UNITED SHOW EVERTON HOW TO FINISH
Thursday, September 1, 1960. The Liverpool Daily Post
CHARLTON GOAL HIGHLIGHT OF GOOD MATCH
Manchester United 4, Everton 0
By Horace Yates
What a difference a week can make.  Only seven days ago Everton were on top of the world, 4-0 victory over United in a thrill-a-minute match that promised only the greatest things in store.  Just as United were desperately unlucky then to finish without a goal to their name so were Everton last night in fact although United raced to a 3-0 lead before half-time the opportunities were there for Everton to have been at least on terms.  Had their finished been on par with United’s, a really nail-biting second half would have been assured.  Still it was a match of good cheer for United.  Make no mistake they are on their way back to the sort of position to which we have grown accustomed to seeing them occupy.  Not for them is the role of chopping blocks.  In this great come-back they showed excellent football, beautiful combination and lively finishing.  The man everybody was talking about on their way home was Bobby Charlton who was again pushed out to the left wing position.  From the moment the game began he served notice on Everton to look out for squalls.  Whether they ignored the gale warning or whether they were simply powerless to do anything about it, I do not know, but Charlton punched the first great hole in the Everton defence with a goal which will keep United supporters talking for days.  He was always threatening to run away from Parker who as every Goodison follower knows is no mean tackler.  There was simply nothing Parker could do to hold this flittering, ghost like figure with the kick of a mule in his boot. 
TREMENDOUS SHOT
After eleven minutes Charlton waltzed away from Parker to within 25 yards of goal.  Without hesitation he hit the ball a tremendous crank and sent it flying away from Dunlop into the top corner of the net, a completely unstoppable shot the splendour of which set the crowd humming with appreciation.  The danger signals were flying high but Everton might have put themselves right back into the picture from the restart.  Collins could have shot a foot inside the post instead of outside.  Making all allowances, no one could say that this was Everton’s night.  With ordinary luck, they might have scored through Collins.  Vernon, Temple, and Harris all before half-time but it was United’s finishing that carried the night.  They were kept waiting until 39 minute before they were able to claim the second.  Quixall sent a corner kick to the far post and there was half-back Nicholson rising high to head past Dunlop.  Two minutes after, any hopes Everton may have harboured of making a rally were dashed when Dawson ran on to a short through pass from Violett to finish off a move as every good centre-forward should.  If Charlton goal and rocket like bursts made him the darling of the crowd for me Quixall’s play was a revelation.  What a smile of relief this forward must have brought to the worried face of United manager Matt Busby for this £45,000 inside forward looked much more value for that sort of money as a winger than ever he has done previously when I have seen him.  What a night of comment Jones suffered against him.  In the first half particularly, he was almost run into the ground Quixall, scarcely wasted a ball.  He centred magnificently, as though he had spent him football life at outside-right. 
MISS OF MATCH
United, coasting home three goals ahead might have expected an easy second half passenger, but it was not to be.  Without combining with the same degree of skill as United much of Everton’s individual work was superb.  What might have happened if Harris had scored from a free kick or if the centre forward had not been guilty of the miss of the match when Temple put the ball to his feet five yards out of goal, is anybody’s guess but certainly Everton went down with colours flying and most of their guns still firing.  As so often happens when a team is monopolising the attack the opposition break away and score.  So it was when Dawson nodded home a Giles centre for goal No. 4 five minutes from the end.  Still for winners and losers alike this was a match which did them credit, and how many I wonder noticed the referee applauding the teams as they left the field at the end, it was a sporting gesture and not the slightest bit out of place.  Everton can take comfort from the fact that if Collins was less of a magician that usual there were welcome and unmistakable signs of improvement in Vernon’s play, but the biggest slice of satisfaction must undoubtedly be with the superb display of Gabriel.  What a half-back this boy now promises to become.  Whether he was defending of attacking and it was nothing short of staggering how much time he found to spend on attack, he was highly impressive.  I shudder to think how Everton might have fared against the razor edge United attack with a less competent player in Gabriel’s position.  Similarly, United can also applaud the discovery of a right half, Nicholson, who only came into the side at the start of the season and has settled down really well.  No one will claim that Temple let down his side.  He showed a power of shot which was cheering and acquitted himself well for a player of such limited experience.  That first away victory still refuses to come and to bring it about Everton’s marksmen must be more deadly than they were at Old Trafford.  Generally they may play worse than this many a time and still finish on the winning side.  It was their misfortune that United should choose this meeting to snap out of their lethargic opening and turn on a performance which was a source of comfort to their previously crestfallen supporters.  Manchester United;- Gregg; Foulkes, Brennan; Setters, Haydock, Nicholson; Quixall, Giles, Dawson, Violett, Charlton.  Everton; Dunlop; Parker, Jones; Gabriel, Labone, Meagan; Temple, Vernon, Harris (J), Collins, Ring.  Referee; Mr. L.J. Tirebuck, Halifax.  Attendance 51,818. 

EVERTON HEADACHE IS LACK OF GOAL FINISH
Thursday, September 1 1960. The Liverpool Echo and Evening Express
By Horace Yates
How nice it is to find the tide turning again in favour of Manchester United, surely one of the friendliest and most popular clubs in the length and breadth of the land, but how unfortunate that the resurgence should come against Everton at a time when we were hoping fate had something better in store for them.  To be beaten 4-0 is a setback by any standards and yet the score might have been and should have been much more closely contested.  There is only one thing worse than a team unable to take chances and that is a team which cannot even make them.  Everton’s problem is undoubtedly in the taking rather than the making.  While Manchester United followers were cheered beyond measure by this new sign of strength giving them their first points of the season and some golden goals to encourage the belief that their worst moments are behind them, soben reflection must force the admission that Everton enjoyed not only more frequent opportunity but chances every bit as clear cut without being able to turn any of them to account.  Of them to account.  While it may be a fact that Jimmy Harris was the greatest sinner because he was debited with three misses one from no more than four of five yards when all that was required was a deflection of Temple’s centre it would be wrong to write him off as a failure.  In a match in which Collins was only good instead of wonderful it seemed to me that nobody made greater or more ready progress than Harris who exploited the experienced and shakiness’ of centre half Haydock.  Had Everton pushed the ball up the middle more frequently for Harris.  I felt he must reach the end of his non scoring run sooner or later.  Vernon is finding it difficult to slip into top gear, although the signs are there that he is at last warming to his task.  Where United managed to convert the 4-0 defeat of last Wednesday into a 4-0 victory yesterday was the digestion of the lesson that only at their peril can Collins be allowed latitude and became of their succession in restricting freedom of two Vernon and Ring and to a lesson extent Temple who all things considered shape quite well. 
EXTENDED
It was not a comforting sight to find Parker and more particularly with Jones extended almost to breaking point by players who attribute to a Matt Busby brain-wave in converting inside forwards to wingers.  Quixall was a constant problem to Jones but having bypass the full back he crossed the ball with a certainly and accuracy which suggested part of a well-worn routine.  There was much to cheer United last night.  In addition to Quixall and Charlton there was the successful return of Foukles to right back, but in Mr. Busby is as gleeful over the triumph of wing half Nicholson as anything else it would not be surprising.  A first season player, Nicholson already has the calm assurance of a man beyond his years- obviously another Busby star in the exciting early stages.  However successful Nicholson was he could claim no sort of advantage over Everton, but standing performer-Jimmy Gabriel.  What a game he played.  Give me a man who can carry the fight back to the opposition when things are not going well.  Gabriel did that and more.  He is looked after his own job defensively, found time to lend, aid where it was needed most and bobbed up most opportunity in attacking positions.  Indeed had he scored a goal it would have been no more than he deserved.  That long and anxious chase for the signature will certainly be repaid with interest. 
WONDERFUL
If there had been nothing else in the match but the goal by Charlton in 11 minutes, some people might still have insisted that they had been given their money’s worth.  It certainly was a wonderful goal.  His from 25 yards with force and direction which stamped it as a scorer from the moment it left Charlton a talented foot.  This was marksmanship at its best.  In 39 minute Nicholson headed a Quixall free kick beyond Dunlop and two minutes after Everton were three down when Dawson made scoring seem child’s play and Violett had produced a defence shattering pass.  Five minutes from the end Dawson completed the scoring by heading in a centre from Giles which for once in a way found Labone dethroned as king in the air.  It would be easy to blame Everton’s failure on sheer bad luck of which they had their share out to be brutally frank that a only part and the less important part of the story.  Sloopy indecisive, hesitant finishing was the root cause until it is remedied the Goodison heartaches are not yet over. 

SPENDING CAN BE FULL OF WORRIES
Friday, September 2, 1960. The Liverpool Daily Post
ROY VERNON SAYS COLLINS IS A GREATER PLAYER THAN DENNIS LAW
Have you ever considered the load of worry carried by football clubs officials when they set about team strengthening the cheque-book way?  It really is an awful responsibility; I know quite well that you can retort “Why should they worry?  It’s only the firm’s money they are spending,” but that is only a quip.  Nobody can really say that with their hand in their hearts.  Down the years we have grown accustomed to reading of cheques being written for £20,000, £30,000, £40,000 and more and because of that we scarcely give a whistle when we see new figures established but this money has to be earned and the spending is fraught with danger, difficulties and doubt.  It is a popular theory that if clubs have money to spend they cannot go wrong, for everybody knows the good players.  It is only a question of men becoming available and then stepping into sign them.  The difficulty is that those players hit the market only once in a long time.  There is seldom a glut of the truly great stars, who could be taken to fit into another side readymade.  Part of some players greatness is their ability to link up and read the play of colleagues with whom they have grown up.  Transplant them into a different club with different faces and they have to start educating themselves all over again.  Undoubtedly the ability is there, but not everybody can drop into the groove in the manner born.  That is why we sometimes read that players for whom quite big sums have been paid, have not set their new club’s stands on fire with the excellence of their displays.  Of course it is not always the most players who cost most money who are the best investments by any manner of means, I need not look very far for a case in point.  Look at Everton and the players whose name must be on every supporters lips just now-Bobby Collins.  We players have no idea how much money is paid for us on transfer.  We merely sign on the dotted line and read about it in the Press.  But Bobby according to reports, cost Everton around £22,500.  That was a couple of years ago.  I should say that he has already wiped out that debt-with interest.  Who can say that without Collins Everton would still be a First Division Club today?  I take off my hat to him proud to be a member of the same team. 
DOUGLAS ADMIRER
Great admirer though I am of Bryan Douglas of Blackburn Rovers and believe me Bryan at his best is really something I must confess that I have never played with a more talented complete inside forward a great bundle of tricks and a more regular powerhouse than this diminutive Scot Bobby Collins.  Nor have I ever played against an inside forward to any other club who has let me with a feeling that there is some body even better, than Bobby.  Collins is a buy in a lifetime.  Where he gets his boundless energy from I don’t pretend to know, I can say with certainty that no man in the game covers as much ground in any one match as Collins.  He never complains at hard work rather does he thrive on it, and at the end of a tough crueling match, when a few minutes relaxation before a bath seems to be one of life’s luxuries; Collins is up and about, as full of restless energy as at the start of his day.  It is a gift that some players have which others cannot acquire if they play for years- the ability to take the game by the scuff of the neck and play it at the tempo required.  There are times when games seem to go mad with players scurrying around at break-neck speed making their work much more difficult and the margin for error so much greater.  How useful it is at a time like this to have a man who almost imperceptibly applies the brake and becomes the dictator, Collins can do it as well as any man I know.  How Scotland, in their wisdom, can afford to neglect this wizard in blue from Goodison Park, I cannot start to understand.  Some people will say that the answer is Dennis Law.  I have played against Law several times when he was with Huddersfield Town in Division Two, and while his talents are obvious and he has some of the same restless energy as Collins there is no doubt whom I would have to my team. 
MORE EXPERIENCED
Of course, Bobby is that much more experienced than Law, but experience does count and in my view it is what Collins has learned, allied to an obvious natural ability that makes him a greater player than the most costly man in our game.  What is Collins like off the field?  Just the same as he is on it.  A cheerful cheeky little chappy always ready for a joke and a leg pull, good company at any time and with the sort of temperament that is a boon to any club.  The greatest criticism I have heard of Collins is that he is selfish.  This is a criticism of which the players do not subscribe.  The recital leader should be in the lime-light more than anybody else and as Bobby fashions outplay as must obviously take the lion’s share of possession and limelight.  From the game’s point of view the pity is that there are so few Bobby Collins but imagine what a headache we would have if we had players like him in opposition every week!  Collins I honestly believe is one of those players who help to give tone to the game, who stop the onlookers from saying “In my young days, footballers were artists.  There are some of them now?  I rate Collins one of the personalities of our time, and that is not merely because I happen to play alongside him, but the privilege of doing so helps me to see his cleverness at close quarters.  Nobody can tell me that money does not matter to any player, but while there are some who play the game because it is a livelihood Collins is one who makes playing a pleasure.  He really enjoys his football.  All great teams have a personality.  My opinion is that it is the presence of men like Danny Blanchflower that makes Spurs tick over.  Tom Finney was the same at Preston Stan Matthews at Blackpool.  They are artists in their own right, the type who help to keep our game great.
NOBODY STOPS
By the way, we have a new motto at Goodison Park these days.  It is that nobody stops the ball in our team except the goalkeeper.  Everybody else has to keep it going for our manager, Mr. Carey believe that to keep on playing football is the surest way to obtaining results.  I would like to conclude with a word about the Goodison Park pitch.  Maybe it a trifle early to start singing its praises but so far it has been a revelation.  When we stepped out against United.  Well expected puddles in places but there were pane.  We expected the grass to be loose and to come out as we slid around, but it didn’t and last Saturday’s testing found it able to stand up to all demands.  A good pitch is important.  It is nice to feel now that we have one. 

EVERTON’S FIGHT BACK JUST FAILS TO EARN A POINT
Saturday, September 3, 1960. The Liverpool Echo and Evening Express
Aston Villa 3, Everton 2
By Jack Rowe
Aston Villa;- Sims; Lyon, Neal; Crowe, Dugdale, Saward; MacEwan, Thomson, Hitchen, Wylie, McParland.  Everton; Dunlop; Parker, Jones (Captain); Gabriel, Labone, Harris (B); Temple, Collins, Harris (J), Vernon, Ring.  Referee; Mr. A Murdoch (Sheffield). 
Brian Harris came into the Everton team in place of Mick Meagan for his first game of the season against an unchanged Aston Villa at the Villa Park today.  Villa nearly got a goal in the first minute when the Everton defence was slow in lacking.  Thomson was able to trap Dugdale’s long lob and take it through on the right before finding his shot bouncing away.  Vernon did one or two tricky things, none better than his dribble through the centre circle and a sweeping pass out to Temple.  Sims had to dive out beyond the six-yard line to clutch the winger’s effort. 
WELL TAKEN
Villa had more punch and in nine minutes they want into the lead with a well taken goal from Hitchens.  McParland started the move with a headed pass inside to Wylie who promptly switched the ball to Hitchens, standing just outside the Everton penalty area.  Hitchens collected it nicely and turning quickly outside Labone beat Dunlop with a low right foot shot just inside the post.  Villa were moving quickly and it took Jones all his time to stop MacEwan and Thomson while Labone did well with a tackle on Hitchie after Brian Harris had misjudged a high ball from the Villa defence.  Everton’s defence was having a lot of trouble and in 15 minutes they were another goal down again from Hitchens.  It began with a bad midfield pass by Vernon.  When the ball was pushed through it seemed as though the Everton defence were anticipating an offside decision but none came, Hitchens fastened on to it, evaded a despairing tackle by Brian Harris and then lashed the ball high into the net. 
GRAND SAVES
Temple hooked a shot well over and Everton’s nearest to a goal came when Jimmy Harris out on the left middle a ball which passed over Dugdale but unfortunately for Collins his glancing header was coolly anticipated and taken brilliantly by Sims.  The goalkeeper did the same seconds later when Vernon drove in.  Even Gabriel could not find his touch and he was beaten by Wylie who shot hard and low as McParland lay invited.  This time Dunlop went full length to push the ball away.  McParland was seen after attention and Everton with a sudden burst came back with a 22nd minute goal from Temple.  The lead up was a short left wing corner which enabled Ring to pull the ball back to Vernon who struck a mighty shot.  Sims saved but could not hold it, and when the ball bounced out to Temple he hit it on the volley it struck Neal in flight and finished in the net with Dugdale and Sims trying desperately to keep it out. 
HESITANT
Everton’s defence was still hesitant and often ill-positioned so that every time Villa moved down there was danger.  MacEwan’s shot struck Harris and bounced over with Dunlop diving and for several minutes play stayed in the Everton half until Temple came forward with a cross-field pass to Ring who combined nicely with Vernon, but ran into an offside position when the return came.  Labone was finding Hitchens an elusive character.  In 41 minutes Villa got a third goal-and a beauty it was by Thomson.  Saward switched the ball forward to Wylie, and again the Everton defence not only appeared to expect an offside decision but were also so badly positioned that they could not deal with the threat the linesman’s flag stayed.  I though rightly down.  Wylie went almost to the line before crossing a high ball to the far side, where Thomson pulled it down and almost in the same movement crashed the ball into the net from a very narrow angle.  The next Villa shot from MacEwan crashed into the side netting and this match was certainly showing up the marking and tackling hesitancy of the Everton defence.  Collins missed a chance, however, when Temple pulled the ball back to him, shooting across and outside from a position which should have ensued a net shot on the target.  Half-time; Aston Villa 3 Everton 1.
FAILURE
When they got the opportunity Everton were not making the forward progress and as the second half started attacks came to nothing on two occasions because of the failure to move the ball quickly enough.  Then off-side did spell a useful move, a pity because Collins could only have been inches on the wrong side when Ring shot the ball through to him.  The ease with which Hitchens beat Labone near the touch line was surprising.  The Villa centre forward took the ball in survived a tackle by Parker and then fired a shot which Dunlop saved excellently with one hand.  At last Everton began to show the better football and the ball was moved quickly.  Sims saved Villa with a tremendous stop when Jimmy Harris found himself, for the first time, in the clear.  From the corner, Gabriel headed just outside.  There were hopes of an Everton goal when Collins wriggled his way down the right, but Jimmy Harris was unfortunate to find the ball running awkwardly for him. 
NEW DISASTER
Temple’s attempt to head his defence out of trouble, with a back pass to Dunlop; almost ended in display.  Wylie cut it off, but the goalkeeper stretched out a hand and again saved finely.  Everton were getting their chances this half, especially when a bad mistake by Lynn left in Jimmy Harris.  Once more the outward dash of Sims stopped a score for the Everton leader shot against him and away went the ball for a corner.  Sims was in action again also from Jimmy Harris making the saves low down.  Since the interval the Everton defence had shown much more solidarity and Collins almost got a goal when the he went between Dugdale and Neal, but the ball ran just too fast for him.  Everton got the goal they had threatened and I feel deserved this half, in 75 minutes when a right wing attack ended in the ball going across the goalmouth and leaving Vernon positioned to take, it to one side of Sims and push it towards the net.  It crossed the line in spite of Dugdale’s attempt to keep it out. 
CHANGES
Everton’s defensive tightening on the half was reflected by the forward play and if the chances had been taken the recovery at this point could have been complete.  Jimmy Harris was having a most unhappy afternoon for he had another great chance when Collins whipped, the ball forwards and Dugdale could not stop in progress.  The Everton man this time tried to volley the ball past Sims and put it outside.  The half-speen McParland also had a chance but instead of shooting he tried to dribble past Dunlop and failed.  Gabriel in the second half, had played really well and his promptings had played a big part in Everton’s revival.  With seconds remaining Vernon lobbed a free kick across goal for Ring to make a header, which hit the top of the bar as it passed over. 
Final Aston Villa 3, Everton 2. 

RING’S “SPECIAL” WAS NO FLUKE
Saturday, September 3, 1960. The Liverpool Echo and Evening Express
HE OFTEN DOES IT IN TRAININT, SAYS ALEX PARKER
As I write this I am smarting from that defeat at Old Trafford on Wednesday night, so I propose to start off with something more pleasant-our victory over Leicester City last Saturday.  My main reason for doing so is to get one or two things about Tommy Ring’s goals, particularly the second one.  After being one down to the Leicester boys, we were naturally delighted to find ourselves walking off 3-1 winners, especially as the two goals from Tommy came from outside the penalty area, always a good sight.  Those of you who were there will remember that when he scored his second he picked up a ball from Bobby Collins stood still, and then taking careful aim, toe-ended it into the top corner, leaving the goalkeeper flat-footed.  We thought it was a brilliant goal, but apparently it wasn’t the view held by everybody at the ground, for some said it was lucky.  Well, I can let them into a secret IT WASN’T LUCKY!  Tommy had done this same trick many times in training at Bellefield.  I remember in one practice match last season he beat Jimmy O’Neill twice by chipping them under the angle from then edge of the box.  After the joy of beating Leicester come the disappointment of losing to Manchester United by the same score as we had beaten them the previous week.  Apart from a spell in the first half when the Manchester team played so well they looked unstoppable, we had nearly enough as much of the play, and with a little luck near goal, for we missed some chances, we could have made the score more respectable. 
THEY  CLICKED
But for one spell just before the interval the United boys really clicked and banged in three goals.  The forwards and their wing-halves setters and Nicholson, looked really great.  Quixall in particular surprised me.  It looks as if Mr. Busby had made a shrewd move switching him to the wing.  Bobby Charlton also revealed glimpse of the form that made him the most failed about footballer in the game a few month’s ago.  He opened the score with a really great goal.  He cut inside me with the ball at his right foot and although I realised he was going to try to shot, I thought I would have time to block it for with nine out of ten players they would have tapped it forward once more to steady it before shooting.  Not Bobby.  Before I could move to tackle him he let fly with his right foot from about 23 yards and Albert Dunlop didn’t stand a chance.  I was right in line with the flight of the ball and when it was about 10 yards from goal it stated to swerve away from Albert and was leaving him all the time as it flashed into the roof of the net.  It was Charlton at his best and a Charlton I wouldn’t like to meet too often. 
HAPPY MEMORIES
Today we have been at Villa and a glance at page one will tell you how we have done.  Villa Park has happily memories for me for I made my debut for Everton there nearly two years ago and we won 4-2.  I should also have been playing against an old enemy today.  Peter McParland and one of the most dangerous men in the business.  On Monday might we play our third away match on the trot when we got to Blackpool and then next Saturday.  The Wolves come to Goodison.  I’m beginning to think there’s no such thing as an easy match in the First Division.  A few days ago a little chap going bald, popped into Goodison Park and asked for Gordon Watson.  None of the players present knew him but he seemed to know his way about so we fetched Gordon.  Our trainer was obviously delighted to see the stranger and brought him over towards the players “Alex” he said “I’d like you to met Alex Stevenson.”  So that’s how Alex I met Alex 2.  Although I had heard of Stevie as he was known in his playing days, I had never seen him play from the stories I hear at the ground he must have been a great inside forward.  Many of you reading this will know a lot more about him than I do.
OLD FAVOURITES
It’s a funny thing, but even in the short while I have been at Everton a number of the old favourites have called round for another peep at the ground that must hold many memories for them.  Just before the start of the season a great Everton fan Mrs. Toole gave me a lucky horseshoe decorated with white heathen.  She handed it to me as we stood on Lime Street Station waiting to leave for the game at Tottenham.  Although we lost at Spurs 2-0 in view of what the London side has done to others since our performance doesn’t look too bad.  Anyway thanks Mrs Toole here’s hoping.  Mickey Lill started training again on Thursday morning.  He trotted round the pitch at Goodison a few times and hopes to be fully fit in weeks or so.  Liverpool have signed Gordon, I was pleased to see that Milne from Preston, for he is an old Army pal of mine.  I played behind him a few times for the British side and I think you Liverpool fans will like him.  I know he is only small for a wing half, but he is one of the best men I know at building up an attack.  After a few matches you Kopties will agree with me.  At the time of writing I haven’t seen Gordon yet but as soon as I can I shall pop along to see him welcome him to Liverpool and then have a natter about those Army days I shall probably get Bert Slater along as well, as he played in the same Army side too. 

EVERTON RES V ASTON VILLA RES
Saturday, September 3, 1960. The Liverpool Echo
Everton Res; Griffiths; Parnell, Bramwell; Jarvis, Gorrie, Meagan; Morton, Tyrer, Wignall, Ashworth, Edwards.  Aston Villa Res;- Keenan; Thompson, Winton, Lumsden, Morrall; Deakin, Ashe, Tindall, Brown, Burrows, Jones.  Referee; Mr. W. E. Haynes (Newcastle).  Everton staged the first attack with Jarvis attempting to find Wignall.  To avert the danger Morrall passed back to his goalkeeper and play swung to the other end where Burrows forced a corner off Gorrie.  Ashworth was twice within an ace of scoring his first effort hitting Keelan’s legs and his second scraping an upright.  Everton continued to press, with their wingers Morton and Edwards often in the picture with timely passes and good centres but met a very compact defence.  The chief danger to Everton goal came when Burrows ran through to shoot a couple of feet over from 20 yards out.  Everton continued to press hard and in the 41st minute Ashworth put them ahead with a hard angled drive.  The Villa retaliated and after forcing a corner Brown lofted inches over the bar.  Half-time-Everton Res 1, Aston Villa Res nil. 

MORE SPENDING IN PROSPECT
Monday, September 5, 1960. The Liverpool Daily Post
Aston Villa 3, Everton 2
By Jack Rowe
Another disappointing and, in many respects, a bitter occasion for Everton fans.  They must have shuddered at the way the defence played in the first half and wondered how many more Villa were going to add to the 3-1 lead they held at half-time.  Then when a recovery came they had the annoying experience of seeing the side virtually throw away a couple of points by more weak finishing.  It can be said that the Everton rehabilitation in the second half was due in some measure to a knee injury sustained by the Irish winger McParland which left him no more than a half-speed player so that the Goodison defence had time to find some composure and do something to salvage themselves from the rear wreck they had been before the interval.  I do not doubt that McParlands injury did have an effect, but this will not matter to Everton followers nor should it, as they look for signs that they are going to have a team capable of making an impact this season.  Neither are they going to take kindly to excuses that the first away victory for about eighteen months did not come because the men who should do the job could not put the ball in the net.  The plain matter about this game at Villa Park is that Everton came back from looking nothing like a First Division team and then cast away a golden opportunity of taking two morale –building points by missing four of the sort of chances which simply cannot be ignored if a side is to be successful. 
UNFORTUNATE HARRIS
Collins started the chapter by failing to pilot home Temple’s short cross minutes before the interval and afterwards it was unfortunate Jimmy Harris who could not make even one or three goal front opportunities count Harris will claim that he hit two of them swiftly and soundly enough and that it was Sims who prevented a score.  The goalkeeper must have credit for his anticipation and reaction but in my view there was time for Harris to have made better use of them and he can hardly escape stricture for the most important miss of all.  Everton were then 3-2 down Vernon having scored in 75 minutes and when Dugdale could do no more than help on a forward pass, Harris was off again with only Sims in front of him and this time he was yards off the target.  And to cap it all Ring headed on to the bar in the last seconds and Everton came off losing and no-one else but themselves to blame for it.  What makes it worse is that Villa do not enter my calculations as a team to watch this season, yet in the first half, they were made to look outstanding because of Everton’s shakiness.  The covering was slack, the marking almost non-existent, with little first time challenge for the ball. 
LITTLE RIGHT
Labone had a most unhappy first half against Hitchens and to me, has not increased in statue, while the rest did so much that was wrong and so little that was right.  Brian Harris in for Meagan was not helped by a cold, but there was no calming influence and it was not until after the interval that Gabriel began to look like the player he can be.  Everton were two down in 15 minutes both goals coming from Hitchens who took the openings well, but had plenty of time to do so and after Temple had made it 2-1 in 22 minutes with a shot which went into the net off full back Neal- this was Everton’s best first half spell-along came Thomson with the best goal of all.  Everton may have thought Wylie offside-they were wrong –when Saward pushed the ball through to him, but it did not matter greatly for no Everton defender was in sight and he went forward before hooking the ball over for Thomson to bring it beautifully under control and crack it home.  The story is then of the Collins miss and Everton’s second half revival with its frustrating fallings after some very nice football usually inspired by Gabriel and Collins and backed by a defence which got more of a grip on itself.  Dunlop was possibly a little slow in moving to the first goal, but this apart he was safe enough and joins Collins and the second half Gabriel as Everton’s most consistent players.  Vernon was patchy, so was Ring and Temple has to speed up.  It was also lack of speed in thought and action which characterised Everton and taking a line through this latest away defeat it seems that if he promised uplift is to come this season there will have to be thoughts about one or two positions in defence and attack.  The answer may be more expenditure.  Aston Villa; Sims; Lynn, Neal; Crowe, Dugdale, Saward; MacEwan, Thomson, Hitchens, Wylie, McParland.  Everton; Dunlop; Parker, Jones; Gabriel, Labone, B. Harris, Temple, Collins, J. Harris, Vernon, Ring.  Referee; Mr. A. Murdock (Sheffield) Attendance 34,000. 

PLEASING DISPLAY BY EVERTON RES
Monday, September 5, 1960. The Liverpool Daily Post
Everton Reserve 2, Aston Villa Reserve 1
Everton Reserves gave a pleasing display in registering their first home victory over a more experienced team at Bootle Stadium.  Their defence never flattered against the Villa’s determined efforts to snatch the equaliser Gorrie was a tower of strength once he had subdued the lively Brown, while Bramwell and Jarvis were constructive defenders.  Ashworth who worked tirelessly was Everton’s most effective forward and he was unlucky not to add to his 41st and 46th minute goals.  Much of the good work of wingmen Morton and Edwards was nullified through the Everton attack lacking thrust down the middle.  Burrows netted a 49th minute penalty for the Villa after Bramwell had handled. 

EVERTON’S DEFENCE MUST BE A WORRY TO MANAGER CAREY
Monday, September 5, 1960 The Liverpool Echo and Evening Express
By Jack Rowe
Everton in my book had little chance at all of making a fight when they were 3-1 down at half time to Aston Villa on Saturday.  Their floundering defence had made the task of the Villa forwards easy so that Joe Mercer’s men were able to build up a lead which seemed unassailable.  Then in the end, Everton went down 3-2 yet it was a game they could easily have won for the second half brought a completely different story and if the old falling of not taking chances had been remedied at Villa Park the first away League win for eighteen months would have been an accomplished fact.  After the interval the side tightened up all round especially the defence but it may be that they were aided in this by an injury to that Irish menace McParland and who could only operate at a speed far below that which makes him so feared.  But whatever the cause it did not alter the situation that Everton did show a big improvement on the first half performance, and if their own goal had one or two escapes the story of the missed chances entirely evolves around the Villa goal.  It was Jimmy Harris who had not scored this season, who has to beat the blunt of the structures of the opportunities which got away.  He had at least three excellent openings and if the Villa goalkeeper Sims earned the recognition of the crowd for his saves from two of them I reckon that the odds were always on Harris scoring rather on Sims saving.
WORRYING
Harris could not get one of them in the net so that Everton’s second half improvement was rewarded by a goal from Vernon in the 75th minute and Villa were able to take all victors which their first half certainly warranted, but which would have been very much in the balance if those opportunities had been taken.  Everton’s performance in the first half must have been worrying to Manager Carey.  The defence was slow, hesitant in the tackling, loose in its covering while marking was at times almost non-existent.  Consequently there was not one man who earned anything like a credit mark, and the forwards apart from one brief spell when they got a goal were lethargic and diffident to the point that with the exception of the ball that went into the net, the only time that Sims was troubled was when Collins made a glancing header from a Jimmy Harris pass.  So it was that Villa went in at half time with the lead the goals coming from Hitchens (9 and 15 minutes) and Thompson (41 minutes).  Temple got Everton’s goal in the 82nd minute when Vernon’s shot was pushed out by Sims.  Gabriel had as much to do with Everton’s second half revival as anybody,.  He settled down and from it came composure to the defence and a better service to the forwards who at times played some delighted football.  But Everton’s trouble in the game at least was a shaky start and then inability to recover because of the goal from lapses and what will make it more irksome to Goodison Park is that Villa are not a side likely to set the Football League alight with acclaim this season.  Dunlop, Gabriel and Collins were the best consistent Everton players and Vernon had several good patches while Temple besides his goal did much better in the second half although he clearly needs speeding up.  Villa were made to look better than they actually were by the hesitant Everton defence.  They were given too much time in which to work the ball, although when they got the opportunities no mistake was made especially by Hitchens who saw his chances when left in the clear and took them.  Two of the goals had Everton looking for an offside decision but none came and I would have been surprised if they had done.  Even so the positioning and marking was so poor at the time that if there had been no suggestion of a taint the scorers would have taken some stooping.  Thompson goal was the best of the lot.  He pulled down a high ball from Wylie and in almost the same movement smashed the ball past Dunlop from a fine angle. 

EVERTON HAVE A VISITOR –FROM EVERTON!
Monday, September 5, 1960. The Liverpool Echo and Evening Express
By Michael Charters
Everton have recently had a visitor from their name-sakes in Chile-Mr. Henry Peet, an insurance official, whose father was born in Liverpool and who is a shareholder of the Chilean Everton club, playing in the lovely city of Vina de Mar.  Mr. Peet is in Liverpool on a holiday plus business and met Mr. Jack Sharp, the Everton director, who invited him to watch the game at Goodison Park against Manchester United.  Mr Peet’s verdict English football is faster than the game played in Chile.  Football in Chile is played on a similar basis to England with leaguers and divisions.  It is interesting to find that the Everton club there is the only one named after an English side and was formed about 40 years ago by a group of English people.  The guiding spilt was obviously an Everton fan, who named his new team after the one he used to watch in Liverpool.  Their ground in Vina del Mar will be used when the World Cup is staged in Chile in 1962.  At present it holds about 20,000-no cover is needed in their weather conditions-but it is being extended now to accommodate up to 50,000 for the World Cup.  Mr. Peet hopes to see other Everton games before he returns later this month-and I advised him that a “must” is Saturday’s match at Goodison against Wolves.  After seeing the boys from Molyneux, he will certainly be able to confirm that our football is fast! 

GREEN TO MAKE DEBUT FOR EVERTON
September 5, 1960. The Liverpool Echo and Evening Express
TOM JONES INJURED
ONLY CHANGE
By Leslie Edwards
Colin Green an 18-years-old back from Wrexham, makes his First Division debut tonight for Everton at Blackpool.  He had been with Everton for nearly three seasons and takes the place of skipper Tom Jones at left back.  Jones leg injury has been bothering him for the past two matches and the fact that this was opportunity to rest him led to the player and the Everton manager agreeing that it would be best in the circumstances, not to play to-night.  Green, a fast mover, made a good impression on the only occasion he played for the first team-against Tranmere in the final of the Liverpool Senior Cup last season.  Everton; Dunlop; Parker, Green; Gabriel, Labone, Harris (B); Temple, Collins, Harris (J), Vernon, Ring. 
Everton Reserve (v. Blackpool Reserves, at Bootle tonight 6.15). Mailey; Parnell, Bramwell; Jarvis, Gorrie, Meagan; Tyrer, Wignall, Bentley, Ashworth, Edwards. 
CATTERICK MOVE
Mr. Harry Catterick, the former Everton centre forward who is currently manager of Sheffield Wednesday expects to get his release from contract at Sheffield and become manager of Nottingham Forest within the next week or two.  He has been offered the Nottingham job at between two, and three thousand a year-a big increase on his salary at Sheffield where he is probably the lowest paid Division manager.  He anticipates that the Wednesday Board will release him but they are not likely to meet until after the meeting at Football League chairman in London on Thursday.  Mr. Catterick a Stockport man, left Everton to become player manager at Crewe.  He made a success of the job and later had five happy and instructive seasons with Rochdale.  He was appointed manager at Sheffield nearly two years ago when the club were in the Second Division.  Under his direction-and he acts also as his own chief scout- they gained promotion and said £70,000 worth of players incoming players cost only £14,000.  “I shall be sorry to leave Sheffield Wednesday” he told me this morning, but Billy Walker, the man whose place I hope to take assures me that Nottingham Forest are a splendid club and I hope to do as well with them as I have with Wednesday.  “I could do with the loyalty of the kind of spectators you have at Goodison Park and Anfield.  There’s nothing quite like them anywhere in the game.” 
TEST FOR MATTHEWS
For Blackpool Stanley Matthews who has missed the last two games because of a calf injury, is to have a late fitness test.  If he is still unfit Hill will retain the outside right position, Kaye has a hip injury so Leslie Campbell, a close season signing from Preston returns at outside left.  The defence is unchanged.  Blackpool; Waiters; Armfield, Martin; Kelly (J), Gratrix, Durie; Matthews, (for Hill) Lea, Charnley, Mudie, Campbell. 

EVERTON WIN AWAY LEAGUE GAME AT LAST!
Tuesday, September 6, 1960. The Liverpool Daily Post
GREAT TEAM TRIUMPH AT BLACKPOOL; GREEN HAS FINE DEBUT
By Michael Charters
Blackpool 1, Everton 4
They have done it last-and how! This was Everton’s first away League victory in twenty-six matches and the way they played in defeating Blackpool last night makes one wonder that it took them so long to remedy the dreadful record.  For the Everton supporters and officials present, most of all Manager John Carey this must have been an occasion almost rivalling a Cup Final triumph.  At the end of the match hundreds of Everton supporters ran on to the pitch to cheer their team off after they had seen a fine display in which Everton were the better team after the opening fifteen minutes or so.  This was essentially a team triumph.  All of them played with tremendous dash and their speed to the ball and skill with it first of all contained Blackpool and then reduced them to almost a rabble.  Turning round one goal in front Everton dominated the second half and at times the Blackpool goal had a charmed life as shots from forwards whistled past the posts and three of them went between them.  I think Everton’s command of the game came, after the opening stages, through the way in which wing halves Gabriel and Brian Harris took control in midfield and played magnificently.  Their service to the forwards was first class and the man up front, although missing some chances, did not let them down this time.  Had it not been for a brilliant defensive display by Armfield and Gratrix, Blackpool would have been beaten by a much greater score.  Everton’s brilliant ball work and dash were too much for the others. 
DEFENCE RECOVERY
Everton’s defence seems to have recovered from the jittery spell they had on Saturday and if they had a fault it was their insistence on trying to play good football all the time.  They sometimes looked as though their short passing game might break down but fortunately for them for Blackpool forwards had a bad game collectively and individually.  Colin Green the eighteen years-old Wrexham boy, making his League debut, could not have had a stiffer test in that he was up against the great Stanley Matthews.  But this boy had a fine match and although he was often helped but of trouble by his team-mates coming back to lend a hand when Matthews looked like breaking through he stayed cool, kicked well and made good use of his clearance.  This was first class debut.  Dunlop had little to do because his co-defenders kept the Blackpool attack out of range and Parker had such a good match that quite he was up in the outside right position after subduing Campbell to almost a honestly.  Matthews was never able to create any clear cut chances even when he moved into midfield but he suffered from a poor service from his half backs who were too occupied in dealing with a fast moving skilful Everton attack in which Vernon and Collins were outstanding.  The dash of Jimmy Harris seemed to typify the spirit of the team last night and Ring very wisely moved the ball first time rather than try to best Armfield at close quarters.  Armfield was Blackpool’s outstanding man and what a great full back he is.  Everton played with great spirit and drive in the first half, chasing every ball and usually winning it.  The first 15 minutes were notable for the lack of shooting chances created, but there was much excellent individual play to admire and as the game progressed it became obvious that Everton’s superior speed was going to be a telling factor.  They began to take control after 20 minutes when they were unlucky not to take a leading goal.  A brilliant move between Collins and Vernon broke open Blackpool’s defence and Vernon’s shot from close range was pushed on the post, by Martin and rebounded out for Temple to return the ball where Gabriel tried his hand and Walters got his arms to it to turn it away.  Ring tried a chipped shot which wear narrowly over the bar and the nearest Blackpool outpaced at the stage came to scoring was when Brian Harris misjudged a headed back pass to Dunlop and the ball went narrowly wide. 
BRILLIANT MOVE
After 30 minutes Vernon put the ball in the net but Jimmy Harris had handled it just previously but Everton’s pressure continued with two efforts from Gabriel and Vernon which were just wide.  Lea missed a good chance for Blackpool by shooting wide with the goal gaping in front of him after Dunlop had punched the ball off Charnley’s head.  Ring again had another chance but shot over too hurriedly when Harris flicked the ball over to him, but Everton deservedly went ahead after 42 minutes with a brilliant move from their own half of the field.  Vernon’s and Collins interpassed through the Blackpool defence and Gabriel joined in the move to burst forward and turn the ball from the by line for Jimmy Harris to side-foot the ball into the roof off the net from only a few yards out.  This was Harris’s first goal of the season and a fitting reward for a first class half by Everton in which they had shown much good forward and a commendable sense of urgency. 
NOT ONE SHOT
Jimmy Harris might have scored Everton’s second within a minute of the resumption, but was slow to take Temple’s pass.  From that moment until Vernon put Everton two up after sixty eight minutes, Blackpool never delivered one, shot so complete was Everton’s dominance.  The Welshman’s goal came as Collins best off a couple of tackles, pushed the ball across to him and side-stepping Kelly, he hit a tremendous right foot shot from twenty yards into the far corner.  Six minutes from time Collins and Ring nipped through Blackpool’s defence on the left with the winger beating Gratrix only a few yards from the upright and pushing it across for Collins to score easily.  Two minutes from the end Brian Harris completed one of his finest ever displays by going through and shooting from thirty yards to hit the bar and Temple had no trouble in netting the rebound.  The one Blackpool goal came with almost the last move of the match as Mudie sent over a centre from the left wing and the ball skiddled off Labone’s head to diver Dunlop’s leap for the ball which dropped at Charnley’s feet and he could hardly miss from two yards.  Blackpool; Waiters; Armfield, Martin; Kelly, Gratrix, Durie, Matthews, Lea, Charnley, Mudie, Campbell.  Everton; Dunlop; Parker, Green; Gabriel, Labone, Harris (B); Temple, Collins, Harris (J), Vernon, Ring.  Referee; Mr. F. Cowen (Manchester).  Attendance 24,945. 

WIGNALL NETS TWICE
Tuesday, Saturday 6, 1960. The Liverpool Echo and Evening Express
Everton Res 2, Blackpool Res 0
Everton accepted their chances at Bootle Stadium last night and deserved to win Gorrie and Parnel played immaculately in a well knit Everton rearguard which restricted the Blackpool attack to a couple of scoring opportunities.  After Wignall had netted in the sixth minute the Everton forwards fell into Blackpool’s offside trap with regularity Wignall who seemed happier at inside right than centre forward. 

EVERTON HIT THE HEIGHTS
Tuesday, September 6, 1960. The Liverpool Echo and Evening Express
By Michael Charters
There was a sense of a great occasion rivalling a famous Cup-tie victory in Everton’s magnificent 4-1 triumph at Blackpool last night-and I was glad I was there to see it.  It is history now that this result ended a run of 25 consecutive away League matches without a win what is more important, I feel is the manner in which it was achieved.  This was a solid convincing victory in which every man in the team played well-and some very well indeed.  Some of their football was brilliant in design and execution often impudent in its smooth progression as the ball swept from man to man to bewilder and bamboze a Blackpool side which was made to look second-rate when they’re far from that rating.  It was a triumph too, for manager Carey’s insistence on trying to play good football all the time.  It was obvious that the team has the talent and the ability to play as superbly as they did last night was the occasion (as against Preston last season) when they clicked together into a smooth machine which had one old-timer telling me at the end.  This is like the old Everton –and he was talking about the great sides of the past.  Just as praiseworthy as their classy football was their drive and sense of urgency.  Every man chased the ball, never gave up a seemingly lost cause, and they outpaced and outfought the Blackpool team in practically every phase of the game.  Naturally mistakes were made but this was one of those games where there was always a colleague a hand to recover.  In a nutshell it was great to watch- and the effect this win can have on the team is almost impossible to estimate.  The burden of the away hoodoo was telling on them but having broken the jinx in the most impressive way, their confidence in their ability to make a real show this season will have increased immeasurably.  Blackpool were in the game on equal terms for the first 15 minutes and after that Everton went better and better as the moments passed. 
STRONGEST
Everton were strongest where Blackpool were weakest-wing half and inside forward.  Gabriel and Brian Harris were magnificent all through, the former having a wonderful match with his drive and strength while Harris has never played better in his life.  They not only tackled Mudie and 17years-old Lea out of the game, but their service to their forwards could not have been better.  As the passes flowed through from defence, the forwards worked and foraged effectively.  Had it not been for the great work of Gratrix and Armfield a superb full back.  Everton would have doubled their score.  Vernon hit his game at last and when that happens the Everton attack is transformed.  He scored a brilliant goal with the type of shot few inside forwards in the game can equal and Collins was typical.  Collins –always working always doing something useful with his passes perfectly placed and schemed to the inch to do the most damage to the opposing defence.  Ring wisely moved the ball first time instead of trying to beat Armfield in close dribbles so that he and Temple played effectively and well.  Jimmy Harris, naturally jubilant at scoring his first goal of the season, seemed to typify the spirit of the whole team with his whole-hearted dash and go.  Young Colin Green, the Wrexham boy, had a debut to remember at left back.  What do you think his feelings were as he lined up for his first League game and looked across to see he was marking the great Stanley “Matthews” Large butterflies in the stomach, I should think but after a naturally nervous start, he played excellently.  He did so well-helped by the willing efforts of his team-mates to fall back when Matthews had the ball-that Matthews did not make one worthwhile contribution to the game.  It was rather and to see that age is shackling the genius of this man down to the level of ordinary mortals but this must not detract from the fine showing of Green.  He can look back with pride on this game.  Defensively Everton were very sound with Parker having a night out against the rather inexperienced Campbell.  Three times in the second half when Everton were completely on top.  I noted him by the corner flag in the outside right position, enthusiastically slinging over-centres and passes. 
THE GOALS
Labone had his best game of the season, and held Charnley so effectively that the centre forward moved to left half after the interval.  Durie and Mudie did no better against this youngster who has filled out noticeably from last season into a stronger player.  Dunlop had little to do, for Blackpool were rarely able to make a clean-cut opening.  Apart from Blackpool’s last-minute goal, the only time he looked like being beaten was from a back headed pass by Brian Harris which slipped just wide.  The goals Gabriel was the master-mind behind the first three minutes before half-time.  He linked up perfectly with Collins and Vernon took the ball to the by-line and squared it for Jimmy Harris to side foot it joyously into the net.  The next (68 minutes) was the goal of the match, as Vernon took a pass from Collins side-stepped Kelly coolly and hampered a right foot shot past Waiters from 20 yards.  This goal settled the match there and then.  Six minutes from time Collins and Ring moved the ball up the left wing and had the defence so puzzled that when Ring slipped a pass across, Collins had an easy job to make Everton three up.  Four minutes later Brian Harris moved through, slammed the ball against the bar and Temple netted the rebound.  Seconds from the end, Charnley scored as Mudie’s head deflected a centre past Labone, Harris and Dunlop and the centre-forward could hardly miss.  A Scottish selector was present and must have taken the most glowing report back of the quality of Parker, Collins and Gabriel.  He must have been impressed by a first-class Everton too. 

EVERTON “NO” TO LIDDELL BENEFIT APPEAL
Thursday, September 8, 1960. The Liverpool Echo and Evening. 
JOINT TEAM TURNED DOWN
RELUCTANTLY
By Leslie Edwards
Everton have turned down with great reluctance, Billy Liddell’s appeal for five of their best players to form with five Liverpool players and Liddell himself the combined Everton and Liverpool eleven in the Liddell Testimonial match at Anfield on September 21.  They have told Liddell that he can have any Everton players he wants for his opposition team an all international one.  The club have written to Liddell telling him their decision.  It is evidently felt that the date of the match –in the first free week for most clubs after the glut of mid-week League games –is inopportune that risk of injury to players immediately prior to the playing of the League Cup tie must be considered and that in view of injuries from which several players are suffering it would not be in the soundest interests of the club to allow so many of their best players to take part.  But Everton are willing to follow the lead of other clubs and contribute any player Liddell choose for the International X1. 
CANNOT BE POPULAR
The Everton decision is understandable in the circumstances and there is no doubt that they would be consider favourably a similar application were it made later in the season when the programme was not so heavy.  But the decision cannot be a popular one and if as seems likely, Liddell as forced to ask his own club to field a predominantly Liverpool side the match would lose some point, though Anfield loyalists would still be satisfied.  Everton have to turn down with equal reluctance, the proposal that the full Everton side should play a testimonial match at Crewe in favour of the former Everton back-John Sutherland; whose career has been cut short by injury.  Everton argument is probably that if they cannot agree to allow players to play for one of their own teammates it would not be right to allow them to play in any other testimonial match.  They may we feel that the first weeks fresh from mid-week games should be utilised as resting time in preparation for the heavy programme of League Cup and League matches to say nothing of the annual Everton v Liverpool Floodlit Cup matches, dates for which have not yet been arranged. 

ROY VERNON RECALLS FAMOUS VICTORY
Friday, September 9, 1960. The Liverpool Daily Post
NO MEDAL NEEDED TO HELP EVERTON REMEMBER BLACKPOOL
I have never been in a Cup winning side and people will say that it is ridiculous to compare Everton’s win at Blackpool on Monday evening with such a triumph.  Of course it is, but you cannot know the intense joy pleasure, satisfaction and relief that those two away points at Bloomfield Road brought to the Everton players.  We have no trophy to show for it, no medal to commemorate it, but it will be a long time before anybody in our club will forget the occasion.  We all know that critics who kept pointing out the date on which we last won away from home were doing no more than their job.  They were not being vicious in any way, but we could not help feeling that every mention of a fact we all realised to the full was akin to rubbing salt into an open wound.  Nobody was more self conscious about these twenty-five matches without a win than were the lads who were striving might and main all the time to remedy the position.  I am not superstitious, I do not believe in bogy teams or bogy grounds, but it is hard to play a natural game as an increasing barrier of failure built up.  You go on to the field determined that this is to be the day to put things right.  That along comes an opportunity.  Bang You hit the ball and instead of flying into the net, it hits the cross bar or races outside.  It is not always easy to resist the feeling that your luck is out again! 
It is hard to define the legacy that a long struggle such as ours brings.  Of course we try a little bit harder than normally maybe, but it so often happens that the harder you try the less you achieve.  You will find on your best days that football simply flows everything goes well, nothing is an effort and the goals come as if in the natural order of things. 
NOT A BANKER
I am not suggesting that from now on we become a No. 2 banker in all our away games, but I shall be surprised and disappointed if we do not pick up our fair share of points.  The tension has gone.  Some there are who try to decry our performance by saying that Blackpool were a substandard team and that if we could not have beaten them we would never beat anybody.  I think such a statement is not only downright cruel, but it is mischievous and untrue.  Remember it was only on Saturday that Blackpool held the mighty Wolves to a single goal away from home and obtained a good marking for their performance.  To put Blackpool down as potential relegationists, simply because they failed against Everton is to missed the position completely.  Their only change was the inclusion of Stanley Matthews on the wing.  Now the years have left their mark at long last on Stan, but if you had told any supporter that Blackpool’s team was weakened by this inclusion you should not have been popular.  We went to the ground believing that Matthews was unlikely to play and of course, young Colin Green from Brymbo was the lad most concerned when the announcement was made that the magical Stan was to be included.  If he felt in any way nervous about such a challenging debut, to never showed it and so well did he play that he will have reason to recall his first League game with great pleasures and satisfaction, no matter how long he goes on.  Perhaps Brian Labone helped a little with his comments “Don’t worry Colin.  He’s not half as good as he used to be.” 
A debut –against Matthews –and our first away win in 26 games.  Who could have asked for more?  If Green now lays claim to being the club’s mascot, it will not be idly founded.  I believe firmly that a team plays as well as it is allowed.  Blackpool came up against us in our most determined mood and there was never any moment in the match when I feared that the game would slip away from us.  We started on top and became more and more superior as the game went on. 
NEW RESOLUTION
In several games previously we have been ahead and lost the advantage before the end, but this was different, I have never know such resolution in my life.  Yu could almost feel the impatience of everybody to get out onto the field.  Kick off time did not come quickly enough.  It was simply Blackpool’s misfortune that they should provide the opposition; it is my honest opinion that we would have broken that sequence against most clubs on Monday evening.  I can let you into a little secret.  On Sunday evening most of the lads watched Real Madrid play on TV.  We took particular note of the way Puskas and Stefano were striking forward every time they attacked.  They did not merely think ahead to the next move, but the one beyond that and how handsomely it paid off.  We decided to try to emulate this great pair with similar tactics and while we would be the last to pretend that we have solved the secret of their success and can now play these star performers at their own game, I am convinced that we did achieve greater striking power.  All the Everton players were delighted at the success for our manager shake Mr. Carey has never stopped telling us that we must play football, to go on playing football and that the results would come.  He has filled us full of confidence when it was a feat to do just that and now it has paid off.  The fact that our first away victory came with two deputies in the side is in itself a good sign.  It proves that we are not merely depending on eleven men and that there is strength in our reserve for as well as being a challenge to first team players.  I must be very reassuring to a club to know that if something goes wrong the replacement are at hand. 
WELL DONE TEMPLE
Look at Derek Temple as a case in point.  He has fitted in beautifully in the absence of Mickey Lill and his improvement is obvious.  Some youngsters wallow in the depths when they move up into the competition of League football and fail to do themselves justice.  Other take to the elevation without any apparent difficulty and Temple looks like proving one of these.  I have often been asked how players react to merit markings in the newspapers; I don’t think any of us take them seriously.  Sometimes they give us a good laugh because as experienced players know quite well.  Without being told whether or not he has had a bad game.  Even when critics give him a good write up the knows sometimes that he has not been worthy of it, and has played below his bests.  We try to remember that it is just one man’s view and no man is infallible.  Like us he tries to do his best and may not always succeed. 

EVERTON MUST KEEP UP THE FASTER TEMPO
Friday, September 9, 1960. The Liverpool Echo and Evening Express
By Leslie Edwards
One of Everton’s rewards for winning at Blackpool –their first away-League victory in 25 stars –will be a near-capacity attendance at Goodison Park tomorrow.  Wolves lying second in the table and only one point behind 100 per cent successful Tottenham Hotspur are always welcome and doubly so now Everton have given the hint that they are at last on the way up.  Top often in the past they have seemed to be on the way out.  For long-suffering followers of the club the revival has been too long delayed.  My belief is that the Everton manager, plus the new chairman, will not only make this one of the most successful playing seasons Everton have had since the war, but easily the most lucrative financially.  For consistency home and away, no side in the land can compare with Wolves since Stanley Cullis went into management.  They have finished champions or runners-up or have been placed so often the wonder is the book-makers will even quote odds against them.  Cullis has the knack of finding them young, big and strong and of getting his team to give everything.  He’s a disciplinarian who has no time for anyone doing less than his best. 
HE HAD EVERYTHING
As a player Cullis did not please everyone not ably Stanley Bentham at Goodison years ago when the pair clashed memorable-but John Carey maintains that Cullis had everything-ability, courage power, the lot.  If you wanted to mix it a bit well he could mix it, and probably a bit better than you.  Wolves wear the same effective sort of mantle in 1960 and Everton will need to chase and chivvy them as they did against Manchester United.  The temptation to think they have arrived simply on the evidence of one good away performance, would be foolish.  They have got to maintain the faster tempo.  Wolves know well enough that it is tough at the too but the rewards there make all the effort worthwhile and Everton’s talented side, with young Colin Green, making discovering that for themselves. 

NO CHANGE IN WINNING EVERTON SIDE
Friday, September 9, 1960. The Liverpool Echo and Evening Express
WOLVES DROP MANNION
BROADBENT UNFIT
By Leslie Edwards
Everton play an unchanged team against Wolves, at Goodison Park, tomorrow.  This means that Colin Green the young Wrexham left back retains his position and that Derek Temple continues on the right wing in place of Lill.  The team chosen won easily at Blackpool last Monday.  Lill whose damaged knee is much improved will be given a testing in the Reserve side.  Wolves have dropped Gerry Mannion, the Burtonwood boy who rose to dizzy heights last season in Wolves Cup run.  Also missing is Peter Broadhurst who injured a thigh muscle against Leicester last Wednesday.  His place is taken by South African Cliff Durandt.  In Mannion’s place is Barry Stobart, who played at inside right in the Cup final.  Team.  Everton; Dunlop; Parker, Green; Gabriel, Labone, Harris (B); Temple, Collins, Harris (J), Vernon, Ring.  Wolves;- Sidebottom; Showell, Harris; Clamp, Slater, Flowers; Stobart, Mason, Murray, Durandt, Deeley. 

EVERTON HAVE FAIR CHANCE OF SUCCESS TODAY
Saturday, September 10, 1960. The Liverpool Daily Post
GREEN RETAINS PLACE AGAINST MIGHTY WOLVES
By Horace Yates
In the hope that players who were good enough to defeat decisively a Blackpool team which only a few days previously had forced Wolves to struggle to the limit for a 1-0 victory at Molyneux, manager John Carey has named an unchanged Everton side to take on the Cup winners from Wolverhampton at Goodison Park today.  It is his way of saying “Well done” for the termination of a run of twenty five away games without victory.  Wolves, most consistent and resolute side against all manner of opposition, always appear at or near their peak for clashes with Everton and a sturdy of recent records brings no sort of consolation to the Goodison club.  Look at the last six meetings and you will find that in five Everton have failed to get so much as a goal and in the sixth one was their limit, but at least it was a match winner.  Having slain their biggest bogey Everton have no ideas of allowing another one to take its place.  The past is unimportant, and the present Everton side confident and able as it was has not been for years is better placed now to do battle with teams as mighty as Wolverhampton with at least a fair chance of success.  It is a remarkable tribute to the young Brylane boy successful debut against Matthews, he retains his position at left back against as good a side as any while the club skipper Tommy Jones was a try-out with the Reserves at Bolton in then old centre half position.  This is a match in which Lill will probably decide whether his knee injury is such that only an operation can provide a remedy. For Lill it will be disappointing that he cannot show his wares against his old colleagues for he would have had an additional incentive to do well.  Some people may have about the Wolves football while others condemn it just as forcefully.  They have their critic but if ever team played with the same whole-hearted endeavour all the time how much more competitive football would be today.  Everton begin by knowing that any achievement will have to be earned.  There will be no gifts-which of course is just as it should be-and even off a back such as this Everton can still go into the clash expecting at least some reward.  Everton; Dunlop; Parker, Green; Gabriel, Labone, Harris (B); Temple, Collins, Harris, Vernon, Ring.  Wolves; Sidebottom; Showell, Harris, Clamp, Slater, Flowers; Stobart, Durandt, Murray, Mason, Deeley. 

WOLVES A TOUGH TEST FOR EVERTON
Saturday, September 10, 1960. The Liverpool Echo and Evening Express
BUT COLLINS AND VERNON CLASS CAN TROUBLE THEM
By Leslie Edwards
The visit of Wolves to Goodison Park today is likely to produce the biggest attendance of the season.  Everton’s first away league win 25 attempts would almost guarantee this; the fact that their opponents now have dropped only one point from six matches played makes the attendance of all Everton followers compelling and it would not surprise me if there were a completely full house.  I am sure that if Everton meet Wolves with the same spirit of urgency as they showed against Manchester United they will confirm that their win at Blackpool was no fluke but the logical sequel to their slow but sure rise from mediocrity to a place in the soccer sun.  They have in their reserve side-under the guidance of Leslie Shannon-some very good prospects whose average age is so young one looks to them, and not the present eleven as the basic of Mr. Carey’s aim to give the public entertaining football, successful football.  Many of these boys will be hammering rather than knocking at the door for the first team inclusion before the season is out and their presence can have nothing but beneficial effect on the playing strength as a whole.  One of the snags of post-war football has been that the man in possession of a first-team niche has known all too well that his place was assured however moderately he performed. 
FAST, POWERFUL
Wolves are fast powerful, workman like.  Their records in the League makes one’s mouth water.  Under Mr. Stan Cullis they have been there or there-abouts for the championship time and again and their fighting ability a quality their manager insists on as a right means that no one takes points from them unless they put in maximum effort.  The first home League appearance of Colin Green the Wrexham boy who was introduced into the side with such happy results against Blackpool, will intrigue North Wales fans for whom Everton have dozens of bus-loads and if he shapes as well today as he did against maestro Matthews he will have gone further towards his goal of making a senior position his for life.  There were doubt after the Blackpool match about Roy Vernon who had his best game of the season at Bloomfield Road, but these have been resolved and so he and Collins who also had a knock in the mid-week match will pose some questions for a Wolves defence which doesn’t often have to meet two inside forwards of such class.  The game might have been a very special one for Micky Lill who would dearly have liked to play against his old club, but that knee injury of his, through improved is still not fit for first team testing and so he gives it a run-and may it stand up to all demands-in the Reserve team.  
BETTER AND BETTER
Derek Temple who performance in the first team this season has been progressively better and better thus gets further opportunity.  His striking power is good but what his manager asks is that when he has made his opening he takes it with the greatest urgency rather than lose hi chance through dawdling.  Temple’s goals have been very useful and any he can contribute today will be even more valuable.  Wolves lack Broadbent –one of the cleverest inside men in contemporary football, but their reserve strength is such that any vacancy is always more than adequately filled.  Durandt, from South Africa, finds a place at inside left; otherwise it is more or less old (and very successful) Wolverhampton firm.” Everton; Dunlop; Parker, Green; Gabriel, Labone, Harris (B); Temple, Collins, Harris, Vernon, Ring.  Wolves; Sidebottom; Showell, Harris, Clamp, Slater, Flowers; Stobart, Durandt, Murray, Mason, Deeley. 

EVERTON MAGIC DAZZLES SLICK PASSING WOLVES
Saturday, September 10, 1960. The Liverpool Echo and Evening Express
VERNON SMASHES IN TWO TERRIFIC GOALS
Everton 3, Wolves 1
By Michael Charters
Everton; Dunlop, goal; Parker, Green; Gabriel, Labone, Harris (B); Temple, Harris (J), Vernon, Ring.  Wolverhampton;- Sidebottom; Showell, Harris (G); Clamp, Slater, Flowers; Stobart, Mason, Murray, Durandt, Deeley.  Referee; Mr. K.R. Tuck (Chesterfield).  There was a crowd of about 45,000 at the start of the Goodison game this afternoon with Wolves the F.A. Cup-holders on the most attractive of opposition.  The game opened with fast and attractive football and Vernon put a good pass to Collins whose left foot shot sailed high over.  Stobart and Mason switched positions for a move which had Everton’s defence beaten by its suddenness and Stobart’s left foot shot was only inches over the angle. 
COLLINS SURPRISE
Everton were the more dangerous team in the opening stages and the question of Jimmy Harris and Collins had the Wolves defence bothered.  Collins with a quick shot after Vernon had touched a free kick to him surprised Sidebottom with the pace he got on the ball from yards and the goalkeeper dived to it at the last moment to touch it away for a corner.  Everton were the better team so far, and Dunlop had not been troubled.  Wolves were playing delightfully as well and Deeley drifting into the middle took a good pass from Murray to almost open away through the Everton defence but Green came across to take the ball from the winger.  Jimmy Harris was having a good game and his speed had Slater worried more than once.  He made a very good attempt to head Ring’s corner past Sidebottom and the ball from an awkward position flew like a bullet-pass the post.  But Wolves were getting into their stride and a very effective one it looked.  Their quick flick passing among the forwards showed that Everton’s defensive cover was not all it might be but still they had not been able to get in a shot to worry Dunlop.  In fact Dunlop’s main worry came from a swerving shot by and the little man shot hard- so hard that Sidebottom fell after he had punched the ball away.  Young Green making his home debut was up against a tough proposition in Stobart whose speed off the mark and fierce shooting was a feature of the Wolves attack.  After one cross by the winger Durandt fired in a cross shot which slipped wide of the far post with Dunlop beaten.  Everton were lucky not to go behind when Green slipped up in trying to clear a Deeley centre and Murray’s shot rebounded off the body of the prostrate Dunlop to slip narrowly wide for a corner.  But straight from the kick Everton took the ball down and scored after 22 minutes, Temple needed passed inside to Vernon who moved it inside for Collins to tried Slater by a flicked pass straight to the unmarked Jimmy Harris.  With the Wolves defence hesitating an off-side decision the Everton centre-forward was able to pick his shot, and slam the ball into the net. 
HELP AT HAND
Green’s inexperience was telling against the craft of Mason and Stobart but he recovered well and his defensive colleagues were usually there to lend a hand when needed.  Everton deserved to be in front, but there was no doubt that the Wolves spelled danger everytime their forwards swept into action.  Everton’s habit of passing back around the region of the penalty area alarming the crowd and pleased wolves who were quick to step in, and they should have achieved more with the chances which Everton were making for them by these mistakes.  Parker dispossessed Deeley with a perfect tackle and broke clean through from it, but tried a shot from outside the box when a pass might have paid better dividends.  Clamp and Flowers had not been able to command the game in their usual dominating fashion because they were too busy trying to cope with Vernon and Collins both of whom were playing excellently.  Both Labone and Murray missed a long clearance and Deeley was quick to step in with a clear path to goal, but Parker raced back to whip the ball off his toes as the winger was shaping to shoot.  A series of lucky rebounds long cross was missed by Labone and Murray, instead of shooting first time, turned the ball back for Clamp to shoot, but the wing half’s efforts only ricocheted off Murray to safety.  Everton almost went further ahead on the stroke of half time when Sidebottom pushed out Temple’s corner kick straight to Ring who slammed it back hard.  The ball struck the angle of the crossbar and upright to rebound to Vernon who put it wide.  Half-time; Everton 1, Wolves nil.  Flowers moved up the right flank to take a pass from Mason cut inside and beat Dunlop from 25 yards with a left foot ground shot into the far corner of the net.  Everton were more laborious in their attacking methods than Wolves who believed in making one pass do the same amount of work as Everton’s two or three.  There was a sensational opening to the second half when Mason’s cross from the right wing fumbled by Dunlop as Labone struck into him in mid-air.  The ball went out to Deeley who, with all the goal to shoot at shot straight at Dunlop as he rose to his feet. 
WHIPPED THROUGH
In the next minute Wolves whipped through, Everton’s defence with Deeley coming across to the right to push the ball inside for Murray to shoot on the turn and just over the bar.  The speed of this move had Everton’s defence in a angle and for the first time in the match Wolves were moving with the precision and power one has come to expect from them, and sure enough they equalised after 48 minutes.  But a power shot by Vernon after 52 minutes put Everton ahead shot again.  He received the ball from Collins 25 yards out and with the Wolves defence obviously expecting him to shoot, he hit a tremendous right foot shot which slipped just under the bar with Sidebottom beaten to the wide.  Vernon again with a piece of pure artistry, scored his second goal in three minutes.  The ball came out to him as Wolves cleared a right wing corner.  He trapped it, shaped to sheet burst through a line of four Wolves defender’s into the open, and dribbled past Sidebottom to put the ball in the net for a magnificent individual goal.  Then Ring tried one of his chip shots, but the ball just slipped over the bar. 
THE CROWD ROARS
The brilliance of Vernon’s two goals had the crowd absolutely roaring with excitement, but they did not fail to appreciate Dunlop’s first class save from Mason’s shot as the Wolves fought back.  The first ten minutes of the second half had been football par excellence and Vernon was denied a hat-trick by the foot of Clamps, who whipped the ball away from him for a corner as the inside forward moved in to take Collins centre. Wolves looked completely shocked by the startling Vernon goals, and Everton’s forwards were moving better than at any time in the game.   Ring cut the ball back for Vernon to head it first time and it took the save of the match from Sidebottom to tip the ball over the bar.  The crowds was roaring in anticipation every time Vernon got the ball now, and there was no doubt that the Welshman looked a magnificent player.  Sidebottom repeated his wonder save to stop a shot from Jimmy Harris.  Harris breasted the ball down from a long lob by Brian Harris and hit it with tremendous power for the goalkeeper to fling himself full length and tip it over the bar. 
GREAT SAVES
Sidebottom completed a hat-trick of great saves at Vernon cutely placed a lob over a crowd of players and the ball was just slipping under the bar as the goalkeeper realised the danger and tipped it over for yet another corner.  Jimmy Harris seemed to hurt his leg in one tackle and for a time Temple moved into the middle.  Green also took a knock on the left knee, but limped away after attention.  Green broke down shortly afterwards however, and this time limped off the pitch into the trainer’s box for attention.  Brian Harris moved to left back, and Collins to wing half Everton were forced to pull back in defence.  Green came back after about five minutes, just in time to stop a Wolves right wing attack.  During this spell of Wolves pressure, Labone showed himself much steadier than in the first half and was playing really well.  Final; Everton 3, Wolves 1. 

ALL WENT OUR WAY FOR THAT 4-1 WIN
Saturday,  September 10, 1960. The Liverpool Echo and Evening Express
ALEX PARKER PRAISES COLIN GREEN AND TEMPLE
Well, we’ve done it.  It was a very happy party of Everton footballers who walked off the Blackpool pitch last Monday night after our 4-1 victory.  And we didn’t walk alone, for dozens of our supporters ran on to the pitch to cheer us into the dressing-rooms after our best display since the games against Preston and Chelsea last season.  The papers gave us growing reports the following day and I noticed that they did not pick anybody for special mention praising the whole team.  It was one of those nights for us when everything went our way.  Jimmy Harris broke his duck for this season and Roy Vernon scored with a magnificent 20 yards shot for the second.  Bobby Collins grabbed the third and Derek Temple fairly lashed in a Brian Harris shot which came back off the bar.  It seems unfair to single out anybody, but I think Colin Green and Derek Temple deserve special mention.  When we arrived at the Bloomfield Road ground we thought that Colin would not have to face Stan Matthews but as were getting changed news came through that he was.  I looked over at Colin to see how he took it but it didn’t seem to have any effect on him.  It was as if somebody had just told him the time.  Stan didn’t seem to have a great deal of effect on him on the pitch either.  In fact Colin tackled him too well for Stan kept on wind ring over to my territory to try to find a way through. Derek also maintained the form he showed in his earlier games against Leicester, Manchester United and Aston Villa.  It could not have been easy for him to return to First Division football after a lay-off of two years and in a position in which he has not had a lot of experience, but his speed and control have been a revelation.  I went through the same experience after returning from Cyprus two year ago, and, before me, it isn’t easy I think Derek has made a better job of getting acclimatised then I did.  Incidentally, although Tommy Ring was the only forward who didn’t score, he had a hand in a couple of the goals.  Bobby Collins particularly.  And after all he won the match against Leicester for us.  There were quite a few players from often clubs there too.  I saw Peter Dobing and Matt Woods, of Blackburn Rovers and was talking to Sammy Taylor, of Preston.  Sammy tells me he is just recovering from a cartilage operation. 
ENJOYED IT
Manager Bill Shankley headed a contingent from Liverpool. Including Jimmy Harrower, Dave Hickson and Bert Slater.  They told me afterwards how much they had enjoyed the game.  So on Wednesday we returned the compliment when practically all the Everton team went to Anfield to see the match with Luton.  On yes we Goodison and Anfield players cheer each other on –except in Derby matches of course.  I thought Liverpool were unlucky not to win despite a brilliant goal by Billy Bingham which was on a par with the one Roy Vernon got at Blackpool.  At the risk of being biased towards Scotsmen, I thought Liverpool’s best men were Bert Slater and Jimmy Harrower and they were closely followed by Dick White and Gordon Milne.  Yes, know Gordon’s father is a Scot but Gordon himself is English.  I see that Billy Liddle is going to have a galaxy of stars for his benefit match later this season which should ensure big gate.  I hope they pack the ground for he certainly deserves it.
U.S. LINK
The following week Tom Finney has a benefit has well and Billy and I have been invited to play in it, so it’s going to be quite a month.  I’m very grateful to Tom for this invitation, and regard it as a great honour, particularly as he gave me an awkward run round in an international at Hampden a couple of years ago.  Next Saturday will be quite a day for Mr. Bob Roberts, of North Lapeer Drive Beveley Hills California for after 50 years he is going to see his favour team, Everton play again.  Mr. Roberts one of the many people who wrote to me last season and he contacted another Parker Pen pal from over there, Mr. Bert Wright the ex-Evening Express cartoonists now living in Long Island, New York. 
My article also formed a link between Bob and another exiled Everton fan, Mr. Davies in Chile and they were supposed to be visiting England Mr. Davies had to call the trip off.  Bob Roberts told me last season that he lived in Diane Street which is behind the Bullens Road stand and here worshipped such players as Jack Sharp, Harry Makepeace, and Sandy Young.  However, he left Liverpool on November 5, 1910 and has never been back, until now.  He has been to Rome with his wife to see the Olympic Games and was due to arrive in England yesterday.  He hoped to see a match in London today. 
TOURING
Before leaving for Italy he had lunch with Bert Wright and his wife in New York and I hear they had a long nattier about football in general and Everton in particular.  Bob is spending about three weeks touring England, Scotland and Wales before returning to America and one of his biggest thrills will be to see his favourite Everton in action again.  His big disappointment is that we are not playing at Goodison while he is here.  I have also heard he has something to present to me before the match but I will have to wait and see.  Anyway next Saturday should be quite a day for him, I only hope we can complete it by winning.  While on the subject of readers letters if any of you, no matter what part of the world, care to drop me a line for publication you can find me c/o the Sports Department, Liverpool Echo, Victoria Street, Liverpool 1. 

BOLTON RES V EVERTON RES
Saturday, September 10, 1960. The Liverpool Echo and Evening Express
Bolton Res;- Bollands, goal; Threlfall, Cooper; Hennia, Okeoby, Edwards, Bannister (N), Arnold, Lofthouse, Deakin, Wroth.  Everton Res;- Griffiths; Parnell, Bramwell; Jarvis, Jones, Meagan; Lill, Tyrer, Wignall, Ashworth, Edwards (S).  Referee; Mr. G. Oferson (Preston).  Everton made a late right wing change to accommodate Lill.  Tyrer and Wignall both being moved inside to the exclusion of Bentley at centre forward.  Lill made one good run half the length of the field, but Wignall was given off-side.  Nothing was seen of Lofthouse playing his first home match after more than a season’s absence from the game.  He was carefully marked by Jones and the full backs.  Deakin scored in the 36th minute for Bolton who went near to increasing their lead with a header from Lofthouse and a shot by Deakin, both of which hit the woodwork.  Half-time-Bolton Wanderers Res 1, Everton Res nil. 

SOCCER HOPES REKINDLED BY EVERTON
Monday, September 12, 1960. The Liverpool Daily Post
V FOR VERNON AND VICTORY IN CLASSIC DISPLAY
Everton 3, Wolves 1
By Jack Rowe
A grand match of incident with the most spectacular of goals and for fifteen minutes of the second half football the like of which Goodison fans have not seen for many years and which had many re-calling that fabulous occasion when Sunderland were here in a Cup replay.  Maybe opinions will vary but ever to mention that past memory is to accord the highest tribute and the fact stays that tribute must be paid to Everton for the way they shattered this power-house Wolves side and gave us a game which rekindled the fading hope that English football is capable of lifting itself from the depths into which it has fallen.  Everton were unrecognisable as the team which played at Aston Villa as also was Roy Vernon who, against Wolves showed why manager John Carey him as one of the finest inside forwards.  Indeed it was Vernon who won the match, scoring two wonderful goals in a manner when illustrated that he can play football as well as anyone.  The whole crux of this victory was in the 48th minute.  One could almost say the story started with the kick-off at the second half and the following 20 minutes.  Everton had gone in at half-time 1-0 up, rather fortunately I thought, after 45 minutes of entertainment and many good patches of play.  Both goals had escapes and Wolves had reasonable claim, that not to score was scant justice to the pressure they had applied. 
SCINTILLATING MOVES
The second half started with Wolves switching Mason to outside right and Stobart inside.  In three minutes they provided three scintillating moves, each of which was worth a goal, and from the last they got the equaliser when Flowers –what a great half-back he is-came through and slammed Mason’s pass into the net from 20 yards out.  This, we thought could be the end of Everton, for the speed of the Wolves and penetrating passing was all too evident but four minutes later came the goal which turned everything inside out.  Vernon accepted Ring’s short pass, moved forward and from 25 yards swept in a right foot drive which flew into the net off the underside of the bar with goalkeeper Sidebottom leaping unavailingly.  That was the end of Wolves for Everton, with Vernon and Collins rampant, were really brilliant and the crowd were kept roaring as attack followed attack.  The 54th minute saw the Wolves fall into a trap of their own making.  Vernon collected Slater’s header from a right wing corner, took his time and as the Wolves defence moved out in anticipation of a pass and the offside decision he moved in pushed the ball forward and strolling through sidestepped Sidebottom and flicked it home.  Twice in the next few minutes Vernon hit shots of great power, as did Jimmy Harris and each time Sidebottom turned them over.  The shooting was tremendous and so were Everton.  It was not wholly maintained for Wolves are a side of fighters and they fought with that unrelenting challenge for the ball which makes them so strong, so that the rest of the match was excellent. 
SUSPECT DEFENCE?
Everton too had many moments of anxiety with Dunlop rivalling Sidebottom in the brilliance of two saves, but the difference was that they were also dealing them out.  There is no doubt that if Everton can play like they did in the second half we could see great things this season, but at the same time the glamour and glory of this victory should not side-track the fact that the defence can be suspect especially in its covering.  That Wolves did not score in the first half was due to their own fallings, for twice at least mistakes gave then the opportunities.  Everton’s first goal was in 23 minutes when Jimmy Harris –I felt he might just have been offside- cracked the ball home after it had come to him via Vernon, Temple, Vernon, again and then Collins.  That Ring’s shot just on half-time hit the underside of the bar was a let-off for Wolves, but in the second half Mason did the same thing from an easier position.  Every, Everton player will have satisfaction from the win, particularly young Green, who survived a nervy opening and finished with a nasty knee knock, but I must rate Vernon as the star for his goals and his provision.  Collins was as hard working as ever and Gabriel and Brian Harris did excellently.  Jimmy Harris played better than I have seen him for many a day.  Wolves clearly felt the absence of Broadbent and their best forward was Stobart with Flowers and Clamp strong in everything they did.  Slater seems troubled by speed and has lost that look of reliability.  The ovation at the end told the players they had rightly earned full marks for entertainment value.  Everton; Dunlop, goal; Parker, Green; Gabriel, Labone, B. Harris, Temple, Collins, J. Harris, Vernon, Ring.  Wolves; - Sidebottom; Showell, G. Harris; Clamp, Slater, Flower; Stobart, Mason, Murray, Durandt, Deeley.  Referee; Mr. K.R. Tuck (Chesterfield).  Attendance 53,728. 

WIGNALL’S WINNER FOR EVERTON RES
Monday, September 12, 1960. The Liverpool Daily Post
BOLTON WANDERERS RES 1 EVERTON RES 2
A second half lapse on the absence of right winger Bannister through injury enabled Everton Reserve to severe a narrow win in this Central League game at Bolton.  Bramwell provided a ample equaliser for Lill following Bolton’s defensive weakness and Wignall got the winning goal after Hollands had failed to hold a shot from the right winger.  Right half Jarvis played splendidly throughout for Everton, both in defence and in support of his forwards another which Ashworth and Wignall were prominent Deakin scored the first goal of the game for Bolton. 

YOU COULDN’T GET ALL THIS ON TELEVISION!
Monday, September 12, 1960. The Liverpool Echo and Evening Express
With Leslie Edwards
The most rousing and for Everton, best 45 minutes of football for years.  That is how I rate the second half we saw at Goodison Park.  Useless to try to compare what was seen in drab black-and-white on Saturday evening with the colour and excitement of this 3-1 win against Wolves.  If fans are going to be asked to choose between these alternatives they’ll attend the game every time.  The sight and sound of 53,000 people acclaiming Roy Vernon’s two fantastic goals in the space of two minutes was one of the most exciting the ground has ever known.  And when Sidebottom denied Vernon, his hat-trick not once but three times and threw in some other wonderful one-handed saves for good measure there couldn’t have been a soul prepared to forgo the substance of being present for the shadow of the television screen.  You can throw in your Yugoslavs and Danes and Bolton and Blackpool’s and I still maintain that this Everton v. Wolves match was not only something special but the finest the city has known is post war.  Everton now have a team a pitch the best of lights and most of the refinements one hopes to find at a well-appointed ground.  But, oh, say their followers cannot they do something about the awful loud speaker system?  Well, if that is all you have to complain of no one will mind very much.  This was Vernon’s match and Sidebottom’s and the crowd were not slow to appreciate it.  Both were given ovations.  Some of Vernon’s critic (and John Carey’s too) have said that the Welshman has hardly struck his form this season and there’s something in that, but if ever a man justified himself and his manager’s oft-stated opinion that he has everything an inside forward needs it was Vernon.  His standing-start shot from 25 yards fairly bulleted in a minute later it was followed by an even more remarkable goal of completely different character. 
SIZED, INSTANTLY
Vernon tried a shot which struck a defender and rebounded back to him.  The Wolves defence four or five of them, were still there to be beaten.  Vernon sized up the situation instantly.  He edged the ball forward ten yards, made a dynamic burst through a packed flat-footed defence and steered himself and the ball round the goalkeeper and tapped it into the net to a tumultuous roar of the sort which greeted Deans 60th in a season Goodison Park erupted with joy.  From that moment Everton hammered Wolves with shot after shot.  Vernon, three times Harris and Collins delivered a barrage calculated to get goals against anyone less inspired than Sidebottom.  The Harris drive was a pippin teed up for him by Temple and hit so hard the goalkeeper for the second time in the game was sent staggering back from the force of the ball.  Dunlop earlier had done his stuff as nobly with a remarkable save from Deeley who must have been astonished as we were that the goalkeeper recovered so quickly after missing at the other side of goal, a centre only a moment before.  Everton won most handsomely and despite the knee knock which put their young Wrexham back, Green, out of action and off field for two minutes.  My view was that Wolves were the better side in the first half through Everton led by Harris goal at the interval.  When flowers rounded the best attack of them all with a glorious goal early in the second half the odds, I thought were on Wolves going ahead.  Instead Vernon coming to peak from where in the first half he had done quite ordinary, set Everton and the crowd alight in such a way one wonders where they are going to put all who will want to see him again against Blackpool on Wednesday. 
STILL DANGEROUS
But Wolves at 1-3 were far from out of it.  They continued to look dangerous.  Mason clumped a shot against the under-side of the bar from which the ball rebounded back to play; an exactly similar fate befel Ring in the first-half and in this case Vernon should undoubtedly have put the rebound into the net.  My one criticism of Everton is that when they tried near the end the Continental ruse of maintaining possession and making the others chase they worked backwards rather than forward.  The result was unfortunate.  Possession was lost too near Dunlop for anyone’s comfort and it was not Everton’s fault that Wolves were not able to turn these gifts to advantage.  Surely if progressive movements had taken you to a 3-1 lead you must still go forward when attempting to kill time (and the stamps) of the opposition by rounds of what I can only describe as inconsequential passing?  But Everton’s effort was so excellent in all departments one must not be too critical of their faults.  They finished immeasurably better than Wolves; they defended so gallantly throughout the first-half, defence as much as punch in attack was the basis for victory.  Parker, despite a cut knee which needed two stitches, was inspiring as ever; so was Collins who has so often been the mainspring of the front-line and whose brilliance, allied to Vernon’s gives his club the edge over so many of their rivals.  For me the Everton attack failed to move well as a line in the first half, though Harris J from the prompting of Collins and Vernon and Temple at least made use of the best chance which came their way.  Collins now reverting more to his role in offence and with some good shots to his name shared with Vernon the honours up front, where Harris J had Slater guessing more than once and Ring, once he got going, went past Showell almost at will. 
MORE, PLEASE
Wolves are a grand side, and that makes Everton’s win the more satisfying.  Clamp scarcely mis-placed a pass.  The whole team except for the failure to get more than one goal for all their effort, played well enough and they’re big ones in defence and very competent ones in the attack.  Labone held Murray well and stretched out a long leg in the tackle more than once when all seemed lost.  On either side he had excellent support with Gabriel revelling in spite of the heat of the going in his roaming defensive deeds.  Thus the task of Green, still rather inexperienced was made easier.  He is a good back in prospect and a good plucked as he showed when coming back to play at outside-left, leaving Collins and Brian Harris to close the gap against Stobart and Mason beautifully supported by Clamp.  This was a joyful match for me, too, because I have never wavered in my opinion that Mr. Carey would ultimately give the customers what he promised.  No one this time, could have asked more from the team and if this is the new order lets have more of it, week by week. 

EVERTON ATTACK DID NOT IMPRESS
Tuesday, September 13, 1960. The Liverpool Daily Post
Blackpool Reserve 3, Everton Reserve 1
Even though they had full back Garrett limping on the wing for two-thirds of the game.  Blackpool won comfortably at Bloomfield Road last night.  Their nippy forwards gave the Everton defence many uncertain and but for defiant work by wing half Meagan and some splendid saves by Griffiths, the visitors would have suffered a heavier defeat.  Crawford headed Blackpool into the lead in the third minute and scored a second in the 25th minute.  Wignall scored Everton’s only goal five minutes later in a goalmouth scramble.  Before the injured Garrett made it 3-1 five minutes before time, Edwards and Bentley both missed simple scoring chances in an Everton attack that was never impressive. 
LILL PASSES TEST
Micky Lill Everton’s right winger, case through his reserve team try-out successfully and so did Tommy Jones.  With Alex Parker and Colin Green also better after their knocks last Saturday.  Everton are not troubled by injuries for the game against Blackpool at Goodison Park to night. 

EVERTON EVERTONIANS THINK IT WRONG
Tuesday, September 13, 1960. The Liverpool Echo and Evening Express
By Leslie Edwards
I give below a selection of letters, some from Evertonians, from those who are not happy about Everton’s decision not to release more than one player for the Liddell Testimonial match, at Anfield tomorrow week.  The point to remember in the matter is that Everton did not withdraw their players.  They answered Liddell’s only request-after mention had been made of a combined Liverpool and Everton team-immediately it was made.  They gave valid reasons for their decision, too, though what greater risks are involved in a Testimonial match than in a full scale practice match would be hard to define. 
Mr. T. McGuire of 119 Simonswood Lane, Northwood says; - “I have just put the Echo down in disgust on reading Everton’s refusal to allow their star players to play in Liddell’s Testimonial. 
“I can’t put pen to paper with the ease of most of you writers, but may I say as an Evertonian-and I feel I speak for many-I am nauseated.  Here we put up with rubbish year after year (and let’s face it that’s all we get from both local clubs, and suddenly a great player, loved and respected by both Red and Blue reaches his twilight and Everton cannot afford to give five players their chance to represent Evertonians en bloc.  I’m sure they will feel s bad as any of us. 
“May I say I am, at the moment ashamed of being an Evertonian.  BUT I’LL BE THERE BILLY”
Reader W.H. Brown (128 Rosalind Street Liverpool 20)- writes;-
“I feel I must write and offer my condemnation of the action of the Everton board in regard to the Liddell Testimonial.  Why they could not have intimated their wishes some two months or so ago is incomprehensible.  You just don’t find out you have a heavy fixture list about ten days beforehand.  No, this excuse will not do. 
“Everton have handed out an insult to one of the greatest footballers ever to kick a ball.  Fortunately for them Liddell will take it on the chin.  “I suppose these men will pay their thirty shillings and be present to offer Liddell their congratulations.  “I have not met anybody red or blue who does not consider Everton’s action mean and that’s putting it mildly.” 
Mr. David Darley (120 Ince Avenue, Anfield, Liverpool 4) writes;-
“So Everton have reluctantly turned down Billy Liddell’s appeal for five players to play in his Testimonial game.  Here was a golden opportunity to further cement the relationship between the clubs apart from recognising publicity a player whose a credit to the game and to his adopted city.  On the flimsy excuse that this fabulous team of all talents might not stand up to such an ardous encounter as one extra game and that an exhibition match. 
“I have been in the habit of frequenting Goodison Park, although I am a Liverpudlian of long standing (literally) and have been only too glad to lend my applause on the rare occasion when there has been anything worthy of it but after this decision I will be at Anfield with our reserves. 
FEW WILL SHALLOW IT
Mr. Alfred Jones, of 28 Snaefell Avenue, Liverpool 13 says;-
“What a miserable bunch the Everton F.C directorate must be.  One still has in mind their refusal of last season to allow certain players on their staff to be considered for International honours, and now this latest decision in the Testimonial game.  “I feel sure very few, and I include Everton supporters will swallow their cheap excuse.  There is only answer as to what sportsmen, not only on Merseyside but throughout the country, will think of this decision.  “I wonder what the Everton players think at not being allowed to pay respects to the man they hold in such high esteem both as a player and a sportsman?  “Should Billy accept their offer of one player (which I hope he won’t) I suggest he takes an A team player so as not to disturb their minds too much.” 
Writing from 16 Acton Street, Liverpool 7, Mr. G.F. Brown says;-
“May I voice my disgust on the action of Everton in only allowing one player for Liddell’s Testimonial game.  This is a tremendous blow for all concerned and I am sure brings no credit to Everton.  Everton consider the date unfortunate.  Personally, I think the date is ideal, because Everton’s last mid-week game is against Blackpool on the 14th and they have no more mid-week games (holidays excepted0 until later in the season.  Thouands of supporters of both clubs will be disappointed. N this when relations between the two clubs have never better. Shame on you Everton!” 
Mr. F.J. Anderson (Elm Tree, Higher Road, Halewood) says;-
“So the gentlemen of the Everton F.C administration refuse to allow a number of their players to play in the Liddell game at Anfield.  “I think they should hang their heads in shame.  At least if Billy had any doubts at all as to whether he signed for the right Merseyside club or not, these sporting individuals have convinced him.” 
Correspondent J. Radford of 1 Radford of 1 Roderick Road, Walton writes; “Everton’s refusal to allow players to take part in the Testimonial match is to say the least unsportsmanlike. What a filmsy excuse, I am a life-long supporter of the to clubs but after this I think sportsmanship is dead.” 

JONES AND LILL BACK IN EVERTON TEAM
Tuesday, September 13, 1960. The Liverpool Echo and Evening Express
BLACKPOOL’S VISIT
GREEN UNFIT
By Michael Charters
Everton make two changes for the game against Blackpool’s Goodison Park tomorrow night –Mickey Lill and skipper Tom Jones returning after injury.  Lill replaces Temple on the right wing and with young Colin Green still feeling the effects of the knee injury he received against Wolves, Jones will be at left back.  Both Lill and Jones played in the Reserves on Saturday and came through the test satisfactorily.  Blackpool will not name their team until tomorrow as they have several injured players, but it does not appear likely at present that Stanley Matthews will be playing.  Everton; Dunlop; Parker, Jones; Gabriel, Labone, Harris (B), Lill, Collins, Harris (J), Vernon, Ring. 

EVERTON GO TO SEE HOW CHAMPIONS PLAY
Wednesday, September 14, 1960. The Liverpool Daily Post
By Horace Yates
Everton riding so buoyantly on the crest of the wave, last night went to see how champions play football, for they saw Burnley snatch a late winner against Preston at Deepdale.  Whether it did anything to fire ambitions we do not know, but it is a fact that Everton can complete a feat tonight which eluded them all last season- three victories in succession.  Curiously enough it was about this time two seasons ago that they last tasted success in such abundant measure.  Then it served to revive drooping hopes after only one win in eight games.  This time it could lead to something very much better.  Now they have eight points from seven games, compared with eleven games for a similar haul last season.  Everton’s exciting form of the last match of two has created a new wave of enthusiasm and it will be surprising indeed if they do not use the visit of Blackpool (kick-off 7 p.m.) to record their first encouraging double at this early stage.  Last week Blackpool sprang a surprise on them by including Stanley Matthews after all reports suggested that he would have to stand down.  Only another surprise could put him into the team tonight, for he is again considered to be a doubtful starter.  It will be a pity if he cannot turn out for we cannot see too much of players of his artistry, even though the twinkling feet may have lost much of their sparkle.  Even Stanley Matthews cannot go on forever, and Blackpool without Matthews will come all too soon.  This could even be his last opportunity to parade his skill in Liverpool.
GREEN INJURED
Everton announce two changes- Tom Jones at left back for Green and Mickey Lill at outside right for Temple.  The knee injury to Green, which may put him out of calculations for Saturday also his spared manager, John Carey problem of deciding whether or not the time is at hand to continue with the idea of youth before experience.  Once Lill was satisfied about his illness of course, there was no doubt as to who would occupy the right wing position, and Lill with a goal in the reserves on Saturday, came through his test well enough to satisfy everybody.  Blackpool cannot yet decide whether or not Lill and Durie who were injured in the match at Bolton can be considered.  Blackpool might have been proud at one time to have rubbed shoulders with Manchester United in the League table, but there is not the same distinction just now with the two filling places in the bottom three.  If the Everton forwards are as hungry for goals as are their supporters, Blackpool’s worries will be intensified.  Curiously enough only three clubs have conceded fewer goals away from home than Blackpool.  Everton; Dunlop; Parker, Jones; Gabriel, Labone, B. Harris; Lill, Collins, J. Harris, Vernon, Ring. 

EVERTON ALL OUT FOR A HAT-TRICK OF WINS
September 14, 1960. The Liverpool Echo and Evening Express
By Leslie Edwards
Blackpool’s last visit to Goodison Park produce an attendance of 65,000.  The figure could be similar this evening when Everton will be out for their third successive victory- something which has happened rarely, if ever, in the past few seasons.  All followers of the club who missed that splendid performance against wolves- and whatever might be said about the game as a whole the second half was nothing less than breath-taking-will want to be there to see a team so buoyed by their successes against good sides as to be almost unrecognisable from what they were a season ago.  Like Manchester United, Blackpool are enduring a thin time.  Those who say the first (and maybe the last) of the ill-fated Television matches on Saturday found the game against Bolton un-satisfying and the greatest anticlimax after witnessing a spectacle so colourful and exciting a few hours before at Goodison Park.  But Ronnie Suart like Matt Busby at Old Trafford, is content that things are not really as bad as they seem and that the constant run of the ball against his side is more responsible for failure than lack of players or effort. 
NOT TOO COCKY, I HOPE
Everton should win this one with something to spare but that will not be their attitude when they step on the field to try to repeat the champagne sparkle of their play against Wolves.  They have got to confirm the opinion that they have left behind for all time the mediocrity which has tantalised and frustrated their fans for so long, and they cannot afford, no matter where the opposition comes from the consider that their task will be all too easy.  The return of Mickey Lill to outside-right injury was expected, although Derek Temple has done remarkably well as debut.  Lill, however, has the dash which Temple lacks at present although this spell in a successful side will have done Temple a power of good.  With Colin Green still out of action (although progressing favourably) with his knee injury, skipper Tom Jones is at left-back again after a run with the reserves.  Everton; Dunlop; Parker, Jones; Gabriel, Labone, Harris (B), Lill, Collins, Harris (J), Vernon, Ring. 
GREEN CONVINCES HIM
OLD TIMER g. Mayers (37 Kilney Road, Liverpool 9) is sure Colin Green of Everton, is going to be first-class.  He agrue “Having watched Everton and Liverpool for many tears, I predict a great future for Everton’s new boy, Colin Green at left-back.  I was more than pleased to read of his promising game against Blackpool and especially of his blooding in such a test as posed by Matthews.  I hope I know a good ‘un when I see one and I am sure this man will go far.  His speed of recovery is his greatest asset.  I saw him play against Tranmere and on this performance alone I was convinced of his ability.  Time will tell whether I was right or not.” 

EVERTON MAKE HEAVY WEATHER OF WINNING HAT-TRICK
Tuesday, September 15, 1960. The Liverpool Echo and Evening Express
By Michael Charters
Everton duly won their successive game-and their double for more than a season –by beating Blackpool 1-0 at Goodison Park last night but the manner in which their victory was achieved was disappointing after the sparkle of their two previous displays.  It was rather like being served with stale beer after a bottle of champagne –and the near-47,000 crowd did not take too kindly to the change of menu.  Perhaps it is too much to expect the team to produce the heights they reached against Wolves in every game, but they rarely carried through their attacks and midfield superiority to conviction in front of goal.  It was not until Lill, returning after injury, slotted home the decisive goal ten minutes from the end that we saw the rampaging rip-roaring Everton who had delighted and thrilled last Saturday’s crowd.  From then until the final whistle, there were more thrills and shooting than we had seen for the previous 80 minutes.  Lill scored after Vernon had shot hard at goalkeeper waiters from the close range, collected the bound and passed across goal to the unchanged winger, who pivoted and put the ball in the empty net.  This acted on Vernon like a pen drug.  Previously be had been strangely out to touch with play, losing the ball in close tackles and bearing only coincidental resemblance to the man who cut Wolves to pieces by his power shooting.  As though to show us all that it was the same Vernon in the No 10 shirts, he proceeded to unleash two wonderful shots which Waiters saved brilliantly and linked up in two great moves which could have produced goals from Collins and Lill. 
THE WEAK TOUCH
Thus Everton could well have scored five times in the closing minutes.  Had they done so it would have been bitter justice to a fine Blackpool defence in which Waiters played superbly, well supported by Armfield, Gratrix and Martin.  Everton produced countless midfield moves which looked at their inception, as though they were going to produce chances, but the finishing touch was weak and made the task of Blackpool’s defence easier than it should have been.  Blackpool played 100 per cent, better than they had done at home when they lost 4-1 to Everton.  They were faster than Everton to the ball, fought for possession as Everton had done in the previous game, and I thought rather shook Everton out of what looked like pre-match complacency.  Although Everton had vastly more of the play had Blackpool possessed a forward with a real shot in his boots they could have shocked the rather over-confident home team.  Dunlop had only two tough ones to save- from Salt and Mudie in the second half-and he rose to the occasion in great style with two stunning saves. 
TOUGH TACKLING
Blackpool wing halves Kelly and Sammy Salt (a boy with a future if ever I saw one) produced the sort of strong tackling which was missing from their side in the other game between the teams.  In fact, Salt’s tackling deserved the adjective “uncompromising-so much so, in fact after he had stopped Collins with one tough effort, Collins retaliated and had his name taken.  I thought Collins rather fortunate that the referee did not take stronger action than that.  Salt, big and strong joined Waiters as Blackpool’s outstanding men and how manager Suart must sigh for a forward with the same power and drive that the youngster showed, in only his second League game.  Despite the unhappy incident with Salt, I rated Collins as Everton best because only he among the forwards sustained his efforts with his usual 90 minutes display of dash, go and brilliant touches.  Jimmy Harris too, was always trying hard without achieving the same effectiveness of the Wolves match.  Lill took his chance well and almost got another a couple of minutes later with a fine back header, but disappointed like the rest through inaccurate finishing Ring did much good work in midfield but his centres were rather drift so that he spoiled his efforts when it mattered most near goal.  Everton’s defence collectively was sound and withstood comfortably the rather feeble Blackpool thrusts.  Criticism of Dunlop is limited to his inaccurate clearances from hand which regularly went to a Blackpool man, while Parker and Labone played excellently all through.  Jones was firm in the tackle and kept Kays reasonably quiet but his distribution of the ball afterwards was not up to the same standard. 
NOT SO CONVINCING
Gabriel and Brian Harris were so much in command of their job defensively that one rarely saw Mudie and Crawford produce any effective contribution but their constructive work, as with the rest of the side, was not as convincing.  In fact Everton made rather heavy weather of winning a match when they showed, in spells that they had the class and the skill to have won easily and handsomely.  Waiters undoubtedly made many first-class saves but there were times when he should have been given no chance.  Still Everton won and maintained their progressive march in the table.  But I don’t think their supporters will be delirious over this display as the fans being the demanding perfectionists they are, would like to see them play as they did against Wolves every week.  It may be too much to hope for-yet. 

IT TOOK A DISAPPOINTING EVERTON 80 MINUTES
Thursday, September 15, 1960. The Liverpool Daily Post
BEFORE GOAL BY LILL CHALKS UP THIRD WIN IN SUCCESSION
By Michael Charters
Everton 1, Blackpool 0
Everton took eighty minutes to score the goal for their third successive victory.  The wonder at Goodison Park last night was that they had not translated their superiority long before that and they gave 46,923 crowd some disappointing moments before Lill returning after injury, scored the goal.  Everton never played with the same fine or cohesion as they had done in the previous two match against wolves and Blackpool and with Blackpool playing with much more urgency and purpose than they had done last week, Everton were disappointing.  The goal that mattered however came when Vernon, who had been out of the game for long spells, hit a close range shot strongly against Waiters and the force of the shot caused the goalkeeper to drop the ball at Vernon’s feet.  The Welshman put a short pass across to the unmarked Lill who pivoted and put it into the empty pet.  As though that was the signal to show his true worth Vernon had two magnificent shots very well saved by Waiters and both Collins and Lill were unlucky not to score in the last five minutes.  At the other end, Dunlop who had little to do at all, produced his save of the match from a swerving shot by Salt, Blackpool’s outstanding player.  The last ten minutes, therefore made up in excitement and shooting for such of the indifferent play which had gone before.  Although Everton made many more chances and played stronger and more aggressively than-Blackpool they missed their way in front of goal, thanks to a combination of great goalkeeping by Waiters and poor finishing. 
SOUND ENOUGH
Everton’s defence was sound enough with Labone and Parker the pick while many constructive moves by Gabriel and Brian Harris were spoiled by the inability of the forwards, who never played as well as we saw them against Wolves.  Apart from getting the goal Lill could never get on top of Martin Ring spoiled much clever midfield work with inaccurate finish.  The inside trio missed their way in front of goal but Collins worked tremendously hard to produce that Wolves display again and had the rest of the line worked with the same tenacity they would have beaten Blackpool far earlier than they did.  In the second half, when Everton were well on top there was one unseemly incident when Collins had his name taken for retaliating after he had been foul by Salt, a strong, aggressive wing half, who was obviously going to make a name for himself.  This was only his second League match and his sustained play, throughout made him Blackpool’s best player.  Vernon and Campbell also clashed and the referee had to intervene once more.  Gratrix and Armfield visit with Waiters for defensive honours for Blackpool whose forwards could never break through Everton’s defence, and only Mudie with a surprise snap shot which Dunlop saved well, showed that he could shoot. 
BRILLIANT SAVE
There was a sensational opening when Lill broke through from the kick-off and had time to slip over a centre which Ring in the centre forward position headed for the corner of the net, but Waiters made a brilliant save.  But the game went dull for half an hour with Salt and Kelly keeping grip of Collins and Vernon in midfield.  Everton, however, still had much more of the play, without being convincing but their finishing was poor.  After Charnley had missed a couple of openings for Blackpool through poor shooting.  Vernon made a terrific shot from 30 yards which Waiters dived and punched.  Then in an amazing two minutes spell on the half hour Armfield kicked off the line from Harris header and then Lill returned the rebound.  Waiters had recovered to stretch up an arm and divert the ball as it was going into the net.  As half time drew near Everton began to move with more purpose and it was a miracle that they did not take the lead.  A long pass from Brian Harris to his name-sake drew Waiters out of the area and as the goalkeeper lay on the ground Harris (J) pushed the ball across to Lill who was too slow to put the ball in the net guarded only by Armfield.
BEST MOVE
Everton did all the pressing in the second half and the finest move of the match, ten minutes after half time, should have put them in the lead then. A brilliant Lill-Harris-Collins move saw the Scot hit the bar with an open goal from only ten yards out and the same player was guilty of shooting straight at the goalkeeper, when a placed shot must have scored.  Waiters kept Everton out until that dramatic last ten minutes and although Lill’s goal gave Everton their first double for more than a season they cannot have been too happy with the way it was achieved.  This was not the Everton of last Saturday and it seem that hard as Collins worked, it takes a Vernon at his brilliant best to bring some rest dash into the side.  Everton; Dunlop; Parker, Jones; Gabriel, Labone, Harris (B); Lill, Collins, Harris (J), Vernon, Ring.  Blackpool; Waiters; Armfield, Martin; Kelly, Gratfix, Salt, Kaye, Mudie, Charnley, Crawford, Campbell.  Referee; Mr. J.A. Cattlin (Rochdale) Attendance 46,923. 

EVERTON MAKE HEAVY WEATHER OF WINNING HAT-TRICK
September 15, 1960. The Liverpool Echo and Evening Express
By Michael Charters
Everton duly won their third successive game-and their first double for more than a season –by beating Blackpool 1-0 at Goodison Park last night, but the manner in which their victory was achieved was disappointing after the sparkle of their two previous displays.  It was rather like being served with stale beer after a bottle of champagne –and the near 47,000 crowd did not take too kindly to the change of menu.  Perhaps it is too much to expect the team to produce the heights they reached against Wolves in every game, but they rarely carried through their attacks and midfield superiority to conviction in front of goal.  It was not until Lill, returning after injury, slotted home the decisive goal ten minutes from the end that we saw the rampaging rip-roaring Everton who had delighted and thrilled last Saturday’s crowd.  From then until the final whistle there were more thrills and shooting than we had seen for the previous 80 minutes.  Lill scored after Vernon had shot hard at goalkeeper Waiters from close range, collected the rebound and passed across goal to the unmarked winger, who pivoted and put the ball in the empty net.  This acted on Vernon like a pen drug.  Previously he had been strangely out of touch with play, losing the ball in close tackles and bearing only a coincidental resemblance to the man who cut Wolves to pieces by his power shooting.  As though to show us all that it was the same Vernon in the No10 shirt he proceeded to unleash two wonderful shots which Waiters saved brilliantly and linked up in two great moves which could have produced goals from Collins ad Lill. 
THE WEAK TOUCH
Thus Everton could well have scored five times in the closing minutes.  Had they done so it would have been bitter justice to a fine Blackpool defence in which Waiters played superbly, well supported by Armfield, Gratrix, and Martin.  Everton produced countless midfield moves which looked at their inception, as though they were going to produce chances, but the finishing touch was weak and made the task of Blackpool’s defence easier than it should have been.  Blackpool played 100 per cent, better than they had done at home when they lost 4-1 to Everton.   They were faster than Everton to the ball, fought for possession as Everton had done in the previous game, and I thought, rather shook Everton out of what looked like pre-match complacency.  Although Everton had vastly more of the play, had Blackpool possessed a forward with a real shot in his boots they could have shocked the rather over-confident home team.  Dunlop had only two tough ones to save- from Salt and Mudie in the second half-and he rose to the occasion in great style with two stunning saves. 
TOUGH TACKLING
Blackpool wing halves Kelly and Sammy Salt (a boy with a future it ever I saw one) produced the sort of strong tackling which was missing from their side in the other game between the teams.  In fact, Salt’s tackling deserved the adjective “uncompromising” –so much so in fact that after he had stopped Collins with one tough effort, Collins reiterated and had his name taken.  I though Collins rather fortunate that the referee did not take stronger action than that.  Salt, big and strong joined Waiters as Blackpool’s outstanding men and how manager Suart must sigh for a forward with the same power and drive that this youngster showed in only his second league game.  Despite the unhappy incident with Salt, I rated Collins as Everton’s best because only he among the forwards sustained his efforts with his usual 90 minutes display of dash, go and brilliant touches.  Jimmy Harris too, was always trying hard without achieving the same effectiveness of the Wolves’ match.  Lill took his goal chance well and almost got another a couple of minutes later with a fine back header, but disappointed like the rest through inaccurate finishing Ring did much good work in middle but his centres were rather adrift so that he spoiled his efforts when it mattered most near goal.  Everton’s defence collectively was sound and withstood comfortably the rather feeble Blackpool thrusts.  Criticism of Dunlop is limited to his inaccurate clearances from hand which regularly went to a Blackpool man, while Parker and Labone played excellent all through Jones was firm in the tackle and kept Kaye reasonably quiet but his distribution of the ball afterwards was not up to the same standard. 
NOT SO CONVINCING
Gabriel and Brian Harris were so much in command of their job defensively that one rarely saw Mudie and Crawford produce any effect contribution, but their constructive work, as with the rest of the side, was not as convincing in fact Everton made rather heavy weather of winning a match when they showed, in spells, that they had the class and the skill to have won easily and handsomely.  Waiters undoubtedly made many first-class saves but there were times when he should have been given no chance.  Still, Everton won and maintained their progressive march in the table.  But I don’t think their supporters will be delirious over this display as the fans, being the demanding perfectionists they are, would like to see them play as they did against wolves every week.  It may be too much for hope for it-yet. 

GAME SPORTSHIP IS A PART OF FOOTBALL PLAYERS WILL ALWAYS TAKE ADVANTAGE WHEN THE REFEREE ERRS- SAYS ROY VERNON
Friday, September 16, 1960. The Liverpool Daily Post
Gamesmanship, it is said is bad for football or for any other game, and should be stamped out.  That, I fear, is an ideal which will never be brought about.  So long as the will to win is paramount as it must be in professional sport, I think you will find that players will take advantage whenever they can, realising only too well that, if they do not, their opponents will.  What do we mean by gamesmanship?  It is not simply playing to the gallery or going out of one’s way to upset the crowd or irritate the opposition.  Nor do I call it cheating to accept the fruits of the referee’s lack of observation.  Certainly we protest when we see our opponents score following an obvious offence and we may feel a bit sore about it, especially if it costs us the game.  Yet with our hands on our hearts, could we honestly say that in a similar position we would have acted differently?  Of course not.  Let me instance what I mean by citing two recent examples from matches played this season.  At Goodison Park against Manchester United our right back Alex Parker, undoubtedly fisted a United shot off the line and prevented a certain goal.  We saw him do it and apparently some of the United players saw it as well.  They protested most vehemently and claimed a penalty kick.  The referee obviously was unsighted; for the whole thing happened in a split second.  He consulted his linesman and together they decided in our favour.  Does anyone suggest that Parker should have approached the referee and said “Please sir, I punched that ball out.”?  Alex might have been put on the spot if the referee had asked him point blank if he had handled, but he did not and in my experience I have never know a referee ask any player if he had or had not done something.  Perhaps it is that they do not trust us!  We were all smiles over that, but we should have realised that what we gain one match we face in another and we did not have to wait long for retraction to overtake us.  In the return game only a few days later, Manchester United put one over on us, as nicely as you please.  They were awarded a free kick.  With the ball eight or nine yards from where the award was made, Quixall dashed up to it.  We stood thinking the referee was about to order him to take it back to the proper position, but Albert pushed the ball across and into the net it went.  We knew it should not have been a goal and I dare say so did United but the award was made and we all know we have to stand by the decisions of the officials.  How many times have you seen goalkeepers pull the ball back from over the line, and escape without a goal being awarded?  Similarity wingers often bring the ball back into play after it has crossed the touch line or they bye line.  Remember the famous Cup Final at Wembley between Arsenal and Newcastle United.  That must be one of the most memorable of all cases of officials being deceived.  Yet it is fair to add that in many cases players are so talent on the ball and on the next move that they do not realise the exact position of the ball.  The penalty area is probably the scene of more trickery than any other part of the field.  Tell any player “Watch him.  Here a diver” and he does not need to be given an explanation if quickly flashes past gave a man a position in the penalty area from which he goes down with any chance of winning a penalty award.  Some do I more obviously than others and have gained reputation for it, so that referees are fancied to make doubly sure that these individuals are really fouled before they give an award.  On the contrary you find some players who stumble from a foul, recover and pay on without going down.  They may not only have missed a scoring chance by that fleeting interruption of pace, but they have also lost a penalty award by staying on their feet. 
ALL ONE WAY
Crowds hoot visiting teams when they tap the ball away from an opponent after a free kick has been awarded or there is a throw in to be taken.  What they do not realise is that if the ball is tapped to the opposition before the defence has had an opportunity to cover, the advantage is all one way.  When players stand on the ball after as free kick it is only to ensure that the cover-up is complete before the kicking is taken, Imagine giving a free shot to a player like Liverpool’s Ronnie Moran.  It is simply asking for trouble.  You may say “Yes may say, Yes but it isn’t cricket!” Well, of course it is not cricket, but that is not to say that all cricketers are paragons of perfection.  Watching a cricket match on T.V –I saw a fielder with his feet over the boundary line make a catch.  He never told the umpire that he was over the line and out went the batsman.  No doubt cricketers could tell you of other little bits of gamesmanship in their sport.  Do you think a player feels guilty when he gently brushes a pass with his hand and directs it to his foot for a scoring shot? I do not think so technically it is wrong, but I doubt very much if any professional player, or truth to tell any amateur for that matter will lose a night’s sleep because he has scored a goal by taking advantage of little acts of this kind.  Maybe there are some who will cry.  “Disgraceful” but there are few things perfect in this imperfect world.  Remember it is the referee’s job to see that offences are published.  It is not up to players to do the referee’s job for him.  Last Saturday our skipper, Bobby Collins, approached the referee to ask something.  He was waved away.  Who is to say that if a player went up to a referee to confess a sin he might not similarity be told to go, about his business with an “I’m in charge” restort.  I discussed this subject with a prominent manager (not our own Mr. John Carey, by the way) and he made be hopes about it.  It’s as a player’s job to play to the whistle all the time” the said “ if a referee decided that everything is in order then it let in ardour –it is not your job to agree , but to get on with the game.  What fortune thrusts your way to-day, it will take away tomorrow.  It seems to be a case then of eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we may be in tears. 

HONOURS FOR LABONE
Friday, September 16, 1960. The Liverpool Daily Post
CHOSEN FOR UNDER-23 SIDE
Brian Labone, the Everton centre-half has been selected for the England Under-23 team against East Germany at Maine Road, Manchester, next Wednesday.  Five players in addition to Labone appear for the first time.  They are Goalkeeper, Banks, half-backs, Barber and Moore, and two forwards, Hill and Burnside. 

THE VERNON POINTER
Friday, September 16, 1960. The Liverpool Echo and Evening Express
By Michael Charters
By contrast to the unhappy position at Anfield it is heartening to find Everton fifth from top after their best start for four seasons.  They go to Bolton tomorrow with every prospect of their fourth successive win now with the away hoodoo was so effectively broken at Blackpool last week.  Bolton, with their new signing Billy McAdams from Manchester City, filling the vacancy caused by the injury to Nat Lofthouse have only five points from eight games.  Everton usually do well at Bolton and the lesson of Wednesday-night’s win over Blackpool was clearly shown that if mercurial Roy Vernon hits his best form there aren’t many defences in the First Division capable of holding a forward line which seems to be revitalised with the Welshman’s fire.  It took Vernon 80 minutes to really get in the game against Blackpool but then he laid on the winning goal and hit two shots which only Bobby Charlton of contemporary players can equal in power and direction, I am looking forward to the day when Vernon plays for 90 minutes as he did in that searing second-half show over Wolves.  When that happens Everton will produce a victory which will stagger everyone.  Maybe Bolton will be on the receiving end tomorrow.  All associated with Everton-officials, players and supporters-will join in congratulating Brian Labone on gaining his first international cap.  After being reserve for several England Under-23 matches he plays against East Germany at Maine Road next Wednesday in what could be the first of a long series of honours.  Brian has been playing beautifully in the last two or three games after a rather uncertain start to the season and fully deserves this England recognition. 

EVERTON’S TEAM UNCHANGED
Friday, September 16, 1960. The Liverpool Echo and Evening Express
NO LOFTHOUSE FOR BOLTON
MCADMAS PLAYS
By Michael Charters
Everton will be unchanged for their game at Bolton tomorrow as several players have recovered from slight knocks they received against Blackpool.  On Wednesday.  Colin Green the 17 years-old left back injured in the Wolves match is progressing well but he had severe brushing of the knee and it will take time to heal.  Everton; Dunlop; Parker, Jones; Gabriel, Labone, Harris (B), Lill, Collins, Harris (J), Vernon, Ring.
Bolton Wanderers are also unchanged, Higgins is still unfit so Edwards continues at centre half, and though Lofthouse scored three goals in the Central League game on Wednesday, he is again in the Reserves.  Bolton Wanderers;- Hopkinson; Hartle, Farrimond; Hennin, Edwards, Stanley; Birch, Hill, McAdam, Parry, Holden. 
Everton Reserve (v. Wolves, at Bootle Stadium); Griffiths; Parnell, Bramwell; Jarvis, Gorrie, Meagan; Temple, Tyrer, Wignalls, Ashworth, Boner. 

COLLINS CROWNS GRAND DISPLAY WITH WINNING GOAL
Saturday, September 17, 1960. The Liverpool Echo and Evening Express
BOLTON 3, EVERTON 4
By Horace Yates
Bolton Wanderers;- Hopkinson, goal; Hartle and Farrimond; Hennin, Edwards, Stanley; Birch, Hill, McAdams, Parry, Holden.  Everton; Dunlop; Parker, Jones (captain); Gabriel, Labone, Harris (B); Lill, Collins, Harris (J), Vernon, Ring.  Referee; Mr. G. McCabe (Sheffield).  Despite their dismal record Bolton started in top gear and late McAdams only narrowly failed to connect with a cross from Parry.  An innocent looking slip by Ring on Hill produced the downfall of the Everton goal in four minutes, parry lobbed the ball over the protective screen of Everton defenders and McAdams raced in to set a touch with his head and put the ball beyond Dunlop for the opening goal.  From the restart history repeated itself for Ring was fouled no more than a yard outside the penalty area.  Collins and Vernon want to take the free kick and Vernon rocketed the ball into the net for an equaliser in six minutes.  
KICKERD OFF LINE
Everton might have been a goal ahead in nine minutes when Hartle failed to get to a centre from Vernon, whose shot was charged down.  He managed to flick the ball again and this time Hartle kicked off the goalless with Hopkinson in no position to do anything but watch.  Collins was threatening at this early stage to leave his stamp on this game and it was no surprise when they snapped into the lead at 12 minutes.  Jimmy Harris release the ball to the bye line well wide of the goal and there was Lill, unattended and equally placed to tap the ball home.  Collins was being given a lot of room to work in and he came close to giving Jimmy Harris a chance to increase the Everton lead with an accurate late centre which completely beat Edwards.  The centre forward dashed in as Hopkinson ran out but Everton’s luck was out as the ball hit Hopkinson’s leg and rolled to safely.  It was not all one way traffic for when Birch centred menacingly, Labone took the ball from McAdams, who was nicely positioned right in front of goal.  Gabriel was making defence look away without his beautifully timed tackles, but in contrast Hartle was lucky to avoid being penalised for a trip on Ring, although the referee raced up to have a word with the Bolton full-back.  Vernon’s control of the ball was masterly and his telling flick to exposed positions was a constant source of anxiety to Bolton, Collins resource too was there for all to see and he held on to the ball tantalisingly that long enough to weigh up a situation which showed Lill ideally placed in front of goal.  Like a flash Collins pass the ball to him and Lill was able to bring it under control and place the ball well wide of Hopkinson at 31 minutes. 
BOLTON RATTLED
Bolton showed signs of becoming rattled and when Edwards turned to push the ball back to his goalkeeper Jimmy Harris cleverly anticipated and it was a scrambling Hopkinson who eventually cleared.  This was a rip-roaring Everton prising open huge game’s in the defence with all the competences of a car opener.  Bolton forced themselves back into the game and from the best shot of the match Hill was unlucky to find Dunlop racing across his goal to turn the ball round the post.  Hartle again clashed with Ring and the referee emphasised the series view he took of this continued fouling by bringing out his notebook as he spoke to Hartle, but without making an entry.  Hartle again clashed with Ring and the referee emphasised the series view he took of this continued fouling by bringing out his notebook as he spoke to Hartle, but without making an entry.  Gabriel dropped to the ground after a charge handled the ball to keep it away from the opposition and Parry’s immaculate free kick saw Hartle race up from the full back position to head over the bar.
PENALTY SAVE
Parker only half beat Holden and as he fell to the ground, stuck at the ball with his hands to ensure that the winger could not go on to take a shot at Dunlop.  It was an obvious penalty and Dunlop hurled himself at Hartle’s shot to make a magnificent save.  First to rush over to congratulate was the greatly relieved Parker.  Everton almost incurred another penalty immediately afterwards when Vernon fouled Farrimond on five-edge of the area but once again Everton escaped.  Halt-time –Bolton Wanderers 1, Everton 3. 
There was a dismal respondent for Everton.  Jimmy Harris was dispossessed in midfield, Stanley pushed the ball between the Everton defenders and Hill beat Dunlop comfortably after 46 minutes.  Only a spirited Parry failed himself with a great chance in front of goal when he headed over the bar.  When Everton hit back, Lill lost no time in finding the open space into which Collins had run and from outside the penalty area but the Scot was well off target with his shot.
REFRESHED
Bolton were like a side refreshed and were hammering away on the attack almost constantly.  Everton had to reassert themselves and wisely they realised that they were more dangerously when Vernon or Collins were in possession for both players showed a command which was most reassuring.  Everton were having to reassert themselves and it was not proving too easy.  Vernon raced back to help the defence and with a timely intervention took the ball off McAdams when Bolton were lined up dangerously.  This dramatic swing in the game’s fortunes had added a now interest and Jones was almost too leisurely in clearing Holden’s cross with Birch on two of him.  In 57 minutes Everton were back where they had started when Birch head the equalising goal. 
DANGEROUS WING
Most of the danger to Everton was coming from the left wing, Holden and Parry often made spectacular progress and Gabriel was happy to concede a corner kick to end a period of pressure.  Gabriel brought of a masterly tackle on a very surprised Parry who was racing ahead with obvious ambitions when suddenly found the ball whipped from the toe by a tackle from behind.  Gabriel repeated on McAdam but there was no denying the treat of the revitalised Bolton attack.  Gabriel was on hand again to inherent a centre from Holden.  Everton were awarded another free kick as a result of Hartle attention on Ring but Vernon’s lot which Lill vainly attempted to help into the net was safely handed by Hopkinson. 
STERN WORDS
The referee had a few stern words to say to Farrimond who appeared to kick Jimmy Harris.  Jimmy Harris never quite able to obtain the masterly over Edwards made his best effort of the game when he whipped round quickly but Hopkinson managed to pull the ball down from the angle to make a great save.  Vernon was still trying to fire Everton into a side approaching their first half sparkle but the response was not always up to expectation and he took a hand himself with an angled shot from well outside the area.  He beat Hopkinson but the ball had been pulled just too wide.  Everton had only themselves to blame that they did not go ahead when the first Harris preferred to allow Ring to do the shooting and then Ring dallied until the chance was lost.  Birch a real handful crossed the ball despite the tackle or Brian Harris and only by inches did McAdam’s header go wide. 
EVERTON AHEAD
With only seven minutes left for play Everton again went into the lead.  It seemed as expiratory sort of effort by Lill but a long centre right into the penalty area.  Collins followed up for that half chance and what Hartle failed to kick the ball there was Collins to put the ball in, although it struck a defender on his way into the net.  Final; Bolton 3, Everton 4.  Official attendance 30,405. 

CROWD AT THEIR BRILLIANT BEST
Saturday, September 17, 1960. The Liverpool Echo and Evening Express
VERNON’S GOALS SENT THEM WOLD, SAYS ALEX PARKER
Ever since I came to Goodison Park I have believed the Everton supporters to be the best in the country, and last Saturday they were at their brilliant best with their greatest sustained spell of, and loudest cheering, I have over heard from them.  For this, my thanks to Roy Vernon who second goal really sent them wild, and for the next 20 minutes they maintained noise the like of which I have never heard from a club crowd before.  Of course, it must be a long time since they have seen two such brilliant goals for such a short space of fine as those scored by Roy.  It’s funny that only the same day I had written about the one he had scored at Blackpool and then he comes along with one very similar and another totally different but just as great.  It gave the player a great kick to beat Wolves, particularly me, as they travel beaten us every time we have met since I came back from Cyprus.  I have written here before that I think they are the best club side I have every played against and even in defeat they still looked a good teams. 
WAITERS TOO
Of course but for Sidebottom the Wolves goalkeeper, we would have won by an even bigger score.  Some of his saves were magnificent and he reminded me very much of that other great Wolves keeper, Bert Williams.  I saw Williams playing in international a few years ago and he was undoubtedly one of the best I have seen but on last Saturday’s form is Sidebottom.  While on the subject of goalkeepers Blackpool’s Tony Waiters deserves mention for his game against us last Wednesday night.  The Bloomfield Road side were as much different team from the one we had beaten 4-1 the previous week, I note that was their fifth defeat on the trot but if they continue a fight as well as they did at Goodison it shouldn’t be long before they start winning again.  Goodison will never be known as the goalkeeper’s graveyard if the last two games are any criterion.  At one time I had the horrible feeling that Waiters was going to prove unbeatable and it was a great relief when Mickey Lill scored.  In addition to Waiters Sammy Salt, their young left half, who has only just got his first team place also played well and looks as if he will have a great future in the game. 
Our new clocks have received quite a bit of publicly this season and no doubt have attracted a lot of attention from our fans but not I bet as much as from the players when Everton are hanging on to a one goal lead.  They seem to stop then! 
EMERGENCY WARD
You have probably heard supporters saying how lucky the players are to have a hice hot bath to climb into after a game but most of us have to climb on to a nice treatment table first.  You don’t usually see a lot of the trainer during a game but believe me, he certainly earns his money afterwards for most players have something that needs attention.  After Wednesday’s game Roy Vernon looked around the dressing room and said; “There no need for the supporters to dash off home to watch TV.  They could have come in here and seen Emergency Ward 10.” 
Last Monday night a party of Everton players climbed into two years and went to see the Preston v. Burnley match at Deepdale.  This has been quite a season for spectators goals, for already I have seen some of the best I am ever likely to see.  There was Billy Bingham’s for Luton at Anfield, Roy Vernon’s goals, and last Monday Preston wing half Fullam scored a blinder.  A corner was cleared out to him and before the ball hit the ground he volleyed it into the net from about 25 yards.  But it looks to me as if it will need extraordinary goals to beat this Burnley defence.  They are very dour and I think the League champions are going to be there or thereabouts at the end of the season. 
OLYMPIC STARS
The players who went to Preston with me were Roy Vernon, Tommy Ring, Mickey Lill, Jimmy Gabriel, Brian Labone, and Bert Slater.  Bert told us that while the Liverpool players were in London for the match at Ipswich they met Olympic stars Herb Elliott and Tom Farrell.  They all got the Australian runner’s autograph and Farrell a Liverpool man was made a guest of the club and had his meals with them.  Incidentally I don’t know how true this is but I believe the Liverpool players challenged Elliott to a race round Hyde Park.  Their only stipulation was that they would take a short sketch each while he would have to do the lot himself.  I unfortunately, for some reason or other this race of the century never came off.  On the stern trip to Liverpool one of the Anfield clubs travelling companions was the pop singer Cliff Richard, who was travelling north to do a show.  Last week I mentioned the number of footballers who when they have no game themselves pop along to other matches and at Deepdale we saw Bryan Douglas and Derek Douglas of Blackburn Rovers, Jimmy Armfield and Dave Charnley (Blackpool) and Tommy Banks and Bryan Edwards (Bolton).  No doubt there were many more. 
DISAPPOINTED
Naturally the players at Anfield are disappointed at the way things are going for them this season, but I can assure them that they have the full sympathy of the Everton boys.  We know just how they feel.  Obviously the Liverpool side is too good to be so far down the table but from what I read and hear they are having one of those spells when nothing will go right, and the harder you try at such time the worse things become.  Still, I’m certain that a couple of wins will make all the difference, and then you will see them rise.  Here’s hoping they have done the trick against Scunthorpe to-day. 

EVERTON RES V WOLVES RES
Saturday, September 17, 1960. The Liverpool Echo and Evening Express
Everton Res; - Griffiths, goal; Parnell, Bramwell; Jarvis, Gorrie, Meagan; Temple, Tyrer, Wignall, Ashworth, Boner.  Wolves Res;- Davies; Harris, Jones (Gwyn); Kirkham, Kirkham, Woodfield, Jones (Graham), Mannion, Durandt, Farmer, Hinton, Horne.  Referee; Mr. L. Meadoes (Redcar).  The Everton goal almost fell in the first couple of minutes.  First, Bramwell charged down a centre from Mannion but his clearance was passed on to Horne who drove just wide with Griffiths well beaten.  Everton continued to be pinned down on the defensive against very fast wingers and Griffiths made a particularly good save from Mannion.  Temple was injured in a hard tackle and from the resultant free kick Tyrer hooked the ball over the Wolves bar.  Everton improved but their forwards were not moving the ball quickly enough although Ashworth missed a good chance from Temple’s centre.  The Everton goal had another remarkable escape when Horne hit the underside of the crossbar and Bramwell scrambled clear.  Everton seemed to be holding their own but at the 42nd minute Durandt put Wolves ahead soon after Mannion had a goal disallowed for off-side.  Half-time Everton Res nil, Wolves Res 1. 

COLLINS AND VERNON PAVE VICTORY PATH
Monday September 19, 1960. The Liverpool Daily Post
EVERTON SCARE WAS OF THEIR OWN MAKING
BOLTON WANDERERS 3, EVERTON 4
By Horace Yates
What a cheering sight the Division One League table is these days to Everton supporters whose dreams of riding so high have so often turned out to be nightmares during several years of uncomfortable struggle! Most pleasing of all is the prospect that this is no fleeting flash of grandeur but part of the build up to better things.  Despite all the alarms at Bolton and there were many, two points were no less that Everton deserved.  It is disconcerting to see them surrender the initiative in the second half after coasting forward so comfortably, almost effortlessly, with classy football that was as potent as it was attractive.  In the modern school of tough competition.  It is often enough to allow the home team to collect the first goal for them to contain all subsequent efforts at recovery.  Not so with Everton, for no sooner had McAdams put them in arrears with a well taken goal in four minutes than they struck back immediately and were on terms through a Vernon free kick the taking of which was a ready advertisement to the care which had gone into the preparation.  When Collins rushed forward it looked for all the world as though he intended to blast a hole in the protective screen of defenders and before they had time to regain their balance after covering up protectively, they found Vernon hammering the ball home with calculated precision.
TONIC FOR LILL
If Lill only needs confidence to convince him that his knee troubles are not serious this match should have given it to him in ample measure for with commendable positional play he was in the centre forward when Jimmy Harris called for a finishing touch for goal No 2 and there he was again when Collins mesmerised everybody with his skill in front of goal to slip through the perfect scoring opportunity.  Lill was equal to the call on both occasions.  His may not have been the sort of display to send the crowd into raptures over winning excellence but he achieved the maximum impact with the minimum of effort and finished the match sound enough in wind and limb to give him the sort of tonic that is beyond the powers of any doctor.  When I am assessing a list of right backs who are masters of their calling.  Parker is one of the names which springs most readily to mind but if he recalls the Bolton trip with any great pleasure I shall be surprised.  Holden was more than he could handle although handling may be unfortunate word, as in one of his tussles with the winger Parker whole on the ground had to use his hands to prevent Holden dashing on to an exposed goal.  Parker took a chance and conceded a penalty but luck was with him for Dunlop with a magnificent sideways and upwards fling, stopped a Hartle power drive.  And so 3-1 yup at half-time nothing it seemed, could prevent the second away win in succession in contrast to twenty-five visits to opponents’ grounds without success. 
OBVIOUS FAILINGS
To anyone with half an eye it was obvious where Everton’s power lay and where Bolton’s fallings began.  Both Collins and Vernon were so much on top of their job so clever individually and so astute with the placing of their passes that they were tearing open a Bolton defence which failed to realise that to care to give them an inch was an open invitation for them to help themselves to the freedom of the ground.  I can just imagine the broadside which was flung at the Bolton halves during the interval.  If they were not told to follow the two Everton artists wherever they want, shadows them constantly, breath down their necks and give them absolutely no room for manoeuvre I should be surprised for that is in fact just what they did and the result was electrifying.  From a rampant conquering and progressive force, the Everton attack was brought to a full stop.  The initiative was surrendered and with both Collins and Vernon finding it necessary to fall back on defence the spearhead had gone.  Bolton were a side transformed as both Holden and Birch developed a disquieting superiority over Parker, and Jones.  Parry and Hill came into the picture encouraged as they were by a Hill goal, which came little more than a minute after resuming.  Parry took another in 57 minutes and now something more than educated football was necessary for Everton to survive.  It was in this hour of trial that we saw Gabriel at his best.  He bolstered up the fumbling Parker without seriously neglecting Parry, and Everton held on.  Having to initiate attacks from their own quarters against a revitalised defence did not aid an Everton recovery.  With Harris held and Ring apparently long faith in himself after repeated clashes with Hartle.  Everton were struggling.  In situation like this one adverse decision can send the game streaking away from a side under pressure, but it was here that Everton’s luck was in.  A Bolton roar for a penalty kick did not appear completely devoid of merit but despite all the protestations the referee waved them aside and brushed away the appeals of the Bolton skipper signalling that Brian Harris had breasted the ball and not handled it.  It was left to the persistence of Collins plus his willingness to chase the half chance that enabled him to collect the decisive goal after Hopkinson had half saved at the first attempt.  While it was disturbing to see Everton lose a grip watch had appeared one hundred percent tight it was equally encouraging to see them fight back to victory where lesser sides would have succumbed.  Everton’s team building is not yet complete but it has gone far enough to guarantee entertainment and a fair degree of accomplishment. 
Bolton W;- Hopkinson, goal; Hartle, Farrimond; Hennin, Edwards, Stanley, Birch, Hill, McAdams, Parry, Holden.  Everton; Dunlop; Parker, Jones; Gabriel, Labone, B. Harris; Lill, Collins, J. Harris, Vernon, Ring.  Referee; Mr. G. McGabe (Sheffield) Attendance 30,405. 

NO MATCH FOR WOLVES RES
Monday, September 19, 1960. The Liverpool Daily Post
Everton Res 1, Wolves Res 4
Everton were no match for the Wolves who had more skill.  Splendid goalkeeping by Griffiths averted an even heavier Everton defeat.  It was a pity therefore that Griffiths should be at fault when on the hour, Farmer added to Durandt’s forty-two minute goal.  Although immediately reduced the arrears but Everton’s hope of a recovery were dashed by Hinton who added further goals after sixty-eight and seventy-six minutes.  In Everton’s hard pressed defence left-back Bramwell, was the only one to cope with the fast and direct Wolves ranks. 

EVERTON PRODUCE THAT FIGHTING SPIRIT
Monday, September 19, 1960 The Liverpool Echo and Evening Express
By Horace Yates
Two away victories in succession after 23 fruitless attempts and four wins in a row make remarkably fine reading for Everton supporters and the 4-3 triumph at Bolton shows that not only have they a team of footballers but that they are also full of fighting spirit to provide that happy blend which is a feature of most successful teams.  When the game was going their way in the first half Everton’s football was a delight to watch and it was successful as it was entertaining.  The fact that they were a goal down in four minutes to McAdam worried them not at all.  They wiped it out almost immediately when the wonderful pair of inside forwards Vernon and Collins worked a bit of trickery after Ring had been fouled Collins feinted to take the free kick and left it to Vernon who hammered the ball home.  So much on top were Everton that goals were always promising to come and there was no surprised at all when Jimmy Harris pulled a Ring cross back from the by line to give Lill the easiest of scoring chances Lill made it’s double 31 minutes when he paid tribute to the accuracy of a Collins flick to beat Hopkinson at will.  During this period Everton delighted with a display which made the Bolton defence appear inept and slow, Everton were always putting the ball in the open spaces and there was always someone there to take it.  Directing operations like a man at a key board was Roy Vernon.  In a purple patch of 15 minutes he wrote his name all over the match with his startling display that revealed him as a player of the highest class.  Nothing seems more certain than that he is ripe to collect further.  Welsh international honours.  His judgement could not have been better.  He flicked the ball here and there, always to a position to the greatest advantage to his side and the strength in which he resisted tackles was quite remarkable. 
FOOTBALL GIFT
Everton are fortunate indeed to have two inside forwards with the ability of Vernon and Collins and at the same time find that both of them are capable of scoring goals.  So often when a player is gifted with a football Brian and talented free, he prefers to open up opportunities for others rather than score himself.  This Everton pair are exceptions to the rule.  Both can collect goals.  Those who maintain that there has not been a better inside forward to come out of Scotland in recent years than Bobby Collins will not lack support for the theory.  Bolton seemed destined to go down to a heavy defeat for they were at full-stretch for so long and seemingly helpless to do anything to correct the position.  Even when they were awarded a penalty after Parker had handled, Dunlop flew across his goal to save a power drive from Hartle.  It must have appeared to have been the death-knell to all Bolton hopes for they badly needed a rallying point to put them back in the game and so often there is no greater incentive than a goal.  It was a difficult Bolton team which resumed after half time.  Gone was their hesitancy their willingness to allow Everton to dictate and the folly of giving Vernon and Collins all the room they required had been spoiled and rectified
SCORES LEVEL
Little more than a minute after half-time Hill made the score 2-3 and with Everton’s defence showing signs of wear and tear Parry levelled the scores with 33 minutes still to play.  A game which appeared comfortably to have been in Everton’s grasp was now visibly flitting away.  Try as they would Everton could not regain their mastery and appearance suggested that the best they could hope for would be a draw.  Parker who has seldom been outplayed as he was in this game, found Holden a winger beyond his ability to control.  It was in this position of crisis that Gabriel showed his greatness in addition to doing his own work superbly he was often there to the rescue of the struggling Parker.  Lill, who has been having an anxious time with his knee injury, had every cause for satisfaction for in addition to scoring two goals he it was whose long kick towards goal opened up the way for Collins to score the winning goal seven minutes from the end.  Bolton considered themselves most unfortunate to have had a penalty award struck Brian Harris.  The referee ruled that Harris had breasted the ball rather than handled it but the crowd were not easily appeased.  Actually Birch lost a great chance when he preferred to go on alone and McAdams was much better situated for a shot. 
NOT EFFECTIVE
Ring was up against a resolute defender in Hartle whose uncompromising defence took the edge off the winger’s play and he was nothing like as effective during Everton’s period of trail as he had been earlier in the game when things were flowing Everton’s way.  The fact that McAdams was seldom dangerous was the tribute to Labone although I have seen him more efficient than this.  Jone’s also went through the mill against Birch and at no period suggested that he had discovered the way to handle this speedy raider.  It is a measure of Everton’s improvement that they were able to hit back and win a game which had got completely out of their hands.  In similar circumstances last season they invariably folded and failed so that this flight back is another indication of their advance. 
A YOUTHFUL CLASSIC
Everton’s youth team is expected to do well in the F.A Youth Cup competition this season, and they start on the long road to the trophy by playing Tranmere Rovers in the preliminary round at Prenton Park tonight (7.30) Five of their side-Parnell, Jarvis, Gorrie, Sharples and Tyrer –have appeared regularly in the Central League side this season, whilst Tyrer, of course is almost a “veteran” as he had a few First Division game last season.  These boys play attractive football at its best and although Tranmere cannot muster the same sort of talent as Everton they have a good side with McDevitt and Westlake the boys most likely to make the grade in League football.  Strength of the Everton side, is at half-back where Jarvis, Gorrie and Sharples would grace any senior side even at the tender age.  I have heard glowing reports too, of right back Parnell, who was centre forward for Birkenhead Boys a couple of years ago, but has been switched to the defence where he has proved himself a great player in the making.  There should be a feast of good football tonight.  Tranmere Rovers;- Payne (J); McDervin, Morris, Corless, Radcliffe, Quant; Banks, Brian, Westlake, Hammond, Wise.  Everton; Mailey; Parnell, Gannon; Jarvis, Gorrie, Sharples, Chester, Tyrer, Webber, Morron, Edwards. 

CATTERICK STAYS
Wednesday, September 21, 1960. The Liverpool Echo and Evening Express
NOT TO TAKE MANAGERSHIP OF NOTTINGHAM FOREST
Harry Catterick, the Sheffield Wednesday team manager, is not to take over the managership of Nottingham Forest but will stay with the Hillsborough club.  Catterick said today.  As a result of proposal made by the Board at their meeting at Hillsborough on Monday night I shall be remaining with Sheffield Wednesday.  I will make no further comment.  Doctor Andrew Stephen Chairman of Sheffield Wednesday issued the following statement.  “Mr. Catterick has not asked the club for his release.  He reported to the board he had received offer of employment by another club which he felt bound to consider but after discussing it with the directors of the club he has decided to stay at Hillsborough.” 

EVERTON NAME UNCHANGED TEAM
Thursday, September 22, 1960. The Liverpool Echo and Evening Express
WEST HAM ARE VISITORS
POINTLESS AWAY
By Michael Charters
Everton will be unchanged for their game against West ham at Goodsion Park on Saturday, when they will be trying for their fifth successive victory.  West Ham are still pointless from their five away games, whereas Everton have a 100 per cent home record.  Everton; Dunlop, Parker, Jones; Gabriel, Labone, Harris (B), Lill, Collins, Harris (J), Vernon, Ring. 

ONE SIGNING AND EVERTON DREAM MAY COME TRUE
Friday, September 23, 1960. The Liverpool Echo and Evening Express
By Horace Yates
Everton would not wish their recently smashed dismal away record to be inherited by any side, but no-one can blame them for hoping that West Ham’s charge in fortune will not start until after tomorrow, for the London side have tasted victory on any ground, but their own this season and now they come to Goodison Park.  It is not always the club that is making news which is most successful and Everton are a case in point.  Sooner or later they may take us by storm with yet another spectacular addition to their playing strength and their supporters are sufficiently encouraged to believe if that signing does materialise Wembley if not outside their capabilities this season.  At the moment, however, all is quiet in the Goodison Park camp, even to announcement of an unchanged team for the visit of West Ham tomorrow.  Times have changed so decisively that no-one seriously thinks in terms of anything other than yet another home victory.  Everton; Dunlop; Parker, Jones; Gabriel, Labone, B. Harris; Lill, Collins, J. Harris, Vernon, Ring.

EASTHAM BATTLE WENT ON TOO LONG
Friday, September 23, 1960. The Liverpool Daily Post
NEWCASTLE BREAK THE DEADLOCK BY AGREEING TO PLAYER’S RELEASE SAY ROY VERNON
The football world has followed the tussle between George Eastham and Newcastle United with more than ordinary interest.  Newcastle, it was said, were fighting for a principle in declining to release the inside forward, but how much less has been Eastham’s flight for a principle.  How delighted I was to learn last night that after weeks of statement Newcastle had agreed to allow the player to move to Arsenal providing all arrangements could be satisfactory concluded.  Soccer slavery is a phrase which is already threadbare, just a jingle of words, or at least it was until the Eastham case cropped up and this show of good sense by Newcastle even at the eleventh hour will help to keep it so.  Seemingly justice has triumphed.  No player needs reminding when he signs for a club that he owes it an undoubted loyalty, but does this mean that he has no further right to a vice in his own future?  That was the suggestion so long as Newcastle stubbornly maintained their attitude.  Any man who enjoys more than fourteen years of top-class football, with all that goes with it can count himself lucky life goes on for a long time beyond that and if anyone failed to look ahead to the years when football is but a source of unremunerative memories there would be little sympathy expended on him.  “Serve him jolly well right.  He should have been prepared,” is the sort of public reaction which would great an announcement that a former favourite was down on his own luck and struggling for a livelihood after seemingly having had the world at his feet.  That being so, it is not always easy to understand criticism of a player who tries to ensure such a fate will not be his.  That is just what George Eastham was trying to do.  I don’t believe for one moment that Eastham wants a move for the sake of playing in different colours, in a new locally.  Not a bit of it, it is well known that the job he has secured for himself in the London area is particularly remunerative –to the tune of £1,000 a year or so- with prospects of permanency, not dependent on football fame.  If Newcastle had come along with a comparable sort of job outside football we should have heard none of this controversy.  At the same time I realise that if a club starts finding a situation such as this for one star player it might soon find itself in the position of receiving demands for similar consideration from all leading players, and that would create an impossible situation.
SEEKING PASTURES NEW
But Eastham has found the position for himself.  Anyone in civil life can tender the requisite notice to one employer and seek pastures new, not always with the good wishes of the old boss, but at least the freedom to pick and choose is there.  Not so with a footballer.  You might say that the position is not comparable and that if players were free to move hither and thither in this fashion team building would be out of the question.  I do not agree all the way.  In civil life when anyone is done an injury or suffers loss, he has recourse to a court of law, where compensation is assessed in terms of pounds shilling and pence.  While we do not often go to law in the football world, the compensation is still there in the shape of a transfer fee and if £50,000 does not provide some sort of solace, then it is hard to know what can.  Eastham will undoubtedly bring the equivalent of £50,000 and a profit of £41,000 for a £9,000 investment over a period of four years looks to me the sort of interest that would make any speculator jump for joy.  It is not every day that we hear of clashes such as this.  Generally it is appreciated that there comes a time in every season when players have time on their hands-plenty of it.  They cannot go on training and training.  They would become horribly stale, and so must clubs encourage their players to find an outlet for their leisure.  It is not easy to write dispassionately on a subject such as this, but I thank goodness this has not been my problem.  A player does not skip away from a club where he has been well treated without a good deal of thought. 
NOT EASILY REPLACED
Eastham will not be easy to replace, but he has gone about his request in a reasonable sort of way.  Some players get themselves a reputation for being unco-operative, a bad influence on team spirit and generally too hot to handle and they are the men who find no difficulty in getting a move.  These men are allowed to collect a share of transfer for having moved at the club’s request.  Not so Eastham.  He will get nothing on joining a new club for he has advertised to the world he desire for a change.  I need hardly tell you that a professional footballer does not normally play football simply for his wages at the end of the week but because football is in his blood and that he genuinely enjoys playing the game.  That the money is a great source of comfort for doing something one likes there is no denying.  I don’t think I would be far wrong if I said that the loss of his football has torn at Eastham’s heart strings.  To see others in action and not being able to play oneself is galling indeed.  Even when one has to stand aside and watch because of injury it is hard enough, but to be perfectly fit and well, aching for a game and not able to take part in it, must be a thousand times worst. 
ENGLAND CLASS
Eastham is an England class player, but while this stalemate continued neither club nor country could take advantage of his skill.  Don’t think I can only see one side of the argument because a player naturally supports another player.  Nothing of the kind.  Eastham has pulled up his roots at Newcastle.  No matter how unpalatable the fact may be, it has to be recognised and I believe the club have shown belated wisdom in acknowledging it.  I do not believe for a moment that capitulation to the player will spark off a series of “strikes” by other players bent on a move.  One has to have a very attractive alternative to persuade one to seek pastures new.  I can speak from experience.  There were circumstances at Blackburn which prevented me from feeling happy enough to do either myself or my club the justice to which they are entitled and when they decided to release me I can hardly express the joy I felt.  At Goodison I can concentrate on my game with a clear mind, unworried or blurred by other consideration and if in these circumstances I cannot hit top form then whoever else may be to blame the club certainly is not.  Peace of mind is a great thing even for professional footballers. 

UNCHANGED EVERTON BID FOR FIFTH SUCCESSIVE VICTORY
Friday, September 23, 1960. The Liverpool Echo and Evening Express
By Michael Charters
West Ham bring their much-vaunted 4-2-4 formation to Goodison Park tomorrow, to tackle an Everton riding on the crest of success and looking forward to their fifth successive win.  Coventry City and Bristol Rovers also tried out this Continental pattern and have quickly dropped it, but the Hammers are persevering, even though they have the second worst defensive record (23 goals) in the First Division.  They are still pointless from their five away games and the way Everton are playing these days, it looks as though the position will remain unchanged around 5 p.m. tomorrow.  Everton’s performance in winning at Bolton last week was a mixture of first half brilliance and second half spirit, when they fought hard for a fine victory after losing their touch.  Too often last season the side did not have the resilience to recover from the setback of two quick goals from their opponents, but that is a criticism which cannot now be levelled against a team which has settled into a happy confident stride.  West Ham of course, are not as poor a team as their record this season would suggest.  With players like Cantwell, Moore, Dick and Woosnam in their ranks they must find their form sooner or later but it does seem that the experimental formation is far from successful.  No doubt manager Ted Fenton will not continue with it beyond the point of no return in the League. 
ON OPPOSING SIDES
It will be interesting to see the two Welsh inside forwards for next Wednesday’s international against Ireland on opposing sides- Vernon and Woosnam.  The West Ham man keeps his place when everyone expected Ivor Allchurch to be an automatic choice, but he has never let his country down although in my book he is not as good a player at either Vernon or Allchurch.  Everton are unchanged.  Brian Labone one of the successes in the England Under-23 game against the Danes on Wednesday, came through unscathed physically and with his reputation enhanced, and has earned the congratulations of all Everton fans on his good display.  Everton; Dunlop; Parker, Jones; Gabriel, Labone, Harris (B), Lill, Collins, Harris (J), Vernon, Ring. 
The appearance of Everton chairman John Moores and manager John Carey at the Walsall-Chesterfield game on Tuesday night brought conjecture that the club was about to swoop again with the cheque book at the ready for another player-said to be Colin Taylor, the Walsall winger.  I can assure you that the visit to Walsall was not sensational as that, if Everton beat Accrington Stanley in the first round of the new League Cup competition they will meet Walsall in the next round.  As Mr. Carey gets little chance to watch clubs like Walsall he took the midweek opportunity of getting a first-hand view of his team’s probable opponents and that was the principal reason for his visit to the Midland’s club.  I asked him about Taylor and his reply was that they are always interested in good players.  He has reports from his scouts on numerous men worth keeping in mind, and Taylor happens to be one of them.  He was able to vet Taylor himself as well assess the Walsall team generally. 

WEST HAM DEBUTANT IN GOODISON GAME
Friday, September 23, 1960. The Liverpool Echo and Evening Express
18-YEARS-OLD INSIDE LEFT
MR. CAREY BUSY
By Leslie Edwards
Michael Beezey, an 18 years old inside forward, who had come up through the club’s junior elevens makes his First Division debut for West Ham against Everton at Goodison Park tomorrow.  He plays at inside left as partner to Musgrove, Bond, who has for some weeks appeared in the attack, reverts to his old position at right full back.  Everton manager John Carey, who has been busy scouting this week.  You must always be on the look-out for good up-and-coming players announce today that young George Sharples an Ellesmere Port boy has signed professional forms.  Sharples a half-back, has been an amateur with the club since his school days.  West Ham; Shearing; Bond, Cantwell; Malcolm, Brown, Moore; Woodley, Woosnam, Dunmore, Beezley, Musgrove. 

EVERTON BAROMETER IS SET FAIR
Saturday, September 24, 1960. The Liverpool Echo and Evening Express
BIG TEST FOR YOUNG WEST HAM DEBUTANT
By Leslie Edwards
West Ham are not only notable for being the side to introduce to Britain the Continental strip, they have a some of the football qualities which match that appeal and have taken from Arsenal the reputation for being the cheekiest and most phlegmatic of teams.  They showed this particularly in their Second Division days when they came to Anfield, it was obvious then that they were booked for promotion.  Everton’s resurgence which has vindicated for all time their enterprise and the management of John Carey means that there will be close to a full house at Goodison Park and the occasion will be a big test for the 18-years-old Londoner and debutant forward Mike Beesley.  He was due to play for the first team last season but at the eleventh hour the man he was to have displaced became fit.  West Ham always famous as being one of the two clubs to open Wembley as a final venue –the late George Kay captained them that day- bring with them one of the famous family of all-rounders.  Phil Woosnam a former Bangor University College student who will be playing next week for Wales against a team mate Cantwell who will be appearing in the F.A of Ireland team in Ireland. 
TWO OF THE BEST
Bond, now back in this old role as a full back and Cantwell are two of the biggest and best defenders in the land.  Indeed West Ham have always gone for sizeable players and especially for big men in defence.  Everton’s position has been remarkably as the result of two successive away victories at the time when we were beginning to despair of their ever winning away again.  I think the barometer for the club is now set fair and whether or not they make any further big signings depends entirely on whether the eleven as constituted continue successfully it could be that in spite of a slight short coming the right blend is there.  The strength for the position at Everton today is in the supplementary teams.  Here is lot of very good material being nursed along by Leslie Shannon, Young Sharples are turned professional this week is one half of boys who were mistuning satisfactory and who must come onto the first team picture within a season or two.  What a great joy it must be to Evertonians to see it last signs of a team fit to company with those famous pre-war sides, which brought so much football credit to the city.  West Ham will continue with their 4-2-4 tactical experiment and it will be interesting to see what counter-measures Everton adopt.  There is room in soccer for new and effective methods but a system of four almost completely devoted to defence would not appear to be one of them.  The third back game went far towards removing a good deal of the game’s attractiveness and the thought of four lurkers in defence, however, effective it may be proved is almost frightening. 
THE LINE UP AT GOODISON
Dunlop; Parker, Jones; Gabriel, Labone, Harris (B); Lill, Collins, Harris (J), Vernon, Ring.
West Ham United; Shearing; Bond, Cantwell; Malcolm, Brown, Moore; Woodley, Woosnam, Dunmore, Beeley, Musgrove. 

EVERTON FIND WEST HAM IN A LIVELY MOOD
Saturday, September 24, 1960. The Liverpool Echo and Evening Express
CHANCES MISSED AFTER A BRILLIANT OPENING
Everton 4, West Ham 1
By Leslie Edwards
Everton; Dunlop; Parker, Jones (captain); Gabriel, Labone, Harris (B), Lill, Collins, Harris (J), Vernon, Ring.  West Ham United;- Shearing; Bond, Cantwell; Malcolm, Brown; Moore, Woodley, Woosnam, Dunmore, Beeley, Musgrove.  Referee; Mr. H. Horner (Coventry).  West ham quite early on gave indication that there 4-2-4 plan would be used and the interchange of position was such that within the first couple of minutes full back Bond was at outside right and making a high centre, which Dunlop, troubled by the glare of the sun, did well to pick out of the air with a sure grip.  Gabriel with a most resolute tackle on Musgrove and Ring, with an equally determined bit of work when dropping back to stop Woodley showed that Everton meant business but it took a sliding tackle by Parker to stop Musgrove at the expense of a corner and from this the left winger produced another dangerous centre that Dunlop fielded safely.  A moment later Labone headed away a strong shot with Dunlop out of goal and unsighted. 
PEACH OF A PASS
At five minutes Collins received the ball almost on the half way line on the right and then making up his mind quickly about what was best, took the ball up 20 yards and then found Lill who had gone inside with a peach of a through pass.  The ball dragged against Lill’s foot and was difficult to bring under control, but once he got it to earth he only serous on a yard or two before hitting in a stunning left foot shot which beat Shearing completely.  This was a heartening goal against a side big and commanding in every sense of the word.  Everton and the West Ham defence panicking a little but West Ham unusual line-up often had the Everton defence a trouble.  At ten minutes Malcolm in the inside left position found outside left Musgrove with such a good pass, the winger was able to cross the ball at his leisure and Beezley flung himself full length to head a good equaliser to seal his debut with a splendid goal.  Everton might well have taken the lead a minute later when Harris (J) followed up seized on a too-tentative reverse pass and was unlucky not to beat Shearing.  He attempted to round the goalkeeper, who was completely out of the game when he was received by Brown who stretched out a foot to turn the ball for a corner when the odds were a 100-1 on Harris scoring.
A LUCKY GOAL
At 13 minutes Everton went in front rather luckily and again it was the Scot Ring, who got a goal most unexpectedly.  He was standing at the edge of the penalty box straight in front of goal when he uncorked one of his specials from a standing start, and poor Shearing palmed the ball up and overhead and it dropped slowly near the six yards line and trundled quietly over the line.  West Ham did not take this lying down and Woosnam and right back Malcolm contrived a neat twosome move from which Malcolm hit a big shot just wide of the far post. 
WEAVING DRIBBLE
Vernon with a weaving dribble in which he appeared to be on the point of shooting and which actually ended with a perfect pass to Harris (J) demonstrated why Everton had to pay so much for him.  Gabriel was almost a team in himself.  Nothing was better than the mashy nib lick shot dug up at this stage by Vernon for the oncoming Harris B, and it was sheer had luck that this one did not come off.
GLORIOUS RUN
Dunmore with a glorious run earned a corner and Everton were in trouble off this when wine menaced by Woosnam close in.  West Ham played a refreshing type of football tactically and there was still nothing in it although Everton were a goal in front.  To be candid Everton were not moving with the same smoothness as had characterised their early play, and it took a good tackle by Gabriel to stop wing half Moore from putting the team level.  There was a clash of heads between Beezley and Gabriel in midfield and although the West Ham man went down stunned.  Gabriel went on with blood pouring down his face and neck, and did not let up until he had completed his run with a useful shot.  Both players needed attention and then left the field presumably for stitching.  Lill with an extraordinary sixpenny-piece effort against Bond slipped the ball through the big man’s outstretched legs and then Vernon crossing a centre from the left with such accuracy that Jimmy Harris was able to stride in to meet it with his head for what seemed a certain goal, but Shearing had taken up a perfect position to bring off a first class save.  It was hard unrelenting football and both sides a man short for the last few minutes must have been glad to hear that interval whistle go. 
Half-time; Everton 2, West Ham United 1.
Beezley resumed with a plaster over his left eye and Gabriel holding a handkerchief in right hand lest his cut head should bleed again. 
GOOD CHANCE MISSED
West ham’s unusual formation and the propensity of Labone and others for moving up led a lot of bunching in the centre of the pitch at times.  Again an Everton forward beat his man by the simple process of slipping the ball between outstretched legs and when he was obstructed a good chance went west.  Harris (J) failed with a perfect chance made by Ring and the referee quite rightly ignored the linesman’s upraised flag since Harris was yards on side when he shot wildly and wid.
DISALLOWED
Ring put the ball in the roof of the net from a pass by Collins, but this goal was immediately disallowed for offside-pity because Ring succeeded from a most difficult chance and his effort was worth a score.  Ring’s nonchalant pass to Collins on the right wing and Collins’ acceptance of it was football perfection and Harris who had been trying unsuccessfully to burst through single handed at last succeeded in delivering an angled shot which Shearing saved brilliantly. 
FOOTBALL GENIUS
Vernon was now laying on his passes to the last half-inch, and his left-footer up to Ring had the crowd roaring their appreciation of his genius.  Dunlop will rarely have such a powerful and such an unexpected shot as the one he took from Dunmore at this stage.  He caught the ball overhead as he moved to the right and the crowd rose to him for it.  For half an hour or more he had scarcely anything to do.  Everton were not showing any finish at all now getting tangled up in the ramifications of West Ham’s defence in depth, indeed the game had gone slept a bit. 
LACK OF FINISH
Shearing was out first to take the ball from the feet of the oncoming Harris (J) after Collins with atypical through pass, had given the centre an open invitation to score as he pleased.  A lot of Everton stuff was first class, but they were not finding their way through and they were still clinging desperately to that one goal lead.  Collins with a full blooded drive from a free kick all but made it 3-1.  Shearing getting the ball round the post at full stretch.  Woosnam was unlucky not to get a goal when bursting through despite Labone and Dunlop who were lucky to concede a corner and not a goal. 
INTO THE STAND
Dunmore lashed one shot almost into the second deck of the Park goal stand and although spectators may have laughted derisively at this the fact remained that Everton were not getting anywhere after starting so brightly.  Everton’s third goal at 66 minutes was simply made and simply taken.  Collins found Vernon just inside the penalty box, Vernon with a low and nicely angled drive gave the goalkeeper very little chance of doing anything about it.  An electrifying run by Woodley in which he left the Everton defence flat-footed and almost at a standstill was completed by a centre which Dunlop only half held Dunmore stuck out a leg at the ball as it ran free and lofted it over the bar from three yards out.  Jimmy Harris made nothing of a lot of good chances and now another one was added when little Collins busy as a bee and just as productive laid on a shooting chance when he was rather slow to accept. 
RING’S BRILLIANCE
Ring was still doing the brilliant thing occasionally even if he was making little of Bond at close quarters.  It was from one of Ring’s centres that Vernon hit a shot on the half-volley which drew the crowd admiration, but was unhappy deflected for a corner.  Gabriel playing with both stockings down to his ankles was conspicuous for this and for many other better reasons.  Vernon’s goal at 76 minutes came from a peach of a pass by Ring who had for once the better of Bond and the way the scorer rammed the ball in hard and true was an object lesson in chance-taking.  The most incredible escape for West Ham came in the last two minutes when Vernon and Collins (twice) had shots crowded out from the closest range following a first class bit of work by Lill and the willing Gabriel who eventually turned up at outside-right to create the opening for this wonderful Everton barrage.  Final; Everton 4, West Ham 1.  Official attendance 46,291. 

BILLY’S NIGHT WAS ONE TO REMEMBER
Saturday, September 24, 1960. The Liverpool Echo and Evening Express
THE KOP DID HIM PROUD SAYS ALEX PARKER
Last Wednesday night I had one of my greatest experiences in football –and it was as a spectator, not a player, for I went to Anfield to see Billy Liddell’s benefit match and the sound and sight of the famous Kop cheering their biggest favourite was something I shall never forget.  It certainly was a terrific night and the sort that no-crowd could do better than a Liverpool one.  Of course, what made it more of an occasion for me is the fact that Billy is a Scot, It was obvious that he got a great kick out of the evening but from what I have heard and read particularly in the Echo special edition it was no more than he deserves.  There are few, if any sports which could put on such a show for one of its favourites and while there are nights like Wednesday, it is ridiculous to talk of the game being on the way out.  If any player either with Everton or Liverpool, ever become such an idol with the crowd, both sides of the park or so respected by the city as a whole I shall be very surprised.  Even half the acclaim would more than satisfy most players.
SLATER BOOED
One thing I found amusing was the booing of Bert Slater by the Kop for with some grand save he stopped Billy scoring in the closing minutes.  But fancy the Kop booing buts own “keeper” 
Anyway not to worry, Bert it won’t happen every week.  From the match itself I recall most of all the magic of Tom Finney who still looks a grand player even in retirement.  On Monday night Billy and I are playing in Tom’s benefit at Deepdale.  Tom will be leading a Preston team against a Select X1 and if it is going to play like he did on Wednesday I wouldn’t complain if like Billy he had to do a last minute switch and play for us.  Still my side’s attack is not too bad really.  At the time of writing it is to be Matthews, Mortensen, Lofthouse, Mannion, Liddell.  And that great goalkeeper Bert Trauntmann is behind me so we should do all right.
PRESENTATION
Last Saturday was a great day for Mr Bob Roberts.  The Evertonians has returned to Liverpool after 50 years of America, and contacted me through my Parker Pen Pals features.  He arrived in Liverpool a week ago yesterday and telephoned me at my home.  I arranged to meet him before the Bolton game and got permission off our manager to take him into the dressing room to meet the players.  He had his photograph taken with all the players and presented me with a pennant from the Los Angeles Kickers, runners-up in their League this year and winners last year.  He also showed me a cartoon by Bert Wright, the former Evening Express cartoonist now living in New York depicting Mr. Roberts and I meeting.  All the team signed it for him.  I then took him on to the pitch and showed him the Bolton ground and Mr. Carey fixed him up with tickets for himself and his party.  He told me he is hoping to see us play Chelsea next week so maybe I’ll meet him again.  What must have been a very happy day for him ended in the right way with our winning and I must say it made a pleasant change to score the deciding goal near the end of a hard fight instead of fighting and losing by a late goal as so often happened last season.  I’m afraid yours truly gave a penalty away when I handled the ball as Doug Holden looked like hitting it past Albert Dunlop, but Albert saved my embarrassment with as brilliant a penalty save as I have ever seen.  The feeling at Goodison is that Albert is playing as well, as he has ever done this season, and anybody who saw the penalty save will drearily not argue. 
NOT PLEASED
Mickey Lill hit a long ball to Bobby Collins for the winner and was obviously quite pleased about the way he had placed the pass, but some of the newspaper reports gave the impression that it was a hit-and-miss clearance.  This didn’t please poor Mickey at all and he went out of his way to tell us he really meant it to go where it did.  That’s Mickey’s story anyway, and he’s sticking to it.  The rest of us don’t really mind as long as it led to the winner.  Jimmy Gabriel got permission to go home to Scotland for a few days and left on Saturday night.  But he didn’t mean to have a complete break from football. 
SEEKING ADVICE
Despite the fact that he has been playing so well this season before he left he told me, Alex my passes forward have not been as good as they could be, so when I go home to Dundee I’m going to see Doug Cowie.  He was my boyhood hero and taught me a lot when I played in Scotland with him.  In my opinion he is as good a passer of the ball as any wing half in the business, so I’ll nip round to have a talk with him and see what he can do for me.”  So despite being the subject of a big transfer fee at 19 despite being tipped for a Scottish cap and despite his form so far, no one could accuse Jimmy of having a big head.  He realizes he doesn’t know all and has still a lot to learn.  Haven’t we all? 
FILM STAR LILL
Mention of Mickey Lill reminds me of the firm I saw the other day starring him and his wife.  Oh, yes Mickey has made a film.  It is a cine film of Mr and Mrs Lill heading a ball to each other at which hobby they spent quite a lot of time.  Their record number of times they have headed the ball without letting it touch the ground is twenty.  One more thing I have it on good authority that when the ball does drop to the ground it is always the same person who is to blame.  Yes, that’s right Mickey.  My source of information?  Obviously I can’t say but I must mention that Jimmy Gabriel lives in the same house.  Incidentally Mickey tells me that he was on the books of to-days visitors. West Ham, for three years as an amateur but they wouldn’t sign him as a professional because they said he was too small, I hope he’s been able to show them just what they missed this afternoon. 
WELL DONE, BRAIN
We were all very pleased to see that Brian Labone received good reports for his game with the Under-23’s on Wednesday and that more than one critic tipped him for a place in the full England side.  That honour did come his way I am sure he wouldn’t let them down.  While on the subject of honours we were all pleased to see Roy Vernon named for the Welsh team to play Ireland, although in view of the way he has been playing lately it was no surprise. 

SHEFF UTD RES V EVERTON RES
Saturday, September 24, 1960. The Liverpool Echo and Evening Express
Sheffield United Res;- Thompson; Ridge, Mason; Hoyland, Finnigan, Matthewson; Shields, Ash, Turley, Harris, Gould.  Everton Res;- Mailey; Parnell, Bramwell; Jarvis, Gorrie, Meagan; Temple, Tyrer, Wignall, Ashworth, Webber.  Referee; Mr. S.A Leeding (Whitehall, Staffordshire).  Sheffield United gained the first corner on the right, after two minutes.  It resulted in two lucky escapes for the Everton goal before Wignall was caught offside in the first Everton raid.  Sheffield left back Mason was prominent in defence and after breaking up a visiting raid with the help of Hartle he took the ball right up field and the move gained a second corner.  The corner was cleared before Matthewson brought Mailey to his knees with a fierce shot.  Everton were continually on the defensive and first Turley and then visiting full back Parnell nearly put them in arrears.  Sheffield despite their superiority were waiting many good chances.  Finally it was left to Mason, carrying the ball upfield as before to open the score.  He was allowed to take the ball unmolested through the Everton defence and his 25 yards shot dropped into the net.  The Everton defence looked as if it might gave way under the pressure but they resisted sternly and two goals in 30 second s gave the side a surprise half-time lead.  Inside left Ashworth took advantage of a lucky bounce before beating Thompson then straight from the kick-off Temple gained possession, beat three men and put his side into a fortunate lead.  Half-time; Sheffield United Res 1, Everton Res 2. 

EVERTON BEST RUN SINCE PROMOTION
Monday, September 26, 1960. The Liverpool Daily Post
JIMMY HARRIS LAGS BEHIND IN SCORING LINE
Everton 4, West Ham United 1
By Horace Yates
For the fourth time in ten matches Everton scored four goals at Goodison Park on Saturday, and their victory over West Ham was their fifth in succession, a feat they last performed in their promotion season.  Attendances have shown an increase in all except one game, and consolidating their position as third team in the League, Everton appear destined for a season of high achievement.  The happy goal story is told by the forward line- Vernon 7, Lill 6, Collins 5, Ring 3, J. Harris 2, and the obvious sting is in the tail-J. Harris 2.   It is unusual in a goal worthy forward line to find the leader lagging behind in this fashion, and if the explanation lay in the fact that opportunity was by-passing the centre forward to the advantage of others, it might be less note-worthy, but the plain truth is that Harris has so far not found the secret of translating chances into goals, as the others have.  Everton are progressing because they have a quartet of scorers, but there is no guarantee that a nap hand will always prove unnecessary.  Harris should have made Everton’s total six or seven and he will never have a more clear cut invitation to score than that which he lost when sitting on the ground.  Brown kicked the ball off Harris’s toe only a yard or two out from the goal-line. 
RECEPTIVE EAR
Possibly Harris will outgrow this strangely unproductive period in his career and the finest answer to his critics would obviously be goals and more goals but if in the absence of such testimony Everton cannot avoid cocking a receptive ear to any of the reports concerning the supposedly unsettled stale of Joe Baker, Brian Clough or other proved centre forwards, it can hardly be surprising.  This Everton team deserves an able leader.  The ball is at Harris’s feet.  What he does with it is a matter of urgent concern for himself-and the team.  West Ham brought with them the much published 4-2-4 combination and they took it back with them, I have little doubt with no question of infringement of their copy-right so far as Everton are concerned.  Whether because of their formation or in spite of it, they certainly produced some admiration football in the first half so much so that even the Collins-Vernon inspired sparkle of Everton was temporarily dimmed but apart from a well taken header by eighteen years-old debutant Beesley in ten minutes, which equalised Lill’s fifth minute goals, there was more promise than fulfilment about their work.  Either West Ham must perfect this system or scrap it and unless they can perfect it quickly their tally of defeats will grow.  Although there were times when there seemed more people crowding around the penalty area than children at a school treat it was not always so.  Many of their defenders had an admirable view of the movement by Ring and Collins, which swept a pass of telling accuracy to the feet of Vernon after sixty-six minutes, but they were helpless to intervene. 
WRONG MAN
Vernon is the wrong man from an opposition point of view to leave in the wide open spaces, with a clear view of goal, and he hit a shot to which Shearing moved without hope of connecting for goal N0 3.  Ring had taken the second in the first half by having the commendable good sense to loft the ball over the advancing goalkeeper’s head.  Shearing touched the ball but could not take off sufficient pace to halt its progress to the line.  This was outstandingly Ring’s best contribution of the half but fortunately he rescued his display from near mediocrity by a greatly improved showing after the interval.  Quarter of an hour from the end he rounded Bond with all the assurance and control of an expert and then directed a pass to where Vernon was again in exposed isolation.  Vernon made himself the club’s top scorer with a shot as lethal as it appeared casual and in a fantastic finale was deprived of a third.  A shot by Collins was beaten out by the goalkeeper and when Vernon’s shot was kicked off the line by a back.  Vernon hit it again without finding an unguarded spot in a crowded goalmouth.  There can be few finer sights in football than that of Collins with the ball.  He is a
Born footballer in a person who attempt so much how remarkable it is that so little goes contrary to plan.  His pinpointing of passes is a matter for constant wonderment and his reading of the game to switch play where prospects of progress are greatest is a thrilling advertisement of his greatness.  For long enough it has been obvious that here is the human dynamo that puts movement and life into Everton. 
TWIN THRUST
The advent of Vernon has provided another power-house, charged with remarkable drive and the two working in series have established an understanding and effectiveness that guarantee an uneasy afternoon for the most composed defence.  This twin thrust adequately supported as Everton’s key to coming greatness.  The pairing of Collins and Vernon has proved a master stroke an outstanding illustration that the power of the cheque book, wisely used, can still be pretty formidable.  Add to that the coming of Gabriel, destined to be one of the finest wing halves in the game, whose progress is as exciting as it is obvious, and the foundation for Everton’s new restless energy becomes apparent.  One often has to look to the failure of opponents to realise the greatness of Labone.  Not the flashy type, his soundness is most reassuring and his cool and deliberate exploitation of situations to his side’s advantage is the hallmark of class.  Tom Jones was greatly improved on his Bolton display and after an uneasy start Parker regained his touch.  Dunlop seldom causes anxiety and this was not one of those rare occasions.  A nasty clash of heads between Gabriel and Beesley fortunately caused less damage than might have been the case.  A cut on top of Gabriel’s head required no stitching while only one was required for a spilt over Beesley’s eye.  I liked young Woodley, a speedy raider with aggressive design and Woosnam, clever though he may be, could only agree with the wisdom of the Welsh selectors in making him play second fiddle to Vernon.  Everton; Dunlop; Parker, Jones; Gabriel, Labone, B. Harris; Lill, Collins, J. Harris, Vernon, Ring.  West Ham, United;- Shearer; Bond, Cantwell; Malcolm, Brown, Moore, Woodley, Dunmore, Beesley, Musgrove.  Referee; Mr. H. Horner (Coventry).  Attendance 46,291. 

WHAT PRICE EVERTON SETTING UP A RECORD?
Monday, September 26, 1960. The Liverpool Echo and Evening Express
By Leslie Edwards
Tottenham’s ten out of ten keeps them top of the class, but Everton’s five out of five registers just as heavily with us and if they can make it six at Chelsea on Saturday we shall be wondering whether they too are on the way to a record run of consecutive victories.  This latest against West Ham’s 4-2-4 formation dancers was not only deserved but was fit to rank with that other memorable home win against Wolves.  Yet I make one important reservation, Everton will not always get away winners after missing so many chances, notably in the central position of their line.  The intensity of soccer today is such that you cannot win cups or leagues unless you punish the other side when you have carved your opening.  If Everton had scored eight, not four they would only have been reaping the reward for their fine approach play.  It was a match of many brilliant phases and individual contributions, despite the way.  West Ham’s formation cluttered the centre of the field. A lot of people came away convinced that Everton have, in Collins and Vernon two of the finest inside forwards in the game.  These men, of contrasting builds and style, fit smugly into the general pattern of attack and implement their manager’s desire to give the customers entertainment and if possible success also.  Some of their far-flung passes were judged to the last inch and Ring and Lill would indeed be poor players if they made nothing of such a wonderful source of supply.
DISCARDED AS TOO SMALL
What a joyous goal was Lill’s –from Collin’s pass.  The former Wolves boy had three seasons as an amateur with West Ham and was then discarded as too small.  The criterion in football, as in most other things is that if they’re good enough they’re big enough.  Otherwise how would little Collins and more-too-sizeable Vernon figure anywhere in top-class football?  Ring’s goal was the result on-one, but those cheeky unexpected shots of his that embarrass all goalkeepers add defeat many of them.  Shearing caught some yards out of goal was deceived by the flight; palmed the ball upwards but sufficiently marked to stop it dropping behind him over the line.  It took two more –both from waspish Vernon-to clinch the game at 4-1 after West Ham had threatened more than once in the early part of the second half to level, the score at 2-2.  Both were from cracking shots.  Collins “made” one and Ring the other.  By this time Everton had discovered a way through defence in depth, and Jimmy Harris’s reflexes had been quicker Everton’s bag would have been doubled.  Like Lill, young Beezley had cause to remember his goal.  It marked his First Division debut and was some compensation for the crack he was to endure with Gabriel close on the interval when two heads for once were proved to be not better than one.  Beezley went down stunned; Gabriel careered on, blood pouring from a cut on his head, to complete his run and all but het what would have ranked as the season’s most gallant goal.  Both came back after the interval and if Gabriel was handicapped by the blow he showed no sign of it; indeed his drive and desire to link up as a member of the attack made his second half work even better than I had been in the first.
THEY KNOW THEY CAN...
Not having seen Everton since the Wolves match, I could not help noting the improved confidence of the side.  They are fighting for the ball; they look like a side which not only hopes to win, but gives the impression that they knew they can.  Collins ad Ring and Vernon with their touches of genius give the line standing it has not possessed for seasons.  The crowd who know good stuff when they see it warm to such play and it did not surprise me that the players were given the ovation they deserved.  One must not forget either the difficult job of Dunlop.  He had long spells of inaction; yet when Dunmore hit a cannon-ball shot unexpectedly the goalkeeper not only saved, but held the ball over-head like a slip fieldsman.  The sustaining Parker, some of whose late sliding tackles had the crowd gasping and the winger looking apprehensive was excellent and now Tom Jones has learned the art and the effectiveness of the short pass well and truly laid (as against the big clearance into no man’s land) his worth is immediately more valuable.  Labone had some unrelenting tussles with Dunmore –one of which at least got more than a little peppery- but it was hard, clean stuff for the most part and now he has an under-23 honour under his belt.  Labone plays so neatly and with so much more aplomb he must, if he continues to develop, occupy the Billy Wright spot before he reaches man’s estate.  West Ham’s young Woodley on the right was worth a goal for his electrifying and 9to the Everton defence) mystifying run which left pursuers standing. The London side had some neat moves and were big and strong in defence, but their new tactical gambit did nothing for them and Everton’s four goals and many near misses suggest that the experiment may be dropped. 
One would have liked (indeed one expected) to see the match on film on Saturday night.  The film was shot; the commentary spoken and thousands must have waited, like me, till nearly midnight in the sure knowledge that all the effort would not go wasted.  But, no.  Segura and Rosewall held court and that was that.  A pity, but if Everton continue to entertain us with such victories a second look at them on television will become only a matter of secondary importance. 

FLOODLIT CUP TICKET PLANS
Monday, September 26, 1960. The Liverpool Echo and Evening Express
EVERTON PLAY AT ANFIELD
By Leslie Edwards
Liverpool announce that stand tickets are available at 6s for the first leg of the Floodlit Cup match against, Everton at Anfield on Wednesday, October 5. 
Everton manager John Carey went to Dublin today to take charge of the Republic of Ireland side against Wales in a friendly match on Wednesday.  One of the great dangers to the Irish defence will be Everton forward, Roy Vernon who had such a brilliant game against West Ham on Saturday.  The Irish team are looking on this game as a pipe opener for their World Cup matches. 
HONOUR FOR DUNLOP
Albert Dunlop Everton’s goalkeeper, gets his first ever representative honour by being chosen in a strong F.A team to play the R.A.F at Old Traffic on October 5 the day Everton face Liverpool at Anfield in the annual Floodlit Cup competition. 

WHEN EVERTON LAST WON FIVE IN A ROW
Tuesday, September 27, 1960. The Liverpool Echo and Evening Express
By Leslie Edwards
Way back in 1921-22 season I used to wait eagerly week by week for the Football Echo, which would say whether or not Burnley, then the greatest First Division club in the land had been beaten at last.  They went without defeat from September 6 to March 25-a record of thirty games, which still stands-and the names of forwards Cross and Weaver, both with Merseyside associations, kept recurring on the scoring register.  Tottenham’s ten out of ten start this season, and Everton’s consecutive run of five victories make further research on the subject of long unbeaten runs worthwhile though I confess that not being very statistically-minded, I don’t often dig into the record books.  The last time Everton won five in a row was in 1953-54 the season of their last promotion to the First Division.  The sequence started in February with a 6-2 win over Derby County (who are at Anfield on Saturday) and continue 6-1 v Brentford, 8-4 against Plymouth Argyle, 2-0 against Swansea and 3-0 against Rotherham.  In 1938-39 the club started their championship season with six consecutive wins, losing at Huddersfield and then beating Liverpool and Wolves to complete eight victories in the first nine engagements. 
Mr. Ian Buchan’s Day
The statistics will surprise followers of the club most of those concerning the start of the season 1957-58 when the team was managed by Ian Buchan, Everton remained unbeaten for 10 matches, the sequence being W.D.W.W.W. W.D.W.D.D and then stood at the top of the table.  Within a few days their floodlighting system was inaugurated and from that moment the team dived further and further into trouble?  They lost their last six matches that season. 

EVERTON HAVE MADE THEIR POINT
Tuesday, September 27, 1960. The Liverpool Echo and Evening Express
LEAGUE CALL TV MEETING
AT LYTHAM H.Q
By Leslie Edwards
The Football League Managements Committee have called of their own volition  an Extraordinary General meeting of clubs to discuss the television of League matches and amendment’s to the rules affecting players conditions of service payments to referees and of premiums to the Football League Pension Scheme.  It will take place at the League’s new head-quarters at Lytham St Annes on Tuesday November 8.  Everton’s reaction to this decision-it will be recalled that they demanded an Extraordinary General Meeting following announcement that the League had come to agreement with I.T.A over the television of selected League matches –was given by their Chairman Mr. John Moore.  He told me “This is a good thing.  Now we shall all be able to get down to it and arrive at a satisfactory solution.  We want to go along with the general majority of clubs.  We are satisfied that we have made our point that what was done originally was not constitutional.”   The League Secretary, Mr. Alan Hardaker has circularised clubs notifying them that the Management Committee will be submitting further information to them on the questions of televised matches so is to help them to make a decision at the November meeting. 

INTERNATIONAL CALLS CAN DELAY GOODISON GAME
Wednesday, September 28, 1960. The Liverpool Daily Post
By Horace Yates
October 22.  Note the date!  In the ordinary run of events Manchester City will be providing very attractive opposition to Everton at Goodison Park on that day-but don’t be too sure, for the game clashes with the Wales v Scotland international match.  If the selectors pay the sort of tribute to current form that we expect the call on Everton and Manchester City players will be so great that there will simply be no alternative to asking for a new date.  It is not stretching wishful thinking too far to forsee the name of Roy Vernon in the Welsh side.  The progress made by Jimmy Gabriel this season has long since spread far beyond Merseyside confines and he must be very seriously considered for a Scottish cap.  The Scottish selectors and Everton supporters have not thought along the same lines in regard to Bobby Collins for quite a time now, but surely the consistently brilliant displays of this Scot cannot be ignored any longer.  Collins has never played more cleverly or more decisively than he is doing just now and no matter how strong the competition and from whatever source, this gifted player cannot lightly be disregarded.  A third Everton Scot who could be called up is Alex Parker, one of the classiest full backs in football.  That is not the end of the story, for in the Manchester City ranks there is Denis Law, and the man who is steering City to a much better season than any of their supporters dared to hope at the back end of last season has undeniable claims. 
POSSIBILITIES KNOWN
The clubs, of course cannot consider the position until the teams are named.  It is pointless to meet difficulties before they arise but be sure that manager John Carey is fully alive to possibilities.  Similarly Cardiff City and Tottenham who clash at White Hart lane may be too greatly involved internationally to enable either team to do itself justice without its star performance.  Tottenham Hotspur have put back their match with Manchester City from Saturday, October 8 to Monday, October 10 (7-30) because they have Bobby smith and Danny Blanchflower wanted for the international match in Belfast.  This means that Blanchflower who also represents the Football League against the Irish League in Blackpool on October 12 will play three matches in five days. 

EXILED EVERTONIANS ARE THRILLED BY THE NEW ERA
Wednesday, September 28, 1960. The Liverpool Echo and Evening Express
By Leslie Edwards
Everton fans all over the world are rejoicing at the club’s re-emergence as a power in the game.  It is surprising how such people as Mr. Reg Smathers, of Cunard, keep abreast the football times though their visits to British from Montreal are infrequent.  Another exiled Everton follower, Mr. Noman Heppell, who has been visiting the city of his birth, tells me his opinion that with strengthening in a few positions the Carey side would be almost unbeatable.  And he’s been following the club since schooldays at Anfield Road, where his master, Mr. W.P. Thomas, said to his parents; “Don’t take him with you to America.  Leave him here.  He has a future in football.”  But the boy went and had to make do with what football he could find the United States.  Here he played with Sam Chedgzoy and with that other famous old professional, Jack Marshall, of Middlesbrough.  Mr. Heppell worked in the picture industry now he’s running dog kennels.  He was due to have seen Everton many times within the next month or two but yesterday he received a cable saying his wife had been badly injured in a car crash.  So he cancelled his boat tickets and flew home straight away and will be in Philadelphia by the time this is read.  His parting shot.  “I’ll be back in a few months, with the rest of my family and in time to catch Everton at Wembley.” 
For such dyed-in the blue wool fans of the club the Youth Cup match at Goodison Park on Monday (7 o’clock) against Burnley is one not to be missed.  The Everton team will be that which beat Tranmere so handsomely in a preliminary round.  Here it is with the source of supply in brackets.  Mailey (Scotland); Parnell (Birkenhead), Gannon (Liverpool); Jarvis (Wrexham), Gorrie (Liverpool), Sharples (Ellesmere Port), Chester (Horwich), Tyrer (Liverpool), Webber (Cardiff), Morton (Liverpool) and Edwards (Rhyl).  I suggest that many will want to see what Messrs John Carey and Leslie Shannon have on ice for the future. 

EIRE 2 WALES 3
Thursday, September 29, 1960. The Liverpool Daily Post
Notes only. 
Roy Vernon played against Eire at Dalymount Park Dublin.  He did not score. 

WEST HAM UNITED’S 4-2-4 PLAN IS DOOMED
Friday, September 30, 1960. The Liverpool Daily Post
MUD AND SLUSH HERE ARE ALL AGAINST IT-SAYS ROY VERNON
The thrill of being chosen for an international game never grows less ands although some players cannot resist the temptation of feeling that the Home countries do not treat this class of game with the seriousness and importance which it merits, there is no doubt that we do get a kick out of representing our country.  Contrast the position of the Welsh team for Wednesday’s match with that applying to a Continental side for a similar sort of engagement.  Our players flew to Ireland on Monday.  We practised together on Tuesday and we played our match on Wednesday.  Had this been a Continental team fixture the players would have been living together for a week or more.  In this country however, emphasis is placed more on Club football than international games.  It is only on rare occasions when our teams come unstuck against foreign foes that we begin to wonder if these games and the preparation for them, are taken seriously enough.  Time is not so fleeting however, that we cannot chat with each other discuss our problems plans and exchange views generally with players whom we only see in opposition at other times.  As an example there was my meeting with Phil Woosnam a lad who as a member of the West Ham United team, played against Everton last Saturday.  Now West Ham at the moment are a newsworthy side because they have the courage to go ahead with a 4-2-4 plan so common on the Continent, but so rarely employed over here.  In view of the difficulties which have beat West Ham since may introduced this line-up, I was very interested to be able to discuss with Woosnam, how the guinea-pigs in the London side regarded the experiment.  After six successive away defeats and the prospects of building up a run such as we once knew at Everton the thought had crossed my mind that the Hammers might well be losing some enthusiasm, some faith in the scheme. 
TAKEN TO HEART
Phil convinced me that such is not the case.  They have taken the formation to heart, they believe in it, and are convinced that it will work.  I gather there is no intention to abandon it.  At the moment it is costing them points, but the enthusiasm is infectious.  They really believe that when once they have mastered it, opposing clubs will start to sit up and take notice.  I hope he is right for there is nothing I would rather see than a little bit of courage in departing from routine.  English football could well do with a stimulant such as this and if the idea does happen to catch on, imagine the start West Ham will have for having blazed the trail.  I pointed out to Phil that although we like to regard the season as being in its early stages, actually it is quite advanced and we have already rubbed off nearly a quarter of our fixtures.  If it were me I should like to see the plan paying dividends by now.  There is precious little consolation in proving they were right by showing just how effective it can be against Second Division opponents.  Apparently West Ham have developed the idea of holding an inquest after every game, spotlighting every mistake every loophole and trying to discover such slips can be overcome for the future.  When all these point-escape routes have been sealed then presumably they begin to cash in.  West Ham insist that the 4-2-4 plan will provide defence in depth and will make their defence more difficult to penetrate.  When I pointed out to Phil that I had never enjoyed such wide open spaces in my little as I had last Saturday he agreed.  They admit their masterly is not complete and no doubt this important failing was under review this week.  If you have thought about the subject you might have jumped ahead to the point- what happens in case of injury?  Will the whole scheme be torpedoed by the unfamiliarity of newcomers to the team?  They have already taken care of that for the formation is adopted not only in the senior side but throughout the club’s organisation, so that if one lad steps up he known’s precisely what is expected of him.  That is thoroughness if you like and a demonstration of complete faith in ultimate success.  At the same time I cannot help thinking that the rest of the clubs play the way they do because that is the style on which they have been brought up.  It is the system which has stood the test of time and proved adequate for the English climate, which is not an unimportant consideration. 
Close Passing Game
In a country in which we have so much wet weather and some ice and snow to contend with I personally cannot see a lot of future for a plan which is founded on the close-passing game.  As conditions are, and as they are generally on the Continent ball control is not difficult but in the mud and slush it is a different proposition and without being a wet blanket, I have a feeling that the West Ham experiment courageous in the extreme, is doomed to failure.  You see this game has become natural to the Continentals and it would be surprising if they could not adapt themselves to emergencies as they arise.  Not so with English sides and competition in Division 1, and in the rest of the Football League for that matter is so keen that any side which is not complete master of the tactics it employs must be at a serious disadvantage.  Having seen the plan in action at close quarters I shall follow its tale with increased interest and if West Ham are still playing it in Division 1 next season they will be on firmer ground in their arguments with the uninitiated.  My article on gamesmanship produced a record crop of letters.  It is impossible to acknowledge them all, although I thank my correspondents for the time and trouble they took.  I read them all with great interest and would have liked to have given them for publication but space considerations prevent this.  I shall content myself therefore with giving just one letter from Kenneth Ferguson (Liverpool 17). 
He writes “You stated you had never known a referee ask a player if he had or had not done something.  It must indeed be rare, but you might be interested to hear that I once saw it done in an F.A. Cup semi-final at Anfield in 1912, the teams being Blackburn Rovers and West Bromwich Albion. 
Mr. J.T Howcroft of Bolton was in charge and in the last minute of a goalless game the bar went over the Albion bar into the Kop.  “The Rovers claimed a corner kick and the referee obviously in doubt had a word with Jessie Pennington, Albion’s left back and skipper, Pennington without hesitation indicated that the ball had been diverted by his head over the bar.  “It needed no little courage but the referee knew his man Pennington’s honesty was rewarded by the Rovers failing to score from the corner and by the Albion winning the re-play I am sure that Alex Parker would have acted like-wise in the Manchester United game if the referee had questioned him over the handling incident. 
I agree with you, however, that in the excitement of the moment Parker cannot always realise or know what they are doing and therefore save in exceptional circumstances, I do not think it is wise or fair for a referee to saddie players with the responsibility of making vital decisions. 

EVERTON HAT-TRICK
Friday, September 30, 1960. The Liverpool Daily Post
By Horace Yates
Everton case a hat-trick tomorrow-their third successive win away from home.  What a pleasant change from the gloom and uncertainty of last season.  Victory would also convert their run of successes to six, the sort of form on which great expectations would appear to be well founded.  This will be Everton’s second trip to London this season.  They started at Tottenham on the opening day with a 2-0 defeat but in the light of subsequent-events and remember one of the goals was scored in the closing minutes that reverse was not nearly so upsetting as we might have supposed for Tottenham still boast a 100 per cent record.  Everton; Dunlop; Parker, Jones; Gabriel, Labone, B. Harris; Lill, Collins, J. Harris, Vernon, Ring. 

“LET’S HAVE ‘EM NOW”
Friday, September 30, 1960. The Liverpool Echo and Evening Express
By Leslie Edwards
Though Everton have done so well, some of the fans still consider they need one or two places buttressing E.H. Williamson makes this point when saying that the club have two or the finest inside forwards in British football today.  “Now Mr. Moores and Mr. Carey” he commands “don’t let us have to wait for tomorrow for these moves.  You have supporters who are entitled to first-class football now.  Someone once talked of Everton being the Arsenal of the North.  My view is that we should be the EVERTON of the North.”   The trip tomorrow to Chelsea recalls one of the stormiest matches I ever saw-two seasons ago.  Last year’s game at Stamford Bridge started as though the serial was to be continued, but fortunately the tendency did not develop.  Last season at Goodison, Chelsea with newcomers lost handsomely and though Stamford Bridge is something of a bogey ground for them I expect Everton to win again or at least get a point.  The confidence of their successive away wins plus the command they have held at home against good sides should weigh heavily in their favour.  Vernon suffered a very minor toe injury in Dublin on Wednesday but he is now perfectly fit and the side is of course, unchanged with mascot John moores frightened not to make the trip lest the unbeaten spell be broken!  Everton; Dunlop; Parker, Jones; Gabriel, Labone, Harris (B); Lill, Collins, Harris (J), Vernon, Ring.  Chelsea;- Matthews; Sillett (J), Phillips (P); Venables, Evans, Anderton; Brabrook, Greaves, Livesay, Brooks, Blunstone.