  We were all sincere when we said; “Good luck, Jim, and here’s to a net full of goals- starting after “our match against us.” Many supporters have complained about the attitude of the Tranmere directors in keeping the League Cup game as drawn at Prenton Park, but I am afraid I cannot sympathise with that point of view.  I believe Tranmere were right to act as they have.  They plainly owed a duty to their supporters and they have carried it out.  If loyalty is expected one way, obviously it must work the other as well.  Obviously their team will feel better playing on their own ground, before a crowd largely favourable to themselves and while Everton are confident of victory, I think it goes without saying our task will be more difficult at Prenton than it might have been at Goodison. 

YOUNG IN EVERTOR TEAM TO MEET SPURS
Liverpool Echo - Friday 16 December 1960
Scot Leads Attack
By Leslie Edwards
Good news for Everton.  Their new boy, Alex Young, kept out of tin team by a persistent knee injury, makes his debut to-morrow in the vital game against Tottenham at Goodison Park. A more opportune appearance could not be imagined. And Young, who assured Manager Carey of his fitness this morning, goes into his favourite position, as leader of the line. Wignall is moved to inside right, the position occupied last week by Tyrer, and Collins stars at inside left as partner to Temple. Thus both clubs have completed their choice for the most momentous game the city has known for seasons. Everton are without Vernon, of course, but Bingham' who had a slight groin injury and did not train yesterday, and Brian Harris who suffered a cut knee is the match at Birmingham, are both fit. So happily, is trainer Gordon Watson after a spell of three weeks in hospital for stomach trouble.
SMITH IS FIT
The last Alexander Young to play for Everton was also a Scot and an international, and scored the goal which won the Cup for Everton for the first time in 1906, at Crystal Palace. Spurs left London at midday and will spend the night in Liverpool. Their centre forward, Bobby Smith, who was a doubtful earlier in the week, reported fit this morning. The gates at Goodison Park will be open from 1.30 p.m. All stand and paddock tickets have been sold, but there are places for some 50,000 on the terraces. The Echo's souvenir edition of the match 12 pages full Pictures and print features dealing with both teams, plus colour pictures of the sides, will help early arrivals to "kill* their long wait. Everton; Dunlop; Parker, Thomson; Gabriel, Labone, Harris; Bingham, Wignall, Young, Collins, Temple.
Vernon Beats Deadline
Everton tans have been wondering whether Roy Vernon, Welsh international inside forward, now under 14- day suspension from Wednesday, December 7, will be available to play against Tranmere Rovers in the re-arranged League Cup tie at Prenton Park next Wednesday.  The answer is “Yes” I asked a Football League official today (writes Michael Charters) and he confirmed that Vernon’s suspension ends at midnight on Tuesday, December 20. 

JUST THE MOMENT TO UNCORK YOUNG…
Liverpool Echo - Friday 16 December 1960
With Leslie Edwards
The absence of Roy Vernon from the Everton team against Tottenham at Goodison Park to-morrow made it even more imperative that the new boy from Hearts, Alex Young, should play. What a moment to uncork him! What a dream debut it could be, all going well. There had been an impression outside the club that Wignall would continue to lead the line, leaving the inside left spot to the newcomer. But Young came here as a centre forward and it is only right that he should be accommodated in his true position. We have seen enough of Wignall to know that he can be effective in either of the inner positions, so it is likely that he will find place as partner to Bingham, leaving Bobby Collins (my hot tip for Granada's Sporting Personality of the Year) to continue his profitable association with Temple, the boy whose record shows him to finish so rarely on the losing side. I have seen Young in action only once before—at Wrexham more than twelve months ago when he played for the Scottish Under-23 side. He has no great height, but he has brains and uses 'em, and he's sharp enough to Pict up the penetrating passes that have sometimes gone to waste in the past this season. He may never have Played for Everton before but having attended, or taken part in. many of the club's training sessions at Belleileld, he should fit smoothly into the line and make a success of his first match—and what a match !—for his new club. If he gets a goal, what price musical honours from those old followers of the club who remember Sandy Young the first and greeted his famous Crystal Palace Final goal with "Hey. ho, Sandy scored a goal !" Everyone will join me in wishing Young well. It is going to be a big test, even for him. His Quickness off the mark is likely, I think, to enable him to attune himself speedily to the needs of football in England.
Could be so different
Tottenham have lost only once -to Sheffield Wednesday in Sheffield.  We don't want a repetition of that rather contentious game, but another stirring, sporting battle of the kind we saw against Wolves, Manchester City and Sheffield Wednesday. After all, in spite of the issues at stake, this is only another game of football. Spurs are a great side and not one who get results by power play. Given a decent, frost-free pitch, the standard of performance should be of exceptional quality. I'll confess straight away that when the sides met in the opening game of the season they both looked lethargic. Maybe it was the heat. Everton without their Wignall, their Bingham, their Young and Thomson, held their opponents until the last ten minutes; then lost 2-0. It could be so different to-morrow. Last season's defeat at Goodman Park cost Spurs' morale a good deal. In a Cup-tie at the same ground in the Britton era they lost by one of the most unlucky penalties—given for a handling offence which wasn't. Yet even then, in their Second Division days, l discerned their promotion potential and had the nerve to back them to finish in the top three in Division I the following season! And they did. Tottenham have solved the secret of soccer movement. Their tip-and-run style, reminiscent of the best Continental sides, means that the man out of possession is often the key. They have the knack of appearing to have all the time in the world to make their move. Blanchflower, architect of so many of their victories, is perhaps the best example of the man who ran (like George Robey of old) stop, look and listen before he decides where the ball will be delivered.
Famous son of famous father
I commend also, the long-throwing of wing half  Mackay, who often steps up to the concrete wall to get a bit more zip into a throw which sometimes lands the ball in the six-yard area; to little Dyson, on the wing, whose father, the famous "Ginger" Dyson, was a page boy at the old State Restaurant in Dale Street before he became a star Northern jockey. White, at inside forward, is a man who must have impressed Mr. Carey more than once with his accurate passing; Cliff Jones, the left wing flier, is the man Everton must quell in breath-taking, fiery runs which take him "inside" the back and often provide inspiration the attack lacks momentarily. If I give Spurs most of my space it is not because I fancy them as winners to-morrow, but merely because they are such distinguished guests. My belief is that Everton are going to be the leading team in Britain, and to-morrow can go further towards confirming it. Vernon's absence is the only thing which indicates that Everton may not be good enough. I have sufficient confidence in Wignall to know he will make a good job of his task as deputy. He's such a regular scorer it would not surprise me to see him on the register again. So go to it, Everton ! Let us see you at your best; let us see evidence again of your desire to win and entertain by methods which will satisfy the purists. Make this the best match ever. For our part we have done our best to match the moment with as fine a souvenir edition as has been produced since the eagerly-sought Liddell one. This edition, which covers the great game in prospect as comprehensively as possible, will be on sale from 9 a.m. and will help thousands of terrace fans to while away the waiting moments. Don't miss your chance to get a copy!

100 BRAZIERS BURN ALL NIGHT AT GOODISON
Saturday, December 17, 1960. The Liverpool Daily Post
YOUNG DEBUT, PERFECT PITCH FOR LEAGUE GAME OF THE SEASON
By Horace Yates
The Goodison Park pitch last night was partly covered with more than a hundred coke-filled braziers, loaned by the St. Helens Rugby League club, to ensure that a certain amount of hardness down the centre of the ground is removed to enable playing conditions today, for the attractive game with League leaders Tottenham Hotspur, to be made perfect.  The turf near the touch lines is in excellent conditions, but the club were not prepared to risk any deterioration in the rest of the ground.  Because the game is such a top class attraction and promises to provide football which spectators may find worthy of discussion in years to come, Everton were determined that anything that could be done to ensure that the ground would match the occasion should be done, I am asked be emphasise that at no time has there been the slightest danger to the match being played, and that the natural thaw which began yesterday, allied with the braziers, will provide the yielding surface which is so desirable.  Everton collected the braziers from St. Helens early yesterday morning, and the head grounds man, Mr. Ernie Mills, spent the day at Goodison Park, advising how best they could be utilised.  The fires were kept burning throughout the night, with the turf protected by sheets of corrugated iron.  The braziers have had far more difficult tasks asked of them was presented at Goodison Park and have always done their job efficiently.  Chairman of the Ground Committee Mr. Jack Sharp said last night, “The braziers have been put on the ground purely as a precautionary measure in case there should be any hard parts containing frost.  I expect the pitch to be perfect for the match.”  Without a doubt this is the match of the day and as befits the occasion it will provide the biggest attendance possibly in the region of 70,000.  The pity is that clashes of such natural appeal come along so rarely, but here we have clubs who have spared neither money nor effort to boost their playing standards and the success which has come the way of both is ample proof that there is still a ready reward for wise spending. 
YOUNG PLAYS
If Everton are to make serious inroads into the eight point lead which keeps Tottenham in such frigid isolation at the top of the table, they simply must won today, for defeat would widen the division between them to almost unattainable limits.  It is fitting therefore that this should be the day on which Alex Young, the costliest signing in the club’s history, should wear Everton’s blue for the first time. Although signed with George Thomson on November 22, from Hearts, he has been kept out of action by knee ligament trouble.  There is no question of Young being thrown into action because Everton feel they need him and that this justifies chances being taken with his fitness.  Manager John Carey does not work out hose lines, and keen though Young has been all the time to make a start, if the report yesterday had not been 100 per cent fitness, Young’s debut would have been delayed still further.  How suicide it would be to trifle with a player who has not only cost £40,000; but who is expected to play an important part in the Everton ambitions of the future.  No special fitness test was devised to decide whether or not he should play.  Young has merely gone through the normal preparation adopted for other members of the team and the fact that he has been able to answer every demand without concern provided the final answer.  Everton will undoubtedly miss the dynamic Vernon and this is not intended as any reflection of Frank Wignall, who takes his place for Wignall’s stock has soared since he was moved to the centre forward position.  Although he will not be operating there today the confidence he has gained from the knowledge that he can accomplish scoring feats against Division One opponents must have boosted his morale considerably a very important consideration with Young players. 
International Leaders
Wignall will not let Everton down.  When Collin played his first game for Everton, he was an instantedous success.  Similarly Tommy Ring took to English football in the most nature fashion but Scotsmen do not always follow that pattern as Everton know.  It will be a tremendous if Young can slip into the Everton style at the first time of asking and it is a help that he believes their football should suit him.  With Bobby Smith back to lead Spurs after a rest because of a throat infection the centre forwards of England and Scotland will be on show together for ready comparison and though their type of game is poles apart, it will be interesting to see which is the more effective.  Collins is the Everton schemer and his counterpart is John white.  Occasions make little difference to Collins.  He has the happy knock of playing his natural game almost to order and against whatever foes.  Danny Blanchflower one of the most talented half backs in the game is as experienced as he is able, but this much is certain, he will find Collins the most elusive player he has had to face all the season.  The Irishman as quick of wit as ever he was, does not move with the speed he formerly had, and if Blanchflower proves unequal to the task, Collins not for the first time, can set Everton on the high road to victory.  Everton are no doubt thankful that Brian Harris is completely fit after his knee injury of last week, for this most underrated of all half backs, by his quick, unerring defence could severely restrict the mobility of White, an accomplishment which could aid Everton’s cause considerably.  Everton have not lost a home and Spurs have lost but one of their twenty-one games.  The stage is set and it could not appear more attractive in prospect.  Tottenham manager, Mr. Billy Nicholson, last night told me “We are all keyed up for the match.”  They are two excellent teams, I don’t see how it can fail to be a great game, a real thriller for the crowd.  “At Tottenham we do not harp on the opponents we are to meet.  We are merely concerned with keeping our own standards as high as we can.  We are never completely satisfied with them, and are always looking for improvement so that we can stay at top pitch all the time.  “If we can keep our game in that state we like to feel that it is our opponents who are worrying about us.  As long as we keep ourselves well organised it doesn’t matter who we play.  “We have not seen Everton since the opening game of the season, but results tell a convincing story.  Obviously they are doing extremely well specially as they have had to come from behind, which is always harder than going out in front and staying there.”  Everton; Dunlop; Parker, Thomson; Gabriel, Labone, Harris; Bingham, Wignall, Young, Collins, Temple.  Tottenham Hotspur; Brown; Baker, Henry; Blanchflower, Norman, Mackay; Jones, White, Smith, Allen, Dyson. 

JOHN CAREY –SOCCER ARCHITECT
Liverpool Echo - Saturday 17 December 1960
HE’S BROUGHT WELL –HE SOLD BETTER…
By Leslie Edwards
MEET the man behind the pipe; the man behind Everton's sudden rise to the top—John Carey. He came to the club from Blackburn where he had had great success in his first effort at management; he came aiming not at winning championships and Cups, but at providing the football - loving public of Liverpool (which had been denied it for many, many seasons) with entertainment, The Carey dictum, often reiterated, never forgotten, was to give them attractive, winning football if possible. If you do you that you’re fulfilling your mission, he says. I don't suppose he ever imagined he could so transform the club in the short space of something under two seasons—and without wielding the big stick, raising his voice notably and being, in general, something of a sergeant major. John Carey might have been anything in sport. He played Gaelic football as a boy in his native Dublin; he was ball boy (and got well paid for it) to Bill Tilden and Fred Perry and other top-class Lawn Tennis Players when they toured Eire and fired his imagination with thoughts of reaching Wimbledon. Then our brand of soccer—and Gaelic football members can be suspended for attending soccer, much less you do that you're playing! got under his skin and Manchester United, in the less glamorous days of their wonderful scout Louis Rocca. " found" him and took him off to Old Trafford to start a career which began as an inside-forward and finished, gloriously, at full-back where he played often enough for his country to earn one of those Connemara marble trophies given for 25 appearances in the Republic of Ireland colours. I never met John Carey as a player, though I saw his artistry on field a dozen times and marvelled at the battles be used to wage against Billy Liddell on the wing. Carey remembers them, too, and the reaction of the old Liverpool trainer, Albert Shelley, who was never nearer to jumping out of his trainer's dug-out at Anfleld than when Carey had "put one over" the flying Scot, who so often found the signals against him when Carey was on the line.
Discerning Brain
Carey could have made his mark at any game—golf, tennis, or cricket, if he'd put his mind to it. He has something " up top " more important than a fast-balding pate; a discerning brain which probably led him to make the big plunge between staying at Blackburn, where he had success, and coming to Goodison where he knew a big job of reconstruction awaited him. I remember his arrival there. I remember being impressed by those clear blue eyes; by his neatness, by his 'business - like approach and by his quiet air which is so different from the flamboyant attitude often adopted by the successful manager. If the Everton Board and the club's supporters thought that Carey was going to wade in with the new broom and sweep every corner of the club they were mistaken. He doesn't do things that way. He smoked his pipe, said nothing, thought plenty. The training staff changed: the playing staff changed: the play almost imperceptibly. Ask anyone who follows the club how many players have been transferred since he came and the answer will be, airily: "About half a dozen." The record makes the count nearer 25, with some well-known names among them Hickson, Thomas, Bramwell,  O'Hara, Jimmy Harris, Harburn, Fielding,  O'Neill,  Sanders, Graham Williams and a host more. Many had to go because the spending of hundreds of thousands of pounds for top-class players must inevitably mean that a staff must be pruned. At the end of it all, with Alex Young and George Thomson safely bagged for a combined fee of some £55,000
I can only say “He bought well; he sold better!"
Never Any Doubt
The Carey pipe smokes more lighter fuel than tobacco: the comparative inaction of a pipe-smoking manager was not I think to everyone's taste initially. but there was never any doubt that Carey knew what he wanted—and what .he didn't want—or that he could handle players quietly, firmly effectively and without the ballyhoo that might well have been associated with his name. As a travelling companion the Everton chief could not be improved on; he sees things as they are and not as some partisan followers of the club believe them to be. His courage, physical and moral, is his forte. I know this from experience. He has a sense of fun; a sense of proportion and takes solace from his religion. He rarely misses a visit to church before a match in London. John could have been a "civil servant and anything in that line" if he had wanted; he chose football instead and not only made a great, artistic player, but looks like making a great success too of the more difficult job of managing. He's a believer in the principle, established at Old Trafford in his playing days, that manager and captain chew over the match tactically before kick-off and that the captain has the responsibility once the ball rolls.
From The Stand
This is the way of it with John Carey and his wonderful aide Bobby Collins, and what Collins sees fit to do on field is backed to the hilt by the guvnor. John Carey believes in watching a match from a seat in the stand. Any instruction he may want to pass on to his captain can quite well be made from there. The only fault I find with one whose signings have been so hand-picked and whose re-building of the Everton edifice is aimed primarily at benefits for the paying customers—how he loves to please them:—is the peculiar propensity he has sometimes on the telephone for making me fee' as though I'm talking in riddles! Dr. Banda and his classic answer on Television “What conference? " ranks with John Carey's equally frustrating "What championship? " when asked about Everton's chances of winning a championship.  The public may get the completely wrong impression that someone is taking a few sizes bigger in hats when they read this sort of reply and knowing that John is always anxious to right a wrong I'm sure he’ll obviate such replies in future-especially when questions are asked in good faith.

THE EVERTON TEAM
Liverpool Echo - Saturday 17 December 1960
ALBERT DUNLOP
Born in Liverpool, Albert Dunlop joined the club straight from school, and was an amateur for over six seasons before turning professional in 1955. He made his Football League debut in the memorable match against Manchester United at Old Trafford on October 20, 1956, when Everton, winning 5-2, became the first team to beat the Mancunians on their own ground for 18 months. He played in all Everton's League and Cup games during the remainder of that season, and has been a regular first-team choice ever since apart from one short period a couple of years ago, when Jimmy O'Neill temporarily supplanted him for nine games until the Eire international was injured paying for his country against Poland and subsequently underwent a cartilage operation. Dunlop has played in 167 League and F.A. Cup games for Everton, which is the third highest total of any of the club's post-war goalkeepers. O'Neill leads the way with 213 League and Cup games, and Ted Sagar is next with 174, though the latter, of course played more than that In pre-war days. Let's hope that Albert like George Swindin and one or two others, never goes into the history books as one of the finest goalkeepers never to play for his country, He had five or six seasons in The Everton second team in the days of Cliff Britton and never got his chance, despite some games which suggested that he was well worth trying. Liverpool Central players and a few thousand spectators were the only witnesses of one of the finest displays of goalkeeping ever seen at Anifield and that was seasons before he got his first team status. Maybe Albert' s cricketing, with Liverpool and Bootle, keeps his quick reflexes in trim in the close season. For a small man he covers his vast area with wonderful skill and because he lacks Inches he must rate, like Bert Slater across the Park, as something extra special between the sticks.  Albert's business acumen-he has a sports goods shop and other interests—make him one of the busiest and liveliest men in the game. His courage is not of the foolhardy sort. He senses in a moment what save is "on" and what isn't. For consistency he would be hard to beat. He's more than a little unfortunate that Hodgkinson and Springett are younger and thus more acceptable to England selectors. I am convinced that If Dunlop once got into the national side he would be there for a long time. Dunlop's only idiosyncrasy is the way he puffs his cheeks as he stretches for the ball. He says he does it because it helps to stop him blinking, because it enables him to keep two wide open eyes for the flight of the ball. No wonder Everton fitted Dunlop—and are satisfied.
ALEX PARKER
Born at Irvine. In "Ayrshire,  Alex Parker was a centre forward when a schoolboy, but was switched to wing half when joining the Scottish junior club Kello Rovers. He signed for Falkirk in December. 1950, but it was not until two years later that he became a regular member of their first team. Everton signed him, along with outside left Eddie O'Hara—since transferred to Rotherham United -on May 27 1958, but before the following season started Parker was posted to Cyprus with the Royal Scots Fusiliers. He made his debut for Everton on November 8. 1958, against Aston Villa at Villa Park, and after five games at right back was temporarily switched to right half for 13 matches. After that he returned to his normal position, where he has since remained, apart from dour games missed through injury in the early part of last season. Parker got his first cap for Scotland against Portugal in May, 1955, and has played for his country on 16 occasions. He has taken part in 89 League and F.A. Cup games for Everton. He was the man (with Eddie O'Hara) who initiated the big-money moves to Everton. He set the pattern which has been followed by the incoming of Collins, Vernon, Gabriel, Bingham, Ring, Lill, Young and Thomson. Now, he has become a firm favourite with Everton fans who are only puzzled by the fact that the Scottish selectors continue to ignore a man who, by common consent, links with England's Jim Armfleld as the best right back in Britain. Alex is a most pleasant, modest and happy individual whose head still fits the many caps he has already won for Scotland and would not be swollen by the addition of several more. His full back style is classical, although he prefers the sideways, sliding tackle to the frontal approach. There are few wingers who get the better of him and usually Alex has them under control early on that he indulges in his favourite sport of moving up, a la winger, to have a go at goal. There is no more attack-minded full back in the game. His use of the ball in clearing his lines is constructive and planned; no big boot for him. He felt, at one time, that his continued playing at right half was jeopardising his chances of Scottish caps. He did, indeed, ask for a transfer just over a year ago because of this but shortly afterwards all was well for club and player when he returned to full back. Goodison Park fans delight in his strong, attractive style (he fairly bubbles with enthusiasm on the field) but what they don't know that he is so quiet off it. He is a gentleman on and off the field.
GEORGE THOMSON
BORN In Edinburgh. George Thomson has only just turned 24, but already has more medals than some players get in a lifetime. He has two Scottish League championship medals and two Scottish League Cup medals. His early football was learned with Slateford Athletic, a "nursery" team connected with Hearts, before he signed professional for Hearts in August. 1955. He made his debut in a Scottish League game the following winter, but did not at once become regular first team choice. Once he did, however, he was automatic selection week after week, and played in every senior game for Hearts from November 1957 until he was signed by Everton less than a month ago. In addition to his normal position at left-back, he also figured at times in both wing half positions, and on odd occasions had outings at Inside-left. He played for Scotland Under-23 three times, one being against England Under-23 at Goodison Park on January 15, 1958, when he was left-half. Scotland's right-back that evening was Alex Parker and their centre-forward Alex Young. Thomson has also played twice for the Scottish League. Signed for Everton on November 23 this year, to-day will be his fourth appearance for them. Thomson is a dedicated man in the role of making himself as good a footballer as he possible can. He lives for the game. His main aim in leaving Hearts with Alex Young was to play with a great club in England because he feels that it is here that really big things happen in football. He made his debut at Arsenal in the heat and fury of a too class First Division game and showed himself to be a full back in the classic mould, whose penchant for using the ball rather than just clearing it defensively anywhere is in the Everton tradition of full backs like Warney Cresswell and Billy Cook.  The criticism about him at present is that he has not vet attuned his game to the faster pace of English football. He knows what he wants to do with the ball but finds that he has not the same time as he had in Scotland to do it. There is no doubt that this criticism will end with a little more experience here. He is a pleasant, likeable lad, well-built and strong. His early playing days at wing half have taught him that the telling pass is worth far more than the dash and devil of the “big boot." It must always be remembered that he Joined Everton in a double transfer in which he was very much the junior partner. The big fee for his colleague Alex Young, and the resultant publicity, tends to overshadow the fact that he is an Under-23 international and an established top-line player in Scotland. It is to his credit that he has not shown any signs of being petulant about the Young ballyhoo as opposed to himself. He is a first class club man, placing the game and his club above such petty feelings, and his career at Everton is likely to be long and honourable. He is the type, one feels, where other players say: "He's the right sort to have on your side" 
JIMMY GABRIEL
IT is not generally known that Jimmy Gabriel played a good proportion of his senior games in Scotland at centre-half, where he was equally as outstanding as he became when switching to wing -half. Born in Dundee, it was with the Dundee club that he started his professional career, being signed by Everton on March 2 of this year at a fee of around £30,000, a large sum for a youngster of only 19, as he was at that time. He made his debut for Everton on March 5, against West Ham United at Upton Park, and made eight appearances last season. Jimmy has been capped by Scotland at Youth, Under-23 and full international level, making his senior international debut in the match against Wales on October 22 this year. In Youth internationals he played in the same team as Dennis Law, of Manchester City. He made his first-team debut in Scottish football for Dundee in the 1958-59 season,  when he was an ever-present. While Gabriel was struggling to find his feet in English football in his third game for Everton he came up against big Derek Kevan, the West Brom bomber, at the Hawthorns—and I don't suppose he will ever forget it. Kevan, playing in direct opposition to Gabriel, hammered in five goal, but it is greatly to Gabriel's credit that he shrugged off the memory, and his displays have improved ever since. He has played so well this season that he truly earned his first full cap for Scotland. He is an enthusiast for 'the game, enjoys playing "sandwiched" between his two great pals fellow - Scots Parker and Collins—and is looking forward to more honours this season. both with Everton and Scotland. His strong, forceful style, particularly effective in defence, makes him the perfect foil for the more adventurous wanderings of Brian Harris on the other flank. He has struck up a fine understanding with Parker so that when the full back elects his upfield sorties, he can always be found deep in defence to fill the gap. Gabriel has forthright views on the game for a youngster of only 20, and looks like being one of the big stars of - football for years to come. Recently he has been "one degree under" through trouble caused by teeth infection, but his football acumen, stamina and searing tackling makes him a great player in the position where you have to have everything to reach the top. He is engaged to a girl from his home town of Dundee and is looking forward to settling down to married life in Liverpool. He first made his mark with Everton in last season's Under -23 international against Wale at Wrexham. Under atrociously heavy conditions. Gabriel stood out among many strugglers as a great player. He will nerve Everton well for many years to come.
BRIAN HARRIS
Born in Bebingten. Brian Harris started his career with Everton  as an amateur, signing professional six years ago. Originally a winger, it was at outside right that he made his League debut on August 27. 1955. against Burnley at Turf Moor, on the same day that Jimmy Harris—no relation—also played his first League game at centre forward in place of Dave Hickson, who had been dropped after two games. Harris was in and out of the first team during his first two seasons,  but in 1957-8 he was switched to outside left and made 33 League and Cup appearances. The following season he was tried out as a wing-half in the Central League side in a couple of games, and played so well that he was recalled to the first team, since when he has never looked back. He has made 136 League and 12 F.A. Cup appearances.  Some football switches pay off’ some don't. There can be few that have been more successful than the move of Harris from winger to wing half.  Since then, Harris has made the wing half position his own although, at Luton two seasons ago, he was chosen, to his dismay, to play outside left because of injuries. As it happened, he never even touched the ball in this position because left back Tom Jones was injured in the first minute and the resultant reshuffle brought Harris back into the half back line. Needless to say, he had a "blinder"—almost as though he played above himself on his release from the torment of the wing position which he now dislikes. Brian is one of the four local men in the team now-with Dunlop, Labone and Temple—and it is significant that he holds his own place most worthily in this outfit of high-priced stars. He is playing brilliantly this season. His displays against Manchester City and Bury have been highlights in a series of top-class performances which must have brought him to the notice of international selectors. It is not generally known that in 1957 he was chosen, at outside left, to play in the Football League team against the Irish League, but lost the honour because the Army had prior claims to him for a match against the R.A.F. on the same day. Of average build, Brian is now a wing half par excellence. Strong in the tackle, cultured in his use of the ball, he seems to grow in football stature with every game. He has a flair for bringing the ball through, and his link-up with Vernon and Collins starts many an attack. He is a bachelor like Young, Thomson, Labone and Temple, a fine golfer, has a love of motoring and popular music, quite handy with a guitar, and is a bright jewel in the brilliant Everton crown of stars.
BRIAN LABONE
A NATIVE of Liverpool who attended Liverpool Collegiate School. Brian Labone first came to Everton's notice when playing for the Merseyside Grammar Schools eleven, one of whose representative games was staged at Everton's practice ground at Bellefield. Originally it had been his intention to go on to Liverpool University from school, but when Everton offered him a professional engagement he signed for them in July. 1957, becoming a regular member of their Youth team the following season. He made his League debut against Birmingham City at St. Andrew's, on March 29. 1958, playing four games that winter and four the season following. Last season he took over at centre-half in the fifth match of the campaign, when Tommy Jones was switched to left-back, and has been regular choice ever since apart from two short wells when he has been unfit. Last winter he was reserve for England's Under-23 team and also went on their Continental tour. This season played in his first Under-23 fixture when appearing against the Danish team Velie at Maine Road. He also played in the junior International against Italy in November.  Labone is one of the few sons of this city who looks like getting a full England cap and is the most self-effacing centre half in the game And perhaps the most successful in effacing, at the same time, the centre forward who happens to cross his path. You don't see Brian working: you don't hear him. All you know is that he's been there all afternoon and that Everton have won another League match. It is grand to have a man who can hide himself (and his personal opponent) so effectively, but it does nothing to further a club's chance of having its great players honoured internationally. Transpose the letters of the Christian name Brian and you get brain and that's where Labone has the edge. He's a grammar school boy with something to think with and as if that were not enough he has a big, solid physique Which enables him to make bodily challenges and come out of them standing up.  His first few games in the first team came when he was a raw youngster un-used to the speed and cleverness of top grade men years his senior. For that reason he had to go out and come back again before establishing himself as a pivot worthy to step into the shoes of a man like Torn Jones. Now he arrived. And none is more pleased and proud than his father, his greatest follower; his greatest critic (when necessary) and a man who has played a bit himself and knows what he Is talking about. Brian's uncle was a pro. player with Villa when the war intervened and cut into his career, so it runs in the family.  Labone has come to stay. And when Everton hoist themselves still further into the glare of national publicity his game, now improved by just that little bit more bite in the tackle, will assuredly earn him that England cap, with more to follow, his quiet determination and skill have ensured.
BILLY BINGHAM
SIGNED by Everton from Luton Town on October 14 this year, in a three-sided deal by which John Bramwell and Alec Ashworth joined the Bedfordshire club. Billy Bingham is an Irish international who has played for his country in 42 internationals. His first game for Ireland was against France in March. 1951, since when he has never once been absent from the Irish team, a remarkable record of consistency. A native of Belfast, Bingham was with Glentoran before Sunderland signed him in 1950 at a big fee. He gave Sunderland splendid service, rarely being out of the team except when injured, but he left Roker Park in the summer of 1958 to join Luton Town, at a fee of around £15,000. During his service with Sunderland he played in 206 League games, scoring 45 goals. He was signed by Mr. Bill Murray, then manager of Sunderland, after playing for the Irish League against the Football League in a game at Blackpool. It was a quick transaction. For he was signed while still in Blackpool.  He won Irish international honours in his first season with the North-Eastern club. Bingham made his debut for Everton against Fulham at Craven Cottage on October 15 this year.  He has played so much top class football for Ireland. Sunderland and Luton Town for years before he signed for Everton that it seemed we were welcoming an old friend when he moved to this city. He is known to all football followers as an ideal winger, a man without fear, with skill and drive and natural soccer know-how to go with his temperament. He is an average sized man of neat build and appearance, active in everything he does. He moves well, with and without the ball, and he can be devastating with his cut-in and shot. He is the type of player who can be relied upon to pop up with a match-winning goal when the chips are down-1-1 in a cup-tie with five minutes to go. When the Everton line settles down to its probable formation of Bingham, Collins, Young, Vernon and Lill (after injury and suspensions have solved themselves), we can anticipate some sparkle from the Bingham-Collins wing. Bingham is an astute man, a good conversationalist, a good companion, who has sprinkled his career with international honours and distinction in every way. His summing-up of the current Everton team is worth listening to. He says: "This side not only plays great football, but great fighting football as well. It is rare to get the two together. When I was with Sunderland, we had some of the biggest-priced stars in the game there:  they played great stuff, but not great fighting football as well." Bingham can turn a game Inside out in a few minutes: he has the same sort of ability as Collins and Vernon to turn defeat into victory with a couple of choice, top-drawer moves that only the top notches can find. He is likely to “wing" for Everton for years, bringing notable success all along the line.
ALEX YOUNG
SIGNED from Hearts, along with George Thomson for a record Everton fee of £40,000—or £55,000 for the pair of them—Alex Young was not able to take his pace in the Goodison Park team at once, due to a alight knee injury. He will be making his home debut to-day, and will be the centre of attention. At the moment. Young is doing his National Service in the Royal Army Service Corps, and is stationed at Aldershot. He first attracted the attention of Scottish club scouts when playing with the junior team Newton grange Star, but Hearts was the only cub he wanted to join. He made his debut in their senior team in 1955-56 season, making 27 League appearances and scoring 15 goals, and occupying the inside right and outside right positions as well as centre forward. During his career with the Edinburgh club, he gained both Scottish League and Cup winners medal, and received his first full Scottish international cap -- after playing in the Under-23 eleven against England, at Hampden Park last May, at inside right.  He has since played four further games for Scotland, and has also been honoured by the Scottish League in inter-League matches. Thus, the fair-haired, little Scot, who makes his debut for Everton to-day after four weeks of frustration while he has recovered from injury, qualifies for a list of superlatives surrounding his transfer from Hearts. His fee is the highest paid for centre forward between British clubs; it is the highest ever paid to a Scottish club, the combined fee for Young and Thomson is the biggest deal between British clubs.  So far, of course, Everton fan have not had the chance to see him play but his record as the current Scottish international choice speaks for itself. He is the second Alexander Young to lead Everton—the first, the legendary Sandy, scored the Cup winning goal of 1906—but he is not as big a man as Young the First. It is unfortunate that on his debut. Young does not play between Collins and Vernon, but that is a pleasure deterred until next week-end. Young has only played in internationals in England but from what I have seen of him in these games I can assess him as a thoroughbred. A great mover with the ball, fast, active and razor sharp in his reactions. For his size, he is a good header of the ball, and Edinburgh people who saw him regularly with Hearts rate him a "truly great" player. He is clever and artistic, can make and score goals. No doubt he will take a little time to settle down with Everton in English football. As Thomson is doing, but Everton have the highest hopes of him. It is not easy for a bigmoney man like Young to live up (or down) to the reputation of the huge fee on his head. but Young is a sensible, quiet chap whose ambition is to do his best in making Everton the greatest team in the land. No player will be more closely watched in the next few crucial weeks.
FRANK WIGNALL
A native of Blackrod, near Charley, Frank Wignall, who is 21, was at one time on Aston Villa's books as an amateur. He put in nearly two years at Villa Park, playing mainly for the "A" team and travelling down each week while working at De Havilland's in Bolton. Then Norwich signed him in 1957, and he played so well in their Lancashire Combination team that Everton were soon on his track. Signing him in the summer of 1958. In his first season with Everton he further demonstrated his all-round ability by occupying every position in the Central League attack except outside-left. He made 29 reserve team appearances in 1958-59 season, scoring nine goals. After three Central League outings the following winter he was given his first chance in the first team, making his Football League debut against Burnley at Goodison Park on September 2. 1959, when he scored his side's only goal.  After five further senior outings he returned to the second string for further experience. His next appearance in the first team was in the League Cup game against Accrington Stanley on October 12, when he scored two goals. He has since appeared in the League Cup game against Bury, when he scored twice again, and also in four League matches, in which he has got three goals, giving him seven goals in his six first team games this winter. He still lives at Horwich, travelling to Goodison each day, and plans to get married next Easter. - Wignall - has had his chance this season—his first as a player—because of the injuries to Ring and Lill and the transfer, not long ago, of ham, Harris to Birmingham. This big solidly-built boy has the build for the centre forward job and has developed of his own accord, a heading ability which is far and away his forte. Again director Jack Sharp believed in him from the days when he first saw him playing for the Lancashire club Norwich. Only in one respect has Wignall not come up to scratch, so far. He tends to be a little slow to react and a little slow into his stride once his brain has received "the message." Some of his work against Sheffield Wednesday was first-class despite the fact that he was marked (arid chivvied) by England centre-half Peter Swan. Wignall's goals and near misses in his first team games in the past four or five weeks indicate that if he gained confidence and moved quicker he might get a packet of goals. He has a big shot, but in a classic line such as Merton's and being so inexperienced. He tends to want to put others in line for goal rather than accept the onus of making the strike himself. 
THE LEFT WING PAIR AND, UNHAPPILY, THE MAN LEFT OUT
BOLLINS COLLINS
When Everton signed Collins from Glasgow Celtic for around £25.000 on September 12, 1958, it was not the first time he had been on the club's books. Exactly 10 years previously he had signed amateur forms for the Goodison Park club, but later decided he did not wish to come to England, and after some discussion Everton waived their claim and he joined Celtic instead. If only Collins had not changed his mind on the first occasion the history of Everton over the last decade might have been very different. During his nine seasons with the Glasgow club, Collins played for Scotland on 22 occasions as a winger or inside forward, and also had 17 outings for the Scottish League in inter- League games. He was first capped for Scotland in 1950-51 season making three appearances at outside right when Billy Liddell was on the left wing. He did not get another Scottish cap for four years after that, but was recalled to the international team for the summer tour of 1955. Playing in three games at inside right. He has also played several times at inside left, his last international appearance being against Portugal In May last year. Altogether he has taken part in 28 games for his country. For Everton he has made exactly 100 League and Cup appearances, and last season was leading marksman with 14 goals. He is the greatest thing that has happened at Goodison Park since Dixie Dean. This dynamo of a man —better than a dynamo because he never runs down —arrived here in the Ian Buchan era when Everton's position was pretty desperate and some general was urgently needed to take command of their attack. Directors Dick Searle and Jack Sharp were deputed to move secretly to Scotland to make their bid and bring home the goods. Jack Sharp confessed later that his only sight of Bobby had been on the Television screen. Arsenal, who also wanted him, missed the boat by a mere half -hour. If they hadn't they, not Everton, would certainly have been looked upon as another Alex James. Collins, small but tough and a player who hasn’t a would have taken a man who cost the club £23,500. Everton's climb began from the day he arrived, though it was to be some months before that other architect of their rehabilitation. John Carey, was tempted from Blackburn.  Initially, Collins found he was wanted as much in defence as he was in attack. Now, with the side more balanced, he can concentrate on his real mission getting the aide on the offensive and keeping them there. Wee Bobby lacks nothing in courage either. He'll tackle the biggest and strongest and still come out more often than not, with the ball at his feet. Collins makes goals or takes them with equal facility. He more than anyone, has helped his club to win back thousands of "lost" spectators by ensuring that they will get 90 minutes of effort and football entertainment.  His signing was something of a gamble, but rarely can one man's presence in a team have had such far reaching effects. Time was when there was talk of him wanting to go back home. I hope it never comes to that. He has established himself as surely in our hearts as that other Scot, Billy Liddel.
DEREK TEMPLE
A native of Liverpool and former schoolboy international Derek Temple served his apprenticeship in Everton's junior sides before being signed as a professional in August, 1956. He made his senior debut on March 30, 1957, against Newcastle United at Goodison Park, being then 18. He was Everton's centre forward for the last seven games that season, scoring three goals. The following winter he was switched to inside right, as Dave Hickson had re-joined the club from Huddersfield Town during the close season. Temple played in Everton's first 22 League games that winter, scoring eight goals, before injury kept him out. When he was fit again he had another seven senior outings, at centre forward and inside left, without adding Io his goals total.  In 1958-59, by which time Bobby Collins had been signed, he had only four senior games, spending most of his time in the Central League side, for which he scored consistently from all three inside forward positions. Then a posting to Kenya while doing his National Service put a temporary end to his Everton appearances, and he did not play in any Everton team again until his return to this country last February. He made half a dozen Central League outings last winter, mostly at outside right, and another half-dozen this season before being recalled to the senior side for five games at outside right while Micky Lill was injured. He dropped out When Lill returned, but after the latter had his cartilage operation Temple was again his deputy this time at outside left. He has now had eight senior outings in League and League Cuo matches in the latter position. Temple is something of an Everton mascot. Whenever he finds a place in the team they always seem to win—or at least avoid defeat. His goal and good performance at Blackpool started them on their remarkable sequence of away success—what a contrast from the seasons when they could scarcely pick up one point from an away fixture, much less two. Derek was pitch-forked into the first team rather early and hit some remarkable goals to suggest that he would, in time, be a world beater. When he returned from Army service they said he had never quite picked up the threads broken by his period of National Service. My own rating of Temple, whether at outside left or outside right is rather higher, I imagine, then authority's. I see in his clever making of a pass until the last moment; his big shot, his feinting runs a good deal of class which characterizes some more illustrious men in the game. Manager Carey’s idea has been to get Derek to take his runs to their logical conclusion. If he did this he would be very hard indeed to beat. Temple is a quiet boy; a natural footballer if ever I saw one and tends, perhaps, perhaps to be overshadowed in a team of greats. Nonetheless I think his contribution has been most caluable. Let us see what he makes to-day of the biggest test of his young life.

ROY VERNON
A NATIVE of Ffynnongroew, North Wales, Roy Vernon was signed from Blackburn Rovers on February 10, this year, at a fee of approximately £30.000, when the value of Eddie Thomas, who went in part exchange, is included. He made his debut for the Goodison Park club in a home game against Wolves three days after being signed, and scored six goals in his first five games, finishing up the season with nine in 12 League matches. During his service with Blackburn Rovers he played in 131 League games and scored 49 goals. When Mr. Johnny Carey signed him for Everton, it was the second occasion he had secured Vernon's signature. The first occasion was when he took the youngster on to the staff at Ewood Park in August, 1954, after he ‘had left Rhyl Grammar School. Vernon signing professional for Blackburn for the first time in April. 1955. His inside forward work is complementary to Bobby Collins. They are as different as chalk from cheese in many respects—and especially in size and physique, but they possess the same fundamentals. One, they kill a ball stone dead no matter how fast or awkwardly it arrives at anything from chest - height downwards; two, they have extraordinary strength of shot three, they are both master tacticians and out of this world, as they say, at the art of feinting.  Vernon cost Everton the earth when he came from Blackburn. It took Everton fans at least a month to begin to appreciate the truth of what they had been told about the player—that he was almost in a class of his own. Maybe some strangeness in new surroundings was responsible for his comparative quietude. The essence of Vernon's success is the understanding he has built with Collins, a man who might, if he had been less sensible of his duty, have sought to do it all as he had for months before Vernon's arrival. The partnership—it is nothing less—has worked happily and most effectively in the interests of the team I give both men full marks for this. Their presence in the same line could so easily have gone otherwise. Vernon, if he will forgive the term, is almost a scarecrow in thinness. His thigh muscles are the only flesh he shows. Yet he's a giant on the ball: he magnetizes it to his rather splayed feet. He proves the truth of the belief that if you have timing you have nearly everything you need in soccer. Rhyl were tipped off that Vernon was a boy with a future when he played as a grammar schoolboy there. They missed the boat and Blackburn and Mr. Carey stepped in. The pity is that we shall not be seeing Roy on field this afternoon. An unlucky 14-day suspension could not have come at a worse moment. But if the sentence means that the player is learning a lesson which will last him the rest of his career, it will be cheap at 14 days. A player of Vernon's class never has need to be mixed in anything which is liable to cause him trouble. It just isn't worth it.

EVERTON FIND SPURS IN TOP OF TABLE FORM
Liverpool Echo - Saturday 17 December 1960
HECTIC EXCHANGES IN GAME OF THRILLS
EVERTON 1, TOTTENHAM 3
By Michael Charters
Everton;- Dunlop; Parker, Thomson; Gabriel, Labone, Harris; Bingham, Wignall, Young, Collins, Temple.  Tottenham;- Brown; Baker, Henry; Blanchflower; Norman, Mackay, Jones, White, Allen, Dyson.  Referee; Mr. A Holland (Barnsley). 
This was it at last! But the which weather could have been kinder for the greatest match of the season at Goodson against League leaders Tottenham Hotspur. One of the great attractions of the match—it had so many it is difficult to enumerate them all was the first appearance in Everton colours of Scottish

International centre forward Alex Young, who has been prevented through injury from playing since he was signed, three weeks ago from Hearts for £40.000. There was a sensational start with Everton almost taking the lead within seconds, Collins and Wignall worked the ball down-field and when Wignall centred, Bingham flicked the ball on to Temple whose shot trickled just past the far post with Brown beaten.
BRIAN HARRIS HURT
Brian Harris, playing with stitches in his injured knee, took a nasty tumble in the first minute when he was fouled by Blanchflower and seemed to be limping a little. The ground began to cut up in mid-field and was slippy along the wings as was shown when Labone slipped in trying to make a clearance.

STERN TACKLING
Tottenham's rather stern brand of tackling annoyed the crowd early on and when Gabriel was unceremoniously brought down by Henry,  Everton gained a free kick just outside  the  penalty area from which Temple headed over from Bingham's kick. Young was particularly mobile and moved away from his centre forward position a good deal.  He took a delightful back-heel pass from Collins to move down the left wing before passing inside to Harris, who raced forward, but his shot from 20 yards went wide. Everton were doing most of the attacking and Brown misfielded one centre from Bingham, the ball bouncing from his hands out to the far post where Baker cleared.
TENSE ATMOSPHERE
Something of the tenseness of the atmosphere was still with the players, and neither team had yet settled down to play combined football of the type we know they can do. Mackay tried a couple of his famous long throw-ins to the area of the penalty spot, but the Everton defence cut them off each time. Both sides were finishing badly, and with some ten minutes gone there had been little to stamp this match as clash between the two leading teams in the land. The game had become rather an untidy mid-field struggle with neither side having any dominance.  Dunlop had not had a save to make in the opening 15 minutes and Brown had only had a couple.
BRILLIANT DRIBBLE
Harris suddenly set the game alight with a brilliant dribble in the centre circle which set off Everton's best attack so far. Collins slipped the ball to Young but the centre-forward, with three Spur' men round him, was unable to get a shot and Norman, a tower of strength in the middle, cleared for a corner.  When Dunlop missed a punch-away from Jones' centre. It took a brilliant piece of retrieving by Parker to take the ball from Dyson in a situation full of danger as the goalkeeper was on the ground.
TIGHT DEFENCE
Everton could not find a clear shooting position against this strong Tottenham defence which tackled first time and hard, and covered magnificently. Everton were too inclined to put the ball in the air in the region of the penalty area and there could be no future in this with the Tottenham defenders being inches taller than the Everton forwards. The mist was now much thicker and it was impossible to see from the stand the far side of the ground
COLLINS SHOOTS WIDE
Collins tried a surprise snap-shot from 25 yards when Wignall headed the ball back to him and Brown seemed to be shocked at its speed, the ball going about a yard wide. Jones could be seen at times flitting at speed through the mist and he picked up a headed clearance from Thomson to shoot from 20 yards with Dunlop diving for it but the ball going just wide. The tall Norman went up for Spurs' corner kicks and one beautifully flighted kick by Allen looked dangerous but Dunlop cleared safely enough. From the clearance Everton broke away with Collins ignoring Mackay's tackle and going on to try a shot which Brown saved at full length. Immediately after that Spurs made a sudden raid and went after 36 minutes. Blanchflower lobbed the ball up to White just inside the area, and he pulled it down perfectly before shooting past Dunlop as the goalkeeper came out.
 ... AND THEN IT WAS TWO
This goal set Spurs alight and they now were in command for the time but most clearly. They went two up after 40 minutes with a fine goal from Allen, with Branchflower again playing a leading part; their skipper took the ball down the right wing and centred for Allen to hit it first time on the volley into the roof of the net from 10 yards range. Spurs were playing beautifully now, and their two-goal lead had given them the confidence they seemed to lack in the early stages of the game. Everton looked ragged, and the experiment of Wignall at inside forward was far from a success
BINGHAM'S BURST
Everton badly needed a goal and they almost got one when Bingham suddenly burst alight and dribbled 40 yards across field before slipping the ball out to Tempe, who clipped the ball back for Collins to try a lob shot which Brown finger-tipped on to the cross-bar and away for a corner. Wignall for the moment, had gone centre forward with Young at inside right.
Half-time, Everton nil. Tottenham Hotspur 2.
The crowd, which must have been in the region of 65,000, suddenly went mad with excitement as Everton got a goal back. It came two minutes after half-time with Bingham picking up Carter's pass, pushing It across to Young, who made a delightful pass to Wignall, clearing the penalty area, and although his first shot was blocked he retrieved the ball and put it safely into the net from an angle. Wignall, within a minute had a wonderful chance to make the scores level when Temple got the ball across to him but inexplicably instead of shooting he tried to work the ball out to the left wing and the chance went. Dunlop was hurt in making a dramatic catch from White's centre and had to have attention before the game resumed.
"INCREDIBLE" GOAL
From the throw-in immediately after Dunlop's injury, Tottenham went 3-1 in front with an incredible goal by Mackay from 35 yards. The ball was flicked across to him in mid-field and without hesitation he hit it into the top corner of the net with Dunlop diving unavailingly to collect it. Within a minute of this Smith headed the ball into the net and with all the Spurs players rushing to congratulate him the referee turned it down on the grounds that he had elbowed it in. The fog was now so thick that it would be impossible to give a commentary on this match.  I was only able to see the ball in a quarter of the pitch near me.  Final; Everton 1, Tottenham 3.  Official attendance 61,052.

BIRMINGHAM WIN A TRIUMPH FOR SPIRIT
Liverpool Echo - Saturday 17 December 1960
OUR AWAY SUPPORT IS GROWING, SAYS ALEX PARKER
BIRMINGHAM WIN A TRIUMPH FOR SPIRIT RECENTLY
I wrote about the great team spirit there is at Goodison Park these days despite the fact that many people believe that when a club spend a lot of money on players the chance: of having a good atmosphere among them is practically nil. Well, I think last week's win at Birmingham proved my point, for a team doesn't fight as we did if there is no spirit among them. It looked as if we were in for another bad day when we went behind to an unlucky penalty decision early on. Then, after we had fought back to equalize, soon after the second half began we were losing again. In addition we had to play with over  £100,000 worth of our forward talent out of action, but the three £10 signings who deputized, Frank Wignall, Derek Temple and Alan Tyrer fought as hard as anybody else, and had just as much to do with the victory. Then, of course, we were without Brian Harris for about 10 minutes, as he had to go off to have his leg stitched. Although Frank hadn't read what I had written about him in last week's Football Echo, he couldn't have done more to prove right. He scored two goals, the first a magnificent header, and with a bit of luck could have had four.
STANDING STILL
Brian Harris told us after the game that as he was sitting waiting to have but leg stitched, the clock seemed to be standing still. He said that at the time he thought the doctor was going slow! Brian said this was obviously far from the truth, but as he was so anxious to get back the time certainly seemed to drag. He was only off about 10 minutes, so obviously he doctor didn't waste any time.  Anyway, while he was having the stitches put in, he heard a terrific roar and thought to himself: "That's us 2-1 down."
He had been on the pitch for a few minutes when he said to one of our team: "We've got a fight on our hands now, 2-1 down." “What do you mean. 2-1 down?" was the answer. “We’re drawing 2-2." Brian says he didn't hear any roar for our second goal., but the reason is probably' that the two goals came so quickly that one cheer must have merged with the other.
FAMILIAR
Their were certainly enough of our fans there. Unlike most teams we certainly don't lack support at away games. In fact, some of the faces of those people who travel with us are getting quite familiar to the players. When we are getting changed before a game, you can hear such comments as: "I see that little bald chap is here again." or "That tall fellow and his wife have travelled over," &c.
Apparently with Evertonians, it's a case of "once a supporter, always a supporter. Before I get into trouble with the Kopites. I'll willingly admit the same applies to them as well! It was strange to be playing against Jimmy Harris. He came into our dressing room before the game and was telling us about his debut the previous week when he had scored a goal in Birmingham's 5-0 win in the Inter-Cities Fairs competition. We had a dining car reserved for the team and officials on the journey home. As we neared Liverpool one of the attendants said: "Any minute now you will hear the driver give a few tugs on his whistle."
NO EXCUSE
Sure enough, a few seconds later we heard the whistle go, and the attendant explained that the train passes quite near to where the cook lives. It's about 10 minutes out from the station, and this lets the cook's wife know when to expect him home for supper. We mentioned this to the cook and he told us it was quite right. We thought this must be pretty convenient. “Yes." said the cook, "but it has its snags. too. You see, my wife knows exactly how long it takes for me to get home from the time the whistle goes, and if I'm a couple of hours late there's trouble. And I don't have an excuse." Still, if his wife cooks as well as he does. I can't imagine he wastes much time in getting home. We had a visit from another ex-Evertonian last Sunday. He was Albert Geldard, who I believe was the outside right in the 1933 Cup winning side. He is now a journalist and dropped in to have a few words with Harry Cooke, our head trainer, Gordon Watson and Stan Benthem. It’s amazing how these old Everton stars keep on returning to Goodiaon Park. There trust be something about the place.

HUDDERSFIELD RES V EVERTON RES
Liverpool Echo - Saturday 17 December 1960
Huddersfield Res; - Wood; Gibson, Turner; Holden, Holt, Dinsdale; Conmy, Balderstone, Atkins, Bettany, McCann.  Everton Res; Mailey; Parnell, Green; Meagan, Jones, Sharples, Bentley, Tyrer, Webber, Harland, Lill.  Referee-Mr. M. Matthews (Sheffield). 
Everton attacked keenly from the start and Tyrer passed forward to Webber who fumbled his shot. At the other end a hard drive by Bettany was just tapped over the bar by Malley. Everton pressed again but a good innterception by Holden cleared the danger. Town, gained the upper hand, and both McCann and Holden tested Mailey. In a rare Everton attack Webber was foiled again by Holden's clever play. Town deservedly took the lead in the 19th minute through a close range shot by Balderstone. In the 10th minute Everton equalised through Webber who snapped up his chance in a melee in the Town goalmouth. Town retaliated with a fierce drive from Bethany. Webber with only Wood to beat shot straight at him. Bettany made it two-one for Town in the 44th minute.
Half-time Huddersfield 2, Everton 1. Second half scorers; - Huddersfield T; Atkins in 85th minute. 
STADING ROOM ONLY
Everton announced today that all stand tickets for the Burnley match at Goodison Park on December 27 have been sold.  The club asks the public not to make inquiries yet for the F.A Cup tie against Sheffield United on January 7 as arrangements have not yet bene made for the sale of tickets. 

EVERTON KNOW NOW SPURS LEAD WORTHILTY
Monday, December 19, 1960. The Liverpool Daily Post
TOTTENHAM SCORE FIRST-THEY MISS IN SAFETY
EVERTON 1, TOTTENHAM 3
By Horace Yates
What a tragedy! No, not the result, but the encircling mist, which shrouded from view many of the delights which we can only assume were there for our entertainment for whenever we were fortunate enough to be sufficiently near to see the design unfolding there was so much that looked so attractive.  Through the gloom, with shadows flitting unrealistically and the vast majority of the crowd advised or developments only by the reactions of those nearest the scene of action, one fact could not be obscured.  Tottenham are worthy League leaders for on the day they were superior to Everton and their record suggests that what they accomplished on Saturday was more routine than exceptional.  They are a magnificent side big, powerful, speedy, clever and welded into an inspiring pattern on team play. I cannot see any club in the League reducing the lead they have forged at the head of the table and if we are to accept the fact that Everton are their challengers-in-chief, then it seems that only a strike, and a prolonged strike at that, can deprive the Londoners of their deserts.  This clash was not the thrill-a-minute high speed spectacular performance most people had assumed could be the only outcome of a meeting of two such sides, because the side as far from right and Everton were unlucky enough to have play without Roy Vernon.  With fog prevailing it is always a problem as to which is the better course to adopt –play on in the hope that conditions will not deteriorate or call it off if there is a reasonable prospect that the people who pay to make the entertainment possible will be deprived of their legitimate expectation. 
Points and Acclamation
Tottenham triumphed over Everton and the conditions and are entitled to the points and the acclamation.  If only this game could have been transported to some clear, crisp and friendly day, I feel sure the offering would have lived up to its promise.  Just to prove it, I would ask nothing better than to see these two sides filling out side by side at Wembley on a sun-drenched day in May.  What a prospect.  What a dream!  Everton in the periods of ascendancy they did enjoy, suggested that Tottenham, magnificent though they may be, are not entirely invulnerable.  For example, the mighty Spurs might have been rocked to their foundations, just as Sheffield Wednesday were a fortnight ago, by an Everton goal in seconds.  Brown and his defence were helpless as Temple who was later to enjoy a by no means unsuccessful game, shot narrowly wide of the goal when it could just as easily have been a score.  Indeed there was not a direct shot at either goal for 35 minutes although in the meantime Brown has shown his agility by scooping out an in swinging corner kick from Bingham, almost from under his bar.  Tottenham had begun as though they had the most profound respect for this Everton side and looked like a spring tightly coiled without opportunity to unwind.  Everton had seen Parker at his most brilliant best tackling and raiding with a certainty that was impressive even in such a talent-laden picture. 
Harris Compares
We looked on the much-vaunted Mackay and Blanchflower, acknowledged artists in their own right, and saw Brian Harris, dancing, darting and scheming so effortlessly that he lost nothing by comparison with these acknowledge giants of the sports.  Blanchflower, in fact tilted so unequally with Collins that there were visions that this diminutive Scot would put the Irishman to rout.  This promises to be the build-up to another complete break-through by Collins and it was not easy to imagine how the tables could be turned so that the under-dog could be the dictator and so swing the whole match in Tottenham’s favour.  Yet, so it proved.   He, it was who prised open the Everton defence just wide enough to send my man-of-the-match Cliff Jones, shooting through like a rocket in orbit round the Everton goal.  Having engineered the open space in front of goal, he looked for and found what seemed to be the most natural sequel in the world-White lying in wait for the ball.  Over it went and Dunlop realising the danger, just a split second too late, ran out to make the shooting angle impossible failed by a fraction and there was the ball in the net.  This was the mechanical operation to set the Tottenham spring unwinding and almost as though they required such a fillip to give an edge to their confidence, Spurs blossomed into outright dominance with 36 minutes gone. 
Everton Reel
Everton reeled before the aggressive brilliance of their foes and it was the most natural order of events that a shaken side should go further into arrears only three minutes later.  Again it was the nonchalant Blanchflower who skipped a way through to the by-line, chipped a pass to the foot of Allen and Everton were two down.  Was this to become another Tottenham revel, just another goal-scoring spree?  The dagger was obvious and had not Everton pulled themselves together with commendable zeal they might have been sunk without trace in the remaining minutes to the interval.  Just as Tottenham had been transformed by success Everton needed a singular spur to greatness.  They might easily have found it too, for Temple laid on an open invitation to Collins in front of goal.  Immediate reaction by Collins and the margin might have been reduced, and I found myself yearning for the dynamite of Vernon’s foot.  Collins hesitated and then lobbed.  A magnificent effort it was too; immaculately conceived but Brown earned the grateful thanks of his team with an equally thrilling finger tip clearance over the bar.  With the fog thickening threateningly Parker took a leaf right out of Blanchflower’s manual sent Bingham careering joyfully down the wing.  Over to Young and through to Wignall.  The young forward, reluctantly facing up to the possibility of parting company with the first team football in consequence of the infusion of new talent, side stepped a desperately diving Brown and hit the ball home with an assurance which is a measure of the confidence he has acquitted from his brush with football in the top flight.  So readily has this lad responded to opportunity that one felt almost saddened at the realisation that to interrupt it now could easily retard his spirited march of progress.  Everton were back in the game only a goal down and fighting hard, and one would hardly avoid the reflection that had they taken their opportunities as they occurred, when encouragement was most needed as Tottenham had certainly done, Everton, and not the Londoners could have been ahead.  Tottenham forged two first half opening and the result was two goals.  That is the reaction that makes champions and Everton had fallen down in this vital requirement.  A Jones header found Dunlop eager to prove his efficiency and prove it he did, before Allen fired into the side-netting.  The game was at the cross-roads.  An Everton score was capable of pointing the way, but Tottenham’s moment of trail found their man.  From nearly thirty yards Mackay almost burst the roof of the net with a shot which Dunlop could scarcely have seen. 
Mastery of Labone
Smith put the ball beyond Dunlop again and the crowd gratefully accepted the referee’s signal that Smith’s unfair use of the elbow had negative any scoring claim.  No wonder Smith was disappointed.  It was his single moment of near glory, for the mastery which Labone exercised over the England leader was complete.  Whoever else may be faulted and downgraded as a result of comparison with his opponent, certainly it was not Labone.  His was as near a flawless exhibition of positional excellence and anticipation as one could desire.  Gabriel who so rarely allows himself the luxury of a goal found himself in front of Brown with a score there for the taking.  To that more composed onlookers, not saddled by any weight of responsibility, a goal was easier to score than to miss and Gabriel, to his obvious embarrassment, missed with something to spare.  White was as amazed as anybody on the ground when he saw Dunlop reach a beautifully directed header, before Jones beat Dunlop, only to see the ball hit the post. 
Disappointing Young
What of Young, costliest jewel in the Everton crown, making a debut so patiently awaited by an expectant throng?  There was the unusual sight of Young tilting with his opposite number Smith, just outside the Everton penalty area, and one or two touches of sheer delight, suggested no reckless expenditure of £10,000 but when a heaven-sent offering was his, with only the merest direct touch of the head needed to give him a scoring start, he placed the ball over the bar.  If only Young could have started with a history of making one goal and taking another many people would have been much more satisfied.  Everton had several times looked the gift-horse in the mouth and spurned the offering.  How could anyone pretend that guilty of such rashness they deserved to half the march of the more realistic Spurs?  Victory went to the more deserving side, but for all that would find myself completely undeterred at Everton prospects in the event of a third meeting with both teams at strength.  Let us not be despondent about Young.  In the handful of games Thomson has had since coming to England, he has advanced most heartrendingly and Vernon’s debut is not so long in the past that I have forgotten the first impression that his power of shot could scarely burst a balloon.  We know differently now and when Young has settled in the picture could be equally transformed.  I was left with the feeling that while Everton’s contribution came from all-out endeavour, times t full-stretch.  Tottenham were able to impose their will from a more skilled control with just that little in-hand that makes for comfort in achievement.  Everton; Dunlop; Parker, Thomson; Gabriel, Labone, Harris; Bingham, Wignall, Young, Collins, Temple.  Tottenham Hotspur; Brown; Baker, Henry; Blanchflower, Norman, Mackay; Jones, White, Smith, Allen, Dyson.  Referee; Mr. A. Holland (Barnsley).  Attendance 61,052. 

HUDDERSFIELD TOWN RES  3 EVERTON RES 1
Monday, November 19, 1960. The Liverpool Daily Post
When Keith Webber, the Everton centre-forward, equalised in the thirtieth minute he shattered Huddersfield Town’s record of not having conceded a goal in their last six home games.  Balderstone had shot Huddersfield’s first goal.  A minute from half-time Battany restored their lead and Atkins headed a third five minutes from the end.  The star of the Everton half-back line was left half Sharples whose cool and at times almost casual play, was the outstanding feature of their display.  Left winger Lill had a surprisingly quiet game against experienced right back Gibson who often beat him in the tackle. 

MIST (AND SPURS) CAME OUT ‘ON TOP’
Liverpool Echo - Monday 19 December 1960
By Leslie Edwards
What the eye doesn't see the heart doesn't grieve over, they say, but Everton and their fans are grieving plenty this morning. Not because Tottenham beat them, but because not a soul in 61,000 can have seen more than half of what promised to be the game of the season, if not of the century. Impossible, therefore, not to feel a little cheated: a lot frustrated. There have been so many clear Saturday afternoons in the past 15 years when we have seen all too well the deficiencies of some Everton teams. Now, on the occasion of Young's debut and the visit of the finest footballing team in the country, mist settled like a veil over the ground and became more and more impenetrable. Never can there have been such ant- climax at a cost of the customers of some £1,000. The visibility and Everton's defeat made the carne doubly vexatious. What emerged, quite clearly, was that Spurs won deservedly: that Everton, for once, missed most of their chances: that the game was admirably controlled and admirably fought and that followers of the beaten club were prepared to give the winners a standing ovation at the end. None. I fancy, would have minded this defeat if they could have seen it; ground-level spectators, for once, had the best of it. People high in the stands, far from the pitch and with the floodlights diffused by the mist, saw so little it would almost have been possible at the interval to have gone home and missed nothing. In the circumstances one cannot, with fairness, judge either side collectively or individually, but merely try to assess what was visible from the centre of the main stand. From that point the blue of Everton's colours merged so completely into the background of the blackened pitch there were times when Spurs seemed to have the field completely to themselves Clearances went astray.
One is left wondering whether Everton's cause suffered from the difficulty of their players in "finding" each other with passes. Too many clearances from the defence found the opposition; indeed once Spurs had taken the lead the failure of the Everton backs and half-backs to find their forwards and their propensity to slash the ball up-field rather than work if by shorter, more accurate passes led to Spurs increasing their command and winning in the end with two goals, and some expertise, in hand. Everton, minus Vernon, and with Alex Young's play rusty from the effect of a month on the side-lines, never got going devastingly as they often do. They started on the wrong foot when Temple half - timed a shot which might well have put them in the lead in the first minute and they continued on it at other equally vital-moments such as those which provided such easy openings as Collins, Gabriel, Young and Wignall enjoyed. You cannot beat Spurs if you are so profligate. There was, also, a tendency by Everton to make three passes where one would have sufficed. In the first-half alone they could have scored twice, if not three times and it was no fault of Brian Harris' that they didn't. Having said this—and Spurs cannot be blamed for their opponents shortcomings—let me put on record my belief that Tottenham are the best club side ever. Their understanding is almost perfect; their triangular progression has the certainty of clockwork. They almost invariably put themselves where they can be found with a pass. Their combined operations are carried through with such lack of fuss and with such snap and decision the ball moves from one-end of the field to the other like lightning—and often catches the defence out of position.
A turning point
This was the way of it when White scored. The way he deadened the ball and brought it down with his instep as it came to him fast and fairly high from Jones was remarkable. To beat Dunlop as he advanced was chance taking par excellence. Five minutes later Blanchflower's upfield excursion led to Allen hammering the ball in for a second goal. The game's turning point was to come just on the interval when Bingham roamed from his wing almost to the other flank to put Temple In possession. Whether Collins was too surprised at finding himself slap in front of goal with all the time and space he needed I don't know, but it was a too tentative shot and Brown edged it on to the bar and so for a corner. If Everton had countered with a goal at this stage it would have had far reaching effect. Wignall's sluggishness when out of possession (and his excellence when he had the ball at his feet) was clearly discernible several times in this half, but he made a grand job of luring Brown out and rounding him before scoring and at 2-1 down.  Everton's case was not hopeless. Eleven minutes later Mackay hit a shot from every inch of 25 yards: Dunlop rose near the goal angle: the crowd in the stands thought for a moment that he had saved: the groan which followed indicated he hadn't! Smith with a disallowed headed goal—what was wrong with this one—all but made it 4-1 after Jones with a spanking header that Dunlop did magnificently to see, much less save, had given the Stanley Park end patrons a visible incident which must of itself have been worth the admission money. At the other end Young, from Temple's cross-goal pass missed a sitter, or so it seemed to me, and Gabriel with one header saved and another directed wide sent up the groans which told of Everton chances cast aside instead of hammered home.
On two counts
And so, with thousands streaming out 15 minutes from the end, what would have been a great game fizzled out in the mist and murk into a classic disappointment on two counts—the weather and the verdict. Let us hope the luck of the Cup bring them together again, in which case Young will have had opportunity to play himself in and Vernon will have completed suspension doubly costly because it coincided with the one match his club had to win if they were to cut Spurs' long lead to six points. Not often can one side have proved so conclusively their right to be acknowledged as the better on the day and probably on the season. Spurs are adept at pacing the game, bringing it to a lazy level when they feel inclined and speeding it up to flat-out when necessity arises. Cliff Jones' diagonal runs, on a pitch as leaden as the sky, were thrilling things, but not always did they lead to much. There is little scope for individualism in the present Tottenham eleven.  They are essentially 11 good men and true and the football jury which heard and saw their evidence at Goodison Park could have no other verdict than "Not guilty of winning on anything save football artistry and whole-heartedness." The victory left a clean taste because the spirit of the game was always good and because it was always well controlled. Tottenham can come here again and get a cheer as they take the field, just as they received a cheer when they left it. That is saying a great deal. I don't hold it against Everton that they slipped up for the first time at home. Without Vernon and with Young not fizzing, as I expected, in this vital game the task was just beyond them. Well played Tottenham; well-tried Everton!

YOUNG IS RECALLED BY ARMY C.O.
Liverpool Echo - Monday 19 December 1960
DOUBTFUL FOR CUP-TIE
By Leslie Edwards
Alex Young’s, Everton’s Scottish international centre-forward, who made his debut against Spurs at Goodison Park on Saturday, received a summons to meet his C.O in Scotland today.  Young, who is stationed at Aldershot, may be returning to his unit.  His selection for the position League Cup-tie against Tranmere Rovers at Prenton on Wednesday depends on whether the Army makes him available to his club.  I understand that an Everton representative watched the Kilmarnock v. Dunfermline match on Saturday and that the player scouted was the Dunfermline goalkeeper, Heriot.  Everton may well be taking steps to strengthen this position in view of their heavy programme within the next few weeks.  The signing of another goalkeeper would be a wise precaution. 
Everton Youth team to meet Bolton Youth at Goodison Park tonight (7-30) will be; Mailey; Parnell, Gannon; Jarvis, Gorrie, Sharples; Maddocks, Tyrer, Webber, Moreton, Edwards.

EVERTON PROGRESS IN YOUTH CUP
Tuesday, December 20, 1960. The Liverpool Daily Post
Penalty Miss Put Them on Top
Everton Youth 4, Bolton Youth 1.
A miss from the penalty spot with the score sheet blank has often discouraged a football team, but it was not so with Everton Youth at Goodison Park last night for after Tyrer had shot over from the spot, a side which had looked very mediocre up that stage suddenly blossomed into life in this F.A.  Youth Cup third round tie.  After 40 minutes Morton put Everton ahead from a corner by Maddox after Bolton goalkeeper Lord had appeared to misjudge the flight of the ball.  Shortly after this, left back Gannon hit the angle with a glorious drive from just outside the penalty area and the pace of the Everton team work quickened.  There was little incident in the first 35 minutes, when the fog was swirling round the ground although Bolton outside right Lee had missed two good chances.  Everton opened the second half on the offensive and Tyrer missed a good chance from only 10 yards, after he had been put through by Webber.  Bolton broke away and it was only a great save by Mailey in the Everton goal, who came out and flung himself at the feet of inside right Arnold, which prevented them from equalising.  The save played a vital part in the game for with-in a minute of it Everton had scored two further goals.  Edwards and Morton took advantage of some slackness in the visitors defence and laid on a chance for Webber at the 48th minute, and within half a minute Tyrer netted the best goal of the match.  Edwards broke away on the left and placed a ball perfectly to the in-running Tyrer who lashed in a brilliant volley with his right foot from 15 yards.  It was Tryer, too, who made Everton’s fourth goal at the 77th minute when he raced round two Bolton defenders, before squaring the ball to Webber, whose driving header rocketed into the top of the net.  Centre half Barker got a penalty goal for Bolton at the 87th minute when an Everton defender handled in the area and although the visitors came into the game a little more after this, Everton deserved their win, if only for the way they snatched the initiative at the 35th minute and turned a rather dullish game into an interesting one. 

ANOTHER SETBACK FOR MICKY LILL
Liverpool Echo - Tuesday 20 December 1960
"Spiked" In Training
CUP-TIE TEAM
BY Leslie Edwards
Everton's chapter of accidents continues, Micky Lill sprinting at the ground this morning was accidentally spiked on the ankle and the wound needed stitches.  Lill has only just returned to fitness after having a cartilage removed.  It is not known yet whether Alex Young will be able to lead the attack in the Cup-tie against Tranmere at Prenton tomorrow night.  He plays for the Army against Glasgow Rangers in Glasgow tonight and will be telephoning Manager Carey first thing tomorrow to let him know whether he will be available.  The attack will therefore be chosen from six players- Bingham, Collins, Young, Wignall, Vernon, Temple.  The defence is as usual.  Everton; Dunlop; Parker, Thomson; Gabriel, Labone, Harris (B.); from; Bingham, Collins, Young, Wignall, Vernon, Temple. 
TICKETS
Paddock tickets for Burnley match may be had on application at the club offices.  The club point out that patrons should not write or 'phone the club about the distribution of tickets for the Sheffield United Cup-tie. The posting of these to applicants will take place after the Christmas mail rush.

TYRER MISS WAS THE INSPIRATION
Liverpool Echo - Tuesday 20 December 1960
By Paul O’Brien
The F.A. Youth Cup, third round, match at Goodison Park last night was 35 minute, old before Everton warmed themselves to the task of beating Bolton, and the strange thing was that it took a miss from the penalty spot by inside right, Tyrer, to do the trick.  Up to this stage, Bolton had looked the more dangerous near goal.  They had in fact missed two great chances of taking the lead, and on both occasions the culprit was outside right Lee. In the first instance, he drove the ball straight at Everton goalkeeper, Mailey from no more than six yards.  Then, after rounding two Everton defenders and side stepping Mailey, he only half-hit his shot and right back Parnell was able to race across and clear off the line. Inside left Morton gave Everton the lead at the 40th minute, following a corner on the right by Maddox, and from that moment the home side never really looked back. Left half Sharples saw a stinging ground shot pass just wide of the post, and left back Gannon hit the angle with a wonderful 25-yards drive. The mist, which had made it practically impossible to distinguish players on the far side of the field in the first half, lifted during the interval, and the 2,586 crowd were able to see Everton at something like the best.
IMPORTANT SAVE

A brilliant dive by Mailey at the feet of Bolton inside right, Arnold, as he raced for goal prevented the visitors from equalizing, and as it turned out it was probably one of the most important saves the young Everton goalkeeper has ever made. Straight from his clearance Everton worked the ball down the left wing, and when it came across into the penalty area there was Webber waiting to put Everton two-up. This was at the 48th minute, and within 30 seconds Everton, had added a third. Once again left winger, Edwards, played a vital part in the goal. He took, the ball down to the edge of the penalty area before putting over the most perfect of centres for Tyrer to hit the ball first time past goalkeeper Lord at unstoppable speed. Some of the Bolton tackling had been a little heavy and centre forward, Redrobe, after a number of warnings, appeared to have his name taken by referee A. Roberts, of Wigan. Webber scored a fourth for Everton with a grand header from a Tyrer cross at the 77t h minute, and a minute later centre half, Barker, scored a consolation goal for Bolton from the penalty spot. Parnell had an outstanding game at right back for Everton at left back, Gannon, and left half Sharples were not far behind him, while goalkeeper, Mailey showed just how good he is without being too spectacular.  Barker and Robinson were outstanding in the Bolton defence while inside forward Arnold and Taylor were always trying to knit a very disjointed Bolton attack together.

THEY PAID TWICE
Liverpool Echo - Tuesday 20 December 1960
With Leslie Edwards
To pay 7s 6d to see so little of the Everton -Spurs game must have been bad enough, but what of People who had to pay twice in order to get into the ground! One, who has been to see me, assures me that he was at Goodison Park a good 35 minutes before kick-off time. The queue for the paddock (4s tickets only) moved so slowly he and some ethers, who wouldn't have got through the turnstiles until 15 minutes after the game had started, left it and walked through the 2s 6d pay-at-the-door turnstiles to terraces not nearly as crowded as the paddock's. Some who showed their paddock tickets were then allowed to infiltrate into their proper places. Stand ticket-holders on the Bullens Road side also had difficulty in getting through a huge queue of people waiting to get through the paddock turnstiles. To accommodate a crowd of 61,000 is never easy. especially when so many of them chose to arrive at the same time, but it is manifestly wrong that ticket-holders arriving half an hour before the start should have to pay a second time—and miss their opportunity of getting a paddock ticket for the Burnley game—merely because they cannot get into the ground in time to see the start. People who did not see the match are tempted to ask: “Are Everton going to demand a replay?" The more appropriate Question might be: “Are they going to demand a recount?" To compete the Everton bill for keen supporter Mr. Watling (who was also a bit unlucky in not being able to use his 4s paddock ticket) the answer to his query is "Bobby Collins and Dave Hickson played many, many times in the same forward line."
Farrell takes a rest
Peter Farrell that splendid old Everton half-back and skipper, and until recently manager at Tranmere Rovers is typically philosophic about his parting with Tranmere. He's not embittered and never will be. Naturally he is keen to stay in soccer if he can find a niche. Meantime he is having a week or two's rest and finding the experience rather odd, since he's been on the go in soccer since his schooldays in Dublin. To run a Third Division club and make it successful in one's first venture in management is no sinecure. You want all the bits of luck that are going. Farrell is much too good a man to be long on the sidelines. His sportsmanship and honesty of purpose should mean that he will be fixed up quickly. I can think of no job which would suit him better than one as a commentator—sound or vision. His experience as a quiz master and the wonderful work he has done in helping boys' and youth clubs on Merseyside—at no cost to such organiastions—make him a man everyone is anxious to see at work again.

YOUNG IMPROVE INJURED KNEE IN ARMY GAME
Wednesday, December 21, 1960 Liverpool Daily Post
Retired 28 Minutes From the End-Wignall Likely to play at Tranmere
By Horace Yates
Everton were hit by misfortunate last night when their £40,000 Scottish International centre forward, Alex Young, injured his knee while playing against Rangers for the Army.  Bursting through, he slipped on an icy patch and fell.  He was led from the field limping heavily and though 28 minutes still remained for play he did resume and was substituted by Horne of Crystal Palace.  It is suspected that he has ligament trouble, and last night Manager John Carey was anxiously awaiting news of the full extent of the injury.  Mr. Carey had included Young in the Everton team to visit Tranmere Rovers in the fourth round of the League Cup at Prenton Park this evening but had taken the precaution of naming Wignall as an alternative.  Now it appears certain that Wignall will play for so soon after his recovery from his last injury, it is unlikely that the slightest risk will be taken with Young.  I learned from Scotland last night that Young’s injury is a recurrence of that which he had when he signed for Everton.  That injury was received playing for the Army against Aberdeen.  Young was quite despondent about his misfortune, and when asked how long he thought he would be laid up he replied; it’s hard to tell.  It could be anything from two to five weeks. From Scotland I also heard that Young’s forecast may prove to be an understatement for it was said that cartilage trouble was being suggested as the cause of his double breakdown.  No doubt Everton will take all necessary steps to have the injury expertly diagnosed with the minimum of delay.  Young last night was playing at inside-right and in partnership with Chris Crowe (Blackburn) was enjoying quite an impressive match.  It is sheer tragedy that now there will have to be another delay in his appearance, for Everton, with all the disadvantage of having to play himself in again.  Signed on November 23 with George Thomson from Hearts in a £55,000 deal Young was not able to play until Saturday last against Tottenham Hotspur, when it was evident that he was in need of more and more match practice to enable him to regain the form that had not only made him Scotland’s leader but had sent many of the leading clubs in the game in search of his signature.  Young could scarcely have been away to a more unfortunate start and it was thought that his appearance for the Army last night would be of great help to him in regaining confidence and fitness and with another match against Tranmere tonight he would have been in much better shape to face up to the Christmas holiday programme.  When I asked Mr. Carey last night what the outlook was he replied “I cannot say anything at all until I know how serious Young’s injury is.” 
Finishing Touch
Young had arranged to ring Mr. Carey after the game to let him know how he felt and whether or not he would be available for the League Cup match.  Everton have banked heavily on Young to give to their attack that finesse which was considered necessary to add the finishing touch to a team capable of sweeping through the League programme.  Everybody will wish Young luck and hope that the injury is not so serious that it will not respond readily to treatment nut it is fortunate for Everton that Wignall has been making such marked progress while waiting for Young to take over.  It looks very likely that Wignall’s first team run will now be extended.  If the League Cup in its inaugural year is to develop any great interest it is time we were seeing signs of it now, and it would be encouraging to think that Everton visit to Prenton Park could be the first tie in the competition to cause the “house full” signs to be hoisted.  Yet on the eve of the game, there is no certainly that all tickets will be sold.  This will probably convince Tranmere if they require convincing, that they were right to hold on to ground advantage for what guarantee is there that if the match had been switched to Goodison Park the response would have been worthy of the sacrifice?  Tranmere’s win on Monday evening will have been some sort of encouragement to their crowd after recent disappointments, but there were none of the signs present in that match to suggest the likelihood of a victory over Everton.  No matter how other clubs regard the League Cup competition Everton players are determined to have their names inscribed on the trophy as first winners.  At the moment the Cup means little or nothing so completely has it failed to capture the imagination of the mass of the players and crowds but who knows in days to come with suitable amendments made a much more formidable appeal may be attached to it? 
Vernon Back
Young apart Everton will field the strongest available team.  This, of course means that Roy Vernon is back again after suspension and that can scarcely improve the Tranmere’s hopes of creating a surprise.  Vernon’s value to the Everton side was never better illustrated than against Tottenham for his absence left a void which nobody else seemed remotely capable of filling adequately.  Vernon has not been allowed to have any contact with his colleagues in the last fourteen days, but I doubt if this will have taken the edge off his enthusiasm or his appetite.  A brake was applied to the progress of Mickey Lill, following his cartilage operation when yesterday in training, he was accidentally spiked above the left ankle bone by a colleague.  The injury required stitching.  Lill came through last week’s reserve team outing quite satisfactorily.  There were no ill effects from the operation although naturally he felt rather more tired from his exertions than normally.  It is not likely the Lill injury will cause any serious delay in his ambition to regain a first team place.  Tranmere last night postponed the announcement of their team until today.  They reported that the conditions of the pitch was good.  Everton; Dunlop; Parker, Thomson; Gabriel, Labone, Harris; Bingham, Collins, Young or Wignall, Vernon, Temple. 

YOUNG EXPECTED TO SEE SPECIALIST
Liverpool Echo - Wednesday 21 December 1960
KNEE INJURY RECURRENCE
IN ARMY GAME
By Leslie Edwards
The left knee Injury which so delayed the debut for Everson of their 40.000 buy from Heart, Alex Young, recurred  last night in Glasgow, where Young, playing for the Army, had to leave the field mid-way through the second half of the match against Glasgow Rangers. Until then he had had a very good game. The injury, on a frost-bound ground was a mystery. No one was near him when he slipped.  He had attention from the Glasgow Rangers trainer, and could only hobble after the game. Young spoke on the telephone, to Everton this morning. Mr. Carey said this afternoon: "The report from Alex is that his knee is less painful to day and not as bad as when it troubled him before. He is returning from Scotland to-morrow and then we will be able to get treatment." The first diagnosis of the trouble was that it was damaged ligaments. Only a specialist examination, which Everton will want the player to have at the earliest moment, can answer the query in many minds: "Has Young got cartilage trouble and will an operation be necessary'"
PREVIOUS KNOCK
Before Young was signed it was thought that Everton would, in no circumstances sign him until they were assured of his absolute fitness.  He damaged his left knee in a previous match for the Army at Aberdeen and there was an interval of four weeks between his signing and his first game for his new club, last Saturday, against Tottenham Hotspur. If Young's trouble involves him in a cartilage operation he will be their second big signing in recent times suffer that misfortune. Mick Lill, signed late last season from Wolves, has been out of the team nearly all season as a result of a knee operation. To make matters worse he was accidentally "spiked in training yesterday and thus he becomes a doubtful starter at the time when he was expected to be almost ready for League football again.   Young’s injury means that he cannot play to-night, as had been hoped, against Tramnere Rovers in the postponed League Cup-tie at Prenton Park. Everton had named their attack as likely to come from six, including Young, so the line will now read: Bingham, Collins, Wignall, Vernon, Temple. Ground tickets for the game will be on sale at the club offices up to the time of the kick-off. No tickets will be sold at the turnstiles.
TRAMMERE CHANGES
Tranmere make two changes from we side which defeated Brentford on Monday night. Stan Billington will be at right back in place of Derek Jones and transfer listed Jimmy Mulkerrin is preferred to Graham Burnett at inside left.  Tranmere Rovers; Payne; Billington, Frith, Neill, Millington, Charlton, Finney, Williams, Rowley, Mulkerrin, Eglington.  –Three former Everton players-Eglington, Billington and Williams will thus be facing their old club. 

POSTPONE IT? EASIER SAID THAN DONE…
Liverpool Echo - Wednesday 21 December 1960
By Leslie Edwards
It is to be hoped that Tranmere fans see more of Everton to-night than we did at Goodison Park on Saturday. If ever an occasion was ruined by the weather it was the match against Spurs. One wonders how much the pipe and cigarette smoke of 61,000 added to the thickness of the mist; visibility was a good deal clearer outside than inside the ground. People are now complaining that the match was ever started, much less completed! They argue that the rule which says the referee shall decide whether or not conditions are fit should be changed. They feel more consideration should be paid to spectators. Once the gates were open on Saturday and tens of thousands paid to go in it became essential, if possible, to get the fixture played. It was the postponement of a match years ago, after the crowd had paid to enter Goodison Park which led to riotous behaviour and the introduction of the old legend over the turnstiles—it seems to be missing now—" spectators enter at their own risk; no admission money is returnable." To have tried to persuade about forty thousand fans who had already paid that football was not practicable would have been a well-nigh impossible task. I thought Mr. Holland not only made the right decision at the outset, but refereed admirably and helped both teams in their aim to play first-class football in the best spirit of the game.
Cribbed and cabined
Reverting to the game this evening. Everton may find as Tottenham and Chelsea did, that the Prenton Park pitch and the close proximity of spectators to play gives the place a cribbed, cabined and confined air. Tranmere fans will always argue that a late goal by Freddie Urmson should have given them victory against Chelsea in Gallacher's day, but it was disallowed and Tranmere endured one of the toughest replays at Stamford Bridge on the following Wednesday. The players long and tiring trapse round the British Museum before lunch—time went so quickly they might easily have missed their lunch and the kick-off !—had no harmful effect. They all but led 3-1 on the stroke of the interval. Ginger Lewis was one of the game's many casualties and was having his nose stitched when I went into the dressing room. Chelsea won 5-3. I fancy. Tottenham were equally lucky to escape a beating at Tranmere in the Cup. They more than made up or their first performance by hitting Tranmere for nine in the replay. But didn't Spurs get ten against Everton two seasons ago.
 To complete the Vernon episode here is a letter from the F.A. to a reader. Ken Griffiths. It shows that the F.A. are not so autocratic and not as unfeeling as many think. This is what Sir Stanley Rouse wrote:— Dear Sir.—Thank you for your letter of December 9, would like to point out that the player declined the offer of a personal hearing and that the case was dealt with on the match officials' reports and statements from the club and Vernon. The Committee which dealt with the case was made up of members who are in no way connected with the Everton, Nottingham Forest and Tottenham Hotspur clubs. The Committee Is not told of the player's previous record of misconduct until a decision is reached, and certainly does not consider any forthcoming fixtures of his club. "The players case was dealt with fairly and we regret that the Committee's decision cannot be changed.

WIGNALL HITS THREE IN EVERTON VICTORY
Thursday, December 22, 1960. The Liverpool Daily Post
CLASS AND STAMINA TOLD IN THE END AGAINST A GALLIANT TRANMERE
Tranmere Rovers 0, Everton 4
By Horace Yates
Everton sailed into the last eight of the League Cup competition at Prenton Park last night as everybody knew they would, but it was not quite the one horse race that might have been expected.  In the latter stages Everton’s class, speed and superior stamina told a decisive story and gaps were opened so easily in a Tranmere defence which previously had been neat to water tight.  After ten minutes play one of the Rovers supporters commented “Well we are not disgraced up to now.” He could have said that again at the end, for Tranmere were certainly not disgraced, and for them it was a case of defeat with dignity and no little honour.  Everton’s following, worried by the news that Young’s knee is again giving trouble, had quite a load lifted from their minds by the display given by twenty-one-year-old Frank Wignall, in his first season as a full time professional.  Wignall collected his first treble for the senior team and with a little more steadiness he could have made it five.  This was still a very encouraging show from him and if he continues to improve at this rate Everton are not going to miss Young nearly so much as might at one time have been feared.  Another cheering aspect was Thomson’s advance as a full back.  Already he has shaken off that early lethargy that threatened to make his early days in English League football, something of a problem for him and going into his tackles now with speed and enthusiasm he is a player transformed.  There seems to be no doubt that Everton have pulled another potentially great player from Scottish League football.  His venturesome spirit, for he thought nothing of moving up towards the Tranmere penalty area also suggested that he is not merely defensively minded.  Still all the satisfaction was not Everton’s for Tranmere until the game slipped beyond them, played well above their normal League form.  If they could produce this sort of spirit regularly it is difficult to imagine how they could remain so perilously close to the relegation zone in the Third Division. 
Obvious Plan
They begun with a plan that was so obvious.  It was to sacrifice to ensure that Vernon and Collins were not given the freedom they needed to run Tranmere out of the game in the early stages.  Whenever the ball went near this dangerous Everton two-some defenders were right on top of them to stunt their enterprise before it could begin to show results.  For a long time Tranmere’s goal area seemed terribly overcrowded as the Rovers reasoned that so long as Everton did not score Tranmere were still in the game with a chance.  I found much to commend in the defensive work of the whole Tranmere side, but they could not have everything and while they were sealing up the approaches to their own goal there was little left in front of them to tear through a composed and competent Everton rearguard.  It is a major puzzle to me why the Rovers supporters are inclined to take so unkindly to the play of Keith Williams.  This former Evertonian showed in almost everything he did, a class clean above that normally associated with Third Division football.  His every mistake was seized on by his critics who paid nothing like the same attention to his accomplishments.  He did not appear in any way out of his depth surrounded as he was by the talented Everton forwards, at least in the way he used the ball to make opportunities for others.  Possibly if there had been a better response from the other forwards his work might have shown up to even greater advantage.  Billington undoubtedly appears to be in his correct position at right back for against a mobile and speedy Temple he had several noteworthy accomplishments to his credit.  Everton took the lead after fifteen minutes when Collins pushed the ball through for Wignall to shoot past Payne. While Payne had very much more to do in the Tranmere goal than had Dunlop, he was equal to almost every demand made on him and some of his saves were really spectacular.  At half-time Tranmere had every reason to compliment themselves on limiting Everton’s successes to a single goal, but the feeling that their success in keeping out the Everton sharp-shooters was proving their inspiration was confirmed when something of a collapse set in during the second half after Bingham had scored the second in 57 minutes.  Four minutes later Wignall scored his second and as a match it was all over, but still there was great interest in whether or not Wignall would achieve his first treble.  He left it late for only three minutes remained when he headed against the post and when Collins gave him possession again from the rebound he made no mistake.  Tranmere Rovers; Payne; Billington, Frith, Neill; Millington, Charlton, Finney, Williams, Rowley, Mulkerrin, Eglington.  Everton; Dunlop; Parker, Thomson; Gabriel, Labone, Harris; Bingham, Collins, Wignall, Vernon, Temple.  Referee; Mr. A.E. Ellis (Halifax).  Attendance 14,967. 

YOUNG SAYS INJURY IS NOT SERIOUS
Thursday, December 22, 1960. The Liverpool Daily Post
The news of Alex Young Everton’s Scottish international centre forward, injured in an Army game on Tuesday evening, was much more reassuring last night writes Horace Yates.
I understand that Young contacted Mr. John Carey, the Everton manager by telephone yesterday and stated that his knee was nothing like as painful as it had been after the match.  There is no reason to believe that the injury is anything more than strained tendons and the player’s opinion is that the knee is not as seriously damaged as it was on the last occasion.  Young expects to report at Goodison today and he will be examined by a specialist on Friday morning.  Until medical opinion has been obtained it is impossible to hazard any sort of forecast as to how long it will be before the Scot will be able to play again.  In any event his reappearance will be rushed.  It is pointless to risk a further recurrence of the knee trouble by trying to do too much too soon, and it is a matter of common interest to club and player that the trouble should be completely cleared before Young tries again, keen though everybody is to see the Everton line led by an in-form Young. 

WHY WORRY ABOUT YOUNG WITH WIGNALL ON THE BALL?
Liverpool Echo - Thursday 22 December 1960
By Michael Charters

The old and well-tried phrase “beaten but not disgraced” sums up Tranmere Rovers' performance in going down 4-0 to Everton in the fourth round tie of the League Cup at Prenton Park last night.  Even though Everton's superior class and pace were always evident, there was a welcome urgency about Tranmere which showed them up in a much better light than their in display against Brentford two nights earlier. Indeed, for about half an hour before the interval, when one down, Tranmere gave as good as they received and their first-time tackling took the edge off Everton’s attack which had threatened from the start to run riot. Towards the end, however, Tranmere tired in the testing going and it was then that Everton, playing well within themselves, did more or less what they liked. The choice of Billington at right back brought some much needed stiffening to the Tranmere defence, and with the half back line of Neill, Millington and Charlton getting through an overtime dose of defensive chores very well, Tranmere had their best game for some weeks. It was no mean feat to hold Everton's full League side as Tranmere did for a good portion of the game, for Everton were going all out until they had established a commanding lead.  The essence of their excellent play was the way in which they never allowed Vernon and Collins to dominate midfield during the hour or so when they were in the game with a chance. Neill and Charlton tackled well and moved the ball thoughtfully in attack.
SUPERB TRIO

But the forwards, hard though Rowley, Williams and Eglington played, could not break down the superb trio of Labone. Thomson and Parker, who covered Dunlop so well that what saves the goalkeeper had to make were fairly comfortable ones. Williams was the forward star for Rovers, always trying for the big shot, and some of his passes to Eglington were inch perfect.  Everton's superior control of the ball on a difficult pitch, their flair for the first time, quick pass, and the way they moved into the open space, placed them naturally on a higher plane altogether than Tranmere in pure skill. But that was to be expected, of course, and I admired Tranmere for sticking to their task so well and courageously. I thought Thomson had an 'outstanding game for Everton, as did Harris and Gabriel, whose understanding and use was constructively. So well did their backs play that the wing halves were able to enjoy themselves with the up field surge and link with the forwards. In the forwards, it was Vernon who had the quietest match on his return after suspension. He was never able to do his famous side-step shuffle and shot as he likes to, but there was one purple moment late on when he thundered the ball twice in rapid succession against blue-clad bodies which will feel very sore this morning. Bingham had his best game yet for Everton, and could beat the luckless Frith just how and when he wanted. Temple, too, did excellently against Rovers' best defender, Billington, and Collins was his usual effervescent self, pacing the game just as he wanted to and being able to spend most of his time on attack.
INSTANT SNOT
Wignall, with three excellent goals, showed that Everton need not worry too much about the absence of Alex Young. This big, young man may have his critics but when he can hit the ball into the net as he does from the chances created by his clever colleagues, Everton must be well content with his continued improvement and first-class scoring sense.  He is the type of centre forward who can benefit most from playing between Vernon and Collins. I like him more every time I see him and you can't fault anyone who keep getting goals with the regularity he does.  His first goal, after ten minutes, was taken with the instant shot which is his hallmark and his test asset. The move started with Vernon fighting his way past a couple of tackles, slipping the ball across to Collins whose perfect through pass of ten yards reached Wignall.  As quick as you can think, Wignall hit it past the out-coming Payne, who previously had saved brilliantly from Gabriel and Bingham. Payne had his usual excellent game, calm and confident, but he had no chance when Bingham scored after 51 minutes, coolly placing the ball away from the goalkeeper after Collins and Vernon had opened the way. That, I thought, settled the match, for from that moment it' went all one way—Everton way. Wignall scored a beauty four minutes later when Temple pushed a short pass across and the centre forward flashed the ball in the net from 18 yards before a defender could move a muscle to tackle him. The last goal, two minutes from time, was a triumph for Wignall's perseverance. He beat Payne with a lovely diving header from Temple's cross, the ball hitting the upright and rebounding into Payne arms.
GALLANT DISPLAY
The goalkeeper rather foolishly threw the ball out a few yards to Millington, who lost possession in his surprise and Collins was able to cross it to Wignall, whose shot hit the other upright but this time slid into the net. This was a first-class, entertaining game, superbly refereed by Arthur Ellis. Tranmere can take heart from their gallant display and this team should be given an extended run in the League games to come. Much of Everton's football was a sheer delight, and my thanks go to all 22 players for a game which dispelled the discomfort of a damp, rather miserable night.

HE’LL NEVER BUY A TICKET AGAIN…
Liverpool Echo - Thursday 22 December 1960
With Leslie Edwards
Some Everton fans who had paddock (4s) tickets for the Tottenham game are so incensed by arrangements made he swears they'll never buy another ticket for a match there. One of them, Mr. Geoffrey Ellis, of 218 Walton Hall Avenue, writes protesting at the “ridiculous procedure" for big matches. He continues: — “Having a paddock ticket, one expected to enter the ground with no difficulty. I arrived, as instructed, more than half an hour before the start and was amazed to see the size and length of the queues for the paddock. The queue I was in must have numbered four or five hundred people and they were moving very slowly. Why? Because the gatemen were selling tickets for the next big game, against Burnley. I stood in the queue until 2.50 p.m., by which time I realized I would not be in the ground much before 3.30 p.m. Then, with others, I heard that turnstiles for the 2s 6d places were empty, so I ended up by paying a further 2s 6d. I enclosed my unused paddock ticket "It appears to me that Everton think that once a supporter has bought a ticket he must keep on buying another and another. We the spectators, are the greatest asset the club has. I shall never buy another Everton ticket. But good luck to the lads on the field." Everton announce the following arrangements for the sale of paddock tickets for the Sheffield United cup tie. Sale will be from the paddock turnstiles on Tuesday next, at the match v. Burnley. The turnstiles will open at 1.15 p.m. and the sale of tickets will continue as long as tickets are available but in any event no tickets will be sold after 2.45 p.m. which will leave the last 30 minutes prior to the kick-off for uninterrupted admission. The only exception will be at the paddock season ticket entrance at which these tickets will be on sale for paddock season-ticket holders during the time the turnstile is open. The number of tickets available is limited as the visiting club take a quota of the available tickets. Therefore, there will not be sufficient tickets for everyone.
"Saves 'em right," he says
Another follower of Everton (Mr. Wareham. 29 Edith Road, Bootle) explodes: “Who do Everton think they are?" This is the last straw. Prices up again for the cup-tie against Sheffield United. I hope all Merseysiders with common sense will go to Anfield, where the football is just as good and the prices are as usual. Thank you for seeing that Liverpool are well publicized?
Quite clearly a disgruntled Liverpudlian but if the prices are going to continue to be kept at the increased level a man, also, Leith a genuine grouse. Another reader, who has a treat regard for Brian Harris' play and who says my summing up of the Tottenham game was a treat (" you refused to be tempted into making excuses for Everton and nice and quietly without fuss made it quite clear that Tottenham were the masters ") adds this neat postscript: " It serves Everton right for getting licked on Saturday. After all, they haven't bought a player for more than three weeks!
On this topic I give the last word, but not necessarily the most authentic one, to Mr. W. Freeman (91 Abbot Street, Liverpool 5). “First you partly blame Young; then you say Vernon was missed. What's the matter with you? Everton are no wonder team. Remember Liverpool gave them a hiding and they are only a Second Division team."
But for how long, Mr. Freeman, if they play as they did when beating their neighbours ?
A page of history
Those who argued that the Spurs match should have been postponed, though some 40,000 had paid to see a game, will be interested in what happened at Goodison Park just 65 years ago when the referee called a game off and the fans thought they'd had a raw deal: I Quote from Tom Yeats' history of the club; "December, 1885, was a harassing month for the directors, as in addition to the turnstile frauds, they had a riot to contend with, on December 28, when Small Heath were the visitors. Heavy rain had fallen for three days; the ground was a swamp and to play on it seemed an absurdity. The referee, however, ordered the game to be played, although it was still raining heavily. The attendance was only one-third of the average. "From the start the lot of the players was pitiable. After half an hour's frantic play, the referee mercifully stopped the game and the players rushed to the dressing rooms. Defying the rain, and hoping for a resumption, the bulk of the spectators remained on the ground until it was announced that the game was abandoned. The gates were then opened and the majority passed out. "Quite a crowd, however, remained, and, recruited by an army of street loafers who had entered, a howling mob fronted the office demanding their money back. The Secretary tried to appease the brawling but in vain, and retreated when a stone was hurled at him. Director George Mahon did manage to get a hearing and pointing out that it was impossible to tell who had paid and who had not a free ticket was offered to all the demonstrators for the re-played match. The howling intensified with the clamour for money. Stones were thrown at Mr. Mahon, one of them smashing the thick glass face of the clock over his head.
Baton charge
"The policemen in attendance lined up in the front of the office and, being unable to quell the riot, the Sergeant telephoned for assistance. It soon became evident that a great many hooligans had entered the ground and infected the mob with their rowdyism. Showers of stones flew about, every pane of glass in the office windows was broken, and woodwork was smashed and used as weapons. A crowd made for the grandstand and players' dressing rooms, and a cry of ' Fire the stands' was heard. The few policemen who prevented the raiding of the office were hurt, yet kept very cool and discreetly refrained from attacking the overwhelming mass of rioters. Pandemonium reigned and dreadful damage was imminent when two contingents of police arrived, drew their batons, and at once attacked the mob. A momentary show of resistance was made, but batoned heads and bodies soon affected a panic-stricken rush to the gates, with a clearance from the ground and its vicinity. "But for the pluck and patience of the ground police and the quick arrival of two contingents the wanton damage done must have been more serious. That which was done was regarded as trifling. This few policemen who protected the office and the officials of the club however, had an anxious time. They consoled themselves with the thought that it might have been very much worse."
Permissible addition
Many have said they agreed with the team I chose from Everton and Liverpool's best, past and present. Mr. Charles Grierson agrees, too, but asks to be permitted to make a little addition. Surely Alec Raisbeck deserved a mention at centre half? What about Sam Hardy, automatic choice for England, in goal, for more years than I care to remember?" I knew Alex Raisbeck and that other great centre half and fellow-Scot, Jack Taylor, but their playing days ended as my work here began.
Reader F. Harris (49 Rice Lane, Liverpool 9) agrees with me except in one position. He wants to see Sam Chedgzoy on the right wing. He argues that Billy Liddell got most of his Scottish caps at outside left. Chedgzoy I saw in Ireland and at Blackburn winging for England. At Belfast, patrolling police, armed with revolvers, made the atmosphere a little tense. At Ewood the imminent danger of Sam being charged into the bank of iced snow a foot or two away from the touchline seemed to weigh inordinately with him. Albert Gelderd Dicky Downs (of the bowed legs), Torry Gillick and Jock Thompson (surely one of the nicest footballers who ever kicked a bail) were names missed from the greats of other days. Jock McDougall, still in Liverpool and looking little older, was another omission.

FOG RULES SHOULD PLAY FAIR BY CROWD
Friday, December 23, 1960. The Liverpool Daily Post
EVERTON WOULD WELCOME THIRD MEETING WITH TOTTENHAM
Says Roy Vernon
Anybody who expects the Spurs’ defeat to have spread alarm or despondency in the Everton ranks is guilty of a serious miscalculation.  Not only is our spirit unimpaired but we believe that if the chance should come our way during the season to take a tilt at this extraordinary good London side we will face them with confidence.  We know we can beat Sours, able as they are, although records show they have taken four points from us.  When I resumed contact with the players yesterday after a fortnight in quarantine it was to find everybody willing to concede that Sours were entitled to their win.  But they were not entirely unmindful of the fact that had Everton taken some of the chances they made with the alacrity by their opponents, Tottenham would have been struggling hard for this pleasing double, I know the football followers will say we missed our chances and any side guilty of that failure does not deserve to win.  I do not quarrel with the theory.  Normally it is perfectly true, but players know quite well there are days when they can hit the ball and it will fly into the net.  On another occasion it will miss.  Usually the laws of averages decrees that enough shots will be on target to allow honour to be satisfied but it is on the odd occasion when things go wrong that an inaccurate picture is painted. 
Opportunity Wanted
Our lads thoroughly enjoyed playing against Tottenham.  They were real craftsmen and a game against opposition of that calbre is always the most satisfying.  As I said last week Everton prime ambition is the F.A Cup and nothing that happened last week has done anything to undermine our confidence in that direction.  We feel we have the beating of Spurs and all we ask is the opportunity to prove it in the competition.  If the chance should come as late as Wembley, that will suit us down to the ground.  What a final this could be.  It would be the thrill of a life time for our players and I fancy it would not be entirely unattractive from a public point of view either!  I have heard all sorts of comments about the fog, which certainly helped to ruin the Goodison game as a spectacle, but let us not blame the referee for going through with the match.  So long as the rules remain as they are these officials are helpless.  The players told me they had little difficulty in following the progress of the ball at all stages of the match.  No the fault undoubtedly lies with the League’s legislators.  So long as the first concerns is the completion of the League programme we shall always have this controversy. 
Public’s Right
My view is that it is the public who pay good money for admission who have a right to be satisfied.  They come to the ground expecting entertainment.  Sometimes they may be disappointed with the quality of the football displayed, but there is nothing much anyone can do about that, short of finding new players and that is not always the easiest of occupations-ask Mr. Carey.  But where it is simply a question of not being able to follow play because of the conditions there should be a great deal we can do about it.  I would say that if from a seat in the stands, it is not possible to see the progress of play at any part of the ground then the referee should be empowered to call a halt, needless of the state of the game.  Referees are between the devil and the deep blue sea.  They must have at the back of their minds just how clubs will be effective by abandonment.  For example if either team is well ahead at the time he must feel particularly, if the second half is well under way, that a grave is justice might be done to them by asking them to start all over again on another day.  Still, no matter how such a decision might hurt, we must remember that the public is the first consideration.  What would happen if the lights fused at a threate and the emergency lighting was insufficient to allow everyone to carry on seeing the show?  I doubt very much if the artists would struggle through to the bitter end.  Another argument is that if a referee started a game when everybody was able to see, and that in the course of twenty minutes or so, the fog came down and blotted out the view, an abandonment then would probably lead to some caustic comments from spectators who had seen only a fraction of what they had paid for. 
Fog Hit Gate
Even in such cases I believe the fair-minded majority would agree with the calling-off of the game.  Although Everton’s attendance was the highest in the country on Saturday, who will doubt that it would have been at least ten thousand more if people had not taken one look at the fog and decided a trip to Goodison would be a waste of time?  A replayed game with Spurs, even on a mid-week night, would still pack the ground and I doubt if there would be many complaints about having to pay out a second time.  So I would caution Tottenham.  Celebrate your victory so worthily won but beware.  You may not have seen the last of Everton, and if our paths should cross it will be an Everton doubly out to revenge.  Those Everton supporters who saw me taking part in a road run between my home and Ormskirk the other day, during my period of isolation, probably thought I was a trifle mad, I was quite gratified at the number of people who offered to gave me a lift, but as I tried to explain that would have done nothing for my fitness.  The annoying thing is that when I have been genuinely in need of a lift, I never seem to have the good fortune to run into charitably disposed Evertonians.  Still, it’s nice to know that I have some friends.  There is nothing so soul-destroying as having to train alone, I got sickened by talking to myself, and if I spared myself a quiet chuckle it was at the thought that at least this sort of thing doesn’t often happen to a footballer. 

BOBBY  COLLINS
Friday, December 23, 1960 The Liverpool Daily Post
Bobby Collins the Everton captain, on Granada television last night, after he had been placed second in the Northern Sports Star of the Year ballot.  Collins was beaten by 372 votes by Dorothy Hynman, of Yorkshire the Olympic Games Silver medallist (100 metres) and Bronze medallist (200 yards metres).

JUNIOR ‘DERBY’ GAME HOLDS THE STAGE
Liverpool Echo - Friday 23 December 1960
With Leslie Edwards
I cannot remember a Saturday before Christmas on which there was no League match in this city. To hold over the two big holiday games until Monday and Tuesday is sensible and will give many more people opportunity to attend. On Monday Liverpool have the first of two games against Rotherham, at Anfield, and on Tuesday, Everton play their return fixture, against Burnley, at Goodison Park. Of prospects for these matches more later. But there is to-morrow at Goodison Park a Central League match for fans not embroiled in the final Christmas rush. It is the fixture between neighbours and rivals, the junior "Derby" and keen Everton and Liverpool fans will want to see it. Indeed. The game will almost certainly attract more spectators than many full-scale League games in the lower Leagues. With many former first-teamers, and potential first-teamers in the sides the fixtures fills admirably an otherwise blank day. These will be the teams: Everton. - Dunne; Parnell, Green: Jarvis, Jones, Meagan; Bentley, Tyrer, Webber, Harland, Sharples. Liverpool; Lawrence; Parry, Moran; Milne, Nicholson, Campbell; forwards from: Callaghan, Melia, Carlin, Banks, Angell, Morrissey.
 The fact that Harry Potts, once an Everton player, has produced such a good team at Burnley and that they are still in the European Cup and comparable with Tottenham, makes the match on Tuesday at Goodison Park another great occasion. It is to be hoped that this one will be visible in its entirety. One of the frustrations of the defeat by Tottenham was that none could see clearly just how it was accomplished Young. I fear, has no chance of being fit again in time for either of the games against Burnley, but with Wignall playing better and better and scoring consistently the club's position is still very strong and they will be seeking to narrow the gap between them and the leaders. There is no sign of Tottenham flagging, but over the course of years Christmas holiday fixtures have produced many extraordinary upsets and Tottenham, though a wonderful team, bear no immunity badge in this respect.
Another correspondent who may "have something" is Mr. E. Hodgson. from Nant-y-Glyn. Prestatyn. He says: “Everton’s turnstiles are old and out of date. Patrons have a difficult job to get into the ground, because they have to use force to push the turnstile round. In the meantime the oil can would help and greatly assist in getting spectators in more easily."
Mr. Moores' plans
To all sportsmen on Merseyside and particularly those of them who read this column a happy Christmas and one with happy results for your "team" at home or on the field. Pools punters and fans can depend on to-morrow's Football Echo to give them the usual comprehensive cover of all games. The main features of the edition however will be a special, exclusive interview with Everton's multimillionaire Chairman. Mr. John Moores, who tells of the dangers which could arise from a change of law in respect to players' contracts, of his plans for Everton and of his gratitude to spectators and players and Manager Carey and the Board for backing up his pre-season plea "Let's make a go of it!" Followers of both city clubs will find great interest in the candid disclosures of a man who is in football not for legislative honours, but because he is at heart a fan himself and for seasons "sat and suffered" with the rest at Goodison Park.

ALEX YOUNG BETTER NEWS
Liverpool Echo - Friday 23 December 1960
Everton's Scottish International centre- forward, who was injured playing for the Army against Glasgow Rangers this week, reported to Goodison Park this morning with the good news that the injury is not as bad as first thought. In fact, Young was able to do some exercising with the rest of the players in training to-day. This afternoon Everton manager John Carey took Young to see the club specialist, for a detailed examination of his injured left knee. 

STRIKING ADVANCES BY EVERTON
Saturday, December 24, 1960. The Liverpool Daily Post
By Horace Yates
BURNLEY MAKE NEWS
Everton are still clinging the second place after two games in successive days against the champions Burnley they will have every reason for satisfaction for Burnley who find it almost as easy to make news off the field as they do on it, are openly proclaiming that they have far from conceded the championship to Tottenham.  For them to make inroads into that top-of-the-table gap Burnley would have to take all the joy out of Everton’s Christmas and I shall be most surprised if they are good enough to do that.  It was a good thing that Roy Vernon was able to get the feel of a game again against Tranmere Rovers last Wednesday, for it is surprising what a difference a fortnight of inactivity can make to the best players.  Indeed, Roy openly confessed after the Tranmere match that he needed that game.  It was a very satisfied manager Carey who received the verdict of a specialist yesterday that quite definitely the injury to Alex Young is not cartilage trouble.  Heat treatment and massage for the muscles in the thigh are expected to play a hart in strengthening the knee ligament which have been causing the trouble and this is not likely to be a very long job.
Sharples Experiment
Well though Wignall is playing and I must say he is seizing his opportunities really well, a club does not pay £40,000 for an international to see a deputy able over.  Wignall’s stock has risen appreciably in recent weeks and four goals in five games discounting his League Cup scorers rarely speak for themselves.  Jimmy Harris only hit four goals in 17 outings as Everton’s centre-forward and don’t forget that Birmingham jumped at the offer to pay £18,000 for him.  The Everton team for the visit to Burnley on Monday will not be announced until after the reserve game with Liverpool at Goodison today.  I do not suspect a connection between the two events for it would be surprising if Everton were to do other than announce an unchanged side.  The most interesting move in the reserve team is the drafting of the youthful George Sharples from half-back to outside-left.  Before setting down in the halves Sharples played quite regularly in the forward line as a schoolboy.  Everton Reserves;- Dunne; Parnell, Green; Jarvis, Jones, Meagan; Boner, Tyrer, Webber, Harland, Sharples. 

EXPERIENCE TELLS IN RESERVE DERBY AT GOODISON
Liverpool Echo - Saturday 24 December 1960
By Michael Charters

Everton Res;- Dunne; Parnerll, Green; Jarvis, Jones, Meagan; Boner, Tyrer, Webber, Harland, Sharples.  Liverpool Res;- Lawrence; Perry, Moran; Milne, Nicholson, Campbell; Callaghan, Banks, Arnell, Morrissey, Referee- Mr. F.S. Jackson (Preston).
There was only a crowd of about 5.000 for this junior derby match at Goodison Park, which was rather surprising in view of the lack of other professional games on Merseyside. The lights were on from the start for a match in which the main interest lay in seeing how Everton's, team, which had eight players of an average aged of 17, faced the stronger and more experienced Liverpool Central League.  Jones was prominent in breaking up a couple of early Liverpool raids, and the first shot of the match came from Meagan, after Boner’s corner kick had been deflected out the ball going wide of the far upright.  Rain began to fall soon after the kick off and the terraces looked even more deserted as the crowd disappeared under the double decker stands.  Liverpool playing a much more open type of football than Everton held the upper hand early on as Everton’s small forward line tended to get into a maze of their own creation.  Best Everton move so far was a neat bit of combination between Webber and Tyrer, the ball being deflected rather luckily by Campbell when a through pass looked booked to reach Webber’s feet.  Liverpool aways the stronger side, took the lead after seven minutes through Banks.  From a free kick just outside the penalty area Moran lobbed the ball forward for Arnell to head it back into the middle, where Banks hooked it instantly for goal, Dunne getting his hands to the shot but being unable to stop it entering the roof of the net. 
Almost Equalised
Everton almost equalized within a minute when Lawrence threw out a faulty pass to Nicholson, the ball landing at Harland’s feet.  The inside man slipped it quickly to Webber whose shot struck Lawrence as he got to his feet just taking enough pace off the ball to enable Parry to clear from the goal line.  Everton were playing some attractive football, however, and another good move between Jarvis and Tyrer ended with Sharples turning the ball back for Tyrer to shoot hard from 25 yards but straight at Lawrence.  It was amazing how much power the small Tyrer got to his shot.  Tyrer’s shooting strength was revealed again when he went through for 20 yards before shooting so hard at Lawrence that the goalkeeper lost possession of the ball, which ran out to Boner. The winger, trying a first time, angled shot, out the ball high lover the bar
FULL-STRETCH SAVE  
Everton had had it all their way for a few minutes before! 's defensive mistake left Arnell with a chance and he tried a long-range shot which Dunne saved at full stretch . Jones was play rang excellently in holding up the young ; Everton defence, in which the 17 -years-old Green and Parnell were tending to be outwitted by the Liverpool wingers.  Liverpool were playing on pressure in bursts, and the next one to try a shot was Callaghan who cut inside Green and hit a left foot shot narrowly wide.  Tyrer was Everton’s best forward and he beat Moran neatly enough to take the ball up to the bye-line before turning it across to Webber to try a diving header which missed by inches. 
Beautiful Save
A quick pass by Milne sent Arnell racing away with a clear path for goal although there was a suspicion of off side as he went for the ball.  He carried on, however, but his shot was beautifully saved by Dunne.  Parnell coming across to complete the clearance for an excellent piece of defensive work which it looked as though Liverpool were sure to go two in front.  Arnell was doing most of the shooting for Liverpool and from another well-judged Milne pass he wheeled round and placed the ball about two feet wide.  The game had settled down now to be most entertaining with plenty of goalmouth incidents.  Lawrence showed his prowess with a flying save from Sharples fiercely hit right-foot shot from just inside the area.  Lawrence was lucky to get away with a fumbled effort from Tyrer’s header and had any other Everton forward been quick enough to move he could have had a goal for the asking.  There was much to admire in the clever work of the Everton youngsters most of whom constitute the Youth side and I particularly liked the clever constructive work of Jarvis at right half. 
Big Defence
Everton were slightly on top, now although the experience of the bigger Liverpool defenders was evident as they stopped the Everton attack from getting within shooting range of Lawrence.  Most noticeable difference between the sides was provided in the defensive covering, Liverpool were strong and effective whereas the Everton boys tended to tended to panic a little when Liverpool attacked, and left gaps.  Tyrer had more attempts at scoring than anyone else on the field and he nearly succeeded with a good header from Boner's corner kick, the ball just sliding over the crossbar with Lawrence beaten.  In fact, Lawrence’s positional play was suspect on more than one occasion.  Some of Jarvis' individual touches in and around the region of his own penalty area were inclined to break down, and gave Liverpool a chance of shooting, but it was pleasant to see a lad of only 17 use such imagination instead of just giving the ball a hearty kick and hoping for the best.  The first half ended with Liverpool on the attack and looking the stronger side as the minutes passed.  Half-time; Everton Res nil, Liverpool Res 1. 
The Tyrer, whom I made the outstanding player on view, got Harland and sway early in the second  half, and the tall inside left shrugged off Nicholson's tackle but put his shot straight at Lawrence. At the other end Banks, and Morrissey linked up well for the centre forward to fire an angled shot well wide. With the linesman fagging for offside the referee allowed a Liverpool attack to go on, and with Dunne grounded the ball ran across the face of the empty goal but Banks failed to take advantage.  Everton had the better of the second half so far, but a defensive mistake let Liverpool through with banks cutting the ball back for Callaghan to shoot hard from ten yards with Dunne making an excellent save.  Melia added a second for Liverpool at 72 minutes.  Arnell scored for Liverpool in 80 minutes. 
MANCHESTER UNITED A EVERTON A
Grayson gave United an early lead but Everton hit back and Parker made several good saves from Chester and Morton.  After 20 minutes Grayson added a second for the home side and shortly Everton reduced the arrears throughout McKenzie.  Half-time-Manchester United A 2, Everton A 1.

EASIEST OPPONENTS? SPURS, OF COURSE!
Liverpool Echo - Saturday 24 December 1960
THEY LET YOU PLAY FOOTBALL
Says Alex Parker
We are just over the half-way stage of the League programme, and a friend asked me the other day which was the easiest team to play against that Everton had met this season. I think I rather surprised him with my answer, for I said: "Spurs." Yes, I know they have beaten us twice, but they are a very good side to play against. While they try to play football all the time, they also let the opposing side do the same. Spurs are a really great Side, and while they play hard they could never be accused of being dirty. They are too good to have to resort to that. Naturally we were disappointed at losing to them a second time. I was particularly sorry, for frankly, I thought we were going to win. If any one of our many narrow misses in the first half hour had gone in we might well have done. During that spell I thought Spurs weren't so confident but soon afterwards John White nipped in for the first, and then the London side hit their form. Still, despite the two defeats I would still fancy our chances against than in another meeting. Maybe we will draw them in the Cup it we get over the Sheffieid United hurdle.
FIRST ON CUP ?
I see there was some criticism of the referee for allowing the game to go on in the fog, but he has to abide by the rules, and although part of the game was invisible to many of the spectators, particularly in the stands, the players could see quite clearly. After last Wednesday's win over Tranmere, we are now looking forward to being the first team to have our name inscribed on the new Football League Cup. We are in the last eight, and having got so far must be in with a great chance. I reckon one of our biggest dangers is Burnley. We will get an idea of just how good they are on Monday and Tuesday. The Turf Moor side did the double over us last season, and after they had beaten us 5-2 on their ground early in the season. I wrote they looked like champions, and so it proved. They will obviously have to go some to hold the title this season, but their recent record, including their European Cup win over Rheims, shows they are still a good side, and anything we get from them will have to be earned.  We have done much better in away matches this season and when we visit them on Boxing Day are looking forward to hearing from many Evertonians who will no doubt be making the trip. Four points would be a very nice Christmas present.
WIGNALL TREBLE
The feature of our game at Prenton Park was Frank Wignall's treble. The way he's been playing lately it was obvious he was going to get three or four in one match, and it was just Tranmere's luck that it had to be against them. But for some great saves by goalkeeper George Payne. Frank would probably have done it long before the 87th minute.  I have heard a great deal about Payne's goalkeeping since I came to Merseyside, and he certainly didn't disappoint me. A Third Division club must be very thankful to have a 'keeper of his class. There was more bad news about Alex Young's knee injury this week for, as you will know, he went down injured playing for the Army against Rangers. At the time of writing, it is not known how long this will keep him out, but it is very disappointing for the club fans, and Alex himself. For a player who has been so keen to justify himself he has had terrible luck. Despite the defeat by Spurs, he said he really enjoyed the game and thought the standard of football wag higher here than in Scotland. Here's hoping he'll soon be back to help make it even higher.
AGAINST US
Mickey Lill also suffered a setback on Tuesday morning for he was sprinting with a group of players when one of them accidentally put a spike in Mickey's foot which required stitching. It just goes to show bow the luck is running against us at the moment for Mickey was very nearly ready for consideration for the first team after a run-out with the A and reserve teams. Incidentally, the other day it looked very much as it yours truly would be spending Christmas behind bars-the iron type. I took my wife's coat into town for alterations, accompanied by Alex Young and Jimmy Gabriel. I was walking along Church Street with the coat over my arm when a policeman came up and asked me where I was going with the coat.  Rather excitedly I said: "It's my wife's coat!" All right, all right." said the policeman. "I'm only asking." Then he walked away. Jimmy and Alex were practically doubled up laughing, and Alex came up with the bright suggestion that as soon as I saw the policeman I should have made a run for it. I told him I didn't think it was such a good idea. I cannot imagine the explaining I would have had to do then. — I think maybe our new centre forward is trying to get into trouble.

ENGLISH TROPHY GAME AT GOODISON PARK
Liverpool Echo - Saturday 24 December 1960
A VERY solid and cheering Christmas gift for Liverpool Schoolboys is the news that the Directors of Everton Football Club have offered the use of Goodison Park for their fifth round English Trophy tie against Durham on Monday. January 9. If Durham's reluctance to play under lights can be overcome, the match will be played in the evening, so that as many as possible can see the current Liverpool side which looks like earning an itself in the record although never as stylish as their Liverpool opponents.

ROY VERNON ON ITALY’S WANTED LIST
Liverpool Echo - Saturday 24 December 1960
Tis Christmas Eve and I hope you won't think I am forgetting the spirit of goodwill when I mention that strike! Most of you are probably sick to death with the word; of hearing and reading about the pros and cons. I am not going to bore you with the players' side or with the views of clubs. What I want to tell you about is that the big brown eyes of soccer tycoons in Spain and Italy are watching the outcome of the controversy here. There is at the moment, a ban on importing foreign stars into Italy, but Italian clubs are hoping this restriction be removed by next summer. Then they hope to flourish their signatures on big cheques and contracts. And some of the men they will want will be British players. I have a feeling that Bobby Charlton, Jimmy Greaves and Everton's own Roy Vernon will be high on the Italian wanted list.

EVERTON’S JOHN MOORE TALKS TO LESLIE EDWARDS
Liverpool Echo - Saturday 24 December 1960
SKY-HIGH WAGES COULD MEAN LOSS OF STARS
Clubs Unable To Pay Top Terms All Round
MULTI -MILLIONAIRE with a mission. That is Mr. John Moores whose first half-season of chairmanship at Everton forms the basis of this exclusive interview in which he speaks candidly, forthrightly of what has been done, what is yet to be done and of what shape the game in this country may take within the next few years. Of the prospect of the players' strike; of his views on their contracts he will say nothing.”  “I must await the Chairmen’s meeting early in the New Year before I commit myself,” he says.  “It would be wrong to come out in print with my opinions which should he heard first elsewhere.” 
Yet Mr. Moores did say that if the contract system were changed and if the maximum wage were removed it might be impossible, even for Everton, to hold all their stars.  “If it came to the point at which Real Madrid wages were the order no team could afford to pay all their team at that rate.  In that event it is just possible that all-star teams would lose some of their great players to other clubs.  The effect would be to improve the general standard of football in the First division, but to lower the standard of the few teams who are at present comparable with the best Continental sides.”  Mr. Moore disclosed that months ago before he joined the Everton Board, he had explored the possibility of recruiting to football here Ferenc Puskas.  “But I soon found that this would have been impracticable,” he added.  “The Players Association, the Football League and the Home Office would not have been in favour and even when I suggested that he might be brought here as a reinstated amateur the reaction was very negative.  I don’t foresee the day when the situation in this respect will be changed. 
Super League
“What we want to do is to try to improve the British standard of play.  There is much airy talk of a Super League, but no one has made any really concrete proposals about one.  I am convinced that if there ever were one, some form of promotion and relegation would be essential.  You must have competition.  If there were no promotion you would soon find a leading half-dozen clubs at the top and nothing worthwhile lower in the table.”  A dynamic down-to-earth go-getter John Moores is small only in statue.  He believes that football here has got to be more enterprising; it has got to offer the fan greater comfort.  But first priority for him, is the team I say the team advisedly, because he doesn’t believe in a club which has five or six sides of varying standard.  He wants quality at the top and not a mixture of fading old players and up-and-comers in the reserves.  The man who has done his stuff in the First Division and who has reached the stage when he must soldier on in the second team, he feels should go to Second Division football and make way in the club for young players of promise or older players about whom it is felt that they may one day make the first team.  The many transfer out of Everton in the past half season prove how that opinion has bene backed by action.  John Moores wants no place in the legislative hails of fame. “I’m in football,” he says, “because I love the game and because, having sat and suffered at soccer matches in this city for so long there is a contribution I think I can make for the benefit of all my follow-townees.  They’ll stand on their heads-yes in the rain too-to see a good team, I’m delighted they are getting entertaining and winning football. 
Grateful
“I’m grateful to them for wonderful support; I never dreamed Everton would be second in the table when I took their chair at the outset of the season.  If the team had been in the first six I should have been satisfied.  “Manchester United and Tottenham were not built in a day, or a season.  These things take time.  We’ve had some misfortunes over injury, but the players have given me such remarkable co-operation and the board and Mr. Carey have backed me so loyalty and enthusiastically I feel it will be only another season or two before we have a truly great eleven of the sort we aim for.”  “John Carey, who is as you know a quiet undemonstrative man sees eye-to-eye with me on most things.  “we have worked harmoniously I don’t want anyone to think I’m a big head, because I’m not and I’m always careful to have the Board with me on all matters of vital importance to the club or to the game.  I’m at Everton to help to make a good side.  I don’t want the legislative honours.  After all, football’s my hobby. I’ve got enough bureaucracy to cope with in business matters.  “Soccer is not my life-I’ve other jobs to do.  But I get a great kick from the game- I played with the cable Staffs team years ago and have been watching League football since my father used to carry me into the Manchester United ground when it was at Clayton. 
Seen the Best
It isn’t as though I’m a newcomer, you see.  I’ve seen most of the best football, including World Cup and European Cup ties in the past ten years have seen enough of them to want to help Everton to put on that type of stuff for fans who have been starved of good football too long.  When I joined Everton Board I knew that I must make ago of it. My face would have looked very red if I hadn’t!  That we’ve done so well so quickly surprises and delights me.  I aimed first to get the nucleus of a good team and team spirit, and a place, says, in the top half-dozen.  That was my long range policy.  Next year I think we shall go places I’m hopeful of our F.A Cup chance this season and very hopeful of the boys chances of picking up the League Cup at the first time of asking.”  My opinion is that clubs want fewer teams, but better teams. After all, the good race-, horse and bad eat the same amount of oats. It doesn't cost ' so very much more to get a' real sparkler of a player while you are at it. We have had to economies wherever we felt it was necessary at Goodison Park. I say let's get a team first then clear that overdraft' and then modernize our amenities and give the spectator as much comfort as possible. “I didn't like trouble about getting into the paddock any 'more than the ticket holders' did. We aim to give fans a team and comfort. "Why it's not so long ago since I used to take a season ticket at St. Helens Rugby League club. The soccer was seeing was so bad. I felt for spectators who watched because, I was a fan. too.
Likes Fighters
"I like fighters on the field, but we don't want fighters who talk. I've told them, and so has John—he's very good in backing me up on this point—hold your tongue, get on with your job. When you have been fouled 'Take it!' “Mr. Carey has told them that the man he was always afraid of on the field was the one who bundled into him without warning.  The man who says: 'l'll get you for that?”  Is more easily dealt  with! We want Everton players to be a credit to their colours and to the club. We're a fine collection of boys, and I'm most grateful to them for responding so well to my pro-season 'Let's make a go of it' plea. "I'm going to entertain them and their wives and girlfriends and tell them so early in the New Year. I talk to them freely. They know what I'm after, and how hard they play to get results.  I'd be a bit tougher than John Carey on training and things like that, but I bow to our manager's greater experience in these matters. He knows more about it. “I know, of course, that running a team of footballers is different from running a business. If you give players too explicit order it spoils em’ put them in a sort of straitjacket. We try to get them to talk matches and tactics among themselves and act on the advice of their team-mates. It’s much better that way. They like notice of each other better. For British football in general Mr. Moores sees a bright future. He thinks the game is on the way back, but there can never be specialization and prestige national elevens here as there are behind The Curtain and in Spain and South America.   You can't limit football in Britain. It's too widespread. We shall always have thousands of minor clubs playing, no one could stop them whatever system of leagues they introduced." As for prestige national elevens, the little man with big and enterprising football aims has this to say: — "Some people think that I only the country matters. They are wrong. It’s the clubs who do matter and who are the backbone of the game. "But if those clubs are to survive and prosper in an unprecedented age of counter attraction they must be much more enterprising, not live in the past and do everything. Yes everything, they can to give the game a higher status and tams a better standard of performance."

VICTORY WAS WELL DESERVED
Monday, December 28, 1960. The Liverpool Daily Post
BURNLEY 1, EVERTON 3
Burnley were well and truely defeated by Everton at Turf Moor on Boxing Day.  Everton’s margin was no more than they deserved.  Indeed, but for the splendid work of Blackshaw in the Burnley goal, and England reserve wing half Brian Miller, it would have been wider.  And yet despite Everton’s superiority it was not until six minutes from the end that the issue was finally settled.  A typical Everton attack so disorganised.  Burnley as to leave Blacklaw groping for the ball in vain outside the penalty area as Vernon prepared to centre Wing half Joyce brought Vernon down and Collins scored Everton’s third from the penalty spot.  Everton were two goals ahead in 25 minutes.  The first after five minutes was netted by Brian Harris after Vernon had sliced his shot and the second came from a 25 yard drive by Billy Bingham after he had received a rebound off the legs of Burnley left back Alder.  With Jim McIlroy below form Burnley could only reply through a Pointer goal after 40 minutes.  Burnley; Blacklaw; Angus, Elder; Joyce, Adamson, Miller; Connelly, McIlroy, Pointer, Robson, Pilkington.  Everton; Dunlop; Parker, Thomson; Gabriel, Labone, Harris; Bingham, Collins, Wignall, Vernon, Temple. 

EVERTON CRASH
Monday, December 28, 1960. The Liverpool Daily Post
POVERTY-STRICKEN ATATCK HELD IN BURNLEY’S GRIP
EVERTON 0, BURNLEY 3
By Horace Yates
The biggest League gate any ground has housed this season-75,667, crowded into Goodison Park yesterday, the majority of the spectators eager to see Everton complete a double over the champions, Burnley, but with the setting prefect for the passing of another milestone in Everton’s thrilling return to top-grade ranking, they served up one of their most disappointing display’s and were deservedly beaten.  That they were unfortunate to be defeated goalless there is no question, for even opposed to a Burnley defence which for sheer solidity, seemed to have no superiors in modern football, there were chinks enough for the score to have been more comforting through Everton eyes.  For example, there was no credit to Burnley for keeping their goal intact as Temple blazed away from the most astute Vernon back-pass only to shake the post with as powerful a shot as the game saw.  Similarly, Bingham flashed the ball no more than four or five inches wide, with Blacklaw diving across his goal helplessly.  With the match irretrievably lost parker advanced towards the Burnley goal and only one of the saves of the match by Blacklaw prevented what looked like being a great score.  This is not to say that all the bad luck was Everton’s and all the superlative defence was Burnley’s, for Dunlop was every bit as magnificent as Blacklaw when he kept out a power-drive from Pointer, a save which was in the super-class. 
Cat-Like Leap
As if to prove that with half a chance Dunlop could show himself to be as sound a goalkeeper in the game he leapt cat-like across his goal to push out another Pointer shot, hit as the centre forward wheeled round with only the minimum time to judge pace or direction.  The crowd had their thrills all right, but it would require a great stretch of the imagination to term this game other disappointing.  Perhaps it was that so much was expected that the accomplishment fell below standards and yet I thought that for all their near-misses, and they must have totted up to five or six, there was a poverty-stricken look about the Everton attack, as it struggled-so helplessly in the grip of a defence which only rarely relaxed the strange-hold.  One might have been excused for overlooking the fact that McIlroy played a broken nose for all except fifteen minutes of the match, for his efforts never suggested that the Burnley inside forward was labouring under such a terrific handicap.  It was difficult enough for Everton to make an impression on the Everton defence without being guilty of a spate of misdirected kicks and passes, which found their way as often to an opponent as to the target intended.  Never in any previous game this season have I seen Everton blunt their own efforts so decisively by misdirection, which became monotonous in its regularity.  In the early stages of the match there were glimpses of the skilful combination between Collins and Vernon which had ripped open so many defences so devastatingly, but they were flashes only and were not sufficiently consistent to raise hopes or upset Burnley unduly.
JUST A PLAYER
Burnley treated Collins as just a player and not a football magician and they put him in his place so effectively that although Gabriel and Brian Harris tried to forge the attacking link so much to be desired, Everton’s attack was over-whelmed at source, with the inevitable result.  The game had been almost shotless so far as efforts on target were concerned, when Robson proved just how dangerous it was to give him an inch of space in which to work.  In the thirty-three minute Joyce put near-starved Connelly in possession and from the winger’s centre hit such a beautiful shot that Dunlop could only leap across his goal and watch the ball elude his outstretched fingers.  Vernon as closely watched as was Collins, produced opportunities for Temple and Bingham which could not have gone closer without achieving their aim, but it was not until one minute before the interval that Blacklaw found a shot on target, and that was a comfortable long-distance lob from Thomson, possibly intended more as a pass than a scoring shot.  Everton’s resumption was strong enough to suggest that despite all disappointments they might still dent the Burnley armour and Bingham’s frustration was complete as he saw Blacklaw snatch a goal-worthy effort almost off the line, just as he did with a Vernon push, that lacked the all-important power.  The effort was not sustained and when G. Harris profited from a Thomson miskick Pointer headed under Dunlop’s body.  The goalkeeper took pace off the ball but as it was trickling to the line in came Connolly to make sure in 66 minutes.  The result was now out of Everton’s ability to interfere and it was left to Parker, one of the few Everton successes to try to do a forward job as well as his own. 
LEGACY OF TROUBLE
Labone had earlier proved himself the complete barrier to an industrious Pointer, but as Thomson’s game deteriorated with his lack of success, the centre half was left a legacy of double trouble, which would have stunned the stoutest heart and the Pointer threat developed.  When Thomson kicked direct to pointer it was an open invitation to catch the Everton defence on the hop, but they might still have recovered had Gabriel not slipped up to leave Robson to hammer the ball past Dunlop 17 minutes from the end.  I thought it an apt comment when someone suggested that the score might be similar to that of Monday’s-except in reverse-if only Everton could get a penalty.  Frankly that was the way it looked before the Parker cannonball that Blacklaw touched up and on to the top of the bar for one of several fruitless corner kicks.  Everton; Dunlop; Parker, Thomson; Gabriel, Labone, B. Harris; Bingham, Collins, Wignall, Vernon, Temple.  Burnley; Blacklaw; Angus, Elder; Joyce, Adamson, Miller; Connelly, McIlroy, Pointer, Robson, G. Harris.  Referee; Mr. J. Kelly (Chorley).  Attendance 75,667. 

STRONG EVERTON DEFENCE KEPT LIVERPOOL OUT
Monday, December 28, 1960.  The Liverpool Daily Post
Liverpool Reserves 1, Everton Reserves 1
A well drilled defence enabled Everton to save a point from the return junior derby game at Anfield yesterday.  During their almost continuous bombardment of the Everton goal in the last half hour Liverpool had innumerable shots charged down, and when they did find a loop-hole Mailey still kept them out with some grand saves.  The Everton goalkeeper however had no chance with Carlin’s equaliser twelve minutes from the finish.  Before Edwards gave Everton a shock lead in the 47th minute the 4,000 spectators had endured a drab and listless display, if the Everton forwards had been more direct near goal Liverpool might have regretted some casualness in defence early on but only the hard working Tyrer was inclined to try a shot.  Centre forward Webber was given little scope by Nicholson who, with Parry was the mainstay of Liverpool’s defence.  Besides Mailey, centre half Jones was the chief stumbling block to the Liverpool forwards who expect for Carlin and Callaghan never produced their best form. 

70,000 SHOULD BE THE LIMIT
Liverpool Echo - Wednesday 28 December 1960
By Leslie Edwards
Many of the 75,000 at Goodison Park yesterday will not forget in a hurry the unofficial Boxing Day of 1960. It was boxing day all right—with a sardine flavor—and I shudder to think what might have happened if the police, under the personal supervision of the Chief himself, had not handled the situation with great tact, great sense and a sense of anticipation. Those thousands of youths and children who were allowed to leave the swaying terraces and park themselves neatly inside the low wall near the touch line eased the situation just sufficiently. I imagine, to make spectating just bearable. Whoever decided to let them leave, by the players' exit... 20 minutes before the end deserved great commendation for his foresight. I give full marks to Burnley for being the better team by three goals to nil; to the police and ambulance men of St. John. I give no commendation whatever to whoever was responsible for keeping the gates at the Gwladys Street and main stand terraces open when they should have been closed.  Elsewhere the crowding was less severe, but that is no consolation to thousands who must have been thinking more of keeping their feet than watching the game. The ground has held three or four thousand more, but they must have been better packed. A background of moving spectators was a distraction to most of the first-half and some of the second. I am sure the Everton chairman, Mr. Moores, will be the first to take steps to obviate such crowding again, even if it means the receipts suffer. The club have given us a fine team (even if it did not fizz yesterday). Surely those who pay at the gate have the right to expect reasonable comfort. Yesterday's sardine boxing day pack in many parts of the ground was not reasonable and not comfort.
Not merely academic
For those on the stands, and in the Press Box for that matter, overcrowding may seem a matter of academic interest. But for me it isn't. I wouldn’t have been on those terraces for £10. Would not a comfortable, safe limit of 70,000 be better?  The only amusing thing the crush produced was the sight of a police inspector ordering down the subway after the interval one of the Burnley reserves who was making for the trainer's dug-out. He had to produce his credentials too before he was allowed to make his way there! The season's biggest gate at Everton, or anywhere in England, for that matter, was a tribute to Everton's win the day before at Turf Moor, but what an anti-climax we endured before this hard, but always rather untidy-looking game ended. Never can 75.000 have made less noise. If the defeat surprised many it did not surprise the Everton manager. He told me before the start of this great effort Everton had to put in to win the first game and said with reservation "Burnley are a great team. We'll have our work cut out to beat 'em to -day." This was not defeatism, but - a realistic assessment of the job on hand. And Burnley's blueprint of Tottenham's win here, just as easily gained and just as deserved, left none in doubt that Everton, as constituted, are still short of something, despite their wonderful record since the end of September. Burnley impressed me by their size and weight and by their football. They sometimes made Everton look like a team of boys—in size. They brushed through to win the ball in most of the clinches and in the air it was theirs seven times out of ten. The very heavy pitch suited them, the stronger side, the better and Bobby Collins and Roy Vernon, for once, found themselves held no time and again by half-backs who stood on little ceremony and were just as determined as they were to gain possession.
Touch of fortune. D
Burnley’s first goal at 33 minutes came after they had soldiered on for eight minutes minus the injured Mcllroy, who broke his nose. It was a lucky goal in that Robson had the fortune to find a deflected shot by Connelly arriving conveniently to be hit into the net. Then 20 minutes after the restart Connelly put the finishing touch to a header by Pointer—one which would have found the net without further help—after the lively Harris G. had begun the move with a right-wing centre. The third goal, another to Robson, came from a blunder which left him little to do but to beat the goalkeeper. This was a match distinguished by a great attendance and by two magnificent saves. The first, from Pointer's cracking shot, was by Dunlop; the second was Blacklaw's and came from a storming shot by Parker. Dunlop's was perhaps the better; both were momentous. Temple, trying hard but achieving little at least struck post with a shot of venom after Mcllroy had miscued badly and Vernon, seizing an unexpected offering had back-heeled the perfect pass for his partner,  Wignall got the ball in the net after the whistle had gone long before and that, I am afraid, was his most notable contribution this time. The Everton attack never functioned well, indeed the side as a whole scarcely ever got into its stride.  Burnley gained the honours easily with Angus at right-back one of their mainstays and the defence as a whole much too good, on the day, for an Everton line which had enthusiasm for the cause, but little else. McIlroy strolled through the game, handing out judicious passes unhurriedly; Pointer seemed to be having a very lean spell against Labone, who played beautifully for the most part, but the Burnley centres, shots and headers, in aggregate, amounted to something and it was not his fault he was not a scorer.
Form…
Everton were sluggish for once on a pitch which took toll of stamina and on which the ball was hard to hit about. That a team beaten the previous day should come here and win convincingly shows how little credence one can give to football form. On the face of the evidence we saw yesterday Everton did well to come out of their double fixture with two points. . Altogether an unhappy holiday spell, with Jimmy Harris, formerly of Everton, sent off against Newcastle and Jimmy Gauld, also ex-Everton, breaking a leg when playing for Mansfield against Hartlepools. The injury, in the Sheffield Wednesday coach crash, of Peter Swan means that Brian Labone, of Everton, may well get his first full cap sooner than he anticipated. For Liverpool John Wheeler's absence meant their first defeat in 14 starts—an indication, I think, of how vital Wheeler is to his club.

HARRIS GOAL BEGAN AWAY WIN
Liverpool Echo - Wednesday 28 December 1960
A goal after five minutes by left half Brian Harris gave Everton the inspiration; they needed to defeat Burnley at Turf Moor on Boxing Day.' After that goal—after Roy Vernon had sliced a shot into the Burnley penalty area—they never really looked like losing. Everton were faster, stronger and more skillful than Burnley on this occasion and Billy Bingham's 25 yard drive after 25 minutes which completely deceived Burnley goalkeeper Blacklaw only served to underline their superiority. Burnley scored a consolation goal when Pointer jabbed the ball past Dunlop after a goal-mouth melee in the 40th minute but Bobby Collins sealed the Everton victory from the penalty spot in the 84th minute after a foul on Vernon. Any other result but an Everton win would have been an injustice but even so they were pinned in their own half for long periods in the second half and were somewhat fortunate to only concede one goal. Dunlop, Parker and Labone were Everton's strong men in defence and Burnley's Ray Pointer, currently pressing 'strongly for an England place, was ever allowed to get into stride. Rarely this season has he had such a lean time, and with Irish international Jim Mcllroy also being watched carefully, Burnley had nothing up front to compare with the mobile wizardry of Collins, Vernon and Bingham. Sad note for Everton was the booking of wing half Jimmy Gabriel after a foul on Burnley left half Brian Miller. Teams: Burnley;  Blacklaw: Angus, Eder; Joyce, Adamson, Miller; Connelly, Mellrovy, Pointer, Robson, Pilkington. Everton; Dunlop; Parker, Thompson; Gabriel, Labone, Harris: Bingham. Collins, Wignall, Vernon, Temple.

DISCUSSION BY BOARD
Liverpool Echo - Wednesday 28 December 1960
Commenting on the crushing and crowding at Goodison Park yesterday, the Everton chairman, multi-millionaire Mr. John Moores, said to-days “I must admit there was a little overcrowding in certain parts of the ground. This is a matter I shaft want the board to discuss to see how It can be obviated. I was very disappointed we lost rather tamely when support from spectators was so excellent."

POLICE CARRY YOUNGSTERS FROM SWAYING CROWD AT GOODISON PARK
Liverpool Echo - Wednesday 28 December 1960
AMBULANCE MEN DEAL WITH MANY FAINTING CASES AMONG THE 75,000 SPECTATORS
Hundreds of people were crushed against terrace walls and barriers at Goodison Park yesterday when the mammoth crowd for the Everton v Burnley match swayed and lurched.  Police went into parts of the 75,667 crowd and helped to remove many boys over the concrete wall to the safely of the running track.  St. John Ambulance men dealt with many fainting cases.  Spectators described conditions in the crowd- hundreds had been turned away when the gates were closed shortly before the kick-off-as the worst they had experienced.  In 2s 6d ground spectator described the situation as “sheer murder.”  “It was only by using force that I managed to free myself when trapped against the end of a barrier,” he said.  Other spectators said that the boys’ pen looked no more than comfortably filled and thought that the boys being pushed about in the crowd would have been much safer in the pen.  There were many women in the crowd were helped to safely.  But for prompt action by police, said spectators, there might well have been serious injuries.
TRAFFIC JAM IN LIVERPOOL
There was a big traffic jam in the city centre at about 5 p.m. as motorists who had either been to Goodison Park or to shows in Liverpool all made for home. The volume of traffic was too great for the Mersey Tunnel to cope with. There were long queues in the Liverpool streets approaching the tunnel and at one time traffic was at a stand- Speaking of a suggestion made by one motorist that the three-lane system should have been used. Mr. A. S. Brown. Tunnel Manager, said it would , be impossible to introduce the system at short notice. It took a considerable number of men to operate it and they must give notice. . If all these motorists decide to make for home at the same time, - he said. “They must expect some delay.” 

YOUNG TO MISS LECIESTER MATCH
Liverpool Echo - Thursday 29 December 1960
IN TRAINING AGAIN
HARRIS INJURY
By Leslie Edwards
Everton have better news of Alexander Young, their centre forward who damaged his knee playing for the Army after making his debut for his new club. The Everton manager, John Carey, said to-day: “Alex has ligament trouble: nothing more. He is in training, but has not yet been given permission to kick a ball. There is, however, no chance of him being ready for the Leicester game on Saturday." Brian Harris, who had a cut knee stitched during the game at Birmingham a week last Saturday opened the injury a little on Tuesday when playing against Burnley, but is still expected to be fit to play at Leicester.
T. G. JONES INTERESTED
I understand that Tommy Jones the former Everton centre half now in charge of Cheshire League club. Bangor City, has informed the cub through a friend that he would be interested. The name of Archie Clark., now chief scout for Sheffield United, has also come up for discussion by Tranmeres Board Mr. Clark formerly played for Everton and Tranmere and was manager at Gillingham before taking his present job in Sheffield.

CHANGES NECESSARY
Friday, December 30, 1960. The Liverpool Daily Post
LEAGUE TOURNEY MUST BE GIVEN MORE GLAMOUR
By Roy Vernon
How many of you, I wonder, could name the clubs still remaining in the League Cup competition?  I should think it fair to assume that as many would fail as would succeed, and that for a supposedly major competition is scarcely a happy advertisement for it.  We, at Everton, have a keen interest for the simple reason that the players are determined to be the first winners, but it is easy to imagine how supporters of the clubs who have long since parted company with the competition have almost forgotten its existence.  Even as a member of ambitious Everton I have to admit right away that it would be hard to deny that the venture has been anything other than a major flop.  It has utterly failed to capture the imagination of the public and this seems to be a safe sort of assertion to make as far as Merseyside is concerned for there will be a far bigger attendance for the second leg of our Floodlight Cup competition with our friends from Anfield than for any stage of the league Cup with the possible exception of the semi-final and final.  Does this mean that the league Cup will die an unbemoaned death almost before the birth pangs have disappeared?  Decidedly not! This competition is in no danger of abandonment at this stage at least, but what is equally certain is that there will have to be some major changes before the corner can be turned.  At present those major clubs which decided to have no part in the competition are entitled to rub their hands and say, “I told you so.  It has had no more than a nuisance value and has turned out to be an unnecessary cluttering up of fixture lists already sufficiently heavily burdened.  I would be in no way surprised if next season the League should become slightly dictatorial in outlook and demand that the competition should become a MUST for all clubs, great and small, and the entry should be an automatic as that for the F.A. Cup.  Such a policy might raise a howl of disapproval from certain quarters but one thing is clear. 
ORGANISED LINES
Either the competition is worth running well or it is not worth running at all and I think undoubtedly there would be a majority in favour of running it well.  It has failed to catch on in my opinion, because it has not been run on the same slick well organised lines that we have come to associate with its big brother, the F.A Cup competition.  If we could say that all the rounds would be played on Saturday, what a difference there would be right away, but how this is going to be possible without producing a near impossible situation with the League fixtures is not easy to see.  That being so, the alternative is to start the competition at the outset of next season, when evenings are long and the night’s warmer.  Then I think the league would be in a position to say that ties must be completed by a given date, and make clubs toe the line.  This season the ties have drifted on hopelessly and helplessly with the result that some clubs were playing round one, when others had finished round two and a completely unrealistic air fell over the whole proceedings.  If enthusiasts had been able to pick tip their newspapers and see rounds completed on the one day as is the case with the Football Association Cup draws of course excepted, I think that alone would give a great surge to the interest value.  Rounds must not be allowed to spread out interminably.  Obviously, there must be some disturbance caused to the League programme for during these early weeks, clubs take the opportunity to play off mid-week League games, but sacrifices must be made if the attempt to float the competition successfully is to be really serious.  Where will the final of the League Cup be played? Who knows, and not a great many seem to care.  The date of the final is similarly shrouded in doubt.  Have we not sufficient faith in the competition to say that this final is worthy of Wembley, book the ground for a given date and see that the date is kept.  The bonuses for the winning sides are all very acceptable but glamour must be given to the competition a glamour that only a Wembley setting could provide.  Are the legislators afraid that Wembley might be half empty or even worse for the event and that the Cup would be in danger of becoming a laughing stock?  If that is the amount of confidence there is in it, surely I would be better to say now that the competition is not worth the upheaval it must cause but I believe it would be unfortunate to take that defeatist attitude.  This series is a new idea and as with most things teething troubles crop up and must be dealt with as they are encountered.  Obviously the ideal would be to have the League Cup decided before the F.A Cup comes on the scene.  This has not been possible this year, but it must be in future, if the two are to be run competitively side by side, the struggling infant can never have a chance of survival.
START EARLIER
It might be worth considering starting our season a week earlier and finishing a week later as an aid to getting in the extra matches and minimising the difficulties.  To allow it to struggle on as a sort of make-weight is to consign it to the discard bin without a hope I have known people connected with some clubs say, “Thank goodness,” when they have parted company with the competition.  Can you imagine that happening in the F.A Cup where players are almost reduced to tears on occasions when their journey to Wembley is cut short.  Unless we can produce a similar sort of sentiment for the League Cup the danger is obvious.  It has been said that the object of introducing a League Cup was to acquaint the public with its existence so that one day it might supersede the F.A Cup, I don’t believe that for a moment.  A Cup by other name might be just as sweet in some ways, but the F.A. Cup is too much part of our football life to take a second place to anything. 
I have been asked what it was like from a player’s point of view to take part in a match before the 75,000 crowd which crammed Goodison Park for our game with Burnley last Tuesday.  It may be surprising to many when I say that none of us was conscious of the crowd at all.  We never dreamt that there were 75,000 spectators present.  Possibly it was the fact that they were so quiet that prevented us from appreciating the extent of the crowd.  Had I been asked for an opinion about the respective size of attendance between the Sheffield Wednesday match and that with Burnley, I should have said the Sheffield gate was by far the larger.  Of course, they had more to shout about on that day.  Don’t think it was not a disappointment to the players that they should fail their supporters in two games as important as those against Spurs and Burnley.  Of course, it was, but it was not caused by any lack of effort.  There are days when the harder a player tries the less effective he becomes and believe me we do care about giving our magnificent following real value for money.  Imagine playing before gates in successive matches of 50,702, 61,052 and 75,667 a total of 187,421.  If that is not a challenge to every man to pull out all stops then I don’t know what is, and yet we took but two points from a possible six, which equals our most unproductive spell of the season.  We will be trying all the way to make amends. 

MR. CAREY KILLS A YOUNG STORY
Friday, December 30, 1960. The Liverpool Daily Post
By Horace Yates
An irate Mr. John Carey the Everton manager last night vigorous denied a report that after seeing a specialist, the club’s £40,000 Scottish international centre-forward, Alex Young had been advised that his playing career was in doubt.  “There is absolutely no truth whatever in the statement from beginning to end,” said Mr. Carey.  Young, in fact, as I indicated yesterday, is making excellent progress towards recovery and Mr. Carey, never given to easy forecasting expressed the opinion that Young would be playing again inside a fortnight young damaged the ligaments of his knee playing for the Army against Glasgow Rangers on December 20 but during the matches this week he has been training well, although he has not taken part in any sort of ball practice.  His afternoon have been taken up with treatment designed to strengthen the thigh muscles which control the ligament and at every stage of the treatment nothing but satisfaction has been reported.  If progress continues at the present highly satisfactory rate, and there is no reason to assume it will not.  I expect Young to be kicking a ball around next week, with a view to deciding whether or not he can be declared fit for the Cup match with Sheffield United.  Young signed on November 23, has played in only one match so far- that against Tottenham Hotspur at Goodison. 

NO COMPLAINTS
Liverpool Echo - Friday 30 December 1960
By Leslie Edwards

I am astonished, and pleased, that the 75.000 attendance at Goodison Park on Tuesday should have had no unhappy sequel. I expected a deluge of letters of complaint. There has been none." The only ones on the topic are constructive. Mr. C. T. Easthorpe writes: Referring to Mr. John Moores' comment in to-night's Echo regarding overcrowding I would suggest the Everton board adopt the system used at Old Trafford and at Portsmouth, namely divide the popular areas into sections by the use of numbered posts placed in the ground outside the touch-lines at regular intervals (see sketch). "In liaison with the loud-speaker system and appointed stewards (say four, one at each goal end and two at the Goodison Road side) directions would be broadcast and with the co-operation of stewards and spectators crushing would be reduced to a minimum. The numbered posts would, of course. be removed just prior to kick-off time."
Robert A. Webster says.—" I was in the ground and was uncrushed, but I am not saying, whereabouts. I would suggest to Mr. Moores that he has a chat with Mr. H. P. Hardman, of Manchester United, who can tell him how his own club are able to pack enormous crowds into a ground much smaller than Goodison Park. The system calls for the ground to be sectionalized by numbered signs and four stewards to be in with the crowds, but, any expense involved, would be minute compared with the extra thousands who would be housed, in the terraces, and, who would come to Goodison knowing that everything possible, was being done to their comfort. I am sure 80.000 can be accommodated without crushing. Also the boys' pen should be enlarged and the boys be confined to it."
— Well, this is a system which could be given a trial, but I am not sure whether, with 75.000 in the ground anyone on the terraces is capable waving an inch, much less yards . . .
Young still absent
Everton’s great run of away performances, punctuated only by defeats at Arsenal and Villa, may be taken further at Leicester to-morrow. When the sides met at Goodison earlier in the season Everton won with something in hand. The pity is that Young's damaged knee still bothers him and prevents him from having his second chance in English football to show what he is capable of when not handicapped by injury.

CLOSE PASSING EVERTON GET STRUCK IN LECIESTER MUD
Liverpool Echo - Saturday 31 December 1960
LEICESTER 4, EVERTON 1
By Jack Rowe
Leicester City; - Banks; Chalmers, Norman; McLintock, King, Appleton; Riley, Walsh, Leek, Keyworth, Willis.  Everton; Dunlop; Parker, Thomson; Gabriel, Labone, Harris; Bingham, Collins, Wignall, Vernon, Temple.  Referee; Mr. J. Bellwood (Liversedge).
Everton were unchanged for their match against Leicester at Filbert Street to -day, and City also kept the side which played last week-end. The pitch was heavy especially in the middle and in exactly one minute Everton were a goal down.  After they had made the first attack Leicester moved down the left, where Wills was able to come inside Parker before centring a lovely ball which Walsh headed on to the ideally placed Riley. The right winger brought the ball down and, with his right foot, from about eight yards beat Dunlop with a rising shot which entered the net just inside the far post. Leicester kept it up and inside the next minute they launched two dangerous raids one of which was terminated by the outstretched foot of Labone.  City were rampant in these early minutes and the fourth minute brought yet a second goal, following a free kick just inside the Everton half. This was taken by Appleton and is lob was flicked into the net by Walsh as the Everton defence hesitated to challenge. Then Keyworth made Dunlop save high up and Everton's response broke down because Vernon tried to put Wignall through instead of shooting himself .
NOT HAPPY
The Everton defence not look too happy when the ball was moved quickly and Parker did well to curtail a Wills run as he shaped to centre. Parker next came down for a shot which was well off target but the Everton full back did much better with another tackle on Wills as Leicester once more loomed dangerously.  When Everton did make openings, first Temple and then Wignall shot outside, while Banks chased out of goal to dive on the ball as it stuck in the mud with Wignall rushing in.   Some of Everton’s midfield work was neat but Leicester’s more direct methods were shown when Willis headed just past the angle.  Bingham did get a shot in but the angle was so narrow that Banks was able to save with comfort but as Everton gradually came into the game more Temple struck the outside of the post after Wignall had made the chance. 
Struck In Mud
The mud was often the stopper of good moves by both side and Bingham bogged himself down outside the penalty area so that he shot hardly reached Banks.  Walsh almost got a third for Leciester when his shot just missed the post with Dunlop diving.  Next the skidding ball brought more trouble for Everton.  It was only cleared after Dunlop and Harris had collided and needed attention in foiling Leek. 
Harris Limping
Harris was limping so badly that he had to go off, and Collins dropped back to take his place.  The injury was to the right leg and when he came back, Harris still limping went to the left wing.  When Everton were getting the shooting chances they were far from accurate Collins failed with a good opening created by Vernon and Wignall because his shot was badly sliced outside.  Thomson was not having a happy time against Riley, and the Leicester right winger got away to make a good centre which Leek somehow headed over from almost underneath the bar.  Temple was the next Everton player to be hurt and he resumed limping.  Temple was at outside right so that the Everton team was disorganized, but they contrived to make a couple of attacks each of which was ended by Banks making good catches from temple centres. 
Everton’s Mistake
Everton made the mistake of keeping the ball close and Leicester’s more open tactics brought them a third goal at 39 minutes.  This was due in part to defensive slackness; for Walsh was wide open on the right wing when Wills crossed the ball to him. Riley hit it back and although Dunlop dived out and got his hands to the centre, he could not maintain a grip and Look nipped in to put it into the net. Bingham was having spells it left half and he and Collins alternated between defence and attack. But Everton were ragged against a Leicester side which was playing with speed and confidence.
Half-time—Leicester City 3 Everton nil.
Everton resumed their normal -team formation when the second half started,  but  Harris and Temple were still limping slightly. The centre of the pitch was near ankle deep in mud, and the players were finding it difficult to move the ball.
WIGNALL OFF-SIDE
Everton struggled in the mud, but when Collins did swing the ball out to Bingham, its value was shown immediately for the winger was able make a lot of headway. The move finally broke because wignall was offside. For a few minutes Everton looked better, and Vernon headed outside before ruining, another move by this persistence of keeping the ball instead of moving it. Everton moved up into attack and with Leicester losing some of their early steam, play for several minutes was all one way.  But rarely did Everton look like forcing an opening, and they nearly went further behind when Walsh got clear, but the referee blew up for a foul against the Leicester man. Walsh was hurt and had to off. Walsh returned in time to see the Everton goal escape when Harris and Gabriel had trouble with Riley's centre and Dunlop saved the day by diving out.
NEAREST YET
Everton's nearest approach to a goal came when Norman nearly put into his own net in dealing with Temples centre, and just before this Bingham had centred into the hands of Bank. Nothing Everton did looked like breaking down the solid Leicester defence, and when Temple was hurt again, it was a couple of minutes before he could continue, limping badly.  The injuries had certainly not, helped Everton, especially in the first half but Leicester had scored twice before any of them had occurred and this failure to make any impression could not be laid at that cause. Then in 76 minutes Everton got a goal. Bingham's centre was headed forward by Wignall and when Collins shot the ball hit Banks and bounced up, so that Brian Harris was able to head into the net. Harris had again gone to, outside left with Tempe on the right wing and Bingham' once more was alternative in defence with Collins. The goal did not inspire Everton and Leicester made, it 4-1 at 83 minutes when a pass from Brian Harris, well in his own half, wont astray, and Riley sent over a perfect centre which Leek headed, into the net.
BALL CHANCED
Then the ball so muddy that the referee called for another one, but the change of ball did not do Everton any good for they were a well beaten side, in spite of Bingham’s constant endeavor.  Final; Leicester 4, Everton 1. 

GLAD WE BROKE EVEN WITH THE CHAMPS
Liverpool Echo - Saturday 31 December 1960
ALEX PARKER PRAISES BURNLEY
Last week I wrote that after the Christmas games we would have an idea of just how good this Burnley side are.  Well, now we know.  Make no mistake, they are a great team and very hard to beat.  As anybody who saw either of the games will have noticed they believe in getting to the ball first, and any side that does that are never a pushover. 
From what I heard, our supporters were very disappointed at our losing the Goodison match, but the way I look at it is that we broke even with the champions in the two games.  If those supporters were really honest with themselves, I think they would admit that they didn’t expect us to win both matches.  After all, Burnley are considered one of the best teams in Europe, as is proved by the way in which many fancy them for the European Cup.  They have already disposed of Rheims, which includes two of the world’s greatest players in Fointaine and Kopa. 
TEMPLE MARRIED
Obviously what upset our fans was that we lost after winning at Turf Moor the previous day. If we had won away after losing at home we would probably have been forgiven. Still, we have the consolation of knowing that we won't have to meet them in the League again this season, and, frankly. I don't think we will find any other side that’s harder to beat.  One point about the gate.  It is without doubt the biggest I have ever played before in a League match.  Incidentally, Derek was married a week ago yesterday and in the dressing room before the game at Turf Moor, Bobby Collins gave him present from the first team players and trainer Gordon Watson.  I’m sure I can speak for all our supporters when I wish Derek and his wife a very happy future.  It was a strange to have last Saturday free, but it didn’t keep us away from football altogether for practically all the first team went to watch the Central league “derby” at Goodison Park.  We were sorry to see Liverpool win 3-0 but they deserved to.  We had a very young side out and the greater experience of the Anfield team told in the long run.  Their strongest point was their half-back line of Milne, Nicholson, and Campbell, who played very well.  I thought our best players were also in the middle line, Tommy Jones, and Mick Meagan.  Maybe our youngsters learned something for they drew 1-1 in the return at Anfield.  Next week we start our F.A Cup run, and knowing footballers as I do I should think every one of them, plus their club’s supporters can make out a case for their winning at Wembley.  Successful sides believe that there is no reason to stop them winning in the Cup and unsuccessful ones, believe they are due for a change of luck.  We Everton players are no different and believe that given a good fortune which is vital in a knock-out competition of any kind, we can give our fans a long run in the competition.  We start off next week with a visit from Sheffield United who, until recently, seemed to be walking away with the Second Division title.  I gather that despite losing 4-2 at Anfield the other week they still looked a good side who reply more on brain than brawn for their success.  From conversations with the Liverpool players, apparently I am going to have my work cut out to keep an eye on outside left Simpson, who has a nasty habit of belting balls into the net from twenty yards or more with his left foot.  Outside right Russell also has a habit of cutting inside to score from the centre forward and inside left positions.  So much so that I believe they have moved him to inside forward recently. 
Santa Claus
And centre forward Derek Pace is no novice when it comes to scoring goals, so it seems we defenders will have to be on ours toes.  As the Sheffield defence includes people like Joe Shaw and Alan Hodgkinson, it is obvious they are not going to give much away.  So you can see we have not been wasting our time in learning all we can about our Cup opponents.  To finish off, I must tell you about how I came to play Santa Claus to Mickey Lill and his wife.  I received a letter just before Christmas from Mrs Nancy Backhouse, of 657 Bath Street, Bristol, Pennsylvania, U.S.A and she is the aunt of Mickey’s wife.  She included some money for me to buy a bunch of flowers and a cake for the Lills.  She explained that because she wanted to attach their personal card she couldn’t have the gift wired.  So on Christmas Eve Santa Claus Parker went a caking at the house of Mr. and Mrs Lill in Maghull, complete with flowers, cake and Mrs. Backhouse card attached.  Naturally Mickey’s wife was both surprised and delighted.  I’m not too bothered about the flowers but I’m hoping Mickey will give me a slice of that cake.  It looked marvelous and Mickey doesn’t know how lucky he was to get all in one piece.  After delivering them I climb back on my sleigh and with a “Gee up, Rudolph,” I headed back to my home in Litherland. 

STAR PERFORMER
Liverpool Echo - Saturday 31 December 1960
ROY VERNON (Everton)
WHEN so shrewd a manager as Johnny Carey signs for the second time a player he has had charge of for six years and watched grow to stardom, obviously he considers that player has all it takes to remain a star. Conversely, when a footballer with several years of experience in top-class soccer puts himself under the same manager a second time, it is a tribute to the regard and respect he has for the man in charge. Those, in fact, were the two mutual and reciprocal compliments which were implied when Roy Vernon signed for Everton from Blackburn last February, a deal which will continue to repay the Goodison club handsomely in the years ahead. A stranger, looking at Vernon as he trots on the field, would hardly mark him down as a player to watch with special interest. His physique is almost, trait—he still doesn’t weigh 10 stone—and the placing of his feet is the opposite of the old-type Joe Mercer inturned toe caps which was once regarded as an essential hall-mark of the good ball player. But appearances are as deceptive in football as in any other walk of life, and Vernon's stature in skill, craft and artistry is an inverse ratio to his physical attributes. He packs a deceptively hero shot in his slender frame, he has a most helpful sixth sense in timing and positional play, and for sheer artistry, brilliant ball control, and a willingness to subjugate personal ambition for the good of the team as a whole fie is worthy to rank with the best Evertonians of previous generations. Although not yet 23 years of age, Vernon has had six seasons of top-class football, and is now gradually approaching his prime. Some players reach their zenith earlier. But when they do they often fail to last as long as those who come to their best a little later. While Manager Carey reckons that Everton's followers have not yet seen the best of Vernon. what they have seen this season has been much to their liking, and if there is something even better to come in the future then Mr. Carey's determination to bring his former protégé to Goodison Park Is going to go down in the club's history as one of their best investments.

EVERTON RES V BARNSLEY RES
Liverpool Echo - Saturday 31 December 1960
Everton Res; Mailey; Parnell, Gannon; Jarvis, Jones, Sharples; Bentley, Tyrer, Webber, Meagan, Lill.  Barnsley Res; Williams; Green, Sawyer; Woods, Hopkins, Whyke, Kerr, Stainsby, Steele, Lunn.
Referee Mr.  Mr. K S. Crofts (Derby). Green diverted a pass from Meagan straight to Tyrer who was dispossessed before he could shoot. Back in defence Meagan gave Barnsley a corner kick which Whyte placed behind. Neither attack could make much headway against quick, tackling defense and the Everton forwards, especially, tended to play too closely. When Tyrer prized open Barnsley's defence Lill netted from an offside position. During another Everton attack Williams had to dash smartly back to his goal to punch out a lofted back pass from his centre half. Barnsley were more than holding their own and Steele fired a shot a foot over the bar white at the other end Tyrer finished off a passing duet between himself and Bentley by shooting just over the Barnsley bar.