ROY VERNON
Liverpool Daily Post- February 1 163
EVERTON HAVE THAT WEMBLEY FEELING...
I know it is important to keep a sense of proportion and resist the temptation to allow ourselves to be carried away by our victory at Swindon on Tuesday, for after all, according to every rule in the book, a leading First Division side should always be able to beat a Third Division club.  It does not always work out that way, but at least there is a lifting of eyebrows whenever there is a turn-up.  More important than the score is the knowledge that Everton really are playing well and quite naturally this has built up an impressive feeling of confidence that could be converted into glittering reality, I mean, of course a run through to the final.  No team, ever gets there without a little bit of luck one way and another and if we can have that-not necessarily a home draw in the fifth and sixth rounds, although that would help –the feeling is growing that we can do the rest.  I am not really superstitious, although I would never go out of my way to walk under a couple of ladders on the way to the ground, but when we are kicking in before a match I like to see the shots going home.  I know there are those who will say it does not matter what happened during the kick-in so long as they get home after the referee has started play, but all the same I like to see the ball hitting the back of the net. 
ENTHUSIASTIC SUPPORTERS
Before the Swindon tie Gordon West must have been tired of picking them out and, as it happened we carried on where we left off.  We hear some remarkable stories of our remarkable supporters, but the tale will never be completely told.  There is always something new.  For example after the Swindon match we gave a lift in our coach to Oxford to a number of Evertonians.  Some of them, I understand were flat broke and when we asked how they intended getting home they said they were hitch0hiking.  What is more, they had come to Swindon trying to find some casual labour to raise their fare, but apparently jobs are no easier to come by down there than they are on Merseyside.  I hope they are back in time for the next-round.  As big an enthusiast in the Everton cause is our coach driver Ernie.  He was tickled to death at the start of the season when he found himself official driver to the team.  He gets a tremendous kick from taking us to our games and when it was decided that the team should make the Swindon journey by train he must have been a very disappointed man, but undaunted he made arrangements to have Tuesday off from his work to travel by train to the game.  On Monday he was busy greasing his coach and doing odd spots of maintenance when h was told to dash off home to get ready to take Everton.  Naturally, he thought this was a leg pull but once he realised that the instruction was in earnest he needed no further bidding for at the last minute our arrangements had been altered. EARNED OUR THANKS
Ernie earned our thanks before the trip was completed for in my view it was his expert driving which kept us out of trouble when a huge lorry approaching us damaged the side of a cattle truck in front and but for Ernie’s prompt action might have struck us as well.  He reckons if he merited any reward he got it with those five goals.  To return to the match, or rather the ground! It was in such a condition that I don’t believe any of us would have cried our eyes out if the referee had declared it unfit for play, for down one side, under a liberal covering of sand, it was rock hard and icy, while in other parts it almost felt as though the boots would sink to the ankles.  However, we got on with it and by half time were four up.  As play preceded the sand covering was removed from some of the icy patches and our worry then was that the referee might stop the game.  The worry was baseless and all’s well that ends well for there were no real injuries on either side.  “I’m the mascot for Wembley,” said Tony Kay after the game, his first for us, and he could be right.  He has not yet been on the losing side in Everton’s blue! Let’s hope it is a long time before he has no bonus to collect! 

LIVERPOOL COULD HAVE A ‘DERBY’ HANDICAP
The Liverpool Echo & Evening Express- Friday, February 1, 1963
By Leslie Edwards
Everton waiting for the thaw expects that when the snow and ice has disappeared pitches will immediately become ready for play.  This is far from being likely.  If the thaw is a quick one many of them may not be fit for a week or more.  Liverpool due to replay their tie against Burnley at Anfield on Monday must be fearing a further postponement.  It would be hard luck of them if it were ruled that the game should take place next Wednesday, only three days before the momentous “Derby” at Anfield against Everton.  That the meeting of neighbours and rivals should mark the return to full-scare soccer would be fitting.  It is to be hoped Liverpool will have the good fortune to have Anfield in playable order for the Cup game on Monday. 
“This is the first time I have written to a newspaper after 63 years supporting Everton, I am not a turncoat, but I doubt whether Everton will win the League, but I am certain Liverpool will win the Cup and I have very long odds on them and Leicester-J.E. Russell, £ Windsor Rod, Liverpool 13. 
COLLECTION AT ANFIELD
At the Liverpool-Everton match at Anfield next week the directors of Liverpool F.C have agreed to give the Merseyside and Wirral Association of Leagues of Hospitals Friends the facility if taking a collection at the ground. This collection will be in aid of the work of League of Friends who are very active in hospitals on Merseyside and will be used for the provision of amenities and comforts for the patients. 
“The Walton Hospital League of Friends under the active direction of Mr. Worthington were instrumental in starting the commentaries which are relayed to patients in hospital for which the Merseyside Hospitals’ Council foot the bill.  This is just one of the many activities which the Leagues of Friends are carrying out for the benefit of patients.  “We hope to have a good band of collector available and last years we collected on a similar occasion just under £100.  We are hoping this year to have a good increase on this sums;-Ralph G. Whitehead, Hon. Secretary. 
“I think it is high time the F,A did something about the distribution of Cup Final tickets.  I have been an Everton supporter for the past 20 years, during which Everton have not been at Wembley.  Should they do so this season, I suppose I would not get a ticket because the club would only receive some 15,000.  My argument is this; If Everton were to meet somebody like Blackpool at Wembley.  Everton average gate is about 45,000 Blackpool’s is 15,000 so why should Blackpool receive the same number of tickets as Everton.  I think the ticket should be distributed by the two clubs having an allocation according to their average home gate-Everton 45,000 and Blackpool 15,000.  A.E. Lawson, 25 Wilburn Street, Liverpool 4. 
EVERTON OFF TO LLANDUDNO
Everton first team players are to have a few day’s break at Llandudno this week-end.  They will leave tomorrow after the Bolton game if it is on or after morning training if the game is postponed.  They will stay until Tuesday at the same hotel where they had their first visit two months ago.    The club reel it will be a toning- up period for the players after the problem of training and playing in the freeze-up before their big match against Liverpool at Anfield a week tomorrow. 

EVERTONGAME CALLED OFF
Liverpool Echo & Evening Express – Friday, February 1, 1963
TWO-INCH ICE BELT
By Leslie Edwards
Tomorrow for the sixth Saturday in succession there will be no Football League game on Merseyside.  Referee Arthur Edge, of Liverpool called off the Everton v. Bolton fixture shortly before mid-day and later crossed to Prenton Park, where he found the pitch unplayable for Tranmere’ match with Darlington.  Show has been removed from the Goodison pitch, but there was a two-inch belt of ice below and Mr. Edge soon gave his official verdict “Completely unplayable.”  The last League game in the city was on December 22 when Liverpool bat Blackburn Rovers.  Never in the history of the two clubs has there been such a complete hold-up.  For Bolton the postponement tomorrow is just one more unplayed game in a series dating back to December 8.

TWO NEW BOYS TO THE ‘DERBY GAMES
Liverpool Echo and Evening Express, Saturday, February 2, 1963
MERSEYSIDE BEACHES HELPED TO PREPARE FOR CUP
By Alex Young
......All the Everton players appreciate just how much benefit the ball practice we have been having lately on the beaches at Formby and Harrison Drive is going to be as the season progress, but I doubt if anyone anticipated these seasons were going to prove so beneficial in our F.A Cup tie at Swindon on Tuesday evening.  The pitch had been thoroughly sanded, but with so much ball practice on sand lately, it represented few problems to us, then we were able to look around and observer that the Swindon stand is very much like a smaller copy of the double-decker one at Goodison Park, and began to feel really at home.  Swindon are a good footballing side, slightly better than Barnsley but I think that the better team won and at the match was a most interesting one, I don’t think the spectators will complain.  When we ran into the pitch, the Swindon supporters were chanting “We want six.” Well, they got them-but not, I’m sure in the way they intended. 
THROUGH NET
One or two Swindon players and some spectators thought that seven goals were scored, the “missing” one coming during the second half from a left wing corner which went direct into our goal.  The explanation was that the side netting had become loose and that the ball passed behind the upright, and Alex Parker standing alongside it, and into the back of the goal.  Fortunately the referee was right on the spot, and had a clear view of what happened.  Swindon’s ground staff did a great, job getting the pitch into playable conditions and I think the club can be justly proud-of their floodlighting their players deserve a pat on the back for playing football throughout and like Barnsley accepting defeat in the most sporting manner.  After weeks of waiting Tony Kay was able to play his first game in Everton’s colours, but I know that Tony has not let this wait unsettle him.  He had a fine game at Swindon and impressed us all with the speedy way in which he was able to fit himself into the Goodison style of play. 
GABRIEL GEM
This match, like all Everton’s best efforts this season, we an all-round team triumph but I hope I can be forgiven for picking out Tony and his fellow wing half Jimmy Gabriel, for special mention.  Jimmy’s goal was the type lovers of football always like to see with the build up starting in the Everton half and the ball travelling forward by a series of accurate passes and finishing up in the Swindon net without an opponent touching it.  The Everton fans who made the journey to Swindon also deserve a word of praise particularly the group met after the match who told me that they were out of work and hitch-hiked all the way.  On Monday and Tuesday evening we stayed at an hotel in Oxford and as many of the Everton players, myself among them has not visited the city before, much of our spare time was spent slight-seeing.  Now as you know we are off to Llandudno as further part of the preparation for the battles to come this season.  But just in case Liverpool should feel we are doing this because they have us all little worried, let me remind them that the Saturday following our last Llandudno visit we played Burnley- and beat them.  With our fourth round tie won attention how turns to the draw for the fifth round and also the “derby” clash- at Anfield next Saturday.  Being the first club in the country to reach the fifth round has its advantages for it is possible that while others are busy winning their fourth (and perhaps third) round matches we shall be able to sit back and quietly observe their strong points and weaknesses. 
“DERBY” GAME
The strength of next Saturday’s opponents Liverpool we already know and undefeated League run and Cup performance at Burnley mean that everyone must treat them with greatest respect.  Yes, no one can deny that Liverpool are playing well, but then so are Everton and I have a feeling that those two points both teams so badly want to win will be coming to Goodison Park.  Anyway this looks like being a great same, so let’s hope that it will be remembered for the quality of the football and not just for the fact that both left halves- Tony Kay of Everton, and Billy Stevenson, of Liverpool-make their “Derby” debut.  Writing from the My Tactician in British Honduras, Pete and Jeff (alias the Fantastic) tell me they were not able to get the result of our match against Barnsley over the radio because of bad reception so I hope they had better luck when turning in for Tuesday’s result from Swindon.  Pete and Jeff assure me that Everton’s name is known around Central America, even they claim to the extent that one can find “Viva Everton” painted on walls.  They’ve got photographs to prove this, and I would be most interested to see them.  Finally, may I thank reader Brian Keoghan for pointing out that Bobby Collins did in fact play in a Cup-tie against Sunderland.  It was in 1959 and Everton won 4-0. 

NOT SO COSTLY
The Liverpool Echo & Evening Express- Monday, February 4, 1963
With Leslie Edwards
The electric soil-warming system as used as Murrayfield was used with success on one occasion after it had been installed at Everton some four seasons ago, but due to pitch reconstruction for other reasons, the electric wires were taken out in order to free the ground from water and mud.  There was a time when one gained the impression that restoring the soil-warming system was the last thing Everton wanted to do; now, it seems, edict has gone forth that soil-warming is “in” again.  The club have all the heavy equipment.  Laying down the wires by mile-plough would not be tremendously costly.  The danger always exists of course, of the slight heat generated by soil-warming systems “panning” the soil and making it hard for water to drain through.  One of the snags Everton discovered when they tried to warm their pitch electrically was the groundsmen could fork only to a certain depth for fears of breaking the wiring.  In soccer and Rugby football it is often difficult to discern a captain once the game has started.  They don’t command their forces as they did in the old days.  But at Edinburgh, as at Cardiff a fortnight before, one was never in danger of missing that remarkable Welsh skipper D. C.T. Rowlands.  He looks a veteran, but this was in fact only his second appearance in Welsh colours.  His general ship (with a warning finger raised here and a word of command there) and his magnificent kicking, must have “made” the game for millions on television.  No wonder they chaired him off; no wonder Wales look to him as the finest captain, tactically, they have had for seasons. 
A ‘DERBY’ MEMORY
Tomorrow on this page, readers will find an enthralling story of the first League meeting between Everton and Liverpool in the early days after the “split” between them.  Meantime one cannot stifle memory of many famous –and some infamous-battles between the sides, in one at Anfield “Nobby” Clarke, a massive Liverpool inside-forward who was as dainty as he was huge made tracks with a comrade to sandwich the Everton wing half-back Hunter Hart, near the touchline.  And if Hunter had not been quick enough to anticipate (out of the corner of his one “good” eye) that this fate was waiting he would have been crushed as thin as the ham in any sandwich.  At the last moment when the converging pair were about to “nail” him he stopped short quickly and they collided sickeningly with each other.  Clarke needed trainer’s attention.  That injury finished his career and there were few more brilliant inside-forwards playing in those days.  In the early between war seasons these matches were battles rather than tests of football, but the foolishness of knocking chunks out of each other dawned eventually and when “Bee,” who used to write this column, persuaded the players to come out side by side a better atmosphere developed and we were privileged to see which could produce the better exhibition of football.  It could be so again and I hope it is on Saturday assuming the game is on.  Meantime there is nothing we can do have hope.  The weather has got everyone and everything beaten and the sooner we admit it the less frustrating will be the long wait for the cold spell to break. 
SPECTATING “JOYS”
Mr. J.S. Bache (171 Queens Drive, Liverpool) says;-I was very interested on your correspondence regarding support given to clubs throughout the country.  My friends and I are keen followers of the two clubs in the city and are staggered by the revelations of your correspondent.  We take it for granted that Liverpool and Everton are two of the best supported clubs in the country, but when faced with facts and figures we have no reason in this city to be complacent; indeed, rather does it bring home to all concerned that Liverpool is a distressed area when it comes to football support.  “I believe that both Anfield and Goodison are totally inadequate to cater for the future football of Liverpool and district.  Both are in build-up areas and neither can expand.  The sad truth is that when 876,000 people are offered a grand match they think of the discomfort they will have to suffer when they reach the ground.  Beings are sometimes packed k sardines.  If this happening to wild animals there would be a cry from the R.S.P.C.A.  On the way out it is no better, just a mad, scrambling mass of humanity and then the intolerable wait for transport home.  If the weather is wet one gets soaked to the skin either at the match or waiting for transport home.  The language and general behaviour at our two grounds must be about the worst in the country.  “Today the clubs who will prosper are those that make some effort to make it a little more comfortable for the spectator and who will make it possible for a lady to accompany a male supporter.  “Clubs like Everton and Liverpool have not been ploughing enough of the money they have been receiving back into the club for the benefit of their loyal supporters.  “The figures must prove to the men responsible for running our two clubs that considering they are catering for 876,000 potential supporters they get a very poor return compared with other districts.” 

“DERBY” HOPE
Liverpool Echo & Evening Express- Monday, February 4, 1963
By Leslie Edwards
Prospects for the great Liverpool v. Everton League match at Anfield depend largely on the weather.  If that match were off the Central league “Derby” at Goodison Park where a quad of 12-men were today busy chipping ice from the pitch might find an unusually large audience.  Everton have had the longest spell without football at Goodison Park in their long history.  The first team are not due to play at home again until February 23- more than two months since their last home fixture on December 15. 

EVERTON AND GLASGOW WINGER
Liverpool Echo & Evening Express- Monday, February 4, 1961
MANAGER’S STATEMENT
ALEX SCOTT
By Leslie Edwards
Everton manager Harry Catterick today revealed his position in relation to reports that Everton would be signing Glasgow Rangers and Scottish international right winger Alex Scott.  He said; “We were interested in Scott; we still are, but when last we spoke, with Rangers it was agreed that they would let us know immediately they put a price on his head.  We have not heard from them.  “We have never entered auctions for players and we don’t intend to start.  If Rangers named their fee, then we would have to consider it in relation to our needs and Scott’s ability.” 
LOST PLACE
Scott lost his place in the Rangers’ team to Willie Henderson and has played only two games (while Henderson was not available) in the senior team meanwhile.  About Bremner, the scot with Leeds United with whom Everton’s name has been linked, Mr. Catterick said “We don’t know anything about it.  We knew he’s a good player, and that he could possibly be for transfer but our interest does not go any further than that.” 

THE CORONER WAS GUEST AT FIRST ‘DERBY’
The Liverpool Echo & Evening Express- Tuesday, February 5, 1963
By Leslie Edwards
The more things change the more they are the same.  Every Frenchman (save the greatest Gaul of all! Agrees and having read this delve deep into the past by Mr. J. Dobie, of Rock Ferry.  I am sure readers will see similarity between this week and one nearly 70 years ago when the first match between Everton and Liverpool created enormous interest.  He says- today’s big game was the heading of an article in the Liverpool Daily Post on October 13, 1894.  It heralded the first of many titanic meetings between Liverpool and Everton, interest in the match was considerable and was increased by the memories of the famous “split” in the Everton club in Match, 1892.  The squabble over the rent for the Anfield Road ground had led to Messrs Mahon and Montgomery leading a move across the park to Goodison Road and to Messrs, Houlding and Barclay recruiting a new team to play at Anfield.  In 1963 the £250 per annual rent seems a trifle but it was the bone of contention that led to a civil war’ (an evolutionary stage?),  but every cloud has its silver lining for it led to the provision of first-class football in the city on every Saturday throughout the playing season.  The football correspondent of the “Post” at that time sensed the important of the occasion.  He wrote;-
  “To-day’s match naturally attracts much attention- outside as well as inside-local circles.  Both sides have done their utmost during the week to bring their men up to the pink of conditions.  The Liverpool players have been training for a fortnight past at Hightown while Everton have been content to take their breathers at Hoylake.  So far as form goes there is only one team in it, but the unexpected often happens and many people are looking for a surprise.  “What the Everton players have to guard against are the rushes and attempts which will be made to break up their superb combination. A goal or two obtained in this manner are not only hard to wipe out but also tend to demoralise the play of the better team.  On form people think that Everton should give the Liverpool men three goals to start with, and then win easily.  The match during the week has been in everybody’s mouth and a record crowd for the Everton ground is expected.  People who have never seen a League match before intend to be present and it is sincerely hoped that the game will allowed to proceed without any demonstrations of ill-feeling.  The “Football Echo “will come out with a portrait sketch of the two teams. 
HAD NOT WON A GAME
Special pre-match training at the seaside, the superb combination of the Everton team, the big game as the week’s main talking point, the exportations’ to good behaviour and the publication of the Football Echo souvenir edition...how little times change.  The playing fortunes of the clubs prior to this historic meeting were greatly contrasted, Liverpool, playing in their initial season in the First Division, had not won any of their eight games and were clearly in the danger zone- their four points were from drawn matches and gave them fourteenth position, next but one to the bottom.  Everton had won all seven games and had an impressive record of 27 goals for with only seven against.  Invitations to the game had been extended by the Everton directorate to the Lord Major of Liverpool (Alderman W.B. Bowring), the Major of Bootle, Judge Collier.  Mr. J.A. Willer, M.P, the two Registrars, the official Receiver, the Coroner, the collector of Her Majesty’s Customs and the Chairman of the Stock Exchange!  Many Justices of the Peace and Aldermen were also invited.  Clearly it was envisaged as a battle of royal.  Significantly their wives were not invited-football was obviously a man’s game in the nineties.  The teams (published in advance, but as always subject to alternation) were; - Everton; Cain; Parry, and Adams; Stewarts, Holt and Boyle.  Bell, Chadwick, Southworth, McInnes, and Latta.  Liverpool; McCann; Hannah and Mclean; McCartney, McCue, and Cameron; Kerr, Ross, McVean, Bradshaw, and H. McQueen. 

EVERTON AND SPURS ARE RIVALS FOR ALEX SCOTT’S SIGNATURE
Liverpool Echo & Evening Express- Wednesday, February 6, 1963
GOODISON MANAGER IN SCOTLAND TO-DAY
RANGERS WINGER
By Leslie Edwards
Everton are waging a battle in Scotland against their League rivals Tottenham, for the hand (and feet) of Rangers, Scottish international outside right, Alex Scott.  The fee required, I understand is in excess of £40,000.  Both clubs are interviewing the player today.  It depends on what terms they can offer whether he will join Everton’s Scottish contingent at Goodison Park or the Scots’ brigade at White Hart Lane.  When I spoke to Everton manager, Harry Catterick, on Monday about the possibility or Scott coming here, he said “We shall not enter an auction for him.  Rangers promised to let us know what price they would put on his head and we have heard nothing from them.” 
AUTHORITY TO ACT
Everton chairman, Mr. John Moores, asked about the prospects of Everton signing Scott who is 24 and stands 5ft 10ins, said;  “I m sorry, I cannot give you any information.  All I know us that Mr. Catterick is in Scotland and that he has our authority to act.”  Scott, interviewed at his anything –from –a-needle- to-an anchor shop to-day, said; Catterick here! I’m delighted, I’m out to show that the Scottish selectors and Tottenham or Everton that they are right and Glasgow Rangers wrong.” (Scott was out of all football, for some time after he lost his first team place and Scottish selectors could not consider him for they side).  He went on; “How can I go wrong?  Whichever decision I make is bound to be right.  I’d just as soon live in Liverpool as in London.  Everton and Spurs are the two greatest clubs on the other side of the border.”  If Liverpool’s brazier fail to get Anfield ready for the “Derby” and Everton chemical treatment succeeds at Goodison Park, permission will be sought to bring forward the League game against Bolton Wanderers, who haven’t had a game of any sort for more than two months.  The man in possession of the outside right position at Everton, Billy Bingham, a near veteran with more than 50 caps for Ireland, scored in his side’s win at Swindon and played well, but is felt in some quarters to be past his best.  Scott was signed by Rangers from West Lothian Junior team Bo’ness United in 1955.  In August that year he made his debut against Falkirk in a League game at Ibrox and caused a sensation by scoring a hat-trick in Rangers 4-1 win.  At that time he was only 17. 
FOURTH REQUEST
Realising that Henderson was in the first team to stay, Scott this season made no fewer than four transfer requests and Rangers decided to accede to the latest one made six weeks ago.  Oddly enough, although news of Rangers willingness to part with their international right winger was given wide publicity since the middle of December, there have been no concrete moves for the winger until last week-end when it was announced that Tottenham Hotspur manager, Bill Nicholson was expected to move in this week with an offer presumed at £40,000 for the Rangers star, presumably to take over from Terry Medwin.  Scott who is married has twin boys who were a year old last week-end.  He is longing to get back into action in the first team of an English club and if Everton are successful in signing him they will have made an outstanding capture.  Not only is Scott one of the fastest wingers in Scottish football he is a goal-maker rather than a goal-taker. 

EVERTON MAY SIGN SCOTT TODAY
Liverpool Daily Post- Thursday, February 7 1963
FAVORITES TO WIN THE £40,000 TUG-OF-WAR WITH TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
By Horace Yates
Alec Scott Glasgow Rangers international outside right, will be an Everton player today!  That is my confident fore cast following information received from Scotland last night of the progress of the tug –o-war for the player’s signature between Everton manager Harry Catterick and Tottenham Hotspur boss Bill Nicholson.  Both clubs have said their piece, offered their terms and painted their picture and as Scott is not one of those so dazzled by the lights of London that he cannot see beyond them, the outlook is set fair for Everton.  That Scott even ponders an Everton offer in competition with one from ‘Spurs is a sign of the time, an indication of how the Goodison Park club have shaken completely free of the situation existing only a few years ago, when players considered a move to a struggling Everton only a last resort.  It was Bobby Collins who really broke the barrier and then came Roy Vernon before the gateway to Goodison was completely blasted while open.  The occasional player, kike Brabrook still says “No” but generally speaking, the idea now is to jump on the Everton bandwagon, rather than stand aide ad watch it pass.  Mr. Catterick was snowed up on the train journey at Carstairs and fretted and fumed while the track was cleared, knowing that Mr. Nicholson would be in first.  He need not have worried, for Scott knew of the Everton manager journey, and he declined to give an answer to Tottenham.  Mr. Catterick said last night.  It is up to the player.  He wants to talk over the offers with his wife.  Asked what he thought Everton’s prospects of signing Scott were, Mr. Catterick replied.  “As good as any.  It is a straight fight between us and Spurs.  Now it look as though another Scotsman will add to the tremendous outlay which in a few short years has made Everton the biggest spenders in the game, and if Scott does sign it may be that he will follow the example of Liverpool’s Ian St. John by making his first appearance in a “derby” match.  Liverpool supporters would naturally hope that he will not emulate St. John’s performance on that occasion, for Ian popped three goals into the Everton net.!  Scott has been on the Everton list of “wanted men” for several months and they made their interest clear when Rangers decided to release the winger way back in December, but for all the encouragement they or anyone else received at the time the circulating of his name seemed little more than a gesture. 
£40,000 FIRM OFFER
Only the passage of time has crystallised the situation and when it became obvious that the final issue would produce a tussle between Spurs and Everton the Goodison Park club decided not to be instruments in any auction.  In went their firm bid of £40,000 and the news that such a figure was acceptable sent Mr. Catterick scurrying to Scotland yesterday.  He was second in the race, for Nicholson was already there, had similarly agreed terms and had spoken to the player.  While he say back and waited for the answer, in came Mr. Catterick.  Waiting for the decision to be given today.  Mr. Nicholson will be a very worried man, for if Scott should pause to consider where he can make the greatest immediate and future impact.  Tottenham must be very much also rans.  While Tottenham may top the League table at the moment Everton are just one point behind with two home games in hand, but if Scott has his eye on Wembley, then Spurs can offer him nothing.  They are out of the Cup while Everton are in round five, favourites to win the trophy.  It is an alluring prospect, especially with the Goodison crowd bonus scheme which can give Scott riches before the season ends that he has possibly not dreamed would ever be within his grasp.  Moreover, while Billy Bingham is now showing a new lease of life with the Cup competition in progress, there is a readymade first team place for Scott, and with Parker, Thomson, Gabriel, and Young for companionship, he is hardly likely to be home sick.  The fact that Scott runs a business in Scotland could have been a complication where if not that he had already set his slights on continuing his career in England, with the inevitable realisation that some disruption of his private affairs would be inevitable.  If there is one grain of doubt in supporters minds about Scott it can only be that here is another goal-maker rather than a taker, so that the responsibility on the inside forwards would increase with his advent for Bingham has scored in six of this season matches.  If there is anything in the contention of the attack that given the chances they will get the goals, then the provision of opportunity could be notably increased by Scott’s coming.  The move for Scott is an obvious indication that Everton believe they are on the verge of the great break through into the honours field and the opening up of a new golden era, which could see them supreme not just for this season but for several years to come.  The good shin Everton is not being spoiled for the half pennyworth of tar and the restless machine that is driving Everton forward will not stop until any remaining position against which lies a question mark has been adequately filled. 
GAME ON SATURDAY
Meanwhile I liked the enthusiasm and confidence of one club representative who yesterday morning offered to wager that their would be a League game in Liverpool on Saturday.  He was referring not so much to the encouraging progress being made with their braziers by Liverpool F.C to make Anfield fit for the “derby” to be played so much as the chance that Everton would succeed with the G.L. 5 treatment of their ground and bring Bolton Wanderers to Goodison in the event of Mr. L. Callaghen (Merthyr) the referee for the “derby” match, calling that game off on Friday evening.  Everton, of course, have a Central League fixture scheduled with Liverpool on Saturday but if the Football League practice what they have been preaching there should be no difficulty in disposing of this to make way for the League game which should have been played last Saturday.  Actually the reports from both grounds last night now that the two clubs are pretty well keeping pace in their efforts to win the weather fight.
Everton who have a considerably greater depth of ice to tackle than Liverpool are placing their faith in pneumatic drills specially designed for the purpose plus the use of the chemical solution G.L.5.  It is their confidence in this chemical preparation that fills Everton with hope that the worst of the weather’s ravages is now behind them.  Everton will visit Leicester (weather permitting) next Tuesday instead of Wednesday, as the latter date clashes with a boxing show.  The original date was January 19. 
Mr. Fryers  recollect’s-
Letters
Rol Fryer (an uncle of the famous one-time Rugby Union international of this city) also remembers the case of “Nobby” Clarke the Liverpool player whose career was ended when he tried to charge Hunter Hart in a “Derby” game and only succeeded in colliding with one of his own team.  “Waddy” (Walter Wadsworth).
Mr. Fryer recollects’-
“Years earlier Alf Milward, Everton and England wing with Edgar Chadwick, had likewise been troubled by a notoriously rough Liverpool half-back.  To retaliated and was sent off.  He was one of the most skilful and most gentlemanly players I’ve ever seen.  His nephew was one of the crowd of boys who played on the Spion Kop site, then in Everton, the ground being a Walton-no-the-Hill prior to 1895.  “This waste land was a fine level ground for fairs, cheapjack’s, circuses &c., with a hot chestnut man outside the 6d gate.  The players then dressed in the London Hotel and had to run the gauntlet of a back-slapping crowd, many following into John Houlding’s pub. 

EVERTON SIGN SCOTT FOR £40,000
Liverpool Echo & Evening Express – Thursday, February 7, 1963
DRAMATIC TURN IN TO-DAY’S NEGOTIATIONS
SPURS WALK OUT
By Leslie Edwards
Alex Scott, Rangers and Scottish international outside right, signed for Everton at 2.15 p.m. today- fee estimated at about £40,000-and will almost certainly make his debut for his new club in the “Derby” match against Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday.  The deal was completed unexpectedly in Glasgow by Manager Harry Catterick, who had sat patiently in a hotel while his rival, Billy Nicholson of Spurs had appeared to be certain to persuade Scott to go to London.  The Everton chief had long consultation with Scott until 11.30 last night and they had parted on the understanding that Scott required more time, possibly a day or two, to consider his position.  He is married and has a business at Falkirk.  There are twin boys.  On the face of news that Mr. Nicholson and the player were talking for some hours this morning, Glasgow opinion at midday was that the chances were Scott would go to London.  He had said that he would be happy with either club and Rangers and the two competing clubs had agreed terms, presumably at the same price £40,000. 
ASTONISHING TURN
But later negotiations, so far as Spurs were concerned, took an astonishing turn, Scott having virtually said that he would be prepared to go to Tottenham after he had left Grangemouth indicated after further discussions with Mr. Nicholson at Ibrox Park that he had changed his mind.  As Mr. Nicholson left Ibrox he said; “As far as Tottenham are concerned the deal is off.  I am now saying good-bye to Scotland.” He then left by taxi.  Shortly after Mr. Nicholson left with Scott still in the club offices, Mr. Catterick arrived from his hotel, having been acquainted of the breakdown of negotiations with Spurs.  Everton may have persuaded Scott hat crowd-bonus money at Goodison Park, plus a large basic wage would be a better proposition than a larger basic wage at White Hart Lane with no lucrative crowd bonus.
NOT HOPEFUL
The Everton manager was not particularly hopeful of getting his man when he telephoned me this morning.  Indeed he said that he thought the chances were merely 50-50.  Scott, he said had told him that he would be happy to go to either club, but even so the choice of one or another and his future in soccer was difficult.  It was a shock to everyone in Scotland that Sours, after appearing certain to win the battle for Scott’s signature should suddenly pull out of the deal when signing seemed almost a formality.  One can only surmise that Everton’s terms must have been more encouraging than their rivals.  But what caused Scott to turn down Tottenham so unexpectedly and then sign without delay for Everton?  All going well the Football Echo of Saturday will carry Scott’s exclusive story of the deal and what led to it and then, perhaps we shall be able to fill in some detail.  It is certainly a feather in Mr. Catterick’s cap that he should be the better saleman of his club than Mr. Nicholson.  The pair of them had gone all-out for Scott, currently out of the Rangers first team, from the moment Rangers put a price on his head.  Had he gone to London, Scott would have linked as the right wing partner to John White and the pair would have made a readymade partnership for seasons for Scotland. This makes his change of mind the more inexplicable though every Everton fan will be grateful for his decision to travel “our way...”

EVERTON’S ROY VERNON SAYS
Liverpool Daily Post- Friday, Friday 8, 1963
DERBY CLASH WILL NOT HALT OUR PROGRESS
I was not surprised to read that Everton were going ahead with the experience of trying out the latest chemical solution produced by a Wignes firm to make pitches proof against frost and snow, for I think that everywhere the game is played the name of Everton stands for enterprise and businesslike direction.  Within hours of returning to Liverpool from our few days at Llandudno, for manager, Mr. Harry Catterick was travelling to Widnes to see how well-founded were the claims mad for this new discovery.  It is only right of course, that the leading clubs such as Everton should pioneer experiments of this nature, for the smaller clubs have not the same resources to back experiments.  Most clubs situated as Everton are in regard to fixtures, might have been content, with a fortnight at least before the next first team home game, to hope that the cold snap would end and Nature would restore pitches to a playable condition, but there is nothing like making sure.  In any event, it is important that playable pitches are produced for we cannot get too many games, even in practice to keep us on our toes. 
CO-OPERATIVE TIDES!
I was sorry that the Land of my Fathers should let us down somewhat, for conditions there were no better from a pitch point of view and most of our exercises were carried out on the beach.  Mind you, I must admit the tides were most co-operative in allowing us to carry on with our training.  Possibly because it has worked out at something like once in a lifetime that we have experienced weather conditions such as the, the amount of thought has not gone into keeping grounds fit, and free from frost that might have been desirable, but I believe a lesson will have been learned this time.  Whether or not the G.L.5 liquid proves to be the answer I feel sure a solution will be found, Everton were unlucky with their underground heating experiment, but when the next experiment in this connection is carried out, it could be much more satisfactory.  After all experience is the best teacher.  We are hoping again, I hope that Liverpool manage to get their ground ready for the “derby” game tomorrow, for with all this Saturday afternoon idleness there is an unreal atmosphere about soccer.  Sometimes it is almost as though the season has not yet started.  Look at the Cup as an example.  We are in round five, waiting to know our opponents, and yet many third round games are not even played and the results are coming through in dribs and drabs.  How much more exciting when there is the sudden death tension of a complete programme played on the one day!  For the last “derby” meeting I forecast that Everton would win 3-1 and if Liverpool had not enjoyed the extraordinary luck they did in that match, I could have been right. 
DUE FOR A SHOCK
For all that, I don’t intend to do any score forecasting this time.  I shall just content myself by stating that Everton will be clear winners.  The kop roar will not dismay us.  We shall just go on playing football and because I believe we play it that much better than Liverpool, our forward march will continue.  I think Liverpool may be due for something of a shock when they see Johnny Morrissey in action again.  He is twice the player with us that he was at Anfield, and if he is in the same sort of form with which he made rags of the Swindon defence, then Liverpool can loot out.  I should like to offer a word of congratulation to Brian Labone on his inclusion in the England party for the French match. I have not the slightest doubt that Brian is in a class apart among English centre halves at the moment.  He can dominate in his position for years to come.  Congratulation, too, to Gordon Milne, of Liverpool, I confess his was not one of the names, I expected to find included but he is a ninety-minute player, always a true sportsman, and a player with ideas.  But there are other right halves who have left a greater impression on me.  Still, it is very pleasant to see the honours coming to Merseyside, the real home of the country’s football. 

SPURS COULD NOT MATH EVERTON
Liverpool Daily Post- Friday, February 8, 1963
DRAMATIC CHANGE OF MIND PUTS SCOTT AT GOODISON IN TIME FOR DERBY
By Horace Yates
After one of the fiercest tussles Everton have ever had in their bid to sign any player, they got their man in Glasgow yesterday- Alex Scott, twenty-six-year-old.  Scottish international outside right from Rangers and although no information it is reasonable to assume that Scott will be “Derby” debutant, always supposing, of course, that the game with Liverpool is played, and I have not yet met anyone prepared to say that it will.  A crestfallen disappointed Bill Nicholson, manager of Tottenham, flew into London yesterday to announce failure where only success had been anticipated, while Everton manager, Harry Catterick, took the slower journey back to Liverpool by train.  “I am delighted at the way things have worked out,” said Mr. Catterick.  On the Nicholson said; “Of course, I am disappointed.”  While Mr. Nicholson, to some extent, lifted the veil of secrecy as to how Spurs had been beaten, the full story is likely to remain the secret of just a select few.  Scott according to Mr.  Nicholson, at one stage expressed a desire to go to White Hart Lane. 
DEFEAT CONCEDED
The player and manager yesterday breakfasted together at Grangemouth hotel and later met again at Ibrox Park.  It was there that Mr. Nicholson conceded defeat “ Scott was most upset and told me he had been made an offer which he could not turn down” said Mr. Nicholson.  Before leaving London Airport, the Spurs manager said, “Perhaps this has happened for the best.”  Now I can reveal why the Daily Post yesterday morning were able to forecast against all odds, that Scott would join Everton.  A Scottish informant was so sure in his own mind that Scott was Merseyside-bound that he convinced me that there was a real hope “Everton have an ace to play,” he said, “and it will prove to be the boss card in this game.”  Further than that he would not go and it was because I felt that this was something much sounder than mere speculation, I backed his belief and in the event he was perfectly entitled to his boast last night.”  I told you so.”  Mr. Nicholson yesterday was given the first chance to clinch the £40,000 deal but obviously Mr. Catterick had set him a problem he found impossible to solve.  After an hour-long discussion at Ibrox, Bill Nicholson left saying as he went.  “As far as Tottenham are concerned the deal is off, I am now saying goodbye to Scotland.”  Shortly afterwards Mr. Catterick re-entered the scene and early in the afternoon, Scott, signed for Everton.  Capped eleven times by his country, Scott was Rangers regular right winger until injured early this season.  In came teenage Willie Henderson and he came to stay. Examination of Scott’s record shows that he played 214 League games for Rangers and the fact that he has a total of sixty-six goals suggests that he is something more than a goal-maker.  How many Evertonians, I wonder will recall that Scott has already played at Goodison Park?  It was on January 15, 1958 that he represented Scotland Under-23 team in his only appearance in that age group against England, when the Scots were beaten 3-1.  His first full cap came against Wales at Hampden Park on November 13, 1957.  Perhaps his best performance in an international game was against Ireland on October 7, 1961 when he hit three goals in a 6-1 victory. 

SCOTT CAN HAVE CHOICE OF HOUSE
Liverpool Echo & Evening Express- Friday, February 8, 1963
At Goodison later today
Managers views
By Leslie Edwards
Alex Scott, Everton’s new right winger, who new right winger, has been given carte blanche by his new club to select the house of his choice on Merseyside.  You choose we’ll do the paying.”  Everton have told him.” Scott, aged 25, and married with twin sons, left Glasgow this morning and was expected to go straight to Goodison Park on arrival later today.  Manager Harry Catterick, who had beaten Tottenham manager, Bill Nicholson, for Scott’s signature yesterday travelled home overnight. 
TOUGTEST ASSIGNMENT
He said “What a battle! This was the toughest assignment I’ve ever had.  The signing is in line with our policy of having a first-class first team and sufficient reserve strength to keep it that way.”  Mr. Nicholson not so philosophic this morning as he was when he flew back to London yesterday without his man was saying that if he had done what most other managers would have done- signed Scott when he had opportunity in the hotel at Grangemouth where they had been conferring-the question of Scott changing his mind would never have arisen.  Mr. Nicholson was keen, apparently to complete the ideal formally and said to Scott.  “Perhaps you had best go back to Ibrox first and tell Manager Scott Symon what you have decided.”  Scott returned to Rangers’ ground and then, after indicating to waiting Press men that he would be going to Spurs, changed his mind and opted for Everton. 

LIVERPOOL-EVERTON GAME IS OFF
Liverpool Echo & Evening Express- Saturday, February 8, 1963
WE’VE DONE EVERYTHING POSSIBLE- CHAIRMAN
By Leslie Edwards
The Liverpool-Everton match, due at Anfield tomorrow was called off at 1.30 p.m. today following an inspection by Liverpool referee Mr. Arthur Edge.  When I saw the ground this morning, it was obvious that the greatest thaw in history could not have altered the situation.  As I see it, it will take 50 groundsmen, and 70 braziers all their time to get the pitch ready for the Cup replay against Burnley on Monday.  The scene on the pitch today would have brought tears to the eyes of anyone possessing a ticket for tomorrow’s “Derby.” Or to the eyes of Mr. David Wiseman, of the F.A who only a day or two ago was criticising Liverpool F.C for putting their Burnley replay back seven days.  On the Kemlyn Road side braziers were doing their work, helped by groundsmen picking away at sheets of solid ice.  Some parts of the turf were visible and playable, elsewhere and particularly in huge areas in front of the main stand the grass was locked under a solid sheet of unbroken ice- apparently two or three inches thick.  You could have ice-skated over it.
HEART-BREAKING
Chairman Tom Williams said; “I agree that is it just hopeless.  We’ll be doing well to get the Burnley game on.  We’ve done everything possible.  It’s been a heart-breaking business.  Even now we shall have to work night and day to get the ground fit for Monday.”  Huge amount of snow cleared after Monday’s storm, lie ten feet high in the car park behind the main stand.  They are being cleared by dumper and emptied into a Liverpool dock. 
GOODISON UNFIT
Hopes that the Everton pitch would be fit and that the junior “Derby” could go on there as a substitute for the Anfield game were killed by the announcement at midday that Referee Edge had ruled the pitch as “hopeless” for the central League match arranged for tomorrow.  Thus the dying kick of the cold spell has proved powerful enough to produce yet another almost “blank” Saturday for big-time soccer.

COULD HAVE THREE GAMES IN SIX DAYS
Liverpool Daily Post- Saturday, February 9, 1963
By Horace Yates
Although the postponement of today’s “derby” match at Anfield gives both and Liverpool a backlog of six League games each to make good.  Everton’s outstanding League games now are Arsenal, Fulham, and Bolton at home and Arsenal, Leicester and Liverpool away.  I gather that Everton manager, Harry Catterick, would not have finalised his team to play in the “derby” until shortly before the game.  The delay would have centred around Scott, for out of fairness to him, following the long overnight travel from Scotland and the fact that he has not done any training for three days, the players as well as the team’s interests, could have had to be seriously considered.  Now the odds are that Scott, like Tony Kay will make his debut for Everton away from home, for it seems likely that his first cal will come for the match at Leicester on Tuesday. 

MOSCOW INCIDENT SET SCOTT ON ROAD TO GOODISON PARK
Liverpool Echo & Evening Express- Saturday, February 9, 1963
AIMS TO PROVE SCOTS HE’S THEIR BEST
By Malcolm Munro
The story of Alex Scott’s transfer to Everton this week begins really last summer in Moscow when his career with Glasgow Rangers virtually ended.  The circumstances were fantastic and his whole footballing future was altered in the massive Kruschev Stadium just because an unknown (to Scott) Russian footballer had a bad game.  The player was Mascow Locomotiv’s centre forward, Ivan Sakoloff.  I don’t think Scott even knew the player’s name, but it was Sokoloff who ruined perfectly good trip behind the iron Curtain for him, put him out of Rangers royal and Scotland’s dark blue jerseys.  It was the all important opening game of three-match tour in Russia.  The game started on that hot June afternoon on a pitch with lush grass four inches long.  Rangers contained the early Russian onslaught.  Time after time, Scott was piled with the ball, but he could not get going.  In a team of successes he was having one of those days.  In the 74th minute, because their attack could make no impression upon now super confident Rangers, the Russians decided to take advantage of the substitute rule. 
TOOK HIM OFF
They took off Sokoloff and they lost the game, and, unwittedly, lost Rangers a right winger.  Rangers had no intention of bringing on a substitute but when the Russians played this card Manager Scott Symon pulled off Scott and sent in Willie Henderson.  Henderson’s impact, upon the game was as subtle as a hand grenade.  The little winger bubbled and frothed, and transformed an already good team into a great one.  Rangers ended 3-1 winners and from that moment it was obvious the club had decided that Henderson was the man to wear their No.7 jersey.  Scott’s attitude to being taken off was one of indignation.  Why me?  What will folk back home think.”?  Whatever they thought, it was apparent that Scott was no longer happy at Ibrox.  This serial closed with Scott joining Everton on Thursday for a fee of £40,000.  What happened to Scott at Ibrox Park could only happen in Scotland.  He was Scotland’s right winger, the man who wore the No.7 jersey in what the Scots declare is the best international squad for many years- yet he wasn’t good enough for his club. 
THEY WERE WRONG
One of the reasons why Scott is now an Everton player is because he wants to show the world and particularly Rangers that they were wrong in dropping him.  He wants to flight back into Scotland’s team and that’s why Everton are lucky in this signing.  They will have a man who in every game will be trying to prove to himself and everyone else that he is his country’s right winger.  Scott 25, married with twin sons, is nicknamed Chico because he has a “Mexican look.”  He had been with Rangers since he was 17.  He is a game player for all his speed and he isn’t easily intimidated.  He illustrated great courage in his two matches in a European Cup match with Anderlecht four years ago.  Rangers had beaten the Belgium champions at Ibrox by 5-2 in a match that tended at times to be tough.  Scott, like most speed merchants, took as little part in the skirmishing as possible. In the return match at Brussels, before their own supporters, it was obvious Anderlecht were determined to reopen the battle, and right from the start they went about their business with something slightly more than enthusiasm. 
BRUTALLY FOULED
Rangers, content with their commanding lead, made no attempt to mix it, but that didn’t please Anderlecht.  Scott, in the mood, made some wonderful runs, and he just wasn’t being held by the defence.  Because of this he was fouled most blatantly and brutally.  Scott took a pass from his wing half and was in the act of rounding his opponent when this worthy, making no attempt to play the ball hit the Scot low and hard, and lifted him bodily off the pitch, across the track and on to the barricade wall.  There was an odd hush as Alex’s head was seen to strike the concrete and when the winger fell to the ground, blood poured from his wound.  Even the partisan Belgians stood in silence as he was carried unconscious from the field on a stretcher.  At worst a serious injury, but perhaps dead, thought the crowd.  Then, with the score at 0-0 they got back to watching the game and anticipating a comeback by Anderlecht against 10men.  But Rangers hadn’t ten men for long.  When the game resumed Scott, his head swathed in bandages, ran out with his team mates.  He was as white as a sheet and he had been sick, but he was back in action. 
INSPIRATION
Without over-dramatising, let us say this about Alex.  His presence under the circumstances was an inspiration and of all things his form actually seemed to improve.  Because of the courage of Scott, Rangers won the second leg 2-0 and went to the next round.  It’s doubtful if any player ever made a more spectacular entry-into senior football.  I was talking about it this week with Davy Wilson, Rangers outside left, in whom Everton are also interested.  “It’s funny,” said Wilson “I watched that game from the terracing-and from Scottie’s first kick off the ball he became my idol.”  This is praise indeed from Scotland’s international No. 11 man, who is only a year younger than Alex.  It was the first game Scott played since leaving his junior club, Bowness United, Rangers uncharacteristically pitch-forked Alex right into the first team, along with a host of international stars.  The game was against Falkirk and Scott was opposed to Ian Rae, an under-23 “cap” Rae, a good performer, never saw much but the No. 7 on Scott’s back during the entire 90 minutes and Scott goes into the history book as being the one and only first game junior to play for Rangers but also as the man who scored three goals.
OVATION
A 40,000 crowd stayed behind to give “Chico” an ovation he’ll never forget. That might well prove to be Alex Scott’s greatest moment.  Everton’s new boy will be a success for himself and for his club.  He is superbly fit- a real professional.  His gameness and eagerness to please makes him often turn bad passes from a colleague into good ones.  He’ll be trying long after others have given up the ghost.  A lot will depend upon how Everton intend utilising Alex’s talents.  His early style of play was to rove-to cut in and have a shot.  But Rangers like their wingers to keen wide and to make fast for the bye-line, keeping the opposition defence turning on their own goal.  If Scott has the right type of inside man who gives him progressive passes on to which he can run then Everton’s centre forward will find himself an ever-present on the scorer’s sheet.  Scott, who is often unlucky himself, is a lucky mascot for his club.  He has played in countries like Russia, Czechoslovakia, Germany, Holland, Belgium, Italy, Sweden, Spain, France.  His experience against Continentals will be invaluable if Everton quality for one or the big tournaments.  In fact, in the not-s-far-distant future, the favourite expression used by Evertonians might well b Great Scott. 
TRANSFER TIME TABLE
It was a day of drama for Alex Scott, Rangers, Tottenham and Everton on Thursday when the transfer went through.  The time table went like this;
8-30 –Scott went from Falkirk to Grangemouth (five miles) for breakfast and renewal of talks with Spurs manager Bill Nicholson.
10.30.-Scott returned home and had a brief meeting with his accountant. 
11-10- Scott and Nicholson separately headed for Glasgow and Ibrox Park.
12.20.- Scott arrived in his car.  Asked by newsmen if he had made up his mind between Everton and Spurs he said yes.  
A reporter said; “Is it Spurs? And Scott nodded.
12.40.- Bill Nicholson arrived at the ground by taxi.
1.45.- Mr. Nicholson emerged alone and angry-looking through the main doors of Rangers hallway.  He said; “So far as Spurs are concerned, the deal is off; I’m saying good-bye to Scotland right now.” 
1.55 – Mr. Harry Catterick who had sweated out the morning in Glasgow’s Central Hotel while his opponents entertained Scott hustled by taxi.  He smiled his way past inquisitive newspapermen.
2-30.- Mr. Catterick emerged smiling even more broadly, accompanied by Scott and Rangers manager Scott Symon.  Everyone looked tremendously cheerful. 
2.40. - Scott, the new Everton man with his new boss, were back in the City centre.
4 p.m. - Scott, admitted; “This has been the hardest decision I’ve had to make.” 

SCOTT COMPLETES NAP HAND AT EVERTON
Liverpool Echo & Evening Express- Saturday, February 9, 1963
By Alex Young

Though there has been very little football, the transfer market has come to life again this week, with Scottish international Alex Scott and Pat Crerand making the headlines.  There is an old boxing saying that “they never come back,” but this certainly does not apply to Scottish footballers, and Goodison Park and the signing of Alex Scott emphasises this point more than ever.  As evidence of this one has only to look at the Scottish Under-23 side which played England at Goodison Park in January, 1958.  Alex’s arrival means that no less than five members of that side have signed for Everton since then, the others being myself, George Thomson, Alex Parker, and Eddie O’Hara.  I have known-Scott for many years, and when I played junior football for Newtongrange Star, I recall him as a fast, tricky winger who usually gave the opposing full back an afternoon he quickly wanted to forget.  Since then I have played against Alex in Scottish League football and know him as a winger who has earned the respect of all who have played against him or watched him in action.  On behalf of all Evertonians I bid him “Welcome to Goodison.” 
ACCURATE PASSER
Pat Crerand, who joined Manchester United on Wednesday, is another player, I knew well in Scottish football.  Just how great a footballer he is cam be judged by the fact that he has been keeping Jimmy Gabriel out of the Scottish international side.  Perhaps the most accurate passer of a ball in British football at the moment, Pat will, I am sure, add strength where United most need it- at half-back.  There are some very fine players in the United side and Pat seems to me to be a man who can bring the best out of them.  This week also congratulations go to Brian Labone, who is named among the 22 from whom England pick their team to play France later this month.  Brian has played so well on his appearances for England so far this season that I think his selection in the final team next week is just a formality.  Congratulations from the boys at Goodison, too, to Liverpool’s Gordon Milne, who also caught the selector’s eye, but there were a few surprised looks at Everton when it was observed that Tony Kay had been omitted. 
AT LLANDUDNO
Ice and snow restricted our activities at Llandudno almost as much as it had done on Merseyside of late, but they say every cloud has a silver lining and in our case if the fact that conditions were so bad they made a repeat of that run we had to the top of the Great Orme completely out of the question.  After training in the gymnasium at Goodison Park last Saturday morning we left for North Wales in the afternoon and stayed there until Tuesday.  Sunday was a rest day, and with the Llandudno F.C ground unfit, our training was mainly limited to runs along the promenade and five or six-a-side games on the beach.  The sun shone generously on Monday and we made the most of it, but the practice games were not too satisfactory because the sand was on the soft side and not really suitable.  Many local residents turned out to give us their support at these training sessions and once again all the players really enjoyed themselves and were full of praise for the hospitality they received. 
NEW GROUND
In addition to the team that played at Swinton, others who enjoyed the short North Wales holiday were Brian Harris, George Thomson, Frank Wignall, Ray veal, and George Heslop.  All returned feeling thoroughly fit and of the opinion that the trip was worthwhile.  Back home on Wednesday we visited yet another new training ground- this time the King George V Playing Fields, at Huyton.  Here the strong wind overnight had caused the snow to drift revealing bare patches of ice and making the pitch too dangerous for an all-out practice.  We did as much work as possible, however and I would like to express the thanks of the players to Huyton’s parks superintendent, Mr. G. Flather, who made the training session possible and also laid on a cup of tea afterwards, something we were very grateful for on an icy cold morning.  On Tuesday evening conditions permitting, we have a re-arranged League fixture at Leicester, and I regard this as one of the toughest away trips of the season.  Leicester, at present fourth, are one of the most respected teams in the First Division and if we come away from Filbert Street with two points then there will really be something to crowd about.  Here’s hoping. 

ALEX SCOTT LIKELY TO MAKE DEBUT
Liverpool Daily Post- Tuesday, February 12, 1963
By Horace Yates
Everton’s £40,000 Scottish international outside right, Alex Scott is expected to make his debut in English League football at Leicester today, for he is bracketed with Billy Bingham in a forward line of six players.  For Tony Kay, too, this will be his first League match in Everton’s colours, although he played in the fourth round F.A Cup-tie at Swindon.  Leicester City, who were able to play their League game with Arsenal last Saturday, are hopeful that the pitch will again be fit enough for football.  Mr.A.H. Goodfellow, a local referee yesterday inspected a stretch of ground from which the snow had been removed and a dressing of top spoil applied.  He considered it fit, but the last word will be with the match referee Mr. C. Woan (Reading), who has been asked to attended early today at Filbert Street.  The light snow covering is being left on the pitch until today, when it will be cleared and a top soil dressing applied all over.  This is a vital match for both clubs, and one of the most difficult which Everton have to face Leicester have crept up into third place, three points behind Everton, with a match more played but if Everton were to be beaten they might be in danger of losing their position in the top two, which of course carries a double crowd bonus for them.  Leicester City; Banks; Sjoberg, Norman; McLintock, King, Appleton, Riley, Cross, Keyworth, Gibson, Stringfellow.  Everton; West; Parker, Meagan; Gabriel, Labone, Kay; (from) Scott, Bingham, Stevens, Young, Vernon, Morrissey. 

EVERTON GAME ON
Liverpool Echo & Evening Express –Tuesday, February 12, 1963
MATCH REFEREE PASSES LECIESTER PITCH FIT
After inspecting the pitch at Filbert Street this afternoon match referee Arthur Woan, of Reading, decided it was fit for the Division 1 match between Leicester and Everton to take place tonight.  The last of the snow on the Leicester ground was cleared this morning and 20 tons of soil spread over the pitch.  Leicester officials are so appreciate of the hard work done by the groundsmen and their helpers that “something extra” is being paid to them.  Leicester;- Banks; Sjoberg, Norman; McLintock, King, Appleton; Riley, Cross, Keysworth, Gibson, Stringfellow.  Everton; West; Parker, Meagan; Gabriel, Labone, Kay (from); Scott, Bingham, Stevens, Young, Vernon, Morrissey. 

EVERTON WELL AND TRULY THRASHED
Liverpool Daily Post- Wednesday, February 13, 1963
LEICESTER CITY LOOK A WEMBLEY PROPOSITION
LEICESTER CITY 3, EVERTON 1
By Horace Yates
Everton slipped, slid, skidded and slithered to defeat on a skidpan that served as a pitch at Leicester’s Filbert Street ground last night.  It is not often these days that Everton are beaten, but they were well and truly thrashed by a magnificent side.  Not since 1950-51 season have Everton won on this ground and it is certain that at no stage of the game did they remotely look like breaking this dismal record.  The ground covered with a mixture of soil, and peat, had thawed out and merely hid a bone hard pitch underneath and by comparison with the Anfield ground which was deemed unplayable on Monday it was in nothing like as good condition.  The pattern was set even before a ball was kicked in earnest for after the Everton players had been on the pitch for a minute or two before the start it was easy to see that they were worried about their footwear. 
LED RACE
Young and Scott led the race to the dressing room, and they were quickly followed by the rest of the side with the exception of Vernon, Kay, Parker and West.  They re-appeared in rubbers only just in time for the scheduled kick-off.  In fact, this change of footwear availed them nothing, for they were completely unable to keep their feet during the all-important first half in which Leicester established a supremacy that was never adequately challenged.  It is true that Everton infused a great deal more fight and fury into their second half challenge and if it did nothing else at least it prevented a superior Leicester side from becoming completely rampant.  Before the game I was told that Leicester’s position in the table might be somewhat false because of the fact that they have played five home games more than away matches but if ever there was a fallacy this was one.  I have not seen a better-looking side all season than this slick moving confident and talented Leicester outfit.  Everton wore their white strip and it was strangely symbolic for they were only the palest of pale imitations times beaten.  By comparison King had a most comfortable outing against Young.  Leicester switched their attack in a fashion which plainly puzzled Everton and although McLintock wore No. 4 on his jersey he was operating at inside right for long stretches of the game.  It was a Scot who stole the show for David Gibson, Leicester’s £25,000 capture from Hibernian, was outstanding.  He gave a truly wonderful exhibition with pin-pointed passes, ball control which amounted to something right out of the ordinary considering the conditions under which he had to operate.  If all the Everton players had displayed the same dash the same courage and refusal to be beaten that Kay displayed, Everton’s fight back would have been more successful. 
Kay, penalised occasionally for overzealous tackles, was hooted almost every time he touched the ball in the second half and he left the ground to another storm of boos.  In response he turned a grinning face to the crowd.  Mud bespattered from head to foot Kay had thoroughly enjoyed the match and without a doubt his incoming has given Everton a new strength which must pay dividends in the game to come.  Leicester’s pressure had been so persistent and their football so skilled that a goal seemed certain long before it came.  It took them sixteen minutes to take the lead when a fine ground pass by Gibson completely beat the defence as he sent it skidding down the middle.  West came out desperately but it was Keyworth who got the touch put it into the net for his fifth goal in his last three matches.  Everton found themselves two down.  This time instead of Riley doing the damage as had happened so frequently it was Stringfellow who fired a shot which passed Parker and West and finished in the net with Meagan running back and trying to hook the ball clear.  West had no need to reproach himself for either the reverse of the goals for he gave a commendable exhibition and as cheering at anything was the way in which he plucked the ball out of the air when challenged by the home forwards.  It needed a brilliant side way’s fling to keep out a shot from Cross and for long periods of the first half it was all Leicester with Everton nowhere.  At times it almost seemed that City were indulging in shooting in practice. 
COOL DELIBERATION
Soon after the second half opened snow began to fall but it did do nothing to cloak Leicester’s superiority even though Everton were shaking them fight hard for the progress they gained.  Leicester’s total became three in 63 minutes when McLintock with cool deliberation, squared the ball in front of goal and Cross hammered it past West from 20 yards range.  Everton for all their failings, deserved some consolation and it came in 67 minutes when a clever back heel by Scott put the ball at Parker’s feet and the full back centred accurately.  It outstripped the defence and ran to Vernon who scored with a ground shot.  Kay gave Vernon a chance to reduce the arrears even further and the Everton skipper missed connecting only by a matter of inches.  Leicester City- Banks; Sjoberg, Norman; McLintock, King, Appleton; Riley, Cross, Keyworth, Gibson, Stringfellow.  Everton; West; Parker, Meagan; Gabriel, Labone, Kay; Scott, Stevens, Young, Vernon, Morrisey.  Referee; Mr. C.A H. Woan (Reading).  Attendance 35,984.

LEICESTER WERE FULL VALUE FOR 3-1 VICTORY
Liverpool Echo & Evening Express- Wednesday, February 13, 1963
By Horace Yates
I doubt very much if Everton will be overplayed again this season as they were at Leicester last night, when the 3-1 score in favour of City in no way exaggerated their superiority.  The main crumb of comfort Everton will gain is that at least they showed an ability to flight back strongly when the tide was flowing most powerfully against them.  They made no inroads into Leicester’s margin, but at least courage and devotion to duty prevented the situation from deteriorating.  This, you might think, is scant consolation for a team which until recently led the League and have their eyes firmly fixed on the championship, but the worst mauling I have seen Everton take this season came at the hands of a most workmanlike, talented and efficient side.  It is a sweeping statement to make, but I really believe that where Everton failed last night no other team would have succeeded.  Now when Everton are looking over their shoulder to see what is happening to Spurs, they must also keep Leicester City in focus.  In my opinion, Leicester today have an even better side than that which failed at Wembley against Spurs a couple of year ago, and with any sort of luck they could reach the final again. 
DIFFERENT PICTURE
Everton I know will not want to me to make the state of the pitch any excuse for this reverse, yet, I wonder if there might have been a different picture if the ground had been less of a skating rink and more of a football pitch.  With manager Harry Catterick I walked over before the game began and what from the stands had seemed a superb preparation with its covering of turf, and peat was a masquerade.  Under the shallow covering was a bone hard ground.  Worst fears were realised in the opening minutes when the Everton players slipped and skated all over the place and times without number completely lost their feet.  That it was the same for both teams is beyond argument, but by comparison Leicester played as though they had known no other surface and would never have asked for anything better.  It was while Everton were finding their feet, literally that Leicester swept through them at will and their successes where they must have expected difficulty boosted their confidence sky high.  It would be churlish, however, to attempt to detract in any way from the magnificence of the Leicester effort.  The forward line had a winner to every position and piled with a superb service from as good a half back line as there is in the game (and I am forgetting neither Everton’s nor Liverpool’s) they went from strength to strength with an exhibition that earned top rating.  Twice they scored in the first half, first through Keyworth, after one of the most terrific defence-splitting down the middle passes anyone could wish to see; and secondly through Stringfellow from the wing with an effort of less merit but equal impact.  If there had been two more goals to keep those company it would not have been easy to find evidence to support a theory that Leicester were fortunate.  Those forwards were live, they were together and they used the ball imaginatively.  Had Keyworth been confronted with a lesser opponent than Brian Labone, who was magnificent the goals against line might have been embarrassing.  For all that Brian will probably look back on last night as one of his busiest and most worrying. 
GIBSON SHINES
All the best players are not the costliest.  That is no discovery but if emphasis were needed it was forthcoming from the sheer splendour of Scotsman David Gibson, who cost £25,000 on his transfer from Hibernian last season.  He was denied a goal, but that could have been the only satisfaction Everton derived from their efforts to control him.  You will hear again of this man Gibson.  While the Leicester forward line, with excellent wingers in Riley and Stringfellow, bubbled and fizzed like effervescent champagne the Everton attack at times came near to complete disintegration.  Young could make nothing of the keen-tackling King and Stevens had a most unrewarding sortie against Appleton, and if we except Vernon who not only scored Everton’s lone second half goal after Cross had hammered Leicester’s third, then it is a fact that the half backs, Kay and Gabriel delivered more shots at goal than the legitimate attack.  By comparison with the thoughtful speedily delivered passes to ideally positioned receivers which Leicester showed us.  Everton’s efforts were laborious and advertised.  What of debutant Alex Scott, £40,000 signing from Rangers.  It was so long before he received a pass worthy of the name that he must have despaired of ever discovering what an English football at his feet felt like.  How utterly wrong it would be to judge him on a day when his colleagues were subjected to greater indignities than they have experienced in any other game this season and frankly confessed that Leicester are their most formidable opponents to date.  Seldom was he given a running chance and this was hardly the surface on which to look like a Powderhall sprinter.  A considered assessment of his qualities must be delayed for another day when colleagues are both more successful and co-operative.  Vernon was the only forward who caused any real anxiety around the Leicester goal and valuable though much of his defensive play may have been, I am one of those who consider that Vernon is essentially an attacker. 
NON STOP EFFORT
Gabriel almost ran himself into the ground in a tireless non-stop effort to rally Everton, but in having to cope with the mercurial Gibson for once in a way Gabriel could never legitimately claim to have subdued the menace.  If we must wait for an opportunity to applaud Scott at least we can bid a hearty welcome to Kay.  More than once the crowd took exception to his tackles and every time he touched the ball in the later stages of the game he was hooted.  It made not the slightest difference to this human dynamo and when he was greeted with another demonstration as he left the field his only response was a huge, impish grin.  He was one of the kingpins in Everton’s second half show of resistance that helped to retrieve something from the wreckage.  Leicester’s treatment of Everton made some strange viewing and it was just as well that Gordon West stood his ground so firmly.  When I look for the reassuming parts in the Everton display, the safe handling of West when the ball was in the air and faced by dashing goal-hungry forwards stands out prominently.  As this has not always been the case, West is entitled to the bouquets. 

SCOTT IS INJURED IN TRAINING
Liverpool Echo & Evening Express- Friday, February 15, 1963
EVERTON PLAY FIRST TEAM MEN IN RESERVE SIDE
GAME AT GOODISON
By Leslie Edwards
Alex Scott, Everton’s £40,000 signing from Glasgow Rangers, who has played one game for his new club injured his right ankle in a trial match at Goodison Park yesterday and will be out of training for four or five days at least.  Manager Harry Catterick said this morning; “This blow comes at a bad time just when we wanted Alex to get to know his team-mates and the club’s strategies.  “He twisted the ankle when tackled.  It is not a serious injury, but he is having treatment and will do no training.”  Everton’s first team match at West Bromwich tomorrow being declared off today, Mr. Catterick has chosen a team containing nine first-teamers for the central League game against derby County at Goodison park tomorrow (3 p.m).  Everton Res;- West; Rees, Meagan; Gabriel, Labone, Harris; Bingham, Stevens, Young, Temple, Morrissey.  Derby will field their normal reserve side.  The pitch was inspected today and is expected to be fit for play.  Everton have had new style boots used with success by Liverpool on Wednesday, for some weeks, but they have not found them any better than the basketball or rubber-studded boots teams usually favour on treacherous pitches.  “We tried them out more than once but in our opinion they have no special advantages, Mr. Catterick said. 

AFTER THAT LEICESTER DEFEAT
Liverpool Daily Post- Friday, February 15 1963
OUR RESPECT IS NOW EVEN GREATER!
Says Everton’s Roy Vernon
We gained a healthy respect for Leicester City when they visited Goodison Park earlier in the season.  We had to pull out all the stops to win, but on Tuesday we ran into them on form which they freely admitted to be the best they have shown this season, and now of course our respect for them is even healthier.  Although, naturally, we like to score first and then keep our noses in front, we were not unduly dismayed when Leicester took the lead.  It has happened before and we have prevailed, for if I remember aright, Leicester twice led us at Goodison, only for them to be beaten in the end; but for any team to give them two goals start at Filbert Street in their present mood is asking an awful lot of any set of opponents.  What excuses have I to offer?  Let me be completely honest.  On the night there were none, except that Leicester should save up such form for us.  Now if they had only done it to Tottenham Hotspur or Burnley, it would have been a cracking performance –for us as well.  I would like to make this perfectly clear.  In no way is our confidence undermined by this reverse.  There are several opponents I can think of who would provide easier opposition in the F.A Cup fifth round but if we go to Leicester I can guarantee them here and now a different Everton. 
TOP OPPOSITION NEEDED
Although they had to contend with the same conditions they adapted themselves better.  Given a more normal ground you would find a more normal Everton and then I like to think Leicester; would not look anything like as all-conquering.  Although we have had a long lay-off from League football we liked to believe that we were still as fit as the next team, and I think that is undoubtedly true, but more than ever now I appreciate the fact that the only way to keep on top form is to keep on playing top opposition.  You see, as recently as last Saturday, Leicester had a worthy pipe-opener when they played Arsenal at Leicester. We have to go back to December 22 (at Sheffield Wednesday) for our previous League encounter and in the interim we have played only against two Third Division teams- Barnsley and Swindon Town, in the F.A. Cup.  I always knew that this sort of thing made a difference but I hardly realised just what a tremendous difference it did make.  Now we know!  The team’s sympathies went to Alex Scott, our latest colleagues who was making his English League debut, for not only did we fail to give him any true idea of just how good Everton can be, but our failures also robbed him by any sort of chance, to hit the headlines.  Still, we promise to make it up to him at the first possible apparently and I have seen enough of Alex to believe that he will respond in a way which will make him a favourite with the Goodison crowd. 
CUP GOES BACK
The sooner we get back to normally with our League programme the better we will be pleased, for we want to supplant Spurs at the top of the table.  Spurs this week handled back to the Football Association the trophy they won two years in succession.  I don’t suppose they are aware yet that they have also handed over their “Glory glory” signature tune, but I can tell them that Leicester have adopted it.  They tell me they intend to give it full voice at Wembley on Cup Final Day, and there is no doubting the sincerity of their belief that they instead to get there.  All I say to this is that if they do reach Wembley nobody will hear their song.  It will be drowned by the thousands of Merseysiders chanting in unison-Ev-er-ton together with the familiar clap, clap, clap.  Still even in defeat Everton are still sporting enough to congratulate Leicester, no not on beating us, but on the very high standard of football they played.  If there were more teams pushing the ball around like they did, football would have a new lease of life and prosperity.  

USEFUL EXPERIENCE
Liverpool Daily Post- Saturday, February 16, 1963
By Horace Yates
Ronnie Webster, twenty-years-old Derby County wing half, plays against Everton today for the first time since breaking his collar bone against Everton Reserves last September.  He had previously broken the same collar bone a month earlier.  Derby manager Tim Ward had named his side before learning of Everton’s choice.  “They should give us a good game,” he said.  “Whatever happens it should be useful experience for the lads and the result won’t worry us.  “Had I known about Everton’s team earlier I might have included one or two first teamers.  “Some people think we will make money out of this match, if there is a good gate, but visiting clubs do not have any share from Central league matches.”  Everton Reserves; West; Rees, Meagan; Gabriel, Labone, Harris; Bingham, Young, Temple, Morrissey. 

‘RESERVES’ STROLL TO GOODISON WIN
EVERTON RES 4 DERBY COUNTY RES 0
Liverpool Echo & Evening Express- Saturday, February 16 1963
Everton; West; Rees, Meagan, Gabriel, Labone, Harris; Bingham, Stevens, Young, temple, Morrissey.  Derby Co. Mathews; Richardson, McAndrew, Webster; Sexton, Waller, Bowers, Havenhand, Buxton, Stephenson, Swallow.  Referee Mr. D. Pritchard, Blackpool.    Derby County Reserves were up against an Everton reserve team strengthened by seven first teamers.  There was a crowd estimated between 7,000 and 8,000 for the game.  Obviously Everton supporters were glad to get the opportunity to see the best part of their first team for the first time this year.  Everton kicked off, but it was soon obvious that these players had no intentions of taking any chance of injury in what to them was purely a run out.  Derby as distributing the ball well, but Everton were just that little bit faster. 
BEAUTIFUL CENTRE
The home team nearly got a goal after 10 minutes when Young taking the ball to the right, put across a beautiful centre but there was nobody there and the ball went to Morrissey, who returned it to Temple.  Temple made his way in for a shot and appeared to be tripped in the area, but the referee waved play on.  Derby came back into the attack and West had to make a diving save from a strong ground shot by Bowers.  The game developed rather a farcical trend.  Everton confirmed the earlier opinion that they were going to take on risks and the Derby defence kept the ball well away from Young.  Everton spent most of their time in the Derby half but there was no real power behind any of their shooting Gabriel had a shot which went wide and Morrissey also had a few chances, but each time he was blotted out by the Derby defence.  Derby had a fine opportunity of going one up when Stephenson about 20 yards out in front of the goal passed the ball to Swallow instead of shooting Swallow’s shot was wide.  The first good bit of football came practically at half-time when goalkeeper Matthews made a brilliant save from a header by Gabriel after Morrissey put across a lovely centre.  Half-time; Everton Res nil, Derby Res nil.  Within a minute of the resumption Everton took the lead, which on their play they only just deserved. 
STEVENS SCORES
Temple, picking up a loose ball went through and as Matthews came out to cover him he passed the ball to Stevens, who made no mistake.  This seemed to bring both teams a little more to life, but they were being very wary of going into any sport of tackle.  Everton had a further chance when the ball was put out to Bingham but he crashed his shot into the crowd.  Everton got a second goal when Derby had only 10 men right half Webster having gone off with an ankle injury.
ROCKET DRIVE
Gabriel went through on his own and from the edge of the penalty box hit a rocket like drive that virtually sealed Derby’s fate.  Matthews was still playing very well and he finger tipped a Temple shot round the post by going full length on the hard ground.  Everton got a third goal at 84 minutes when Morrissey picked up a good pass from Rees who had come up the field and gave Matthews no chance.  Young got the fourth at 89 minutes.  Final; Everton Res 4, Derby County Res nil.  Official attendance 12,903. 

NO EXCUSE FOR DEFEAT BY STRONG LEICESTER
Liverpool Echo & Evening Express- Saturday, February 16, 1963
By Alex Young
If you have turned to this column, seeking excuses for Everton’s League defeat at Leicester on Tuesday evening, then you are due to be disappointed, for I have to admit that we were fairly and squarely beaten by a better side on the night.  In the closing paragraphs of last week’s article I pointed out that Leicester would be an extremely tough nut to crack on their own ground, and (unfortunately in this case) I was correct.  Judged on Tuesday’s form, Leicester are a good side indeed much better than when they visited Goodison Park last September and were defeated 3-2.  At Goodison, I recall we were well on top and conceded two goals through defensive errors.  Before Leicester came to Goodison last year, I told you to watch inside forward Dave Gibson, and stated that when it came to displaying the arts and crafts of football, he had few masters among present day players.  This, too was proved correct on Tuesday particularly in the first half when Dave’s brilliant scheming laid the foundations of his side’s victory.  Leicester’s biggest crowd of the season- nearly 37,000 –watched the game, and there team looked so impression that I have little doubt the vast majority of them will turn up again for the next Leicester home fixture. 
CONDITIONS
The Filbert Street pitch was, in my opinion, not quite as playable as those at Barnsley and Swindon, for although it had been covered by an inch or so of soil, the surface underneath was quite hard and it was difficult to get a satisfactory foothold.  Some of us nipped off the field to change from leather to rubber studs just before the kick off and we only just made it in time, for the referee was preparing to start the game as we re-appeared.  But while the condition of the Leicester pitch did not completely satisfy me, I was most impressed with the club’s dressing room facilities.  These have been modernised recently and must now be rated among the best in the country.  Alex Scott made his first appearance for Everton in this game and is now looking forward to his League debut at Goodison Park.  Last Saturday instead of playing as he had hoped in the “Derby” at Anfield, Alex came round for tea with the Young’s; then on Sunday the other Alex (Parker) took him on a conducted tour of Liverpool.
MATCH FITNESS
Our first League match of the year was (despite the result) most welcome for although we have been training hard, match practice is the only thing which will keep a team in top gear.  Let’s hope there will be no further postponements.  One thing every player looks forward to is the close season, for a lengthy break is essential if he is to start the new season in top condition.  Remember that even when bad weather means no football training continues and the season appears to drag on and on.  This year it seems likely that our summer break will extend from the beginning of June to the middle of July, when we can be expected to start getting in shape for the 1963-64 campaign.  This is my view, is not long enough and the sensible thing to do to avoid occurring in the future would be to reduce the number of teams in each division.  By next Saturday we all hope that things will be pack to normal, for Wolves are attractive visitors to Goodison Park.  Without new signings, Tony Kay and Alex Scott, due to make their first home appearances, there should be quite a crowd.  The chant “Off, off, off” may not be in very good taste, but I’m sure everyone connected with soccer would much rather hear those words coming from the terraces than read them in the headlines of newspapers.  On Merseyside last Saturday, the Pools Panel sparkled off few arguments when they decided that of the “Derby” had taken place, then Liverpool would have won it.  We at Goodison do not of course, agree with the verdict of Tommy Lawton and Co, and the question now appears to be.  If Everton are successful when the match is eventually played will they be entitled to claim a certificate beating the pane?  Last but not least this week, congratulations to Brian Labone, who as expected was chosen to play for England against France later on the month. 

REG MATTHEWS THE STAR, BUT-
Liverpool Daily Post –Monday, February 18,1963
EVERTON RESERVES TRIUMPH EASILY
EVERTON RES 4, DERBY COUNTY RES 0
By Jack Rowe
This game served its purpose, Everton’s top players had their competitive run-out and came through without anything more serious than the bruises and grazes they will always get when falling on frozen ground in spite of liberal sanding.  One cannot take an occasion like this too seriously because players of the calibre of Young and Labone need only to do so much and their skill and ability is such that all-out effort is not necessary in a match of this sort.  The conditions too, were not easy so that a lot of the attempted trickery and finesse came to grief because of the difficulty of controlling the ball, but the near 13,000 crowd had their moments of pleasure from Young’s brilliant little flicks and Gabriel’s powerhouse attacking.  So comfortable was it for Everton that Gabriel spent most of his time attacking and one must pay a tribute to the Derby players for their acceptance of a situation in which they had little chance without the slightest rancour. 
GREAT DRIVE
Indeed, they had the star of the game in Reg Matthews, the former Chelsea and England Under-23 goalkeeper.  He made many spectacular saves while West had only one shot from right winger Bowers all afternoon.  Everton did not score until immediately after half-time when Temple finished a run by squaring the ball for Stevens to turn through and Gabriel made it two with a great 20 yards drive.  Morrissey hit the third and Young made it four with almost the last kick of the game.  Derby always tried, but inevitably were no match for this Everton side and the fact that right half Webster had to go to wing in the second half with an ankle injury made no difference.  Everyone expected Everton to win with ease.  The shock would have been if they had not.  As it turned out, there was no need to produce anything reality outstanding and no reputation were marred.  Everton; West; Rees, Meagan, Gabriel, Labone, Harris; Bingham, Stevens, Young, temple, Morrissey.  Derby Co. Mathews; Richardson, McAndrew, Webster; Sexton, Waller, Bowers, Havenhand, Buxton, Stephenson, Swallow.  Referee Mr. D. Pritchard, Blackpool. 

EVERTON FAIL TO GET BOLTON GAME
Liverpool Echo & Evening Express- Monday, February 19, 1963
PROBLEM OF CUP-TIE
TWO MOVES
By Leslie Edwards
Everton have made two unsuccessful attempts to promote at Goodison tomorrow, the postponed League fixture against Bolton Wanderers.  First, it was thought the match could go on because the Sheffield United v. Bolton Cup tie, originally fixed for tonight, was off once again.  Next Bolton hoped to get Sheffield United to play the tie on Thursday instead of Wednesday so that they could fulfil the Everton fixture tomorrow.  Sheffield United who want the Cup game on Wednesday told Bolton today that the referee would not inspect the ground until tomorrow, leaving too little time for Everton and Bolton to make alternative arrangements.  So Bolton’s trip to Goodison Park is off again. 
EVERTON DENIAL
MANAGER’S STAEMENT ON BRIAN HARRIS
Everton manager, Mr. Harry Catterick, stated today.  “Any impression that we are prepared to part with Brian Harris is wrong.  Indeed nothing could be further from the truth.  “We have the highest regard for the player and consider him an essential part of the playing staff.  “There have been no inquiries for him from West Bromwich, or discussions about him.  We don’t encourage them for players we think highly off.” 

CHEMICAL TREATMENT AT GOODISON PARK
Liverpool Echo & Evening Express- Thursday, February 21, 1963
MATCH HOPES HIGH
SCOTT DOUBT
By Michael Charters
It is unlikely that Alex Scott, Everton’s Scottish international outside right brought from rangers a fortnight ago, will be able to make his home debut against Wolves, at Goodison Park on Saturday.  Manager Harry Catterick told me today that Scott, although in light training was still feeling the effects of his bruised ankle sustained in  training last week.  Scott played at Leicester last week for his first game with Everton.  One star who will be appearing before the Goodison crowd for the first time as an Everton player is left-half Tony Kay.  Since joining them from Sheffield Wednesday, Kay has played twice in away games- at Swindon and Leicester.  Mr. Catterick believes the Goodison Park pitch will be the best in the country by Saturday of the weather does not worsen –and the forecast is favourable –for slightly warmer conditions. 
EXPERIMENTS
He told me that the club has experienced this week on two patches of turf to produce the best playing conditions possible under the circumstances.  The sand has been removed from the ground, all ice has gone, and today a machine has sprayed a special chemical solution on the pitch.  This will take the bone out of the concrete surface which the great freeze has left as its legacy.  Mr. Catterick believes this will produce a little “give” in the surface and should provide a pitch on which players get a chance to display maximum entertainment rather than the chancy affair football has been on many grounds where games have been possible.  It looks certain that Everton will play their first League match at Goodison since they beat Burnley on December 15.  The team will be named tomorrow. 

STUD MARK IMPRESSIONS BEING LEFT ON GOODISON PARK PITCH
Liverpool Day Post- Friday, February 22 1963
By Horace Yates
The exciting deeds of Liverpool in the past few days while Everton have been inactive, have tended to push the Goodison Park, club right out of the picture, but they have an opportunity to come bounding back tomorrow when they feel so confident of being able to stage their home League game with Wolverhampton Wanderers that they have not even called on the referee to make an inspection.  Only a decided deterioration in the weather conditions could cause complications. 
STUD MARKS
Everton’s happy position is due to their removing the snow and ice as soon as practicable.  The application of a mild chemical solution has proved sufficient to take the bone out of the ground and my information yesterday was that for the time for weeks football boots were leaving stud mark impressions.  That is very satisfying progress and the fact that Liverpool now have two grounds in the City in playable condition after weather which has been no less severe than elsewhere suggests that any criticism of the Merseyside clubs is completely out of place.  It could be that those who sought it criticise might pause now to praise!  It is something of a curiously that Burnley were the last club to appear in Liverpool (on Wednesday) and they are also the last Division One side to have played at Goodison Park, as long ago as December 15.  Moreover the last League visitors to Liverpool were Wolves on February 16, and here they are again tomorrow.  The question of Alex Scott being able to make his debut is still finely balanced.  At the moment all that can be said is that he has just a chance.

VERNON’S POST BAG
Liverpool Daily Post- Friday, February 22 1963
THE LOVE AND HATE COLUMN
Roy Vernon, the Everton captain, is nothing if not controversial in the exclusive article he writes for the Daily Post every Friday, and an example of the emotions he arouses is given by the views of two readers. 
Mr. D.L. Evans, of Grath, Heswall Avenue Higher Bebington, writes;-
“As a regular reader of the Daily Post and a very staunch Evertonian for very many years (fifty) I feel I would like to drop you a line.  “In view of the manner in which Liverpool crushed Aston Villa and the Wolves, I am very thankful that the local derby was postponed.  “I hope it will not be played until the grounds are in a better conditions then I feel we would have a better chance of outing a stop to the Liverpool gallop especially in view of the apparently poor performance of Everton at Leicester.  “I noticed that Tommy Lawton and company also gave you to lose at Anfield.  I hope they are going to be proved wrong when the game is played.  “I also hope that Everton players are not going to allow Liverpool to get above them in the League.  “It seems to me it is up to the forwards to prevent this happening for the defence have managed to hold up their and extremely well.” 
Writing from 337 Walton Breck Road, Liverpool 4, Mr. Keith Patterson says;- “I wish to protest at the column written each week by Roy Vernon.  “Take no notice’ is the comment from Evertonians at my indignation.  “On February 8 he gives the reason as extraordinary luck enjoyed by Liverpool for the fact that Everton drew at Goodison is the last ‘derby game.  It is unlikely anything as erroneous as this will appear in print this year.  “Also when mentioning Gordon Milne’s inclusion in the England 22 he is not content with stating he was most surprised at his selection, but he also odds he has played against many better right halves that Milne.  “Each week Vernon includes such comments in his column revealing his conceited nature.  Characteristic to those familiar with his play.  “The signing of Kay was so mystery to me for a good captain is the prime need of Everton! 

EVERTON’S ROY VERNON SAYS
Liverpool Daily Post- Friday, February 22 1963
LIVERPOOL WILL NOT PULL OFF THE DOUBLE
Liverpool will not do the double.  I will give you three very good reasons why-Everton, Leicester City (in Cup as well as League) and Tottenham Hotspur.  Let us face it squarely.  They are still four points behind us and we have a game in hand.  What a cheek they have to think they can overhaul us.  I agree they have had a tremendous run and I congratulate them on it, but most good things come to an end and who can say when Liverpool will come to a full stop?  They have advanced on us because we have not been able to play our matches.  It is as simple as that.  Otherwise, we would still be way out ahead of them.  Remember, the last two games which have shot them up into the headlines have been at home, but whoever heard of a team coming to Goodison Park and winning?  In case you have forgotten I will remind you.  It was not this season- one has to go as far back as September 1961! I refer to League and F.A. Cup games, of course!  Give them credit where it is due.  They have had some good wins and one or two of them have been away from home.  It might be as well to recall that the season started in August –and that is when we started, while Liverpool were non-starters. 
NO NEED TO WORRY
A run of ten games with nine won and the other drawn, is very comforting and praise-worthy but there are 42 games in a season.  Examine the position again in a couple of months’ time and you will see what I mean.  Everton have also had their triumphant runs, with the odd reverse now and again to keep us on our mettle.  Admittedly, such runs as Liverpool have enjoyed are good for business.  I run into any number of people these days who would have you believe they are reds through and through and yet earlier in the season these same people usually had topics of conversation other than football.  Evertonians need not worry.  The last laugh will be theirs, unless I am very much mistaken.  Don’t misunderstand me.  None of us at Goodison begrudge Liverpool their recent successes.  We like to see them doing well.  It makes life interesting.  We are all hoping we are through the worst of the weather and that any time now it will be possible to plan games again.  When some clubs are able to play while others are at a standstill arguments are liable to become one-aided and out of true, but if one thing is certain it is that Merseysides in general are in for a real bean-feast before this season draws to a close. 
A VITAL DAY
Tomorrow is a vital day for Everton, for we have been supplanted from a leading position, first by Tottenham and then again by Leicester, so that we find ourselves in the totally uncustomary third place.  We want the points to help us climb to respectability (and top bonus).  Our opponents are Wolverhampton Wanderers and, as they were thrashed 4-1 by Liverpool last week the challenge is obvious.  Our supporters will not be happy with anything short of an equally clear-cut victory to silence their antagonises, and we shall be only too keen to help.  I wonder if it would be considered unkind at this juncture to point out that we have already beaten.  Wolves 2-0 at Molineux while Liverpool went down 3-2 on the same ground!  If you really want a good tip, let me give it to you.  Back Everton for the Cup and for a second best choice make it Leicester City.  Mention of Leicester reminds me that the soonest we can get back into action again the quicker we will be able to remove the nasty taste which those Leicester boys left in our mouths, but if I remember aright, Leicester whipped Liverpool 3-0 earlier in the season.  I think the Liverpool training staff are entitled to a big share of the praise for their team’s performances through all the bad weather.  Like Everton’s they have kept the players going at full presume and in spite of every conceivable type of handicap the two clubs have maintained a degree of fitness which has not been betted throughout the country. 

EVERTON PICKING UP THE THREADS AGAIN
The Liverpool Echo & Evening Express – Friday, February 22, 1963
By Michael Charters
Goodison Park, which has almost seemed like a ghost stadium for the past ten weeks, should be back in its true element again tomorrow as the scene of Everton’s first home League game since December 15.  It’s been a long time.  Evertonians who have been conscious of Liverpool’s dominations, publicity-wise, in the past fortnight or so, will now have their long-awaited chance of seeing their team in their own familiar surroundings and, most important, see if they can pick up the threads of their long, successful run, which shot them to the top of the table before the end of the last year.  since the deep freeze began on Boxing Day Everton have managed to play three games, all away, winning two Cup-ties at Barnsley and Swindon and losing in the League to Leicester City last week.  Leicester also won at Nottingham Forest on Tuesday night, which meant that for the first time since August 29 Everton dropped out of the two leading positions in the League.  They have a game in hand of Tottenham in top place, but Leicester, a point ahead, are the great threat and will make them all go in both League and Cup.  One very experienced critic who saw them beat Everton last week told me at Anfield this week that Leicester’s first half display in the game was the finest he had seen since the war.  Remember, Leicester are due at Anfield at week tomorrow –another sell-out!  Everton have taken extraordinary steps to ensure that their pitch is in as fine conditions as possible for the game against Wolves tomorrow.  The ground has been playable for over a week- the Reserves (with nine first teamers) played a Central League game on it last Saturday.  It was then concrete-hard level and heavily sanded, so that it was similar to the Anfield pitch which has been the scene of Liverpool’s three triumph in a week.  But Everton manager Harry Catterick wanted to improve on such conditions if at all possible.  This is how he went about it, as he told me yesterday. 
TURF EXPERIMENTS
He said; “I have watched a good number of games that have been played during the freeze-up on difficult, hard grounds, where football has been a chancy affair because the players have been unable to display their full skills.  It is just part of the hazards of living in a new ice-age.  Our pitch could have been just the same on Saturday, because we moved all the ice and kept it sanded.  “This week we have experienced on two-patches of turf to see if we could produce a surface on which players can play their natural game.  We then decided to remove the sand and spray the whole of the pitch with a special solution of Bowmanol, which we believe will take the bone out of the ground and give it a slightly holding surface, which will enable the players to move freely.  Our aim has been to ensure conditions where players can give maximum entertainment to the public without the problems of playing on a concrete-like pitch.  Provided there is not a freak change for the worse in the weather between now and kick-off time.  I believe we could have the finest playing surface in Britain by Saturday.  As the weather forecast is favourable for warmer conditions it seems certain that Everton’s hard work will pay off tomorrow when I expect a 50,000 plus crowd to welcome them back to Goodison Park.  The game is given even more interest by the fact that Wolves were at Anfield last Saturday and lost 4-1.  What better chance to compare contemporary form of the City’s senior teams by seeing what Everton can do tomorrow? 
SCOTT IS MISSING
The only disappointment to what could prove a great occasion will be the absence of Everton’s latest big-money star, Alex Scott.  The former Ranger and Scottish international right winger made his debut at Leicester, but within a couple of days of that game turned his ankle over in training and is not fully fit yet, although he has been in light training this week.  Mr. Catterick feels he needs a little more time to recover from his heavy-bruised ankle.  Although Scott’s home debut is thus delayed, we do have the first home appearance of Tony Kay, brought for £55,000 from Mr. Catterick’s old club, Sheffield Wednesday, a few days before the freeze-up started.  Kay has played at Swindon and Leicester, and this is the man who was obtained to play a vital role in Everton’s ambitions for honours.  His drive and energy, has capacity for inspiring his team-mates, have always been admired by Mr. Catterick.  Kay is one of the great halves of the day and now he will be on view before Goodison’s critical audience to established himself in their eyes when, previously, he has been a thorn in their side as a Hillsborough man who has caused them, and Everton teams, considerable difficulties one way and another.  Wolves have fallen away considerably since their great start to the season.  At Anfield last week I thought they were made up of Flowers and 10 others.  Flowers gave a tremendous performance playing in a well-beaten team, so tomorrow we should see three of the finest wing halves in the business with Gabriel, Kay and Flowers on view, Liverpool were clear masters of Wolves a week ago; now it is Everton’s turn to show what they can do.  To mark Everton resumption at Goodison Park, the “Echo” will publish a Sports Special editions tomorrow, with the feature being a full-page picture of Tony Kay.  These editions have become a “must” for all followers of Everton and Liverpool with their previous of the game, pictures of previous matches and special page-the pictures of the stars of Goodison and Anfield. 

TEMPLE ON RIGHT WING FOR EVERTON
Liverpool Echo & Evening Express- Friday, February 22, 1963
BINGHAM AND SCOT UNFIT
PITCH PERFECT
By Michael Charters
Derek Temple, returns to the Everton team for his first senior game of the season for the match against Wolves at Goodison Park tomorrow.  He will be at outside right.  As expected, Alex Scott, the Scottish international winger, has not recovered from the ankle injury he received in training this week.  Billy Bingham also had a knock playing in the Reserves side last Saturday and is not fully it.  Scott resumes full training tomorrow and is expected to be 100 per cent by early next week. 
OPERATION
Towards the end of last season, Temple, playing on the left wing was doing so well that it looked as though he would be first choice in that position this season.  But he had to have a cartilage operation from which he took considerable time to recover, and has had other injuries in training subsequently.  However, he showed in last week’s Reserve match that he is back in form.  The Goodison Park pitch after its chemical spraying yesterday, was in perfect conditions today.  When I asked Everton manager, Harry Catterick whether he was going to have the referee’s inspection of the ground which has become routine in the freeze-up, he replied; “No.  You might as well ask me if I would arrange an inspection before the opening of the season.  You could not get a better pitch at Goodison at any time of the year than it is at present. After their defeat at Anfield last Saturday, Wolves visit Goodison with a re-shuffled forward line.  Their defence is the same with the exception of Liverpool-born Fred Davies, who returns to goal after an elbow injury.  In the forward line, centre-forward Jimmy Murray is dropped.  Stobart leads the attack and Wharton goes on the right wing so that Broadbent and Hinton re-form as a left-wing partnership.  Everton; West; Parker, Meagan; Gabriel, Labone, Kay; Temple, Stevens, Young, Vernon, Morrissey.  Wolves; Davies; Showell, Thomson; Kirkham, Woodfield, Flowers, Wharton, Crowe, Stobart, Broadbent, Hinton.  The Everton Reserves game at Bury has been postponed. 

GOODISON PERFECT
Liverpool Daily Post –Saturday, February 23, 1963
ONLY HANDSOME VICTORY WILL SAVE EVERTON FANS FROM A TEASING
By Horace Yates
Not since December 22 have Everton and Liverpool played a game on the same day.  Now, two months later, they look like going into action together again.  Secretary Bill Dickinson yesterday described the Goodison Park pitch as “Perfect.”  When Wolves reach Goodison today they will find the most playable ground they have seen since the ice-age gripped soccer.  I was told yesterday that the pitch is yielding to a depth of nearly two inches and that conditions will be almost like those generally found in October and November. 
NEW LEADERS TODAY
The roller has been used to good effect and the ground is flat, green and inviting.  As the game wears on it may become somewhat muddy, but who is likely to complain about that after recent experience?  Because they were afraid that the chemical solution G.L. 5 might produce a sea of mud, Everton asked the Widnes manufactures if it were possible to produce something with a less severe action.  They did and the solution called Bowmanel, has fulfilled requirements perfectly.  There could be new League leaders today for if Leicester City beat Ipswich as anticipated and Tottenham have to be content with anything less than outright victory at Highbury the Leicester boys will take over.  Meanwhile the visit of Wolves at Goodison is charged with unusual interest not only because of Everton’s efforts to-reclaim a top two placing but because anything other than a spectacularly convincing triumph will leave their supporters open to a deal of ribbing from the Liverpool followers who last week saw Wolves beaten 4-1 at Anfield.  The best that anything Liverpool can do Everton can do better, is therefore promptly put to the test.  For all except a small minority of Evertonians this will be their first opportunity of seeing Tony Kay in action in Goodison blue, although he has played in a Cup game at Swindon and a League match at Leicester I hardly think they will be disappointed.  It is unfortunately that Alex Scott is not quite fit to show his skills on his home ground but obviously it is only fair to player and club that he should be 100 per cent ready for the all-important first impression. 
FPRWARD CONCERN
Wolves are hardly the team they were but apart from a slip here and there, it has not been the defence that has been found wanting so much as their attack, for six times they have failed to register at all.  Manager Stan Cullis acknowledge his cancers with this department by announcing that Murray, scorer of Wolves goal at Anfield to disposed from the centre forward position and is substituted by Stobart who has scored eight goals in the last eight matches.  Wharton and Hinton are restored on the wings with Broadbent back at inside left, and Liverpool-born Davies returns to keep goal after injury.  Whether or not this brings about the desired improvement I cannot see Wolves succeeding where so many have failed.  Derek Temple is not without his admirers, and the form he showed last season encouraged the belief that he might well prove to be the readymade answer to requirement on the wing.  He has now recovered from his cartilage operation and if he can resume as he left off at Arsenal in the last game of last personal.  Temple will pose a selection problems.  Everton; West; Parker, Meagan; Gabriel, Labone, Kay; Temple, Stevens, Young, Vernon, Morrissey.  Wolves; - Davies; Showell, Thomson; Kirkham, Woodfield, Flowers; Wharton, Crowe, Stobart, Broadbent, Hinton. 
RING GOES HOME
Tommy Ring who joined Everton for £12,000 from Clyde in 1960, broke his leg in the second half at Chelsea the following October and never played for Everton’s senior side again, was yesterday transfeered by Barnsley to Aberdeen. 

A GREAT OCCASION AT GOODISON
Liverpool Echo & Evening Express – Saturday, February 23, 1963
FIRST HOME MATCH SINCE DECEMBER 15
By Michael Charters
There could be a crowd of more than 50,000 to welcome back Everton to Goodison Park this afternoon.  It has seemed an age- an ice age, in fact – since they beat Burnley at home on December 15 for their last home League appearance.  During the freeze-up of the past ten weeks, they have played three times, all away, having beaten Swindon and Barnsley in the Cup and losing to Leicester in the League last week.  That defeat, plus Leicester’s mid-week victory at Nottingham Forest, has put Everton in third place for the first time since August 29 and the immediate intention is to regain a spot in the leading two which was theirs for so long before the turn of the year.  This match against Wolves, beaten at Anfield 4-1 a week ago, could be a great occasion at Goodison Park.  The pitch is reported to be in perfect conditions after spraying with the chemical used on the Widnes R.L. ground.  Manager Harry Catterick’s view of playing conditions is that the ground is as good as one could expect at any time of the year.  He expects there to be sufficient “give” in the surface to enable players to show maximum skills without the fear of tumbling on the bone-hard grounds which have been the general pattern in the handful of matches possible during the big freeze-up.  He explained that it was the club’s intention to take the chance element out of football in the freeze, because only in that way could the crowd hope to have entertainment in the fullest sense.  The club appear to have succeeded and their wonderful efforts in getting the pitch fit are part of the background which makes to-day’s match particularly notable.  It is a pity, however, that the Goodison fans will have to wait for the home debut of the club’s latest big-money buy- Alex Scott, the Scottish international outside right, brought from Rangers a fortnight ago for £40,000.  The ankle injury he received in training has kept him in light training this week. 
OUT OF THE PICTURE
His place on the right wing is taken by Derek Temple, the local boy, will be playing his first senor game of the season.  Temple had some brilliant matches on the left wing towards the end of last season, but a cartilage operation, followed by other injuries has kept him out of the picture until recently.  He played well in the reserve match last week, the same game in which Irish international Billy Bingham took a knock which kept him out of the running as replacement for Scott and has given Temple his big chance today.  But the Goodison crowd, starved of soccer for so long will have the chance of seeing for the first time Everton’s other new man, Tony Kay, brought just before the deep freeze began for £55,000 from Sheffield Wednesday, Kay is known to them as one of the greatest wing halves in the business bought to fit into Mr. Catterick’s plans for his team to add that extra zip and energy from the vital wing half role. 
FORWARD SHUFFLE
I know that Kay is looking forward to the game today more than any other Everton player.  He is especially anxious to make the right impression before his new fans; he can depend upon it that if he succeeds he will get the same sort of rapturous support the other Everton stars have been receiving in this season when the chase for honours looks like paying off.  Wolves’ who were well mastered by Liverpool a week ago, have made several changes.  Liverpool-born Fred Davies returns in goal after injury, while there has been a forward re-shuffle.  Murray is dropped from centre forward with Stobart taking over.  The left wing will be Broadbent and Hinton with Wharton moving to the right wing.  The switch of Broadhurst from the left wing to inside left is the most significant change for this man is one of the finest inside men of the day when he hits his form.  Wolves were not impressive against Liverpool.  There changes could have the effect of giving their attack more penetration which they sadly lacked at Anfield.  The match will give locals the chance of comparing form between Everton and Liverpool.  Can Everton improve on Liverpool’s top-class showing over Wolves one week later?  That question should be answered today when the Blues come back to Goodison.  Everton; West; Parker, Meagan; Gabriel, Labone, Kay; Temple, Stevens, Young, Vernon, Morrissey.  Wolves; - Davies; Showell, Thomson; Kirkham, Woodfield, Flowers; Wharton, Crowe, Stobart, Broadbent, Hinton.  

EVERTON FAIL TO FIND PRE-FREEZE UP FORM
Liverpool Echo & Evening Express- Saturday, February 23, 19633
WOLVES TAKE POINT IN GOALLESS DRAW
EVERTON 0, WOLVES 0
By Michael Charters
Everton; West; Parker, Meagan; Gabriel, Labone, Kay; Temple, Stevens, Young, Vernon, Morrissey.  Wolverhampton Wanderers;- Davies; Showall, Thomson; Kirkham, Woodfield, Flowers; Wharton, Crowe, Broadbent, Hinton.  Referee; Mr. A. Holland (Barnsley).  There was a great crowd to welcome Everton back to Goodison for their first home game since December 15.  The pitch presented a fine playing surface with the players being able to run and turn with complete freedom on slightly holding going.  In the opening stages Everton looked a little rusty although they did more of the attacking than Wolves, whose long passing style was comfortably held by the Everton defence.  The first shot of the match came from Gabriel, who put the ball over the bar following a free kick by Meagan.  Young, who looked in great form with excellent distribution of the ball, almost got through but Flowers, very much the strong man in the Wolves side cleverly intercepted. 
BRILLIANT SAVE
It was Young was opened the way again with a great through pass for Stevens to race on to, but a brilliant save by Davies, who dived at Stevens’ feet, ended the threat.  The first Wolves attack of any note came after 12 minutes, with Stobart putting the ball wide of the post.  Kay was impressing his new fans with some fine work, particularly in defence, and he intercepted a free kick from Thomson to send Morrissey away with a first rate pass.  The winger sent a cross-field ball to Young, who cleverly beat Woodfield, but as Davies came out the Everton centre forward was badly angled and hit the bouncing ball high over the bar.  A misunderstanding between Gabriel and Meagan allowed Wharton the freedom of the ball but the winger then hit his shot wide when he should have scored.  Gabriel seemed to be badly injured in a tackle with Kirkham, and after attention on the field with his right calf being rubbed he limped off.  But he was back within a minute and it was just as well for Everton, for he had been one of their stars so far.  Young was badly fouled by Shaw five yards outside the penalty area, but Vernon’s free kick went straight to Kirkham, who was able to clear without trouble.  With more than 25 minutes gone Everton’s forwards were still trying to find their form.  Despite Young’s activity the rest of the line was doing very little.  One feature pleasing the crowd was Young’s brilliance.  He made a great run down the right wing to beat young Woodfield comfortably and then slid a pass inside to Temple, whose shot was brilliantly turned round the post by Davies.  West had not been busy and the first shot he had to have for some time was a 30-yard swinging effort from Flowers, which he took quite comfortably. 
CHANCE MISSED
After one Wolves attack Vernon broke away in his own half and took the ball 40 yards before giving Temple’s great chance.  The winger, instead of hitting the ball first time, tried to beat Thomson and lost possession.  It was Everton’s best opening so far.  Wolves appealed for a penalty when a cross by Hinton struck Labone on the upper arm as he went down low to intercept.  The referee ruled ball to hand, but it was a close decision.  At the other end Wolves were equally fortunate when a strong shot from Morrissey hit Showell and was deflected right into the arms of Davies. 
KAY PROMINENT
After an excellent bit of work from Kay, who foxed Crowe by turning the ball back hit a great pass to Stevens who overran the ball when he was almost through.  Then Kay burst into the picture gain by dribbling through practically to the goal line and turning the ball back perfectly to Young, who steadied himself but still shot wide from no more than 10 yards.  Young was robbed of a goal by the save of the match from Davies.  Again Kay played a leading part in midfield by sending Gabriel away and Gabriel’s pass to Young was inch perfect.  The centre forward wheeled round and seemed to have played the ball away from the goalkeeper but Davies flung himself across to make a partial save and Showell cleared at the expense of a corner.  Just before half-time Davies made another first-class save from Stevens, after a close-range shot almost seemed to have beaten him.  It was the work of Davies mainly which had kept Everton goalless in the first half, but Everton’s display had not been good generally despite the fact that they had made 10 attacks to each one Wolves could manage.  Half-time; Everton nil, Wolves nil.  Gabriel was limping slightly when he returned after the interval and Everton were certainly fortune to have his services because he and Kay, with Young, had been the only one to really impress in the first half.  Crowe neatly eluded Labone and turned the ball out to Wharton, whose first-time shot whistled just over the top.  On the few occasions Wolves had attacked in this game they had revealed the Everton defence as being obviously short of match practice.  The excellent Davies made another fine save, when Stevens, with a neat flick gave Vernon a wonderful opening, Vernon seemed slow to take it, with the result that Davies was able to come out and another shot when he should have had no chance at all.  Everton seemed to have grounds for a penalty as Kirkham appeared to handle when Stevens shot, but the ball ran out to Young and the referee allowed play to go with Young’s shot being diverted for a corner.  From Morrissey’s kick, Davies made yet another save from Stevens’ header.  Certainly the ball was not running for Everton and the Wolves defence had been lucky not to concede at least one goal.  A beautiful pass from Vernon to Young sent the centre forward racing away and he turn the ball back perfectly for the incoming Vernon, whose instant shot was just over with the Wolves defence wide open.  At this stage Everton at last seemed to have found their attacking rhythm.  A series of attacks had the Wolves defence at full stretch. 
FORTUNATE
It was West Ham to be fortunate when he seemed to misjudge a low centre from Broadbent and with Stobart and Crowe trying to get in a shot from close in the ball rebounded back to the goalkeeper.  Everton were inclined to keep the ball a little too close at times and Flowers was reading the game so well time after time he stepped in to intercept when Everton looked as though they were breaking through.  Kay was continuing to delight with his play.  Some of his cross-field passes were perfect, but the Everton wingers could make nothing of the Wolves full backs.  Kay was a dominating figure this half and he will be able to look back on this very ordinary game with complete satisfaction.
SUPERB DRIBBLE
Young flashed back into the game with a superb dribble displaying all his arts, but when he crossed the ball it was the blonde head of Flowers who turned it away for a corner.  Thomson recovered brilliantly after temple seemed to have the better of him, but the Everton winger just did not have the speed to cash in on the opening.  Everton had certainly been disappointing but there had been first-class performances from Kay, Gabriel and Young.  I certainly thought Everton deserved a penalty when Flowers brought down Morrissey, but the referee was right on the spot, and turned aside Everton’s appeal.  This was the first time Everton had failed to score at home this season.  Final; Everton nil, Wolves nil. 

EVERTON STAFF MADE CHOICE OF CONDITIONS
Liverpool Echo & Evening Express- Saturday, February 23, 1963
By Alex Young
Many people expected a goal rush when Everton fielded such an experienced side against Derby County, in a Central League fixture at Goodison Park last Saturday, and I think there were two main reasons why this did not materialise.  Firstly, Derby, like so many sides with everything to gain and nothing to lose, produced something extra and, secondly, we adopted the wrong tactics in the first half.  Up to the interval we tried our normal style playing football right through from defence, but the hard pitch was against this type of game and movements frequently broke down simply through a bad bounce of the ball.  At half-time, it was decided that the defence should use the long ball more and wait for the Derby defence to make errors.  This of course, was what eventually happened and we were able to score four times.  During the week I have been asked whether I thought it fair that Everton should turn out such an experienced team against a side like Derby Reserves and my answer is that, it was perfectly all right because both teams benefited from the match.  As I have made clear before, the Everton players have been training extremely hard during the freeze-up, but after that defeat at Leicester it was obvious we lacked match practice.  Thus, against Derby, we were able to get in 90 minutes of this type of practice, while the Derby boys must surely have gained in experience and confidence from doing so well against us. 
WHERE ELSE
Playing a Central League game before a crowd of very nearly 13,000 is an unusual experience, and where else in England would one find 67,000 spectators watching a Football League game and a Central League match in the same town at the same time.  The size of the crowd must have impressed the Derby players and so too must be sporting attitude of the Goodison fans, who was never slow to show their appreciation of a clever piece of football from our visitors.   Man who impressed me in the Derby side, incidentally, was left half Phillip Waller a most promising young player on this showing.  For this afternoon’s match against Wolverhampton, we were given a choice of playing on an untreated surface at Goodison Park, or on a pitch treated with a special chemical.  One morning this week, manager Harry Catterick asked us to try two stretches of turf at Goodison, one specially treated by chemical and the other not, and asked us which one we preferred. 
OUR VERDICT
The verdict was unanimous in favour of the treated surface, which was softer gave a better grip; and most important of all, appeared more suitable to pour normal style of play.  Luckily with the improvement in the Goodison pitch, we have been able to get in much more ball work this week but that defeat at Leicester has meant Tom Egglestone has really put us through our paces in preparation for the climb we now have to make to get back on top of the First Division.  The Football League Management Committee this week made several proposals for improving football, and while I think that the move to cut the size of the divisions is a step in the right direction, I am disappointed that there has been no more to shorten the season.  My view is that a top-class player needs break of about three months from competitive soccer between seasons, to enable him to recover both physically and mentally.  Playing, top-class soccer regularly is a great strain and it could be that if we continue to have a short close season, teams which have been fighting for honours (and consequently playing under more strain than the rest)one season, may take some time to find their true form when the following campaign starts. 
SCOTS SIDE
Alex Scott’s arrival at Goodison Park has increased the strength of the Scottish contingent on Merseyside and the way things are going it won’t be long before we are able to field a side capable of challenging the full Scottish international team.  I have been taking stock of the players we could already turn out in a Merseyside Scottish X1 and I must say that the team we could field at the moment looks quite impressive.  How’s this?  Lawrence (Liverpool) Parker (Everton), Bobby Thomson (Liverpool); Stevenson (Liverpool); Yeats (Liverpool) George Thomson (Everton), Scott (Everton), Gabriel (Everton), St. John (Liverpool), myself Wallace (Liverpool).  You may not agree with all the positioning, but I think you will agree that whatever the formation.  It is a pretty useful side.  The best wishes of the Everton players go with Brian Labone when he travels to Paris next week to play for England against France.  England must win this game to stay in the European Nations Cup and my forecast is that they will be successful. 

EVERTON BONUS CUT IS NOT UNKIND
Liverpool Echo- Monday February 25 1963
A BRILLIANT KAY LET DOWN BY OFF-TARGET ATTACK
EVERTON 0, WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS 0
A new king was crowned at Goodison Park on Saturday, while the crown of an undisputed favourite moarch slipped to a disturbingly precarious angle, for while Tony Kay, £50,000 usurper of Brian Harris’ position, not only silenced the snipers converted the lukewarm and charmed the faithful, Alex Young suffered one of those days that stunned even his staunchest allies into a disbelieving silence.  The brilliant promptings and invitation to others were still there, but as a finisher, when it was most needed too, Young was sadly found wanting.  Young was not the only sinner by any means but the chances be spurned were the most clear cut, inviting and easy to take and in consequence the prestige victory Goodison fans hungered for as a spoke in the wheel of their jubilant rivals across the park, was not only denied them but for one long, lingering moment five minutes from the close when Wharton was confronted with a Young-like opportunity, the season’s unbeaten home record troubled in the balance.  Wharton could have picked his spot, and instead shot straight at West, so that the prospect of a result which would have been a travesty of justice, disintegrated, for this Wolves’ attack, surely the least enterprising and dangerous in a long list of that club’s forward lines, had not the merit to earn the chance of atonement. 
FORWARDS GULITY
As both Tottenham and Leicester won nothing Everton could have done would have helped them out of third place but the unwarranted loss of a home point means that if Everton convert their game in hand into maximum points they can only dispute leadership with Spurs, instead of going right ahead.  The crowd bonus, for loss of a top two place on Saturday, dropped from what would have been £64 to £48.  The forwards at least will find few sympathisers.  Why did Everton fail to score a single goal against opposition which last week conceded four to Liverpool?  The answer largely is that Young, in particularly, Vernon, and in a lesser degree the reminder of the attack, were guilty of most uncharacteristic misses.  Had a charge of shooting without due care and attention been levelled against them all must have pleaded guilty and sought mercy.  Some, kindlier intentioned, point out in mitigation that the Wolves defence of a week ago and that of Saturday, were as different as summer from winter, and if that claim were not examined more closely solace might be gained where none was merited.  The plain fact of the matter is that the Wolves defence, courageous and businesslike as it was, could not be said to be one again better than the Everton attack made it appear.  Flowers was magnificent, Woodfield almost equally so and Thomson and Davies precious little behind them, but, how much of their brilliance stemmed from the dilatoriness, indecisiveness and inaccuracy of the men who had skill enough to have tormented them beyond belief?  Yet they popped out of their shells only just long enough to threaten a complete take-over and then popped back without doing any lethal damage. 
AIR OF DISBELIEF
Although operating on what was undoubtedly the finest pitch prepared by any club in England since the great freeze –up began, Everton bearing in mind the disappointments at Leicester, emphasised by the failures against Wolves are plainly emerging from the grip of the ice-age even more sluggishly than grounds.  This was a somewhat now, less attractive and less potent Everton than we have grows accustomed to seeing and the stunned silence of the crowd as it left the ground spoke for itself.  The thousands who had some to clear and even exult left almost in an atmosphere of disbelief.  If the Everton attack had not spluttered so ineffectively the final score might well have been 6-1.  The pressure is on now until the end of the season and unless Everton can answer it with the achievement of normally, so much of the ground, so magnificently tilled may prove barren at harvest time.  The shock realisation that only their best is good enough to combat eager challengers could help to restore Everton to their throne.  Without the glittering success of the restless Tony Kay, who did as much as any individual could to shake over-anxious colleagues back into a state of self confidence, the almost equally versatile and vigorous display of Jimmy Gabriel, and immaculate defensive exhibition from Mick Meagan and the flawless command exhibited by Gordon West.  It would not have been easy to find any large-sized crumbs of comfort left from the visit of the hungry Wolves. 
PRECISE KAY
Alike in defence when he made interceptions seem child’s play, successful tackles the most natural thing in the world and precision passes that cried out loud for positive reward.  Kay hammered home the lesson that when a good man is supplanted by a better, the outcome can and should be most rewarding.  Everton have spent wisely and well on the ex-Sheffield Wednesday captain had even if Alex Scott when his turn comes to step into the picture, proves as acceptable an acquisition as Kay, the call on the well-thumbed club cheque book may still not be complete. A really punchy attacker is a prime need.  A stirring come-back at Villa next week may restore the position to one of eager optimism, but another doughty defence will not be overcome unless those forwards rediscover their old urgently and power of punch.  Too much fiddling and finessing closes gaps far quicker than they can be created and if the Wolves set back has driven the lesson home in the right quarters it may still prove to be the cold douche to shock them back into more realistic activity.  Morrissey was not the worst of the line, and though Temple from time to time gave glimpses of brilliance promised for another day he quite clearly is hardly sufficiently hardened after his long lay-off for an unrestricted tilt against opponents who regard the subjection of Everton as an achievement in itself. 
MELAANCHOLY REWARD
With Stobart almost entirely innocuous as leader of the Wolves attack, it was left to the rapid raids of Hinton to expose Everton to their greatest danger.  The Wolves’ defence was certainly well drilled and with the sort of encouragement given to it by the indecisiveness of the forwards opposing them, at times looked really good.  They worked the offside trap to Everton’s discomfiture and yet, thanks to the cunning and quick thinking of Kay, this plank in their platform should have been their Achilles heel.  When the rearguard swept forward as one in went, Kay right through them to the by-line.  Over came the ball, perfectly placed for Young with ample time to drive his shot into goal at leisure, and instead outside it went and Wolves escaped.  It was a melancholy reward for the smartest bit of quick thinking produced in the entire match.  The only previous occasion Everton have shared a goalless draw was at Tottenham-but what a difference.  Everton; West; Parker, Meagan; Gabriel, Labone, Kay; Temple, Stevens, Young, Vernon, Morrissey.  Wolves; Davies; Showell, Thomson; Kirkham, Woodfield, Fowers, Wharton, Crowe, Stobart, Broadbent, Hinton.  Referee; Mr. A. Holland (Barnsley).  Attendance 62,616

IS PEACOCK MAN FOR EVERTON?
Liverpool Daily Post- Monday, February 25 1963
By Horace Yates
It is not surprising to find Everton’s name associated with an interest in various players, mainly forwards, for their ambitions and aspirations to build a super side are well known, but if that be true that Middlesbrough have now reached the stage at which they might be prepared (if the incentive were big enough) to part with international centre forward Alex Peacock, then, I suggest this is where Everton really should get down to business with a will.  If you were permitted a glance at the short list of players which Mr. Harry Catterick is reputed to have of players who might stir him into activity if they became available, I would be surprised if Peacock’s name did not figure on it.  This strong, rangy leader who looks to good in the Middlesbrough line, would look far better in Everton’s attack, for he has the height, which at present is so sadly lacking.  So often do opposing defences tower over the Everton forwards in front of goal that dangerous centres are robbed of their menace.  With Peacock there, but position would be transformed and I feel sure that the so obvious talents of Alex Young could be employed to the advantage of player and club in another berth.  No Everton forward uses the ball so brilliantly, but striking has not proved to be one of his greatest assets. 

CHANCES CAME AND WENT –SO DID A POINT
Liverpool Echo & Evening Express – Monday, February 25, 1963
By Michael Charters
Has the ice-age break in the season “broken” Everton’s championship chances?  That must have been the question in the minds of many of the 62,000 people at Goodison on Saturday-and there was good reason for it.  Returning to their own ground for the first time since December 15, following the reverse at Leicester, the huge expectant crowd were hoping Everton would take up where they had left off, steaming serenely at the head of the table, before the big freeze began.  One can appreciate, therefore, the fans’ disappointment at the team’s inability to defeat Wolves and the goal-less draw was something of an anti-climax when so much had been expected.  But in retrospect, it is worth reflecting how different it would have been had just one of the dozen scoring chances been accepted.  At times Everton looked as rusty s the colour of their new goal-nets.  They were obviously suffering from lack of match practice, and, for me it seemed they were trying a little too hard to make again before the critical fans.  The ball did not run kindly for them, but it must be said they did not attain their usual fluent, fluid style, which has brought so much success at Goodison this season.  Their rather unimpressive display disappointed their supporters who have been sated with success at home, so that anything less than goals galore automatically stamps the game as ordinary.  They were still many fine features in Everton’s performance, but in a phrase, they did not cash in on their chances.  It must not be forgotten, too, that Wolves played an excellent defensive game.  On a black and tan surface, with the light sprinkling of sand being churned into the holding and coloured soil, Wolves looked a better side than they had done a week earlier on the concrete-like Anfield pitch. They appreciated the softer ground and their big strong defenders became more confident and dominating as the game progressed. 
MAGNIFICENT FLOWERS
Left-half Flowers played magnificently.  He gave an international-class performance, his reading of tactics and the play being perfect.  His interception.  His interceptions, timed to a split second frequently broke up Everton’s attacks, and he was a very busy man because Everton mounted 10 raids to everyone Wolves produced.  He had excellent support from the other wing-half, Kirkham, whose positional play and strong tackling kept Vernon sp quiet.    Full-backs Thomson and Showell were too good for Temple and Morrissey, and with Davies, the Liverpool-born goalkeeper, making a series of great, if sometimes fortunate, saves, the Wolves’ defence survived a gruelling with considerable composure and effectiveness.  This improved Wolves performance, defensively, may have been lost on the many Liverpudlians in the crowd who came to Goodison with the game at Bolton being postponed, but they were quick to remark that their team had beaten Wolves 4-1 the previous week.  There were a number of fierce verbal arguments on the terraces, I understand, but who can blame the Anfield fans for making their point?  Few of the Everton players will be satisfied with this game.  They gave their all and some of them looked very tired by the end, but individual successes could be counted on the fingers of one hand.  The most pleasing feature was Kay’s display. 
ORDEAL FOR KAY
The background to Kay’s arrival at Goodison to displace Brian Harris, who had played so very well all season, made this home debut for the red-haired wing-half something of a personal.  He deserves all credit for coming through triumphantly.  His stamina drive, and astute use of the ball coupled with his devastating tackling stamped him as Everton’s man of the match and almost level with Flowers’s display. In the second half particularly, he never put a foot wrong, so it is a pity that the forwards could not have scored to make his debut day even more memorable with a clean-cut victory.  Certainly Kay gave his attack a sufficient supply of the ball, together with Gabriel, who also played finely, to have ensured success.  When Gabriel limped off in the first half with cramp in his right leg, it looked as though the best department of the side was going to lose one of its leading figures.  He was back within a minute and produced the useful 100 per cent effort, and Everton would have been struggling without the constant urging they received from their wing halves.  It is rare to have to note that Labone was rather uncertain at times, so that when Wolves attacked there was an unusual dithering in the Everton defence.  Parker and Meagan did well, however, although most Wolves threats came from their two young, fast wingers.  West was inactive for long spells, but when the call for action came late in the game, he made two great saves from Hinton and Stobart.  He was brave and competent and saved his side from defeat when Everton attacks had finally been beaten off for the last time. 
THOSE MISSED CHANCES
Young will come in for his share of criticism for missing three great chances in the first half.  After Kay had given him a wonderful opening he shot wide with his left foot and went down on one knew to bow his head in amazement at failing to find the net.  Again, from a Kay-Gabriel link-up, Young hit his shot well enough only to see Davies producing the save of the game to half another the ball in what must have been an instinctive lunge to his right.  But we should also remember some of the brilliant things Young did in making openings for others.  His ball craft had young Woodfield in a maze at times, but Temple, Stevens, and Vernon all missed with Young-made chances similar to those which the centre forward had failed with himself.  Stevens, whose hard-working endeavours made him Everton’s most consistent forward, also out one on a plate for Vernon, but the Everton skipper had one of those days when his jinking, wheeling, side-stepping dribblers were gobbled up in the massively effective Wolves tackling.  He tried to do too much individually and paid the penalty.  Altogether, then, not one of the Everton’s best days.  With Scott fit again this week, the team should return to full strength, and having got over the disappointment of dropping this home point there seems little doubt that they will resume their chase for honours.  A defeat at Leicester- probably the best side in England at the moment-and a home draw does not mean that vast cracks have appeared in the Everton armour.  There is still a long way to go.
EVERTON V SPURS TICKETS
Everton announce today that their match against Tottenham at Goodison Park on April 20 will be all-ticket.  Stand tickets at 8s and 7s will be available from tomorrow from the club offices (10 a.m to 5 p.m) from Jack Sharp’s Whitechapel, and Baker and Baker Estate Offices, Hamilton Street, Birkenhead.  Paddock tickets (42 6d) and ground tickets (3s) will be on  sale next Thursday at 6 p.m from the Goodison Road  turnstiles (Church end) queuing down Gwladys Street, Bullens Road and Walton Road and Walton Lane (towards Church Road) Boy’s pen tickets (1s) will be on sale from Goodison Road (Park end). 

EVERTON FIELD USUAL RESERVES
Liverpool Echo & Evening Express- Monday, February 25, 1963
‘DERBY’ GAME AT GOODISON
GABRIEL BLOW
By Leslie Edwards
Everton are fielding their customary reserve side for the Central League match tonight against Liverpool at Goodison Park (7.30).  This dispels any hope of Mr. Catterick giving first-team players a run as he did a week last Saturday in order to give them match practice.  Jimmy Gabriel is likely to missed the game for a week or two.  He damaged a leg in the match against Wolves and played the second half under great difficulty.  Alex Scott the signing from Rangers who has yet to make his home debut may be in training this week but it is doubtful if he will be ready for the match against Villa in Birmingham on Saturday.  Everton are having difficulty in re-arranging League matches because every date fixed is liable to be upset by Cup games or replay.  Everton Reserves; Dunlop; Rees, Thomson; Harris, Heslop, Sharples, Shaw, Tryer, Wignall, Webber, Veall. 

McILROY; EVERTON NOT INTERESED
Liverpool Daily Post- Tuesday, February 26 1963
BURNLEY STAR; I OBEYED ORDERS AT LIVERPOOL
“Everton have no interest in McIlroy whatever,” said Manager Harry Catterick when asked last night if Everton would move in for Jimmy McIlroy Burnley’s transfer-listed Irish international inside forward.  Earlier, a shocked McIlroy had claimed that if he had been listed because of his performance in the Cup replay against Liverpool last week, he was playing to orders.  McIlroy said; “I went to Turf Moor today for training and was called into the manager’s office.  Mr. Potts told me that following a meeting of the directors it had been decided to place me on the transfer list Mr. Potts said that he had been disappointed with my performances recently, and that was the reason.  “I felt absolutely bewildered and shocked about the whole matter.  It came from out of the blue and I have to have time to think about it.  “I don’t know whether Mr. Potts meant that he was disappointed in my performance in the Cup replay at Liverpool last week, but if that was the case I was playing defensively because I was obeying orders.”  Mr. Harry Potts admitted that the move had not been made at the player’s request but when passed for further information he replied, “I have no comment, it is a club matter.”  McIlroy is one of the greatest tacticians of modern football and although he will be thirty-two in October he might commanded a transfer fee of £35,000 compared with the £7,000 Burnley paid to Glentoran when they signed him in 1960. 
LILL GOES ON TRANSFER LIST
Plymouth Argyle placed their left winger Mickey Lill on the transfer list last night at his own request.  They paid Everton £13,500 for Lill seven months ago.  He recently lost his first team place to Peter McParland a £13,000 buy from Wolves.  Lill has scored seven goals in twenty League games for Plymouth. 

RESERVES DERBY AT GOODISON
Liverpool Daily Post- Tuesday February 26, 1963
LIVERPOOL ATTACK HAD THE EDGE
Everton Reserves 0, Liverpool Reserves 3
By Paul O’Brien. 
Liverpool Reserve scored a well deserved victory in the Central League derby at Goodison Park last night because they always looked more at home than Everton as he sanded pitch and also produced the more methodical football.  Brian Harris playing at right half in the Everton side had a disappointing match for together with his wing half colleague George Sharples he was at full strength all evening trying to deter the clever scheming of Liverpool’s inside men Scott and Wallace.  Arrowsmith led the Liverpool attack will and gave Heslop the Everton centre- half, an uncomfortable time while backs Rees and Thomson can claim they had a great deal of success against Liverpool’s Graham and A’Court.  Arrowsmith scored two of Liverpool’s goals both after defensive errors, while the other one came from A’Court just after half-time.  This was a clever goal for after Wallace had pushed the ball through the centre Dunlop came out to dive at A’Court’s feet and he appeared to have won the duel for the ball.  However, as he and A’Court fell to the ground the ball spun loose and the Liverpool winger lying flat on his back was able to hook it into the net. 
PASS TOO MANY
Everton played some clever football but always appeared to make a pass too many and Furnell in the Liverpool goal, only had three real shots to save-from George Thomson, Graham, and Wignall.  Best shot came mid-way through the first half when Liverpool’s youth international right half Smith crashed a cross from ‘Court into the top of the Everton net from twenty yards.  It looked a great goal, but the referee thought otherwise and gave a free kick to Everton presumably because another Liverpool forward was in an offside position.  In Liverpool’s defence Scottish left back Bobby  Thomson looked most impressive while wing halves Smith and Ferns always moved the ball quicker than their opposite numbers.  Lawlor played his usual confident stopper-type centre half game and right back Jones gave Veall little room in which to move.  In the Everton attack Webber tried hand and Shaw showed one or two nice touches during the second half.  Attendance 8,016. 

TRANSFER DEAD-LINE LOOMS NEAR...
Liverpool Echo- Wednesday February 27 1963
WITH WIGNALL ON LIST EVERTON MAY SWOOP AGAIN
Says Jack Rowe
Everton’s decision yesterday to put reserve centre forward Frank Wignall on the transfer list at his own request will pose the question  among their fans as to whether they intend to make a move in an effort to bolster up the scoring punch which has been missing in the last two First Division games.  If Wignall goes quickly- and several clubs have been interested in him recently- it means the club have only Webber as a recognised centre forward deputy and he has not had the experience which would enable him to make a real mark in the first team if he had to come in.  It would seem therefore that the decision to concede to Wignall’s request-the player felt his opportunities at Goodison Park were too limited- would not have been made unless the club had other ideas and it could be significant that the dead-line for transfer is only a little over a fortnight away- March 16.  The aim at Goodison Park has been clearly blazoned- success in the League or Cup or both- and with that in mind Everton supporters are bound to wonder if this latest move means that further strength is to be sought for the final run-in.  Inevitably there is no connect from Everton on the signing prospects for the future but it will be pass printing if the decision to release Wignall is not a portent.  Wignall has been with Everton since May, 1958 when he was signed from Horwich R.M.I and has played many games in the first team scoring the goal in the 1-1 draw at Manchester City.  Southampton were one of the clubs said to be interested in him last season and Wrexham who have a chance of attaining the Second Division will make as inquiry,  Prospects for Everton’s match at Aston Villa on Saturday are not promising.  Indeed the odds last night were against it being played because there is still a covering of ice on the pitch and Villa manager Joe Mercer was already looking around to try and arrange another game for his first team.  If, by any chance, the game is on, Everton may be without goalkeeper Gordon West, who has a throat infection, in which case Dunlop would almost certainly come in. 

EVERTON GAME IN DOUBT
Liverpool Echo & Evening Express- Wednesday, February 27, 1963
PITCH MAY BE UNFIT
AT VILLA PARK
By Leslie Edwards
Everton’s game against Aston Villa in Birmingham on Saturday is in doubt owing to the state of the pitch.  It is hoped that Fulham will come to Goodison Park next Wednesday to play the postponed League fixture which had tentatively been fixed for May 11.  Gordon West, the Everton goalkeeper, who has been out of training with a throat infection, is much better.  He attended the ground today but was not asked to train.  Statements that Everton are interested in Peacock, the Middlesbrough centre-forward and Clarke, a forward with Shrewsbury Town are described in one word by manager Harry Catterick- “Fictitious.”

TELECRITT
Liverpool Echo - Wednesday 27 February 1963
I hope that it’s title did not deter many viewers from watching last night’s B.B.C., documentary “European Centre Forward.” For this was far from being concerned merely with football.  It was a perceptive look at a fascinating slice of Italian life, at a city rich in 20th century architectural follies as well as fine footballers.  So often, in fact, were the cameras turned away from football and the title role’s Gerry Hitchens that from time to time I wondered just what the football fans were making of a programme which fed them short snatches of soccer in between longer looks at the City of Turin.  The documentary went to a lot of trouble to show us how different Turin football is from soccer as we know it in England.  But as the same time this demonstrated just now much Merseyside and Turin have in common.  Turin’s football is backed by star-buying tycoons, we were told.  Well, we’ve got Everton’s John Moores.  We were told how an Italian city hangs its head in shame when its team loses.  When Liverpool lost a match recently you’d have thought certain acquaintances of none were in mourning.  But the greatest similarity between Turin and Merseyside emerged when one of the Italian tycoons described how it was difficult to say just how a citizen decided which of the two local teams he would support… he just seemed to be born to support one or other of them. 

EVERTON RESERVES STRUGGLE
Liverpool Daily Post- Thursday, February 28 1963
BINGHAM GOAL IN LAST FEW MINUTES
EVERTON RESERVES 1, CHESTERFIELD RESERVES 0
Everton beat Chesterfield in a disappointing Central League match at Goodison Park yesterday the only goal five minutes from time, coming from Irish international, Billy Bingham.  It was the result of one of the few pieces of top-class football seen during the afternoon the ball travelling almost the length of the field before Temple cleverly placed it between centre-half Blakey and left-back Sears.  Bingham who had signalled to Temple that this was the pass to make, nipped in to collect the ball and shoot it home as Osborne advanced from the Chesterfield goal.  Chesterfield who turned out their full Fourth Division side had Everton struggling quite a bit in the first half and had it not been a particularly good saves by Dunlop from a header by McQuarie they would have had a half time lead.  Everton increased the tempo of their play after the interval but their shooting which had been weak in the first half showed no sign of improved.  Webber and Temple were the main offenders but the other forwards wee all guilty of at least one had error.  Goalkeeper Osborne left-back Beare and right-half Logie were outstanding in defence for Chesterfield but Everton made thing easier for them by building the ball two long and frequently being caught in possession.  Chesterfield’s fault was that after good approach work they often crowded the middle of the field so much that their players were almost falling over one another.  Outside-right Duncan was the outstanding and if his colleagues had shown half as much intelligence is looking for and using the open space the Derbyshire ought to have won.  Brian Harris continues to struggle to find the 1962 form although we did catch a glimpse of him at his best just after half time when two defence-splitting passes should have produced goals for Temple.  Thomson too failed to display his top form and it was Sharples and Rees who were Everton’s most reliable defenders.  Attendance 3,173

LITTLE CHANCE OF GAME FOR EVERTON
Liverpool Echo & Evening Express – Thursday, February 29, 1963
INSPECTION TOMORROW
AT ASTON VILLA
By Leslie Edwards
Chances of Everton getting a game at the Aston Villa ground on Saturday are almost hopeless.  Manager Joe Mercer said to-day.  “A” referee will inspect the pitch tomorrow morning but I don’t see how he can do other than declare it unplayable.  “We have two to three inches of ice on certain parts of the ground.  The keen night in the Midlands than on the coast undoes any work we try to do, I think the prospects for Saturday are hopeless.