40,000 TICKETS SOLD
Liverpool Daily Post, Monday, December 2, 1963
EVERTON BRITISH CHAMPIONS AFTER TO-NIGHT’S GAME?
By Horace Yates
Rangers’ fans apparently never tire of singing “Follow, follow, we will follow Rangers.” So far as the second leg game of the British Championship match with Everton at Goodison Park tonight (kick-off 7.30) is concerned, words are not being followed by deeds. Everton sent to Glasgow about 4,500 tickets. Yesterday the club were informed that a large number of these will be returned in time for sale to-day. The only Scottish invasion to-night, is by the team and judging by Saturday’s 3-0 defeat by hearts at Ibrox, the players are still some what caught up in the Everton whirlwind. I understand about 40,000 tickets have so far been sold. Tonight, ten shillings stand tickets will be available at the turnstiles for the North End, South End and Lower Stand (Bullens Road). There will be each admission to the ground at five shillings, paddock seven shillings and sixpence and boys pen two shillings. Manager Harry Catterick is not complacent about the lack of scoring drive in the forward line. With so great a demand already for reserves to bolster the defence it would be surprising if, for an important prestige game like this, he is persuaded to experiment further than is necessary. A substitute must be found for the suspended Tony Kay and although Sharples has submitted a transfer request, it may be that he will be the man to take over. Parker is almost fit but the temptation to leave well alone is obvious. Brown has not been found wanting. Two goals up and playing at home, it would be surprising if Everton did not consolidate their advantage. Tony Kay is to utilise the period of his suspension by going into hospital to have a growth removed from the little too of his left foot. “I am going to take advantage of the ban,” he said yesterday. “I have not had an opportunity to go into hospital before. I have had this trouble for several weeks and it has been very painful, especially if anybody happened to catch it with their boot during a game. Yesterday’s Kay was in Sheffield to referee a game between two local sides in aid of charity.

ALL OVER BAR THE SHOOTING-EVERTON FORWARDS FAIL
Liverpool Daily Post, Monday, December 2, 1963
WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS 0, EVERTON 0
By Jack Rowe
A girl supporter of Wolves probably had the right description of this game when she said,the best forward for Wolves was Vernon.” No doubt how she meant it because it must be a long time since the Everton captain had such a frustrating and unrewarding afternoon. It is a long time, too, since he had so many shots without getting at least one goal. From Everton’s viewpoint the trouble was there were a couple of chances in addition which a player like Vernon should never miss. From away matches one rarely talks in terms of the loss of a point. To gain a point away is usually a fine performance, and Everton did that, but for most of the match it was a case of their skill and class against the sudden thrusts and endeavour of the Wolves. Their skill brought them by far the more chances and shots, but when Vernon could not steer the ball in from six yards, then hit the foot of the post after dribbling round goalkeeper Barron and when other shots from Vernon, Stevens, and Young scraped the posts, you have the answer as to why they did not win. Some people might claim a defeat would have been an injustice to Wolves. In some respects, they would be right. In the second half particularly, they gave their contribution to a match always exciting, entertaining and thrilling. This Wolves’ side, with its sprinkling of experience from Flowers and Broadbent and youth from Barron, Thomson (what a fine match he had) Knowles and Wharton, were always second rates to Everton in the football stakes. It would have been a greater injustice if the Goodison Park side had gone down to a goal from the sudden raids of Wolves in the second half.
TOUGH NOT ROUGH
It was the defence which did so much for Wolves, Woodfield began uncompromisingly in his treatment of Young. I thought him fortunate not to be penalised with a penalty early on, but the longer the match went the less prospect there was that prospect there was that it would become rough instead of staying tough. It was always hard, and the Wolves’ defence took the main burden. Thomson looked a class full back and Flowers is still a fine player. They all fought with courage in the second half and it was they more than anybody, who earned a point. They were lucky in that Vernon could not hit the target and they were certainly lucky when a left foot shot on the run a left foot shot on the run, beat Barron, making his League debut, and swerved outside in the last yard or so. Everton had moments of anxiety, First Brown and then Heslop headed away from an open net, but Wolves never had the midfield poise and culture, nor did they mount the same sustained pressure. Everton’s midfield pressure was lovely to watch Kay and Harris were superb in nearly everything they did, and the pity was that the attack could not capitalise on their provision. I think we must remember that Everton did shoot as often as opportunity came. If one shot which missed by inches had gone the other way then we might have had a packet Wolves best efforts came from Wharton, one saved finely by Rankin, and the other flashed across the goal face.
MEAGAN ENDS ON TOP.
For the opening 20 minutes I thought right winger Crowe was going to give Meagan a hammering. He beat him several times on the outside and the use by Wolves of the quick, long ball made this a real menace. In the fine finish it was Meagan who came out on top and his success completed a fine defence. Rankin had one real direct shot to save, but it was his other work which made him look so dependable. The handling was sure, his outcomings well judged and if he did fall once to cut out a cross from Wharton, which led to Crawford getting in a header and Heslop clearing it was the goalkeeper’s advance which meant that Crawford did not get the power he would otherwise have done into his effort. That Crawford did so little weas due to the domination of Heslop, who had another fine outing and at present can hardly be left out, even when Labone is fit. This game confirmed that Everton’s defence reserve strength is all right. The disappointment was that the forwards, did not score -and they should have done in spite of the sterling work of the Wolves defence. Stevens worked hard as always, and I made him and Temple the best. It was the finish of the line that is so frustrating. Wolves; Barron; Showell, Thomson; Goodwin, Woodfield, Flowers; Crowe, Knowles, Crawford, Broadbent, Wharton. Everton; Rankin; Brown, Meagan; Harris, Heslop, Kay; Scott, Stevens, Young, Vernon, Temple. Referee; Mr. N.C. H. Burtonshaw. Attendance 25,132.

EVERTON RES 2, BLACKBURN ROVERS RES 2
Liverpool Daily Post, Monday, December 2, 1963
Everton Reserves had only themselves to blame for not talking both points from Blackburn Rovers Reserves in this central league game at Goodison Park. Much faster to the ball in the first half, they took the lead through Veall after nine minutes, but they failed to take their opportunities after the Rovers equalised after thirty-three minutes through Byrom. Again, at fifty-seven minutes Everton went in front when Humphreys took advantage of a slip by goalkeeper Jones yet allowed Ratcliffe to level matters with the best goal of the match. Everton were perhaps a little unlucky when both Veall and Jarvis hit the crossbar, but by then should have been certain victors.

EVERTON PROVIDE SKILL BUT FINISHING IS FRUSTRATING
Liverpool Echo - Monday 02 December 1963
By Jack Rowe
A visit to Molineux to take on the Wolves is always a hard task, and I Everton had the more chances there on Saturday, to come away with a point in a 0-0 draw it was a performance which must be marked as creditable. For football skill there was no comparison between the two sides, but while Everton provided this we saw the fire and enthusiasm of the Wolves offer a challenge which had to be overcome. The Wolves way of playing was the quick ball and the quick pass in striking contrast to the cultured manner in which Everton went about their business with Kay having a magnificent match both in defence and in the attacking and providing sense. That Everton did not win was due to failure to finish this good-looking midfield stuff, and at the same time one must not overlook the dourness and quick tackling of the Wolves defence. They started rather unceremoniously when Woodfield twice rocked Young with tackles which I feel should not have gone unnoticed, but afterwards there was rarely a semblance of any roughness and in the end the spectators could be satisfied that they had seen a fine hard game, with much excitement in the second half when Everton went so near to clinching victory.
SIX YARDS MISS
They should certainly have done so just after half time when Vernon managed to put the ball wide from no more than six yards out but this was just one instance of the several moments when the Everton captain could bemoan his fortune. I thought he should have had another goal in the first half, but against this were at least six other times when shots from him whistled just outside and there was one a beautifully taken left foot drive which actually swerved outside after it had beaten the goalkeeper. Stevens also held his hands in wonderment when a drive of his shaved the post, while Young was another who just put one wide of the target. There was another occasion also when Vernon, taking a slack pass from Flowers, veered round the goalkeeper the 19-years-old Barron who was making his debut, and then put his shot from an acute angle against the foot of the post.
RANKIN INSPIRES
On this basis there is no doubt that Everton went the closest to getting goals. But they too, had their escapes in the second half, chiefly when first Brown, and then Heslop headed away balls with Rankin in no position to save. The second half developed into a real cracker, because although the Wolves had to play desperately in defence, they were always capable of making the quick thrust with a long ball, and almost on time there was a hectic scramble in the Everton goal-mouth, with Rankin emerging from the ruck of players with the ball. This was not the only time Rankin rendered Everton good service, for in the first half he saved excellently from Wharton and his handling and judgement always inspired confidence. Indeed there was little wrong with the Everton defence. Besides Kay, Harris, was mobile and clever in his provision, Brown played solidly while centre half Heslop was so much in command against Crawford that the Wolves leader had few opportunities to be a threat. Meagan did not begin too happily against Crewe, but eventually the Irishman emerged the victor of that Everton defence bectaoin – particular duel and the Everton defence became a well-knit unit.
HONOUR FOR DEFENCE
The forwards in a football sense, were fine in midfield and it seems an utter waste that so much good stuff did not bring the goals I doubt though if Vernon can have such another day when he hit so many shots and could not get on the mark. I felt in the second half especially, that if Everton could have got one goal they would have had three or four, but that has been the story in several matches this season. They have got to find the finish from somewhere…
On the Wolves side the defence came through a gruelling with high honour. Thomson was a fine full back and Flowers was everywhere when Everton were in full cry. Crawford’s elimination by Helsop left the attack without a striker so that much of Broadbent’s work ion midfield was nullified particularly when Crowe was subdued, because at the start he had looked the potential menace.

RANGERS’ FANS STAY AT HOME
Liverpool Echo - Monday 02 December 1963
SPECIAL TRAIN CANCELLED
EVERTON GAME
By Leslie Edwards
The Ibrox roar, which it was said would be a feature of to-night’s return game between Everton and Glasgow Rangers at Goodison Park has died to a whisper…
The 10,000 Rangers fans who were coming by special train and coaches, have dwindled to less than 1,500! The Ibrox roar, the special train and coaches remain over the border. The special was cancelled this morning; only 50 fans were abroad the service Glasgow-Liverpool express when it left at 10.5 a.m. Rangers beaten 3-1 in the first game at Ibrox on Wednesday, after their fans had chanted; “Easy! Easy!” as the teams turned out, have returned hundreds of tickets to Goodison Park. Stunned by successive home defeats, Rangers fans who had bene expected to make an invasion of Liverpool to-night are now arriving by road in small parties. Announcements about the special train, the one which does not run, at Ibrox, on Saturday, were drowned by boos. Everton F.C announce that available at the turnstiles will be unreserved 10s tickets for the north-end and south-end stands and lower stand (Bullens Road). Turnstiles will also be open for cash admission to the ground at 5s paddock (7s 6d) and boys’ pen (2s).
EVERTON DELAY TEAM CHOICE
PROBLEM AT WING HALF
Everton have run out of half-backs for their return game to-night, at Goodison Park, against Glasgow Rangers. Key and Rees are under suspension; Gabriel is doubtful through injury, and Sharples is ruled out after being injured in the Central League game on Saturday. Manager Harry Catterick is giving Gabriel a fitness test late this afternoon. If he fails, it is possible that Stevens may be dropped back to the half back line. The chances of Gabriel playing are 50-50. The team will be announced only shortly before kick-off time. Tony Kay, whose 21 days suspension starts to-day, is going to utilise the spell by having a small growth removed from a toe.

BRUISING BLISTERING BATTLE AT GOODISON PARK
Liverpool Daily Post- Tuesday, December 3, 1963
EVERTON-CHAMPIONS OF GREAT BRITAIN
GABRIEL HURT AGAIN AS FIGHTING RANGERS GAIN 1-1 SECOND LEG DRAW
EVERTON 1, RANGERS 1
(Aggregate Everton 4, Rangers 2)
By Horace Yates
Everton are unofficial champions of Great Britain, and without a doubt they will have plenty of battle scars to bear testimony to the conflict which gained them the title at Goodison Park last night. Not many people will have seen a more bruising, blistering or bitingly keen clash. The wonder was that apart from Gabriel, who broke down with his old injury, no one was too badly the worse for wear. Miraculously, too, only warning words and not words of command were considered sufficient by the referee to administer his justice with extreme mercy. I am willing to accept the theory that sheer exuberance rather than ill-temper was rather than ill-temper was responsible for the unending sequence of fouls, major and minor for in the short intervals between them patches of bright and often clever play shone brightly through the smoke of battle. That the crowd enjoyed the match I do not doubt, for not every day do they get such a variety and unstinting endeavour from twenty-two players. How fortunate it was that there was this safety cushion of two goals. Anything less and the unarmed combat could so easily have erupted in an explosion.
CRIPPLING LEEWAY
All credit to Rangers for refusing to accept the inevitability of defeat in face of the crippling leeway. The difference between their side last night and that of last Wednesday was as chalk from cheese. What a pity we could not have had all honest endeavour instead of the liberal punctuation of petty and reckless actions. Throughout there was the dangerous feeling that all that was required to push the keenness over the edge of the precipice was just one unusually provocative act. Several times we reached the brink but fortunately the brakes were always applied in time. When the Rangers forward line was announced, changed in every position except outside right, one was left with the fear that Everton’s lead might never be challenged. How wrong was that assumption! This attack buckled to the task with a skill and enthusiasm that excited admiration. Even when the match was flowing against the Scots it was hard to resist the conclusion that while Everton might be worthy holders of the title of champions, they could claim no superiority in the arts of the game over craftsmen who gave their all. The punch of Millar and Brand hit Everton with a tremendous impact and supported by the subtlety of Henderson and McMillan this line compelled admiration. Those who claimed that Heslop’s control was not as inspiring as it had been at Ibrox reckoned without the different task posed by the vigorous chase- anything Millar.
TREMENDOUS CREDIT.
Heslop slipped two or three times, maybe, but he still got through a mountainous array of hard labour with tremendous credit. Any doubts Everton may have had about his ability to serve them adequately have completely evaporated. Only Labone at his best can move him. The player the crowd really took to their hearts, however, was goalkeeper Rankin. When the danger was most acute, he was positively brilliant. Perhaps he was called on to make no more than four or five saves in Rangers struggled to attain the mastery, but the fact that none of them counted kept Everton on an even keel, nicely ahead. By the time he was beaten Everton had not only increased their lead but had taken their measure. The power and fury the Scots had thrust into every move was taking its toll, and it was the first sign of surrender when Millar forsook his spearhead role for a deep-lying position. The heat was off, and a composed Everton, who had stood up bravely to gale force attacks, showed their class and physical fitness by taking command. Only in the moments immediately following Rangers goal when McLean was through and failed with an angled shot, and again when Henderson beat the advancing Rankin to the ball and flicked it no more than a yard wide of the open goal were the home side exposed to anything approaching peril. A Scotsmen sitting along-side me, I thought summarised the situation when he said; I have seen Rangers in white before, but I have never seen spearhead role for a deep-lying position. The heat was off, and a composed Everton, who had stood up bravely to gale force attacks, showed their class and physical fitness by taking command. Only in the moments immediately following Rangers goal when McLean was through and failed with an angled shot, and again when Henderson beat the advancing Rankin to the ball and flicked it no more than a yard wide of the open goal were the home side exposed to anything approaching peril. A Scotsmen sitting alongside me, I though summarised the situation when he said; “I have seen Rangers in white before, but I have never seen Celtic in blue.” Nobody at the match could have mistaken what he meant, for if ever there was a “derby” atmosphere this was it. Possibly that was why the Rangers looked so much at home as temperatures approached boiling point.
LASTED 35 MINUTES.
Whether Everton will still consider the ill-fated risk they took in playing Gabriel in their moment of injury crisis worth-while, is doubtful for he lasted only 35 minutes before Harvey had to take over. Then caused a team re-arrangement with Harris moving to the left half, Stevens to right half and Harvey to inside right. Before he went however, Gabriel left a lasting impression, for it was from his free kick for a foul on Young that he planted the ball perfectly to the head of the centre forward. This was the one real occasion in the match that the centre forward had been given room to breathe let alone act and he sized the opportunity brilliantly. His headed goal was of the picture book variety, moving away from Ritchie all the way. With only 32 minutes gone and now three goals ahead this would have been enough to have quelled the ambitions of most sides, but not Rangers. It was the signal they needed to revitalise their forces. In truth they had been desperately unlucky not to have snatched the first goal long before this. Their efforts were more promising goal worthy and more numerous than Everton could mount. Had Rankin been beaten more than once I doubt if he could have been blamed legitimately, but just as he was a thorn in the Rangers’ flesh at Ibrox this superlative goalkeeping prospect defied them to do their worst. He was like a seal happily flopping about in a pool as he dived first this way and then that to reach balls moving away and threatening to beat even his speed and dexterity. Just before the interval we held our breath as Provan took the legs from under Scott in just about the most serious foul to date. The reaction of the referee left the full back under no illusions about what would happen if he blotted his copybook again.
RICHLY MERITED
Still 1-0 to Everton at half time it was not long before the Glasgow contingent were chanting “Off off off, off,” as Brown felled Millar with more than necessary vigour. In 55 minutes, the goal Rangers sought and so richly merited came their way in most deserved style. From Millar in the middle, out went the ball to the dancing Henderson on the wing. He centred hard and low across goal. Brand and Brown went for it together and it was the foot of Brown which made contact to send the ball streaking beyond Rankin. The goalkeeper can at least claim that no Rangers’ player beat him, though goodness knows, several of them could not have tried harder. It was after this and before Everton effectively clamped down that the Scottish followers chanted “Everton ha! Ha! Ha!” They were mocking them to do their best, but the mockery died in their throats as Rangers fell by the wayside and Everton steamed ahead to consolidate their victory. A tussle such as this inevitably finds Stevens in his element. Whatever may be said of the knocks he gives, no one can point an accusing finger at the tough little Everton forward for the good grace with which he takes the raps in return. Nobody was more roughly handled but he turned not a hair as he fell into the breach in which Kay might have revelled. Vernon like Young, flashed across the scene with an enlivening dash now and again Temple and the well-marked Scott raided effectively from time to time but this was not a match best suited to the normal flowing rhythmic football practised and enjoyed by the Everton attack. One full back may be capable of looking after the magical Henderson for part of the time but none of them I’ll swear can do it, all the time. In my opinion here is British’s finest winger. The crowd, if not the Everton team, would have greatly appreciated a better service to the right wing, for even though Meagan sometimes stopped him bravely, with his every move he promised progress excitement and danger. What a host he would be in English football, but I very much doubt if this is a luxury we will ever enjoy. On Friday I suggested it would be a splendid thing if Rangers could somehow be co-opted into the English First Division. Now I am not so sure. We could not live through a weekly strife such as this. For that matter I doubt if Rangers could. This was possibly their greatest act of defiance. Their consolation is that if spirit alone had been sufficient to wipe out the memories of their starting failure at Ibrox last week then they would have achieved it with something to spare. Wood, introduced as reserve for Baxter, fitted into the scheme so perfectly the appearance was that the line had been welded together. Neither the halves nor the backs let down the team effort, and Ritchie was infinitely more impressive than when last I saw him. Everton; Rankin; Brown, Meagan; Gabriel, (Harvey 35), Heslop, Harris; Scott, Stevens, Young, Vernon, Temple. Rangers; Ritchie; Shearer, Provan; Creig, McKinnon, Wood, Henderson, McMillan, Millar, Mclean, Brand. Referee; Mr. J. Lowry (Neath). Attendance 42,208.

RANKIN BROKE THEWIR HEARTS…
Liverpool Echo - Tuesday 03 December 1963
By Leslie Edwards
Fun and games at Goodison Park of the kind we've never seen before in the long history of football crowds in this city. The cult of the Beatles is only an extension of the cult of Glasgow Rangers. To hear the small, but gigantically vocal Rangers contingent singing their "Follow, follow!" in competition with Everton's Z-car theme song and, at the interval, in competition with the Beatles' Yea, Yea, Yea was quite something. Add to the scene Scottish standards and Union Jacks waved by fans standing on each other's shoulders: police constables mingling among the Scottish contingent (what a chance those coppers took) and the whole topped off with Scotland's national spirit and effervescence and you have something which riveted one's attention almost as much as the game With the inevitable bottle—this time a broken one-tossed on the pitch to add to Everton's embarrassment and make our own spectatorial misdemeanours seem almost in the Sunday School picnic category. Despite the far-from-capacity attendance this was an occasion. Just as well Everton went into it with a solid two goals' lead from the game at Ibrox: just as well we had fewer than 1,500 Rangers fans instead of the promised 10,000. I think the police and the Everton team did a grand Job. The aggregate result was equitable and so, all things considered, was the separate verdict on the night. Everything hinged, mid-way through the first half, on two fantastic saves by young Andy Rankin, the Bootle boy whose goalkeeping dynamics make him the find of the season.
GOALKEEPING GENIUS
To put it shortly Rankin broke Rangers' hearts in two minutes of goalkeeping magic which even a Scott, a Hardy, or a Sagar could not have bettered. Ritchie in Rangers' goal had punched a long clearance from hand plumb down the centre of the field, three parts of its length. Heslop, misjudging the arc of the ball as it dropped, let in Miller and that hefty bundle of football skill, hit his shot on the volley with all the considerable power at his command. Somehow Rankin saw this one coming: somehow he got his hands to it and turned it to Brand on the left whose gallop with the ball was promptly stopped.
The murmurs of wonderment at such a save (which if it had not been made would have taken the aggregate 3-2) had scarcely died when little Henderson, roaming to outside-left made a glorious jinking run which enabled him to cross the ball to McLean to shoot, at point-blank range and still find those trusty hands of Rankin reaching out to make contact in yet another stupendous save. * Everton as a team did not clinch the issue against Rangers last night. Rankin did, with those two saves which, following his performance at Ibrox must surely have made him the man of both matches. Shortly afterwards at the 34th minute Young got a free-kick near the touchline; Gabriel took it and after waiting for the intruding Brand to clear his vision swerved the ball left-footed into the goalmouth where Young (the only man who moved the ball rose all alone and nodded a fine goal to put his side in a 4-1 lead. The claim Rangers made that the point should be disallowed for offside could not be valid because Young was onside when the ball was last played and it was not his fault he was unchallenged when he rammed the ball home.
THIS SETTLED IT
This goal settled the tie beyond doubt, but If Everton thought Rangers or their fans would accept the situation they were mistaken. Especially so when a moment later Gabriel's thigh muscle went again and he hobbled off. Harvey coming on as substitute and operating at inside left with Vernon on Young's right, Harris at left half-back and Stevens on Heslop's right. Rangers were far from finished and proved it eleven minutes after the interval with a move which mulcted Brown, the Everton back. In one of the most dramatic goals the ground has ever known. Henderson this time on the right. weaved his certain way to yet another dangerous centre aimed for Brand who had come into the six yards area. Brown simply had to try to get his foot there first. He succeeded. The ball rocketed into the roof of the net. The lanky McLean, settled down after an indifferent start, now picked up a through pass of which Rangers seemed to have an unending supply, and shot wide when all the odds were on a goal. Even the most rabid Evertonian could not help admire the artistry and penetration of this move or fail to sense the threat there was to Everton's two goals lead. Then it was Ritchie's turn to steal some of Rankin's limelight. He got both hands to a tremendous drive by Brown when Vernon tapped a free kick a foot or two for the full-back to run on to: Provan, big and uncompromising, removed the ball from the line as Young and Ritchie scrambled for possession: Ritchie in the goalkeeper's yellow permitted in Scotland, but not here, came up with yet another wonderful save—this time from a cracking volley by Scott after a corner on the left.
STAR REFEREE
The match was far from being decided; the battle for possession, unrelenting and sometimes too tough, though in general it was a fair contest, continued with referee Lowry of Wales handling every contingency with authority and firmness and never from the start failing to penalise any offence which merited it. There remained a tragic Vernon miss from the closest range after Harvey and Young Had opened up the defence with series of passes which would have opened the Bank of England. Vernon killed the ball brilliantly, took it on a yard or two and then drifted it inches outside! Henderson, still full of fire and fight then won—but how?—the race against Rankin and drifted the ball inches the wrong side of an upright. Rangers' last Parthian shot and a brilliant failure by one of the game's most captivating characters. Hard though the match was it produced evidence of Everton's skill in succeeding against one of the biggest and finest footballing sides we have seen for a long, long time. The true significance of that 3-1 win at Ibrox was demonstrated last night when we saw for ourselves just what a formidable eleven Rangers can field after successive, defeats. They may have faults; they may not have the dynamism of Everton at the business end of the attack, but they proved beyond doubt that their rabid fans do not follow them 200 or even 2.000 miles without good cause. It is easy to see how Rangers farm trophies over the border, they are progressive: they are football artists. It took Everton at full power, especially in defence, to hold them off when the odds were heavily against them…

PRAISE FOR EVERTON FANS FROM CHIEF CONSTABLE
Liverpool Echo - Tuesday 03 December 1963
BOTTLE INCIDENT DURING RANGERS MATCH
POLICE IN CROWD
By Leslie Edwards
The Chief Constable of Liverpool, Mr. J.W. T. Smith, paid tribute to-day to the behaviour of Everton fans and to members of his force at the Everton v Glasgow Rangers match at Goodison Park last night. A small but very boisterous and sometimes provocative contingent of Rangers followers, massed on the terraces in front of the main stands near the centre-line was the chief cause of police concern. After a bottle had been thrown on the pitch immediately after Everton had scored through Young, police were ordered to take position among the Rangers contingent. Some 15 to 20 constables did the onerous job and there was no further trouble. When the game ended police escorted the visiting fans out of the ground. There were a few skirmishes in the streets outside between rival fans, but mounted police soon dispersed them.
STRUCK BY BOTTLE
Mr. Ian Callister, aged 21 of Brodie Avenue, Liverpool, was taken to hospital to have five stitches put in a head wound. He said; “I was walking along Goodison Road to get transport home when a bottle hit me on the back of the head. I was very dazed. I’ve not the slightest idea where it came from or why it was thrown.” Mr. Callister was fit, despite the injury, to be at work this morning. The Rangers’ fans, with their banners and flags, were greater extroverts than any followers of football this side of the border. Everton spectators, open mouthed at some of their antics –some of them stood on each oetehr’s shoulders to wave their banners- could not have been more peaceable. The Chief Constable said to-day; “I thought our section of the crowd were exceptionally good and not the slightest trouble in face of all that was happening.
HEART OF TROUBLE
“I was very pleased with their behaviour and with the conduct and efficiency of my men, especially those who took up station in the heart of the trouble spot. The situation could have erupted quite easily. “There was a mass of bottles and glasses on the terraces when spectators left. These bottles and glasses must have been carried in. the Everton club do not sell beer from bottles or provide glasses.”

EVERTON GOING TO AUSTRALIA
Liverpool Echo, Wednesday, December 4, 1963
TOUR NEXT MAY
EIGHT MATCHES
Everton F.C Football League champions will tour Australia next May. Mr. Ian Bruasco assistant secretary of the Australian Soccer Federation announced to-day in Sydney. He said the tour would begin in Sydney or Melbourne and eight matches would be played. The Everton party would consist of 17 players and three officials said Mr. Bruasco.

PARKING NEAR EVERTON GROUND
Liverpool Echo - Wednesday 04 December 1963
RESERVATION PRACTICE
CLUB OFFICIALS
The question of car parking in the streets near Everton football ground was again raised at Liverpool City Council meeting to-day. Councillor C.P. Wall asked the chairman of the Watch Committee, Alderman J.J. Cleary, if he was aware that one side of the top end of Eton Street was reserved on match days for officials of the Everton and visiting clubs, as well as certain privileged individuals to the exclusion of residents. Alderman Cleary replied that it had been the practice for many years to keep a space near the entrance to the ground for club officials and import visitors. Councillor Wall asked on whose authority the police prevented other people from parking and forced residents to remove vehicles from the vicinity of their own homes.
RESPONSIBILITY
Alderman Cleary said the parking was governed by the Lord Major’s proclamation for the regulation of traffic. This directed constables to enforce the regulations. Any request by people living in these streets for space to be left in front of their homes for special reasons had always received immediate attention by the police on duty. The residents in those streets had generally accepted the position over the years, and public relations between the police and public had not been noticeably disturbed by the practice. Councillor Wall then asked if the chairman agreed that the problem of such parking was the responsibility of the Everton Football Club and not the city police force, and that steps would be taken to end the practice. Alderman Cleary said the enforcement of the law concerning vehicles on the public highway was the responsibility of the police. However, the problem of car parking near football grounds was at present under consideration by the Development and Planning Committee.
CHELSEA UNCHANGED
Chelsea who beat Bolton 4-0 last week-end, announced an unchanged side for their visit to Everton. Chelsea; Bonetti; Hinton, McCreadie; Harris (R.), Mortimore, Upton; Murray, Tambling, Bridges, Veneables, Blunstone.

SOCCER CAR PARKING DEPUTATION TO SEE CLUBS
Liverpool Echo - Thursday 05 December 1963C
OMMITTEE’S PROPOSALS DO NOT GO FAR ENOUGH
FINANCIAL QUESTION
A proposal by Councillor Eric Heffer (Labour) that the Finance and General Purposes Committee appoint a deputation to meet the directors of Everton and Liverpool Football Clubs to discuss a long-term solution of the car-parking problem was accepted without debate. The council also endorsed a further proposal by Councillor Heffer that the deputation should discuss what financial contribution the clubs were prepared to make towards the employment of traffic wardens to assist the police. Councillors Heffer said he was sure this would not be a controversial motion. A report before the Council from the Development and Planning Committee was a very good one, but its proposals did not go far enough though they were a move in the right direction.
LONG-TERM PLAN
If the Council were to provide traffic wardens they had a right to ask the two clubs to make some contribution and to discuss a long-term solution which it was quite obvious could only be provided by off-street parking or some other method. The report said that during the past five years the spate of vehicles parking around Liverpool and Everton football clubs during home matches have become a flood and the area covered by the Lord Major’s proclamation was far too small. On match days, it was estimated that parking space was required for between 5,000 and 7,000 vehicles. The committee were reporting on a motion at the September Council meeting by Councillors R.B. Flude and J.A. Porter (C.) who suggested that land in possession of the corporation including a portion of Stanley Park adjacent to Priory Road together with school playgrounds should be used as car parks on match days and that a nominal charge should be made.
SIGNS NEEDED
Corporation chief officials who considered the matter reported to the committee that the list of streets in the Lord Mayor’s proclamations of November, 1960 governing parking rights were not easily assimilated by the general public and the streets should by use of signs, clearly indicate to motorists the limitations concerning parking. They also suggested that consideration should be given to extending the area covered by the proclamations to a distance of one mile radius of both grounds. If this were done, every street within the area would need to be clearly signposted and enforcement of the signs would then be necessary. There would be insufficient police carry out such duties and 330 traffic wardens would need to be recruited for the purpose.
INTERIM MEASURE
In the meantime the officials suggested the present area might be signposted and a force of 100 traffic wardens employed to assist the police while consideration is being given to the extension of the area. The Committee thought it must be true that danger, obstruction and annoyance were caused by vehicles parked by motorists in any area where 70,000 people congregated and dispersed in a period of two hours and the ideal solution, they considered, would be for the provision of off street car parks. With this in mind the committee decided to ask the respective clubs to consider the possibility of purchasing land and properly adjacent to their grounds to provide car parks for their patrons.

EVERTON FOLLOW L’POOL TO ARSENAL
Liverpool Echo and Evening Express, Thursday, December 5, 1963
By Leslie Edwards
The fact that Liverpool go to Arsenal on Saturday and Everton play at Highbury next Tuesday may provide evidence on the strength of our two senior clubs. Collateral form does not always work out but has been known to be reliable guide. Only in the first of the “Derby” games this season, at Anfield have we any valid comparison of the teams and as every Evertonian knows Everton were beaten that day by two cracking Callaghan shots only a day or two after arriving back from a tiring trip to Milan. That it was tiring I can confirm personally-and I didn’t have any part in those 90 minutes of near-mayhem in the match against Inter-Milan. Amongst old friends at Highbury on Saturday will be Jim Furnell, the goalkeeper Liverpool transferred only a fortnight ago, Leslie Shannon the former Liverpool player and former Everton coach, and Billy Wright whose managership of Arsenal is producing better results than they have had for many seasons.
A correspondent who writes saying he does not know why I was sceptical of the Everton v Rangers match being for the championship of Britain thinks the occasion should have been taken more seriously. If it had included also the winners of the F.A. Cup and the Scottish Cup I think I might have been tempted to fall into line with other title worshippers.
Now the clubs are talking of making the contest an annual on whether either side has won a championship or not. I know of at least one man in Liverpool who wouldn’t cross the road to see Rangers if they came to Goodison park again as champions or relegationists. He is Mr. P. Lamb, of Oriel Road, Bootle. He is one of many Evertonians who have written expressing their condemnation of the behaviour of Rangers fans. He writes; -
“Having the ill-luck to be a spectator at Monday’s Everton-Rangers game, the added misfortune to be standing where Rangers supporters were thickest, and having heard that this match could become a seasonal fixture regardless of League championship, I am forced for the first time ever to write in papers that this particular team and its supporters should ever come here again. “I am a fervid Everton supporter missing few games over the last 18 seasons and looking forward to many more seasons of viewing. This is one fixture I don’t ever intend attending again.
The scots are supposed to be fitba daft, I didn’t hear one sentence of criticism or praise constructive or otherwise from any Rangers supporters for the whole 90 minutes, but my ears were deluge with epicenities profanities and unholy chants. “Having no religious bias and having heard none in any football ground this side of the border there people appal me. “Please Mr. Moores, let’s have no more.”
REVISED IMPRESSION
On the same sore topic, L Grayson of Strand Road, Bootle, 20 says; “I have just returned from Goodison Park and before my anger and disgust dies I feel that the Press in general should know what spoils for my wife and myself in otherwise enjoyable evening watching the English and Scottish champions. “The Goodison supporters have in my estimation been unjustly criticised and labelled thugs and hooligans. After experiencing an evening with so-called football supporters, namely Rangers, I consider that in this field, Everton supporters are non-starters.
“On the way to Goodison, we passed a gang of Rangers supporters who were parasitic. Once in the ground, we watched them arriving in force. The majority to put it mildly, were under the influence. “We read the warning noticed print in the programme, a portion of which read the club is required to prevent the use of objectionable language by spectators.” For the full 90 minutes a large group of Rangers supporters equipped with bottles of whisky and beer from which they liberally soaked themselves began a tirade of the foulest language I have heard (including two years in the Army) “One character -laced every sentence with a Lady Chatterley word, blissfully ignorant of the number of ladies present in the Gwladys street stand. “I saw Rangers supporters on the terraces drinking freely from bottles and throwing them on to the pitch. Odd fights broke out -once again no doubt our supporters will be held to blame. “Another so-called Rangers sportsman had a metal shield bearing Rangers emblem in such a way as to reflect right into Vernon’s eye each time he took a corner kick at the church corner of the ground.
“The number of bottles plied up on the side of the ground where Rangers supporters had congregated had to be seen to be believed. “I have written this before your papers go to press, I doubt if I shall read an adverse criticism of Rangers following; it will be glossed over or perhaps those reporters who have their knife into the Everton club will headline it; MORE TROUBLE AT EVERTON-BOOTLES THROWN ON PITCH. “In fact, I think even you shall decline to print this letter lest we upset Anglo-Scottish relations. “This time it isn’t the few supporters getting their club a bad name, but the majority. There must have been a few decent Rangers supporters amongst that lot. “I thoroughly enjoyed the football played by both sides. The referee and his two officials did an excellent job. The Liverpool City Police did a grand job and I take my hat off to them. “But these Rangers supporters -they’re a disgrace to a great team. The impression I had of them before seeing them was that they were far-minded yet loyal supporters. My impression now of the bad ones among them is of foul-mouthed drunken fanatical louts.”

EVERTON’S ROY VERNON SAYS-
Liverpool Daily Post, Friday, December 6, 1963
RESPECT FOR RANGERS IS GREATER NOW!
We now have a far greater respect for the fighting qualities of Rangers than we had after the first meeting with them at Ibrox. Then we were surprised by their luck of spirit when the game went against them. No one would accuse them of lacking spirit at Goodison Park. I don’t think I can remember offhand many games in which more free kicks were awarded. Yet I would not term it the dirtiest game in which I have played. In fact, the spectators to whom I have spoken seem to have got the impression that it was very much worse than it was. Many fouls were niggling and unnecessary but carrying little danger to limb. The main thing was that none of them caused any injury worth worrying bout. Jimmy Gabriel’s retirement was not the result of contact with any player. None of us was really surprised when he went off. Several times before he left, I asked him if he was all right, hoping for the best and fearing the worst. Still I think the decision in play him was justified. It showed more than anything else just how far advanced along the path to recovery Jimmy is.
WELL DONE RANKIN
Like Everton with the clocks, Rangers will always have something to remind them of the first games between the clubs, for the Everton board presented them with canteens of cutlery and a silver trophy to add to their wonderful trophy room at Ibrox. The courage of our manager, Mr. Harry Catterick, in giving a first team chance to Andy Rankin has been justified beyond the highest hopes. It really is amazing how some players take the promotion to first team football as just another logical development in their career. Already Rankin is showing the confidence that one expects only from a much more seasoned player. If you recall it was the same last season with Tommy Lawrence at Liverpool. His came was hardly known until emergency thrust him into the spotlight and he has stayed there. If I am any sort of judge history will repeat itself with Rankin will repeat itself with Rankin. He has a tremendous future.
ONLY 3 POINTS IN IT.
I cannot tell you how disappointed we all were to leave a point behind at Wolves. Not for the first time we have failed to profit from our superiority, and it has been costly in goals. Possibly it is more aggravating when we realise that we are even now only three points behind the League leaders (in case you don’t know, you who they are.) yet that we have weathered so many of the storms that have beset us and are still very much in the race with a chance is a tremendous incentive to us all. It may be very desirable to take an early lead and hang on to it, but we shall not complain if we nose in front for the first time about the middle of April! The final fences are often those which separate the real champions from the gay pretenders. Not perhaps to-morrow, but very soon now, we hope to be able to see an end to our injury worries and we are convinced that with full strength available we will go bouncing ahead.
TIRELESS WORKER
What a pity Tony kay should have to take an enforced rest just now, for those who saw him play at Ibrox and Molineux could that here was a Kay right back to his best form. Only those who play alongside him can fully realise what an important contribution this tireless worker makes to the well being of the entire team. You don’t need to tell me that all would be well, or at least a lot better, if I had scored goals which were there for the taking. Why it happens I don’t know. There is nothing funnier than football, and I don’t mean comical. One can never tell when those pleased are going to hit a player. People are saying I am not shooting as often as I used to do. That is something with which I disagree. I don’t wait to one the whites of the goalkeeper’s eyes before letting fly.

THIS CHELSEA’S NO LAUGHING MATTER
The Liverpool Echo and Evening Express, Friday, December 6, 1963
By Leslie Edwards
Chelsea once the butt of Music Hall comedians, but now no laughing matter for any team which tackles them are at Goodison Park tomorrow. After the Rangers schemozzle this run of the mill League fixture will seem ordinary, but in my book and I suspect in the books of thousands of others who attended on Monday the return of football sanity will be welcome. So will be the opportunity to see that remarkable young Bootle man Andy Rankin whose goalkeeping here and earlier in Glasgow did so much to give Everton a new title. Manager Harry Catterick denied for some weeks several of his first team players, has worked well his permutation of available strength, to have players like Brian Harris, Sandy brown and George Heslop around in case of emergency is good business. It says much for the loyalty of these Everton lads that they are content to fill the bill, as and when required. The most talented men in the Chelsea attack are Bobby Tambling, whose dynamic speed once he gets on the move has to be seen to be appreciated, and the near veteran Frank Blunstone who might have been a Liverpool player if they had moved quickly for him in his days at Crewe. Blunstone like Liddell, is capable of winning a match off his own football; Tambling, not very notable in his under-23 appearance at Anfield last week, is better in his club team where his individuality is given free rein. The man behind Chelsea, Tommy Docherty we know of old as Preston player. Wasn’t it at this ground that he and George Tansey k. o’d each other in a fantastic touch line collision about six or seven seasons ago.” Docherty has infused into his side some of the Shankly-type enthusiasm. They are not putting up any trees in Division 1 it is true, but the potential is surely there. Gabriel, it seems must be lost to his club or yet another long spell, but Everton should win and keep in close touch with their rivals over the Park whose determination to hold their top position is boundless.
YOUJ CUP DATE
The Youth Cup Everton and Liverpool is to be take place at Goodison Park on Tuesday, December 17 at 7.30.
ANOTHER EVERTON RESERVE PROMOTED
SHARPLES AT LEFT HALF
CHELSE GAME
Everton’s defence against Chelsea, at Goodison park to-morrow –with the exception of Mick Meagan, at left back- is the one they fielded in their Central League team three weeks ago. Such is the effect of injuries to Parker, Labone, and Gabriel and the suspension of Kay. New boy in the side for the first time this season is Ellesmere Port born George Sharples at left half-back. Eh would have played against Rangers on Monday but was unfit. Brian Harris moves to right half-back with Helsop, Labone’s deputy at pivot again. The attack is unchanged. Everton; Rankin; Brown, Meagan; Harris, Heslop, Sharples; Scott, Stevens, Young, Vernon, Temple.

EVERTON NEWS
Liverpool Daily Post – Saturday, December 7, 1963
By Horace Yates
Everton are not so far behind in the championship race that two points from Chelsea visit to Goodison Park today could not put right. Considering the misfortunates which injury after injury have produced Everton have achieved wonders to be where they are to-day, three points behind Liverpool. Only Britain (recent though his promotion has been) and Meagan of the defence can be regarded as genuine first choice players. Perhaps we should be thankful for small mercies that the light leaves the forward line intact. To meet the withdrawal of Tony Kay, manager Harry Catterick has preferred to give George Sharples his second game of the season (his last was at Ipswich on September 14) rather than disrupt the forward line by moving Stevens and introducing Hill. Twenty-year-old Ellesmere Port boy has a transfer request awaiting the attention of the board. It is times as hard as these that show the wisdom of not making the thin blue line at Goodison any thinner. What, for example, would have been the position if earlier, when opportunity presented itself, Everton had turned Brian Harris into money? Manager Catterick’s insistence on the build up of adequate reserve strength is the factor which has helped the club to weather an injury storm which would have bent and possibly broken the resource of other leading clubs. Chelsea hardly found the transporation from Second to First Division football a joy ride. They won only two of their first twelve games. The turn in fortune came with their first away victory at Ipswich. In the following seven matches they went down only twice and have won the last three games. Tambling, normally such an artistic player and fluent scorer has only five goals to his name. the danger signal to Everton is that he is playing much more effectively now. I look with confidence to an Everton victory. Everton; Rankin; Brown, Meagan; Harris, Heslop, Sharples, Scott, Stevens, Young, Vernon, Temple. Chelsea; Bonetti; Hinton, McCreadie, R. Harris, Mortimore, Upton, Murray, Tambling, Bridges, Venables, Blunstone.

CHELSEA HAVE WON THREE IN A ROW
Liverpool Echo - Saturday 07 December 1963
FIRST SENIOR OUTING THIS SEASON FOR GEORGE SHARPES
By Leslie Edwards
Everton get down to the bread-and-butter of League football to-day. One presupposes that it will be much more digestible to spectators than the so-called cake of the visit of Glasgow Rangers. Previous meetings of Everton and Chelsea have been fairly tough, but the F.A.’s salutary treatment of players guilty of misconduct in recent weeks has been so stern we seem destined for an era of good sense and good sportsmanship. What with that and Everton’s newly erected barriers, which have yet to be thoroughly tested, but which have had good results so far, football here and elsewhere should be less contentious, on both sides of the barriers, than it has been for a long time. Chelsea having their first season in Div. 1 since their promotion, are a good young side, with two hot-shot forwards, Bobby Tambling and Frank Blunstone as their chief strikers. Tambling is a dynamic mover in possession; Blunstone, once at Crewe, rarely plays badly and seems to soldier on consistently despite his many injuries which have included a broken leg.
IN SHANKLY MOULD
The man behind Chelsea, manager Tommy Docherty, is from the Shankly mould- hard, enthusiastic, a man who lives for the game and for his club. Ordinarily Everton would win this one with something to spare. But their entire defence, except for Meagan, is one which represented the Central League side three weeks ago –not the sort of situation to be happy about in view of Chelsea’s three wins in a row against Arsenal (3-1), 4-2 at Leicester and 4-0 against the strugglers, Bolton Wanderers. It will be interesting to see how George Sharples fares in his first senior game this season. When I last saw him against Newcastle Reserves three weeks ago he was the best player on the field. I gather his play can be mercurial. No one boasts a better physique or a better grounding in the game. He gets up to a ball well. Everton; Rankin; Brown, Meagan; Harris, Heslop, Sharples, Scott, Stevens, Young, Vernon, Temple. Chelsea; Bonetti; Hinton, McCreadie, R. Harris, Mortimore, Upton, Murray, Tambling, Bridges, Venables, Blunstone.

VERNON GOAL FAILS TO LIFT GOODISON GLOOM
Liverpool Football Echo and Evening Express, Saturday, December 7, 1963
REFEREE CARRIED OFF
BRIDGES EQUALISES
EVERTON 1, CHELSEA 1
By Michael Charters

Everton; Rankin; Brown, Meagan; Harris (B), Helsop, Sharples; Scott, Stevens, Young, Vernon (Captain), Temple. Chelsea; Bonetti; Hinton, McCreadie; Harris (R.), Mortimore, Upton; Murray, Venables, Bridges, Tambling, Blunstone. Referee. Mr. R.H. Windle (Chesterfield). Sharples coming in for his second senior game, of the season in place of the injured Gabriel, was quickly prominent with two good interceptions. He also delivered the first shot of the game- a long range effort which was way off target. The lights were switched on after play had been in progress for only seven minutes. Best attack so far came from Chelsea when Venables cleverly put the ball through so Tambling add a good tackle by Brown stopped the Chelsea man from getting a clear shot at goal. Then Scott, with a neat header inside sent Stevens away, but Bonetti was in position to save.
BLUNSTONE BLUNDERS
Chelsea offside traps twice held up Everton, then a mistake by Blunstone led in Scott, whose shot struck Mortimore and bounced comfortable to Bonetti. Everton were getting into their stride now despite some rugged tackling by the Chelsea defenders, particularly Upton and McCreadie. Bridges went through on the right and his angled shot tricked across the face of Everton’s goal and went wide. Temple almost broke through from a good Stevens pass but Hinton was playing very soundly and dispossessed he Everton winger. Young and Vernon linked up just outside Chelsea penalty area, but Young’s shot was five yards wide. Stevens tried a shot which turned out to be a fast pass and Young coming in quickly only just failed to turn the ball into the net. The game was rather dull with only rare breakaways to relieve the midfield stalemate. Scott cleverly beat Upton and McCreadie to make a centre which Stevens misheaded. Blunstone always used the ball wisely every good Chelsea attack could be traced to himself some stage or another. Brian Harris earned the applause he received for a fine right wing run and a clever centre with Mortimore but behind for a corner. The Everton forwards were most disappointing, Vernon would not get moving at all, but he was not the only one falling to make an impression on a quick moving strong tackling Chelsea defence. Brian Harris was the one Everton player to really impress. His service to the attack was excellent but the forwards continued to punch in the middle and get in each other’s way. Young provided a fine header from a corner kick by temple and the ball flew only inches wide of the upright.
BONETTI SAVES
There was a let off for Chelsea as Temple beat Hinton and took the ball along goal line before passing inside Ron Harris got his foot to the ball and almost turned it over his own line but Bonetti dived to save. Sharples was Everton’s most persistent shooter and his third effort the best of them all- was 25-yards shot which whistled just over the crossbar. Everton’s performance generally was one of their most disappointing of the season so far Chelsea looked smarter with their quick passing,but they too could not get anywhere a attack. The match was punctuated with inaccuracies. It was ironical that Everton took the lead after 41 minutes through Vernon -who had hardly put a foot right before this. Much of the credit for the goal goes to Temple who cleverly controlled the ball in midfield and took it on brushing aside two attempted tackles before slipping the ball square to the unmarked Vernon, who hit a fine ground shot past Bonetti. The goalkeeper just got his fingertips to it in full length dive but could not prevent the ball going into the net. Chelsea replied with a shot by Blunstone which went a couple of yards wide. Half-time; Everton 1, Chelsea nil.
Everton restarted with Young backheeling the ball into the goalmouth from temple’s pass. Ron Harris mis-kicked but was lucky to see Mortimore on hand to clear the ball safely. Despite his goal Vernon was still clearly off form. He had a fine chance when Young headed the ball down to him, but he could not gather the opportunity and Bonetti was able to save.
GOALKEEPER HURT
All the Chelsea players gathered around Bonetti when the goalkeeper and Stevens collided heavily as Steven chased from an offside position. The goalkeeper recovered after attention. The crowd who had been frozen into apathetic silence by much of the poor play were finally roused when Vernon showed a flash of his true form as he raced down the middle from Scott pass and hit a great shot just wide. This seemed to bring some life into Everton. Young slipped past Mortimore expertly on the wing and sent a fine pass through to Scott who was in the act of shooting when Upton stepped in with a fine tackle as turned the ball for a corner. Bonetti came out quickly and well to snatch the ball from Vernon’s toes after Scott had put him through. The game had not improved from the first half and the crowd were not slow to let the players know what they though about it all.
ANOTHER MISS
One of Everton’s best chances was wasted by Temple who had not been the worst Everton forward by any means. It came from a well-directed pass by Vernon and Temple was clean through in the middle but over-ran the ball and Bonetti was able to come out to clear. At the other end Bridges beat Heslop for the first time in the game and took the ball on but hit his centre with such power that it flew over the heads of the three Chelsea men up for it. Temple redeemed this error with a fine run. He cut the ball in sharply, only to see Upton intercept. Brian Harris, easily the outstanding player of the day sent Scott away with a perfect pass and the winger’s fast cross-shot beat Bonetti but went wide of the far post.
KNOCKED OUT
With 15 minutes left to play, came the major incident of the game. Referee Windle was knocked-out and had to be carried off on a stretcher. The accident happened as Blunstone came running back to help his defence and cannoned off Young right into the back of the referee knocking him flat on his face. The players and St. John ambulancemen gathered round with both trainers and Mr. Windle was carried off wrapped in blankets. One of the linesmen Mr. A.E. Morrissey took control of the game as Mr. Windle was carried into the dressing rooms. The other line was taken by someone from the Everton’s trainer’s box. When the game resumed after a hold-up of several minutes, Bonetti made two brilliant saves from Vernon.
PENALTY APPEAL
Everton appealed for a penalty on two counts as Young and Vernon were both flattened in the penalty area immediately following this Chelsea equalised with eight minutes left to play. The Everton defence was slow to clear down Chelsea right wing and Murray was able to make his centre low Heslop mis-kicked and Bridges slid the ball into the net from 10 yards range. Everton shocked by this goal which came from Chelsea’s first shot of the second half went all out for a leading goal. Mr. Windle was said to have ricked his back as he fell and was having medical attention. Final; Everton 1, Chelsea 1

WHEN WILL GABRIEL’S LUCK ALTER?
The Liverpool Football Echo and Evening Express, Saturday, December 7, 1963
By Alex Young
Everton are likely to go “Down Under” in the near future, but before other First Division tested jump to the wrong conclusion let me make it clear that I an referring to the proposed tour of Australia next May, and not the League championship in which we most certainly aim to finish “on top.” There has been a whisper going through the Goodison Park dressing room for some weeks that a trip to the Southern Hemisphere was planned in the close season, but it was only this week we learned it was true. All the Everton players are looking forward to the trip, and none more than me, because I have been to Australia before-with Hearts in 1959. It was a most enjoyable tour. The indications are that Everton will play eight matches about half as many as Hearts who as far as I can remember played 15 games. We won them all, and I am looking forward in seeing Everton also maintain a 100 per cent record, despite the improvement in standard out there. Hearts tour lasted eight weeks, Everton’s will be much shorter. League champions Charity Cup winners and unofficial champion of Britain. We are feeling pretty pleased with out selves at Everton right now and -injury bogey permitting-looking forward to adding the F.A Cup to the collection and also hanging on to the championship trophy. The draw for the third round of the Cup, on January 4 is made on Monday, and won’t be long before we can judge how tough the first hurdle is likely to be.
PLAYED BETTER
Talking about hurdle last Monday’s second match with Glasgow Rangers, at Goodison Park was tougher than we expected though you will recall that last Saturday I warned you that rangers nippy forward line would not give up without a fight. I think the simple explanation is that Rangers played better than they did in Glasgow while Everton in turn did not play anything like as well. We probably started the game in a too relaxed frame of mind, thinking we would have little trouble after winning 3-1 away from home. Luckily, Andy Rankin the goalkeeper whose saves never cease to amaze even those of us who see him in action almost daily, produced a couple of real smashers and saved the day. After starting off on the wrong foot we were struggling for a time and it was not until Rangers had scored their equaliser during the second half that we were able to get the game really under control. Space a thought too for Jimmy Gabriel, who fought back after injury and returned to the team-only to be back in the dressing room again after 35 minutes play. It is heart-breaking for a player when fate deals a blow like this and all the Everton players are hoping that Jimmy’s luck will change very quickly.
IMPRESSED
During our two matches I was most impressed with Rangers young wing half, John Grieg who comes from my hometown Edinburgh. Willie Henderson too lived up to the reputation he has already established in international circles while I thought Ralph Brand put on a brave show in the unaccustomed role of outside left at Goodison. Centre forward Jimmy Miller is another fine player, but he was well looked after by George Heslop. There was some keen tackling especially during the second half, but after the match all was forgiven and the Rangers players and officials joined us in a most friendly buffer celebration in the Everton boardroom. The Rangers player each received a canteen of cutter as a memento of the occasion from our chairman Mr. John Moores and I know that they enjoyed the two meetings as must as we did. Last Saturday visit to Wolves brought us another point but it was one of those games in which the ball seemed to refuse to go into the net for is Andy Rankin again played well and as it was a match with many goalmouth incidents I am sure the fans went home satisfied. The important thing, however, is that despite our many problems we still manage to pick up points. I remember saying last season that it is the team which manages to gain points when things are not saving well which usually wins the title, I was right then, to here’s hoping I’m right again.
ON PROMENADE
We had a day off four training on Tuesday and when we reported on Wednesday the coach was waiting to whisk us of to New Brighton. There we were taken for a brisk walk, along the promenade, and brisk the right word, for with a strong chilly wind blowing there were no strugglers. Wednesday afternoon was different thou for along with Ron Veall, Ian St. John, and Blackpool player Tony Waiters and Bill Cranston we went to Brookfield School Kirkby to take part in a sports forum. Roy Vernon too had hoped to go, but he couldn’t make it. It appears to be Everton’s “London season” a present for following today match with Chelsea we are to visit Arsenal on Tuesday and Fulham next Saturday. With the championship race so close, these are vital games.

EVERTON B V MANCHESTER CITY B
The Liverpool Football Echo and Evening Express, Saturday, December 7, 1963
In the second minute Wright got Everton ahead. After 30 minutes the Manchester right back Mullen deflected a wide shot from Husband into his own goal. Five minutes later Husband put Everton further head, after beating three men. Roberts scored Everton’s fourth goal. Seconds before the interval Wright crashed the ball into the Manchester goal from 30 yards. Half-time; Everton B 5, Mas City B nil.

FORWARD FAILURES BAR TO AMBITION
Liverpool Daily Post, December 9, 1963
WHEN ROY VERNON FAILS EVERTON’S ATTACK FLOPS
EVERTON 1, CHELSEA 1
By Horace Yates
What a winter of discontent this is proving to be for luckless Everton! Even with a defensive formation which a few weeks ago might right have been termed “reserve,” the champions still far too superior to have permitted Chelsea a division of points. Responsibility lay not with the stand-in rear-guard but sat squarely on the shoulders of an attack in which there was not one unfamiliar name. with Vernon or Young achieving anything approaching normality, Chelsea would not merely have been beaten beyond hope of recovery, they would have suffered annihilation! Forward failures, not lack of opportunity, alone prevented Everton from emerging at top scorers of the day.
SAD DAYS, ROY
Sad indeed are these days for Roy Vernon. Taunted by the memory of succeeding games of undeniable responsivity for outrageous misses it was clearly his avowed intact to rectify the chapter of errors against Chelsea. He spared himself nothing in endeavour. As is so often the case, the harder he tried the more perversely did his efforts go awry. For so long did his every movement fall that the crowd’s disparagement grew. One could almost detect a sense of pre-destined failure every time he attempted anything. A lesser spirit would have been utterly daunted. Not only did Vernon fight back against a Chelsea clampdown he so militantly declined to accept the crushing sentence of fate that he accepted a Temple made goal (42 minutes) he produced the finest effort of the match in 77 minutes, when only a goal-defying backwards leap by the agile Bonetti kept out a second. None least of all Vernon, will deny that on a day of nearer normality he might easily have scored four. As he struggles to clear himself of the blight which has descended on him the Everton skipper stands in greater need of encouragement not criticism. Once again, a thoughtless few are the culprits. Yet they would be the first with the cheers in different circumstances.
TEMPLE ALTERNATIVE
For all his failures it was to Vernon more than any other that Everton looked for victory. Without Vernon, misfortunates and all, Everton had only Temple to regard as an alternative scoring possibility. With Young failing to shake off Mortimore; Stevens for all his non-stop activity; and fleet faced by Chelsea’s most accomplished defender in McCreadie, have was a line of some promise, much purpose but precious little performance. Relatedly came an Everton realisation that Temple, for whom Hinton was no sort of match might well be the match-winner. The puzzle as I saw it, was why this obvious possibility took so long to exploit. Everton will find support for their theory that after referee Windle had retired with a back injury, following collision with Blunstone, deputy Mr. A. E. Morrissey twice denied them legitimate penalty appeals. Young was first to be felled and then, in even more dubious circumstances Vernon in shooting position found himself floored. The crowning indignity came with a defensive mix-up between Harris and Stevens. The forward, just inside his own half, turned to take the ball back, found Murray whisking it off his toe and away he went. The winger’s cross, of no great menace, assumed alarming possibilities when the covering Heslop slipped and fell. A surprised Bridges was left with a late reaction to drag the ball just inside the post (81 minutes).
FALSE PRETENCES
In a match which Rankin must have regarded as the nearest legitimate approach to taking money by false pretences, the goalkeeper will recall that the scoring shot was the only one to reach him in the whole of the second half. Congratulate Chelsea as we must for a 100 per cent appreciation of second half! I hardly think the impression was erroneous that Chelsea reactions suggested a contentment, in for so long being only one goal behind a more deserving side. a draw seemingly exceeded both their ambitions and expectations. Meagan’s control of Murray was almost complete, just as Heslop’s domination of Bridges was punctured only by one fatal slip. Whether or not Kay’s presence might have kept Everton more firmly on the rails is at matter for debate, excellence of Harris’ endeavour. Sharples sought and so nearly achieved glory with some long-range sniping. Maybe manager Harry Catterick best summed up the afternoon’s frustrations when he said, “How can we expect the normal rhythm in a side of so many enforced changes?” Everton; Rankin; Brown, Meagan; B. Harris, Heslop, Sharples; Scott, Stevens, Young, Vernon, Temple. Chelsea; Bonetti; Hinton, McCreadie; R. Harris, Mortimore; Upton, Murray, Tambling, Bridges, Venables, Blunstone. Referee Mr. R.H. Windle (Chesterfield). Attendance 39,530

SO DULL -UNTIL REFEREE WENT DOWN FOR THE COUNT
Liverpool Echo and Evening Express, Monday, December 9, 1963
By Michael Charters
There was little festive fan at Goodison Park on Saturday. The game against Chelsea boiled down to 75 minutes or near boredom with the final 15 minutes becoming exciting because of an accident to the referee. It does not say much for the quality of the football that this unusual incident should become the highlight of what was for Everton, a disappointing performance and a disappointing result. They lost a point to Chelsea through a late goalbut should have had the game won handsomely long before that. Everton were leading 1-0, crashed down by full back with Chelsea apparently happy not to be losing by a larger margin and incapable of countering themselves, when the referee took the K.O. K.O. through the mist it seemed to me that Chelsea winger Blunstone came hustling back to help his defence in the corner by the boys pen. With his attention focused on the ball he collided with Young, cannoned off and bumped into referee Windle who was floored comprehensively. Mr. Windle was carried off on a stretcher with a ricked back, linesman Morrissey took charge for the closing 15 minutes and Everton reserve Jimmy Hill became deputy linesman. Mr. Morrissey must have wondered what had happened for his baptism in a League match. From being a tame meandering sort of game, it exploded into life, and the one-time linesman was involved in a secret of incidents. As soon as he had ordered play to restart, he saw Bonetti make two magnificent saves from Vernon the only time either goalkeeper extended, refused Everton a double penalty appeal when both Young and Vernon were brought down, gave Chelsea a corner when a goal kick was obvious and refused a kick when Temple was crashed down by full back Hinton. Little wonder that the fans shouted “We want a ref! Mr. Morrissey must have thought he had been plunged into a nightmare.
A FLOP
In addition, he ended the game a few minutes short not allowing time for the delay while Mr. Windle was receiving attention on the pitch. It was perhaps just as well that these talking points occurred because otherwise the game would rate as the flop of the season at Goodison. That Everton should have won easily is without dispute for, after a particularly unimpressive first half they pulled themselves together and pounded the Chelsea defence. They created a number of chances but with the forwards of form in finish Chelsea were allowed to get away with it. Vernon and Young persisted in the past too many and Vernon to whom most of the opening came had a bad day. Once or twice in the second half he showed flashes of the Vernon drive and thrust which brought so many goals last season. But the final snap, the confidence to beat his man with the impudent ease of before is not there at the moment. His goal was his best contribution of the first half. He owed much to Temple. Everton’s best forward who made a splendid run from midfield, beating off a couple of tackles, before making a crisp square pass to Vernon. The captain’s shot, not well timed, still carried enough power to beat Bonetti whose drive was late, and although he touched the ball it went on into the net.
SCOTT HURT
Scott, who took a heavy blow just below the right knee will probably be unfit for the game at Arsenal to-morrow night- another in the long list of injuries which is rocking Everton just now. Parker, Gabriel, and Labone are still unfit. It is just as well therefore that the reserves in defence were the best part of the team on Saturday. Harris the outstanding performer of the day and Heslop both played splendidly while Stevens, Meagan, and Brown all combined effectively to keep the Chelsea forwards so quite that they were practically non-existent. Sharples, playing his second senior game of the season looked a little slow at times and obviously lacked the Sharpless needed in the top class when instant reaction is essential. He did well, however, and it was ironical that a defensive error enabled Chelsea to score with their sole shot of the second half. Stevens, helping out in defence as he always does misplace a back pass to Meagan, so that outside right Murray was able to close in towards the penalty area and cut the ball back. Heslop had it covered but slipped and Bridges unable to believe his luck deflected the ball past Rankin, who had hardly anything to do. Chelsea’s best were also in defence-I hardly saw their forwards produce a single move to remember. Hinton and McCreadle were strong and dominant at full back, while Bonetti a great moment was his save from Vernon’s best shot reaching out behind him to pluck the ball out of the air.

EVERTON STILL HIT BY INJURIES
Liverpool Echo and Evening Express- Monday, December 9, 1963
TEAM CHOICE IS DELAYED
ARSENAL GAME
By Leslie Edwards
Everton are still plagued with injuries. Parker, Labone, and Gabriel, who have all been out of action will miss the game to-morrow evening against Arsenal at Highbury. The eleven players who drew with Chelsea on Saturday, plus reserves inside forward Jimmy Hill will travel to London and manager Harry Catterick will make selection of his team a few hours before kick-off. It seems unlikely that Everton will be at full strength for their game next Saturday against Fulham in London.

EVERTON ARE UNCHAGED
Liverpool Daily Post- Tuesday, December 10, 1963
Everton, for to-night’s Division One match against Arsenal at Highbury, will field the side which drew with Chelsea last Saturday. Everton; Rankin; Brown, Meagan; Harris, Heslop, Sharples; Scott, Stevens, Young, Vernon, Temple.
Chelsea are making no official complaints about the incident after Saturday’s match at Goodison Park in which manager Tommy Docherty was struck in the face with a stone. Mr. Docherty said last night “I would not want to suffer further by the action of one member of their crowd, and as far as I am concerned the matter is now closed.”

EX-EVERTON PLAYER
Liverpool Echo and Evening Express- Tuesday, December 10, 1963
Former full back of Everton F.C during World War 1. 65-years-old Mr. John Riley of 45 Tamworth Street, Newton le-Willows died yesterday. He played for Everton for several seasons. Mr. Riley was in the inspection department at the B.R. Viaduct Works until his retirement in April.

EVERTON SHOULD WIN AT HIGHBURY AND HULL
Liverpool Echo and Evening Express- Tuesday, December 10, 1963
By Leslie Edwards
Both our sides should survive their Cup games on January 4. It is typical of Everton’s luck at the moment that they should be drawn away for the fifth time in succession, but by the time the match is due their injury position should have been resolved. That they face the Hull City side managed by their old Manager Cliff Britton is not too daunting. Nor is the fact that Hull City have beaten them on the past two occasions when the sides have met in the knockout competition. The first was in 1927 when the sides drew 1-1 at Hull then 2-2 after extra time at Goodison Park. Hull City the second replay 3-2 at Villa Park and if my memory serves George Martin was in the Everton attack that day.
Meanwhile Everton to-night face the team which got a 1-1 draw with Liverpool on Saturday. Manager Catterick is taking to London the side which drew with Chelsea plus Irish International Jimmy Hill and will make his choice an hour or two before the match. He reckons Arsenal are a big, uncompromising side and rates Joe Baker and Strong so their most dangerous forward. A great deal depends on whether Everton take their chances. They have been missing too many. In football as in cards Everton are still within hail of the leaders. I think them a far better side than Arsenal who seem to me to be in a rather false position and for that reason I would not be the least surprised if Everton won. Fulham, whom Everton face on Saturday, seem to be one of London’s best sides these days and with Haynes playing as well as ever may pose a more formidable problem than the one Everton face tonight.
Everton critic A.J. Hughes always a champion of Nobby Fielding has this to say of Everton’s present trend “I am sure most fans will agree with me when I say that it is not the former Central league defence that is costing the club points, but the costly forward line which are missing chances which even late George Green’s back entry diddiers could have scored from. There is no reflection on Temple who with Stevens is consistently good. Vernon has not been nearly so effective as he was in the days when Tom Ring was his partner.
“Finally, although he should never have been made a reserve what a fabulous reserve Brian Harris is. The rough stuff for which Everton have not a totally underserved name has never stemmed from him.”
D. Davies of 132 Dunley Drive, Prenton, has just returned from down under. He says of Everton’s proposed close season tour of Australia; “I was thrilled to hear Everton were to make the trip. Australia soccer is terrible. The national game is Australia Rules Football which makes any real soccer follower smile. I hope Everton convince the Aussies that the city is famed for other reason than being home of The Beatles. When I return to Australia, I intend to pack my blue rosette and my Z-car recording.”

EVERTON THRASHED BY SUPERB ATTACK
Liverpool Daily Post, Wednesday, December 11, 1963
HOW THEY NEED PARKER, KAY AND GABRIEL…
SCTACH DEFENCE COULD NEVER GET TO GRIPS
ARSENAL 6 EVERTON 0
By Horace Yates
Memories of the massacre of Old Trafford last August were revived by the debacle of Highbury last night when Everton’s ambitions of keeping in touch with the League leaders disappeared in a cloud of humiliation. The big Arsenal crowd whose appetite has been fed on the most generous scoring ration of any club at home, left their favourites in no doubt that five goals in the net were still insufficient. “We want six” they chanted and just before the end they got it to crown what they no doubt considered a very happy evening’s entertainment. Arsenal’s tremendous scoring average at Highbury is now nearly four goals a game and all Everton succeeded in accomplishing was to make it even more impressive. What was so badly needed in their hour of trial was the steadying strength and influence of Parker, Kay and Gabriel. Of course, they were not there and how it showed. The champion’s scratched defence proved entirely unable to get to grips with the quick-fire passing interchanges of Strong, Baker and Eastham.
SUPREME TEST
Before the game began it was a reasonable assumption that this scratch defence, which was acquitting itself so nobly in previous trails, would he tried as never before. Similarly, this was the supreme test for nineteen-year-old goalkeeper Andy Rankin. Although the men in front of him strove to the limit of their ability of plug the gaps that seemingly grew greater with each succeeding attack. Rankin was beaten oftener than it any senior match so far. To accept this as an exposure of the youngster’s weakness when the heat of battle because blistering would be as unfair as it was incorrect. Rankin never made a mistake. In no way could he be blamed for falling to repair the damage created by the failure of others. Without several superlative Rankin saves this score sheet would have been even more humiliating. No goalkeeper however experienced would have kept any of those six goals out of the net. It is no new discovery that the ideal forward formation is founded on a scoring centre forward, a striker of equality lethal accomplishments alongside and a ball playing schemer. Arsenal rejoice in having them all, plus superb wingers in MacLeod and Armstrong. They gave Meagan and Brown a night of incessant action and no little frustration. This is an attack streamlined for the task of creating and scoring goals and not until the second half did Everton succeed in throwing it out of joint.
CLEAN SHEET
For the first time since joining Arsenal from Liverpool, goalkeeper Jimmy Furnell boasted a clean sheet. He is not likely to be unduly conceited on that account for his contribution was limited. Probably in the first half Everton challenged him no more than twice and one of those shots was too high to be of any account. Everton recovered some of the fading reputation after going hopelessly five goals behind. Temple and Vernon twice might easily have collected goals with the least bit more accuracy in shooting. Brown too, was denied a goal by the really fine save Furnell had to make. If only Everton had found their militancy at a much earlier stage this could have been an interesting and far more even battle. As it was, they struggled for crumbs of comfort and while they deserved a goal or two, the price they are paying for the avalanche of injuries was never more appeared. Heslop struggled hard to keep pace with Baker and looked far more efficient in the general collaring of the Arsenal attack. Temple and Scott raided successfully from time to time on the wings and Vernon occasionally showed some of the dashes which used to be part and parcel of his play. Arsenal opened the scoring in five minutes when Strong headed across for Baker to place a header beyond Rankin. In 12 minutes came the second, Strong, well off-side, was played on when the ball struck a defender. Rankin bravely charged out the first shot but had less success with Strong’s second attempt. Baker made it three in 18 minutes when Strong’s unselfishness left baker exposed and the rest was easy. On the half HOUR Heslop caught the ball on the goal line from an Armstrong header and Eastham’s penalty shot left Rankin with no hope of saving.
ANOTHER PENALTY
Twice Everton vainly sought penalty kicks when Stevens came down in the area. It was 4-0 at the interval and almost as soon as the game re-started Everton were five down. Meagan with a save worthy of any goalkeeper pushed a Baker shot over the bar. Unfortunately, all he got for his pains was the concession of another penalty kick from which Eastham again scored. Armstrong completed the scoring in 86 minutes. This of course, was nothing like the normally Everton, but with such offensive power Arsenal must mount a formidable challenge to the League leaders. Their weaknesses this season has been entirely in defence. Now by withdrawing their wingers and having Strong in a deep-lying role, their goal is far less exposed. Not since October 5 when they beat Ipswich Town by six clear goals had Everton been able to deny their opposition a goal. The message from Highbury last night was, therefore, clear. Look out they are on the championship trail. Arsenal; Furnell; Magill, McCullough; Barnwell, Ure, Sneddon; MacLeod, Strong, Baker, Eastham, Armstrong. Everton; Rankin; Brown, Meagan; Harris, Heslop, Sharples; Scott, Stevens, Young, Vernon, Temple. Referee; Mr. J.K. Taylor (Wolverhampton). Attendance 33,644.

MAKESHIFT DEFENCE IS HIT FOR SIX
Liverpool Echo - Wednesday 11 December 1963
By Horace Yates
The Everton bubble of speculation burst at Highbury last night. They now know that satisfying though their makeshift defence has been in the recent series of games. It is not adequate against top grade opposition. The weaknesses were laid bare in the 6-0 thrashing administered by Arsenal.
Probably the surprising thing is not that they collapsed at Highbury, but that defensively their record in previous matches was so very creditable. This Arsenal attack has scored 46 goals in the seasons home fixtures; Everton’s ranking with that of Ipswich as the biggest total. Obviously then, against anything but the most watertight of defenders, here are the forwards capable of giving the crowd what they most seek- goals. You can have your Greaves, Smith and White trio of Tottenham but on the evidence I have seen there is not a more formidable inside partnership anywhere than Strong, Baker and Eastham. In their last eight Highbury games, Arsenal goals have come as follows -6-0, 4-4, 4-2, 4-1, 3-3, 5-3, 11, and 6-0.
AVALANCHE
Not all these opponents have had to field defences stripped of experience in the way Everton’s was. Is it so surprising them that Everton were floored by the avalanche? It was 5-0 after 47 minutes, in similar circumstances many a team would never have succeeded in picking itself up off the floor. To their great credit Everton did. Their second half retaliation was much worthier. Why they only fired into retaliatory action when so hopelessly placed, was the biggest mystery of the night. Against slock, fast moving opponents only the closet marking and the cleverest anticipation were enough. Sharples was clearly struggling against pace and skill of a calibre to which he is scarcely accustomed. Even Heslop, such a pillar of strength in his previous games, found Baker too elusive for comfort in the devastating opening which really settled the result with three goals in 18 minutes. He recovered brilliantly later on, but the damage has been done. Harris alone could not turn back the tide, resolutely though he tried. Disconcerting is the only way in which to describe those yawning goal front gaps which these forwards were able to create. If ever there was an occasion when Everton stood in need of the steadying influences and strong tackling of Gabriel and Kay, this was it. Those Arsenal tormentors would have found their wings clipped far more effectivelyby Everton's fully represented formation. Still the Londoners dealt with the situation as it was presented, and I doubt if there is another side in the country who could have done it more mercilessly or efficiently. It was cold blooded and calculated murder of Everton's aspirations. Obviously the longer Everton have to paddle along under strength, the harder will be the road back to the top challenging positions. If Meagan and Brown had succeeded in clamping down on MacLeod and Armstrong all might not have been lost, but these Arsenal wingers completed a line of extra-ordinary power. Everton were sorely In need of a little bit of luck last night. Had it gone with them instead of so obstinately turning against them, the score, even in defeat, might have been more consoling.
TEMPLE'S RUN
Vernon could have scored, and nearly did on two occasions. Temple, with one of the finest runs in the match, produced the perfect shooting position and ruined it with the most inadequate finish. Brown at last called Furnell to make his one save of the night to deny the full back a goal. Yes. 6-4 would have been so far less humiliating. Of course Arsenal suffered as well. They had the ball in the net on three other occasions—after the whistle had gone—and Rankin left a fine reputation behind him, despite his nightmare evening. I hope those six goals will not be held against the young goalkeeper. Maybe not everybody share my opinion that he was blameless in the concession of such a score, but nothing that happened in this Everton travesty destroyed my impression that here is a first-class goalkeeping discovery. Once Everton decided to stifle Arsenal by close marking, and that was not until the second half, much of their opponents' efficiency departed. They were pegged back to the unusual indignity of having to defend the goal if not desperately, then at least carefully.
YOUNG MASTERED
Ure enjoyed a complete superiority over Young and though he covered a lot of ground, Stevens hardly got to grips as surely as usual. Even allowing for their lucky breaks, this Arsenal defence, the glaring team weaknesses the season through has stiffened remarkably. They have now adopted the prevailing fashion of using wingers defensively as well as offensively, and if the initial successes which have greeted the enterprise continue, don’t lightly rule out Arsenal from any championship considerations. The goals started to flow after five minutes when strong headed to baker for the centre forward to nod the ball past Rankin. Strong collected the second in 12 minutes, but needed two shots to so it. Again it was a Strong collected the second in 12 minutes, but needed two shots to do It. Again it was a Strong offering which made Baker a scorer in 18 minutes. The fourth came from a penalty by Eastham (in 30 minutes), Heslop maintained the ball struck him in the face and not on the hands, but if this was correct I was just as badly deceived as the referee.
TIPPED BALL OVER
Hardly had the second half started when Meagan made a goal-line save worthy of any goalkeeper by tipping the ball over the bar. It was a commendable enterprise in a hopeless situation, but it cost another Eastham penalty goal while depriving Baker of a treble. Two minutes from the end a fortunate bounce enabled Amstrong to score the goal for which the home supporters had been chanting—the sixth. Five goals against at Old Trafford and now six at Highbury. These are two dark days in the Everton calendar

EVERTON’S BLANKET IS READY FOR ACTION
Liverpool Daily Post- Thursday, December 12, 1963
JOE MERCER AT HIGHBURY TO CHECK UP ON GEORGE SHARPLES?
By Horace Yates
With frost in the air and undoubtedly much worse to come, it is a comforting thought that lying snugly under the Goodison Park pitch are the electric wires which will ensure football while other clubs sit by in frustrated idleness. Any day now delivery is expected of a newly developed device which will automatically switch on the heating as soon as freezing is encountered. Temperatures will increase up to a maximum as the thermometer falls. In this way it is expected that not only will the top surface remain unfrozen, but frost will find no place lower down. Nothing could be worse than a soft upper layer top of a frozen lead. The drainage, renewed when the pitch was re-laid in the close season, has so far answered all calls adequately so that the bogey which beat the wires at the last attempt has apparently been safely laid.
ENVIOUS ARSENAL?
Arsenal too, have embarked on a similar scheme at Highbury, but from what I saw of the pitch on Tuesday night, they must be envious of the way in the which Everton have achieved and maintained such an excellent covering of grass. Expectations are that as the grass develops roots there will be a further beneficial effect on drainage. Many clubs, Liverpool among them, are watching these experiments with interest. If Everton and Arsenal have really found a way to conquer the frost, and there seems no reason to think otherwise, I expect to hear of a widespread adoption of the scheme throughout the First Division. Not many Evertonians will be aware their Scottish full back Sandy began his career with Tottenham Hotspur. He went to White Hart Lane when only 15. After five months he became home sick and was given permission to return to Scotland. Curiously enough until Tuesday when he played at Highbury, Brown had never been back to London. It was revealed yesterday that Everton have been given permission by the Football League to pay an accrued share of benefit to their goalkeeper Albert Dunlop now with Wrexham. Southport have received similar consent in regard to Reg Blore.
POWER POSSIBILITIES
When I saw Arsenal give such a good account of themselves at Goodison Park early in October, I was struck then by their possibilities. For that reason, Liverpool’s draw at Highbury last Saturday became an impressive performance in my calculations. A further glimpse of their prowess on Tuesday only served to emphasise the fact that they are a grand side. now that they have found a way to stiffen their defence without forfeiting strength in attack their possibilities multiply. Here is aside which would be in at the death when the Championship is being decided and I should just hate to have to visit there in a Cup-tie. Look out Wolves! When I discussed these views with manager Bill Shankley last night, he said; “Of course they are a good side. they must be. Any team which can hold Liverpool to a draw must command respect.” I found the view of some of the London scribes that Everton had paid a small fortune even for the scratch defence they fielded against Arsenal, somewhat amusing, it is a well know fact now that every time a player of any prominence appears in the news as likely to move or even to ask for a move, almost the first club to enter calculations is that of Everton. If Everton have any signing ambitions up their sleeves, I can only think it is a very well-guarded secret, for there is not the slightest indication in inner circles that another swoop of any kind is imminent. Day to day developments of course might transform the picture without warning.
NOT SO EXPENSIVE
It is very interesting to assess the total cost of the six players who constitute the Everton defence at Highbury. Starting with Andy Rankin we find his signing covered by the normal £10 fee. Similarly, Mick Meagan was no more costly. For Alex Brown, the reputed transfer fee when he was signed in emergency from Partrick Thistle was below £30,000. Brian Harris is yet another whose only club has been Everton, just as is George Sharples. Between them George Helsop arrived at Goodison as part payment of the fee when Jimmy Fell was transferred to Newcastle in March 1962. How many clubs, I wonder, are playing a defensive formation in Division 1 to-day which has cost less money than that to assemble?
LOOKING IN
Among the onlookers at Highbury were two former Evertonians, now in managerial capacities. Cliff Britton was there to seize the opportunity of assessing the sort of strength his Hull City team will have to encounter in the third round of the F.A. Cup. What value thew visit till prove is problematical for nobody will be more disappointed than Everton if the Cup side is not changed very materially. Aston Villa manager Joe Mercer was also a home tie in the offing against Aldershot, obvious Joe’s interest had nothing to do with the Cup. He offered no clues, but the thought struck me that George Sharples whose request for a move like that of Roy Parnell has not yet been considered, could have been the target. Like Sharples, Joe hails from Ellesmere Port and realised as well as anybody what a brilliant future seemed to lie ahead of Sharples a year or so ago. Nothing that happened in this match would convince Mr. Mercer that he must be ready with an offer in case Sharples is allowed to move. The Villa manager however probably knows sufficient of Sharples not to be misguided by a single below-par performance.
News of the Goodison invalids is that Brian Labone and Alex Parker have now started full training. Jimmy Gabriel’s injury is more worrying. It is doubtful if he will be ready to return before Tony Kay becomes eligible again.

LONDON HOLDS NO LUCK FOR EVERTON
Liverpool Echo - Thursday 12 December 1963
By Leslie Edwards
I rate Arsenals 6-0 win against Everton as the most surprising result of the season. Granted Everton were below full strength, their makeshift side had performed well enough to indicate their ability to hold a team which has not won a match for weeks. Arsenal themselves had been victims of an Everton second half blitz at Goodison Park earlier this season. A goal up and playing well in the first half Arsenal found, to their surprise no penalty decision when Baker was held back as he shaped towards Eastham's cute through pass. From that moment it was Everton, Everton all the way. Apart from that ill-fated Cup game at West Ham last season, most of Everton's trips to London in the immediate past have resulted in defeat. Of their last 21 League games there they have won only three and drawn four with an adverse goal ratio of 24 to 32. Remembering that last season was a championship one these are remarkable figures. They lost all save one of the five League games they played last season in London. To have a spate of injuries, as Manager Catterick has, plus the long suspension of Tony Kay makes life difficult. It is astonishing. In the circumstances that Everton are still only three points behind the leaders. A great deal now depends on how they fare at Fulham on Saturday. If their Anfield form is any guide, Haynes and company are a more formidable proposition than Arsenal, whose big win on Tuesday evening shocked no one more than this columnist. If collateral form means anything the two Highbury results within the space of a few days indicate that Liverpool are a better side than their neighbours. Whether this is so or not we shall know with certainty only after the second "Derby" at Goodison Park, on February 8, the week before the fifth round F.A. Cup games are due!

EVERTON DELAY CHOICE UNTIL TO-MORROW
Liverpool Echo - Thursday 12 December 1963
VITAL GAME AT FULHAM
INJURY WORRIES
By Leslie Edwards
Team section for Manager Harry Catterick is easy, he says. “I just pick the 11 fit players!” For the important game at Fulham on Saturday, Gabriel, parker, and Labone –all defenders –will still be missing. “I can’t see any one of them being for a fortnight,” said Mr. Catterick this morning, and even then there is a question of their being made match fit. I’m minus Kay and Rees through suspensions. It’s grim, but we must hope to struggle through this period. There’s nothing wrong with the team that, freedom from injury would not put right.” Temple and Scott received knocks in the match at Highbury on Tuesday. The side to face Fulham will not be chosen until to-morrow. Little has gone right for Everton since the final 10 minutes of the match at Nottingham Forest three weeks ago. Then they lost two players injured and a two-goal lead. Last night Everton Supporters’ Club marked the team’s championship win last season by presenting the chairman, Mr. John Moores, with a barometer, the manager with a writing pad, and trainer Tom Eggleston with a table lighter.
LANGLEY HOPE
In the hope that former England’s left back Jim Langley will be fit, Fulham team manager Bedford Jezzard also defers selection of the side will to-morrow. Langley is still under treatment for a damaged ankle. If he fails to respond to treatment Bobby Drake, son of former England centre forward Ted Drake, will continue to deputise.

ROY VERNON SAYS…
Liverpool Daily Post- Friday, December 13, 1963
OUR BEST DAYS STILL LIE AHEAD
Now before you all go dashing off to make Arsenal a No 1 banker as your F.A Cup-winning selection, I would advise caution Arsenal are a very fine side, but too much should not immediately be read into their smashing defeat of Everton on Tuesday. For them I believe this was a case of third time lucky. You may recall that this was the third alternative date for the settling of our League game. First our European Cup commitments clashed and then Arsenal were engaged in then Arsenal were engaged in the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup. Had there been no interference with the original date Arsenal, I think would have faced a much more representative Everton than was the case this week. Don’t think I am trying to throw the onus for our sorry failure on the lads who stepped into the breach. None of them could have tried harder, but it seems reasonable to suppose that the old firm, the established players, might have been more alive to deal have been more alive to deal with a very experienced attack. These Arsenal forwards will impose a strain on any defensive system and any club which has to face them with a below-strength side are liable to run into a load of trouble-as we now know to our cost. Without doubt, Arsenal have collected a scoring machine that is liable to dent and break quite a number of teams, but I think they are fallible. I would be prepared to guarantee that if Everton were able to face them with a side chosen from strength there might be a very different story to tell. I realise that the strength of a side is judged by its reserve strength, and in this we are as fortunate as many and more fortune than most. Tell me, however, one side in English League football which could go to Highbury to-day with the entire half-back line ripped out, plus the absence of an experienced full back, and still play up to its reputation. Take a look for instance, at the League leaders, Liverpool. Remove Milne, Yeats and Stevenson from their line-up. Would they still be the power in the land they are to-day? For their sake I hope it is never put to the test. One man out is one thing. Three or four, a very different proposition. Still, that is football. We have to accept what comes and try to make the best of it. I have seen it suggested that Arsenal eased up with five goals in the bag. That is why they did not record a cricket score. Don’t you believe it. By reshaping our tactics there were times when we had them on the run in the second half and if they had not defended in strength, we would have rubbed off some of those arrears. In fact, we could not possibly have gone closer to achieving this without actually succeeding. Twice in recent weeks we have run up against scoring centre forwards in Pickering and Baker and felt the blast in both cases. I would say they are just about the two best leaders in the business.
£70,000 GAMBLE
Arsenal took a £70,000 gamble in signing Baker before he had proved his recovery from his accident in Italy. It was a chance which has paid and will pay handsome dividends, for Baker has never played better than this season. Before Baker left for Italy, Everton made a tremendous effort to bring him to Goodison. Not by any means is Arsenal’s one-man line. In Strong they have another first-class striker and a power forward equal to most. The improvement in this man’s play over the last twelve months has been one of the most striking advances in football. Before jumping on the Arsenal bandwagon, however, I want to see them rip open one or two of the leading sides- at full strength. If they can do this then all things are possible, for at last they appear to have solved defensive weaknesses which earlier threatened to make them also-rans. Another example of loyalty and generosity of our supporters comes this week with an invitation from the Ormskirk branch of our supporters to join them on December 16 to receive presentations to the players. What a happy thought it is to include Albert Dunlop, now with Wrexham in the list of guests and also Tommy Jones. It restores one’s faith in football to see examples of regard of this nature. Still, don’t get a fit of the blues you Evertonians. Our best days still lie ahead, and I hope we shall start to prove that in the next week or two as our injured come back to the fold.

FOUR (HOME) AWAYS
Liverpool Echo - Friday 13 December 1963
By Leslie Edwards
An Everton fan asks me to name four home winners for tomorrow so that he can put them on his four away list. He might have written that postcard, based on my Highbury-Hull predictions, on December 10 and not on December 11 when the result of Everton's trip to Highbury was all too painfully known. The truth Is that Everton are and have been for some weeks so handicapped the wonder is that they still hold a position only three points behind the leaders. Their game at Fulham tomorrow, where they have had little success in post-War seasons, is a vital one in that if it were lost they would fall so far behind the leaders as to make their dethronement inevitable. Fulham, with Haynes back and playing well as ever, are one of the best sides seen at Anfield this season. They have a rather aged looking team, but the experience of such men as Haynes, Leggat, Langley and company offsets that considerably. Rankin, it seems, may have been over -awed in his first big League game in London, but he has done so well so far it would be folly to leave him out Just at the time he needs to know his club still have full confidence In him. As Manager Catterick says, choosing an Everton team isn't difficult these days. What with suspensions and injuries the eleven fit usual are almost automatic choices. Except for that Highbury let-down they have performed very well. The draw at Nottingham, after the side had been leading two-nil ten minutes from the end, was for the champions, the turn of the tide of success.

STEVENS AT RIGHT HALF
Liverpool Echo - Friday 13 December 1963
EVERTON SWITCH FOR FULHAM
By Leslie Edwards
Everton bring Dennis Stevens back to the half-back line for the match against Fulham in London tomorrow. His place in the attack will be taken by Jimmy Hill, the Irish International. Mick Meagan had to pass a fitness test today before he was named as left back. Everton’s injured, nearly all defenders, include Gabriel, Labone, Parker, Kay and Rees are under suspension. Everton; Rankin; Brown, Meagan; Stevens, Heslop, Harris; Scott, Hill, Young, Vernon, Temple.
As Jimmy Langley has failed a fitness test, Fulham will be unchanged. This means Bobby Drake son of the former England centre forward, Ted Drake, continues at left back. Fulham; Macedo; Cohen, Drake; Mullery, Keetch, Robson, Key, Cook, Leggat, Haynes, Howfield.
GOODISON INCIDENT
I understand from manager Harry Catterick that the incident at Goodison Park after the Chelsea match last Saturday when Chelsea manager Tommy Docherty was struck by a missile, has bene reported to the F.A. It has been established that the missile was nothing more than a rolled up cardboard sweet-container. Everton are to consult their legal advisers over an article which appeared in an Australian newspaper, which characterised them as “thugs” the article was sent to manager Catterick by a Newcastle United fan in Brisbane. It dealt with Everton’s proposed tour, next close season of Australian.
HULL CUP TIE WILL BE ALL-TICKET
10,000 FOR EVERTON 40,000 LIMIT
There will be 10,000 tickets available for Everton fans who want to go to Hull for the third round F,A Cup tie on January 4. Hull City announced to-day that the game would be an all-ticket one, but they surprised their own supporters by limiting the gate to 40,000. In 1949 Hull City met Manchester United in a sixth round cup game a record 55,019 fans packed into the ground. Since then extra seating has been installed and the capacity cut, but the ground will hold more than 40,000 in 1954 for instance, over 46,000 saw a fifth round game with Tottenham. Manager Cliff Britton explained “When the club had their last big gate there were complaints of discomfort and some people said they could not see the game. “So we are trying to ensure that everybody sees this game in something like comfort.” Most small clubs would have been expected to cram in as many fans as possible for a big attraction like this, but Hull are not desperate for the cash. In the close season the club chairman, Mr. Harold Needler, gave City 20,000 pounds.

DOCHERTY INCIDENT REPORTED TO F.A.
Liverpool Daily Post- Saturday, December 14, 1963
CLOSING OF GROUND IS A POSSIBILITY IN DRIVE AGAINSTY MISCONDUCT
By Horace Yates
With the Football Association emphasise their tougher attitude on all things disciplinary by closing Goodison Park for a period? It could happen and that was the disturbing thought worrying Everton officials last night, following confirmation of the fact that the F.A had received an official report of last Saturday’s Tommy Docherty incident. It will be recalled that claims were made that the Chelsea manager was struck under the eye by a missile at the close of the match. Mr. Docherty himself declined to discuss it, beyond indicating there would be no official complains by him. What he had to say was said to the Everton club, he told me last Sunday. With warning notices already appearing in the club programme and on the ground, following the £100 fine for demonstrations by spectators during the visit of Blackburn Rovers this new development assumes serious proportions. One’s first impulse would be to fear the worst, but F.A. representatives are men of the world and I cannot see them lightly putting Everton to the inconvenience and indignity of having to play a home game elsewhere, for the hare-brained action of one single misguided spectator. There were 39,538 spectators at Goodison for the Chelsea match. The behaviour of 39,537 was impeccable. Just one black sheep in a fold completely lost his head, thereby putting in jeopardy the sporting enjoyment of the Merseyside thousands. If the F.A were to impose a ban on Goodison, Everton would not be allowed to play within twelve miles of Goodison Park. This would rule out Anfield, and Tranmere, Chester, Wrexham, the Manchester grounds, Bury and Bolton could come under consideration. Misconduct at any time is deprecated as much by the club as the F.A and no organisation has given more striking proof of their intention to keep their house in order than have Everton. What more could they have done than has been done? The cost of police patrol at Goodison is among the highest in the country
AUSTRALIAN REPORT
The pity was that the culprit escaped undetected as the crowds were moving towards the exits. I have not the slightest doubt that with suitable evidence Everton would not have hesitated to make an example of him. In these days of mass publicity, incidents of this nature cannot hope to remain a local affair. Already Mr. Harry Catterick, the Everton manager has received a cutting from an Australian newspaper in which uncomplimentary references are made about the club. This is particularly disturbing, as Everton make a close-season tour of Australia playing a series of eight matches within three weeks.

LATE COOK GOAL SPOILS IT FOR EVERTON AT FULHAM
Liverpool Echo - Saturday 14 December 1963
FULHAM 2 EVERTON 2

Fulham; Macedo; Cohen, Drake; Mullery, Keetch, Robson; Kay, Cook, Leggat, Haynes, Howfield. Everton; Rankin; Brown, Meagan; Stevens, Heslop, Harris, Scott, Hill, Young, Vernon, Temple. Referee; Mr. D.W. Smith (Gloucester).
Everton made the first attack, with Ketch cutting off Hill's headed pass to Young. Then Fulham went away with Howfield being allowed to go on from a seemingly offside position, but Rankin came out and dived at his feet, defence, but Robson's shot went high. Rankin punched out from Key and in Everton's next' raid Mullen moved across to stop Vernon bursting through from Young's forward pass. A fine header from Young scraped the Fulham bar, andthe start had been quite lively, with both sides moving well. Keetch probably saved Fulham when he get in the way of Vernon's shot following a Brown centre from the right, for I doubt if Macedo
MACEDO’S SAVES
Twice Stevens tried shots from outside the penalty area and on each occasion Macedo had to dive full-length to save. Leggatt was switching from one wing to the other, and one of his centres on the right posed a lot of danger until Rankin flicked the ball away from the incoming Howfield. Everton should have scored when Hill got Temple away and the winger beat his man beautifully before slipping the ball back to Hill, who from eight yards out, put the ball over the bar. Everton went ahead in 16 minutes with a goal from Brian Harris, following a free kick from near the corner flag taken by Scott. His header was touch by Macedo, but the goalkeeper could not prevent the ball entering the net just inside the post. Temple was hurt in trying to go through the middle and while he was lying on the ground the referee rather surprisingly allowed Macedo to take a goal kick before blowing up for the trainer.
SAVED THE DAY
Everton were playing confidently, but Fulham should have equalised when Haynes ignored appeals for offside and ran on. Rankin, however, saved the day by taking a full-force shot as he dived out. The goalkeeper was hurt but soon resumed and then Helsop had to have attention as Fulham set up a series of attacks. Rankin again dived out to make a good save from Cook’s flick and Helsop headed away a fast cross from Key. Scott usually had the beating of Drake for speed and when the winger came through beautifully, Hill should have done better than sky the ball high from his pass. Stevens, as usual was working tremendously hard, but on one occasion he almost ruined a winning tackle on Haynes by a poor pass. It required a very good tackle by Heslop to prevent Cook making the most of the mistake. Everton went near to scoring again when Scott’s low centre sped across goal just out of the reach of Vernon. In a quick Fulham attack, Rankin saved well from Cook.
Half-time; Fulham 0, Everton 1.
Everton had been the better side in the first half, with their defence more composed than Fulham’s. On the restart Young and Scott indulged in a piece of passing near the corner flag and Macedo had to catch a high ball from the winger.
LOB BY HILL
Cohen made one surging run down the wing and was stopped by Harris near the line. It was Harris, too, who threat and Hill, with a first time lob, almost caught Macedo on the hop, but the goalkeeper jumped high to turn the ball over. The finishing of the Fulham attack was erratic and Everton were able to survive some intense pressure pretty comfortable. Young, after a lovely side step made a low cross which was somehow kept out by Macedo and Drake. Fulham began to turn on the heat a bit more and Rankin made a superb save from Leggat after the ball had come at him like a rocket through a crowd of players in the goalmouth. Heslop was thankful to head away for a corner rather than take any risks with Key’s centre. From the kick Harris collected the ball coolly in the ruck and cleared magnificently. On the hour Everton got a second goal, and a wonderful one it was scored expertly by Young but made by Temple. When the winger got the ball from Hill out on the touchline he began a dribble from fully 40 yards in which he beat four men and then flicked the ball inside to Young. The centre forward, in spite of Keetch’s tackle, controlled it superbly and beat Macedo with a left foot shot to the bottom corner. Although this goal came in the middle of Fulham’s urgent attacks, it confirmed a lead which Everton well deserved because all through they had played it coolly. However, the game was thrown wide open again by a Fulham goal in 63 minutes following a right wing corner. When this was headed up by Heslop, Keetch, who had come up for the kick, managed to flick it into the net as Rankin came out. Everton were within an ace of making it 3-1 when Brown went up and, finding a rebound falling to his feet, ran on a couple of yards and hit a shot which struck Macedo and bounced away.
STOPPED ON LINE
Fulham’s goal had raised the tempo to high excitement and yet it was Everton who were the near scorers on two occasions, first, when Macedo turned over a shot from Young and then when Drake stopped a header from Vernon on the line. A beautiful tackle by Meagan stopped Leggat when he was in full cry, and the Everton defence was still Maintaining its composure as Fulham battled hard. Howfiled sent a long drive flashing past the post and Fulham’s appeals for a penalty after a Heslop tackle were, quite rightly I think, turned down. Another save by Rankin was first-class, but so, too, was that by Macedo from Young. In 88 minutes Fulham drew level when a long ball from Leggat through the middle was taken by Cook, who looked to me to be just offside, and although Harris made a galliant attempt to stop him the inside right went on to score. Final; Fulham 2, Everton 2
LANCS LEAGUE
Everton A 2, Oldham Ath nil
Everton B 1, Oldham B 0

NOW YOUTH TEAMS STAGE THE JUNIOR “DERBY”
Liverpool Echo - Saturday 14 December 1963
By Alex Young
There are occasions when one would rather look forward than backward, and I can think of half a dozen good reasons for doing so this week. Next week at Goodison Pork Are an two most interesting matches to look forward to - Manchester United's visit on Saturday afternoon, and the F.A. Youth Cup clash between our youngsters and Liverpool on Tuesday evening. The third meeting of the season with United is something all the Everton players have been waiting for, as that 5-1 defeat at Old Trafford is still a very sore point with us. This time we are full of confidence, because United have already been beaten at Goodison Park-4-1 in the Charity Shield game. My congratulations to the United players on their European Cup Winners' Cup triumph over Spurs, and on behalf of all the Everton boys I wish them well in the later stages of the competition. We arrived back at our London hotel from Highbury in time to watch the final 10 minutes or so of the televised recording of their second leg match on Tuesday, and despite the fact that Spurs were a man short, the game looked a most exciting one. From the short extract of play we saw, however, the warning was clear …we will need to find out best form again to beat Matt Busby's men in their present mood. One man who cannot be given too much rope is England winger Bobby Charlton: if he is, he will almost certainly hang US. I was very sorry to hear of the most unfortunate injury to Dave Mackay, for this robs Tottenham of one of their stars at a most vital time. Dave, as we all know, is a great fighter and he'll be back playing football again as soon as humanly possible.
JUNIOR DERBY
Saturday's game against United should be a real bumper one, and I think there should also be quite a few local fans turning up on Tuesday evening for the "Junior Derby." Both local teams can call on youngsters who have already reached international level in schoolboy football, and everything points to a keen, interesting tussle. There was an unusual incident during last Saturday's game with Chelsea, at Goodison Park, when Referee Bob Windle, of Chesterfield, was knocked out in a collision and had to be carried from the field suffering from a ricked back. I was involved in the unfortunate chapter of events which led up to Mr. Windles injury. Running into position for a –throw-in. I crossed directly in the path of Chelsea winger Frank Blunstone, who was moving back quickly to cover up in defence, and the result was that Frank "skidded” off me right into the back of an unsuspecting Mr. Windle. It was one of those accidents for which no one is to blame and meant that a linesman had to take over in the middle for the final 15 minutes and our 12th man. Jimmy Hill, came out of the trainer's dug -out to run the line. The game as a whole was not exciting, but if luck had run just a little bit in our favour then we must - certainlyhave won.
JUST LUCK
There were two legitimate appeals for penalties turned down by the "deputy" referee when we were a goal in front, and then just to rub things in (and illustrate what I mean by bad luck) Chelsea got an equaliser. But still that's football and when the luck runs a little the other way; I must admit that we are inclined to take it for granted. Arsenal is a name I must mention sometimes, but there is very little I can offer in defence of that 6-0 licking, except to point out that we were without Alex Parker, Jimmy Gabriel, Brian Labone, and Tony Kay. Three goals down in 18 minutes, and five behind two minutes after half-time tells its own story, and there wasn’t very much we could do except say that was the night that was. I have been reminded a dozen times since Tuesday evening that Liverpool drew 1-1 at Highbury, but I am not prepared to enter into any arguments about that here- we’ll leave it until February 8, at Goodison Park. Arsenal’s form may have surprised some people, but I have never underestimated their potential and in fact picked them out as a championship danger in the first article this season. The Highbury boys have now scored 46 goals in 13 home League games this season, and although their third round F.A Cup-tie against wolves is not an easy one, they could be knocking on the Wembley door.
AT HULL
On Tuesday, all the Arsenal forwards played well, but I think their architect of victory was inside right Geoff Strong. With Everton’s luck appearing to be right out at the moment, it came as no surprise when Monday’s F.A Cup draw gave us an away game. I have never played in Hull City’s ground and although as you know, we never take any Cup opponents lightly, I am confident the trip to Boothferry Park will be a successful one for us. From leaders of attack to last line of defence. There seems a world of difference but two First Division players have successfully made the move recently. When Harry Gregg was hurt during Manchester United’s game with Liverpool last month, centre forward David Herd went in goal; when Ron Springett was injured last Saturday against Blackpool, Sheffield Wednesday called on their centre forward, Bronco Layne, to go between the sticks. I sincerely hope that the occasion does not arise when Everton have to find a substitute goalkeeper, but just in case I would like to give notice that wee Alex is not available. Christmas cards from overseas fans serve as a reminder that the festive season is not far away. Among my mail this week was a card for all the Everton players from Mr. and Mrs David Cottrell, in the British Consults at Sao Paulo, Brazil. My I pass on my thanks and the best wishes of the team to them and all the overseas supporters of Everton who have kindly written to us during the year.

DEAN JOINS THE IMMORTALS-
Liverpool Echo - Saturday 14 December 1963
SIXTY GOALS IN A SSEAPSN
FOOTBALL ON MERESEYSIDE
By Percy M. Young
In the season 1927-28 Dean achieved immortality and set up a record that is likely to remain assailed for some time to come. In League matches (he played in 39) he scored 60 goals; in other matches, Cup and representative, he scored another 22. It was the period that succeeded the enactment of the new offside rule and free scoring was not uncommon. In season 1926-27 George Camsell of Middlesbrough had scored 59 in his club's progress to the Second Division Championship.
This, indeed, was Dean's target when he came out at Goodison for that match of the season in 1928. He had, so far, 57 League goals to his credit, and needed, therefore, a hat-trick to achieve his end. The opponents were Arsenal, who exasperated the locals by scoring first. Dean equalised. Then an infringement called for a penalty. Dean took it and scored his second goal. To add balance to the proceedings O'Donnell, formerly of Darlington, and now left back for Everton, put the ball through his own goal in a manner made familiar in the preceding seasons of discontent. It was three minutes from time when Troup dropped an enticing ball towards the Arsenal goal, and Dean was prompt to put it into the net. Dean stayed with Everton until 1938: his last match for the club was in a Liverpool Senior Cup fixture against South Liverpool, at Holly Park, on March 9. In all he had scored 349 League goals for Everton. On March 11 he was transferred to Notts County, for whom he scored three goals. In all, 352 from Stephen Bloomer. Dixie" Dean was a player of affecting loyalty, practising his skill with the same determination whether for a winning or a losing side. He had, as centre forwards must have, courage. The quality of this virtue was demonstrated in the summer of 1926 when in a motor-cycle accident in June he suffered a fractured skull and jaw. By October he was returned, recovered, to the football field. As a player Dean combined power and grace, intuition and intellect. He was big, 5ft. 10 ½ in, and weighing 12st. 71b.—a commanding leader and a formidable opponent. At the same time, as Sam Wadsworth, of Huddersfield, once said, he was " a good-tempered player, taking everything in good part… he can take a knock and give one." His shots were both vicious and accurate, but he was a brilliant header of the ball, who would, so to speak, glide it on. In this art he was assisted by team strategy and by the collaboration of such meticulous companions as Cresswell and Troup. There was one more thing. Dean was a shrewd tactician and a master of positional play, which meant that like all great stylists he was in the right place at the right time. The period of Dean's eminence was the time of Everton's greatest contribution to the colourful career of English football. The tumults of the years of depression stood still while Everton won the Championship the Championship of Division 11, the English Cup. At Anfield, meanwhile, there was a relatively quiet epoch. After the excitements of the early twenties stability prevailed. In the League moderation and respectability was the rule, while in the Cup competition enough was done to arouse early hopes which were extinguished before extravagant prophecies could be brought anywhere near realisation.
NEW HORIZON
So far as recruitment was concerned a new horizon was opened when Arthur Riley was persuaded to join the club in the season 1925-26. Riley was a South African and had kept goal for the amateur team from that country that had toured Britain. Riley stayed with Liverpool for some 12 years, after which he was replaced by a compatriot in Dirk Kemp. Also extracted from South Africa was Gordon Hodgson, a vigorous, goal-scoring inside-forward, who also played cricket for Lancashire and could, it was said, hit a baseball as good as Babe Ruth. Hodgson, who was to establish a Liverpool record of 36 goals in a season that of 1930-31 which stood until its demolition by Roger Hunt in 1962 was at Anfield for a decade. Then he played for the Villa and Leeds United. A more remarkable figure in the Liverpool annals of this time was James Jackson, a full-back signed from Aberdeen. Jackson was the son of an old professional footballer, who had played with Rangers, Newcastle, West Ham, and Arsenal, and the cousin of an Australian cricketer. Young Jackson, of Scottish parentage, and so betrayed by his tongue, but technically English through having been born in Newcastle, had been an engineer and fitter in a shipyard and an office worker before determining to enter the ministry of the Presbyterian Church. He came to Liverpool and invested his football earnings in scholarship, reading philosophy and Greek at the University. While still an active player. Jackson not unnaturally known on the field as "Parson" Jackson served as an assistant at Shaw Street Church, and as an elder of Rankin Memorial Church. After a further course of study at Cambridge, Jackson was ordained in 1933 and on June 29 he was inducted to St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Douglas, and Isle of Man. At that point his career in football ended. In 1936, however, Jackson returned to Liverpool to take charge of Fairfield Church, and in 1946 he was President of the Liverpool Free Church Centre. Three years later he went to Bournemouth. Sometime captain of Liverpool, Jackson, a vigorous opponent of intemperance and gambling, worthily maintained the connection between the game and religion and social welfare that had been established in the city so many years before. Sometimes it may appear that nothing succeeds like failure. This is certainly the case in football, where, according to the engaging principles on which modern publicity is founded, a team which cannot be at the top is well advised to be at the bottom. To occupy a middle station denotes merely mediocrity,
COLOURFUL
During what must be-accepted as the most colourful era in the long history of Everton there was no chance of the team being found in the middle regions. Such respectability was alien to the artistic temperament, and Everton was primarily an association of artists. The essence of football in 1926 was strength, speed and directness, all backed by solidity in defence. The latter quality, particularly, had supported Liverpool, Huddersfield (champions), and Arsenal, and they, together with the talented Sunderland, and, surprisingly, unfashionable Bury, were expected to make the pace during that season. What Everton might do was anybody's guess: they were in process of rebuilding. With trouble in goal Hardy having been injured in a practice match) and as yet without an acknowledged leader of the attack (Dean seemingly not having passed out of the crudities which had dissuaded some from noticing him seriously in his Tranmere days) Howard Baker was drafted in, and Parker, an amateur from Stalybridge, was put at centre-forward. Everton began the season disastrously. In their first home match, which they lost to West Ham by 3-0, an extension of the stand was opened: the result of the game, it was said, indicated that they also required an extension in the strength of their attack." A week later they were still pointless, at the foot of the Division, having lost five matches, with only five goals to show for their pains; on the debit side stood 17. It was not in fact until the ninth game that any positive results accrued.
DEAN SHOWS UP
On September 25 O'Donnell, playing at inside left, managed to head the ball, from a cross by Irvine, into the opposing net. The visitors were Liverpool, up to now triumphant in their workmanlike approach and with Forshaw and Hodgson both having hat-tricks to their credit. On Christmas Day Everton, by now fourth from the bottom, while Liverpool were fifth from the top, showed what they could do when the parts of the machine fitted together. They beat Sunderland in an entertaining and high-scoring match by 5-4, and four of the goals came from Dean, "the outstanding man of the match". In other company Dean also showed up to advantage by scoring both English goals in the international against Scotland at Hampden Park. This second goal, and that which won the match, came in the dying minutes of the contest: at which point the eager Dean was often at his most puissant. In that same spring he scored twice against Wales and France, and three times against Belgium and Luxembourg. In an endeavour to add more thrust to the front line Forshaw was transferred from Liverpool, making his debut at St. James Park on March 5. It was not a happy occasion. Newcastle won by 7-3, whereat interested visitors from Sunderland proposed that the Roker club had been wise in allowing Cresswell to go to Goodison. Everton avoided relegation, but only just. However, since their wealth of talent was undeniable, it could be said that they were a better side than their position indicated. The trouble was that they had a defence (Taylor, previously of Huddersfield Town, now being in goal) which could be brilliant with Virr, Cresswell and
Hunter Hart outstanding: and an attack that could perplex any opposition. Unfortunately, it seldom happened that both departments fulfilled promise on the same day. When the autumn of 1927 arrived it was otherwise. On August 27 Sheffield Wednesday were shattered by goals from Troup, Weldon, Forshaw and Dean. A fortnight later Troup and Dean each scored two goals and Forshaw one, and Birmingham were defeated by 5-2. There followed difficult games against Newcastle and Huddersfield; in both Everton drew, Dean scoring the necessary two goals on each occasion. Making this a practice. Dean, aided by Troup, helped Everton to a 3-1 win over the Spurs. On the same day Liverpool stormed to a rumbustious victory over Portsmouth. Their new signing P. Devlin, from Preston North End, scored four, Hodgson, whose broad shoulders forced many gaps, three, and Pither one goal. A week later Dean scored all five goals in Everton's 5-2 victory over Manchester United, by which time the team was third in the table. All Liverpool thronged to Goodison Park to see the two local teams on October 15.
OUTWITTED
Jackson at centre half played the game of his life and outwitted Dean. At the same time the rest of the Liverpool defence, controlled by that great captain Donald McKinley, maintained a close watch elsewhere, and Everton were kept down to a single goal from Troup, which was cancelled by one from Edmed, new to the Liverpool attack that season. On the day of the England - Ireland match Scott was in superlative form for Ireland and one of the main instruments of England's defeat. Everton, deprived of Dean, showed that even he was not indispensable by registering seven goals against West Ham. So far they had scored in every League match, and at the end of October, after a profitable first visit to Fratton Park, where Dean scored a hat-trick, they were proudly top of the First Division. A week later Leicester City felt the lash of Everton's cold, calculated fury. Weldon and Dean both scored hat-tricks, Critchley added another goal, and the final score was 7-1.

LEAGUE CHAMPIONS FOR FIRST TIME
Liverpool Football Echo and Evening Express
1890 FORWARD LINE WAS SMARTEST IN COUNTRY
FOOTBALL ON MERSEYSIDE
By Percy M. Young
Preston North end were champions in the first two seasons of the Football League, but in 1889-90 the difference between them and other clubs was much less than in the previous year, and William McGregor’s idea that the League system should guarantee contests between well-matched sides was seen to be working out. In the next season, of 1890-91, they became champions of the League, then behind, Preston. On September 6, 1890, Everton went to West Bromwich and beat the Albion 4-1; a week later Wolves took the challenge of the Midlands to Anfield Road- the result a 5-0 thrashing and the rueful acknowledgment that the Everton forward quintet was the smartest in the country and trained to perfection. What caught the eye especially was the “pretty passing play” of Latta and Brady and the scientific calculations of Geary whose express runs were terminated by shots of considered speed and attitude. The question was could they keep it up? Bolton Wanderers found that they could conceded five goals without reply. During that season Bolton played Everton four times in the first three encounters they found it impossible to score, but on the fourth occasion in a Lancashire Cup fixture they turned the tables winning by 6-0 whereupon Everton immediately went to Scotland and brought Lockhead and McFarlane from Third Lanark. After Bolton’s first League match with Everton the latter visited Derby where the County, by now well used to such immolation lost by 7-0. Everton it seemed were unbeatable. But Aston Villa held them to a draw and temporarily shoot their confidence for in the last match of October the Albion beat them for the first time that season.
THUNDEROUS
A close thunderous match in which after Geary and Doyle had brought the team within striking distance of the Albion leading through goals by The defeat preluded two others, by Notts County 3-1, and Blackburn Rovers 2-1 and on November 8 Wolves took over the leadership in the championship. A victory over Sunderland -the gate was 15,000 at Anfield Road -reversed the position at the head of the table but that it was anybody’s race was shown after a defeated by Preston North End by 2-0 -when the first goal was scored the Everton goalkeeper and backs “were literally rolled through the goal”- Everton dropped to third place. During the remainder of the season however, Everton lost only three more matches and drew none. Of these defeats one at Sunderland who were third from the bottom, exactly and unexpectedly anticipated the outcome of the first round tie in the F.A Cup in which, it must be admitted Everton had as yet made very little impression. Another defeat which caused considerable anxiety until the results of other significant matches came through in the evening, was against Burnley in the last fixture in the programme. Nearly a thousand supporters went to Turf Moor and in driving snow and sleet saw a thrilling match which was Everton’s until four minutes from the end when Howie, scoring for Burnley brought the score level at 2-2. Almost immediately Stewart scored again, thus taking Burnley into an unassailable lead. Thereafter came a miscellany of matches- a benefit for Dick, Farmer, and Joliffe against Darwen a friendly against Ardwick at Ardwick under “Well’s lights,” and a match against the Vale of Leven in which the changing Everton team showed Jardine, McLean, Hammond, Lockhead, Campbell, Kirkwood, Wyllie, Gordon, Geary, Chadwick, Milward.
LEVELLED
T.G. Wyllie three years with Glasgow Rangers made his mark on Merseyside both with Everton and Liverpool, and them went to Bristol City. He won seven “city” Glasgow caps, and one international in a useful career. That the teams in the League were being levelled up or down was shown by the fact that in the first season Preston won with 40 points in the second they were reduced to 33 points while Everton in their Championship year were first with only 29 points from 22 matches, and the first team to defeat them was West Bromwich Albion who finished bottom three points worse off then Derby County against whom Everton scored 13 goals in 2 matches. Recognition of Everton’s claim to be primus interprets was however shown by the selection of Holt, Geary, and Chadwick for the North v South fixture and by Holt (who had gained his first international cap a year earlier). Chadwick, and Milward for England against Wales and Scotland Geary who appeared in the previous year’s national side against Ireland also played in the Scotland match. The cultivation of Holt by the national selectors was a tribute to one of the greatest- and most temperamental -of Everton’s players. Holt was a genius -any centre half whose height is no more than 5ft 5in and who achieves success must be; - and an unruly one/. Sometimes he got entangled with referees but more often, since he was a past-master at perpetrating the smaller illegalities when the referee was looking elsewhere, he avoided this sort of indignity. He stood up for his rights before the Everton com-committee, more than once threatening relegation when he took his talents to be undervalued. A tactical in defence with a beautiful sense of timing that enabled him, like Billy Wright of modern times to out-head and outwit taller opponents and the willing originator of attack he who boundless in energy and devotion to the game in hand. Always prepared to go on for ever if need be, he was always the full ninety minutes player. Such was the mainspring of Everton in those important years of establishment. A native of Blackburn born in 1865 he played for Church, Blackpool and Bootle, before arriving at Everton.
UNDER A CLOUD
In the course of his career Holt played 10 times for England and on each of the five occasions in which he was in the Lancashire team that body was undefeated. As the 1891-2 season Johnny Holt was as they said in the times “on strike” The team went to West Bromwich and last to the Albion by 4-1. It was therefore being something

Caused by a dissident half-back and by an unpromising start to the playing record was soon swallowed up in a larger dissension.

EVERTON RES V PRESTON RES
Liverpool Echo - Saturday 14 December 1963
Everton Reserves; West; Rooney, Parnell; Jarvis, Smith, Sharples; Shaw, Humphries, Hurst, Harvey, Morrissey. Preston North End; Barton; Cunningham, Patrick; Barber, Jacques, Lapot, Lee, Godfrey, Napier, Alty, Watt. Referee Mr. J. Whittaker, of Bacun. Everton attacked straight from the kick-off, but what few chances they had in the first few minutes were wasted. They were unlucky, however, with a Morrissey centre which went to Harvey. The inside man had the goal at his mercy, but the experienced Cunningham kicked off the line. At the eight minute Preston went into the lead in their first attack which was virtually a sneak through down the left wing by Alty, which caught the Everton defence napping. His centre went straight to WATT and West had no chance. Preston kept up the pressure and six minutes later got a second this time when Watt returned Alty’s previous favour, and the latter headed past the unsighted West. Preston nearly got a third when a lovely Alty header hit the crossbar. The game began to be rough. Goalkeeper Barton was treated for a back injury when he accidentally fell into the goal after a long distance Rooney drive. Everton reduced the arrears at the 38th minute when Humphreys shot into the corner of the net.
Half-time; Everton Res 1, Preston Res 2.
EVERTON A V OLDHAM ATHLETIC A
With Brian Labone at centre half Everton had the better of the opening exchanges. After 20 minutes the Oldham keeper pushed a shot from Husband out to Glover who scored. Half-time; Everton A 1, Oldham Athletic A nil.

EVERTON REPORT MISSILES TO F.A
Liverpool Daily Post- Monday, December 16, 1963
By a “Daily Post” reporter
Everton, plagued by crowd misconduct themselves, are reporting two incidents to the Football Association which occurred in their game with Fulham at Craven Cottage on Saturday. Outside left Derek Temple claimed he was struck by a staple and centre half George Heslop claimed he was fit by a stone, both alleged to have been thrown by someone in the crowd. Everton are awaiting the outcome of a report to the Football Association alleging that Chelsea manager Tommy Docherty was struck in the face by a missile at the close of the league game at Goodison Park on December 7. Last night Mr. Holland Hughes, an Everton director, who was at Fulham issued the following statement on behalf of the Everton club. “When I was told what had happened, I went into our dressing-room and questioned Derek Temple.
REPORTED MATTER TO REFEREE
“Temple told me that he had been hit in the neck with a steel staple during the second half and he had reported the matter to the referee. “I spoke to George Heslop, who told me he had been hit with a stone as he was leaving the field but had not reported it to the referee. “I went to the referee’s room and told him what was alleged to have happened. “The referee, Mr. D. W. Smith, of Gloucester said Temple had complained about the stample, and he produced it. “With regard to the stone throwing, Mr. Smith said, “I did not see it and all I can do is to mention it in my report” continued Mr. Holland Hughes. “I said I would like Mr. Smith to see Heslop, Mr. Smith agreed, and I sent for Heslop to come to the referee’s room. He told Mr. Smith exactly what had happened.
SAW THE DIRECTORS IN BOARDROOM
“I then went into the Fulham boardroom and reported what had happened to two Fulham directors, Mr. Chapple D’Amato And Mr. J. G. Walsh. “I then said that officially I should report it to the Fulham secretary but was told that he was not present. The Everton club will be making its report to the F.A.,” stated Mr. Holland Hughes.

ONE POINT AN INJUSTICE TO EVERTON
Liverpool Daily Post, Monday, December 16, 1963
FULHAM 2, EVERTON 2
Says Jack Rowe
Before this match 99 per cent of Everton’s following would have been happy at the thought of a point. There were reasons for this pessimism -the 6-0 rout at Arsenal, a side still largely with a reserve defence and the fact that Fulham have been showing much improvement. It did not turn out that way and in the finish, it was Tommy Trinder’s team who were thankful for the draw and Everton bemoaning the fortune which robbed them of a merited victory
AN INJUSTICE
Fulham’s second equaliser came with barely two minutes left when Everton seemingly had a winning grip. They had been the better side for most of the game and suffered injustice in not collecting both points. In the light of the task it is difficult to be too critical of Everton for losing a two-goal lead because I thought the side did well in the team sense and if the class of some stood out there was endeavour and graft always elsewhere. The decision to move Stevens to right half was vindicated. His experience with that of Harris and Meagan, helped to steady a defence, apprehensive after the Arsenal nightmare. Stevens looked to be enjoying every minute. He had to cope with Haynes and although the Fulham man showed himself a great layer-off of the ball, there was only one moment where he became a scoring menace and then Rankin saved the day with one of three top class saves.
HARRIS SCORERS
Harris also takes considerable praise for his performance. He and Heslop might have been better placed to stop Cook scoring the late equaliser, but the left half had a fine match and scored the first goal after 16 minutes, when his strong downward header from Scott’s free kick beat Macedo. Everton never made this a defensive duel. Their forward play was often excellent in a match which reached boiling point as Fulham rallied in the last 20 minutes. Probably not enough was made of Scott, who had the beating of the sometimes-crude tackling left back Drake, if Everton had scored a couple more, they would not have been undeserved. One shot from Hill in the second half was only kept out by a jack-knife leap and save from Macedo. Vernon is still not getting the ball to run kindly in the scoring sense. He had a header turned off the line by Drake, but he fought hard especially when Fulham piled on the pressure and pace.
DELIGHTFUL YOUNG
Young’s second half exhibition was delightful. He gave centre half Keetch a drubbing and was denied another goal by a superb save by Macedo. He scored in the 64th minute and I doubt if a better goal has been seen at Craven Cottage for a long time. Temple took the ball somewhere near halfway and began a run of such pace, dummy and control that four defenders were left gasping. I expected him to shoot, but Temple added the touch of genius by slipping the ball aside to Young, who added his share of control before sweeping a left foot shot into the bottom corner of the net. Everton 2-0 up were moving on towards a worthy win, but Fulham too had guts. They hit back five minutes later when Keetch came up for a corner and when Heslop’s header dropped, managed to poke out a foot and turn the ball into the net. Everton were nearest to scoring until the final couple of minutes when a through ball was taken by Cook, who looked just offside to me, and nothing Harris or Heslop could do to stop him beating Rankin.
FLASHES OF HAYNES
Fulham’s chief asset was their spirit. They could not match Everton’s ball play, apart from flashes of Haynes but their enthusiasm often threatened a goal. This plus Everton’s play made this game entertaining and exciting. Robson was the best Fulham half back and Cohen produced a couple of startling runs, but the attack was erratic. Fulham; Macedo; Cohen, Drake; Mullery, Keetch, Robson; Key, Cook, Leggat, Haynes, Howfield. Everton; Rankin; Brown, Meagan; Stevens, Heslop, Harris; Scott, Hill, Young, Vernon, Temple. Referee, Mr. D.W. Smith (Gloucester) Attendance 17,750.

EVERTON RES 1, PRESTON N.E. RES 3
Liverpool Daily Post- Monday, December 16, 1963
Preston North End Reserves were two goals ahead in this Central league game at Goodison Park in 14 minutes through Watt (8 minutes) and Alty six minutes later, and although Humphreys reduced the arrears at the 38th minute Napier confirmed Preston’s superiority five minutes after the interval with a third goal. The home side lacked cohesion and except for a full-blooded drive by Shaw in the second half were never really a serious threat.

SIXTEEN-YEAR-OLD AT GOODISON
Liverpool Daily Post – Tuesday, December 17, 1963
The first Merseyside derby at youth level will be staged at Goodison Park to-night when the sixteen-year-olds of Everton face the sixteen-year-olds of Liverpool in the F.A. Youth Cup second round. Managers Harry Catterick and Bill Shankley are convinced that they possess players of outstanding potential who need experience and further development and on view tonight will be eleven players who won international honours as schoolboys. Everton, who reached the final of this competition three years ago, before losing to Chelsea by the odd goal, have seven ex-schoolboy internationals -Geoff Barnett, goalkeeper, of England and Blackpool; full backs George Rooney and Eric Curwen, who both played for England; John Phillips, a wing half who played for Scotland; Gerry Humphreys, from Rhyl who played for Wales and three ex-England players, local outside right Tommy Roberts, former Blackpool centre forward John Hurst and former Newcastle-on-Then inside forward Jimmy Husband.
LIKE LABONE
The Everton centre Derek Smith began his career like Brian Labone, Everton’s international centre-half, with Liverpool Collegiate. Liverpool have four ex-schoolboy internationals in Alex Totten, who played back for Scotland, Alan Hignett, who was England’s left back and captain, and inside forward Grant McCulloch and Bobby Roach, who both played for England. Most of these boys are sixteen-years-old apprentice professionals but one exception is Tommy Lowry, the Liverpool right half, who is a full time professional. An interesting personality of the Liverpool team is John Sealey, the centre forward, who began his career with the Warrington club where Roger Hunt, Liverpool’s star goal scorer, started before going to Stockton Heath and then in to Anfield. Everton; Barnett; Rooney, Curwen; Clark, Smith, Phillips; Roberts, Humphreys, Hurst, Husband, Maher. Liverpool; Swindlehurst, Totten; Hignett, Lowry, Parsley, Bennett, Long, McCulloch, Sealey, Roach, Hoare.

IS THERE ONE FROM THE TEMPLE MOUND”
Liverpool Echo - Tuesday 17 December 1963
By Leslie Edwards
Have Everton got, among the Youth team which faces Liverpool's to-night, any more from the Derek Temple mould? If they have they are likely to be 50.000 poundbetter off in the four or five seasons' time when the young man develops. It has taken Temple longer than that to arrive at his footballing peak, but Manager Harry Catterick has never wanted to hurry this young man and has preferred until this season to give him the odd first-team game in almost any forward position. "And he's always produced a performance for me wherever he has played" is Mr. Manager's tribute. Temple is a natural and has been. The crowd got on his track a season or so ago because, being a local, he was an obvious target for them. You rarely find them barracking players who have cost thousands of pound: "Come on Shirley !" was their derisive way of putting the needle into a youngster who went straight from school to Goodison Park and spent an apprenticeship on the ground staff before being signed professional on his seventeenth birthday. He had scored packets of goals for the city boys' team: and represented England in schoolboy football and was used to getting four, five and six goals a time in the Everton colts' team. His shooting often from long range, when he first got into the League side was phenomenal. Then came a long period of National service abroad which cut seriously into h's career. When he came back there was no first-team place available and he seemed, for the time being, to have lost his goal getting knack. Manager John Carey could never quite make up his mind whether Temple was going to make a great player or not. His performances this season and last indicate to me and to thousands of Everton fans that he will not only maintain his club position, but must be considered as a potential England cap. Temple is an adornment to football, because he's modest, artistic with the ball, uncomplaining and sporting in all his actions. What part coaching, has played in his establishment I am not in a position to know, but as I see it he's a natural footballer and always has been. Like Vernon, he carries no great height or weight, but can time a shot so perfectly the ball flies like a bullet. The only asset he lacked until this season was confidence. Now he has that—who wouldn't possess it after the inroads he has made into some of Britain's best defences'—he is the complete winger. And he can play in either inside forward position, at centre, or even on the right wing as occasion demands. Everton have had in their time some brilliant left wingers—one recalls Troup, Coulter, Gillick, Ring among others—but never a local boy whose football has won suchpraise up and down the country, and particularly at Goodison Park Keep it going. Derek and that England cap may arrivein time for the World Cup games, some of which are due to be played at . . . your man ground.
This Everton . . .
Ulster-Scot from Hough Green, Widnes, weighs up Everton this way; - "This season and last I have had the privilege of watching Everton in all their First Division home matches. In nearly every one they have won they have invariably played this open type of quick, purposeful, constructive football. In other matches either lost or drawn, especially this season, their play has been more pedestrian, with little or no cohesion and no evidence of team work. "How seldom have I seen Scott receiving a pass pushed up along the wing for him to run into and take it in his stride. Too often he and Temple have to come back for a pass and so the forward movement is thereby nullified. "Quick interchanging of position is essential la good football, to good team work, but too often have I seen the outside-right position left vacant, when Scott has found himself on the opposite wing. Temple need not necessarily take his place, but some other forward should fill the vacancy and thus keep the play open. Instead, forwards get into a tangle on the other side of the field. This has happened time and again, particularly in the Milan match and against Blackburn Rovers. "Every loyal supporter of Everton must feel grieved that some few unruly spectators have sullied Everton's name. If we cannot see our side lose to a better team or, the day's play without throwing something at an opposing player or at the referee we would be better to stay away.
“The lad, who puts a toilet-roll in his pocket before setting out for a football match, must be suffering from softening of the brain. Seeing that he throws the toilet-roll on the pitch is a sure indication that he is a nut case and ought to have his head examined. "Two referees last season and the same two this season have given us an over-dose of the whistle. A poor referee can spoil a match, irritate the players of both sides and annoy spectators. If there is not a Disciplinary Committee for referees, the Football Association should see to it that some governing body be set up to deal with referees as they deal with players, who while, knowing the theory of the game, sometimes fail on the field of play. "When I played, our little amateur eleven had the advice and guidance of Johnny (Toby) Mercer who I thinkplayed at one time for Everton. I know he played on the wing for Derby County along with Steve Bloomer and in his latter years was manager of Distillery. One thing he impressed upon us was never to shout for a pass. I wish we had more of this silent play. A player in a League side ought to know enough about the game to know when to pass and to whom without being called upon by another colleague. It reminds me of a lot of schoolboys playing in a public park. "I often wonder when kissing and hugging were introduced into the game. This hilarious expression of delight when a goal is scored seems to me too big a compliment to be paid to the other side. Football is a team game and if a player is fortunate enough to score surely a shake of his hand is all that is required? I am glad the Everton players do not indulge in shouting, or in this over-elaborate sissy -like performance. "The Z Cars tune which I know popular and had its birth in Liverpool vet it seems to me match too fluty and thin. I am sure there are many others who would prefer a more majestic, rousing tune to match the cheers which greet the players “Perhaps it is easier to be a critic than correct. We may not win the League championship this year but we all hope to see Everton bring the Cup to Goodison Park. Whether or not, however, let us together with the directors and the players play the game and help to keep it clean."

TWO TAELENT YOUTH TEAMS
Liverpool Echo - Tuesday 17 December 1963
Two former colleagues In the Mid-Cheshire boys team. Geoff Barnett and John Seeley, will find themselves very much in opposition when Everton entertain Liverpool in an F.A. Youth Cup, Second round tie at Goodison Park this evening (7.30). Barnett, who kept goal for England Schoolboys, joined Everton as an apprentice professional, straight front school, while Sealey arrived at Anfield this season after being spotted playing as an amateur with Roger Hunt's old club, Warrington Town. He is a centre forward of treat promise. An indication as to how the two local clubs cast their nets in search of talent can be seen from the fact that in addition to eight former England and schools internationals scattered among the two sides, there are also two from Scotland. Phillips (Everton) and Totten (Liverpool) and one from Wales, Humphreys (Everton). Four of the England internationals. Hignett, McCulloch, Roach (Liverpool) and Maher (Everton) are products of the Liverpool Boys team, while of the others, two, Hurst and Curwen (Everton), came from Blackpool: Husband (Everton) is a former Newcastle Boys player, and Barnett, of course, played for Mid- Cheshire. It is unfortunate that these two very fine local teams should be drawn together at such an early stage of the Youth Cup competition, and winners will obviously be much fancied to reach the final stages. To-night, they are capable of producing football worthy of a final. The results of the game is anybody's guess, with much depending on whether Liverpool's wing halves, Lowry (a professional) and Bennett, who has two previous season's experience in the Youth side, can hold the clever Everton attack. At the other end,the battle between Sealer and Smith, a Collegiate boy who in rated very highly, should prove interesting. Neither local club has yet won the trophy, but Liverpool were beaten finalists last season and Everton runners-up in 1960-61. Everton; Barnett; Rooney, Curwen; Clark, Smith, Phillips; Roberts, Humphreys, Hurst, Husband, Maher. Liverpool; Swindlehurst; Totten, Hignett; Lowry, Parsley, Bennett; Long, McCullock, Sealey, Roach, Hoare.

GIFTS FOR EVERTON F.C PLAYERS
Liverpool Echo - Tuesday 17 December 1963
To Mark their championship success last season, members of Everton F.C first team, accompanied by their captain, Roy Vernon, were guests of the Ormskirk branch of the Everton F.C Supporters’ Federation last night when they visited Ormskirk. They were each presented with silver pencils and the presentations were made by Councillors S.C. Jones, chairman of Ormskirk Council, who was welcomed by Mr. J. W. Mercer (chairman of the Ormskirk Branch of the Federation). Two ex-Everton players Tommy Jones the former Chorley manager, and goalkeeper Albert Dunlop (now with Wrexham) were presented with clocks in recognition of their long services to the Goodison Park club. Most of the team are in our picture including Roy Vernon, Alex Young, Tony Kay, Jimmy Gabriel, Brian Labone, Alex Scott, Mick Meagan, Alex Parker, Sandy brown, and the trainer, J. Egglestone. In the centre, Albert Dunlop receives his clock from Councillor Jones.

EVERTON WIN YOUTH CUP BATTLE
Liverpool Daily Post, Wednesday, December 18, 1963
A TRIUMPHANT OF SKILL OVER COURAGE
EVERTON 1, LIVERPOOL 0
By Paul O’Brien
The superior skill of Everton triumphed over the defensive courage of Liverpool in the F.A. Cup Youth Cup second round tie at Goodison Park last night. Despite the fact that Everton had the edge throughout, it was not until the 74th minute that they were able to beat Liverpool’s gallant amateur goalkeeper, Rodney Swindlehurst. Then Swindlehurst’s former Liverpool schoolboy colleague Aiden Maher took an in-swinging corner from the right and placed it right under the Liverpool bar. The ball appeared to cross the line, but any arguments about whether it was a goal or not were settled when Everton’s centre forward John Hurst followed up and charged the goalkeeper and ball into the net.
NO AVAIL
The Liverpool players surrounded referee Walker of Blackpool, in protest, but it was of no avail. Everton’s clever half back line of two local boys Ambrose Clarke and Derek Smith and a Scotsman John Phillips, took a grip on the game after the first quarter of an hour and Liverpool’s forwards were given little scope. For Everton none did better than inside left Jimmy Husband who came to Goodison in the close season from the Newcastle schoolboys’ team. It was a clever dribble followed by a speedy left foot shot from him which gave Swindlehurst his first real work after 21 minutes and three minutes later Husband cracked a beautiful 20 yards effort only just over. The most exciting period of a game which never quite reached the heights expected from these two talented sides came immediately after the interval.
PIECES OF LUCK.
A Maher lob was well cleared as Humphreys raced in and at the other end a vicious left foot drive by Sealey just missed the target. Then came two real pieces of luck for Liverpool within a minute as outside right Roberts cracked a centre from Maher against one post and Husband hit the other upright following a beautiful cross pass by Clarke. Barnett who had a relatively quiet evening in the Everton goal, had to go full length to save a header from Liverpool inside left Roach and five minutes later he positioned himself perfectly to take a first-time drive from outside left Hoary. Attendance 10,128.

FINE GOALKEEPERS JUST FAILS TO SAVE LIVERPOOL
Liverpool Echo - Wednesday 18 December 1963
By Paul O’Brien
Gallant defence and outstanding goalkeeping almost earned Liverpool a replay in the F.A. Youth Cup, second round tie against Everton, at Goodison Park, last night. Everton's greater forward skill told in the end, however, and Harry Catterick's youngsters won by the only goal of the match. Local amateur goalkeeper, Rodney Swindlehurst, however played brilliantly and had it not been for him, Liverpool would have been out of the game long beforethe 74th minute, when John Hurst, the former English schools international, scored Everton's goal. Ironically, this was a goal which could have been avoided. There was no Everton challenge when a long ball down the middle overran the forwards, but Liverpool's defence—no doubt beginning to feel weary after their earlier efforts—decided on safety first and settled for acorner. Everton's outside left Maher, who had switched' wings a few minutes previously, took a nasty in swinging kick from the right, the gallant Swindlehursi caught it under the crossbar at the second attempt, and Hurst followed up to charge goalkeeper and ball into theback of the net.
Liverpool protested to Mr. K. E. Walker, of Blackpool, who refereed exceptionally well, but the score stood. It was a hard blow Liverpool defence which had fought so well, but the goal had looked possible right from the 15th minute, when Everton’s half-back line of Ambrose Clarke, Derek Smith and John Phillips took a grip on the game. Phillips a young Scott was outstanding, and if this is a sample of his true form, then Scotland’s selectors would be wise to invite him for a trail before they pick their party for next year’s youth international tournament, in Holland. Although the team did not reach the heights expected there was ample evidence that Everton have recruited their youngsters wisely.
HUSBAND’S PROMISE
Young Jimmy Husband who comes from Newcastle and played for the England School’s X1 lasts season was an example. One of the youngest players on view, Husband’s display at inside-left stamped him as one of the most promising and had Swindlehurst not played so well, then he could have notched a hat-trick. Humphreys, too, showed up well at inside right for Everton in the opening half hour, producing some defence-splitting passes and always darting into the open space. After this, however he was inclined to keep the game close instead of opening things up Husband and Humphreys both cracked shots against the post in the second half. Liverpool lacked penetration on the wings and were therefore unable to spring from defence into attack quickly enough to cause Everton any great worry. Most of the Anfield side’s foraging was left to their centre forward, Sealey, a former mid-Cheshire Boys’ player whom they spotted with Warrington Town.
GREAT GAMENESS
Although there were often three, sometimes four, Everton defenders marking him, Sealey stuck to a difficult task with great gameness. He bobbed one way and then the other in an attempt to find an opening but unfortunately none of his colleagues appeared to have the speed or experience to find the spot in time for a through pass. The heroes of the evening however, were Swindlehurst, parsley and the rest of the Liverpool defence. Everton’s progress in this competition will, I feel, indicate how gallant the fight really was.

JONES SIGNS
Liverpool Echo - Wednesday 18 December 1963
FORMER EVERTON PLAY JOIN BURSCOUGH
Former Everton player Tommy (TE) Jones was last night signed by Burscough and will make his debut on Saturday at centre half in the Lancashire Combination team against Prescot cables at Burscough. Earlier in the season Jones was appointed player-coach to Chorley but resigned at the end of October because of business commitments.

F.A. ASK FOR EVERTON’S OBSERVATIONS
Liverpool Echo - Wednesday 18 December 1963
INCIDENT AT GOODISON
CHELSEA VISIT
By Leslie Edwards
Everton F.C have been asked by the F.A for their observations on the report that Chelsea manager, Mr. Tom Docherty, was struck on the face by a missile thrown by a spectator following the game at Goodison park a week last Saturday. A follower of Liverpool F.C who says he was close to the man who throw the missile described it was a screwed up cardboard sweet carton.
There is a fair chance that Jimmy Gabriel will be fit to play against Manchester United, at Goodison Park on Saturday. He has missed all games since the return with Glasgow Rangers, owing to a pulled thigh muscle. Half back Tony Kay’s suspension ends on Sunday, so he will be available for the Christmas rush of matches. Full back Alex Parker is having some 48 hours in a nursing home for treatment of thigh tendon trouble, Brian Labone came through a run with the “A” team last week in good order. Manager Harry Catterick does not think it likely that Derek temple will have to miss the Manchester United game. The player has a chill but is still in training.

RAY OF HOPE THROUGH INJURY CLOUD
Liverpool Daily Post- Thursday, December 19, 1963
TO-DAY’S TRAINING COULD CLEAR JIM GABRIEL
By Horace Yates
Everton’s training to-day will probably be vital in deciding whether or not Scottish international wing half Jimmy Gabriel plays in Saturday’s home game with Manchester United. Early signs are encouraging for yesterday Gabriel trained well. If there is no reaction this morning and the Scot can step up on the amount of work he is able to do, manager Harry Catterick may be celebrating the first bit of good news he has received of the injured for weeks. The club’s annual Christmas dinner at Goodison Park to-day will go with a merrier swing with a thumbs up sign from Gabriel. He is desperately keen to re-enter the fray of that of determination can help he will have powerful ally I am told there is no chance of Parker and Labone being considered for selection, a spell in a nursing home for treatment having been recommended for Parker’s thigh trouble. Gabriel was first marked absent in the match at Nottingham and the six games without him have produced only six points for Everton. Parker and Labone dropped out after that Forest game so that five points have been collected in their absence.
UNFRUITFUL SPELLS
In this period one match have been won (v. Stoke City) and Everton’s record is one victory and five draws in the last eight fixtures, easily the most unfruitful part of the season. If they can start their recovery on Saturday, all may not be lost in the League race, for in their Championship season they went from December 1 to February 23, boasting one win and four draws from six games. Like Liverpool, Everton are suffering severely from lack of scoring punch in the inside forward positions. It may be true that goals are just as valuable from whatever position they are scored, but generally we find a healthy contribution from centre and inside forwards. Let us turn the spotlight on some of the leading clubs. It is, I think, very illuminations. In ten outings Everton trio have contributed five goals (Vernon three, Young two).

EVERTONIAN DOWN UNDER IS WAITING FOR THE BLUES
Liverpool Echo - Thursday 19 December 1963
When Everton Football Club players and officials arrive in Australia next May to start their playing tour of the country, one of the first people they will meet in Cyril Maher, who had two seasons as an Everton player before the war. Cyril is nowadays the manager of the Australian Lawn Tennis Social and Sports Club, in Melbourne, where the Davis Cup ties are played. Word reaches me from him that he and all the other Merseyside “exiles” living Down Under are eagerly looking forward to the opportunity of seeing the mighty Blues in action. In addition to his couple of years with Everton, 6ft tall, 12st inside forward Cyril Maher spent a season with South Liverpool and then joined Tranmere Rovers. That was in 1936. His father was killed in action in Russia in 1919. He too, was a well-known local sportsman who will be recalled by old members of the Garston Royals football club, for whom his son also played years later. Cyril’s mother, now Mrs Kathleen Roberts of 48 Claremont Laird’Road, Liverpool 15, told me today; “Cyril was one of the two apprentice engineers aboard the new Mauretania when she was launched at Cammell Laird’s in Birkenhead in July, 1938. “Later he decided to emigrate to Australia and settle down there. He has done extremely well for himself and is very well known in sporting circles as you can imagine. He says the Everton footballers will get a tremendous welcome when they arrive next May, for there are thousands of people with Merseyside roots living in Australia and they are all highly thrilled at the prospect of being able to watch Everton even though some of them will have to travel hundreds of miles to do so.”

GABRIEL TO BE FIT
Liverpool Daily Post – Friday, December 20, 1963
By Horace Yates
Although no official confirmation was forth coming from Everton yesterday regarding a report, I received that all is well with Jimmy Gabriel, I don’t necessarily regard lack of news as in any way discouraging. Conversely if Gabriel had broken down in yesterday’s all out exercise it would have been pointless not to have said so. Everton supporters are so accustomed this season to disappointments over injuries that one more blow would hardly have stunned them. My information is that Gabriel did everything asked of him, with no immediate adverse reaction. It may well be therefore, that it is considered advisable to delay an announcement until to-day, when the team to receive Manchester United will be made known. If Gabriel reports to Goodison park as brightly as he left it after the Christmas dinner yesterday, then I do not consider there is any doubt about his return.

EVERTON’S ROY VERNON FORECASTS –
Liverpool Daily Post- Friday, December 20, 1963
TEAM WITH A WEMBLEY LOOKS? -BLACKBURN
To listen to some fans, you might be excused for thinking it was the end of their sporting world, or at least the end of Everton’s chances of retaining the League championship. Yet we are still only four points behind the leaders, Blackburn and have a match in hand. I see nothing but the most solid grounds for hope in this position. If we can keep up with the Joneses in a football sense in face of such a withering blast of injuries, what can we do when we get back to strength? To those who thought they were on a good thing at the start of the season by supporting Everton to finish higher in the table than Liverpool, I merely say, be of good cheer. All is not yet lost. Our day will come again. I know that ifs, buts, and might-have-been may provide hard luck stories, but precious little else. Yet I cannot help reflecting that against Nottingham Forest and Fulham both away from home, we were two goals to at one stage, and could only draw, those two points unluckily lost would have put us right up where it counts. Admittedly when we started out for the Fulham match it was with a feeling that if we won a point it would not represent such a bad afternoon’s work.
PULLED TOGETHER
We had been filled with stories of Fulham’s big improvement, and how unfortunate they were not to have gained reward at Anfield. Our performance showed that despite the gloomy forebodings after the 6-0 grand slam at Highbury, Everton are still in good heart. We hear a lot about wonderful team spirit. It is usually most evident in terms for which everything is going well. I don’t consider that good spirit. In such circumstances it is easy to have spirit. When things are going wrong, that is when team spirt really counts, and I submit few teams boast a better reaction to difficulties than Everton. I am proud of the way the lads have pulled together in what must have been one of the most unfortunate periods in the club’s career. That spirit will stay with us and see us through to better days. Having been on the receiving end of the skill and enthusiasm of Blackburn Rovers their defeat of Liverpool did not surprise me. They are a very sound side. As a matter of fact, I rate them as one of the outstanding prospects to win the F.A Cup this season. They usually show up well in this competition and will need a lot of beating.
IT GOES TO SHOW…
The other day I was going through the players who make up their team and recalling my days with Rovers. Them McEvoy was a half-back in the “A” team. Now he is one of the most devastating inside forwards in the League. England was filling in whenever he could find a spot, whether at inside forward, wing half or centre half. He had no settled position. Today we find him right up in the topflight of centre halves. Pickering, ace scorer, and possibly, England’s was struggling to make a name for himself as full back. All of which goes to show that a player’s first position may not always be his best. How often has it happened in football that star players of schoolboy sides, seemingly certain of reaching the heights in the game as a career, are not heard of again once they are taken up by a senior club?
SCORE TO SETTLE
In many cases they shine because of some physical or speed advantage. Once they are pitched in with lads of similar calibre, many of them stand still. Others, who have shown no great promise, rocket to the top. There is simply no forecasting in football. On Wednesday, the Everton players had a break from routine with a round of golf at Childwall. On reflection I think we had better stick to football! On Tuesday night we went along to see the “derby” game between the youth sides. For me, this match took on the normal patters -class from Everton and enthusiasm from Liverpool…
Tomorrow brings us to one of the games to which we always look forward with more than usual interest- the visit of Manchester United. More often than not we manage to collect a few goals against united at Goodison. Here’s hoping this is no exception, for somewhere lurking at the back of my mind is an idea that we have a score to settle!

CHAMPIONS V. THE CUP HOLDERS AT GOODISON
Liverpool Echo - Friday 20 December 1963
By Leslie Edwards
The only thing likely to prevent a capacity attendance at Goodison Park to-morrow is the nearness of Christmas. It is surprising what last-minute chores are found for father on the final Saturday before the holidays. But I don't doubt that some 50,000 domestic rebels will be there to see Everton tackle the Manchester United whose Cup recovery against Tottenham has gone far towards their rehabilitation at International level. Everton have been something of a bogey team to the Busby side in recent seasons in the League. The Cup has been a different story. United have usually come off best whether they have faced Everton or Liverpool in post-War seasons. Unfortunately for Everton, the game to-morrow cannot be a true trial of strength. With Kay suspended, Gabriel a doubtful and Labone and Parker definitely out through injury the advantage is with United. True, they will be without Moore, but there is vast difference between being minus one first-teamer and being without four. Everton's Highbury form was all wrong. They proved that by taking two goals lead at Fulham. If Arsenal are the side some people think how came their defeat at the hands of the part-time Liege side in the Inter-Cities' Fairs Cup? Everton beat today's opponents home and away last season. As Liverpool went to Old Trafford a month ago and won 1-0 to go top of the table Everton fans will be looking for victory to keep pace with their neighbours across the park whose lead on them, despite everything, is only one covered by two points. The appearance of United should be as compelling as the appearance, on Boxing day at Anfield, of Stanley Mathews will be. What needle may emerge from the match will date back to that much-discussed Charity Shield game at Goodison Park the Saturday before the season began. Everton, as champions, beat the Cup holders that day (and took the mickey out of them in the closing minutes) it was my contention that United started in a couldn't care-less attitude.
Deceptive style
Others thought it a great match and considered that United held nothing back. I think my reading of that game proved a week or two later when the same sides met at Manchester and the verdict went United’s way—by 5-1. United have a deceptive style—they can be dawdling at one moment and full of fire and fury the next. Leicester suffered this tactic at Wembley in the final. I don’t doubt that United will soon demonstrate to-morrow that business only is meant, a vast difference from their attitude when they last visited the same ground. If Jimmy Gabriel were fit one of Mr. Catterick's problems would be solved. He could take over his old position leaving Brian Harris to move to his more suitable place on the left. But Gabriel can hardly be match fit even if he is given his chance. On the face of it this should not only be an exceptionally hard game,but an enthralling one for its foot I content. It must be handled firmly from the start. Surely, by now, players should have no doubt that what used to be tolerated by referees is not going to be tolerated any longer? Which brings me to an irate old-timer who has just telephoned bursting with indignation at the way some columnists in the South are trying to revolutionise the form of the Football League, by we had four double-decker stands at Goodison Park before some of those teams in the South even had a set of Jerseys—and 60,000 at a Cup final at Goodison Park before the first World War," said my correspondent before the 'phone lines all but melted from the heat of his tirade. I think he has something. Football wants better accommodation, but first it wants better standards of football and conduct on and off the field. That is top priority, not the parcelling out of League clubs into one small Super League.

GABRIEL IS BACK FOR EVERTON
Liverpool Echo - Friday 20 December 1963
STEVENS AT INSIDE RIGHT
By Leslie Edwards Jimmy Gabriel, who has missed all his club’s games since the second game against Glasgow Rangers (he did not even complete that match) returns to the Everton half back line against Manchester United at Goodison Park to-morrow. His thigh injury has been particularly stubborn, but he is perfectly fit now. Dennis Stevens, who deputised at right half-back last week, moves back to the forward line to the displacement of Jimmy Hill. Otherwise the team is as at Fulham. United skipper, Noel Cantwell, passed a fitness test to-day and returns at left back, Dunne switches to his normal right back position. Everton; Rankin; Brown, Meagan; Gabriel, Heslop, Harris; Scott, Stevens, Young, Vernon, Temple. Manchester United.- Gaskell; Dunne, Cantwell; Cerand, Foulkes, Setters; Moir, Moore, Sadler, Herd, Charlton.

GABRIEL’S RETURN MAY BE DECISIVE
Liverpool Daily Post- Saturday, December 21, 1963
MATCH OF THE DAY AT GOODISON PARK
By Horace Yates
No Kay, Parker, Labone, no law, Quixall, or Gregg to contribute to the star appeal of Manchester United’s visit to Everton to-day! There are still sufficient glamour names remaining to ensure that this decider (Everton won the Charity Shield game United turned the tables in the home League encounter) will be worthy off a meeting of two of the top sides in English football. The Saturday before Christmas is notorious as the day on which attendances take a hammering. When the two best supported sides in the country meet however, it will require more than the usual Christmas obligations to keep the fans away and if the figures for the season’s curtain raiser (54,840) are not exceeded, I shall be surprised. It is noteworthy that Everton’s ten home League games this season have attracted 505,528 spectators, and United’s eleven fixtures have pulled in 524,813. Liverpool’s total is 516,494 but there have been twelve matches at Anfield. Forecasting is full of hazards, but if the Goodison gate is not the highest of the day’s programme, it will be a greater turn-up than any result could produce.
HIT BY INJURIES
Not since 1956-57 have United won a League match at Goodison, and I don’t believe they will win this, but it is fair to expect one of the most thrilling matches of the season. Whether Everton are harder hit by causalities than United may be debatable but the timely return of Gabriel after six frustrating weeks of injury will have a tonic effect on the team. The Scot’s power play in both attack and defence makes a major contribution to any game in which he takes part. The breakdown between defence and attack, which has resulted in the forwards experiencing a miserably lean scoring spell, is attributed by some knowledgeable people to lack of a link. Gabriel’s is just the man to remedy that omission. In consequence the attack could flow with the sort of rhythm and purpose that have almost become a memory. Instead of showing the mobile and elusive Law, Herd becomes Gabriel’s responsibility. While on-one doubts the shooting powers of the centre-forward turned inside-left for the occasion Herd has few of the explosive possibilities of the highest paid man in soccer. Gabriel, I fancy, will find plenty of time and freedom to concentrate on attack- and Everton must be the better for it. Ten goals in the last three outings, which are as many as Everton have collected in eight, suggests a United fire power to put the Champions in jeopardy. Only when we realise that seven of those goals have come from law is the Manchester side’s debt to the Scottish international fully apparent.
MERRY DANCE.
Moir has often led Parker a merry dance. To-day he is up against the different approach of Meagan, a style which is likely to be more effective. On the other wing is Charlton. If in form he may well provide the supreme test for Sandy brown. I may be placing too great a store on the magic Gabriel will produce but I don’t believe Everton will be beaten. Brian Labone reappears in the reserve side- at right back. It is an encouraging sign. Position matters not at all. This obviously is the opportunity for Labone to prove his fitness after an “A” team run last week. Everton; Rankin; Brown, Meagan; Gabriel, Heslop, Harris; Scott, Stevens, Young, Vernon, Temple. Manchester United; Gaskill; Dunne, Cantwell; Crerand, Foulkes, Setters; Muir, Moore, Sadler, Herd, Charlton.

GOODISON GOAL RUSH IN THRILLING RALLY
Liverpool Echo - Saturday 21 December 1963
UNITEDOVERWHELMED BY A DOMINANT EVERTON
EVERTON 4, MANCHESTER UNITED 0
By Michael Charters

Everton; Rankin; Brown, Meagan; Gabriel, Heslop, Harris; Scott, Stevens, Young, Vernon (Captain), Temple. Manchester United; Gaskell; Dunne, Cantwell (Captain); Crerand, Foulkes, Setters; Moir, Moore, Sadler, Herd, Charlton. Referee.- Mr. A. Jobling, of Morecombe. Barriers in miniature have been erected at Goodison Park around the tunnel through which the players enter and leave the pitch. Built of steel scaffolding, they take in the two boxes used by trainers fronting the pitch. In addition a wire mesh has been placed over the tunnel and the steps themselves. In the opening stages Temple had a splendid run, but his centre was cut off by Dunne, and then Stevens tried two long range shots- one wide, and the other saved.
EXCELLENT TACKLE
The United pattern with Setters and Moore both playing deep was quickly apparent. Everton were the more aggressive side in the opening minutes, but found it difficult to get through for a clean cut shot. Temple almost broke through from a good move with Vernon, but Foulkes stepped in with an excellent tackle to rob the winger as he was about to shoot. Some of the United defenders were being hurried into making inaccurate clearances and there was no doubt that Everton were very much on top at this stage.
PENALTY APPEAL
From Scott’s centre, Young headed the ball down and it certainly looked as though Setters had handled it, to make his clearance. Despite Everton’s appeals the referee waved play on and subsequently Setters had to have attention for injury to his right thigh. Stevens was having a grand game, and he set up several Everton attacks with his accurate passing to either wing. From one of them, Temple surprisingly pulled the ball back to Harris, whose lob forward went straight into Gaskell’s hands. United’s play was full of errors no doubt enforced by Everton’s persistent attacks. In fact, play had been so one sided that it was remarkable Everton had not taken the lead by now. Yet it was amazing that it was United who came nearest to scoring with only their second attack of the match. From a corner on the right, Charlton made a strong header which seemed to be going towards the corner of the net, when Moore intercepted and headed the ball over the bar. Then at the other end, Stevens was only inches away from a sensational goal. Young headed the ball down to him only 10 yards out, and as it dropped, Stevens caught it on the volley and sent it just over the bar. Everton were playing some splendid football. The incredible feature was the amount of misplaced passing by the United team. More often than not they sent the ball to an Everton player. Charlton was the one United player to be performing to reputation. He made one great run down the middle and taking a return pass from Moir, hit a tremendous shot which flashed across the face of goal. It is fair to say, however, that had Vernon been in anything like his shooting form of last season, Everton could have been two up by this stage.
POOR FINISHING
After one good Everton move, Temple made a strong left-foot shot, but it was too close to the goalkeeper and Gaskell saved easily. It was incredible that United could play so poorly and yet Everton not be in a convincing lead. One explanation of course, was poor finishing by the Everton forwards, but apart from that failing, and the brilliance of Charlton they outclassed United in every department. Everton were setting up attack after attack, but did not succeed in extending Gaskell. Even when their own half-backs didn’t start a move some United player or other would mis-pass and start one for them. Burt Everton’s big failing remained, with lack of thrust in the middle near goal, when they were so much the masters in every other way.
Half-time; Everton nil, Manchester United nil.
There was a shock for United in the opening minute of the second half when Gaskell partially misjudged a centre from Gabriel and only just turned it off the line at the last second. Then United were awarded two free kicks in quick succession. Fro, the first Herd headed wildly over the bar, and from the second Rankin came out and made a good catch.
OVER THE BAR
With Gaskell stranded on the goal line, Brown saw his 30 yards shot hit the upright and bounce out. The ball was never properly cleared and from a superb pass by Gabriel, Scott cut inside and put a left foot shot over the bar. Everton continued to play splendid football in midfield –some of their best for weeks. But they still seemed incapable of making a telling shot at the right moment.
TEMPLE’S TRIUMPH
Although Setters was limping from his first half injury he saved his side with a last second tackle on Vernon when it looked as though at last the Everton skipper was going to make a shot. After 55 minutes, Everton at last got the goal they had deserved almost from the kick-off. When Meagan put the ball up into the middle, Young headed the ball to Vernon, who headed it on for Temple to wheel and hit a fierce shot into the roof of the net from six yards. If ever a team deserved a goal after so much excellent leading up work it was Everton, and United could have no complaints at all. United replied with a good move and shot by Herd, which Rankin saved low down at the second attempt. The crowd had got really excited now for the first time, and they were in great voice as Vernon ran on to a pass by Stevens, and hammered in a shot which Gaskell saved well.
DELIGHTFUL GOAL
The game had suddenly become alive for the first time with Everton’s opening goal which had also brought a snappier reaction from United for the first time in the game. But it was Everton who increased their lead after 62 minutes with a delightful goal from Vernon. It started with a left wing short corner between Temple and Stevens, and the ball was finally crossed by Temple for Vernon, running in, to glance it beautifully past Gaskell with his head. Young and Temple were only inches away from scoring, following two well-judged passes by Vernon and then Scott, with a great chance, seemed to stub his foot on the ground and missed the opening. Everton consolidated their lead after 66 minutes through Harris-his third goal of the season. Much of the credit goes to Stevens, easily the outstanding player of the day, for it was his brilliant run through the United defence which made the chance. He pulled the ball back from the goal line and Harris standing only a yard or so out, flicked it past Gaskell with his side of his foot.
BEST OF THE SEASON
Everton’s display since half time must rate as their best of the season. At last they were finishing well and there was no doubt they fully deserved to be three goals in front of United, who had been outplayed from start to finish. Vernon had found his true from with this resurgent Everton and he almost scored again with a fine shot which flashed just past the upright with Gaskell beaten.
GASKELL’S BEST
From a free kick on the right, Charlton mistimed a header which must have gone close as Rankin was able to save. Harris, another great Everton performer was up in attack more than in defence, and he made a splendid header from a corner kick which Gaskell turned over the bar, with the best save of the game. Ten minutes from the end, Stevens playing his 350th League game crowned one of the greatest displays of his football career with a superb goal. Having had a major part in two of the other gaols, he stepped in with a tremendous burst over 10 yards to cut through the defence and beat Gaskell with a low shot. The whole ground rose to him, for his wonderful exhibition throughout the game. A couple of minutes from the end, Gaskell had to go full stretch to turn over a fierce shot from Vernon.
TAKING THE “MICKEY”
Everton’s four second half goals had put the seal on one of their best performances for a long time. No one had played badly, and there had been outstanding performances from Stevens, Harris, Gabriel, and Brown. This result was sweet revenge for Everton, after their 5-1 defeat at Old Trafford. In the closing stages they were able to indulge in some mickey-taking and the crowd cheered every kick of it. Final; Everton 4, Manchester United nil. Official attendance 48,027

BLUES’ LONDON JINX CAME LATE
Liverpool Echo - Saturday 21 December 1963
By Alex Young
As 1963 has been a memorable year for Everton, it seems rather appropriate that we should play the lost League game against the same team that we played the first one—Liverpool's bogey men, Leicester City. Because of the big freeze-up, it was not until February 12 that we played our first League game this year and although Leicester beat us 3-1 when we visited Filbert Street then, I am confident we can make amends on Boxing Day. The points picked up from these holiday games play a big part in the championship stakes - a couple of victories within 48 hours is a great morale booster - so when Leicester come to Goodison Park for the return meeting on Saturday I am hoping we will be “on a double” I am looking forward, too to a festive season clash with my old pal Ian King, for Leicester's centre half comes from the same part of Edinburgh as I do. The last time we were in opposition in holiday matches was many years ago when Ian turned out for Scottish junior club Arniston Rangers and I played against him for Newtongrange Star. We are pals off the field, but as soon as the whistle blows to start the match then you can expect neither of us to pull any punches. Although Everton are not doing as well now as they were at this time in the championship - winning season, I would advise very strongly against writing us off.
NO ILL OMEN
We are extremely strong finishers in the tough matches, which crop up in the latter half of the season and it would be unwise to regard that drubbing at Highbury as an ill - omen. After losing at Arsenal last season. I remember that we lost only one of the next 13 League encounters! A couple of things have happened this week to revive memories of those happy championship days. The first was on Monday evening, when the Ormskirk branch of Everton Supporters' Federation laid on a first-class buffet reception for us at their head0quarters. All who played in thechampionship team were presented with very nice pen and pencil sits, and there were similar gifts for our manager, Mr. Catterick and trainer, Tom Egglestone. The Ormskirk supporters also took the opportunity to present Tommy Jones, now with Burscough, and Albert Dunlop, who is at Wrexham, with clocks as a memento of their many years with Everton. My sincere, thanks on behalf of all the Evertonplayers to the Ormskirk supporters for their most generous hospitality. It was an evening we shall long remember.
NEW PLAQUES
The second occasion was when championship plaques which the club have given us, arrived at Goodison Park. These plaques are an idea for which I think I can claim a little credit. Hearts decided several seasons ago that as most footballers tended to put their championship and cup medals away in a drawer and forget them after the novelty had worn off, they lost some of their value, and it was decided to present plaques inscribed with the team's record and place the appropriate medal in the centre. I have several of these Hearts plaques at home, and when Everton won the championship I mentioned them to Mr. Catter.ck. The suggestion was duly approved and the result is that I now have an Everton plaque to go alongside those from my former Scottish club. Following that hammering at Highbury the previous Tuesday. I reckon most of us would have settled for a draw before we kicked off at Fulham last Saturday. We got the draw all right, but at the end of 90 minutes were a sadly disappointed side. The reason for our gloom was that as against Nottingham Forest and Chelsea, a goal in the closing stages had "robbed" us of victory, At Fulham, I thought we saw something of the real Everton, with Dennis Stevens doing extremely well in an unaccustomed role of right half, and Jimmy Hill playing some clever football in the inside right position.
REAL CREDIT
Brian Harris headed our first goal –his second of the season- and Derek Temple lad on No.2 for your truly. Forgive me mentioning Derek almost every week, but he took the real credit for my goal with a glorious 40 yards run in which he left the Fulham defence bewildered. It was after the goal, however, that the mysterious jinx which follows us around the London grounds struck again and in the end we had to settle for a 2-2 result. Congratulations to our youth team, who scored a well-deserved victory over Liverpool in an F.A. Youth Cup, second round, match at Goodison Park on Tuesday. The boys may have not played quite as well as we know they can, but I am sure those of you who were at the game realised that when I say that there is much promising young talent at Goodison Park, I really mean it. Incidentally, John Phillips, who played left half for us in this cup-tie, was one of the happiest people at GoodisonPark when we returned from that successful trip to Ibrox Park recently. The reason? John,who comes from Glasgow, is a red hot Celtic fan! On Wednesday this week we had a round of golf at Childwall instead of the normal training session. There was a bitterly cold wind, however, and I have heard a very strong rumour that one party. Consisting of two Scots, a Welsh man, an Irishman and a “Scouser " did not even finish the frost - covered course. Finally, may I take this opportunityto wish all Everton supporters, and football fans everywhere, the compliments of the season.

RELEGATED EVERTON FIND SCORING MAGIC IN DIVISION 11\
Liverpool Echo - Saturday 21 December 1963
FOOTBALLON MERSEYSIDE
By Percy M. Young
Dean was the man to watch in season 1927-28. Every defence in the land made it its collective duty to quarantine him, but in so doing it was forgotten that every man in that forward line was a menace to the opposing goalkeeper Brilliance of the order so far shown in this memorable season is, however, fallible. On November 19, Sunderland come to Goodison Park and inflicted the second defeat of the season, and the first at home, on Everton. The score was 1-0 and that was the first match of the season in which Everton had failed to score. Nor did they score in the next home match, against Sheffield United, that game ending in a goal-less draw. A week later Liverpool suffered their first home defeat of the season, and on Christmas Eve Everton ran into trouble on a foggy day at Highbury. Arsenal won a close match 3-2, after leading at half-time by 2-0. Nevertheless, Everton turned into the New Year well pleased. They had played 23 matches, on 13, drawn six, lost only four, scored 63 goals against 32, and were four points ahead of Huddersfield Town. At the corresponding time in the previous season Huddersfield had also been second and Everton 20th. The Cup competition brought Everton to Preston, where a ground record was established (37,715. 3.036 pounds) and an easy victory gained. In the next round Everton met Arsenal, and one of the finest games ever played at Highbury up to that time ensued. It was almost a replica of the Christmas game, Arsenal scoring four goals (two were credited to Joe Hulme, another rare footballer of that age) and Everton three.
IMMACULATE
What was remembered of this game principally was the last, final, defiant northern gesture. Everton were two goals behind and the whistle was almost due. Twenty-two players were leg-weary. And then suddenly Dean surged potently forward, scattering all impediments, to score an immaculate goal. Reaction set in. Huddersfield Town, by soundly thrashing Everton, came up to no more than a point's distance. Tottenham came to Goodison and won, but Cardiff beat Huddersfield. Next, Liverpool, stung by a narrow defeat that had plunged them to 13th in the table, played Everton. More than 60,000 crowded Anfield and a thrombosis tussle ended in a draw. Huddersfield, winning at Bolton, were level on points. Meanwhile, in the international field, Ireland,with Elisha Scott in tremendous form, were beating Scotland for the first time in 25 years. March was an anxious month. Everton lost further ground by failing to score in three matches (one lost and two drawn], and at the end of the month Huddersfield, with three points and three matches in hand, looked beyond pursuit. The Yorkshire team, however, were involved in the Cup Final: and this was their undoing. Having been shocked into defeat by Everton's co-operative neighbours at Anfield, Huddersfieldfell away, losing both the Cup Final and the race for League honours. Everton wound up strongly, beating the Villa, Burnley and Arsenal, in which matches Dean scored nine goals. It was a proud - day for Lancashire. Blackburn held the Cup. Everton the League, and through the considerate action of Liverpool, who lost 6-1 at Old Trafford, Manchester United were saved from relegation, while Manchester City were champions of Division 11. At the end of the season Liverpool superannuated Longworth after almost two decades of devoted service, and Harry Chambers, designer-in-chief of two Championships, and accepted McBain on to their books. Jackson, at the zenith of his power and selected as a reserve for the English team that season, was captain.
HAT-TRICKS
Everton dispensed with Irvine, who went to Portsmouth, and in the public practice a large and enthusiastic crowd of 25,000 had a first look at the newly signed Ritchie, applauded the constructive Hibernian - style inside forward play of Dunn, and also the cleverness of Stein and Martin in the reserve side. For the time being all went well. Dean scored hat-tricks against Bolton, twice, and Portsmouth. Liverpool, on the other hand, were in discomfort. Then, by one of their quirks of fortune, the Fates reallocated their patronage. Liverpool pulled back from a dangerous situation to end the season in fifth place, while Everton slipped "with a consistency that took one's breath away" (Dean) to fifth from bottom. This was no way to celebrate the Jubilee of the foundation of the club. Things were so bad that Dean, just turned 21 and elevated to the authorship of a weekly column in the sporting Press, was dropped, White taking his place. The next season, for which Wilkinson, Gallacher's understudy at Newcastle, was signed, together with Jack O'Donnell's brother from Connah's Quay, was disastrous. In five and a half months only three matches were won at Goodison Park, and Dean was written off as slower than formerly, and insulted by the designation “oncefamous." As his star declined so did another appear in the ascendant, across the Mersey. Tranmere were in the news again with another industrious apprentice - "Pongo" Waring being groomed, as it transpired, for Aston Villa. In late despair Everton put down 2.000 and introduced McCambridge to their side. But calamity rolledon and in the summer of 1930 Everton looked gloomily out on the dreary waste of Second Division football. They were relegated for the first time in their history. The theme once again was reconstruction. Southport's left back, Lowe, was brought to Goodison as also were Gee, a left half from Stockport County, Britton, Bristol Rovers' much-sought-after right half, Parker, a left back from Adlington, and Cunliffe, an inside forward from the same club. The Second Division with Everton caught fire. A superb run of success in the autumn of 1930 gave an unbeaten sequence of nine games, and the scoring feats once again were prodigious. Thus on November 22, Stoke were beaten by 5-0, Dean achieving a hat-trick while the other goals came from the tantalising Tom Johnson. On December 6, Oldham were defeated by 6-4. Everton's scorers being Dean (4), Critchley, and Dunn: while in the match that brought Everton to the top of the table in time for Christmas, Plymouth were shredded as Dean and Stein each scored four times and Johnson once in a memorable 9-1 victory. The general shape of the Everton line-up was as follows: Coggins; Williams, Cresswell: McPherson, Gee, Thomson: Critchley, Dunn, Dean, Johnson, Stein. The team, replete with confidence, carried the enthusiasm born of League victories into the Cup competition.Plymouth, although improving on their League showing, were dismissed by goals from Dunn and Stein.
OLD SCORE
Next came the turn of Crystal Palace, with whom Everton had an old score to settle. At Selhurst Park Dean scored four goals, Johnson once, and another came from a Palace defender. The disaster of 1922 was expunged. Prior to this, Dean’s scoring League matches had been 4,1,2,1,4,1,2,1; in the last 23 matches he had scored 28 goals. By February 22, the team had so far scored 5 goals in each of five matches, 6 in two, 7 in two, and 9 in one. In four consecutive away games they had amassed 20 goals (5, 2, 6, 7). At this juncture, because they had beaten Grimsby Town, then in Division 1, before 65,534 people at Goodison, they were in the last eight of the Cup. Virtually they could count themselves as semi-finalists for their opponents in the sixth round were Southport. Poor Southport, giant-killing in a big way for the only time in their modest history, were beaten before the match started at Goodison. Unnerved by the solemnity if the occasion and the splendour of the place their goalkeeper could put neither hand nor foot right. Amid snow and Ice he fumbled around till half-time. By then Everton wereseven goals ahead. Afterwards, at half-pace, they were content to go as far as nine and then call it a day. The semi-final was at Old Trafford, against West Bromwich Albion, a neat, well - ordered side also insearch of promotion. Interest was intense. Old Trafford contained 70.000 spectators before the gates were shut. The' receipts were 7,629 pounds, which then constituted a semi-final record, even though the attendance was 3,000 below the ground record. When the gates were shut 20,000 more people thronged the forecourt and in the melee 333 were injured.
HORSE IN WAY
The game itself was interrupted as people spilled on to the pitch. Everton had their chances but failed to take them. Wilkinson, at outside right in place of Critchley, shot wide when Dean served him a perfect pass. But he had earlier been somewhat shaken when, in order to take a corner kick, he had had to move a police horse. Half-time came with no score, even though it could have been 3-0 or 4-0 in Everton's favour, so much were they superior. If the Southport goalkeeper had given the game to Everton, so Coggins handed this one to Albion. Misjudging a centre, in itself speculative and innocuous. Coggins gave a goal to Glidden, the Albion captain. Thereafter Everton in provocation struck back: but too hard. Method deserted them, the equalising goal would not, and did not, come. The Albion went on to win the Cup and promotion. Everton to clinch the Second Division title. In spite of losing late matches to Southampton and Preston, they came home with a final victory by 3-2 over Burnley and a lead of 11 point; over the Albion. In League matches Everton scored 121 goals, apportioned as follows: Dean 39, Dunn 14, Critchley 13, Johnson 12, Stein 11, White 9, Martin 7, Rigby 4. Griffiths 3. Gee 2, Wilkinson 2, McClure 1, McPherson 1, Thomson 1; opponents 2.
ARSENAL TOP
Coggins and Cresswell played in all 42 matches, Thomson in 41. Dean and Critchley in 37, Johnson and Williams in 34, Stein and Dunn in 28, Griffiths in 22, Gee in 21, McPherson in 17, McClure and Martin in 15, Rigby in 14, Britton and White in 10, Wilkinson in 5, Bocking (recruited, like Critchley and Gee, from Stockport) in 1. Cook and McCambridge also in 1. On the day that Everton were celebrating their Championship, so also were Arsenal, in Division 1, by beating Liverpool, for whom Jackson was in great form, at Highbury. Merseyside has long had a reputation for—and both the major teams have been consistent in maintaining a noble tradition sure, flamboyant goalkeepers. In 1931 ancient and modern times met. Liverpool, and for two or three more years to come, were still reliant on Elisha Scott, now nearing his 20th year on the club's books. Everton, on the other hand, were introducing a new name to the roll-call of illustrious custodians in Ted Sagar, whose consistency and high chivalry have hardly yet had time to harden into legend. With few other changes Everton swept through the First Division as they had done through the Second. Defences were unusually insecure against the method and the fancy of the still-sparkling forward line, and for the second year running more than 100 goals were recorded.
NEAR THING
Of these Dean claimed 44, while Tom Johnson with 22. Tom White with 18, and Jimmy Dunn and Stein, who both also achieved double figures, were other reliable contributors. Four points ahead of West Bromwich Albion (who also maintained their former year's impetus in the higher class) at the end of the year, Everton managed to beat off the ultimate challenge from their strongest, and most brilliant, contenders, the Arsenal, to complete their programme with a final advantage of two points. Needless to say, this was due to Dean, who headed the only goal of the end-of-season match which won the day against Bolton Wanderers. It was, in fact, a near thing, for, Gee being hurt, Everton were reduced to ten men in this last chapter. In the course of their progress Everton had the satisfaction of gaining anunusual double over Liverpool, who late in the season introduced Barton, formerly of Blackburn Rovers, at centre forward. But Liverpool had their own cause for satisfaction in the local issue, for they had, surprisingly, triumphed over their neighbours in the third round of the Cup. This match took place at Goodison Park, the gate was 57,090, takings 6,047 pounds, the team as follow; Everton; Sagar; Williams, Bocking; Clark, Gee, Thomson; Critchley, White, Dean, Johnson, Stein. Liverpool; Scott; Steel, Jackson, Morrison, Bradshaw, McDougall; McRorie, Hodgson, Barton, Wright, Gunson.
GOAL ROUTE
After less than a minute Morrison and “Tiny” Bradshaw (late of Bury and a member of Scotland’s great team of 1928) confused each other in midfield so that Dean- “the Blue Devil of their dreams” –got the ball. “But he was 40 yards out. No danger yet. Up came a back to tackle, Dean swerved, the back slipped, and the Blue Devil of Goodison Park was away. The route was clear to goal. He strode forward, shot with his left foot from 12 yards, and as Scott… dived, the ball hit the near post and spun into the net.” It reads, of course, like a boy’s story. It was; such in those days was the magic of Everton and the mastery of Dean. But Liverpool refused to be awed. Before half-time Gunson equalised. In the second half, supported by a ruthless and ungenerous defence in which Jackson especially shone, Hodgson –Liverpool\s own deterrent- scored the winning goal.

MAN UNITED RES V EVERTON RES
Liverpool Echo - Saturday 21 December 1963
Manchester United Res; Briggs; Brennan, Noble; Nicholson, Tranter, Stiles; Anderson, Dunphy, Chisnall, McMillian, Morton. Everton Res; West; Labone, Parnell; Rees, Smith, Sharples; Shaw, Harvey, Hill, Humphreys, Morrissey. Referee Mr. J. Rouse (Leeds). Everton soon put pressure on the United goal when a foul on Hill by Anderson got them a free kick, but the United defence cleared, Everton’s next move looked dangerous when Hill crossed the ball out to Shaw, and when the winger centred the Manchester centre half , Tranter, almost put through his own goal. The visitors should have taken an early lead, for when Humphreys got an open goal he let Briggs run out to take the ball practically off his toes. Manchester had a couple of attacks and twice the conditions caused them to shoot wide. Excuses could be made on such a hard surface, and it was no surprise when Sharples had the goal at his mercy only to shoot wide. The Everton attack kept the Manchester defence often in action and they had a great chance to take the lead when Sharples got clear through of all opposition and with only Briggs to beat he shot wide. Manchester took the lead with 5 minutes to go to the interval when they were awarded a free kick and from this McMillan scored with a header. Half-time; Manchester United Reserves 1, Everton Reserves nil.

EASY, EASY, EASY YELLED THE CROWD, AS-
Liverpool Daily Post- Monday, December 23, 1963
EVERTON HAMMER OUT REVENGE
DAZZLING 350TH LEAGUE DISPLAY BY STEVENS
EVERTON 4, MANCHESTER UNITED 0
By Horace Yates
Revenge was in every Everton move, every pass and every cheer. Goals were like heady wine ton a delighted crowd, who saw in a masterful performance not only a turn-of-the-tide message, but vindication for the faith that Everton will still push to the limit any claimants to their title. The strain of that 5-1 Old Trafford reverse was wiped clean. In the righteous jubilation which accompanied well-merited triumph, it would be unfair not to sympathise with United on the injury which befell Setters after only fifteen minutes. Whether Everton would still have monopolised quite so devastatingly had Setters been fit must remain a matter of opinion. No team can lose such a capable player without suffering to some extent. Even before he was struck down the Everton ascendancy was building up impressively in all except finish. Once they were a goal down whatever challenge remained in United disintegrated and victory became inevitable. Manchester’s forward line psychically commanded a respect. Part from Moir, whose stature better fitted him for the Everton line, there was a suggestion of infinite power, which was never realised.
BRILLIANT STEVENS
Charlton apart, they were not only Law-less but clueless as well and folded as a fighting force before the competency of Everton’s virile defence. I doubt if any man in the history of Everton has been compelled to fight harder for crowd recognition than Denis Stevens. This was his 350th League game and those who saw many of his displays for Bolton as well could only agree that never has Stevens enjoyed such a brilliant match. Not only did he work like two men- something we have grown to expect rather than appreciate -but he allied it to style and skill. Defensively he could quite legitimately point to a lion’s share of responsibility adequately discharged and offensively he had no peer. Almost as efficient in an attacking sense was Derek Temple. Here he was on the same stage as Bobby Charlton, England’s automatic left-wing choice. Even now, by common consent, Charlton would find a place in any World X1. Yet, for all his cleverness and obvious talents, he was not the danger-laden raider that temple was. Temple, more confident than at any stage in his career, is heading full speed towards the top of the football tree. Taking into account youth as well as everything else, if I were offered a free choice between Charlton and Temple, I would be tremendously tempted to take Temple. Greater praise than that for a lad whose best is still to come I cannot pen. Charlton loses so much of his efficiency by Crossfield excursions which invariably lead to one defender too many. Temple chooses the touch line wilderness for his raiding, with the inside swerve to exposed areas- and I know which method of approach I prefer. Four goals up the crowd yelled for a fifth (no doubt remembering Old Trafford), but they settled quite joyfully for spasms of tantalising short passing designed to get them nowhere but an assured barb to a side already feeling discomfiture of their own shortcoming. As Everton’s mastery grew more and more complete the first time in any great volume, wilfully purloined the chant introduced to them by Glasgow rangers, “Easy, easy, easy,” they yelled. It was not all idle boast. Just an accomplished fact. Not always so sure of shot as we have known in the early stages, only a man unwilling to see the good in a player could have failed to spot the deadly accuracy of Vernon’s through passes.
GEM OF A GOAL
How many players are there, I wonder, who pinpoint a pass more precisely. His goal was a gem and only Gaskell’s finest save of the match robbed him of another. Crerand became submerged by the tide of Vernon’s advance and with Scott completely outplaying Cantwell it is easy to see that Everton have most of the talent required to come storming back. Heslop and Meagan blotted out their opposites and Brown’s handling of Charlton makes him something so much better than a reserve. The game needed a goal to bring it to the boil and 55 minutes had gone before Young and Vernon combined for Temple to score with a shot which went into the net off the underside of the bar. Vernon treated us to one of his rare headed goals in 61 minutes, from a Temple cross. It was three in 65 minutes when a cross-legged Harris flicked the ball past Gaskett and appropriately man-of-the-match Stevens completed the havoc (78) with a darting dash and power shot. Teams; Everton; Rankin; Brown, Meagan; Gabriel, Heslop, Harris; Scott, Stevens, Young, Vernon, Temple. Manchester United; Gaskell; Dunne, Cantwell; Crerand, Foulkes, Setters; Moir, Moore, Sadler, Herd, Charlton. Referee; Mr. A. Jobling (Morecambe) Attendance 48,207

MANCHESTER UNITED RES 3, EVERTON RES 1
Liverpool Daily Post- Monday, December 23, 1963
Everton reserves went down at Manchester United Reserves at Old Trafford. Conditions of a hard-frozen pitch especially near goal caused the visitor’s undoing which they failed to over-come. It was this fact that caused both Humphreys and Sharples to fail when presented with open goals. Manchester led at the interval with a goal headed by McMillan which West would have saved with a more sure foothold. Two quick goals in the 53rd and 54th minutes by McMillian and Morton put Manchester on the way to victory, who afterwards concentrated on defence and with the visitors doing most of the attacking they were fortunate to capitulate only once, when Hill scored near the end.

GAME OF A LIFETIME BY DENNIS STEVENS
Liverpool Echo - Monday 23 December 1963
By Leslie Edwards
An astonishing display of the forward arts by Dennis Stevens was instrumental in Everton beating Manchester United by four second-half goals to nil in one of their most notable victories for years at Goodison Park. It was the Arsenal game all over again—only more so. Everton beat their London rivals in a tremendous second-half rally after being a goal down. On Saturday they went one better. They not only beat Manchester United they almost literally pulverised them. In the end, the disintegration of Matt Busby's team was complete. They were a red rabble. They took their medicine well. There seemed to be general acknowledgment by the beaten side that on the day Everton were absolute masters. True. Setters was a passenger for the whole of the second-half and a good portion of the first, but that could not account wholly for United's complete inability to stop Everton's gallop or for the Everton defence's authority over what must rank as the most ineffective Manchester United forward line in post-War seasons. The crowd, smaller than anticipated, loved every moment in which Everton rubbed in their superiority towipe out the memory of a 5-1 defeat at Old Trafford not many months ago. Everton have not shown signs for some weeks of being capable of maintaining their League championship title, but in the space of the final 45 minutes no team could have done more to demonstrate their potential. It was inspired, inspiring stuff of the kind which will quickly bring back laggard supporters. And through the general pattern ran the pure gold strand of Stevens's accomplishment in every facet of the forward game. When he came to Everton from Bolton many said he had passed his peak. He had to live down the unfortunate reputation of being in trouble—a Central League game was stopped for fifteen minutes at Goodison Park—when he wore Bolton's not altogether blameless white.
GAME OF HIS LIFE
Stevens, cousin of United's ill-fated Duncan Edwards, put on the game of his life. He started with two big shots: he continued with a performance that took him to all parts of the field and wherever he was to be found he was successful. Everton's fiery recovery, with three goals in 10 minutes, stemmed from him. He capped it all with a remarkable solo-run goal which brought down the house and left me in no doubt that here is a player who not only has the answer to a massed defence, but the answer, too, to the offside trap. Stevens produced on at least two occasions the most dynamic and damaging move any forward can make—a sharp burst forward with the ball clipped ahead into any open space that can be found. United's defence were made to stand like statues at the impudence and unexpectedness of his tactics. In short, when the place is cluttered with defenders and it is hard to find –“anyone" with a pass, the only counter is a do-it-yourself scoring gambit. Stevens did just this and the effectiveness of it all was only equalled by the amazed surprise of Foulkes and company, who were completely outmanoeuvred. If Liverpool F.C. could learn this Stevens trick they would not be scratching about winning or losing games by solitary goals. To find an established player like Stevens suddenly demonstrating the classic, decisive scoring method like the old-time centre forwards of the between wars seasons was refreshing. Too often we get lateral passes and no one prepared to go through alone and crack a goal.
PEDESTRIAN, SLOW
It was an odd game for many reasons. Odd, because United, even before Setters became a casualty, were pedestrian and slow; odd because although Everton had chance after chance before the interval, the sides were still goalless. For this United could thank Gaskell, who scarcely made a mistake (even if he stood, ball in hand, for seconds at a time almost inviting an Everton forward to challenge him). Fortunately, none did. The ground was greasy on top and fairly hard below. That made for some mistakes, but Everton, with Stevens and Temple both playing splendidly, must have gone into a long lead if the breaks had gone their way in front of goal. The only time United seemed likely to score was when Charlton's header from a corner seemed booked for the net and Moore, adding his nod to his team-mate's, only succeeded in turning the ball over the bar! But what transformation came when the teams turned round. Gaskell dropped a high centre by Gabriel; Brown, with a shot which flew like a bullet, almost fractured an upright: and Scott, left-foot, had a near miss which indicated the shape of things to come. Temple swivelled, like lightning, and hammered Vernon's pass over the line for Everton's first goal; he returned the compliment to Vernon with a centre which the Welshman glided in from his forehead like a Dean. The first of Stevens's fabulous bursts produced a goal for Harris, who had only to be in the right place at the right time; Stevens, following a free-kick by Meagan, used his staccato speed to get the fourth and perhaps most memorable score of them all, finishing the move with a left-foot shot which left Gaskell as bewildered as we were at the power and artistry of Everton's all-out attacking. Everton have not played better all season. If they can repeat such form anything, everything is possible.
GENTLE MICKEY-TAKING.
There was some gentle mickey-taking towards the end, with the crowd chanting every pass between Everton players. The 48,000 present, I don't doubt, would have preferred a fifth goal but after playing so hard and so well who could quarrel with the players' tendency to do to United what they had themselves suffered at Old Trafford? If Everton were a great side after the interval United were a commonplace one nearly all through. Only Foulkes and Charlton played well, with an occasional decent contribution from Moir. Sadler we scarcely saw; the backs could hold neither Temple nor Scott. Crerand passed the ball almost as often to Everton as he did to his own side. Rankin will rarely have a match in which he has so little to do: the crowd liked what they saw of Brown; they liked Meagan's quiet authority; his ability to place a ball accurately over 30 yards. Gabriel's drive gave the Everton half-back line some of the zip it has lacked. But the forwards, with Vernon gradually finding better form after weeks "In the wilderness," were the people who really mattered. For once Young was overshadowed by the brilliance of the stocky little man on his right. Temple had a great game. Manager Catterick's problem now is not who to put in but whom to leave out. Kay's suspension ended at midnight; Parker, Labone and others will soon be fit and the question will be where to accommodate them—if accommodate them he can. Of one thing there is no doubt. That Everton an this showing, are half a League better, as a side, than the Cup holders. United's win against Spurs is one of the season's mysteries. Surely they cannot have played then as they were made to play at Goodison Park on Saturday?

COACHES DAMAGED BY VANDALS
Liverpool Echo - Monday 23 December 1963
MANCHESTER FANS
PROSECUTIONS
Three coaches on an excursion train which carried football supporters home from Liverpool to Manchester on Saturday were so badly damaged by vandals that they had bene taken out of service, said a British Railways spokesman to-day. When the train arrived at Manchester Exchange station, he added, the supporters on the train were questioned by railway police, and ag a result a number of prosecutions were being instituted. The train, which carried about 500 Manchester United supporters home after their team's match with Everton, left Kirkdale Station, Liverpool at 5.25 p m. WINDOWS BROKEN
During the Journey to Manchester, light bulbs were smashed, seat covers torn and carriage windows broken. The train was stopped for 28 minutes at Up Holland station near Wigan, after someone, had operated the communication cord. There were no incidents, said the British Railways spokesman, on the excursion train from Liverpool Exchange station on Saturday, which carried several hundred supporters for the Blackpool versus Liverpool game.

TRAINING AS USUAL ON CHRISTMAS DAY
Liverpool Echo - Monday 23 December 1963
EVERTON PLANS
By Leslie Edwards
Everton players will train on Christmas Day, starting at their usual time, 9.30 a.m. They travel early on Boxing Day for the match at Leicester. Vernon has a bruise at the top of his thigh, Gabriel is a little sore after his first senior game for some weeks, Meagan has a slight calf injury. All these players are expected to be fit for the holiday games. Kay, whose suspension ended at midnight, will be considered for the team to go to Leicester. It is almost certain that Leicester City will field the team of last season’s Cup Final. The side was reunited against Arsenal on Saturday and won with a goal by McLintock.
CUP TICKETS
Grounds (3s) and boys pen tickets for the Hull City v Everton Cup-tie on January 4 are to be sold on personal application, at the Everton club offices and the Stadium from 9 a.m. onwards next Friday.

PROBLEMS FOR CATTERICK
Liverpool Daily Post – Tuesday, December 24, 1963
Everton manager Harry Catterick has a problem this Christmas. For Mr. Catterick it is a definite case of who he will leave out. Mr. Catterick’s poser arises because half back Tony Klay finished his suspension last night and is available for the Boxing Day visit to Leicester City. It is Kay or Brian Harris for left half because unless there are any late injury repercussions the rest of the Everton players, except Labone and Parker, should be fit. There was little guidance from Mr. Catterick last night as to what his choice would be, and he would go no further than say that Kay will be considered for the match at Leicester. It seems likely though, that as kay is first selection when he is fit, he will return, but the decision cannot be an easy one because Harris has been playing so well in recent weeks.
LITTLE SORE
Meagan and Vernon received knocks last Saturday and Gabriel was a little sore yesterday after his return to the side but there is nothing to suggest that they will not be ready for Boxing Day.
Leicester City are using a chemically treated topsoil on the Filbert Street pitch and there should be no problem about the game with Everton being played. Leicester are expecting a crowd of more than 30,000, the first to top that mark at Filbert Street this season. Leicester (probable) Banks; Sjoberg, Norman; McLintock, King, Appleton; Riley, Cross, Keyworth, Gibson, Stringfellow.

DEFENCE IN DEPTH
Liverpool Echo - Tuesday 24 December 1963
By Leslie Edwards
Everton hope to put on at Leicester, on Thursday, another demonstration of the second half expertise which reduced Manchester United to the most ordinary team seen at Goodison Park this season. The trouble with Leicester is that they seem to reserve their best for games against our senior clubs. Their defence will be harder to pierce than United's and I don't doubt the Everton defence will have more trouble from Stringfellow. Gibson and company than they did from that extraordinarily ineffective front line which we saw so rarely on Saturday. Leicester, at Anfield, looked a better team than their League position indicated. They have had surprising defeats in recent weeks, but it was singular that they went to Highbury and won there on Saturday. Everton got a hammering at the same ground so the problem of Leicester's defence in depth will want some solving. Meagan and Vernon and Gabriel were not fully fit after the Manchester United game, but it is not anticipated that they will be out of the side. Everton may lack, on Boxing Day, their usual away-match support, but if they get remotely near their form of the second half of the United game they should get both points.
Correspondents in Australia and South Africa have sent cuttings of the harsh—and in some cases incorrect things which are being written about Everton fans in papers there. The trouble is that newspapermen have confused crowd barriers of tubular steel with steel cages of the sort used in Europe and at many South American grounds. Everton are taking legal advice on the matter and I should not be surprised if they take action. The club tour Australia next close season, so Australia's interest is understandable Not so understandable is the tirade against them in the Rand Daily Mail of Johannesburg.

CATTERICK; WE NEEDED PUNCH IN ATTACK
Liverpool Daily Post- Friday, December 27, 1963
LEICESTER CITY 2, EVERTON 0
By a Special Correspondent
Yesterday was an unhappy day for Everton before the season’s biggest crowd at Filbert Street and manager Harry Catterick summed it up by saying; “We needed forward punch.” To this might be added the comment that Everton also needed someone to devise a way of making the final breakaway. Something more subtle was required against this Leicester defence which has regained its flexible tenacity of the best Cup spells. On a greasy surface below which was a hard core, the players distinguished themselves in the first half with some precision passing. Everton offered promise with their eloquent touches and quicksilver moves into position, and in the fifth minute Young leapt to head the ball across the goalmouth and raised a gasp from the home fans. As the game progressed however, Leicester’s daring and determination increased Everton’s habit of keeping their goalkeeper in the game was almost fatal in the seventeenth minute when Heslop turned the ball back and the mud held it enough for home right winger Riley to swoop. Fortunately for the visitors Harris raced in to give away a corner.
VERNON IN FORM.
City’s first goal after 20 minutes was a clear example of the advantage held by Leicester in their swifter developments of attacks. The ball sped from McLintock to Gibson and then to Stringfellow, and the left winger held off Brown’s challenge to sweep over a low centre which Keyworth forced into the net from four yards out. Everton then began to regain their midfield blend and Vernon touched the peak of a notable display when he stroked a glorious ball through a tiny gap. Kay anticipated it but goalkeeper Banks smothered the ball a split second before the Everton player could indirect free kick from Vernon threatened danger and shortly afterwards banks had to flick away a cross from Scott. At half-time City lead looked inadequate. Kay had marked his return to the Everton side by linking thoroughly in midfield and showing his readiness to move into the firing line. Gabriel’s powerful clever enterprises often put the pressure on Leicester and Stevens roamed menacingly. Even so, Everton were not bringing their attacks to maturity. They used a pass too many and came out of defence too slowly, allowing Leicester to seal all the gaps.
FINE SAVES
In the second half right, back brown was spoken to by the referee. In the sixtieth minute Gibson placed the ball into the Everton penalty area and Keyworth bounded through to force the ball over the line with an out-stretched foot. Rankin’s goalkeeping won the rest of the plaudits, his saves from McLintock and Stringfellow in the last ten minutes being the result of bold interceptions well away from his goal. Leicester; Banks; Chalmers, Norman; McLintock, King, Appleton, riley, Cross, keyworth, Gibson, Stringfellow. Everton; Rankin; Brown, Harris; Gabriel, Heslop, Kay; Scott, Stevens, Young, Vernon, Temple. Referee; Mr. E.T. Jennings (Stourbridge). Attendance 30,004.
EVERTON DOUBTS FOR TOMORROW
Everton manager Harry Catterick said last night that injuries suffered by Gabriel, Kay, and Stevens at Leicester made all of them uncertain for tomorrow’s return.
Vernon article
Roy Vernon article will continue as usual next Friday

SOLO EFFORT WAS SUFFICIENT
Liverpool Daily Post – Friday, December 27, 1963
EVERTON RESERVES 0, DERBY COUNTY RESERVES 1
Derby County inside-left Williamson picked up a ball on the half-way line, beat two Everton defenders, took a rebound off West and finished in the home net with the ball, after forty-one minutes. This solo effort was sufficient to give Derby both points and Everton their second consecutive home defeat. Right-winger Shaw gave his colleagues plenty of scoring chances, but the quick, hard tackling Derby backs showed up weakness in the home attack. Derby had some luck yet constructively, they were superior.

EVERTON CRACK ON THAT SLICK DEFENCE
Liverpool Echo - Friday 27 December 1963
By a special Correspondent
Everton flitted across the Leicester scene rather like a high-class marionette show yesterday, admirably drilled but without the vital spark. They sent through the motions,often with slick elegance until they reached the Leicester penalty area. Then they failed to improvise some means of surprising the home defence. The urgent problem facing manager Harry Catterick is to devise an attack likely to unlock the currently formidable City defence in to-morrow’s return game. Everton’s last win at Leicester was in September 1951, since when they have drawn four times in ten visits. Perhaps they missed the mighty Goodison chorus yesterday for they badly needed something to inspire them. A lively band of supporters did their best but it was not enough. Tony Kay buzzled around with earnest intentions and tried to keep the play flowing forward but after his lay-off did not impose his will on the game as he can. Roy Vernon in his most emphatic spells, looked the best player afield, retrieving gallantly, passing with fine timing and setting an example of close support for the man in trouble. What Everton could not show was the collective purpose of City. Ian King, the Leicester centre half, was once asked which centre forward he liked least to play against and he promptly named his old friend, Alex Young. This time Young gave him little serious trouble and did not make one shooting attempt.
GIBSON GREAT
David Gibson was to Leicester what Vernon should have been to Everton. He displayed the match winning touch at inside left, shrewdly exploiting those strong runners on the wings, Stringfellow and Riley, who stretched the Everton defence to the limit. This was something never achieved by Scott and Temple against the expert Leicester covering. Of course, Everton were unlucky to meet Leicester just when the tide has begun to run for City again. Gabriel had to turn much of his energy to covering Brown and Heslop, and splendidly did he do so. A special award should got to Andy Rankin for courage and good timing in goal, but he and others should be pondering over the ability of centre-forward Ken Keyworth to score twice, in the 20th and 60th minute when out-numbered at close quarters each time. The biggest crowd of the season, 30,004 glowed with satisfaction at half-time. They were not so complimentary when brawn took over from brain in some of the second half skirmishes. Referee Jennings, of Stourbridge, used common sense in his decisions on a layer of mud over a frozen base and no tempers were frayed. When Everton and Liverpool players next have the chance to compare notes they will probably deal at length with Leicester’s defence system in which Graham Cross, the inside-right, is once more a powerful link. Leicester City; banks; Chalmers, Norman; McLintoc, King, Appleton; Riley, Cross, keyworth, Gibson, Stringfellow. Everton; Rankin; Brown, Harris; Gabriel, Heslop, Kay; Scott, Stevens, Young, Vernon, Temple. Referee Mr. E.T. Jennings (Stourbridge).

EVERTON’S THREE INJURY DOUBTS
Liverpool Echo - Friday 27 December 1963
STEVENS, KAY AND GABRIEL
GOODISON GAME
By Leslie Edwards
Of three Everton players who received knocks at Leicester yesterday, Dennis Stevens is the least likely to take part in the return game against Leicester at Goodison Park tomorrow. He finished the match limping. The other doubtful are Kay, who was damaged in collision with the Leicester goalkeeper Banks, and Jimmy Gabriel, who has only just returned to the side after a long absence through a thigh injury. There are some knocks bumps and bruises among the Leicester players, but it is anticipated that their team will be unchanged.
LECIESTER’S HOPE
Leicester hope to play an unchanged team. Gibson and Keyworth have slight injuries but are expected to play. City, however, are bringing 14 players to Goodison. The additional trio is; Bobby Roberts, a utility player; right back or centre half John Sjoberg and Billy Hodgson the former Sheffield United forward.

POLICE ON FOOTBALL TRAINS
Liverpool Echo - Friday 27 December 1963
EVERTON FANS INVOLVED
DAMAGE
British Railways police boarded two football trains last night, one carrying Stoke City fans back from the game against Liverpool, the other bringing Everton supporters back from Leicester. The stoke train was delayed 10 minutes at Lime Street while railway officials investigated the pulling of a commutation cord. When it arrived at Runcorn at 6.59 p.m. the guard refused to take it any further unless he had police protection. When the police arrived from Liverpool they patrolled the train for the rest of the journey. A British Railway spokesman said this afternoon that on investigation it was found that the total damage done to the coach train carrying Everton supporters was as follow; 36 light bulbs broken or missing; four windows broken and one door was its fittings. “There had been no damage to seats,” said the spokesman. He added that the whole question of football specials is constantly under review.

MOST CONCERN
Liverpool Daily Post- Saturday, December 28, 1963
By Jack Rowe
Three players Gabriel, Kay and Stevens, were injured at Filbert Street on Boxing Day, and those to Kay and Stevens are causing most concern. Stevens is the biggest doubt and seem unlikely to play so Jimmy hill will probably take his place in the attack. Leicester City hope to be unchanged, but several players however are slightly injured so full back Sjoberg and forwards Roberts and Hodgson travel with the party. The team is expected to be Banks; Chalmers, Norman; McLintock, King, Appleton; Riley, Cross, Keyworth, Gibson, Stringfellow.

THOSE LECIESTER BOGEY MEN DO IT AGAIN
Liverpool Echo and Evening Express -Saturday, December 28, 1963
EVERTON MASTERED IN ROUGH GOODISON GAME
EVERTON 0 LEICESTER CITY 3
By Michael Charters

Everton; Rankin; Brown, Meagan; Gabriel, Heslop, Harris; Scott, Stevens, Young, Vernon, Temple.
Leicester City; Banks; Chalmers, Norman; McLintock, King, Appleton, Riley, Cross, Roberts, Gibson, Stringfellow. Referee- Mr. M.A. Fussey (Retford), Kay dropped out of the Everton team through injury with Harris moving from full back to take his place Meagan, who missed the game at Leicester on Boxing Day returned to left back. Leicester had Keyworth injured, and in his place was Roberts, whom they signed for £4,000 from Motherwell, early in the season. Everton made most of the early running and Leicester were lucky to scramble away a corner kick from Scot. There was some tough tackling, and the match had all the earmarks of being somewhat rugged. With the ball out of play the referee had a word with McLintock and Vernon who had obviously been engaged in a verbal battle.
AWKWARD CENTRE
Banks did well to touch over an awkward centre from Scott. From the corner he made an even better save from Young’s header with Norman putting the ball behind for another corner. This was never properly cleared and from a cross by Gabriel, Stevens made a strong header just wide. The crowd did not like much of the strong tackling by Leicester and took even more exception to the fact that the referee would not award Everton free kick. Brown brought Stringfellow down with a particularly strong tackle which brought a free kick to Leicester. Temple was having a good game, and he made a run to the goal line before turning the ball back. As Young ran in to push it over the line for what looked a certain goal Vernon ran right across him and put him off his shot. After 19 minutes Leicester took the lead with a goal by Stringfellow. From a cross by Appleton, the Everton defence got in a tangle, and Roberts with his back to the goal chipped the ball over to Stringfellow, who was unmarked. He beat Rankin as the goalkeeper came out. This goal was against the run of play for Everton had done most of the attacking and certainly should have taken the lead.
“WE WANT REF”
The big crowd was shouting “We want a ref” after he had penalised Gabriel for pushing McLintock. The decision seemed fair to me, but the crowd didn’t like it one-bit. Stevens was fouled by King just outside the penalty box and Vernon fired the free kick across the face of goal, with nobody able to get a foot to the ball. Gibson sent McLintock away with a glorious reverse pass and Rankin did well to dive out and cut off a dangerous centre. At the other end Banks came out quickly to turn away the ball as Vernon raced through from Young’s pass. Leicester were playing in their usual efficient well drilled style and Everton were going all out to try to break through.
HARRIS PROMIMENT
Harris was the star performer for Everton. He made a good opening for his forwards, which was spoiled by Vernon and Young once again getting in each other’s way. Gabriel took a blow in the face in a goalmouth skirmish and had to go off for attention. The crowd’s anger was increasing at some of the referee’s decision and Leicester play, but there was no doubt the official was right in awarding a foul against brown for pushing Stringfellow. The tempo of the game was becoming far too hot for comfort. Gabriel and Young were involved in a bodily clash with Gibson and Appleton which the referee ignored. Then King had to have attention after a tackle by Vernon which the Leicester players considered should have been a foul. Then the referee warned McLintock after he had brushed against Gabriel. Two minutes before half-time, Leicester increased their lead from a good header by Roberts. Riley made a good opening on the right in this rare Leicester attack but Heslop scrambled the ball away for a corner. From Riley’s kick, McLintock headed the ball across the goal and Roberts flung himself full-length to redirect the ball in the opposite direction just inside the upright. Half-time; Everton nil, Leicester City 2.
Everton could easily have reduced the lead immediately on the restart. Temple made another splendid run and clipped the ball forward for Vernon with banks drawn out of goal Vernon was badly angled and put his shot into the side netting. Everton were putting on great pressure and Leicester frequently had 10 men back in defence. After a splendid run by Scott the winger’s centre was turned for a corner by King. Norman then had his name taken for a foul on Scott. Within a few minutes of the restart, there was another series of fouls, Leicester were awarded a free kick just outside their own penalty area for a foul by Stevens and before the free kick could be taken the referee had to separate Chalmers and Young who were having a not argument. Temple cleverly controlled a high pass from Gabriel which the rest of the Everton team brought was going out of play, but when the winger turned the ball inside there was nobody in position. Leicester moved the ball very well out of defence, but Everton kept battering away trying to break down this solid barrier. But Leicester defence looked too good for Everton, despite the home team’s change of tactics. The were trying everything they knew to get in a telling shot, but far too often they were robbed of the ball when they neared the Leicester penalty area. The crowd had gone quiet by now seeming to accept the inevitable that this Leicester defence was too good for Everton whatever they did. The lesson was rammed home even more convincingly after 69 minutes when Leicester went three up with another goal from Roberts- simple effort which Everton seemed incapable of reproducing with all their intricate forward play. Appleton sent over a centre and Roberts was unmarked as he turned and placed a comfortable shot into the corner of the net.
RUGBY TACKLE
A couple of minutes later Heslop slipped up with a clearance and gave Roberts a clear run to goal, but Heslop turned and brought the centre forward down with a first-class rugby tackle. Everton cleared the free kick. Everton’s best reply was a fine header by Gabriel from Young’s centre which Banks took easily. Banks had a quiet game. Everton had gone completely off the boil by now and the crowd changed their anger against Leicester to urging their own team on to produce something better than this. Everton were far too pedestrian and obvious with their passing to make much headway, and Gibson whose distribution of the ball had been top-class all through showed them the way things should be done.
SPECTATORS LEAVE
With 15 minutes to go hundreds of spectators were going out, appreciating that Everton could do very little on this form to retrieve their deficit. In a late rally Banks was forced to make three excellent saves. He touched over a header from Gabriel and from the corner the ball then went out to brown who hit a tremendous shot which the goalkeeper turned on to the crossbar and over. From the third corner kick the goalkeeper dived full strength and clutched a header from Young. Five minutes from the end, McLintock missed an open goal. The ground was emptying rapidly as Rankin was forced to make the best save of the match from a header by Roberts. Final; Everton nil, Leicester City 3.
Everton A 5, Rochdale Res 1
Everton B 1, Rochdale A 1.

EVERTON-SPURS-LIVERPOOL-LEICESTER
Liverpool Echo - Saturday 28 December 1963
My four for the cup
By Alex Young
The third round of the F.A. Cup never fails to boost interest in football, and although on paper next Saturday's ties may not look quite as exciting as usual, I am pretty certain that the scoreboard in next Saturday's Football Echo will contain a couple of shocks. We at Everton don't figure on being among the surprises, but this doesn't mean that we are expecting an easy passage at Hull City. Far from it. A glance at the Third Division table shows that Mr.Cliff Britton's side has a very good record at home. Now they have got the chance most of the smaller champions -you can be go at the First Division champions—and you can be certain they will make the most of it. Just before the third round of the Cup most soccer fans like to have a shot at naming the likely Wembley finalists in May, and I am no exception.
MY FANCIES
My fancy is that the 1963 Cup winners will come from one of these four clubs: Everton, Liverpool,Tottenham or Leicester. I am confident that with a little luck and reasonable freedom from injuries this could be our year at Goodison Park; Liverpool I name because their defensive record speaks for itself; now free from European commitments. Spurs are a real danger in the home competitions: and I pick Leicester because they are a side which look very good on the heavy grounds and usually find their best form at this time of the year. In last Saturday’s article (which was, of course, written some time before we took the field against Manchester United. I warned those pessimists who were writing off Everton's title chances. What Everton are capable of when the ball does run kindly was demonstrated very clearly in those last 45 minutes.
OUT FOR REVENGE
No secret was made of the fact that we were out to avenge that 5-1 drubbing at Old Trafford In September and United could hardly have been surprised when we showed them no mercy. This was a match to remember, especially for Dennis Stevens, who celebrated his 350th League game with a display which I cannot remember him bettering in Everton's colours. Dennis scored a fine goal and took the credit for making at least one of the others. It was great to see Jimmy Gabriel back after injury, and one couldn't blame him in the least for feeling his way a little in the opening stages after that unfortunate breakdown in his last come-back against Rangers. In those last 45 minutes, however, we saw the form that makes Jimmy so popular with the Everton fans. I thought that Sandy Brown, too, earned a hearty pat on the back. He gained in confidence in his tussles with Bobby Charlton as the game progressed... Alex Parker, the man whose place Sandy has been filling, came out of a nursing home on Christmas Eve after a rest and treatment on his leg injury.
NOT NEGLECTED
He wasn't neglected in “dock” either, for there was a steady stream of Everton players visiting him, in addition to the daily “business" call from physiotherapist Norman Borrowdale. Against United. Brian Harris got his name on the score sheet for the second successive Saturday, while the other goals came from Derek Temple surely unchallenged as Merseyside’s most improved player during 1963 and Roy Vernon. Roy has never claimed that heading is his strongest department and, in fact, he often gets his leg pulled by the Goodison boys about this. In fairness, however, I must mention that he has spent quite a lot of time recently brushing up this department of his play and when he nodded that goal past Dave Gaskell on Saturday he reaped just reward for his efforts. Brian Labone is recovering well from his injury and after a run in the "A" team a fortnight ago, he turned out for the Reserves at Manchester United last Saturday. It was strange to see Brian's name on the team sheet at right back, for during my days at Goodison I can't recollect him playing anywhere else except centre half. My opinion that Leicester are a team to be reckoned with when the going becomes "sticky" was unfortunately proved to our cost, on Boxing Day, when we went down 2-0 at Filbert Street. Personally, I did not think we played too badly, but the decisive factor was that Leicester's tactics of using the long ball out of defence was far more dangerous in these conditions than our short passing game. By the time we discovered the error of our ways, the formidable Leicester defence was looking more solid than ever and the battle was lost.

CUP THRIUMPH CROWNDS THREE YEARS OF EVERTON GLORY
The Liverpool Echo and Evening Express- Saturday, December 28, 1963
FOOTBALL ON MERSEYSIDE
By Percy M. Young
Everton watching Liverpool’s record defeat by 8-1 by Bolton wanderers, on the last day of the 1931-32 season with silent amusement, were well content. They had won the championship with 20 players. W. C. Cuff summed up the general feeling at the annual general meeting. “All round ability,” he said, has earned the Second and First Division Championship, but there is no doubt that our spectacular forward play has been good for the game. Our style may not have carried us far in the Cup-ties this year, but I think everyone will agree that the truer test of merit is the League. All the same a side of distinction does not resist the idea that it is a good thing to win the Cup. And this is what Everton proceeded to do. At the beginning of the 1932-33 season it did not look as though they would for, abdications among the half-backs had made some re-adjustment in this department necessary. As it happened, Cliff Britton, at right half matured so rapidly that he managed to exclude the excellent Clark from the side, and was soon being spoken of as a certainly for selection for England and White had proved a more than able pivot. Cresswell whose 500th League match was on February 4, 1933 and Cook, signed from Celtic in 1932, made a fine pair of backs, and a newcomer to the forward line was Bradford’s wonder boy, Albert Geldard.
INTO FORM
The team ran into form by January and in the third round of the Cup Leicester City who were trailing 2-1 at half-time were defeated 3-2. Everton’s goals came from Dean, Stein, and Dunn. In the fourth round it was Johnson’s turn to dominate the attack. He scored two goals, Dean one, and Bury, their opponents never really fought back at all even though they did get the ball somewhat fortuitously into the Everton net in a face-saving operation. Fortunate in being draw at home again Everton next beat Leeds 2-0 through Dean and Stein. Leeds victims in the fourth round were Tranmere Rovers who had forced a replay. Against Luton Town, this also being at Goodison Park to the great contentment of the fans; Everton were irresistible. The score was 6-0; the scorers Stein (2), Johnson (2), Dunn and Dean. The semi-final against West Ham was at Wolverhampton, Molineux, entertained a gate of 50,000 on March 18 and a special welcome was given to Critchley, the elegant outside right, who having resigned his place to Geldard in the previous November was called on to deputize, on this awful occasion. West ham low in Division 2, were taken by some to be a pushover. But in Cup affairs all are equal- and some are more equal than others. So, it was what West ham, Everton showing an initial nervous disequilibrium attacked first. But Morton and Wilson were so surprised at the case with which they progressed to within goal-shot that they dallied ineptly and between them lost the ball. White retrieved it and despatched it with a vigour that commended him to his supporters and also to Dean who by chance was on the receiving end, Dean moved forward and passed to Stein. Collins of West Ham intercepted nicely, but then gave away an unnecessary corner. Stein placed the corner kick neatly and Dunn, the most distinguished footballer of that day headed in the first however, West Ham equalised and from that point it was anybody’s game. Late in the match the West Ham defence made only is second error that was enough, Critchley scrambled a goal which may have gone in off a West Ham defender and Everton were in the final. If Everton were enjoying a prolonged period of recognition, their opponents in the final of 1933- Manchester City-were in the middle point of their most dynamic era in 1932 they had reached the semi-final in 1934 they were to win the Cup. In 1933 it was not unreasonably thought that they might win the Cup. Their advantage was thought to be the half back line of Busby, Cowan, and Bray which was powerful fast and commanding. Nor was it thought that the forward line would prove inferior to that of Everton despite the absence of the injured Tilson. The problem was- to check Dean. The teams were Everton; Sagar; Cook, Cresswell; Britton, White, Thomson; Geldard, Dunn, Dean, Johnson, Stein. Manchester City; Langford; Can, Dale, Busby, Cowan, Bray, Toseland, Marshall, Herd, McMullan, Brook. A point of mutual interest was the presence of Tom Johnson. Seven years previously he had been a member of the City team that had lost to Bolton Wanderers in the final. The first moments of a cup Final are unusually testing. Before the player is over the initial shock of the occasion and has had time to recall his familiar lines before he has felt himself to be at home on the fresh turf of Wembley, the opportunity for error is great. In those moments, the small incident can win or lose the day. Within 15 seconds the test came for Sagar. A high centre swerved in menacingly, Sagar, all concentration picked the ball out to the sky and from that point made no semblance of error.
NEVER BEATEN
Confidence effused and the Everton defence controlled every Manchester move Cresswell was a model of perfection and was never beaten by the usually rapid Toseland, White saw to it that Herd could only once attempt to head a goal. Britton’s play was a revelation. He disorganised the combination of McMullan and Brook and so effectively turned defence into offence that two of Everton’s three goals were initiated by him. Johnson, in modern style held back somewhat and used the ball judiciously alternating short forward moves with raking passes out to the wings. True to tradition the forwards played methodically, winning advantage with clever even delicate, ball-play, and then interchanging with subtle understanding. But within the gallant style there was the continued suggestion of a revolutionary explosion from dean, always threatening to come through like a human thunderbolt.” After the City had attacked from the kick-off they were forced back and nervous miskicks by Cann, and punches by Langford that were hazardous, led to prolonged sequence of corner kicks for Everton, in which Stein persevered with tantalizing accuracy.
TWO ERRORS
After 37 minutes Dean well placed with only the goalkeeper to beat, missed the ball. Four minutes later however Langford, challenged by Dean, dropped the ball, and Stein easily scored the first goal. The second half was seven minutes old when Langford made his second major error, Britton centred and Langford, waiting too long to gather the ball found himself and the ball in the net, where it had been nodded by Dean. Manchester City half-heartedly counter-attacked and Bray, who might have scored after one example of fine, dribbling, nervously put the ball wide of the goal. Immediately this was followed by another escape at the other end of the field when Langford managed miraculously to read dean’s intention and to dive in the right direction to grasp the ball just short of the line in the corner of the goal. Less than ten minutes from the end of the game Everton gained their third goal, Dunn heading in a corner from Geldard, whose centre, one minute later almost produced a fourth goal. A week after this event Everton returned to Molineux for a League match with Wolves. Ceremonially dressed in the white shirts and black knickers which they had worn at Wembley they surprised the crowd by having numbers (the goalkeeper being No.1) on their backs “the first occasion on which numbered players had taken part in a game at Molineux.” Everton were 2-1 ahead at half-time during which the Cup was stretcher-borne round the ground to brass-band accompaniment. Afterwards the Wolves recollecting that they must win in order to stay in Division one, scored three goals to achieve their immediate objective.
PERSONALITIES
As for Liverpool they ended the season quietly with the satisfaction of having beaten Everton 7-4 and also having vanquished the previous cup-holders Newcastle United, and the prospective champions Arsenal. For the next season or two interest lay more in personalities than in results the latter, both at Anfield and Goodison, being rather less than satisfactory. In the September of 1938 Liverpool brought Sam English who had won two Irish caps while with Glasgow Rangers, into the side, and he proved more than a useful leader of the attack. Indeed, he failed to score in only three out of his first 11 matches and Liverpool went well on into November before as a team failing to find the net. Everton were also interested in the centre-forward position and as a possible understudy to Dean signed a local 17-year-old on amateur forms. This was John (Jack) Balmer, nephew of the great full back brothers of a generation before. Balmer, however, did not retain the interest of the Everton directorate for long, and in 1935 he joined the staff at Anfield Road. Everton soon found themselves in trouble when Dean suffered a cartilage injury and was necessarily absent from more than half the season’s matches. White was moved to centre-forward which let Gee back into the team, and when White was injured Norman Higham signed from Barnsley as an inside left, was put as leader of the attack. Having previously played five matches in his normal position without scoring, Higham promptly raised hopes by scoring two at centre-forward. But Everton without Dean were about as effective as an aeroplane running on one engine. It was falsely adduced that all the players were growing old together, although none of them after Cresswell dropped out having served illustriously for a dozen years was on the wrong side of 30. And those who looked to the future could descry at least one useful genius on view. This was Mercer, who had come from Ellesmere Port in 1932 as a forward but had made his League debut in the current season as left half.
FINE START
Liverpool, meanwhile, were qualifying for some kind of record by their trade with South African. The latest recruit from the veldt was Berry Niewenhueys, who partnered by his compatriot Hodgson, made a fine start to a distinguished career -against Tottenham Hotspur -after playing only five matches in the Central League side. In addition to Riley, Hodgson and Nieuwenhuys, Liverpool had three other South Africans on their books in Dewar, Carr, and Anderson, and what with Scotsmen and Irishmen their English-born representatives at the start of the 1933-34 season were only Hanson and Tennant. The latter was a recruit from Torquay and alternated in the left back position with Done and Dabbs of Oakengates. The full-backs situation was not in fact regularised until Steel was joined by Blenkinsopp from Sheffield Wednesday. Unostentatious in their soundness, Liverpool coasted along in the immediate pre-Second World War years without higher distinction than seventh place in the League (one place higher than Everton) in the season 1934-35. In the year following George Kay, who had played for West Ham in the notorious first Cup Final at Wembley undertook the management of the club under whose aegis 16-years-old Billy Liddell was signed in the summer of 1938. One man does not make a team, but one outstanding personality can do much to fix the positive imagine of a team. Across the years but after the war, this is what Liddell did.

CUP GAMES ONLY SIX DAYS OFF AND
Liverpool Daily Post -Monday, December 30, 1963
EVERTON INJURY SITUATION GRIM
Everton manager Harry Catterick faces one of the toughest weeks of his career. With the F.A Cup third round at Hull City only six days away he knows he is almost certain to be without Jimmy Gabriel, one of his stars, and that another wing half-back star, Tony Kay, has only 50-50 chance of being fit. Gabriel not only sustained a broken nose in Saturday’s game against Leicester but also suffered a recurrence of a thigh muscle pull, while Kay’s kneecap knock must take time to recover. Mr. Catterick’s problem do not end there because full back Sandy Brown has a groin strain. M Eagan is not completely fit, and Stevens is still feeling the injury he sustained on Boxing Day. Labone ands Parker can almost certainly be ruled out of consideration for the Hull City tie and no wonder Mr. Catterick describes the situation as “grim.”
TWO ESCAPE
Only goalkeeper’s Rankin and West of defenders have escaped injury so far this season and last Friday, for instance there were 15 players on the treatment table.

NOT THE WAY TO CRACK LEICESTER’S DEFENSIVE PLAN
Liverpool Daily Post, Monday, December 30, 1963
EVERTON 0, LEICESTER CITY 3
By Jack Rowe
At half-time I thought this match, so contentious and rumbustious, would turn into a shambles. From almost the first minute, when Vernon forgot the ball in a clash with Appleton, there incidents of hacking and tackling which went far beyond the tough stage and when the crowd bayed We want a ref…” it illustrated in some measure where the firmness was lacking. Inevitably Mr. Fussey, of Retford had to take a verbal battering when he penalised Everton players, but I don’t think the crowd were so incensed at those decisions as much as the fact that there were others in which Leicester players were the guilty ones and which went unpunished. Players on both sides were just as much to blame for the interval situation which was at boiling point and one could only wonder in surprise that no names had been taken. Fortunately, better sense prevailed in the second half. The temperature dropped and although Norman of Leicester was booked the second half was peaceful compared with the torrid atmosphere of the first which Leicester had demonstrated how much superior they were to a desperate, struggling Everton.
THOUSANDS FRUSTRATED
The kept it up in the second half and we reached a point about ten minutes from the end when thousands streamed out of the ground in frustration after watching Everton’s attempts to break through this Leicester defensive system. Many contend that the Leicester defensive plan is unattractive and ruinous to the game. I don’t agree. Not only is it mercilessly efficient, but the Leicester players are so well drilled that when they do come out in attack it is with quick, direct football. And that quick direct football is so much more dangerous than that which Everton used to try and find a way through. They know now, after two matches in a week, that they can’t beat this Leicester system with the close ball, the failure to shoot first time and with wingers who persist in trying to beat too many men instead of whipping the ball into the middle. Attack which slow downplay are simply falling into the hands of the Leicester defence. With Cross and Gibson, the inside forwards actually covering centre half King and the other forwards always falling back the barrier is so formidable that it is easier to get through the Berlin Wall. Certainly, Everton’s made of approach had little prospect of doing it. They wanted too much time in make their passes, too much time to make a shot and in the finish were so frustrated that one of their players actually appealed for offside against a Leicester forward from a throw-in. the more one saw of Leicester the more one had to wonder how they have lost so many matches this season. They are a good all-round side, efficient in everything they do and each of their players has a share of the credit for this win which was completely deserved.
CLEAR-CUT CHANCES
Probably they have lost because other forwards have taken advantage of the few chances, they have been able to create. This was another department in which Everton failed because before Leicester scored there was one moment which might have turned the game. Temple, in spite of all his effort and endeavour, was able only twice to penetrate the Leicester defence. However, he did it brilliantly and each time slid across low centres which made clear-cut chances. The first, after about 15 minutes, was botched up by Vernon and Young. Vernon, I thought, should never have tried to get to the ball for Young was wide open and running on to it with only Banks to beat. However, Vernon did and the interference so confused Young that his shot went across the goal. The next moment came shortly after the interval when Everton so desperately needed the spur of a goal. Again, Temple slid the ball across, and this time Vernon completely missed it and that was the end of Everton.
THIRD HOME DEFEAT
Add to these a save by Banks from Young’s header also before the opening Leicester goal and you have the total of Everton’s scoring look until the last few minutes when it could have made no difference to the final result if they had got a goal. So, Everton slumped to their third home defeat of the season and for the first time this term did not get a goal in a home league game. The fantastic part about it is that Tranmere Rovers are the only Merseyside team this season to score against last season’s Cup finalists. This was an Everton without the gloss we know they can produce. The forwards had no answer to the Leicester front and the defence in spite of all that Harris and Gabriel could do, looked shaky. Gabriel broke his nose in a first half collision with banks and has not yet recaptured the driving dominance which characterises his play. Harris was the best Everton player, always trying to do something, and it was not his fault that the response from the attack was almost non-existent. Rankin had no chance with the goals and escapes the general criticism of a side which, on this showing has slumped alarmingly.
DEFENCE IN TANGLE
Leicester’s first goal came in 19 minutes when the Everton defence got into a tangle and let in Stringfellow to pick his spot, while the seconds from centre forward Roberts a lively player was scored on the interval. A right-wing corner was headed on by McLintock and Roberts in turn got his head to it and beat Rankin. In 67 minutes Stringfellow’s centre found Roberts unmarked in front of goal, and Rankin was beaten again by a low shot. Not surprisingly Everton fans are perturbed about the prospects in the Cup because they have pretty well written off the championship after this dual holiday crash. A full-strength Everton is a different proposition from the one which lost on Saturday and if it can turn out soon the Cup could replace the League title. Everton; Rankin; Brown, Meagan; Gabriel, Heslop, Harris; Scott, Stevens, Young, Vernon, Temple. Leicester City; Banks; Chalmers, Norman; McLintock, King, Appleton; Riley, Cross, Roberts, Gibson, Stringfellow. Referee; Mr. M.A. Fussey (Retford) Attendance 54,808.
YOU CAN’T GET THEM DOWN…
During the Goodison Park match on Saturday there were numerous loud-speaker announcements asking “…if Mr- is on the ground, report immediately to the office.” This was taken up by one wag who suggested “…If the Everton Forwards are on the ground will they report on the pitch immediately.” A prompt reply from another humourist was “The Leicester said about them the better.”

BANTAMWEIGHTS TRIED TO MIX IT WITH HEAVIES
The Liverpool Echo and Evening Express- Monday, December 30, 1963
By Leslie Edwards
One of many lessons Everton should learn from their second defeat in three days at the hands of Leicester City is the folly of football bantamweights trying to mix it with opponents in the heavyweight division. They haven’t the size or weight to emerge winners in anything save a contest of footballing ability -and even then, they cannot win if they don’t adapt themselves to defeat defence in depth. Leicester keep posing this problem four teams, who seem to have as little notion of the encounter to-day as they did a season ago. Leicester beat Liverpool twice in League matches and once in the Cup, with nary a goal against them, and already this season they have taken three victories against us with seven goals for and none against! While the going was hottest on Saturday, in the first-half the crowd evidently thought Everton had a chance; they also thought Referee Fussey, from Retford might have done more than he did to quell rising tempers and obviate the risk of someone being sent off. But once Leicester took the lead and scored again close on the interval the anger of fans was transferred from the referee to the home team. During the second half in which Leicester confirmed their superior football by a third goal, Goodison Park became a morgue containing 55,000 people who might just as well have been dead’ uns for all the sound they produced. Not a chant, not a cheer from them once Vernon had missed an outside chance of making it 2-1. Then 15 minutes from the end they filtered away in their thousands leaving their “favourites” to their fate and a final whistle which was merciful. Some of those who stayed groaned and groused and demanded of the Everton manager “More punch in the attack.” What was wanted was not more punch, but more intelligence in penetrating a defensive wall.
SAME STRATEGY
As far as I could see, Everton employed no different strategy for this match than those which have served them in other home games this season. There was no sign of captaincy on the field. The essence of attack against Leicester City is that the ball should be moved fast from one end of the field to the other, Everton, like Liverpool, took so much time and so many passes doing this. Leicester never had difficulty regaining their defensive position. By contrast, Leicester used Gibson as the link- and what a link1-between defence and quick moves which took them to or through the other defence with almost absurd ease. Everton must have had between 12 and 15 corner kicks without getting a goal; Leicester City had one. They scored from it! Were Everton’s small forwards tired from their two games in three days against big opponents on rather heavy going? It seemed so. Leicester City were faster to the ball, and on it, from the beginning. Everton’s propensity for thinking they were immune from the tackle once they gained possession were soon shattered by a well-knit team whose tenacity and long-legged tackling never gave Everton a moment’s respite. Everton were too inclined, in the first place, to play the man instead of the ball. Once they started to clash bodily with their opponents they were on the receiving end. They came out for the second half two goals down as though instructed to get down to football as it should be played. Leicester threw them back impudently and except for a Rugby tackle by Heslop on Roberts would have won by four, not three. Whatever hopes Everton had went when they missed their best chance before Leicester had taken the lead. Temple one of the day’s few successes made a perfect opening for Young but Vernon in his anxiety not to miss anything, crossed his colleagues at the vital moment, and what should have been an easily taken chance was fumbled through misunderstanding.
WORST FOR SEASONS
Everton players knew well enough long before the game was over that this was their worst day for seasons. They didn’t need gratuitous insults from spectators to remind them of their misery. How ironic that they should get such criticism just a week after their inspiring game against Manchester United. Leicester, with only five home games won this season have not been popular either, on their home ground. As I see it, Everton despite their injuries have done well enough except for these two -quick goal-less defeats by Leicester. People are already calling for heads to roll. If they do, I don’t see how some of them are going to be replaced from the available reserve strength. True, there wasn’t much fight or power from any of the inside three, but Leicester are not the easiest side to score against and Everton did contrive some openings and forced Banks to at least one remarkable fingertip save. By contrast Rankin did nothing except retrieve the ball from the back of the net three times. Leicester had few chances and scored from most of them, first when Stringfellow angled a slow-moving shot beyond the goalkeeper second when Roberts crashed in a header from a corner-kick and third when this converted half back delivered a curling shot without delay as the ball arrived from the left. All these goals were received in almost complete silence. That Leicester were the better side on the day; that Everton had no glimmer of hope while they pursued slow moving, short-passing approaches became all to obvious as the game progressed. In the end everyone was resigned to defeat and none more, I suspect, than the Everton players, of whom Gabriel (who played on despite a broken nose). Temple, Scott and Meagan emerged with reasonable repute, leaving Brian Harris to challenge Gibson for the title, man of the match. The topsy-turvy nature of results on Saturday compared with those between the same teams during the holidays has never been more marked. Nor has there been such a wildly different reaction from home fans at Everton in successive home games. I am with Mr. Catterick who he says that part of the trouble in football nowadays is that people cannot lose with dignity. Everton were cheered off after the United triumph on Saturday the crowd were calling for changes in the very team which outshone their Manchester rivals. Let us be consistent.

EVERTON’S INJURED LIST IS SOARING
Liverpool Echo and Evening Express, Monday, December 30, 1963
5 DEFENDERS DOUBTFUL
HULL TIE
By Leslie Edwards
Everton have not had a full-scale mid-week trial game for eight weeks, so great has been the number of their injured. This morning they had Gabriel, Labone, Parker, Brown and Kay- all defenders -on the treatment table. Gabriel who fractured his nose on Saturday, in the match against Leicester City had the break set in a nursing home yesterday. But it is that recurring thigh strain which make him extremely doubtful for the Cup game at Hull City on Saturday. Parker and Labone have no chance of being ready in time. Kay may play but is no certainty and Brown who has groin trouble is doubtful. Hull City will be without goalkeeper Maurice Swan the former Eire international. Swan went to hospital on Saturday night for an operation on a leg injury which he received in a League game on December 14. Mike Williams 19 son of Hull Kingstone Rovers Rugby League club masseuse has deputised in the last three games after losing his first team place to Swan earlier in the season. It is doubtful whether the game will be the sell-out originally expected. Hull set a limit of 40,000 to ensure reasonable comfort for supporters although their ground will hold more than that. But they have about 5,000 tickets unsold and Everton are expected to return about 2,000 of the allocation.

A BURST BALL BEAT EVERTON LASTB TIME
The Liverpool Echo and Evening Express, Tuesday, December 31, 1963
By Leslie Edwards
Jasper Kerr, the old Everton back and one of the many Scots in the side in the days of Dixie Dean, has painful memories of the last time Everton and Hull City met in the Cup-and of the goal which beat his side at the third meeting on the Aston Villa ground. “It was in the first round in 1927,” he says. “We drew 1-1 at Hull and 2-2 after extra time in the Goodison Park replay. Then, in the third meeting on the Villa ground, we lost 3-2 but the amazing feature was the goal that beat us. “The ball was sailing high towards goal and Arthur Davies, our Wallasey-born goalkeeper was about to clutch it when suddenly it burst and dropped stone dead just over the line. The referee promptly signalled a goal. We protested, but the referee said his decision was based on the position of the ball when it became dead. He was right but believe me if ever a team were unlucky it was Everton that day. “Dixie was thwarted time and again by defenders heading or kicking off the goal line. I do hope Everton gain a good victory on Saturday. I wish them all the luck and trust they will reserve that decision of January 1927. “Although as you can see, I represent a firm in Hull my thoughts are with the club which gave me my big chance to life and the one which has always treated me generously. “
FOOTBALLER OF THE YEAR
Mr. reg Gadd’s Merseyside footballer of the year would be Derek Temple “Because he has stood all the insults which certain sections of the crowd have hurled at him in the last couple of seasons and now he has emerged as one of their favourites with remarks such as “Well played, Derek’ bringing response in the shape of some brilliant goals.
Reader S. Thompson from Toft Street, Wavertree asks “How can the Everton manager’s statement ‘What will happen when we get our first team out? Make any sense at all when he has already said his aim is to have 16 top-class players more or less saying 16 first team men. To my recollection Everton had their first team out at Old Trafford.”