CANADIAN COACHING JOB FOR TOM JONES
Liverpool Echo & Evening Express- Wednesday May 1,1963
PERMISSION FROM EVERTON
BENEFIT CHEQUE
By Michael Charters
Tommy Jones, the Everton centre half and former captain who has been playing in the “A” team this season has been given permission to become coach to the Montreal Italia club in Canada.  He is going to Montreal within the next few days to complete contract arrangement and hopes to take up the appointment in a fortnight.  Before he leaves, he will receive a benefit cheque of £1,000 from Everton-his third benefit during his long and happy career to the club.  Jones has been seeking a suitable coaching job and he leaves Goodison Park with the club’s strongest possible recommendation their good wishes and, I’m sure those of the supporters.  He joined Everton as an amateur in 1945 strange from school after playing in the Liverpool schoolboy side.  He gained a Youth international cap for England and signed professional forms in that making his League debut at Arsenal in September 1950.  He began his playing career as a full back but succeeded another Jones T.G –at centre half in the Everton side.  He was a regular in the League side from 1950 to 1959 when Brian Labone moved in at centre half and even after that he had occasional games at full back.  Jones has been a great servant at Everton a scrupulously fair and gaining player who has played a big part this season in the success of the junior sides there in the Lancashire League.  Everton manager Harry Catterick said today “This is what Tommy has wanted.  If anything should happen to prevent him going to Montreal he will come back to Everton to complete his contract.” 
WOODS MAY GO TO AUSTRALIA
FORMER EVERTON CENTRE HALF
Matt Woods, Blackburn’s long service centre half, is now almost certain to quit soccer at the end of this season.  He has been offered an executive pose with a Sydney, Australia, furniture firm.  A house goes with the job and Woods has told Blackburn that he may fly out early in June.  Woods, six years with Blackburn was a bargain buy at £8,000 from Everton.  He has been one of the most consistent centre’s halves in the game but has won only Football League honours.  He is 32 and feels he has no safeguard his future for the sake of his wife and two children. 

WORLD CUP GAMES AT GOODISON
Liverpool Echo & Evening Express – Wednesday, May 1 1963
CONFIRMED TODAY
IN 1966
By Leslie Edwards
Goodison Park, will be the venue of matches in the World Cup tournament due to be held-in Britain in the close season in 1966.  The club today received notification from the Football Association that the provisional plan to hold matches at Goodison Park has been confirmed.  Being a venue for World Cup football involved the introduction of many new facilities rarely found at club grounds in Britain.  Accommodation from hundreds of visiting Pressman and for batteries of television camera is one of the main ones.  Goodison Park is acknowledged to be one of the fines if not the finest stadium in the North.  Other centres for World Cup games are in the Midlands and London but the F.A have not so far confirmed which ground they will be using. 
AN EVERTON ODDITY
You wrote that Mr. Tirebuck did his job carelessly and fairly (Everton v Arsenal) I agree with fearless but not fairly.  It appeared to me that the more the crowd became the most determined he was anger them further.  As a parting shot, would it be possible to go to a game and watch for the football act for incidents and over-fierce tackling after all is a man’s game –J. Shannon 189 Cherryfield Drive, Kirkby
Man’s game or not there is no room for some of the stuff we saw at this match and if the referee didn’t always penalise it shall always note it wherever it occurs.  I have not seen in your column any reference to an odd, but sufficient aspect to Everton.  The defence, all six, have to flight for their places in spite of proving themselves the best defence in the Division.  The inside trio seem to please themselves.  There is no one on the touchline waiting to challenge them for their places.  It won’t be, so next season.  W.Hall, Walton Lane, Liverpool 4. 

WEST BACK IN TRAINING –MAY PLAY IN SEASON’S CLOSING GAMES
Liverpool Daily Post- Thursday, May 2 1963
By Horace Yates
Life is full of surprises, not all of them pleasant but manager Harry Catterick was all smiles yesterday when he watched a big young goalkeeper in action at Goodison Park.  Not that here was a now discovery, ready for promotion, but because it was Gordon West, the man who was only able to complete the Arsenal match after having a pain-killing injection at half-time.  West damaged his left shoulder in a collision with Skirton, the Arsenal winger early in the games and after the match it was announced that he was unlikely to play again this season.  This was after an X-ray examination had revealed no break, but severe bruising and strain but constant treatment has worked wonders and West yesterday was able to take part in full training. Mr.Catterick declined to say yesterday whether or not West would be able to play on Saturday in the home game with Bolton Wanderers but hopes are entertained that he may yet play his part in the concluding games of the Championship.  West had not missed a match until his injury put him out of Saturday’s fixture at West Ham.  Alex Young is receiving treatment for blistered, feet, a legacy of the harder grounds but there are no forecasts about his complete fitness.  Everton will stage at least two games in the World Cup competition in 1966 and hopes are entertained that Goodison Park may also be the venue for one of the semi-finals.  The first player on the Everton register to be offered terms for the present season was their senior professional Tommy Jones and he has now been given permission to accept the post as coach to the Montreal club, Italia.  The duties I understand will cover a period of three months.  He is to fly to Canada to discuss the terms at first hand.  Tommy will be so stranger to Montreal for he has twice visited it on tours with Everton.  Jones joined Everton in 1945 from school and became a professional fifteen years ago.  He takes with him a third benefit award the last two being for £1,000. 

FIRST CAP FOR KAY
Liverpool Daily Post- Friday May 3 1963
LABONE PASSED OVER AND WILSON REPLACES BYRNE
Tony Kay for whom Everton paid Sheffield Wednesday over £50,000 in mid-season, get his first full England cap in the match against Brazil, World soccer champions at Wembley next Wednesday’s.  This means the dropping of Ron Flowers, of Wolves, who has been an almost automatic choice, at left-half for several seasons and who holds forty caps.  The only other England change from the side which lost 2-1 to Scotland at Wembley last month, is that Ray Wilson, now fit again, returns at left-back in place of Byrne (Liverpool).  Everton pleasure at the choice of Kay will be tempered by the knowledge that Brian Labone has failed to regain the centre half position.  This also means that with only one player selected the Goodison Park, club, cannot postpone their vital League game at West Bromwich next Tuesday night. 

EVERTON’S ROY VERNON SAYS...
Liverpool Daily Post- Friday May 3 1963
ONE BIG HEAVE NEEDED TO CLINCH THAT TITLE
It is a wonderful feeling to be on top of the League table at any stage of the season, but t be there at this stage with only the odd match on so to play is doubly exhilarating.  Of course, what is even more pleasurable is the knowledge that by our own unaided efforts we can carry off the championship, if we do our share, the others are helpless.  How much better that is than waiting to see what your opponents do, and wondering if they will drop a point here and a point there.  One big heave now and we are there, but I assure you this does not mean there is complacency in the camp.  There have been enough turns-ups in the last week or so to teach anybody that matches are not won until the final whistle sounds, but to put it at the lowest, we are distinctly hopeful!  This is the way that we look at it.  Tottenham for the European Cup Winners Cup.  Leicester City for the F.A Cup and Everton for the title.  That would be an admirable carve-up of the season’s honours with reward for the three outstanding teams of the season.  That is not intended as a rub against Liverpool.  From all accounts they were desperately unlucky to have lost in the semi-final.  But there it is, there is no substitute for goals.  In their time Bolton Wanderers have pulled off some nasty shocks at Goodison Park, but with the same crowd which roared us on to victory over Tottenham to cheer us on our way tomorrow we aim to prevent them extending that run. 
REVERSE ORDER
It has been said down the ages that of a team could win its home games and take a point away they would automatically acquire the luck of champions.  Well, just lately we have been getting the three points all right, but we have been doing it in reverse order- a draw at home, followed by victory away.  An F.A Cup final at Wembley would have suited us down to the ground, but for all that I wouldn’t swop places with Leicester City or Tottenham Hotspur at this moment.  They both have a much tougher fixture list to complete than Everton.  It was particularly gratifying to win at West Ham, not only because we had a vital need for the points but also because we wanted to show the Londoners not only that we could win in London but that we are a better team than West Ham anyway.  There was some hostility to us from the crowd at the outset, but we lived it down by what I thought was a first-class display.  I have been quoted as telling the boys on the field that they were playing terribly, but that was only a bit of psychology when I thought I detected an air of unwanted complacency.  In our hour of need Albert Dunlop did not let us down. A goalkeeper is terribly important and I think it is a tribute to the Everton management that Albert was kept in reserve for just such an occasion.  I dare say he could have been transferred over and over again, but wisely Everton needs were put first, a policy amply vindicated by results for Albert came back as though he has never been out of the side, and I know it will be a great thrill for him to be able to say he played in the champions side.  We all hope that Tommy Jones makes a big success of his coaching job in Canada if negotiations are eventually successfully completed.  What a wonderful servant to Everton Tommy has been and a great colleague into the bargain. 

EVERTON WILL HAVE LONG, ANXIOUS WAIT...
Liverpool Echo & Evening Express – Friday, May 2 1963
By Leslie Edwards
Everton manager, Harry Catterick has made up his mind that Everton’s minimum requirements from their final three games, starting with the one at home against Bolton Wanderers tomorrow, are three victories.  He may be setting his sights too high since rivals, Tottenham Hotspurs and Leicester City, are just as liable to slip.  If the game at Sheffield last week is any guide Leicester are a weary side whose main commitment now is the Cup.  Our view on Wednesday of Spurs in their game against O.F.K of Belgrade showed them to be back in their groove and capable of winning anywhere in Britain.  So the battle for the League championship should resolve into a duel between Everton and Spurs.  Unfortunately however well Everton perform between now and the end of the season they will have to wait until late in May before they know whether they have succeeded or not.  Both Spurs and Leicester have programme which continue late in the month.  If as everyone hopes, Everton do take the championship, much of the glamour of the finish of the season will be lost because of the long wait.  It is extraordinary how Everton and Liverpool fortunes have see-sawed this season.  First Everton claimed the interest by their top place in the League; then Liverpool with their sustained League recovery and long run in the Cup had their turn in the spotlight with Everton faltering after the Ice Age lay-off.  Finally Liverpool with defeat at Sheffield slip out of the picture again leaving Everton as the attraction again and likely to win their first First Division championship since before the War.  No one can say that the season has not been eventful for fans in this city. 
STEVENS’ OLD CLUB
Bolton safe from relegation, may more up into a respectable League position.  A rising out of the hold-up in January and February they have four home fixtures to complete if they won these and surprised Everton tomorrow they would finish well clear of those other struggling Lancashire clubs, Manchester City and Manchester United.  Bill Riding one of the Division’s longest serving managers, said of the game tomorrow.  “I’ m glad Everton are playing well.  That’s the way we like it.  We usually have a tight game there.  There’s rarely more than a goal between us.”  For Dennis Stevens the Everton forward, it will be a tilt against old team mates.  He will have marking him at left half back Rimmer, of the famous Birkenhead family footballers.  This boy, strong in the tackle and a great worker, has developed well since he made his body a couple of season’s ago.  What a grand thing it would be if like his uncle Ellis Rimmer, he became good enough to get England caps.  With Hill, a great player, but not always a very consistent one, in their attack, Bolton can move with menace as we saw at Anfield earlier this season.  Mr. Catterick has no illusions about Bolton or any other club.  He will send his team out to battle for the points as hard as they did against Tottenham.  I shall be very surprised if the Bolton defence can withstand the weight and fury of Everton’s attack as well as the London club did.  Everton’s cup trip to West Ham was the subject of so much controversy I am glad to print a letter from a follower of the London club paying tribute to the way they played when they won at Upon Park in the League last Saturday.  He writes “Everton were the better team and well worthy of being leaders of the First Division.  If they keep up this standard of play and sportsmanship they have nothing to fear.” 

EVERTON TEAM IS UNCHANGED
Liverpool Echo & Evening Express – Friday, May 3 1963
BOLTON DROP DAVIES
By Michael Charters
Everton will be unchanged for their game against Bolton Wanderers at Goodison Park tomorrow.  Albert Dunlop will be in goal after his fine match at West Ham last week.  Although Gordon West is recovering well from his shoulder injury he is still not 100 per cent.  Dennis Stevens is fit again after a thigh injury the West Ham game.  Bolton have relegated their former Wrexham centre forward Wynn Davies, to the reserves and his place in taken by Billy Russell the former Sheffield United inside-forward.  This is the only change from the team beaten 2-1 at Fulham on Wednesday. Everton; Dunlop; Parker, Meagan; Gabriel, Labone, Kay; Scott, Stevens, Young, Vernon, Temple.  Bolton; Hopkinson; Hartle, Hatton, Stanley, Edwards, Rimmer; Birch, Deakin, Russell, Hill, Pilkington. 

GOLDEN GOAL BY VERNON KEEPS BLUES AT THE TOP
Liverpool Echo & Evening Express – Saturday, May 4 1963
BUT THIS WAS NEVER A CHAMPIONSHIP DISPLAY
EVERTON 1, BOLTON 0
By Michael Charters

Everton; Dunlop; Parker, Meagan; Gabriel, Labone, Kay; Scott, Stevens, Young, Vernon, Temple.  Bolton Wanderers;- Hopkinson; Hartle, Hatton; Stanley, Edwards, Rimmer; Birch, Deakin, Russell, Hill, Pilkington. Referee; Mr. G. McCabe (Sheffield).  Everton appeared in a new strip for one of their most vital games of the season. Dunlop, who played his first League game of the season last week and did exceptionally well at West Ham, had a fine reception from the crowd.  Vernon could not gather a fine thought out from Stevens in Everton’s opening attack, but they eventually earned a corner after Temple had picked up the clearance.  Everton earned two more corners in a bright openings and had quickly taken up the running.  Hill was doing well in his efforts to get the Bolton attack moving and he made one fine run which ended with Rimmer shooting wide.  Bolton were quick to pack their defence when Everton attacked and the home forward, could not find their rhythm. 
CHALLENGE
Stevens produced another through pass Vernon raced on to it and then challenged by Edwards it seemed that the Bolton player turned the ball on to the crossbar and over, but the referee awarded a goal kick.  Scott used his speed to go past Hatton from a fine pass by Vernon but when he crossed the ball hard, Edwards intercepted.  Everton’s attacking build-up was still too slow and although they were having more of the game they had not troubled Hopkinson.  Hill and Pilkington worked a clever short corner ruse, and Pilkington had plenty of time to make a shot which Dunlop saved well.  From the corner Dunlop came out and cleared equally effectively.  Everton were not playing well, and with Bolton apparently content to play a defensive game, there was little to please the big crowd, Gabriel and Pilkington got at cross-purposes and the referee called them together return and offered a bounce-up.  During one home attack four Everton men tried to get in a shot, but Stanley teams cleared.  Everton were doing best with the quick through-pass him to Vernon and Kay produced one to send his captain away.  Vernon cleverly headed the ball down while going at the speed, but Hopkinson came out and diverted his shot for a corner.  Dunlop’s main task was picking up back-passes, and the game was mediocre.  Everton looked like achieving something of their midfield superiority but the final passes went astray. 
DISAPPOINING
Everton’s attack continued to be disappointing.  The defence seemed capable of stopping anything Bolton could produce, but not one Everton forward showed any penetrative quality.  Everton were developing their attacks so slowly that Bolton had plenty of time to work an effective offside trap.  Understandably the crowd was becoming restive with the Everton forwards.  This half and been one of the poorest at the ground this season.  Stevens against his old side, tried a 20-yard shot which whistled just outside the post –the first real shot of the match.  Gabriel was moving up for the many Everton corners but could not make contact.  The Bolton defence, with Edwards playing strongly cleared every-time.  From a corner by Scott Hopkinson came a long way out to punch away, but fell.  When he was still on the ground, alleging a foul Parker’s long lob soared over the bar.  Half-time; Everton nil, Bolton Wanderers nil.  Rimmer did well to turn a dangerous cross from Scott away in Everton’s opening attack of the second half. 
40-YARD RUN
The crowd was able to applaud for the first time after a splendid run by Scott, who collected a bad pass by Birch and took the ball fully 40 yards before shooting, Hopkinson, however, had come out and turned the ball away.  Everton’s approach was so laboured that no one could have imagined that a win could mean so much.  In fact, Bolton came closer to scoring.  Deakin cleverly took the ball along the goalline and with Dunlop running out too soon he lobbed the ball over the goalkeeper into the month of the goal for Gabriel to save a dangerous situation with a back-heel flick.  The backs never properly cleared.  Birch centred and Hill headed into the side netting.  Kay brought the ball through passed to Temple and was in position for the return, but his shot hit Edwards.  There was now a little more fore and speed from both teams.  Vernon went close with a good shot after Young had nodded the ball down to him.
KAY PENALISED
Kay was penalised for a particularly heavy tackle on Rimmer and Everton were in trouble trying to clear the free kick.  Finally Pilkington cut in from the wing but his sliced shot was yards wide.  Stevens missed an open goal after a clever body twelve by Young had pulled the Bolton defence out of position.  Stevens drew Hopkinson out of goal, then lobbed the goal line into the side netting.  Everton’s finish was particularly had Bolton were happy to contain them around their own penalty area, but Everton forwards showed neither the initiative nor the enterprise to beat this very, ordinary team.  Everton had always looked most dangerous whose Vernon was supplied with a quick through-pass and might well have tried, if more often.  From one such pass by Young, Hopkinson raced out to take the ball from Vernon’s toes.  When Vernon moved the ball across to Stevens on the edge of the penalty area, the inside man’s left-footed effort was far too high.  Dunlop was both brave and lucky when he came quickly out of the goal after a mistake by Kay had let Hill clean through. Hill’s shot struck Dunlop’s body.  At the other end, Stevens made yet another poor shot after Scott had turned the ball back to him – and there was a storm of booing from disgruntled fans. 
HAND-BALL
Stanley pulled the ball down with his hand only a yard outside his own penalty area when it seem that Gabriel’s pass was going through to Vernon.  Nothing came of the free-kick but in Everton’s next attack they took the lead in 71 minutes.  Stevens won the ball in midfield and passed to Gabriel whose long through-pass skidded off Edwards head.  Vernon was on it like a flash and turned it into the net as Hopkinson came out.  Stevens was having a nightmare match.  From a corner on the right Young nodded the ball down to him, but Stevens shooting low, headed outside.  Bolton fought back well, and there were some moments of indecision in the Everton defence.  From one Bolton corner, all the Everton players except Vernon came back, and it was Young who headed the ball away from the six yards line.  Temple made a splendid run and his shot seemed to have beaten Hopkinson, but the goalkeeper thrust out an arm at the last second.  The Everton crowd was sounding its chant for the first time, but nothing could disguise the team’s wretched performance.  The tension was increasing and the tackling of Gabriel and Kay brought some whistles from the crowd.  Scott was getting some rough treatment from Bolton, too.  Gabriel sent Temple away with a good pass, and when the winger pulled the ball back Kay, storming up mis-hit his shot yards wide.  Final; Everton 1, Bolton Wanderers 0.  Official attendance 52,047.

WEST HAM GAME WAS VITAL WIN
Liverpool Echo & Evening Express- Saturday, May 4, 1963
By Alex Young

Hopes of the two Merseyside clubs bringing off the League and Cup double were ended –extremely luckily it would appear- by Leicester City last Saturday, but although Liverpool faltered we were able to take a lengthy stride towards ensuring that local fans did not have an entirely disappointing season by beating our old bogey team, West Ham.  This victory was as I seem to have said on so many occasions this season a triumph of teamwork with the two players who have had a lengthy spell of Central League football- Albert Dunlop and Derek Temple- doing as well as anybody.  Derek helped himself to a goal and I thought one of the highlights of a fine display by him was a run along the by-line during the second half in which he brilliantly beat three West Ham defenders and pushed the ball into the middle.  Two other forwards then came within inches of turning the pass into a goal.  The way both Derek and Albert adopted themselves to the faster place of First Division football was a tribute to them both.  Albert in fact was brimful of confidence and one save he made near the post from a downward header through a ruck of players was as good as anything I have seen all season as he had only the merest fraction of time in which to see the ball.  In the first half we played really well but after the interval the old blistered feet- first time this season they have worried me unduly- forced me so retire to the wing and a painful blow on the thigh meant that Dennis Stevens too could not play as big a part in the game as he would have liked. 
AT LLANDUDNO
Straight after the West Ham game the Everton party travelled to Llandudno where we played until Tuesday forgetting about football and training as much as possible just thoroughly enjoying and relaxing ourselves.  During our stay Alex Parker and myself thought it would be a good idea to try and give our “new boy” Alex Scott a few tips about golf, and I think it fairly scared the life out of him; when yours truly arrived at the first tee in “full golfing kit” complete with candies car and looking every bit like a prospective.  Open Champion.  Alex’s confidence quickly returned when my first three shots took one roughly 10-yards apiece but I was able to have the last laugh later in the round when Scottie completely missed the ball on three occasions.  In fairness to all three of us, further information about the ground will be kept in the top secret,” file but like the rest of our Llandudno stay it was all great fun.  The 64,000 dollar question amount fans at the moment is how Everton the team which met with so little success on away trips last season this morning boasted the best away record of any club in the country for this campaign? 
A PUZZLE
Believe me this puzzles the players as much as the fans.  One explanation could be that we are now a much more mature side treating each fixture as just another match to be won- Irrespective of whether it is home or away.  This spirit seems to spread right thoroughly the club, too for our Reserves have not lost a match since early March and our younger teams are doing really well, also.  You will have read during the week the Tommy Jones has been offered a coaching job in Montreal, and if conditions are to his liking and he accepts the appointment then we all wish him well.  I see another player well known to Everton fans Tommy Ring has also been offered a job by a Canadian club so there could possibly be a happy reunion of the two across the Atlantic later in the year.  This time next week our League fixtures should have been completed for we visit West Bromwich on Tuesday and receive Fulham at Goodison Park on Saturday.  West Bromwich have been showing great improved form in recent matches but we are aware of this and won’t be caught off guard.  Fulham however will be another London club out to keep Tottenham’s little hopes alive, but I think we know now to keep their roaming danger man Graham Leggat in check and all should be well for us. 

VERNON SUCCEEDS WHERE OTHERS FAIL
Liverpool Daily Post- Monday, May 6 1963
EVERTON FOUR POINTS AWAY FROM TITLE
CROWD NO HELP TO OUT-OF-LUCK DENIS STEVENS
EVERTON 1, BOLTON WANDERERS 0
Not a minute too soon for there were only eighteen left, Roy Vernon, with the most controlled and deliberate shot of the game, scored the one goal of the match at Goodison Park on Saturday, which maintained Everton’s advantage at the top of Division One over Tottenham Hotspur and took them one stride nearer, agonising stride through Everton made it, towards the Championship.  Few teams can have made harder work of a title triumph, for the manner of its achievement is pulling the crowd’s nerves on edge almost as completely as apparently it has affected the players.  Bolton confidence visibly, grew as a result of Everton’s prolonged inability to shatter resistance finally after defensive penetrations had been made and the crowd completely forgot themselves and the part they too can play in the taking of the final hurdles.  To demonstrate against a player, as they did so heartlessly against Stevens, was as purposeless as it was unsporting.  Of course, his repeated failures were frustrating, but not more so to any one than himself.  Playing against his former colleagues, Stevens was desperately anxious to do well.  For months now (he last scored a League goal on December 15, goals have eluded Stevens but nobody I hope will try to attribute this to lack of determination, for while he may have his short-coming no member of the side approaches closer to one hundred per cent, effort, and lack of heart is never one of the allegations which may be levelled against him.  Stevens is in the side because he is considered to be the best available man for the position and his virtues have often been overlooked or belittled, with the emphasis placed on his shortcomings.  What did the crowd hope to achieve by their attitude?  Stevens needs me urging to do his best, so that his misses, two or three of them quite startling, could only be exaggerated and an impossible tension created when those who should be his friends turned on him.  There have been teams which have expressed a preference to playing away from home because there they can get on with their game in less inflammable atmosphere.  This has never been true of Everton, and I sincerely hope it never will yet so thirsty for victory were Saturday’s crowd that some of them unwittingly made the achievement of it the more difficult.  Imagine what might have been the position if the one chance to win this game had fallen to Stevens after their demonstrating.  Only a superman could have done himself justice in these conditions.  Yet, if it had been the foot of Stevens instead of Vernon, which had finally piloted the ball past a most able Hopkinson, there is little doubt that from the jeers and likes, he would have enjoyed the lionising which was Vernon’s.  Such in the fickleness of crowds satisfied only by success. 
LABONE LAPSES
Not until the shape of victory was there glittering and substantial, did the spectators sound like a true Everton crowd.  Their cheers and encouragement at once became heart-warming and compelling and Everton rolled on to victory, despite two uncharacteristic scares provided by momentary Labone lapses, which might well have given a late reprieve to a Bolton side which never gave up trying.  That it was a disappointing game, I do not seek to deny, that Everton made their task more difficult by recurring failures equally undeniable, and yet it was not from lack of realisation that the surest way to defeat defensive thinking by the opposition is to snatch an early goal that Everton made their mole hill task mountainous.  To find twenty players in or about the penalty area in one of soccer’s abominations, but it is a phase which has to be faced because of the mounting successes achieved by it.  Over and over again it was only the last line of the Bolton defence that defied Everton and every member of the forward line in turn had their chances.  For all that, it was a truly skilled effort which produced the goal and the points.  Gabriel found Young sufficiently free of the towering watchdog Edwards, to encourage a pass to the centre forward and a split second reaction by both Young and Vernon did the rest. 
PRECISE SHOT
Young glided the ball out and the seedy Vernon collected it wide of the post.  As usual Hopkinson with immediate reaction to danger, closed the angle almost completely and still Vernon achieved a precision of shot to score from a chance probably more difficult than half a dozen others which had been rejected by the various members of the attack.  I would have liked to have seen Everton making more use of their wingers, especially Scott for he clearly had the beating of Hatton and one superlative run covering half the length of the field, would have made a goal worth remembering against a lesser man than Hopkinson.  Everton, too neglected the slick one-two movement to the player running forward into the penalty area, which has brought so many goals this season, and yet this might well have been the ideal weapon to have destroyed Bolton earlier.  Dunlop, back to a most encouraging welcome, was not exactly overworked.  He did all that was asked of him and one fisted clearance in Everton’s moment of greatest peril showed his quality.  His one flirtation with danger was in shoulder-charging so unnecessarily a Bolton forward in the penalty area.  Hill and Pilkinson were the two Bolton forwards who looked most capable of worrying Everton’s defensively, although it was Deakin who came nearest to a score when he beat Dunlop, only to find Gabriel in some remarkable fashion, back-heeling off the goal line.  It can only be guessed whether a case of handling Stanley on the edge of the penalty area with Vernon going through, cost Everton a goal, but this was just one of the many close calls Bolton experienced and survived.  Kay’s effort was as obvious as ever, without reaching the expected heights constructively and here I thought he fell behind Gabriel on the day.  Everton; Dunlop; Parker, Meagan; Gabriel, Labone, Kay; Scott, Stevens, Young, Vernon, Temple.  Bolton Wanderers;- Hopkinson; Hartie, Hatton; Stanley, Edwards, Rimmer; Birch, Deakin, Russell, Hill, Pilkington.  Referee Mr. G. McCabe (Sheffield).  Attendance 52,047
MILLION UP
Mr. Harry Catterick, the Everton manager, took a realistic view over Kay’s inability to collect his first cap.  He said “in the position we are in, we are duty bound to everybody to play our strongest team.  It is doubly unfortunate for Kay because it would have been his first cap, but is shy-body willing to wager that he will not collect more than one?” 
MILLION UP
The 52,047 spectators at Everton’s home game with Bolton on Saturday, brought the season’s aggregate figures to more than a million.  The actual figures are 1,019, 317 giving an average of 50,965.  

EVERTON TOUCH DEPTHS IN REACHING FOR THE TOP
The Liverpool Echo & Evening Express- Monday, May 6 1963
By Michael Charters
The League championship is now, as expected between Everton and Tottenham.  Leicester City their eyes understandably gazing towards Wembley, lost on Saturday and with three more away matches to plan can bid farewell to their hopes of the double, leaving the top two to battle it out for the greatest prize of all.  When Everton have completed their fixtures with their home game against Fulham, next Saturday, Spurs will still have two more away matches to play plus the final of the European Cup Winners’ Cup, Everton; therefore must be favourites and if they can win at West Bromwich tomorrow night, and then defeat Fulham they will be champions no matter what Tottenham do.  If Everton drop points this week, all will depend on the efforts of Spurs at Manchester City, Blackburn and Nottingham Forest.  How good Everton’s chances seem! And yet how near they came to dropping at home point against Bolton Wanderers on Saturday!  The team unrecognisable from the classy outfit who trimmed Tottenham down to size only a fortnight earlier, floundered and fumbled the way to a 1-0 victory over a side with no pretensions to being anything more than a workmanlike combination.  Prospective champions- as Everton are – should have been capable of paralysing a team of Bolton’s calibre particularly on their own ground.  Searching for an explanation of Everton’s display, knowing how brilliant they can be the only possible answer is tension.  The team is full of nervous strain at Goodison Park, a feeling communicated to them from a crowd of more than 50,000 nail-biting anxious, worried spectators.  The result on the pitch on Saturday was great bursts of energy, little sustained movement mistakes galore wretched shooting.  Quite simply, they all had the jitters and when after 71 minutes, Vernon’s shot hit the back of the net, it was as though a pin had burst a giant balloon and all the pent-up frustration of so many thousands exploded into a massive roar of relief.  Then, and only then, did the spectators encourage their side before that they had watched mainly in uneasy silence o isolated bursts of disapproval as when a storm of booing broke out as Stevens who had a nightmare game shot wide from one of the half dozen chance he had of scoring. 
THE WHIPPING BOY
I thought Stevens who has not scored since December 15, became the crowd’s whipping boy for all the mistakes.  The fans expected so much and saw no little that could be called championship standard, that Stevens particularly poor shooting became the centre of their attention.  The game general was one of the most disappointing of the season at Goodison Park.  It was not as though Bolton contributed much or that there were individual who stood out.  The first half was dull beyond belief, the second half saved from being a repeat only because Vernon scored the match-winner.  Bolton’s defence played strongly, with Edwards, Hartle and Rimmer the best, but a forward line of Everton a class should never have allowed them to dominate as they did.  The Bolton forward, seen only in isolated bursts, caused panic in Everton’s defence at times with an elementary attacking style.  Once Rimmer brought the ball along the goalline and when Dunlop dashed out to cover the wing half cleverly lobbed the ball over his head into the mouth of the goal.  Gabriel with a desperate backward dab at the ball, diverted it away but there was chaos in the camp.  One could sense a feeling of “we must not make a mistake” among the Everton players; they should never have allowed the game to reach the stage where a mistake could mean so much.  Only Scott in the Everton attack played well Vernon was best when he went raiding quickly, following up incisive through passes which Everton produced too infrequently and one of these moves brought the golden goal.  Scott was direct, centred excellently and was the only Everton players, I thought who came out of the game with complete credit.  Far too many Everton moves went Kay-Vernon-Young-Vernon-Kay or some similar permutation, by which time the stalwart, no frills Bolton defenders had marshalled their forces and used an offence offside trap.  The Everton build-up was too laborious, with none of the glorious, sweeping movements they had produced against Spurs. 
THOSE LUNGING TACKLES
With the forwards breaking down so often Kay and Gabriel became over-desperate and they were penalised several times for lunging tackles.  There is no need for these strong arm methods from such talented, class players.  They play with intense fire as though they feel they are the last line of defence, a sense that if anyone gate past them all is lost.  It is, I suppose, part of the desperate and desperately hard struggling for the title.  Everton are reaching for the heights, but at times they touched the depths in this game.  Yet the goal, when it came, was a good one.  It began with Stevens winning a tackle in midfield and passing to Gabriel, who immediately sent the ball swinging away upfield.  Both Young and Edwards went up for it, the ball was deflected off one or both of their heads, and through onto the penalty area, where Vernon was on it like a flash. As Hopkinson came out of goal, perhaps a little late, Vernon directed his shot expertly past him.  When the ball was over the line Vernon went wheeling away in a feat arc, his arms upraise in glorious relief and excitement as he was greeted by his back-thumping colleagues.  It was the best moment of the match; some sceptics could say it was the only moment of the match. 

EVERTON TEAM
Liverpool Echo & Evening express- Monday, may 6 1963
ALL FIT
By Michael Charters
Everton announce an unchanged side for their vital game at West Bromwich tomorrow night.  All the players reported fit today after the match with Bolton.  Goalkeeper Gordon West has still not recovered from his shoulder injury, although he is in training.  Everton; Dunlop; Parker, Meagan; Gabriel, Labone, Kay; Scott, Stevens, Young, Vernon, Temple. 

EVERTON RES COAST TO VICTORY
Liverpool Daily Post- Tuesday, May 7, 1963
EVERTON RESERVES 3, WEST BROMWICH ALBION RES 1
Keeping a grip on the game, from the start Everton Reserves coasted to a 3-1 victory over West Bromwich Albion Reserves last night.  Continually on the attack, it was twenty minutes before they got their first goal when Hurst scored with a header, but within five minutes Albion equalised when a Drury free kick appeared to be deflected out of Rankin’s reach.  Wignall, however on the watch for an opportunity, got two more before the interval and only poor finishing stopped the Blues from increasing their lead in the second half. 

TWO POINTS NEEDED AT WEST BROMWICH
Liverpool Daily Post- Tuesday, May 7 1963
EVERTON UNCHANGED FOR HAWTHORNS CLASH
Everton are unchanged for tonight’s vital game against West Bromwich Albion at the Hawthorns when they are certain to have a good following as they seek to clinch their grip on the League championship.  Victory over West Bromwich Albion and again against Fulham in the final game of the season at Goodison Park on Saturday would ensure the championship no matter what Spurs do in their remaining fixtures.  Everton (at West Bromwich); Dunlop; Parker, Meagan; Gabriel, Labone, Kay; Scott, Stevens, Young, Vernon, Temple.
MERVER IS UNDER-23 MANAGER
Joe Mercer the Aston Villa manager, has been appointed manager of the England Under-23 team to tour of Blakans this month. 

EVERTON TENSION COULD EASE AT WEST BROM
Liverpool Echo & Evening Express- Tuesday, May 7 1963
By Michael Charters
If Everton are to drop a point in their exciting duel with Tottenham for the League championship, surely tonight’s match at West Bromwich is the vital moment.  I would think that if Everton do win, they must take the title, for well as though Tottenham are playing at present, I don’t think they will take maximum points from their three remaining fixtures, all away.  Victory tonight would mean that Everton would go into their last match, against Fulham at Goodison Park on Saturday, needing two points to settle all the ifs and buts of the championship race.  If there was tension at the ground on Saturday for the Bolton match, what will it be like at the end of the week?  There will be more nerves than the first night of an amateur dramatic company, particularly from the crowd!  In view of the importance of their game tonight, it is understandable that Everton wanted to be at full strength over the Kay business.  Their request to the F.A for Kay to play only 20 hours before the England game against Brazil meant, inevitably, that Kay would lose his first “cap.”  The official Everton view is that the F.A could have refused their request or, alternatively, Kay could have played in both games.  The first concept is possible the second impossible.  How could England be expected to play a man against the world champions only a few hours after he had played in one of the crucial League games of the season?  There is also the viewpoint that Everton, with the greatest prize in football so near, are entitled to have the services of one of their finest players, for whom they paid over £50,000, for the West Ham game.  So far as the club supporters views are concerned, from the correspondence received in this office, they are unanimously critical of the club.  Perhaps those who agree with what has happened have not bothered to write but I give now a letter from Mr. T.H. Bushell, of 10 Murrayfield Road, Childwall, which is typical of readers views as expressed to us.  Mr. Bushell pleads; “Please print this letter as your column is the only voice supporters have.” 
THE SUPPORTERS’ VIEW
He goes on; “I am disgusted at the Everton policy of not realising players for international duty.  Just look at their record over the last three years.  Scotland asked and were told no Everton players were available because there were too many injuries.  No Everton player has even made the shadow team since them. Wales asked for Vernon and were refused because the club had a vital game on the same date.  Vernon has subsequently lost his international place.  “Now comes the Kay case.  We were told when Kay was signed that the man he replaced, Brian Harris would be kept on the sidelines ready to take over if Kay could no play.  Now it seem Harris is not good enough and Kay closes a “cap” he has deserved on his play in the last few months.  “When Everton have been forced to make a change through injury, the men brought in have not let the club down, such as Veall, Dunlop, and Heslop.  I think the crowning glory of any player’s career is to be chosen for his country.  To take this away from Kay with a lame excuse is not the best way to build team spirit.”  The best way out of a ticklish situation in my view, would have been for the F.A and the Football league to have got together and postponed to-night’s game.  That may have established a precedent but the terrible winter has already created that by delaying the season’s end so that the great international clashes with vital promotion and relegation issues.  No one’s fault, but the simple solution is t be fair both side- let England play the team Alf Ramsey selected as the best of the moment; let Everton play their League match next week with their best team unaffected by international calls.  Everton visualised the possibility of the clash, but their request some weeks ago to change the date of the West Brom games was refused by the one team. 
RECORD IN SIGHT
So Kay will be there tonight with his driving incentive for Everton in his power-packed role; Everton usually do well at West Bromwich and away from the tense atmosphere of Goodison Park, they should be able to regain their composure and their real style which has deserted them recently at home, with the notable exception of the Spurs game.  They will carry with them the hopes of this city; I think they will win.  If they do, the team will equal a record in the club’s history in winning 11 away games.  The last championship side, in 1938-39 did this.  Manager Harry Catterick points out that although the team are not playing at their best at home, their record from Easter of winning five games and drawing two is a particularly fine one.  It has been achieved despite the tension and strain, and on playing pitches which are very difficult after the freeze-up of the early months this year.  grounds are never good at the end of the season; this year they are worse than ever.  Everton will be unchanged at West Bromwich, who have recovered recently after an indifferent season and are in good form.  Everton; Dunlop; Parker, Meagan; Gabriel, Labone, Kay; Scott, Stevens, Young, Vernon, Temple. 
EVERTON TICKETS
Everton announce that all 8s stand tickets for the game against Fulham on Saturday have been sold.  Seats in the Gladys Street stand at 7s have been made available and can be obtained at the usual venues. 

EVERTON SHATTER WEST BROMWICH ALBION
Liverpool Daily Post- Wednesday, May 8, 1963
NOW ONLY FULHAM STAND IN THE TITLE WAY
PLAYERS MOBBED BY JOYOUS FANS AT END OF GAME
WEST BROMWICH ALBION 0, EVERTON 4
An emphatic victory at The Hawthorns last night sent the message flashing to Goodison Park- “Polish up the sideboard and prepare a place of honour for the Championship trophy” –for with only the home game with Fulham to play, Everton need just two points to make their position invulnerable while Spurs, five points behind, are faced with three away games.   The only unfortunate feature of the victory over West Bromwich Albion, which has placed Everton in such an enviable state, was that the home suffered a cruel blow after only nine minutes, when Bradley fell awkwardly in a heading duel with Gabriel and his fractured elbow kept him out of the rest of the game.  Nothing in the match was more surprising than the method adopted by the large Everton following to express their overwhelming joy at the first goal, for from behind one of the goals they burst into the Liverpool battle hymn “When the Saints go marching in.”  This was repeated over and over again and with the match over delighted Evertonians poured across the field at the end to congratulate their heroes Kay was surrounded and was unable to get to the dressing room without the intervention of the police.  West Brom may have had nothing at stake beyond the honour of beating potential champions but they could not have infused more effort late the work had they been the title seekers.  With Everton playing with great resolution and obviously determined in settle for nothing less than a draw but with the accent on victory, there was no end of season favour about the play. 
TERRIFIC RATTLE
It was a terrific battle with West Brom trying bravely to overcome their handicap in numbers, but one fell all the time that Everton, approaching very fine form, must wear them down to exert their will in the end.  The victory was not achieved without some anxious moments for the West Brom attack moved like lightning and their shoot-on-sight technique was distinctly worrying.  Fortunately for Everton their defence was completely solid.  Fortune which has turned its back on Everton in several of their games now turned full circle in their favour or I doubt if there has been a simpler goal to play such a vital role in a championship struggle than that with which Everton took the lead.  Young was the scorer and all credit to him for his alertness.  After 38 minutes the centre forward was penalised for offside.  He took up his position and as Williams prepared to tap the ball to him Potter was vigorously drawing the attention of the referee to Young’s position.  The referee waved play on and still Potter was more intent on arguing than with carrying on with the game and what a penalty he and West Brom paid.  Williams pushed the ball back to the goalkeeper and Potter did not see it coming until it was too late.  Away it went past him and Young swooped to take the ball forward and push it into the net at will.  From that moment on the match was decided and even if West Brom could lay claim to some bad luck there is no doubt that this was a great team display by Everton in which every man played his part nobly with not a failure among them.  After the interval with great coolness and often with clinical precision Everton proceeded to cut West Brom to ribbons.  Young set the Everton fans roaring when he scored his second goal in 58 minutes, but Temple was entitled to a large share of the credit for this success. 
LURKING YOUNG
The winger skipped past Howe jumped over the full back’s outstretched leg to stop the ball just short of the by-line and chipped it over with all the assurance in the world lurking in front of goal for just such a chance.  Scoring presented no difficulty.  Beside themselves with glee the jubilant Everton throng took up the chant “We want three.” And they nearly had them within minutes for Stevens raced on to a Vernon through pass and Potter just tipped a superb drive over.  Not until 69 minutes had gone did Everton get the third goal.  Scott was going clean through.  He beat Jones at the edge of the penalty area and was brought down from behind.  Without a doubt if was a penalty and up went Vernon who has not missed a penalty kick this season to score with the greatest of ease.  West Brom’s Cup of woe was filled to the brim six minutes from the end when in trying to keep the ball from the determined Stevens, Williams tried to pass back to his goalkeeper.  Despite a desperate dive by Potter the ball entered the net off the post.  The final score, while doing Everton full credit for their undoubted superiority, belittles to a large extent the way in which they had to fight to get on top and stay there.  There were occasions when luck did not go entirely Everton’s way for I found it difficult to understand why Stevens was not awarded a penalty kick in 23 minutes when he was felled by Williams.  What a roar there would have been at Goodison Park if any referee had dared to turn his back on such an apparently well-founded claim.  Later there was just as clear a case for an Everton penalty when Howe knocked down Temple’s inside flick with his hand.  Admittedly Howe’s foot was outside the area, but the offending hand was inside and the referee settled for a free kick right on the line.  This was splitting hairs with a vengeance. 
MAGNIFICENT LINE
Once again Everton owed a tremendous debt to their magnificent half-back line, Labone dominated everything in the air and Fenton was not given the slightest encouragement.  Kay and Gabriel were right in top gear, for in addition to the defensive work they were called upon to do they attacked like giants and much of their combination with the forwards was lovely to watch.  Clark was probably West Brom’s greatest danger man, but Parker forced him to make progress the hard way every time and Meagan for the most part had the measure of Foggo.  One of the most reassuring features of the Everton attack was the terrific display of Scott.  Without a doubt this was the finest performances in England, for when he was not subjecting Williams to indignities on the touchline he was cutting inside and bobbing up in all manner of positions to threaten the goal and full marks, too, to Vernon, who was quick to spot Scott’s possibilities.  Vernon sprayed passes to both wings like the expert he is and he was always a menace with the ball at his feet.  For Young, too this was a night of triumph for not only did he score two goals but Jones was never able to relax and often found himself tackling shadows as the centre forward slipped by.  Temple and Stevens both played their parts well and although Dunlop did not have a tremendous amount of work to do he was full of assurance whenever he was called on to handle.  West Bromwich Albion; Potter; Howe, Williams; Cram, Jones, Bradley; Foggo, Jackson, Fenton, Hope, Clark.  Everton; Dunlop; Parker, Meagan; Gabriel, Labone, Kay; Scott, Stevens, Young, Vernon, Temple.  Referee; Mr. J.R. Osborne, Ipswich.  Attendance 24,700. 
HARDEST OF ALL TROPHIES TO WIN
After the match a delighted Everton manager, Mr. Harry Catterick said; “This was our eleventh away victory, which so far as I know equals the club record.  When you consider Everton used to be known as the team that could not win away from home, surely this represents striking progress.  “The Championship? It will be ours if we win on Saturday! Already we are assured at east of being runners-up.  If we beat Fulham we can sit back and watch Spurs try to win their last games.  We might even give them a cheer to help them on their way, but first we have got to win.  “The League trophy, without any doubt is the hardest in Great Britain to win, for it requires sustained effort in forty-two matches. 
HAYNES PLAYING FOR FULHAM
Johnnie Haynes, the England inside forward makes a surprised reappearance in Fulham’s team against Everton at Goodison Park on Saturday.  Haynes, who has not played since straining ligaments at Ipswich on March 2, was not expected to play again this season, but last night he said that a specialist had passed him fit to play. 

EVERTON WITHIN STRIDE OF LEAGUE TITLE
Liverpool Echo - Wednesday 08 May 1963
By Horace Yates
The First Division title is now In Everton's grasp as the result of last night's emphatic 4-0 victory over West Bromwich Albion at the Hawthorns. Now only a home game with Fulham remains and form such as they showed at West Brom should be enough to settle all doubts, leaving Tottenham with nothing better for which to fight but the position of runners-up.  Everton were under no illusion before going out to face Albion. They expected a terrific fight and they got it, for nearly half the game at least, but Everton's superior power, aided by an Injury to Bradley after only nine minutes, when the half back fractured his elbow and retired from the match, led to them winning with plenty in hand.  That accident to Bradley was undoubtedly a severe blow, but this was a more normal Everton than we have seen for weeks. It was as though they set about their task determined to settle for nothing less than a draw and to clinch victory if at all possible.  "Lucky Everton," is what the West Brom supporters were saying, referring of course to the fact that Young stole the first goal (38 minutes) through being ready for anything, and Williams presented them with the last by shooting past his own goalkeeper, when in danger of losing the ball to the persistent Stevens.
PENALTY APPEALS
In arriving at such a conclusion, however, sight had to be lost of two appeals for penalties which I considered perfectly legitimate, being turned down. Stevens could hardly have failed to score when Howe pushed him flat on his face, and Howe it was again who handled in the area and got away with a free kick.  What saved him was the fact that on foot was outside the box, but the hand that hit the ball was undoubtedly inside.  Still, when a penalty did come along, after Jones had flattened Scott, who had only the goalkeeper to beat, Vernon maintained his record of not having missed a spot kick this season (69 mins).    The second was the best goal of all. It came in 58 minutes from a wonderful run by Temple, who pushed the ball past, Howe, leapt over his outstretched leg and retrieved the ball at the by-line. He chipped it perfectly to the waiting Young, who beat Potter without any difficulty.  The first goal that really set Everton aflame was remarkable.  I have never seen a simpler goal scored. Young was penalised for offside in the West Brom penalty area and stood aside to allow the free kick to be taken. True he did not retire the accepted 10 yards, but was far enough away not to have interfered with the free kick in any way.  A stickler for distance, Potter appealed loud and long to the referee, indicating Young’s presence. The referee waved play on, and while Potter was still arguing Williams slipped the ball back. It had passed the goalkeeper before he realised what was going on and Young pounced on the ball and walked it into goal.  Even some of the Everton players did not realise at first that they were a goal up, but the referee, in face of the strongest protestations stood his ground.  In distributing praise in large slices, it is difficult to forget West Brom's handicap, but for all that it was a wonderfully workmanlike job that these Everton players performed. They took charge of the game and moulded it to their will in a manner befitting prospective champions and victory was achieved without evidence of a weak link in the chain anywhere.  If Temple was quiet in the first half, he was full of play later and if only he remembers that the sort of achievement he pulled out against a player who is still one of the best backs in England, what an asset he can be to the side.
SCOTT'S BEST
From Alex Scott we saw the finest exhibition he has given in Everton colours. He showed unsuspected versatility, for it was not only as a raiding winger that he caused havoc but his infiltration exposed West Brom to danger over and over again.  Vernon set the example and could hardly have had a better response, and the way in which he continued to bring the wingers into action was a affective as it was attractive.  Two-goal Young enjoyed a fine match throughout and although Potter earned the applause he received for a first-rate save from Stevens, it was hard to resist the thought that a goal would have acted as a tonic to a player who never stops working or trying.  As I saw Brian Harris limping very badly before leaving Liverpool, the result of a leg injury, the thought crossed my mind—supposing, Kay had been released for the international game with Brazil.  Where would manager Catterick have turned for the replacement?  Kay, Labone and Gabriel were a terrific half back line.  Defensively Labone dominated, while the halves somehow took care of the opposition and hardly ever seemed to be out of the attack.  What a debt Everton owe to the gallant three!  There was no fault to find either with Parker or Meagan, and Dunlop is too old a hand to let a championship prospect shake him out of his stride.  Not only was there a magnificent Everton following, but they made sure the spectators knew of their presence before the game with a roar which swept round and around the ground, seemingly without end. 
ANOTHER APPEAL LIKELY
By Leslie Edwards
Despite the danger of repeating the obvious too often, it has to be recorded that if Everton beat Fulham at Goodison Park on Saturday they will win the League Championship for the first time since 1939, irrespective of what Tottenham do in their remaining fixtures.  The side’s wonderful victory at West Brom last night not only brought them to close touching distance of the championship trophy but also, for the first time for months a better goal average than Spurs.  By winning 4-0, their average is 1,951 compared to Spurs’ 1,929.  Now the task is not only to defeat Fulham but to overcome the tension which is bound to be greater than ever with a 65,000 crowd in Goodison on Saturday willing them to victory.  I understand the management is considering making a pre-match appeal over the loudspeakers similar to that before the Tottenham match nearly three weeks ago.  Then, the crowd was asked to encourage the team before they scored, not afterwards.  Last Saturday, the crowd reaction was the opposite and the result was an edgy, nervous strain for all concerned.  By last night’s win, Everton equalled their club away record of 11 away victories and have the finest defensive record in the whole League.  In addition, they are unbeaten at home for 39 League games, another record, and have only lost six games over a period of eight months, four of those by the odd goal.

MAJOR GROUND WORK
Liverpool Echo - Thursday 09 May 1963
Both Goodison Park and Anfield will have major structural changes by next season.  At Anfield, work is already well under way for the construction of a new cantilever stand on the Kemlyn Road side, a similar but smaller edition of the fine stand at Hillsborough which seats just over 10,000 with an unobstructed view of the pitch.  The seats, as at Sheffield, will be brought down to the edge of the playing area so that there will be no standing accommodation on that side.  The Liverpool secretary Jim McInnes is working on arrangements for season ticket allocation and prices for the new stand.  An announcement will be made soon.  At Everton, work will start as soon as the season is over on building seats in the paddock under the Bullens Road stand.  There will thus be a double-decker stand with seats on two tiers similar to the main stand Highbury, which is the only other major ground in the country with a similar set-up.  Already some concreting and steel work has been done on the Bullens Road stand to prepare for the major job.  The club has announced that season tickets will be allocated for the new paddock seating, at 9 pounds for the centre and 8 pounds for the side.  Season tickets for the Goodison Road and Bullens Road stands are priced similarly.  In addition, there will he paddock and ground season tickets at 4 pounds 5s an 3 pounds 5s respectively.  Everton shareholders, who have long protested about their seats at the Gladys Street end of the Bullens Road stand, have been offered new season ticket accommodation in the centre of the new paddock seats.  They can purchase these at the normal price, less 5 per cent, as allowed in F.A. rules.  Everton also have the problem of providing vastly increased Press, television and radio facilities before 1966 when the ground will be one of the venues or the World Cup.  When all this work is completed, Goodison Park will have an even stronger hold on its title as the finest club ground in the country.
EVERTON TICKETS
Everton announce that all reserved stand tickets have now been sold for the game against Fulham at Goodison Park on Saturday and ask that no further applications are made, either by post or telephone.

ENGLAND HONOUR FOUR FROM MERSEYSIDE CLUBS
Liverpool Echo - Thursday 09 May 1963
LABONE IN LEAGUE X1
By Michael Charters
The great success of Everton and Liverpool this season is reflected today in a wholesale series of representative honours for players of both teams.  Three Liverpool men and one Everton player are in the England party to tour Czechoslovakia, East Germany and Switzerland from May 29 to June 5.  They are Gordon Milne, Jimmy Melia and Roger Hunt, of Liverpool, and Tony Kay, of Everton.
Milne will also be in the England team to play the Football League at Highbury on the eve (May 24) of the Cup Final, with Brian Labone and Kay, of Everton and Melia and Hunt in the League side.

HOLIDAY FOR EVERTON
Liverpool Echo - Thursday 09 May 1963
PLAYERS AND WIVES GOING TO SPAIN
By Michael Charters
Everton have decided, as recognition of their team’s great season to send a party of 16 or 17 players, with their wives on a fortnight’s holiday to the Costa del Sol, Spain.  They will leave on May 18, and this will affect those players like Labone and Kay who are involved in representative matches after that date.  In addition, some of the Everton Scots may be named for the Scottish tour of the Continent towards the end of the month.  Today, he players brought in passports to the club so that all travel arrangements could be made.

AT THE LAST FENCE
Liverpool Daily Post – Friday, May 10, 1963
WE WILL ALL BE LISTENING FOR YOU
Says Roy Vernon
Here we are, right at the last fence! Everton have defied defeat at Goodison Park in the last thirty-nine matches –a wonderful record, but it may not be good enough merely to avoid being beaten in the last game with Fulham and so we must go all out for victory over a team which beat us in London earlier in the season. Johnny Haynes, who was said to be out for the remainder of the season, comes back for the occasion, in an attempt to gain victory for Fulham, which would also give Spurs new ground for hope.  His incoming is hardly calculated to make our task easier, but we have no fears on his account.  If we can strike our turn blend, and there were most agreeable signs of our getting right back on top of our game at West Brom on Tuesday, I don’t think eleven Johnny Haynes would be good enough to keep us from our goal.  All the way through the piece we have tried to guard against over-confidence and even at this stage we are not taking anything for granted, but I would be stretching the facts if I did not say that we hope to conclude our fixtures in the certain knowledge that we are champions.
APPEAL TO CROWD
Like our supporters, the players would dearly live to see Everton’s goal up in the early stages.  If it does not come, I appeal to the crowd to have patience and just as we are trying to avoid tension getting too firm a hold on us, I ask our supporters to show similar understanding.  Having gone so far the position is that the crowd can give us that extra push which will send Fulham tottering and Spurs left with the prospect of having nothing better for which to flight than the position of runners-up.  It can fairly be said against all of us that at some time or another we have missed easy scoring chances, the sort which critics delight in saying were easier to score than miss, but every professional footballer will tell you that this sort of thing does happen.  By and large, Tottenham’s Jimmy Greaves is probably the most expert snapper-up of trifles in football to-day and yet could anybody truthfully say that the great Jimmy has never been guilty of “impossible” misses? Of course not! Our aim is not only to win this match with Fulham but to send out the season in a blaze of glory with one of our best exhibitions of football with the crowd given something by which to remember the match that clinched the title. 
LOT DEPENDS ON YOU
That aim will be more easily accomplished with the crowd’s help.  You may say it is up to us, and of that there is no argument, but almost equally true we can also say- and a lot depends on you.  I will let you into a little secret.  After the Bolton game, one of their players said to me; “I thought your crowd were supposed to be the best supporters in the game.  You can keep ‘em as far as I am concerned.  It was the first time I have ever known a crowd to turn on it own players at such’s stage in the season.” I tried to assume him that it was a minority outburst and that generally speaking they are without equal anywhere.  Look at them at West Brom on Tuesday, for example.  Before the game began their cheers rang out from all parts of the ground as if to say to us,” Carry on, boys.  We are with you.” And with us they were, too.  They were grand! The police had not a hope at the end of the match of preventing them from flooding across the pitch to shower us with their congratulations and I think we were knocked about more from their sheer exuberance and joy than we had been throughout the game. We thought we had lost Tony Kay, for he was last man in the dressing room and he told me that he was surrounded by the crowd and might have been there yet if the police had not cleared a way for him.  They waited for us to return to the coach after the match and I guarantee any club in the land would have been obvious of the send-off those lads gave us.  Now that is the Everton fan w e know and love, and when we go out to try smash Fulham tomorrow remember it will be our way of saying thank you –to you!  We badly want that title- and we mean to get it.  Then there will be real celebrations I have been asked what it was like returning from West Brom in the coach, on Tuesday.  Honestly it was just like any other trip, for none of us will consider our labours finished and the battle won until the final whistle sounds tomorrow.  I don’t think we have ever had better support from our wings, than we had at The Hawthorns.  Both Scott and Temple were terrific and with you behind them they can do it again.  Come what may, you can take it from me there will be 100 per cent, effort from all of us in this grand finale.  We’ll all be listening for you? 

EVERTON’S HOLIDAY IN SPAIN
Liverpool Daily Post- Friday, May 10 1963
Win, lose or draw in the last match of the season tomorrow Everton whether they win the title or not (and victory against Fulham insures the honours for them), the club will say “thank you” to the players for a season of great achievement and endeavour, by inviting a party of eighteen, who have figured in first team games, to take part in a fortnight’s holiday in sunny Spain. They are going to Costa Del Sel and the players wives have not been forgotten.  Invitations have gone to them too.  It will be a football-free holiday, for when they leave on May 18 they will be able to relax and seek their own pleasures. 

EVERTON’S HOLIDAY IN SPAIN
Liverpool Daily Post- Friday, May 10 1963
Win, lose or draw in the last match of the season tomorrow Everton whether they win the title or not (and victory against Fulham insures the honours for them), the club will say “thank you” to the players for a season of great achievement and endeavour, by inviting a party of eighteen, who have figured in first team games, to take part in a fortnight’s holiday in sunny Spain. They are going to Costa Del Sel and the players wives have not been forgotten.  Invitations have gone to them too.  It will be a football-free holiday, for when they leave on May 18 they will be able to relax and seek their own pleasures.

WILL IT BE   BY 4-40
Liverpool Echo - Friday 10 May 1963
By Michael Charters
The photograph in the headline above is of the registration plate of the car owned by Everton manager Harry Catterick. Was it prophetic when he first licensed his new car, last Christmas, that he was able to obtain the plate which signals to the world “First, Everton Football Club??” Certainly,  when he did so, his team led the First Division and,  as all football and particularly this city knows, if  they beat Fulham at Goodison Park to-morrow in their last match of the season, they will be champions  of the Football League for the first time since  season 1938-39. By 4.40 p.m. to-morrow we should know the verdict. Two points gained and Tottenham cannot catch them: the loss of a point or points would give Spurs a chance of overhauling them, providing they take maximum points from their final three matches. In other words, Everton are now five points ahead of Tottenham, who can only gain six more points from three stiff away matches at best.  Rarely can there have been such an exciting end to a season in Liverpool. There will be a great crowd at Goodison Park to greet the team and, it is hoped, encourage them in happier voice than they showed last Saturday. In fact, the club intend to make a pre-match announcement, as they did before the Tottenham game, appealing to the fans to boost the players by their vocal support at all stages of the play, whatever the score or lack of it.  I understand the players want to make a lap of honour around the pitch if they win, if the crowd will stay off the pitch. I appeal on their behalf to the supporters not to run on the ground at the end but allow the team to carry this out. If the fans invade the pitch, we will have a repetition of the fantastic scenes at Anfield last season when Liverpool clinched promotion and on came the supporters to manhandle Yeats and St. John in rather terrifying fashion and there was no hope of a lap of honour or anything similar.  Winning the title brings, apart from other considerations, the prize of European Cup football for Everton next season. The club are taking the players on a holiday to Spain later, as Liverpool are doing with their staff. It is  well deserved, for although there have been times since  football resumed after the deep freeze that the team have  given disappointing displays, results despite that have been  championship class recently.  They have won six of their last eight games, drawing the other two at home, and this spell has enable them to overtake Spurs and Leicester, and move with almost irresistible force into leading place. The fact that the team's performances away from home have been better than at Goodison —I am thinking particularly of their victories at Aston Villa, West Ham and West Brom  - traces to the tension of playing before their home crowd  who are as nervous and strained as a bunch of young  husbands parading outside the maternity ward! The Everton fans expect so much and the players' reaction is to get edgy if events do not run smoothly for them.  Readers' letters this week stress the necessity for supporters to support all the time; not destroy as they did in one notable case last Saturday.  I believe Everton will win to-morrow and I only hope they do so with a display in keeping with their best.  Evertonians have had little to shout about since the days of the great pre-war championship side, and the club's post-war record has not been consistent with the tradition of the club until the last season or so. Now they have a championship side with every indication that the team will be even better next season. The crowd to-morrow, probably near the 70,000 mark, will be able to let themselves go, we hope, in the knowledge that the championship trophy has returned to Goodison Park after an absence of twenty-four years.
PRAISE FOR DUNLOP
Although Alex Parker has been having treatment for a bruised shoulder received in the West Brom game on Tuesday night, he is fit and the side is unchanged.  I think words of praise are due to goalkeeper Albert Dunlop, on the sidelines since the arrival of Gordon West last season, who has come in because of West’s injury or the last four vital, nerve-wrecking games of the programme to clinch or mar the championship prospects.  Dunlop has risen to the occasion like the top-flight professional he is.  The only goal he has conceded has been an own goal; his confidence and self-assurance have been invaluable.  He has more than played his part in the club’s triumph.  Johnny Haynes will be back for Fulham who, without him in the past two months, have produce their annual fight against relegation and succeeded once again.  At the end of February, Fulham were second from bottom; now they are eight places higher and free of any worries about Division Two.  They can never be ignored with players of the calibre of goalkeeper Macedo, veteran full-back Langley, a football artist England star Robson, at wing-half, and their danger man in attack, Haynes.  But, however good their recent run of success has been, I cannot see them holding an Everton side whom I expect to see carry off the championship with a victory as resounding as their 4-0 win at West Ham in mid-week.  Everton; Dunlop; Parker, Meagan; Gabriel, Labone, Kay; Scott, Stevens, Young, Vernon, Temple.  Fulham; Macedo; Cohen, Langley; Mullery, Keetch, Robson; Key, Brown, Cook, Haynes, O’Connell.

LABONE IS UNDER-23
Liverpool Echo - Friday 10 May 1963
OVER-SEAS TOUR
By Michael Charters
The omission of Everton centre half Brian Labone from the England party to tour the Continent at the end of the mouth surprised many.  The reason became apparent today.  Labone was considered by many to be unlucky to lose his full England place to Tottenham’s Norman.  He moved up to the senior side this season after several Under-23 appearances, Callaghan has been a regular Under-23 choice this season, and his selection was certain.
SENIOR CUP OFF
With both Everton and Liverpool taking their players on a Continental holiday- Everton on May 18 and Liverpool on May 28 – the Liverpool Senior Cup semi-final between the clubs will have to be postponed to next season.  Tony Lay Labone will also have to miss the Everton trip to Spain because of their commitments the week after next with England the Football league and the Under-23 tour.

ONE FINAL HEAVE TO CHAMPIONSHIP CROWN
Liverpool Daily Post- Saturday, May 11 1963
FULHAM NOT THE TEAM TO DENY TITLE TO EVERTON
Best away record has played big part I march of progress
By Horace Yeats
The new era that was foreshadowed at Goodison Park when Mr. John Moores joined the board and became chairman is dawning, today, after shafts of promise but little fulfilment, Everton will be crowned champions if they can defeat Fulham.  Something less will be sufficient if Tottenham, without Mackay and White fall to take two points from their visit to Manchester City; but wisely Everton, as they approach the finishing tape, are not looking over their shoulders to see what their rivals are doing.  They aim to clinch the title on their own unaided efforts, and I believe they will do it.  What scenes of jubilation there will be around 4.40 p.m today if all has gone well.  Not since 1938-39 have Everton won the championship and there have been sufficient ups and downs in the interim to make success taste, very sweet.  How many, I wonder can name the team which last put Everton on top of the football world?  For those who cannot here it is; Sagar; Cook, Greenhalgh; Mercer, Jones T.G, Thomson, Gillick, Bentham, Lawton, Stevenson, Boyes.  The progress of Everton in recent seasons has been written off by some as a triumph for the power of the purse, and quoted as new evidence that success can readily be brought.  High spending there has undoubtedly been, but it is as much the way the money has been spent as the total amount that has accomplished the transformation. 
ABLE SELLING
Talking of spending I think many of the critics would be crushed if only they took the account the revenue produced by the extraordinary able selling of players found surplus to requirement.  The net figure looks far less breath-taking than the £30,000 total which rolls so easily off the tongue and has produced the title of “Merseyside millionaires.”  Without a doubt Mr. Moores has been a dynamic regard in the Everton story of progress.  He knew what he wants and few have a better idea of how to get it, yet the picture of a rustless dictator hardly does him justice.  While naturally hoping for something better Mr. Moores has gone on record this season as saying that if Everton flashed in the first three he would not be dissatisfied.  That was Mr. Moores view but what of the manager, Mr. Harry Catterick, another restless and ambitious man? Second best is never of his seeking and the militancy which his example infuses into the players has made his one of the real success stories of modern football.  He has seen Sheffield Wednesday through to a Second Division title, he helped them to second place in the First Division and knows the dreadful disappointment of having his team part company with the F.A. Cup competition in the semi-final.  Now just one more final heave by his chosen eleven will give him his greatest prize of all- Football League champions.  It is one thing gathering around a club a host of famous names, but quite another to encourage them to play to reputation and cultivate the sort of team spirit without which success is fleeting.  There are ready to hand examples of lavish expenditure in others quarters for nothing like an equal return.  There have been occasions when I have not seen eye to eye with Mr. Catterick, times when I have offered criticism but never have I  been under any illusions about his single-minded purpose to make Everton great again.  Even if this afternoon the title is Everton’s, he will count this only as the beginning of the assault.  His plane for the club are without ceiling and only the most impatient would pretend that the first taste of nectar has been unduly delayed. 
NOT YET AT PEAK
The manager’s view is that the players at present representing the club are not yet at their peak and that their strength will grow with the accumulation of experience.  Performances at home are very useful is building up a position of safely and respectability, but by themselves they do not lead to titles or cups, and if Everton are crowned the unbeaten Goodison Park run will undoubtedly have played its part, but they will be champions because most on-Everton like they now boast the best away record of any of their rivals.  They have taken 26 points from matches on opponents grounds and while Spurs by winning their last three fixtures can equal the feat, it is the remarkable Everton transformation compared with last season that also impressive.  Then they won only three matches away from home, compared with eleven this time.  That is what makes the different between champions and also rans.  To reaching their present position Everton have employed twenty players, but Dunlop, Sharples, Temple, Wignall and Veall have hardly built up towering figures, so that the burden of the season has fallen on 15.  The march of progress has not been without its worries for after the bold up caused by the cold spell they have found it difficult at times to recapture their normal rhythm and yet for all that, it has been the power of their run-in that has left Tottenham panting breathlessly in an effort to keep pace.  Of the last 22 available points Everton have taken 18 and a more fruitful harvest than that nobody could surely expect.  That is championship football by any standard.  In recent weeks Fulham have scarcely impressed as the sort of side capable of playing any vital role in the destination of championships for in their last seven outings their one victory was against Bolton at Craven Cottage.  That 1-1 draw at Tottenham represents the single warning flash.  They have not scored in the last three visits to Goodison.  I believe we will see a really composed Everton side unchanged for the fourth time, with three successive wins to their credit yet about the final act of demolition.”
CRISIS POINTS
After Tottenham the visits to West Ham and West Brom were acknowledged to be the two crisis points and yet they sailed through both triumphantly.  They know they have an undoubted superiority over Fulham from a football point of view and I hope from the first whistle they will make this the advantage to cultivate.  As the season ends Alex Scott is showing the sort of form which made Harry Catterick and Bill Nicholson (Spurs) consider that his signature was really worth the desperate tug-o-war that proceeded the winning of it and if he carries on where he left off at West Brom, look out for real entertainment from him.  Moreover, just as he did at the end of last season Derek Temple is suggesting that if this most competent Everton team can be improved there is no need to put down outside left as one of the positions to worry over.  In six matches Everton have conceded a more two goals and as only two clubs have a scoring reputation away from home inferior to Fulham’s anything other than a sound Everton triumph would be as surprising as it would be deflating.  Everton; Dunlop; Parker, Meagan; Gabriel, Labone, Kay; Scott, Stevens, Young, Vernon, Temple.  Fulham; Macedo; Cohen, Langley; Mullery, Keetch, Robson; Key, Brown, Cook, Haynes, O’Connell. 

EVERTON HAVE DONE IT!
Liverpool Echo - Saturday 11 May 1963
LEAGUE CHAMPIONS ‘63
VERNON’S THREE CROWNS HIS GREATEST DAY
EVERTON 4 FULHAM 1
By Michael Charters
Everton; Dunlop; Parker, Meagan; Gabriel, Labone, kay; Scott, Stevens, Vernon, Temple.  Fulham; Macedo; Cohen, Langley; Mallery, Keetch, Robson; Kay, Brown, Cook, Naynes, O’Connell.  Referee- Mr. R.H. Windle (Chesterfield).  The atmosphere was electric from the huge crowd at Goodison Park this afternoon.  It was probably over 65,000 just before the start.  Everton earned two quick corners and after the last one  the ball was moved back to  Scott and from the inside pass  Vernon made a sinuous  dribble to the goal-line, but  his centre was well intercepted  by Macedo.  But five minutes Everton got the vital incentive of an early goal - a Vernon special very well taken.  Parker put the ball through to him on the edge of the penalty area and he collected it off Mullery, dribbled through, drew Macedo out of the goal, and put the ball over the line although badly angled.  If the noise had been great before, it could only be described as tumultuous now. This was just the opening Everton had wanted.  Then Macedo had to dive full length to turn away a power shot from Gabriel, but the referee gave Fulham a free-kick for offside against Young.  Three minutes after the first goal Vernon got another in sensational style following a mistake by the Fulham defence.  He slimed a long clearance front Parker but Mullery reached the ball first and touched it back to Macedo who had come way and out goal. The ball rebounded off Macedo's body and Vernon was on it like a flash to put the ball in the net in similar fashion to his first goal.  Fulham's defence was unnerved by these two quick thrusts and Young almost intercepted a back-pass from Langley which would have meant another gift.  Then at the other end  Parker and Labone got in each other's way and Parker headed  the ball back to Cook who had  a clear run through to goal, but Dunlop came out and  saved brilliantly.  But Everton were lucky in this game of thrills when Kay pulled down Brown when the Fulham forward was clean through.  It seemed to me and many others that the offence took place in the penalty area, but the referee put the ball four feet outside the line. Mullery's free kick went wide.
FULHAM SHOCK REPLY
Fulham’s attacking style was slow motion by comparison with Everton.  They were having a fair amount of the play now, however, but their lateral passing got them nowhere.  Fulham shocked Everton with a well worked goal after 20 minutes.  It started with a brilliant pass by Haynes to Robson and an equally good effort to Haynes, who creased the ball from the corner flag and Key volleyed it beautifully past Dunlop.  Fulham were playing well now and Gabriel did well to intercept a dangerous centre from Brown. Then Young made a good header for Vernon to collect, but this time Vernon's shot was well saved, by Macedo. 
...AND THEN IT WAS THREE
Then followed another sensation when Stevens put the ball in the net from Young's pass, but the referee was seen pointing to a position ten yards outside the penalty area to award Everton a free kick which must have been a foul by Keetch on Young.  But all turned out well for Everton for they scored their third goal after twenty eight minutes as the result of a free kick.  It was taken by Vernon, the ball rebounded off a Fulham defended and came to Scott whose low shot seemed to be deflected by  someone in the defensive line up and the ball sneaked inside the upright with  Macedo scrambling across  for it.  Then Temple joined in the act by fighting his way through three successive tackles and keeping possession of the ball so that he was able to make a shot which Macedo saved low down.   Keetch could do nothing against some of the brilliant touches of Young, whose distribution was inspiring.  Young beat him twice as he was going through, and then the centre half fouled him just outside the box. From the free kick Gabriel headed into Macedo's arms.
PENALTY REFUSED
If Fulham had been unlucky not to be awarded a penalty Everton were equally so now.  From a shot by Vernon it seemed clear that Robson handled, but the referee waved play on, and Temple collected the ball to hit a shot which Macedo punched straight up in the air.  When the Everton forwards got on the move they had the Fulham defence in a tangle.  They were certainly playing like champions now.  A Vernon shot whistled wide and with Gabriel and Kay moving up to join their forwards, the crowd were getting a football feast.
STEVENS DOING WELL
It was good to see Stevens after his nightmare game of last week, playing well to-day.  It was his superb crossfield pass to Temple which earned, a corner, from which Everton nearly scored. 'Temple's cross was headed to Young and the centre forward headed it just wide of the angle.  Everton were completely on top as half-time drew near, playing delightful football which Fulham could not match hard though they tried. There was much to admire in the passing ability of Haynes, but he could not get his forwards moving as he lay so deep.  Despite Everton's pressure there had been nothing better in the match, so far than a magnificent by pass by Haynes of fully 40 yards to the fast moving Key who beat Meagan for speed, and put his shot just over the bar.  Then Gabriel beat the Fulham defence with a fine through pass to Vernon who controlled the ball well, but Macedo saved his shot at the expense of a corner. It had been a magnificent first half for Everton and the crowd stood and applauded as they left for the interval.  Half-time.—Everton 3. Fulham  1.
BRILLIANT PASSING
A brilliant Interchange of passing between Young and Scott ended with the winged chipping the ball through and an awkward bounce robbed Young of his opening.  Another touch of science from the Everton forwards saw Temple take the ball through to the goal line, but he pulled his cross back too far and it was Robson who intercepted.  Everton were playing now as though they were quite happy to hold on to what they had. As a result, there was nothing like the excitement or good football of the first half.    Young brilliantly sidestepped Keetch, and hit his shot wide, and altogether the Fulham centre half had not been able to catch the will-o-thee-wisp of the Everton attack.    Kay shot following a free kick looked to be on the target but struck a Fulham player and went away for a corner from which Meagan came up and put a shot well wide.
PENALTY APPEAL
Everton made another appeal for a penalty when O'Connell appeared to handle in the area, and then the sweet moving duet of Vernon and Young got together with Vernon only inches away from snapping up Young's headed pass.  Dunlop made his second fine save of the match when he flung himself across the goal to touch away a fine header by Cook from a corner by Key.  With five minutes to go Vernon scored his third goal to make absolutely certain, and the remarkable feature was that each goal had been so similar.  A long clearance from Dunlop was headed through by Young. Vernon chased it although Mullery was with him and he won the clinch for the ball to draw Macedo out of the goal and send the ball over the line from a narrow angle.  This score gave Everton a goal average of exactly two.  The crowd were cheering with their EV-ER-TON chant and it had been a non-stop noise for the closing minutes as a great posse of police moved round the ground to take up positions and prevent the crowd from running on, if they could.  There was no doubt now of course, the championship was theirs. The trophy was back at Goodison for the first time since 1939.  As far as I could see not a soul among the 60,000 had left the ground. This was one of the truly great moments in Everton's history.
LAP OF HONOUR
There were a few hot heads who ran on the pitch on the end, but the team were able to have the lap of honour led by Vernon who had done so much to clinch this match with his three brilliant goals.  The crowd stood, cheered, waved and shouted I should think the noise could be heard down at the Pier Head as the players trotted round the ground pursued by photographers and 20 or so small boys.  Surely there had not been a scene like this in the history of the club.  Once the players had left the pitch the crowd turned and faced up to the directors box shouting we want John Moores. The chairman acknowledged their applause with a wave of the hand.  Final; -. Everton 4 Fulham 1.   Official attendance 60,578.
EVERTON A v.  ROCHDALE RES
Everton took the lead through Hurst after seven minutes.  Four minutes later Armitage put Rochdale on level terms.  After 35 minutes McKenzie restored the Everton lead with a cracking oblique drive into the corner of the Rochdale goal.  Half-time; Everton A 2 Rochdale Reserves 1.
EVERTON B v. ROCHDALE A
Everton did practically all the attacking, knowing that winning this game means they would be certain winners of the Second Division of the Lancashire League.  Wright put the home ahead after 5 minutes with a header from a corner by Humphries.  Half-time; Everton B 1, Rochdale A nil.

A HAT-TRICK CHANCE HAD TO GO THIS TIME
Liverpool Echo - Saturday 11 May 1963
By Alex Young
This has been a very exciting (and I hope memorable by the time you read this) week for us at Everton, especially when those doubts brought about by a disappointing home display against Bolton last Saturday were shattered by that terrific win at West Bromwich on Tuesday evening.  One of the most nerve-wrecking moments for me occurred six minutes before half time in the game at West Bromwich when I found myself in front of an open goal with the ball at my feet.  An easy task to complete the job, you may think, but how wrong you would be.  After the difficulties we had experienced getting the ball past Eddie Hopkinson at Goodison a few days previously, all kinds of unhappy thoughts seemed to flash across my mind as I shaped up to push the ball into the net.  I now know exactly how Ronnie Moran must have felt as the run up to take that famous last minute penalty for Liverpool against Burnley, and he must have had the same feeling of profound relief as I had when the ball lodged safely in the back of the net.  This goal which resulted from a free kick awarded against me for offside, has been described as lucky by some people because I was not standing the stipulated 10 yards from the ball.  The referee told me to move farther away from the ball, which I did, and then signalled for the kick to be taken.  Roy Potter, the West Brom goalkeeper, appeared to be shouting something to a colleague out on the left wing when one of his full backs, obviously thinking he was asking him for the ball took the kick and pushed it in the direction of his goalkeeper.  Roy wasn’t ready and I grateful rushed in to accept the gift goal which had been placed in my lap.
SECOND GIFT
Last week I described a brilliant run Derek Temple had made during the match at West Ham, and on Tuesday night he gave almost a repeat performance.  Luckily, Derek found me waiting in the middle this time and there was goal number two given to me on a plate.  Then, after Alex Scott had been brought down in the penalty area, came a most sporting and thoughtful gesture from our skipper, Roy Vernon.
“How would you like to take the kick and try for a hat-trick,” he asked me?  But I thought it was far more important for our penalty king to have the opportunity to add to his fantastic record of success this season.  Had I taken the kick and scored it would have been my first hat-trick for Everton, but that is something which can wait until early next season.  West Brom were unlucky when they lost wing half Ron Bradley with an arm injury early in the game, but the remaining 10 players made us fight all the way for victory.  To finish at the top of the League a team needs some lucky breaks and a lot of encouragement from its supporters.  We had both at the Hawthorns, with loud chants of “Everton, Everton” even continuing outside the dressing room windows as we relaxed in the bath.
OWN GOAL
It is not often you find a cricketer who is happy to have thoughts against his name, but goalkeeper Albert Dunlop is an exception at the moment.  The noughts, of course, indicate that no opposing player has put the ball past Albert since he returned to the side at West Ham and the only blot on his clean sheet was placed there by Mick Meagan.  These noughts remind me, too, that our defence deserves the highest praise for their record of late.  They have done more than their fair share of work to keep us in the championship race while we forwards have been struggling a bit.  It was unlucky that Tony Kay had to miss his first England cap against Brazil on Wednesday because of our vital League match on Tuesday evening, but the victory at West Brom and his selection for England’s Continental tour have atoned for this somewhat.  A first cap is always a great moment in a player’s career, especially one who has worked for it as hard as Tony has, and I thrust that this honour will come his way during one of England’s tour games.  Brian Labone is indeed unfortunate not to be accompanying Tony, but I would like to pass on congratulations from the Everton players to the three Anfield boys who will be making the trip and the others on the Scottish tour.
HOPKINSON’S PART
There is little to be said about last Saturday’s match against Bolton, other than to give some credit to Eddie Hopkinson for his part in limiting us to one goal.  On the ground, Eddie is one of the best ‘keepers there is, while the clever way in which he narrowed the angle for a shot has to be seen from the playing pitch to be believed.  One of the week’s most pleasant surprises was the announcement that the club are taking players and their wives to Spain for a fortnight’s holiday next Saturday.  We are all most grateful and really looking forward to the trip.  No prize for guessing what is the most popular pop song around the Goodison dressing rooms this week, but I’m sorry to say we have no one on the playing staff who can sing, hum or whistle it quite as well as Cliff Richard.

BURY RES V EVERTON RES
Liverpool Echo - Saturday 11 May 1963
Bury Res;- Adams; Gallagher, J. Bain; Colquhoun, Bunner, Morrin; Bradshaw, C. Bell, Alston, A. Seargrieve, Mayers.  Everton Res;- Rankin; Harcombe, Thomson; Jarvis, Helsop, Harris; Bingham, Rees, Wignall, Russell, Morrissey.  Referee; Mr. S. Collins (Leeds).  Playing the better football the clever Everton forwards worried the home defence before taking the lead after 7 minutes.  Bingham made the challenge along the right and when he turned the ball inside Rees allowed it to run to Jarvis who netted with a fast low drive inside a post.  Three minutes later Russell lobbed the ball into the Bury net as Adams moved out, but the goal was disallowed for offside against Wignall.  Bury’s youngsters came more into the picture, but their forwards were not quick enough to exploit several favourable positions.  After 28 minutes Everton went further ahead with a brilliantly schemed and taken goal by Morrissey who, after breaking into the middle, passed three opponents, crashed the ball into the net from 25 yards off the inside of an upright.  Although Bury promised much they were unable to worry Rankin who by half time had not had a single shot to save.  Just before the interval Thomson in chasing the ball fell over the concrete surround on to the terrace and had to be taken off.  Half-time; Bury Res 0, Everton Res 2.

LEAGUE CHAMPIONS – 1962-63
Liverpool Daily Post – Monday, May 13, 1963
ONE DAY THE EVERTON SUPPORTERS WILL NEVER FORGET
EVERTON 4, FULHAM 1

For the players it was champagne after the game, the crowd had theirs in the first forty-five minutes, for after 3-1 opening Everton became bogged down in the Fulham defence, with just two saves by Dunlop and his third goal by Vernon, seven minutes from the end, to remind the crowd that their club had assuredly punched their way to their first Football League Championship title since 1938-39.  It mattered not how Spurs were faring at Maine Road, but their defeat by Manchester City merely meant that instead of completing their task one point ahead of their nearest challengers, Everton must now have at least a three points advantage. A wonderfully impressive season.  Naturally there was a carnival spirit and atmosphere over the whole scene, with a sea of blue all round the ground and ear-splitting exortations to finish the job, so worthily undertaken all through the season.  Following their victory at West Brom on Tuesday, the Everton players had told me they hoped to finish the season in a real blaze of glory with an exhibition of football that would leave the crowd disappointed only that this was the finale until next season.  For most of the way this is exactly what happened.  The chairman, Mr. John Moores, was a sturdy in himself as the events unfolded Seated next to another recent champion, Alderman John Braddock whose party swept to victory in this week’s polls, he showed pardonable excitement when skipper Roy Vernon took Parker’s free kick round Macedo to shoot into the empty net after five minutes. 
UNCONCEALED DELIGHTED
When Vernon did it again three minutes later again from a Parker offering, aided by a rebound between Macedo and Mullery cautious optimism exploded into unconcealed delight.  Up in the air went Mr. Moore’s hat, not to be retrieved until after the match was over, and as the crowd in front of the directors seats turned in his direction to applaud, an early promise now on the high road to fulfilment, up went his clamped hands, in the boxers salute.  Triumph was in the air.  He like everyone else on the ground, decided at that moment that Everton were champions and how they let everybody know about it.  In ten minutes Vernon had the ball in the Fulham net once again and though it was disappointing to find the goal disallowed for offside, who cared?  The tide was flowing in full flood behind n irresistible Everton.  The interrupt the celebrations was the incidents in which Kay might easily have conceded a penalty as he pulled Brown back but the decision was merciful.  This proved to be only a set-back delayed for in 10 minutes Haynes squared Robson’s pass and Key pulled it. It accurately beyond Dunlop.  Worry found no place among the happy crowd for Everton in this mood could not be denied, least of all by Fulham bravely though they tried to occupy a share of the picture. Composure never left the players for an instant.  They fully realised they would deal with Fulham, and it was reflected in their play.  Scurvy was the trick played on the incessantly, chanting supporters when they were helped to the novelty of a goal from Stevens which would have been his first of the year-and straight away denied it.
SCOTT DOES IT
Instead of a goal the referee awarded a free kick to Everton, because of Keech tugging at Young’s jersey.  How cruel the decision appeared.  Again the denial was fleeting for when Vernon’s kick rebounded from the wall of defenders the ball went directly to Scott, who, with the aid of a deflection by an opponent, had Macedo picking the ball out of the net in 27 minutes.  The scoring was over for the first half, thanks to magnificent saves by Macedo from Vernon and Temple.  Having enjoyed every entertaining minutes, the players were left in no doubt of the crowd’s appreciation.  They had played like champions and had a standing ovation in recognition. Whether or not it was a case of declining to win a match twice over.  Everton’s best efforts were behind them and had Dunlop not made a remarkable save from Cook’s header, following a Key header, which had sailed over the bar, Everton might have found themselves still with a fight on their hands.  Still, a miss is as good as a mile and the Everton cause continued to prosper.  Such a triumphant apart had the accomplished Vernon played in the final act of a season-long endeavour that it was fitting he should not only claim his first treble of the 42 League games, but that he should do it in the grand manner.  How many people I wonder realised that Vernon had become the first member of Saturday’s team to help himself to three goals in a match.  Morrissey had also done it, but he found no place in the concluding games.  Seven minutes from the end Young flicked forward Dunlop’s kick with a nicely judged header and there was Vernon, darting on to the ball controlling it in a flash and pulling beyond Macedo.  In so doing he had created a ridiculously difficult angle, but with the accuracy of the expert marksman he is when things are going well for him he scored readily. 
A REFRESHER
This long desired refresher set the crowd roaring anew and as the battery of Goodison Park clocks indicated that the end was in sight the vast assembly took up a chant which was never stilled until twenty minutes after the players following a hugging and caressing act, had left the field.  Only a handful defiled the police and the club request to keep off the pitch, but as the players began their lap of honour a solitary female joined a youthful half dozen or so and succeeded in wrapping a blue and white scarf round Vernon’s neck. The scene of enthusiasm is said to have been without equal in Goodison’s long history by those whose memories can go further back, and who can doubt it? It is difficult to know what more any crowd could have done to express their adulation.  Young, without a goal but with the knowledge of a first class performance behind him, came in for a large share of the lionising and from being an almost unwelcome intruder; Tony Kay has stayed on to become a toast in himself.  Parker, too, had completely refuted the idea of some people that his best is behind him, for it would be difficult to imagine a more thoughtful and accomplished performance from any back.  Stand-in Dunlop had never given a moment’s anxiety except to Fulham and the difficult job of controlling the lively Cook merely gave Labone an opportunity to prove his undoubted class.  Even in triumph and exultation, sight could not be lost of the splendour of Haynes back after weeks of enforced idleness, and although England may be managing without him just now his name will surely come up for renewed consideration next season.  Haynes had the gift of making the most of every ball. 
“WE WANT THE BLUES”
Having completed the most pleasurable lap of the ground they have ever undertaken the team had entirely miscalculated if they thought that was their final contact with an adoring public for as they sipped champagne in their dressing room the cry went up.  “We want the Blues.  On and on it went and hardly anybody among the vast throng left their places.  Only the seats in the directors box were vacant, as the demand for opportunity to pay further tribute to their favourites continued.”We want Moores” they chanted and although the minute passed without any suggestion of reward their enthusiasm was insatiable.  After a quarter of an hour Vernon led his players into the stand some of them carrying charged champagne glasses with Kay smoking a cigar, and West in charge of a bottle.  The crowd just roared and roared and then called for a speech from Vernon.  This is what the skipper said; “On behalf of the players and myself I would like to thank you for your wonderful support throughout the season and the management for the grand way in which they have backed us up.  “I hope this will only be the start and that we shall have many great games and high-lights at Goodison Park.” So ended another wonderful day in the club history.  It is so long since there has been an opportunity for such celebration that maybe we have all got a little rusty, but the thought did strike me that the wonderfully loyal supporters might have been spared a lot of speculation and anxiety by a single announcement that the players would appear in the stand in a matter of minutes.  They did not realise that the players were engaged in other necessary duties below the stand and were fearful only that they were not going to come back.  Just a little point maybe but we shall all know better in the light of experience.  Having seen their heroes once again, everyone retired happy, but I don’t see how they would have got them away with hunger unsatisfied.
JOYOUS JIG
Some had dance a joyous jig on the concrete roof of the trainer’s shelter.  There was a cheer all to herself for Mrs Braddock and even Liverpool’s point at Sheffield United was no damper.  Casting my mind back to the opening game of the season at Turf Moor, I remember writing of Everton’s victory over Burnley that “They played like champions.”  Now they are champions of a competition which many rate as the most difficult of all European titles to win and if manager Harry Catterick so accurate in so many of his predication, is again on target this Everton side may only be coming into peak form next season.  To some extent this has been a season of reconstruction and development.  Next season will come the consolidation and with the average age of the side no more than 24 it would appear that by and large Everton’s future is in good hands.  We may not have seen the last of the changes, but the main superstructure is there, solid and impressive.  How they will fare in the European Cup competition ahead we must wait and age, but how can there be other than good grounds for hope? Tottenham have prospered in this sphere, and Everton have not done too badly in their clashes with the London club.  My view is that in the days to come Evertonian will look back on the signing of Tony Kay as one of the most important in the recent history of Goodison Park affairs.  Not only is he a bundle of courage, sometimes slightly over exuberant but curiously enough he has the quality to bring to Everton’s game a control and pace adjustment which are all the better for his coming.  A fixture captain? Who knows what Mr. Catterick may have in his mind, but as Vernon ended the season a much more accomplished leader than he began it, and has shown, especially in the vital concluding games he has scored eight goals in the last seven matches that the responsibility is an incentive rather than an encumbrance what better policy could have be than to leave well alone in that respect?  Kay has undoubtedly been a help in developing Vernon’s game, for not since Bobby Collins for Leeds United has he received a service on a par with that which Kay now provides.  Well done Everton- and thank you for a season so full of happy memories.  Everton; Dunlop; Parker, Meagan; Gabriel, Labone, Kay; Scott, Stevens, Young, Vernon, Temple.  Fulham; Macedo; Cohen, Langley; Mullery, Keetch, Robson; Key, Brown, Cook, Haynes, O’Connell.  Referee; Mr. R.H. Windle (Chesterfield) Attendance 60,578

ROY VERNON SAYS-
Liverpool Daily Post – Monday, May 13 1963
AFTER WEST BROM I KNEW THAT WE WOULD DO IT
Well, we are there; Even now, hours after the event, I can hardly describe my feelings.  I tingle anew as I think back to Saturday’s match, the tremendous, tumultuous reception from the previously honour starved crowd, the high jink in the dressing room, the clamour of the Press for interviews and the cameramen for their pictures.  It all adds up to a wonderful picture, which will live with me long after my playing days are over.  Unless, of course there are greater things to come, as we all hope, and that even Goodison will then transcend itself.  How you cheered.  Your have no idea what a help it was.  Naturally the last thought in our heads was to let you down, but in view of the encouragement you gave us, we simply dare not let you down. 
CONTINENTAL SCARE
I heard it said that the Goodison roar will scare our Continental opposition stiff next season. We should worry!  All I can say is that we bask in it with the same warmth that we expect to get from the Spanish sin a little later on.  I am not one of those chaps who naturally prefer to bottle up their feelings, and I assure you it has been a tremendous strain these last few games, trying not to get excited over the new world which was opening up to me.  Naturally it gave me great delight to pop three goals into the Fulham net, but it was not for myself that I was elated I was merely doing my job for the team and the club and you and I was just lucky that I was chap to whom the chances fell.  It mattered nit a hoot who put the ball into the goal so long as he wore a blue jersey.  Our championship victory has not come about because of the brilliance of any particular individual I believe we have won the League because manager Harry Catterick has welded us together into a team in the true sense of the word. 
KNEW IN MY HEART
I would never have admitted it to anyone, but I knew in my heart that the title would be ours, when we won at West Brom.  It was as though a had been lifted from our shoulders and we knew we were coasting downhill to the finishing post.  We were told that Fulham were capable of putting on a tough show, but the way the boys felt and played on Saturday, I don’t think any team could have kept us from our goal.  Even when Fulham scored, we were not worried.  I cannot think of any team that can give us two goals start and beat us.  People are telling us that next season will be hard going because everybody will want to beat the champions.  Don’t you believe it!  Nobody can tell me that any team has not wanted to beat Everton above all others this season, and yet only six times have they succeeded.  This for me is a dream come true.  I was lucky enough to be a member of the Blackburn side which went through to a Division Two triumph and now there is a top League honour to go with it.  I am an ambitious man, and you can take it from me that goes for the rest of the boys.  Next season we hope to treat you all to another nerve-tingling triumph on that wonderful Wembley pitch but let thoughts on that subject wait for another day. 

THE HARYY CATTERICK WAY
Liverpool Daily Post- Monday, May 13 1963
Since Mr. Harry Catterick took over as manager of Everton F.C. in April, 1961 he has built up a wonderful record.  The club won their remaining two games at Sheffield Wednesday and Arsenal at the end of the first season.  Since then in two full seasons they have played 24 League games and have lost only 16 culminating in the winning this season of the League title.

DESPITE COSTLY SIGNINGS-
Liverpool Daily Post –Monday, May 13 1963
EVERTON DEFLICIT NOT LIKELY TO EXCEEED £20,000
By Horace Yates
Records have fallen like nine-pins in Everton’s sixth League championship season.  Not only have they extended their unbeaten run at Goodison Park to forty games, but attendance figures and receipts soar to new levels , so much so that despite the free-spending which has been necessary from time to time, the chairman Mr. John Moores said he expected that when the accounts were balanced for the season the deficit would not exceed £20,000.  To grasp the full significance of this achievement one must remember that in bringing players like Tony Kay, Alex Scott and Johnny Morrissey to Goodison, Everton have parted with cheques amounting to well over £100,000 in addition to making the biggest payments to players of any club in the country. 
£4,000 A MAN
When I sought some sort of estimate of the kind of money these victories Everton players had collected from their twenty-five victories and eleven drawn games with bonuses of various kinds, I was told their income could easily exceed £4,000 a man.  Even in these days when players are more generously treated than ever before in the history of the game that is an agreeable sort of recompense for their labours.  While they have not proved to be the most prolific scorers their defence is without superior in the First Division and the achievements in games away from home is unexcelled.  The chairman as shrewd an investor as you will find in a day’s match, said he had always been completely happy about the spending of money on Everton’s behalf for the simply reason for catering as they are for one of the most rabid sets of football followers in the world, that it was an investment which would be returned many times over.  As happy as a sand boy in the realisation of a success pursued with enthusiasm and determination.  Mr.Moores could not have been more modest.  Turning aside the part be had played and the public are well aware of just how great a contribution he has made, he most willingly handed the bouquets to the manager of his choice, Mr. Harry Catterick.  “Harry has done the work,” he said.  “He has chosen the players he wanted for the club, and we have merely helped him to get them.  His judgement has been vindicated over and over again and as much as anything the thing I admire about him is the amount of time he so gladly spends with his players. 
PERSONAL PROBLEMS
“He knows better than any man their strength and failings, their little personal problems when and just how to get them up of necessary and I don’t see where we could have found a better man for the task we had in mind for him.  Mr.Moores was asked about his relationship with the crowd, and in claiming them to be the best of all supporters he said relations were excellent.  There had been one two uncomfortable moments, he went on, mainly over the departure of Mr. John Carey, but he felt that this was as much due to misunderstanding as anything else.  “When you live on the hills,” he said, “you must expect high winds from time to time.”  In recent days, he went on.  Everton F.C had caused him more excitement and nervous strain than had his business affairs and admitted that the last week with the matches against West Brom, and Fulham, with the championship dangling so invitingly in the balance, had imposed a real strain.  “At this moment,” he said, “I should be enjoying a fishing holiday,” and he laughed his approval as it was suggested that the League title was the biggest fish he had even hooked.  Victory, at West Ham he considered to have been the turning point which cleanly underlined Everton’s Championship possibilities and he was particularly gratified that spectators who had come prepared to criticise Gabriel and Kay had stayed to be won over completely by their talented play.  The signing of Kay, too, he thought was a major stroke in the strengthening of the side.  His part cannot be overstressed,” he said. 
ALWAYS WORRIES
When Mr. Catterick was asked what were his most worrying moments, he said, “I worry about every game until it is won.”  Of particular satisfaction to the manager is not only the fact that in two seasons he has seen the club supreme in the League, but that the youngsters below them have also done a wonderful job.  His “A and B” teams are champions of their respective League and the Central League side has not finished in a higher position for more than ten seasons.  I like to think I am just as much as Evertonian as any of our crowd,” he said.  “Remember, I was just a kid when I came to Goodison Park as a player and even when I left them, the only result I wanted to know after my own games were over was that concerning Everton.  “I cannot sufficiently stress the help and encouragement I have received at every turn from the club chairman.  He could not have done more,” and with typical modesty, he went on to pay tribute to the role filled so adequately by his chief trainer-coach, Tom Egglston the man he first took from the obscurity of Watford to Sheffield Wednesday and then on to Goodison with his own arrival.  “He has come a first class job, and I know of no better man for it,” Mr. Catterick said.
PARNELL MASCOT
Just as his superiors had done before him, Tom Eggleston looked and found someone on whom to turn the spotlight away from himself.  “If you want to know the truth,” he said, “we have the best mascot of any club I don’t usually believe in this sort of thing but it is a fact that we have never lost a match when Roy Parnell, our reserve team back, has been nominated twelfth man.  We made sure he was here today.  If you were to ask Mr. Catterick he would tell you that when he sits down to select his team, the first name that goes on the list for a tough match is- Roy Parnell, twelfth man.  Then he carries on filling in the names of the players.  “We have had our up’s and downs during the season,” said Tom, “and have had the occasional stinker but generally speaking the lads have been wonderfully consistent.  Referring to the well-earned holiday which the players and their wives will soon be enjoying in Spain, Mr. Moores said it had been decided that none of the directors would accompany the party because it was felt that in their own company the players would be better able to relax and enjoy themselves.  Perhaps it would not be fitting to close without a reference to a name less well-known than that of any of the players, but, who, as driver of the official coach oh so many of their trips has also played his part in the smooth running of the season- Ernie Horrigan.  There is no more enthusiastic supporters anywhere than Ernie.  He counted it a privilege rather than a job when he was appointed to his duties, for he would have been at most of the matches anyway.  He told me on Saturday that after the players had lunched together at Birkdale he took them to Goodison Park for the Fulham game.  “I was the only one in the party,” he said, “who had to be given tranquillisers. 

HARD FIGHT FOR EVERTON
Liverpool Daily Post- Monday, May 13 1963
BURY RES 1, EVERTON RES 2
After threatening to run away from the comparatively inexperienced Bury Reserves at Gigg Lane Everton had to fight hard to keep ahead.  With almost contemptuous ease, they raced to a two-goal lead in the first first-hour through Jarvis and Morrissey- the left winger’s goal came from a brilliant individual effort- and Bury were not really in the hunt.  Then, just before the interval, left full back Thomson received a groin injury in falling over the concrete surround.  He had to have two stitches in a groin would and did not resume.  The second half was a much more even affair, and the Everton defence had to work hard after Mayers from a penalty for hands had reduced Bury’s arrears.  When Everton were in the groove in the first half there was not a weak link in the side, but in the later stages the defence lost its composure and Rankin’s alertness served his side well. 

ALREADY THEY WEIGH UP EVERTON VERSUS EUROPE
Liverpool Daily Post- Monday, May 13 1963
On Saturday 60,578 men, women and children went to Goodison Park to watch Everton beat Fulham 4-1, win the League title and enter next season’s European Cup competition.  As they left the seething stadium a Daily Post reporter asked them what they thought of the triumph- and the prospects. 
Mrs Jimmy Gabriel and Mrs. Alex Young
Two smartly-dressed young women, one with hair of a coppery hue, the other a blonde outside Goodison Park on Saturday evening and chatted away gaily.  There was every reason for their happy mood, for these two girls were Mrs Pat Gabriel, wife of Everton’s right half and Mrs. Nancy Young, wife of the side’s centre forward.  Excitedly they said; “It was great-marvellous.”  What of the future, in particular Everton’s European Cup prospects?  They concurred again; “They have a very good chance in the European Cup. “  The giant crowd spilled away from the ground, Everton had done it.  Become champions.  Oh, what a day!  As she made her way out of the crush, pretty twenty-three-years old Jennifer Guppy, who has seen the side in each of their home matches this season was beside herself with pleasure.  Here eye sparkling Jennifer, of Tudor Avenue, Bebington, said “I think it’s marvellous, wonderful.  It is really I have never been so uncomfortable in my life, but it was worth every second.” 
Joan Atkinson, of Medip Road, Birkenhead, and Ernest Roberts of Hatherly Street, Birkenhead, said they were pleased all right but they had not expected anything other than that Everton would be champions.  In fact, twenty-one-year-old Joan, who follows Everton home and away-she, has missed only about four of the side’s games this season- hinted that there was something rather unfair about the way Everton had been knocked out of the F..A. Cup.  “We should have won the Cup, too,” she said. 
Carol Kelly, aged 14, of Williams Avenue, Bootle, speaking for herself, her thirteen year-old sister Sally and fourteen-year-old Monica Rice, also, of Bootle, who was with her, commented.  “We are very pleased, we’ve been praying for them to win.” She added; “My father’s a very great fan.  He’s been everywhere with them.”  Said her sister Sally; “It was smashing.”  Enthusiastic about the club’s future were eighteen-years-old Glyn Jones, of Bristol Avenue, Wallasey and seventeen-years-old Arthur Evans, of Liscard Road, Wallasey; “I think that next year they will get the League title and the F.A Cup,” said Glyn Arthur commented.  “If they play like they did today, they have got a good chance of the double next year.”  Not so easy to please were Mr. Gerald Smallwood and his thirteen-year-old son Phillip of Pilch Lane, Knotty Ash.  Said Mr. Smallwood; “They deserved the championship but they did not make quite the show today I was expecting.  They played about too much.”  Philip said of Everton’s performance that afternoon; “They started off good, and ended up good, but they weren’t very good in between.”  Mr. Fred Hopkinson of Roxburgh Street, Bootle, one of the Goodison Park ground gatesmen said; “Lately they have not been playing up to their earlier standard and they will have to improve to win the European Cup, but the talent is here.”  Mr. Joe Hughes, who lives in the Southdene area of Kirkby, who has never missed seeing his side play at home this season said of the European Cup.  They’ve got a good chance.  A Roman Catholic priest said; “They were really excellent right through.  What did he think of their European Cup prospects?  They will acquit themselves quite well and represent their country really well.” 

MILLIONAIRE TOUCH
Liverpool Daily Post- Monday May 13 1963
NOW THE EVERTON CHIEF STAYS ON
By Horace Yates
As a result of Everton’s First Division championship success Mr. John Moores has decided to stay on as chairman of the Goodison Park club for at least another year. Because football is claiming an increasing amount of his time, Mr. Moores had intended to step down.  But he added, after Saturday’s home victory against Fulham.”  I have no intention of resigning from the board; I intend to continue to give the club any financial aid which they might think necessary.  “What a day this has been.  I shall always look back on it as the most thrilling moment I have ever experienced in a lifetime covering many phases of sports.”  Mr. Moores said the team had exceeded his expectations- and if he has his way the Football league title may be only the first instalment in a new and exciting soccer chapter now opening up. 

EVERTON PLAYERS ARE TO SHARE £1,100 IN TAELENT MONEY
Liverpool Echo & Evening Express- Monday, May 13 1963
GOODISON INUNDATED WITH CONGRATULATORY MESSAGES
SPANISH HOLIDAY
By Leslie Edwards
Everton players dispersed to their home following their memorable championship-clinch victory against Fulham at Goodison Park on Saturday.  They reassemble in Liverpool on Saturday for their holiday trip at the club’s expense in Southern Spain, Married players will be accompanied by their wives.  Besides their big pay packet the final week of their season- it includes a big crowd bonus for the 60,000 attendance at Saturday’s match. - Everton first team players will share £1,100 talent money for their championship win.  When I asked manager Harry Catterick today whether to anticipated demands for more money when players contracts terminate in mid-close season he said; “Most of our chaps are of a two-year contract so there will be nothing from them.  But I’ve yet to manage a club where players have been satisfied with what they are getting.  They all want better terms if they can get them.” 
WARMING WIRES
Goodison Park, alive with enthusiasm on Saturday from start to finish of a momentous match, was deserted and silent this morning.  Later this week a start will be made on installing for the second time turf-warming electric wires so that the long hiatus caused by frost early this year will not involve the club in so many postponed games.  An extra overhang on the roof of the Bullens Road stand is to be constructed, giving spectators on terracing below greater shelter from rain.  The Everton offices have been inundated with messages of congratulation.  Nearly all the First Division and many of the Second Division clubs sent telegrams.  The skipper and crew of the fishing trawler, Everton, also sent sincere good wishes on the success of their name’s –the same club.  Bill McClean a Scot attached to the British Embassy to Washington addressed the following message to Everton centre forward Alex Young at the Echo offices.  “Heartiest congratulations to Everton team, manager, Board and staff.” 
CELEBRATION DINNER
Mr. Catterick said that he thought the championship trophy would not be presented to the club until after the players return from their Spanish holiday.  “It will probably be presented at a celebration dinner in Liverpool,” he said.  “This team of ours,” added the Everton manager,” will get better and better.  You see some of them have had little chance to get to know one another’s play.  When they bed-down they should be great.”  Mr. Catterick was particularly pleased with the team’s fine away second and their best-ever defensive record.  In winning their sixth championship they had lost only two games in the final 15- a tremendous finishing burst which left them positive winners and not dependent for their success on the failure of others. 
GABRIEL BEREAVED
Everton Player’s Mother Dies In Scotland
Jimmy Gabriel, the Everton footballer, telephoned his home in Dundee yesterday and learned that his mother was in hospital.  He set off for Scotland immediately, accompanied by his wife and baby, and arrived in Dundee last night, but his mother died at 4 a.m this morning. 

VERNON MAKES IT THE V-DAY FOR EVERTON
The Liverpool Echo & Evening Express- Monday, May 13 1963
By Michael Charters
Has there ever been an atmosphere, an excitement, a thrill, sports-wise in Liverpool, to equal that at Goodison Park on Saturday?  Old-timers who have seen the great football moments in this city over the past four decades say there has been nothing like it since Dixie Dean broke his goal-scoring record in 1928 in the last match of the season on the same pitch.  It was a privilege to be in the historic ground again this time to see Everton win the Football League Championship by crushing Fulham 4-1 to be accompaniment of the roaring acclaim of 60,000 delirious fans.  The occasion was made of course, by the knowledge that victory for Everton made certain of the trophy and the fans roared with laughter when a loudspeaker announcement in giving the results of the Tottenham and Leicester games commented.  Now let’s see who could be the runners-up.” I give full marks to the man who made it he captured the bubbling-over mood of the fans who had cheered their team to the first championship since 1939.  The players, the crowd, everybody, entered into the carnival spirit when the game, and the championship had been well and truly won.  A massive ring of policemen prevented any wholesale, surge onto the pitch by the supporters- board from a dozen or so youngsters hotly pursued by the law- and the team were able to make their lap of honour as the huge crowd stood and cheered themselves hoarse.”  If the Pier Head pigeons were disturbed by the noise I would not be surprised.  It was a shattering ear-shaking approval for the Everton team and management who had come through to the title with a magnificent home straight run in which they had taken 20 out of the last 24 points at stake.  Championship from champagne for the players afterwards and champagne football from the side, at least in the first half when the game was settled by taking s 3-1 lead. 
LAP OF HONOUR
Not a soul moved out until the lap of honour was ceremoniously completed, and the on-pitch congratulations had been joyfully exchanged between team and supporters. Them the crowd turned their attention on the occupants of the directors box, calling “We want John Moores.”  The hatless chairman- he lost his hat when he threw it up after Everton’s second goal- acknowledge their applause and then the fans wanted to see the team again.  They saw them, led by Roy Vernon, still in their playing strip, champagne bottles in hand with Tony Kay doing a war-dance of joy in front, smoking the biggest cigar I’ve seen outside the Winston Churchill type.  The crowd loved it, and the only time they were quiet was to hear Vernon pay tribute to the supporters, the rest of the team and the management.  “It was a near speech and expressed al that had to be said.  It was one big happy family –the sort of feeling one gets out rarely and only sport can provide it on these truly great occasions.  One felt that here was a mutant feeling of appreciation between the players and their supporters.  On one side the satisfaction of a hard job well done and finished with a flourish on the other genuine acknowledgement of the team’s performance over a long, hard grind of 42 tough matches which has bought them, among other features the finest defensive record and the best away record in the League and their 40th home League and Cup game without defeat.  Everton won this match with a top-class exhibition in the first half.  After the interval they played with the intent of “what we have we hold and the game became ordinary.  But the crowd 15 minutes from the end, could sense that it was all over and they set up their giant Everton chant and continuous cheering which reached its peak when Vernon scored the fourth and five minutes from the end to make absolutely sure Everton were tops in every sense. 
IN THE SAME MAULD
They were two up after eight minutes, both goals coming from the accurate bout of Vernon and really they sewed up the game there and then.  All three Vernon goals were similar in built-up and pattern, a remarkable feature which would have made headlines on any other day but this.  That the team captain should clinch the title with three goals provided other story-book point to a day right out of the realms of fiction.  For his first goal Vernon won possession of the ball on the edge of the penalty area from Mullery when it looked odds-on the Fulham wing half taking control of Parker’s long through pass.  Vernon had it, however, and he sped on drawing Macedo out of goal beating him with his swerve and pace and slotting the ball down a narrow angle into the net.  The next goal also involved the same four players.  Vernon chased Parker’s clearance with Mullery in front of him and looking certain to be able to touch the ball back to Macedo.  But Vernon worried Mullery into hitting the ball hard against the goalkeeper, it rebounded to him and he went on drawing Macedo over to the right to score from practically the same spot as the first goal.  Following two isolated thrusts from Fulham in which Dunlop made a splendid save from Cook, and then was beaten by an accurate if slowly hit shot from outside right Key who received the ball after a delightful Haynes- Robson passing duet on the right.  It was thus 2-1 but Everton were in the groove.  Kay – a magnificent performance of class and power all through-and Gabriel were coming up to join the attack and they were pounding the Fulham defence. 
SKILL AND POLISH
Young, brilliant in his heading, distribution and artistry was giving Keetch immense trouble and with Sevens having me of his best games of the season (how good to hear the crowd applauding him after the nightmare of the previous Saturday, the Everton forwards were moving with great skill and polish.  Stevens had the ball in the net from another delightful headed pass by Young, but the referee had a second before blown for a foul by Keetch on Young.  But all was well, for Everton scored their third goal from the free-kick.  Vernon initial shot rebound off a Fulham player to Scott, whose low shot struck a Fulham man on route and deflected just inside the upright.  Only once after that did Fulham look like scoring, but Dunlop made a splendid save from Cook’s header midway through the second half, which was something of an anti-climax after the thrills of the first, but Everton were never in danger of failing.  They were always on top even if their pace had slowed and the whole tempo of the game became more pedestrian.  Vernon raised it to the heights again with the last goal of the season.  Young headed the ball through Vernon once again beat Mullery in a close challenge for the ball, drew Macedo out to the right of the goal, and then directed the ball through the narrow gap into the far corner of the net.  It was all over, only the congratulations were to come.  Fulham fought hard, cleanly and well.  The accuracy of Haynes passes brought their due measure of applause but the rest of the attack foundered on a tight Everton defence, in which Labone was outstanding against a tough customer to Cook.  There were no weaknesses in the Everton side.  All played their part 100 per cent, but I must single out Kay, Young, Vernon and Labone for specials mention. 
THE CHAIRMAN SAYS
After the players had changed they came up to the boardroom to join a happy party where chairman John Moores and manager Harry Catterick had sore hands receiving the congratulations which they have justly earned for their part in the Everton success story.  Mr. Moores revealed that he intended to vacate the chairmanship if they had not won the championship, but was prepared to stay on now.  He would still have been a director prepared as he said to help financially whenever the club needed.  He paid fulsome praise to Mr. Catterick as a great manager, whose handling of the playing staff could not be faulted, and thought the team would be even better next season.  Winning the title was one of his great ambitions, but he would have been content to have seen them in the top three, as he said at the start of the season.  The turning point in recent games, he thought was the victory at West Ham, who had beaten them in the Cup and were a very strong side on their own ground.  Asked if the club intended to buy again before next season, Mr. Moores said that they were completely satisfied with the team naturally, but if someone became available whom the management thought would be an asset to them, they would make a move for him.  At present there was no player of the class Everton would want available in the country.  He said the decision to spend £100,000 on the signings of Kay and Scott during the time of no time of no football in the freeze-up had been completely justified.  The team had been playing very well before Christmas to lead Division One, but it was felt when they had time to assess the situation during the bad weather that they could strengthen the side with these two players.  Result had proved them right. 
NO FORECASTS
Mr. Catterick said he felt the team always had a chance of winning the title and he also referred to the West Ham game as a turning point.  He paid tribute to Tom Egglestone, the trainer, who was with him doing their successful years ay Sheffield Wednesday and also to the rest of the coaching staff.  Mr. Catterick a cautious man loath, quite rightly to make forecasts, would make no predictions about next season with its high promise of European Cup football.  All he would say was that it was a very tough competition in which to succeed.  But he has, in the past, told me that he thought the team would be better next season than this.  So all is set fair for Everton.  With a great and triumphant season only, just behind them thoughts are cast ahead to more and greater success to come. 

ROY LEAVES HIS HAT-TRICKS LATE...
The Liverpool Echo & Evening Express- Tuesday, May 14 1963
With Leslie Edwards
Has anyone other than H.J. Meyer, noticed the remarkable feat of the Everton captain Roy Vernon in the final matches of the last three seasons. I doubt it.  The fact that he has had three hat-tricks since he came to Goodison Park from Blackburn Rovers.  Each one has been performed in Everton’s final fixture of the season- first against Arsenal when Everton won 4-1next against Cardiff whom Everton beat 8-3 and thirdly (and most important against Fulham at Goodison Park on Saturday).  I congratulate Roy and his team on a magnificent down the finishing straight.  I congratulate Chairman John Moores who has sometimes had as many kicks as the pence he’s invested in his famous and Messrs Harry Catterick and Tom Eggleton for being expert back room boys who have done their job quietly but efficiently and never with the “bull” often associated with teams at or near the top.  I have been critical of Everton in some of the matches and I daresay I shall be again, but I do acknowledge their remarkable season’s work their recovery when things appeared to be going against them, and their belief “up top” that only the best will do for the Everton fan.  Money still cannot buy success.  It is money and knowledge which makes championship teams.  The signings of both Kay and Scott have been justified not only academically but where it matters on the field. Of Everton’s progress this season and their plans for the future I hope to hear at first hand, from the Everton chairman this week.  He has promised to “pull” on punches and what he says will be one of the many features of the Everton souvenir edition which every follower of the club will want to read when it appears on Saturday.  It would seem that we are only at the beginning of an Everton era which will make some of their past history –laudable as it is –seem pale by comparison. 
THEN AND NOW
Sir Ivan Thompson a landlubber based on Anfield and Goodison Park (but once Commodore of thee Cunard Line) saw Everton’s championship triumph at Goodison Park.  “It took me back,” he says, to the day in 1906 when Everton first won the Cup and it was a spectator at the same ground.  The Reserves were playing a team from Earlestown.  We were all anxious to know what was going on in London, but there were no public address systems in those days.  When the Everton club got news of Sandy Young’s goal they sent a small boy round the pitch at Goodison Park carrying a board on which was chalked the name “Young.”  That was enough. The crowd knew what it meant.  They set up the chant Heyho, Sandy scored the goal, Sandy scored the goal... Sandy scored the goal...’ and kept it up for the remainder of the match.  I shall never forget the occasion- of the scenes at the game against Fulham on Saturday.”  The most exciting Goodison Park moment for this columnist was when Dean scored his 60th goal in a season.  From that moment the crowds roar of appreciation broke out all round the field wherever the day’s hero went near the touchline.  The united roar which greeted his 60th goal was so tremendous it must have almost “carried” across the Mersey.  The opposition that day- and they were keen on deny Dean success- were Arsenal, with the peerless inside forwards Charlie Buchan plying his final League game.  Dyed-in-the-wool Blue Maurice Devereux (11 Meols Drive, Hoylake) writes “Although I have often aired my views to you on matters of sport, this is the first time I have ever written.   You state that the letters you have received are unanimous in their condemnation of Everton for their refusal to release Kay.  “I strongly oppose the attitude.  Everton are responsible not to the Football Association, but to their own supporters.  Over 50,000 supporters want (and have got Everton as League champions and this was more important than the result of the England v. Brazil game.  “Each week the club supporter pays his money to watch his team.  He hopes to see games against teams like Benfica and Real Madrid.  Why should his chances of his be lessened by his team being deprived of players for vital matches. 
“No England matches of importance are played outside the London area.  As long as this situation exits there is no reason why the loyal supporters of Everton or any other provisional club, should subsidise the English team.  “It is time that the Football League broke away from the Football Association which in my opinion is a pretty useless body.” 

EVERTON BONUS FOR MEMBERS OF STAFF
Liverpool Daily Post –Thursday May 16 1963
By Horace Yates
With typical generosity, the directors of Everton Football Club, in their hour of triumph, basking in the glory of their League Championship triumph, and who throughout the season have paid out record sums for the club to their talented players, according to the terms of their contracts, have remembered also those who do the work behind the scenes, away from the glamour and glitter of publicity.  I understand that every member of the staff will also be given a bonus payment as the club’ thank you” for duties willingly performed, not only this season but down the years, and nobody from the highest on the staff to those with the most modest tasks to do, will by forgotten.  This is the sort of thoughtfulness, coming as a complete surprise, I am sure, to so many of the recipients, that helps to take the team behind the team realise that even small cogs in the great big  wheel have a responsibility in ensuring that the true team spirit goes deep.  The bonuses will be on a sliding scale.  Players and their wives begin to collect an additional reward on Saturday evening when the party fly to Reno del Sol in Spain for their football-free holiday, entirely at the club’s expense.  This is just another indication of the club’s reputation for doing the generous thing by the last of the right given to
NO SWEEPING CHANGES
When the Football League hold their annual meeting in London on June 8, do not expect any sensational changes, for the recently publicised “new pattern of football,” designed to stream-line soccer to modern needs is likely to be shelved, for the time being at least.  This is not to say that the legislators’ suggested changes have been scrapped, but nothing more will be heard of them until the time is considered more opportune to reintroduce them.  Those who lived in hope of seeing the four-up and four-down principle applied generally throughout the Football League will be disappointed.  The big clubs point to the desperate fight to avoid relegation, this season from Division One and argue that with such intense competition there already, the need for change does not exist.  I think we may have seen the last of the right given to clubs with two or more players selected to play in an international match, to call off their League fixture for the date.  Clubs, in the main dislike it because of its interference with the run of League programmes, and it is argued that one of the reasons for the existence of reserve teams is to come to the rescue in times such as these.  Among the most far reaching proposals are those from West Ham who advocate the removal of all rules and clauses relating to players’ benefits, accrued share and payments of up to £300 on transfer, not on the player’s seeking.  The feeling is that with the removal of the wages’ celling, clubs should now be free to write into contracts whatever they think fit, as regards incentive and rewards for loyal and lengthy service.  There is no indication on the agenda of any move by clubs to challenge the no-limit wages for players, apart from the Blackpool proposal that the Management Committee should consider the effect of the maximum wage on the League competition to consider the whole system of payments to players and report their finding to the clubs. 
APPROACH TO POOLS
Talk of obtaining more money from the football pools for the use of copy right fixtures, finds expression in a Stoke City proposal that a sub-committee should be appointed to seek an interview with the Pools Promoters’ Association to explore the possibility of a variation in the agreement.  The suggested amending of it is by an extended term of years on the one hand, and on the other by an increase in the percentage payable to the League, “so that a more equitable and realistic sum of money would be available for the benefit of the Football League clubs,”  without whose fixtures the Pools could not operate.  In the present financial year fees from fixtures yielded £204, 681, compared with £232, 219 the previous year.  The revenue account to January 31 shows receipts amounting to £227, 636, of which £217, 645 was derived from pools income and broadcasting and television rights (£12,964).  The latter figure is nearly double that of 1961-62.  Inter-League matches provided£6,293 and there was a loss on the year’s working of £646. 
PROVIDENT FUND
Main items of expenditure were £97,277 Players Provident Fund contribution; £31,295 pension scheme contribution and £50, 788 for the provision of referees and linesmen, the last item being up by £500.  The trustees of the League Provident Fund reveal that £116,161 was paid last year to 323 players on their retirement.  Four members died and their next-of-kin received a total of £2,458.  The fund is based on a per cent of players earnings.  This sum is not deducted but its equivalent is held in reserve until a player finishes with the game and the lump sum is then handed over tax free.  The Management Committee will propose regulations for the signing of boys still at school, this after consultation and agreement with the Football Association and the appropriate schools’ football governing bodies.  The regularising of the existing situation whereby boys signed by League clubs are debarred- as a kind of deterrent – from taking part in organised school games, would greatly benefit English schools football and provide a reservoir of youthful talent, it is claimed.  Among the 22 clubs who have applied for League membership are Morecambe, Nelson, New Brighton and Wigan Athletic. 
MOVE FOR BANKS?
Automatically struck out by a resolution that no non-League club which during the past five years had signed a player, from a League club without its consent, would be considered for election, will be  several of the applicants.  Do not be surprised if by next season former Liverpool centre forward, Alan Banks, who has completed two years in non-League football is persuaded to make a League come-back. 

FOREST AGREES TERMS FOR WIGNALL
Liverpool Echo & Evening Express- Friday, May 17 1963
EVERTON WILL GET £20,000
CENTRE FORWARD
By Leslie Edwards
Everton and Nottingham Forest have agreed terms for the transfer, from Everton of centre forward Frank Wignall.  The fee is said by Mr.Catterick the Everton manager, so he well in excess of £20,000.  Wignall, who is smarted and who has been with Everton as part-time or full professional for five years-he is now 22- will go to Nottingham tomorrow to see Forest play Tottenham.  Manager Andy Beattie, of Nottingham Forest, completed arrangements with Everton for telephone this morning.  He anticipates that nothing will stand in the way of Wignall signing after tomorrow’s match.  For Nottingham, success in signing Wignall would be the end of a season-long search for a scoring centre forward, Julians the man occupying the position at present had a good start to the season but has done little recently. 
SCORRING SPELL
Wignall’s best scoring spell in the Everton first team was two seasons ago when he scored five goals in eleven games when acting as deputy for Alex Young.  He suffered a bad injury when Everton, played in the New York international tournament the close season before last and was out of the game for weeks with a badly sprained ankle.  Wignall a fitter with Horwich R.M.I when director Jack Sharp first look a fancy to him, joined Everton in May 1958.  He had scored close on 50 goals for Horwich that season. A native of Churley, the stands 5ft 11ins and weights more than 12 stone.  He carries a big shot, but in inclined to be slow into his stride.  Mr. Catterick said today “We don’t want to stand in Frank’s light.  We are always prepared to listen to offer from league clubs if we feel the player concerned can be spared.  I reckon we have done good business with Nottingham Forest.  There was little opportunity for Frank in the first team.” 

WIRING TO HELP SEEDS
Liverpool Echo & Evening Express- Friday, May 17 1963
GOODISON PITCH PLAN
By Leslie Edwards
The soil-warming electric wiring system now being installed, for the second time by Everton F.C, at Goodison Park to beat such frosts as we had last winter is likely to be used for another purpose long before then.  The firm of contractors putting the system in -23 miles of wires mole-ploughed four and a half inches under the turf in lines nine inches apart- believe that the gentle heat generated could help seeds germinate faster when the pitch is re-sown in a few days’ time.  Owing to chemical preparations used against frost last season much of the pitch is bare.  The close season being much shorter than usual it is essential that re-seeding should take place as quickly as possible and that all neat available should help the seeds to germinate.  Thus the new wiring system might well provide the club with an important “bonus” before its real job, of dispelling frost, gets under way next winter. 

THIS IS EVERTON’S BLISTERING NUISANCE
Liverpool Echo & Evening Express- Thursday, May 18, 1963
With Leslie Edwards
Everton are still concerned about the health of one of their players- Alex Young whose famous feet, so often blistered, have occasionally kept him out of important matches.  Though the club kept it secret, he suffered a great deal from blisters (which leave a deep crack the have burst) during the final weeks of the season when grounds became hard.  The winter pitches, mostly soft and muddy, pose no problems for him.  All manner of cures have been tried.  The Echo received when news of the player’s disability was first known more than a hundred letters offering advice.  None, apparently did much good.  It was first though by the medics that Young’s trouble was due to sweat glands not functioning properly.  Now it has been discovered that his capillaries are at fault.  Some people with the same trouble blister easily on hands and feet and the answer, I understand is internal treatment to help cause the capillaries to do their work normally.  With Everton now qualified for the European Cup and likely to be involved to that competition on many firm dry grounds it is more than ever necessary for the club to find the solution to a difficult problem.  While hard grounds  could prevent him playing in some matches they also mean that he cannot train as the club would like him to in order to increase his stamina.  This is not at the moment has strong point.  Amid all the praise for Everton there has been none, points out a reader, for Mother Noblett the lady whose dispensation of toffees to youngsters before matches at Goodison Park is a feature of home matches.  Further criticism comes of the action of the police in treating encroachers on the pitch last Saturday with some roughness.  But it nearly everyone climbed the barriers even during a lap of honour what chance would there be of others better disciplined of seeing “the show”?
GIMMICK DEPARTMENT
Everton’s League victory- and the present of their appearance next season in the European Cup –has stirred the poetic music in many of their followers.  Unhappily, not many of them are good enough to be published.  Some others are detrimental to Liverpool over their failure in the Cup.  The gimmick department is thus better served by the use fans have made of the letters contained in Everton players’ names.  Here is a selection which have come to me from several sources- one being from a thirteen-years-old boy.  For once an Everton tour abroad includes no directors.  This is because no football is involved in the trip to Spain where the champions accompanied by their wives will holiday at club expense.  Like Liverpool Everton are relieved that the short close season will involves them in no Continental games.  The players of both clubs should came up for the new season fresher than most. 

THREE-YEAR GROUND IMPROVEMENTS PLAN
Liverpool Daily Post- Saturday, May 18 1963
EVERTON PREPARE FOR 1966 WORLD CUP MATCHES
TRANSLUCENT ROOFING AND MORE SHELTER ON ALL SIDES
By Horace Yates
Everton F.C have embarked on their three-year plan of development to make Goodison Park a ground without equal in England, outside Wembley, in time to stage the World Cup games of 1966, which have already been earmarked.  The plan, carried out in stages will ensure greater comfort and protection from the weather for the crowds and when completed, it is estimated that about nine-tenths of the arena will be under cover.  Harry Catterick told me that most significant changes are envisaged and will further the lead the club already possess over its rivals.  Work is at present in progress on the Bullens Road stand.  I understand that about 4,000 additional seats are being installed there, and the roof is being ripped off.  It will be replaced by a covering, in cantilever style, of Fibre glass so that in Wembley fashion there will be translucent lighting.  The roof will be extended to the ground fence, so that those standing spectators displace from the terrace to make way for the seating will still be under cover. 
ALLIN TURN
This idea of re-covering the stands and providing shelter right to the edge of the pitch will be developed at accost of several thousand pounds, until all four have been treated in turn.  The Bullens Road part of the scheme will be completed in readiness for the opening of next season.  It rather looks as though Everton have already out-grown that ambition of a few years ago to make Goodison the “Arsenal of the North” Now Arsenal have quite a bit on their plate to catch up! 
MOVE FOR WIGNALL?
If he so wishes, reserve centre forward Frank Wignall will open next season as a Nottingham Forest player.  Terms have been agreed between the clubs, at a fee in excess of £20,000, so that I would say this is another instalment in the Everton record of selling well.  A native of Horwich, Wignall made his senior debut in the home match with Burnley on September 2, 1959, and after playing in six successive games reappeared only in the F.A Cup third round tie at Bradford City.  In season 1960-61 he secured eight goals in 15 League games and one Cup match, and in 11 fixtures the following season increased his scoring tally by five.  His only appearance in the present season was at Manchester City, where his one goal earned Everton a point.  Probably because he felt his chances of gaining a permanent place in the Everton side were not particularly bright he made a request which was granted, to be offered for transfer.  The decision now rests with Wignall. 

NOT ONLY A JOY DAY FOR THE TEAM
The Liverpool Echo & Evening Express – Saturday, May 18 1963
By Alex Young
Finding words to describe exactly how I feel about Everton’s championship triumph is extremely difficult, but this is the greatest thing that has happened to me in football so far as I was every bit as excited as the 60,000 fans who cheered their heads off last Saturday.  On two previous occasions I have won First Division championships medals- with Hearts in the Scottish League- but my joy no did not compare with the way I felt last Saturday afternoon.  Never shall I forget those final free minutes of the Fulham match when the crowd were stamping and shouting so much that my eats was reeling with the noise and it seemed that we could even feel the playing pitch, vibrating under our feet.  It was just great to know that there were so many others cheering our moment of glory for this was not only a triumph for the Everton First team not for all the defenders staff and players of Goodison as well on the many thousands of loyal supporters who have stood by through thick and thin.  Our away record was the best in the club’s history and this can surely be attributed in some extent to the large following we have had of away matches.  Special mention must be made also of our manager Mr.Catterick and trainer Tom Eggeston, Mr. Catterick has produced the tactical moves which have been the successful while Tom ensured that we were feeling our fitness when the beat was really turned on at the end of the season. Messages of good wishes and after Saturday’s game at Goodison Park from all over the world both before and after Saturday’s game.  There have been far too many to attempt to mention here, and I hope that the senders will understand if I just say a sincere “thank you” in this column on behalf of myself and all the Everton boy’s.  Before the Fulham match we were taken to a Southport hotel for lunch, the same place that we went for a meal before that important match against Tottenham.  You will remember that day Wakefield Trinity dined with us before going on to a Rugby League Semi-final victory.  What a cu-incidence that they should win the Rugby League Challenge Cup at the same time as we were making certain of the First Division championship.  Hero of our last match of the season was skipper Roy Vernon, whose three goals were really well taken and I might add well timed.  Each came from the ball chipped through the middle which Roy likes too much and no matter how badly angled he is he still seems able to find the target.  A player of less ability could I feel have quite easily placed all three shots in the side netting.  After the match several Fulham players came and affected e congratulations.  They said we were a better side than Spurs, and after the Arsenal match a number of the Highbury boys told me the same thing.  I would not go so far as to say that but I feel that the White Hart Lane boys may have reached their peak while there are still better things to come from Everton.  We shall have to wait and see.  It is, however, about time the North- and Mersey side in particularly –had the chance to watch the best teams in Europe in action, for in recent seasons Spurs have pinched all the limelight.  Spurs wonderful victory over Athletic Madrid on Wednesday certainly set us a high standard to aim at next season.  They have our warmest congratulations on this European Cup winner’s Cup success.  There have been many highlights this season, but the matches which stand out most in my memory are our double over Burnley and those three points we took from Sours.  Other recent victories may look more important but our win at Burnley was a tremendous boost at the beginning of the season and that home success over Spurs really brightened the championship horizon for us.   Congratulations this week too; to Billy Bingham, who has been chosen to captain Ireland in their match against Spain on May 30.  Let’s hope he leads his boys to victory.  By the time you read this we will be off on our holiday trip to Spain.  We are going to enjoy ourselves –hope you do the same.
RED CHEER THE BLUES
Among many messages of congratulations received by the Everton team this week was one which arrived at the Echo today for Alex Young from behind the Iron Curtain.  The message from Josef Seplavy, Zitna 36, Praha 2m, Czechoslovakia, read; “Congratulation to you and to all your colleagues that played it out directly and to all the other gentlemen that helped indirectly to win the 1962-63 Championship by working out policy of the club and tactics.  “Best wishes for the next season- and do not forget there is a Cup at Wembley waiting for you.” 

EVERTON RETAIN ALL BUT TWO
Liverpool Echo & Evening Express – Thursday, May 23, 1963
FEE WANTED FOR TYRER
By Michael Charters
Everton have retained all their playing staff for next season with the exception of two. They are full backs John Atherton, a part-time professional, who has been given a free transfer, and inside forward Alan Tyrer, for whom a fee is required.   Everton have been prepared to release Tyrer for some time now, and Wrexham made an offer for him several months ago but Tyrer refused to join the Third Division club.  He is a former Liverpool and Lancashire schoolboy and has had about 20 First Division games with Everton.  Atherton a St. Helens boy, also played for Lancashire as a schoolboy. 

EVERTON’S RETAINED
Liverpool Daily Post- Friday, May 24 1963
Only Alan Tyrer, for whom a fee is asked, and a young part-time professional full back John Atherton a St. Helens lad, are not being retained by Everton.  Atherton is given a free transfer.  Tyrer has made nine League appearances. 

PLAYERS AS CIVIC GUESTS
Liverpool Echo - Wednesday 29 May 1963
The Lord Mayor (Alderman John McMillan) is to be asked by Liverpool City Counell’s Finance and General Purposes Committee to invite the Everton and Liverpool Football Clubs to the Town Hall for a reception in recognition of their successes, and particularly those of Everton in becoming League Champions, over the past season. 

MEMORIES OF BILL DEAN
Liverpool Echo - Thursday 30 May 1963
By Leslie Edwards
Mr. E.J. Pettigrew, of 142a Banks Road, West Kirby, writes that his comment over the match in which Bill Dean scored his record breaking 60th goal on May 5, 1928, seems to have been misunderstood.  Dean, writing in the Everton Souvenir Edition 10 days ago, said his third goal in the match (and his 60th goal of the season) made the score 3-3.  Mr. Pettiogrew’s recollection of the game was that this goal made the score 3-2 for Everton and that Arsenal scored the final goal to make the score 3-3.  Checking the record, I find that Mr. Pettigrew is correct- what a good memory he has!- and that Dean’s record-breaking goal came in the 82nd minute to make his score 3-2.  A few minutes later Everton goalkeeper Davies blundered and Arsenal’s Shaw scored a simple goal to equalize. One can understand Dean’s slight error of fact; after ball, he scored so many goals! Still taking about Dill Dean (and there is no shortage of anecdotes about the great Dixie), Mr. Roy Littlemore, of 37 Rocky Lane, Liverpool 6, states that Dean’s last appearance on a football field was in the former Everton v. former Liverpool players match at South Liverpool’s ground in January, 1950, and not for a former Everton side against the South Liverpool team, Mr. Littlemore gives the teams for that match as follows;- Ex-Everton; King; Cook, Watson; Britton, Gee, Thomson; Critchley, Geldard, Dean, Stevenson, Leyield.  Ex-Liverpool Kane; Done, Bush; Busby (Savage), Bradshaw, McInnes, Gardner, Hodgson, Howe, Hanson. 
Actually Dean played in one more game after that.  It was also at holly Park in April, 1950, in a similar fixture between former Everton and Liverpool players.  Mr. Arthur Joynson, former Everton director, who was hon. Secretary of South Liverpool at that time, confirms that he organized both games as a money-raising venture for the club.  The first match, under floodlights in January, was so successful that there was a gate of some 18,000 and South Liverpool were helped greatly by the crowd’s response.  He decided to have the second match in view of the interest of Merseyside and there was an attendance of 11,000 for the April game. 

OVER THE MERSEY WALL
Liverpool Echo - Thursday 30 May 1963
THE RESPORT OF FASHION – IN BOALER ST
By George Harrison
Doggie Rose, who is one of the groundsmen employed at the Everton Football Club’s training ground at Bellefield, in Sanforth Road, West Derby, was turning over the soil on the ground when he came across a copper disc, the size of a penny.  After a lot of scraping and cleaning, Duggie was able to make out the wording on it, which read;- LIVERPOOL ZOOLOGICAL GAREDENS, ESTABLISHED 1833, THOS. ATKINS,” and on the other side, “VISITORS CHECK” and an impression of an elephant.  Puzzled by his find, Duggie has asked me; “What is this token and where were the Liverpool Zoological Gardens of 130 years ago?’  I’ve been delving into our ancient Liverpool history, with results that will solve Duggie Rose’s problems and probably interest you, too.  Thomas Atkins was the owner, in the early 1800’s, of a well-known touring menagerie, and when the popular Regent’s Park Zoo opened in London in 1928, he realized that a similar success could undoubtedly be gained from something like it in the provinces.  He kept his keen eyes open on his travels around the country, and eventually made up his mind that the ideal spot for his plans was a nine-acre piece of waste land in Liverpool, through which Bonler Street now runs, but which in those days housed nothing more than derelict brickworks and a stagnant clay-pit.  It was known as Plumpton’s Hollow.  The owner, James Plumpton, was delighted to sell out to the enterprising Atkins, who spent nearly 2,000 pounds getting it ready to be his Zoological Gardens.  He promptly converted the clay-pit into an ornamental lake hired a small army of gardeners to dig up the rough ground and plant it with lawns, shrubberies and flower-beds, through which paths were laid out.  He enclosed the whole area and had entrance gates built, moved in his menagerie and erected special elephant and rhinoceros enclosures, as well as a bear-pit and the cages which held his lions, tigers, panthers, leopards and the rest, plus an aviary.  Then he opened up for business, charging a shilling –a lot of money in those days- for general admission, although subscribers could pay one guinea for a year, if preferred. 
BEAR CHASE IN WEST DERBY ROAD
He got away to a flying start and made a lot of money for a number of years.  Only the “fashionable,” and well-behaved were admitted.  Anyone misconducting himself was immediately escorted out.  So it became the great social meeting place for the town, with military bands and fireworks every evening.    One night a bear escaped from it pits and shambled down West Derby Road, pursued at a safe distance by a huge crowd.  The bear was obviously frightened by the noise and the shouting, and when a brave man called Mayman approached close enough to try to lassoo the beast, it leaped at him and grabbed him, tearing his arm’s almost off.  As they struggled, other men succeeded in getting a noose round the bear’s neck and pulling it away from the badly-mauled Mayman.  He was taken to hospital and his arm was amputated.  But he was shrewd enough to cash in on the incident when he had recovered.  He took a public house opposite the Gardens and named it “The Bear,” with a painted sign depicting his battle.  The gardens declined in popularity as the years went by.  They were taken over by a limited company, and the “nobility, gentry and vision or records up to then.  But almost before the thousands of copies of that edition had been snapped up and read by eager teenagers- plus a heavy sprinkling of agent and managers, plus talent scouts- things began happening with some of the acts I had chosen.  I gave a special accolade to a group called Faron’s Flamingos, and prophesized they would go far.  Within a few days, this talented Liverpool quartet had been signed up by a recording company and had made their first disc.  It comes out tomorrow.  The Title; See If She Cares,” backed by “Do You Lover Me?” and a recording company spokesman sends me the message; “The song, ‘See If She Cares,’ was written by two youngsters from another talented group, The Nomads.  It has a catchy melody and drives home in true ‘teen fashion, with sheer enthusiasm and Liverpudlian harmonies.” Two other Merseyside acts I chose for likely stardom, all-round entertainer Ray Fell, and a rhythm group called The Young Ones, are, I hear, to make their debuts on television next month.