EVERTON’S ROY VERNON
Liverpool Daily Post, Friday, November 1, 1963
SPURS CLASH WAS HARD, BUT NOT DIRTY
Four players booked at Goodison Park. This was enough to make the headlines after our game with Tottenham Hotspur last Saturday. Yet, how wrong it was to assume that here was a pitched battle, with sportsmanship thrown to the winds. You can take it from me, it was to assume that here was a pitched battle, with sportsmanship thrown to the winds. You can take it from me, it was very far removed from being a dirty match. Hard? Of course, it was hard. Who would expect anything else from a meeting of thing else from a meeting of the two best teams in the country? Some of you may have wondered how I came to get my name in the referee’s book. I merely pointed out to him what we considered to be an obvious foul, and this I considered my right as captain of the side. Possibly I was caught up in the enthusiasm of the struggle and made my point two forcefully. Our battle plan obviously had to be to contain Jimmy Greaves and Bobby Smith, especially after their tip-top form for England against the Rest of the World. We saw what could happen if they were allowed any latitude. A great bouquet, therefore, goes to Jimmy Gabriel and Brian Labone for scarcely giving this talented couple a kick at the ball.
ANOTHER AMBITION
It is not enough to put players like these out of the game for 89 minutes. They have to be contained for 90. I cannot help commenting on the return of Mick Meagan. What a difference he made to the defence and the confidence which this defensive solidarity gave to the rest of the team is beyond description. When everything was going so well for us last season our defence was right on top of its job. That is the way it is again, and I am looking forward to similarly cheering results, it was a good start to deny Spurs a goal, for no other team had done that. Moreover, we have now played them three games in a row and not conceded a single goal to them. This must be something without parallel. In this connection -to keep their scoresheet blank a fourth time when we are at White Hart Lane. I appear to have aroused the ire of Liverpudlians with my comments last week that the Anfield crowd were not in the same class as Everton’s for true vocal support, I only said what I believe to be true.
BRILLIANT DISPLAY
The last thing I would like would be for Liverpudlians to take it as a climb down when I pay unreserved tribute to Gordon Milne for his brilliant display at Wembley for England. I thought he had a terrific game. He did everything so easily and with such accomplishment he could hardly have been more impressive. He won possession of the ball as a half back should and it must have been a joy to his forwards to have received such a wonderful a service. No forwards could have asked for more. We all enjoyed our day off on Monday. What a nice change it was to find nobody reporting an injury. Only Norman Borrowdale, our physiotherapist, was worried. He is not used to being reduced to near unemployment. Et us hope it conditions, Norman! Those who have been talking in terms of a fading Everton challenge have been badly upset by the events of the last five games. Eight points from ten adds up to a League title in any language. We will be trying to keep that up. Ever since I came to Everton, I have noticed Everton have usually finished the season strongly. Only two points behind the leaders -and a game in hand- this is a very happy thought. I enjoyed playing against Danny Blanchflower, a much slower and more defensively minded Blanchflower. He is drawing heavily now on his experience, but whatever else he lacked his positional play was not easily faulted in the past that he is bound to find it increasingly difficult to maintain. Before Saturday’s game the team went to Southport in the morning and had lunch there. Afterwards we were able to have a walk along the beach and it was all very enjoyable. We are making a point of taking the Southport air before our big games and, speaking from memory, I cannot remember losing any game after a Southport visit. This may be a testimonial to the air -and possibly the food as well! Incidentally, we used our new TV coach for the first time. Although the mid-week games, generally speaking are now over, we are all looking forward to the completion of arrangements for a couple of games with Glasgow Rangers. What tussles these should produce- the best team in England against the best in Scotland.
ANFIELD HITS BACK
So many letters have been received by the Sports Edition and myself from Liverpool supporters, who were very upset about my comments last week, that it is impossible to answer them all. I think it fair to say that they tried to convey the impression that they disagreed with my opinion that the Anfield crowd had a lot to learn from the Everton followers in regard to vocal support at the right time. I have read them all, but my view remains unchanged.

ALEX SCOTT CHOSEN, JIM GABRIEL RESERVE
Liverpool Daily Post- Friday, November 1, 1963
By Horace Yates
So, the Scots just flattered to deceive. After asking Everton and Liverpool for permission to call on four players from end club, if required, for the international match against Norway at Hampden Park on Wednesday, only Alex Scott gains a place in Scotland’s side. True, Jimmy Gabriel, currently the best Scottish right half-back in Britain, is named as travelling reserve- but what a deflation! Young Brown, Yeats, Stevenson, St. John and Lawrence all had their hopes raised, which at least is a fate spared.

THEY WANT THE FACTS
The Liverpool Echo & Evening Express- Friday, November 1, 1963
By Leslie Edwards
Everton smarting from criticism of the followers (and eager to get at the facts of the case) will take with them many thousands to Blackpool to-morrow. I hope for the sake of the club and for the much-besmirched reputation of their fans that behaviour on both sides of the touchline are in the best traditions of the club. Accordingly, to some reports even the Blackpool police dogs are barking the news, “Everton and their fans are here!” when I spoke to Blackpool police earlier this week, they were at plains to explain that the extra police who would be on duty would be there merely because the crowd was likely to be larger than usual. If ever there was a weekend when we could do without the side effects of the crack-pot minority of club followers, it is this one. Having beaten Tottenham more handsomely than the 1-0 ticket indicated, Everton are all-out to consolidate their position. With Liverpool on the same League rung the intensity of rivalry between our clubs is greater than ever. What a pleasant change it is to hear from Mr. McKay, honorary secretary of the Liverpool School F.A, this tribute to the 10,000 who saw the schools game at Goodison Park this week.

THOMSON ON OFFER
The Liverpool Echo & Evening Express, Friday, November 1, 1963
EVERTON FULL-BACK FOR TRANSFER
By Leslie Edwards
Everton manager Harry Catterick said to-day that his club were prepared to receive offers for full-back George Thomson who lost his place in the senior side last season. Thomson is now fully fit again after injury some six weeks ago. Aged 26, Thomson came to Everton at the same time as Alex Young from Hearts, in November 1960. The joint deal coast £55,000. Thomson commanded a regular place in the side until the emergence of wing half-back Mick Meagan as a full-back. Everton are unchanged for their game tomorrow at Blackpool.
BLACKPOOL CHANGES
Blackpool make three changes in the team defeated by Norwich City in the mid-week League Cup tie, Leslie Lea and Alan Ball are recalled to form the right wing, while Scot John McPhee is preferred to David Durie at inside left. Everton; West; Parker, Meagan; Gabriel, Labone, Kay; Scott, Stevens, Young, Vernon, Temple. Blackpool; Waiters; Armfield, Martin; Crawford, James, Cranston, Lea, Ball, Charnley, McPhee, Parry.

GOAL FROM SCOTT?
Liverpool daily Post, Saturday, November 2, 1963
By Horace Yates
Scott, with only two goals to his credit this season, and none in his last ten League outings could celebrate his recall to the Scottish side very nicely with a welcome score to-day. Vernon, with a single goal during October, is another seeking overdue reward. Last season Everton won 2-1. I would not be surprised in the least to find history repeating itself. Here is a day of great opportunity. Blackpool; Waiters; Armfield, Martin; Crawford, James, Cranston, Lea, Ball, Charnley, McPhee, Parry. Everton; West; Parker, Meagan; Gabriel, Labone, Kay; Scott, Stevens, Young, Vernon, Vernon, Temple.
GOOD LUCK ALBERT
Dunlop will luck back on his last game with Everton as those which clinched the Championship last season. He played a worthy part and with his transfer for a four-figure fee to Wrexham.

VERNON CRACKS HOME AN EQUALISER FOR EVERTON
The Liverpool Football Echo & Evening Express, Saturday, November 2, 1963
BLACKPOOL 1, EVERTON 1
By Jack Rowe

Blackpool; Waiters; Armfield, Martin; Crawford, James, Cranston; Lee, Ball, Charnley, McPhee, Parry. Everton; West; Parker, Meagan; Gabriel, Labone, Kay; Scott, Stevens, Young, Vernon (Captain), Temple. Referee; Mr. F. Cowen (Manchester). Young soon beat James in the air, but Vernon had no chance of catching the ball Stevens put through from the flick. After Gabriel had ended Blackpool’s first raid, Young was dribbling through beautifully when he was brought down by Parry on the edge of the area. Waiters had to make two attempts at Gabriel’s free kick before getting the ball away. Everton had been shaping so well that Blackpool’s leading goal in seven minutes was a surprise. Ball put a lovely ball to Parry and when the winger flicked it to one side, Labone missed his tackle on Charnley and the Blackpool leader had ample time to place the ball in the net. Stevens was unlucky to find his pass to the unmarked Temple striking Armfield and being deflected to safely. Then the ball spun away from Vernon as he shaped to race through. Although Everton were spending more time at the Blackpool half, they were not getting the lethal pass through. Blackpool also were prone to take too much time in moving the ball. Ball took advantage of a Kay error, and the ball was turned away for a corner, which was headed over by Charnley. The failure by Kay to collect a midfield pass put Everton in trouble again, but Lea ran the ball too far when a quicker centre seemed to be the answer. A fine Kay pass enabled Vernon to nod the ball side-ways and Young was only just beaten by the diving Waiters. This preluded two escapes for Blackpool. Vernon shot wide when in front of goal and a minute later Temple hot a low shot which Waiters could not hold and had to scramble away just before Young got to it. Everton piled on the pressure and Vernon was only just outside from Stevens pass. Then the Everton captain made Waiters dive out to collect a low ball and Temple was tackled by Armfield as he tried to shoot. Vernon did not react quickly enough when Stevens laid on a lovely pass and Everton were inclined to keep the ball too close.
ACROBATIC HEADER
An acrobatic Kay header saved Everton, but generally it was the visitors who were providing most of the attacking play. Scott and Temple made a couple of good runs, but Everton were lacking punch down the middle, where Vernon was often finding the ball running away from him. Appeals by Everton for a penalty were not only turned down by Mr. Cowen, but he lectured Temple for the manner of his approach. After this the game hotted up a bit, with Stevens showing dissention of a decision against. Obstruction on Vernon brought Everton a free kick a yard or so outside the area and from Gabriel’s lob the ball was head out to Kay, whose first time shot spun across goal just out of the reach of Vernon. Half-time. - Blackpool 1, Everton nil.
A minute after the second half started Ball was knocked out in a collision and it was a couple of minutes before he recovered.
LUCKY SAVE
Vernon burst through from Kay’s pass and his shot was rather luckily saved by Waiters, the ball spinning off the goalkeeper inches outside the spot. Scott was working tremendously hard and he and Vernon linked up in one move which broke down because Vernon’s final pass was just too strong. There were one or two tough moments and Kay was booed after a tackle on young Ball. Blackpool were presenting a courageous defensive front all their players dropping back when the need came. Parry took a fine shot on the run which West dived to and held well. There were one or two signs now of Everton desperation, but Blackpool’s defence gave no hint of breaking under the strain.
YOUNG’S MISS
Young should have scored from a Kay free kick, but, with a clear view at goal, he headed the ball outside. On the hour Everton got on terms with a remarkable goal, Stevens missed a sitter and must have been thankful that Everton ended it all by scoring. The move began in the Everton half between Scott, Temple, and Young. When Young lobbed ball through the middle it escaped, Armfield and Stevens was left with only Waiters to beat, but he shot straight at the goalkeeper and the ball rebounded out fully 25 yards to where Vernon was running in. the inside left smacked it first time with his right foot and although Armfield managed to get his knee to the ball he could not keep it out of the net. Crawford went down injured and while he was on the ground Vernon went close with a header. The game was really tense now and it was Blackpool’s turn to show moments or desperation as Everton kept up to pressure. Blackpool, however, were looking more dangerous than they had for most of the match and Meagan twice, did well to cut off Lea when the winger was in full flight.
FLYING HEADER
A brilliant run by Temple took him into the Blackpool penalty area, but he was crowded out. Then Everton got a free kick on the right and Scott just missed with a flying header. Ball got a word of warning from the referee after a tackle on kay, but neither side at this stage were producing much attacking threat and Blackpool were having just as much of the game.
MORE MISSES
Everton could not complain that they had not had the chances and they should have gone ahead when Stevens took advantage of a slip by Armfield and squared the ball across goal with Waiters hopelessly positioned. Only Martin stood between Vernon and the net and incredibly the Everton man put his shot straight at the defender. In the next minute Vernon darted through again and again he shot against Waiters, so that in the space of a minute Everton had the opportunity to have made the game safe. It would have been bitter irony if McPhee had scored when Gabriel left the ball to West and the inside left shot just over with the goalkeeper not to attendance. Final; Blackpool 1, Everton 1. Official attendance 24,834.
LANCASHIRE LEAGUE
Liverpool A nil, Everton A 1
Liverpool B nil, Everton B 2

SCOTT PROVES EVERTON ARE NOT FORGOTTEN
Liverpool Football Echo & Evening Express, Saturday, November 2, 1963
By Alex Young
With Everton Scottish players beginning to think that the international selectors would leave them out in the cold permanently, it was appropriate that someone named Scott should be chosen to break the ice this week. It was a great thrill (and also a relief) to hear Alex’s name when Scotland’s team to meet Norway at Hampden Park next Wednesday, was announced. All the Everton players- Scottish, English, Welsh, and Irish- wish him a long and successful run in Scotland’s colours. Once again Alex Parker is unlucky, and this latest omission leaves me speechless. Jimmy Gabriel finds some consolation in being named as a travelling reserve, and his presence on the touchline at Hampden should serve as a warning to Messrs Mackay and Baxter.
INNOVATION
With the omission of Ian St. John, Merseyside has still only one representative in the side. Considering the number of Scots at Everton and Liverpool and the position of the clubs in the First Division, this is very poor. Everton’s First Division team gets nearly all the publicity, but at Goodison Park the club’s other sides are equally important and an innovation in our training schedule this week served to illustrate this point. On Tuesday, we first teamers had two practice games, each of about half and hour one against the Central League boys and the other against our “A” team. The first team won both matches 2-0, but the results did not matter; what did was that younger members of the staff had the opportunity to widen their knowledge by playing against more experienced men. This new idea was very popular with all the players and I understand it will probably be used also in six-a-side and other training routines.
COMPLETE REPLICA
The game against Spurs last Saturday was an almost complete replica of the previous season’s League encounter at Goodison Park. The difference was that this time it was Bill Brown and not the woodwork which stopped Everton scoring more goals. Bill was in tremendous form; in fact, I have never seen him play better, for Spurs, Scotland or Dundee. One defence was in great fettle, taking a grip on the Tottenham attack right from the start. Mick Meagan had a grand comeback game, while Jimmy Gabriel never allowed England star Jimmy Greaves, to get a look in. as against Sheffield United we started at a brisk pace and did not allow the opposition to fall into the their usual controlled, rhythmic style of play. Tottenham did come into the game more at the start of the second half, mainly because the Everton attack was feeling the effects of its all-out efforts in the first 45 minutes, but we soon regained the initiative and finished well on top and much fresher than our opponents. Derek Temple got the goal which gave us two points- and what a cracker it was. Last season I told you what an improved player Derek could be if he would only have a little more confidence in his own ability. Now he has proved me right, and long may be carry on doing so. Incidentally, before the Spurs game we went off to our “lucky” hotel in Southport for lunch. From a game I enjoyed to one I did not! Believe it or not I became so fed up with the Hungary-Austria match, which was televised last Sunday afternoon, that I turned off about half an hour before the final whistle. All these Sunday internationals from the Continent seem to follow the same pattern, but I cannot recall ever seeing a match in which there was as much petty fouling as we saw last Sunday.
SURPISE TEAM
Next week: Blackburn a surprise team so far in this year’s championship, visit Goodison Park and one of the easiest ways to run into trouble against the Ewood Park men is to underestimate their strength. In Brian Douglas they have a forward who can win a game off his own bat, while their big centre half, Mike England, is a tower of strength in defence. I know Roy Vernon, who comes from the same part of North Wales as Mike, thinks that when he has another 12 months of so experience the Blackburn player will have few betters in English League football. It is pleasing to hear that Tommy Jones is settling in well as Chorley’s player-coach, I see his new club have been drawn away to Rochdale in the F.A Cup first round, which gives us a double interest because one of the opposing forward Tommy must keep a wary eye on is George Morton, another ex-Everton player.

AN EVERTON UNKNOWN -JUST LIKE BLAIN
The Liverpool Echo & Evening Express- Saturday, November 2, 1963
Having just lost five games out of the last six, Southport, not surprisingly, found themselves down in the last four this morning. It is going to need a sustained effort to improve matters and particularly, a regular collection of points at home. Thursday’s signing of 19-years-old Alex Russell the Everton inside forward, was a welcome move in view of the great need there has been all season for extra strength in this department. Russell has had limited Central League experience and arrives at Haig Avenue as something of an unknown quantity. But the same thing applied when another teenage inside forward Jimmy Blain was signed from the Goodison Park club four seasons ago. Although without experience, Blain immediately good and Southport netted a fee of £5,000 when they transferred him a year ago.

WHEN EVERTON MET SPURS IN SOUTH AMERICA
The Liverpool Echo & Evening Express, Saturday, November 2, 1963
FOOTBALL ON MERSEYSIDE
By Percy M. Young
The Golden Age is that which lies just beyond experience. Thus, it is that the nearly elderly catch the breath at second-hand records of the Edwardian or the early new-Georgian era. Those, in fact, were the days. Everton did not win the Cup in 1907; but they had in 1906, and, no doubt, would do so in 1908. If they didn’t then Liverpool would. In that period the city of Liverpool was at the peak of its pride. At the beginning of September 1907, the symbol of this was the Lusitania, which, under captain Watt, sailed out on its maiden transatlantic voyage under the stupefied gaze of 90,000 pairs of eyes; the largest and fastest ship afloat. Six years later the illusion of supremacy was fed again by the opening of the Gladstone Dock- again the largest in the world. This ceremony was performed by the King (George V) who, with Queen Mary, cruised up and down the Mersey in the Galatea, and then repaired to Goodison Park where nearly 2,000 “elementary school-children “performed physical exercises, represented a “living model of the Union Jack,” and sang “Land of Hope and Glory.” Less than a year later the “world’s greatest hotel” was opened- the New Adelphi, in Lime Street. In 1914 the King and Queen went to Paris (the urgent reasons for this State visit hardly being noticed) and returned in time for his Majesty to attend the Cup Final -in which Liverpool were involved. A gay, gracious era, and titillated by High Society comings and goings, such as the marriage of Mrs. Pat Campbell to George Cornwallis West; or by romantic sports stars like George Carpentier, who in 1914 was to meet Dick Smith in the Liverpool Stadium for the middleweight championship of the world.
SHOWING FLAG
Football was both in and out of the world; at once a reflection and a means of escape, in 1905 Everton had shown the flag in Eastern Europe, and doubtless the Austro-Hungarian Empire was grateful for the visit. In 1908 the Northern Nomads went north, to play matches against the Frem Club, Queen’s Park from Glasgow, Gothenburg and a Danish national team in the cities of Copenhagen and Gothenburg. With that party were L.R. Roose and an up-and-coming Merseyside sportsman, Harold Hardman. A year later Everton went to South America playing educational matches against the equally peripatetic Spurs in Buenos Aires, and against the Alumni (2-0), the Uruguayan League (2-1) and the Argentine League (4-0). To that point Everton had played 13 matches in foreign parts and had lost none of them. A long connection with the fertile football fields of mid-Cheshire was reflected in 1908 by the visit of Liverpool to Northwich where they defeated a combined Northwich Victoria and Witton Albion side by 3-0 in order to increase the revenues of the Northwich Infirmary. This match was played under something of a cloud in that, not long before the Northwich secretary, an eccentric tailor named Thomas Manion had been found face downward in a muddy brook dead. The cares of football administration had proved too much for him. The notion that progress is maintained by standing still has never been accepted by the directorates of Everton and Liverpool (and the lesson could be accepted outside football) and the autumn of 1907 saw changes. Sam Rayhould left Liverpool; new Scottish emigres in the persons of Maconnachie, of Hibernian, Adamson, of Lochgelly, and Couper of Hearts arrived at Goodison, while benefits for Crelly, Young and trainer Elliott denoted the passing of years. Crelly, indeed, was on the way out, and so also were the elder Balmer (whose place was quickly and competently filled by Maconnachie), Booth and Settle. Tim Coleman came into the team at inside right, but the other inside berth was to cause concern for the most of the season. “What the regular Everton team will be in the future must be a puzzling problem for the directors to solve,” observed the Daily Post at the outset. “It looks very like as if there will be a considerable change from the old regime and if so, it will take some time for a new team to work harmoniously. The sailing of the Lusftania rather overshadowed the opening matches in which Everton drew with Manchester City while Liverpool were being severely mauled at Clayton by the other Manchester club Liverpool, it was said, were not match-fit, and trainer Connell was exhorted quickly to make them so by the old-fashioned method of “trotting them round to some purpose.” Trainer Connell did his job sufficiently well for Liverpool to outshine Everton in the League and their final victory over Bury ensured their ending the season in a slightly superior position.
FORETASTE
This was not saying all that much, since as late as mid-April. Everton were giving their supporters much cause for concern and causing their critics to indulge in such gloomy clichés as “This season Everton had lost caste in class.” During the season Liverpool gave an opportunity at outside left to debut against Newcastle Arthur Berry, son of the chairman and an outstanding player at Oxford, whose debut against Newcastle on April 11 gave a foretaste of the brilliance he was later to show in the international sphere. While the League situation was discouraging there was a good deal happening on the Cup front. To take things first. Liverpool played two rounds of the F.A. Cup before going down before the ultimate finalists Newcastle United, steered by such eminences as McCracken and Veitch. Everton began well enough by beating Spurs, but were then held up in a mediocre game at Boundary Park by promotion-seeking Oldham Athletic -this on an uncomfortable day when Parry, giving a goal away by handling in the penalty area, were also held up.” Everton, it was said, had left their skill at Goodison. Fortunately, there they discovered it in mid-week and, through a clear six goal victory, qualified to meet Bolton. Meanwhile, Liverpool disposed of the pretensions of Brighton. Bolton should have won at Burnden Park. The conditions (equally bad at Newcastle where Liverpool lost their skills in the mud were against Everton and three times the Wanderers were in the lead. The score being 3-2 within a minute of time (whereat the home embraced one another in Mediterranean or Chilean fashion it was assumed that the game was over. This assumption was disastrous for the elegant and pertinacious Sharp as so often set out upfield and finding a defence which had already packed up for the day, gave Young an opportunity to equalise. Again, the replay went all one way at Goodison, and Everton were through to fourth round. At the same time, it was not regarded as hopeful that in two rounds replays had been necessary. To give consistency to the progress the team next achieved a goalless draw against Southampton at Goodison. Supporters of under-doggery rejoiced and on March 11 the Southampton ground was under scrutiny from many who had never seen a football match before. Some found the easiest way into the ground over the flimsy four-foot boarding that was the frontier against the street. The police were impotent and scandalised locals opined that deaths would occur. The worst, however, was no more than a few fainting females and for the privilege of carrying them out of harm’s way many gallants were seen to fight. After four minutes Hardman and Settle raced round the right flank of the saints and Young’s sharp shot went into goal from the underside of the bar. Lock could do no more than watch it and feel the disappointment of 20,000 pierce him. If Everton’s left wing threatened danger, however, so did that of Southampton and Costello equised. Inspired by this and by the fact that Makepeace -for years, a vital part of the Everton machinery-was injured, Bainbridge outside right took the home side ahead. Half-time came with a wilted Everton defence and with Bolton written off as a passenger. After the interval, the visitors cut a sorry figure the two Balmers being quite out of touch, the half-backs innocuous and Sandy Young well cared for by Southampton’s Thorpe. Hardman was industrious and almost equalised, but it was Costello who scored next to give Southampton and almost unassailable lead. Almost -with 20 minutes still to play Bolton wiped out earlier disgrace by finishing Young’s skilful approach work, and Everton woke up. But it was too late. Although they had all the play for the last 10 minutes they could not score. This was the beginning of a sequence of F.A adventures that were ended by the unfashionable in 1909 Everton went out in the second round to Manchester United; in 1910 to Barnsley in the replay of the semi-final when misfortune struck a severe blow and disabled Scott, the Everton goal keeper, in 1911 to Derby County; in 1912 to Swindon in the fourth round; in 1913 to Oldham Athletic; also in the fourth round and in 1914- Liverpool’s year-to (of all people) Glossip. Unpredictable, it was a word to be revived in later years.
DEFENCE WON
In 1908, however, there was some satisfaction in taking the Liverpool Cup away from the Liverpool team. This end-of-season match provided a duel between Everton’s top-line defence and Liverpool’s sparkling forward line. It was the defence which prevailed and provided their forward colleagues with the opportunity to score two goals. The two teams were. Everton; Scott; R. Balmer, Macconnachie; Makepeace, Taylor, Adamson; Donnachie, Coleman, Couper, Settle, Mountford. Liverpool; Hardy; West, Chorlton; Parry, Raisebeck, Bradley; Goddard, Parkinson, J. Hewitt, McPherson, Cox. The presence of Coupar at centre forward for Everton was symptomatic of the search for a spearhead. He, having been dismissed as too slow as alternative to the nearly superannuated Young, was replaced in the autumn by B.C Freeman formerly of Villa and Arsenal. Freeman went through that season like a space missile, setting up a record that was to stand for some considerable time, of 38 goals for the club in a season.

EVERTON RES V STOKE C RES
Liverpool Football Echo & Evening Express, Saturday, November 2, 1963
Everton Reserves; Rankin; Parnell, Brown; Harris, Heslop; Sharples, Shaw; Humphreys, Hill, Harvey, Morrissey. Stoke City Reserves; O’Neill; Moore, Wilson; Flowers, Andrews; Mitchell, Woodward, Murray, Philpott, Spraggett, Jones. Referee; Mr. R. Bassindale (Doncaster). Everton Reserves straight from the kick-off decided they were going to play show football. Every move and pass was precision like, and the Stoke defence could do nothing with them. At the eight-minute Everton took the lead. The point was the result of a quick interception by Harvey who took the ball off the toe Stoke’s Jones, passed back to Rankin, whose goal kick went straight upfield to Harvey. Harvey bear a defender, put the ball to Humphreys who shot into the top corner of the net. Everton continued in this vein with right winger Shaw putting over beautiful centres but the bunched Stoke defence were taking no chances and blotted out the Everton attack. Everton seemed to become overconfident after their early success and lost their accuracy. Stoke began to get more of the ball and nearly equalised but Rankin dived full length to foil Spraggett. Half-time; Everton Res 1, Stoke City Res nil.

THIS WAS NOT FINISH WORTHY OF CHAMPIONS
Liverpool Daily Post -Monday November 4, 1963
BLACKPOOL 1 EVERTON 1
By Jack Rowe
Champions are there to be shot at, and every team in the First Division particularly at home, will be gunning for Everton, so that if they do retain the title it will be a long, tough read. How tough we saw at Bloomfield Road when Blackpool produced a grim, unrelenting struggle to stop Everton repeating their victory there last Easter.
EXPLOSIVE INCIDENTS
When Everton have players, who can be just as rugged and strong in the tackle, it is inevitable there should be one or two explosive incidents, in which players made a tackle, which had no relation to the ball. Thanks to a fir, referee, the game never went beyond the stage where it could be described as anything except tough and hard. It was tough on Everton’s fans, who saw their side pretty well throw away a point. While giving Blackpool, especially the defence, praise for their fight this was a game which should not have posed too many problems for championship contenders. That it did was due to close marketing, quick tackling and willing covering by the Blackpool defence, but it is also difficult to overlook Everton’s lack of virile drive down the middle.
NO SHOT.
Young did best in the first half, but strangely not once in the game is there the memory of a shot from him. Vernon did not have a good day. Often, he found hall control difficult, but he scored the goal which gained the point, yet he must take the caning for missing the best of several chances which came to his side. in spite of the shortcomings Everton had sufficient chances to have won by two or three goals. Young was a culprit once, so was Stevens, but I can almost guarantee that Vernon could not do again what he did on Saturday, even if he tried. Blackpool’s leading goal in seven minutes was a stunner. Labone missed his tackle on Charnley and the centre forward finished a move initiated by Ball, who not only has football ability but also spirit, as we saw in his refusal to spurn any duels with Kay of Gabriel.
ARMFIELD’S ERROR
The 60th minute came before Everton were level and the fantastic thing is that Stevens missed a great chance as the prelude to Vernon’s goal. Scott, a tremendous worker with Stevens, Temple and Young, began the move and when Young lobbed the ball through the centre. Armfield, of all people, allowed it to escape him and leave Stevens with only Waiters to beat. Stevens put his shot against the goalkeeper, and one could almost sense his relief when the ball ran to Vernon, 25 yards out, and the shot had so much power that Martin, on the line, could not stop it. The match was there for Everton’s taking and it should have been won when Stevens chased Young’s pass, slipped past Armfield and drew Waiters to the post before pulling the ball back to the incoming and unmarked Vernon eight yards out. The only obstacle ton a score was left back Martin, standing on the line. There were yards of untenanted space on either side of him and yet Vernon managed to put his side-footed shot against the full back’s legs and away bounded the ball. Vernon looked flabbergasted, but so weas everyone else, and almost immediately Vernon with another chance, this time shot straight at Waiters.
ONLY REAL ERROR.
Perhaps it is reasonable to say that Everton did not like these missed. Apart from the goal, Blackpool had one other chance, so the ratio was all in favour of Everton. Labone’s slip was the only real error in the Everton defence, which did its job so effectively that West had only one shot to save. Kay had a fine second half and with Gabriel had the strength to subjugate the Blackpool inside men, although Ball never gave up. Parker came through unflurried and Meagan finally eliminated the menace of Lea another of the Bloomfield Road youngsters. That Everton did not win was due to the atatck’s finishing failures, but the Blackpool defence, if at times hurried, can have some pride in its fighting achievement. Everton reckoned they should have had at least one penalty in the first half. That Temple had no doubt was illustrated by his vehement appeals, which brough him a rebuke from the referee, the only time the notebook was produced. Blackpool; - Waiters; Armfield, Martin; Crawford, James, Cranston; Lea, Ball, Charnley, McPhee, Parry. Everton; West; Parker, Meagan; Gabriel, Labone, Kay; Scott, Stevens, Young, Vernon, Temple. Referee; F. Cowen (Manchester). Attendance 24,834.

EVERTON RES 2 STOKE CITY RES 0
Liverpool Daily Post, Monday November 4, 1963
Exhibition football by Everton Reserves in the first ten minutes of this Central League game At Goodison Park gave them a one-goal lead through Humphreys, but once Stoke City got into their stride Everton lost their rhythm. With the exception of the ever-dangerous Shaw, the home forwards became ineffective against the Stoke half-back line. This gave their centre-half Andrew the chance to get his forwards moving and play became more even with the visitors pegging away for an equaliser. Their luck was out, however, and two minutes from the end Everton made certain of the points when a defensive misunderstanding let Humphreys score a goal in simple fashion.

EVERTON EARNED A POINT THE HARD WAY
Liverpool Echo & Evening Express, Monday, November 4, 1963
By Jack Rowe
Everton’s point at Blackpool on Saturday in a 1-1 draw was earned the hard way because for much of the game they made heavy weather against a side which one felt should not have presented much of a problem to them. But Everton found it difficult to break down a gallant, if shaky defence and in the first half, although they had more of the play and had the better footballing sense, there were not many moments when they looked like getting a goal. Indeed, the result should never have been in doubt in the second half for it was then that Everton had the chances and fallen to make the most of them at a time when a goal must have clinched victory. Blackpool offered a stern front to Everton’s attacking moves, which at times fell down because of the over-inclination to make the extra pass and there were times when it was not out of place to think that a more punchy type of approach to goal scoring is necessary.
INCREADABLE MISS
Vernon scored the goal which got the point, but he did not have a particularly good day, often finding the ball running awkwardly. It was he who missed the finest chance of all when Blackpool were ready for the knock-out. It was incredible how Vernon missed because Stevens had got past Armfield, drawn waiters, to a spot where he could not hope to cope with the pulled back centre. Stevens did it beautifully and in came Vernon with only the figure of left back Martin standing on the line to rob him of a score. Martin did rob the Everton man, not because it was any real intent on his part, but because Vernon put his side-footed shot straight at the Blackpool defender and the glorious opportunity had gone. There were occasions when Everton did not look championship contenders in a match which had its towsy moments and which called for one or two warnings from the referee, but it is right to say that it never got out of hand, although there were tackles on both sides which were not too pleasant to see. I thought Scott did as well as anybody in the Everton attack. He roamed a lot and sought the ball, but much of his work came to nought because of second half slowness by both Vernon and Young in anticipating the final pass.
LABONE’S ERROR
Temple tried those runs of his but in this game at least he did not find the opening for the lethal shot, while Stevens worked as industriously as he usually does. Defensively there was not much wrong with Everton for West, apart from one second half save from Parry had a comfortable afternoon, although the Blackpool goal in seven minutes must be put down to an error in misjudging a tackle by Labone. Young ball who was usually kept in check by the strong tackling of Kay and Gabriel did get through a fine pass to Parry and when the outside left flicked the ball forward Charnley went on to it and when Labone completely missed his tackle the centre forward had an easy job in slotting it past West. Parker had another good match and Meagan more often than not looked his old self against the clever young Lea, but generally Blackpool did not offer a lot of threat in attack. Their defence always unrelenting and playing with spirit took most of the credit for stopping Everton from winning, but the fact is that the Goodison Park side had the chance and did not take them. When Vernon scored it was well he did for the sake of Stevens, who failed with a glorious opportunity after Young, Temple, and Scott had made the opening, his shot striking Waiters and rebounding out to beyond the penalty area where Vernon hit it first time and saw the ball go into the net off Armfield’s knee.

EVERTON RES TAKE LEAD
Liverpool Echo - Monday 04 November 1963
MORRISSEY IN GRAND FORM
Everton reserves; Rankin; Parnell, Brown; Harris, Heslop, Sharples; Shaw, Humphreys, Hill, Harvey, Morrissey. Newcastle United Reserves; Marshall; Craig, Clish; Moncur, Pickering, Turner; Webster, Robson, Cummings, Penman, O’Neill. Referee; D. Pritchard (Blackpool). Everton reserves had the measure of Newcastle at Goodison to-day with Morrissey and Harvey giving the Newcastle defence a tough time. At the 20th minute, they went into the lead when Hill, after wandering out on the right wing, put a lovely centre to Morrissey’s head. Everton had only 10 men at this stage, Harvey having gone off for treatment for a cut eye and Newcastle were beginning to get on top. They equalised at 26 minutes when the ball went out to O’Neill on the left, and going through on his own, he hit a low shot which Rankin could only touch but not stop. When Harvey returned, Everton found their rhythm again and went back into the lead. A pass by a Newcastle defender hit a colleague and rebound to Morrissey, who streaked up the wing and passed to Humphries. The inside man gave it to Hill, who scored at 38 minutes. Half-time; Everton Res 2, Newcastle United Res 1.

EVERTON RES V NEWCASTLE RES
Liverpool Daily Post- Tuesday, November 5, 1963
Everton Reserves were much too good for Newcastle United Reserves at Goodison Park yesterday. They dominated most of the play, with wingers Shaw and Morrissey giving the United defence no peace. Everton took the lead after 20 minutes with a Morrissey header, lost it when O’Neill after a solo run easily beat Rankin at 26 minutes, then regained it at 38 minutes when Morrissey provided the chance for Hill to score. Two minutes after the interval the score was 3-1 when the ball went in off a Newcastle defender Cummings got a second for United in a breakaway at 75 minutes.
ARSENAL -EVERTON MATCH DATE
The Football League yesterday confirmed the rearranged date of the Arsenal v Everton First Division match on December 10 (7.30) The game had been twice postponed from September 17 and October 20.

MANAGER HARRY CATTERICK IS IN SCOTLAND TO-DAY -BUT NOT TO SIGN GILZEAN
Liverpool Daily Post- Wednesday, November 6, 1963
Mr. Harry Catterick Everton’s manager, left for Scotland last night to see to-day’s international match with Norway. Asked which player or players he would be specially interested in replied “Alex Scott.” I believe him! Those who will see in this trip an opportunity to make an assessment of Gilzean, who has displaced Liverpool’s Ian St. John as Scottish leader, will be off the mark. Unless there is a change of heart at Goodison and there is no indication of it, Everton’s repeated denials of interest in the Scot accurately represent the position.
VERNON’S VIEW
When I spoke to Roy Vernon, the Everton skipper, on the subject, he was able to tell me of a quiet air of confidence among the players of a satisfactory outcome. “Both sides have so far been making proposals,” he said, “When everyone gets together to talk things over, instead of putting out one-sided statements I am sure they will be able to hammer out a far better contract that we have now. “I do not believe that in these enlightened days the League will take the attitude of giving us as little as they of giving us as little as they can get away with. That sort of thing belongs to the past. “For the good of the great game of football we must sort out things sensibly. I have confidence in the outcome of negotiation and this, I would say, is a spirit shared by almost all professional footballers.” It would be a miracle if one side or the other were to present a set of proposals which would instantly prove acceptable to the another. The agreement when it comes will be the result of a pooling of ideas.

EVERTON ACT TO STOP MISBEHAVIOUR AT RESERVE TEAM GAME
Liverpool Echo & Evening Express, Monday, November 6, 1963
STAND PRIVILEGES FOR CHILDREN WITHDRAWN
APPEALS IGNORED
By Leslie Edwards
Everton F.C, have put a ban on children using their parents stand season tickets for Central League games at Goodison Park. Only when children are accomplished by adults will they be admitted to stand seats on season-tickets. News of the ban will be printed in the club’s programme on Saturday. The club announcement reads; -
“Despite repeated warnings about the misbehaviour of children in the stands at Central League games, there has been no improvement and considerable damage is being caused to seats in all stands.
AGAINST RULES
“As nearly all these children gain admission by season tickets the direction have been reluctantly compelled to withdraw stand privilege=s for children using stand season-tickets at Central League games in future unless accomplished by an adult and they will only be admitted to the ground through the ground season ticket turnstile. “It must also be emphasised that it is against the rules of the Football Association for anyone to encroach on to the pitch either before during or at the conclusion of a match. Mr. W. Dickinson, Everton Secretary, said today. “We did not want to have to take this decision, but events have forced it on us. We just can’t control children, who make the stands their playground. They don’t seem interested in the match. They make a nuisance of themselves, racing up and down the seats and generally misbehaving and their conduct cannot be tolerated any longer. “They are often a danger to themselves and to those who come and genuinely want to see the game. Not all of them are to blame of course, but how can we discriminate? “We have about half a dozen police at the ground and our own officials, but they can’t supervise everyone. We’ve appeals over the public address system and warned them of the possible effects of their conduct, but it has made no difference. Sometimes after a match we have hundreds of lads on the pitch.”

YOUNG’S MAGNIFICO SAYS EVERTON’S NEW FAN
The Liverpool Echo & Evening Express- Thursday, November 7, 1963
By Leslie Edwards
The Echo and our football teams certainly get around. From Leicester, Brussels, Warrington, Wigan and Flint comes letters from people who have something to say about our teams. A more varied, more interesting post-bag one could scarcely imagine. Take the case of the new Belgian fan who has attached himself to Everton. His card from Brussels is to the point.
“As a football fan and follower of Boom F.C (that takes me back to Wartime memories of the little, ill-famed town outside Antwerp) I am writing you after a stay in Liverpool. I watched F.C Everton seven times and F.C Liverpool four times. “You are lucky to have a team like Everton. They will do well in Continental football. F.C. Liverpool, I think play too fast and without the poise of F.C Everton, but I think they will also do well in a few years’ time. “Alex Young, Everton, superb against F.C Sheffield United. Magnifico!”
The odd stamp-cancellation notice on this new Everton fan’s card reads “The man is degraded who ill-treats animals.” The Belgians are good at this sort of thing. Recently, the Belgian Consul in Liverpool, Mr. Hunt, tells me, they had one. “At work, also well-dressed is well-respected.”

EVERTON’S ROY VERNON SAYS-
Liverpool Daily Post -Friday, November 8, 1963
SEE ALL, HEAR ALL- AND SAY NOTHING
Alec Scott and Jimmy Gabriel have been missing from our training exercises at Goodison this week because of the international game last Thursday, I always consider these training spins with players from other clubs’ good experience. It is amazing what little things can be picked up by keeping eyes and ears open. Does this mean that when Everton players join these parties, they give away Goodison secrets? Not on your life! Although we may come from different parts of the country, I think we are by now all sufficiently. Lancastrian to obey the old saying, “Seeing all, hear all- and say nothing.” Reserve this week, Jimmy Gabriel may get the international recognition he warrants for the next match. If he does it will be a case of history repeating itself, for Jimmy’s first international selection was against wales at Cardiff. I remember it well. On the team sheet at least, Jim’s job was to see that I was well looked after. It did not work out that way because of the tactics that were adopted.
LIFT TO REMEMBER!
After the match I drove Jimmy back to Merseyside, I was expecting to become a dad for the second time, and we did the trip in some ridiculous time. Jimmy has scarcely recovered from that lift! I celebrated Guy Fawkes night by joining my neighbour Ron Yeats, the Liverpool skipper, in letting off our children’s fireworks I hope the kids enjoyed it. We did! Actually, I am almost surrounded by Liverpool players in my part of Maghull. In addition to Ronnie, I have Gordon Milne, Ian St. John and Gerry Byrne around me. Fancy, four Liverpudlians to look after one Evertonian! I suppose that is about right! The fixture list tells me (as if I netted any reminding) that my old club Blackburn Rovers, are a Goodison Park to-morrow, I still go to Blackburn quite a lot. Not surprising in view of the fact my wife is a Blackburn girl. Occasionally I have a round of golf with my friend Bryan Douglas, but friendships end for ninety minutes after 3 O’clock. Another personality in the Blackburn ranks is fellow Welshman Mike England. When I saw him at Cardiff in the international game with England, I was surprised at the progress he has made since our last meeting. I should say that with another twelve months’ experience Mike will be pushing hard and inclusion among the top three centre halves in the game.
THAT MISS…
I don’t think anybody except the players who play alongside him really appreciate the amount of ground covered by Denis Stevens in a match. He is the nearest approach to perpetual motion in football. I would not be at all surprised if he is still cursing me under his breath for missing the easiest chance of last Saturday’s match at Blackpool, I could have kicked myself. Usually when I hit a ball from seven or eight yards as in this case, they fly into the back of the net. This one did not. Was my face red. While a point away from home is not to be sniffed at, the fact remains we have now dropped two easy points -the other was at Ipswich. Three points from four against all the clubs will probably win the championship I know, but it is nice to have a bonus, just in case of accidents. Why are rise to the occasion one week and fall from grace another is a mystery I don’t think I will ever solve. Obviously, we can play much better than we did at Blackpool. I would just like to give a pat on the back to Blackpool’s young forward, Bell. He is a lad of ability and great courage. He had to face the most determined tackling without any sign of flinching.

SCOTT AND GABRIEL REPORT FIT
Liverpool Echo & Evening Express- Friday, December 8, 1963
UNCHANGED
GOODISON GAME
By Leslie Edwards
The two Everton players who helped Scotland to beat Norway last night- Scott and Gabriel -have reported fit and Everton play an unchanged side against Blackburn Rovers at Goodison Park to-morrow. Manager Harry Catterick says of Blackburn; “They are one of the more improved sides in the League. We-shall have plenty on our plate to take the points.” Michael England, Blackburn’s Welsh international centre-half is a doubtful starter. He damaged ligaments in his right ankle against Sheffield Wednesday last Saturday and has been under treatment all week. He will have a try out before the Blackburn party leave, for Liverpool to-morrow morning. If England is unfit it is probable Rovers will do as they did at Leicester a fortnight ago and switch left back Keith Newton to centre-half and play local born Chris Sims at left back. Mr. Catterick was in Scotland for the game against Norway but did not see it because he had to be in Liverpool yesterday and fog prevented the match from taking place on Wednesday evening. The only Everton player available for transfer is Scottish back, George Thomson, Mr. Catterick has so far not received any letter from reserve half-back George Sharples asking for a move.” Everton; West; Parker, Meagan; Gabriel, Labone, Kay; Scott, Stevens, Young, Vernon, Temple. Blackburn Rovers; Else; Bray, Newton; Simms, Clayton, England, McGrath; Ferguson, McEvoy, Pickering, Douglas, Harrison. Reg Blore, Blackburn’s mid-week signing from Southport plays at centre forward in the reserve side at home to Huddersfield Town Reserves.

GOODISON RESULT POISED ON RAZOR EDGE
Liverpool Daily Post – Saturday, November 9, 1963
JOINT LEADERS IS EVERTON’S INCENTIVE
Everton have no prospect of taking over outright leadership of Division One this weekend, but if to-day’s results are favourable at least they could find themselves grouped among four as joint leaders. It will be wrong to assume that the visit of Blackburn Rovers to Goodison Park is a guarantee of two home points. Rovers are bonny fighters with some stirring accomplishments to the credit. In only three of their eight fixtures away from home have they been defeated. Their last six visits to Goodison have produced four draws, even though they have failed tom score in three of the four most recent meetings. If you believe there is no football parallel to racing’s horses for courses theory, please don’t mention Leicester City to a Liverpool supporter or even Nottingham Forest for the matter!
ENGLAND DOUBTFUL
It is in Everton’s favour that they have no team selection worries. Both Scott and Gabriel came through the international match unscathed and the team is that which has won three points from the last four. Blackburn on the other hand, will not know until today whether or not their young Welsh international centre half Mike England will be fit. If he has to be withdrawn Newton moves from left back with Blackburn-born Chris Simms filling the vacancy. Certainly, it is true that Blackburn have run into squalls lately, with no more than one point to reward their efforts in three matches. That might suggest a slump timely for Everton’s hopes, until we examine the quality of Rovers opponents, Burnley, Sheffield Wednesday and Leicester City even with two of the matches at Ewood Park hardly suggest joyful point-gathering sorties. Everton are wise to regard Blackburn’s visit as one of their severest tests, as manager Harry Catterick undoubtedly does.
With Bryan Douglas operating in his best position at inside forward, here is a box of tricks who will require as masterful handling from Gabriel as Greaves received. This is no one-man forward line. On the contrary there is punch in every position.
LINE OF 28 GOALS
As a line they have contributed 28 goals. McEvoy leading with 11. A comforting thought is that Parker of the immaculate tackling technique will be there to deal with Harrison. I saw this left winger crack home a terrific goal against Liverpool in the season’s opening game. He has followed with six more. His is a shot to be respected. Pickering may have collected only five goals, yet his ability to use his head to telling effect near goal is beyond question. Altogether then, a line of proved worth. Just as intriguing, and possibility every bit as vital as the Gabriel-Douglas duel, will be the battle between former Rovers’ player Roy Vernon with Ronnie Clayton. Vernon will never be allowed to feel lonely, for Clayton will seldom be far away and he is still one of the most proficient tacklers. If Rovers lock up Vernon, the result could be as frustrating for Everton as would a Douglas’ failure for Rovers. This result, I think, is poised on the razor edge and victory will have to be won. It will never be conceded. Everton’s concerted heave against Tottenham must be emulated to gather in both points. Everton; West; Parker, Meagan; Gabriel, Labone, Kay; Scott, Stevens, Young, Vernon, Temple. Blackburn Rovers; Else; Bray, Newton; (or Simms); Clayton, England (or Newton), McGrath, Ferguson, McEvoy, Pickering, Douglas, Harrison.

BLACKBURN ROVERS AT GOODISON TO-DAY
Liverpool Echo & Evening Express -Saturday, November 9, 1963
By Leslie Edwards
Blackburn Rovers, who took three points from Everton last season are not playing their new Southport signing, Blore, against Everton at Goodison Park to-day. He goes into the reserve side to await the moment when Manager Marshall considers him ready for blooding in the First Division. Pickering, the man who faces Brian Labone this afternoon is the England under-23 centre forward; so, it is possible that when the former Liverpool man does get his chance it will be at inside forward. Roy Vernon, the Everton captain and Ronnie Clayton, skipper of the opposing side were teammates at Ewood before Manager Carey stepped in and brought Vernon to Goodison Park. As they are directly opposed to one another to-day the rivalry between them is likely to be keener than ever. Everton won a point in a roughish match at Blackpool a week ago; if they make more of their chances to-day than they did then victory could come comparatively easily, I say comparatively advisedly, because no matter what the strength of the opposition points are always hard to gain in the First Division.
DOUBLY EFFECTIVE
The Blackburn menace is of course that small but cunning little man, Bryan Douglas. He used to plague defences on the wing. Now as an inside forward he can go so many more ways and is thus doubly effective. He’s a fiery man, too and can take his part in any game in which the going tends to be tough. Everton’s two Scots, Scott and Gabriel who distinguished themselves on Thursday against Norway have had a busy and quite tiring week. It would seen from reports that the Scots in Scotland consider Scott has become and even better winger as a result of his translation to football in England. Gabriel’s drive was not lost on the crowd. What is more important is that he is getting on with the game and not getting himself mixed up in any trouble.
SOCCERS RAPIER
One Everton player who is welcoming the softer going is Alex Young. Ge gets much less trouble from his tender feet in mid-winter than he does when the going is firm. He did not have a very good game at Blackpool, but there is scarcely a match at home when he does not put his individual imprint on the game and on Everton victory. A more artistic player would be hard to find, and praise be, we have fans on whom none of it is lost. Young is the rapier of soccer; so many other forwards and half backs are merely bludgeons. Everton; West; Parker, Meagan; Gabriel, Labone, Kay; Scott, Stevens, Young, Vernon, Temple. Blackburn Rovers; Else; Bray, Newton (or Simms) Clayton, England, McGrath; Ferguson, McEvoy, Pickering, Douglas, Harrison.

PICKERING THREE GOALS STUNNER FOR GOODISON
Liverpool Echo & Evening Express- Saturday, November 10, 1963
EVERTON PLAYERS BOOKED THEN KAY IS SENT OFF
EVERTON 2, BLACKBURN ROVERS 4
By Leslie Edwards

Everton; West; Parker, Meagan; Gabriel, Labone, Kay; Scott, Stevens, Young, Vernon (Captain), Temple. Blackburn Rovers; Else; Bray, Newton; Clayton (Captain), England, McGrath; Ferguson, McEvoy, Pickering, Douglas, Harrison. Referee; Mr. K, Stokes (Newark).
In the first minute Pickering beat Labone cleverly and then having opened up a first-class chance for a long-range shot, mis-timed his effort vert badly.
GOOD EFFORT
Vernon teed one up for Gabriel a moment later, after Temple had taken a quick throw, and this drive was solidly hit and rose only a foot or two above the bar. The game opened dramatically with Blackburn scoring at three minutes. Straight from the dispossession of Temple the ball went downfield in a Blackburn attack and Pickering far out, hit a tentative looking cross shot, which to everyone’s surprise, not least West found the net just inside the post. The ball did not travel quickly but, at least it had the merit of direction. Even Pickering himself seemed surprised when the ball found the mark. Everton suffered a double blow because before the ball could be re-centred Gabriel had come to the touchline for attention to what appeared to be a pulled thigh muscle. Trainer Eggleston took him down the subway into the dressing room, and while Gabriel was away there were some testing moments for the home side with Blackburn getting two right wing corner kicks and even Young and Temple coming back into defence to lend their aid.
ON THE COLLAR
England was already showing his command in the air and on the ground and as no one seemed to have dropped back to fill the Gabriel gap. Everton were rather on the collar for a while. From a half-cleared Temple corner, Temple turned the ball back for Meagan to make a stunning long range shot which Else save brilliantly. A moment later Gabriel was back with his right thigh heavily bandaged. He went to outside left with Temple coming to inside forward, and Stevens dropping back to Gabriel’s position.
GRAND CHANCE
McGrath removed a Vernon shot from the vicinity of goal, after a corner by Scott and had not Young and Gabriel both made for the centre which Temple crossed at this moment, either of them might have scored with a header if they had not got in each other’s way. A grand chance went begging. With Gabriel little more than a limping passenger, Everton were doing rather better now but with the Blackburn attack so fast moving and fluid the chances were that they and not Everton, would get the next goal. This was a prophetic sentence because Blackburn went two up at 23 minutes, Pickering again being the scorer. It was a glorious goal, and the crowd rose to him for it. First, he beat Stevens with a glorious feint, then he took the ball away to his right where he rounded Meagan and fairly rocketed in a low right foot shot. Everton might have made it 2-1 immediately the game re-started as Temple was clean through from a pass by Young, but Else, who had left his line, ,made a first class save knocking the ball up so that Bray could beat the oncoming Gabriel for possession. Gabriel was booked for a foul on Ferguson. One way and another this was not Everton’s happiest day. Indeed, Blackburn were doing pretty well as they pleased in some of their attacks.
WITH EASE
Vernon missed one reasonable scoring chance by delaying his shot, and in the end never even attempting one. The Everton defence was at sixes and sevens with Pickering working his way through with absurd ease. At this stage he brought the ball up the goal-line on the left leaving defender after defender in the process and finished with a hard shot down a fine angle which Gabriel could only turn out to where Harrison stood. Harrison was in the inside left position and hit a close range shot which found the net via the inside of the near post. This was sensational stuff, and the ease with which Blackburn accomplished it made it all the harder to bear. Manager Catterick’s opinion was that Blackburn were the most improved side in the League was thus fully borne out. The ironic thing was that the man who had been expected to do the damage, Douglas had scarcely been seen, Pickering himself had built the three-goal lead. The crowd had been strangely silent, and it was fitting that at 32 minutes when they chanted as a corner kick was taken that Everton should get a goal. Temple’s cross was nodded beyond the far post to where Young stood and without delay, he hammered the ball into the roof of the net. Douglas was only inches out from making it 4-1 with a fine shot which veered just wide of an upright immediately the game re-started and then Vernon running on to the ball as it was pulled back from the left, got full force into his drive which swerved narrowly wide. Harrison was injured in a clash with Vernon and needed attention and the game re-started with Blackburn getting the free kick they fully merited. Blackburn were now getting a little flurried, and Everton were pulling out all the stops.
DOUGLAS MAGIC
Blackburn were now inclined to weave patterns without making much progress, but Douglas now burst into the picture with his own brand of magic. When he was brought down by Stevens, right back Bray plastered the free kick fiercely over the Everton bar. The battle was warming up and on such a heavy pitch both sides would be dog tired at the finish, whatever the result. Vernon showed dissent from a decision giving a foul in Douglas’s favour, and the referee took the Everton captain’s name. Half-time; Everton 1, Blackburn Rovers 3.
Gabriel lined up at centre forward with Young on his right at the start of the second half. Temple made a good snap shot, a swerving one which Else grasped at the foot of the post, and then Young, with a first class volley, all but scored from Scott’s centre after the winger had been found with a peach of a through pass by Parker. Harrison took the free kick given Parker fouled him and from a standing start, made a surprise shot which almost caught West unawares. Fortunately, he was able to bring the ball down from overhead.
APPLAUSE MERITED
Then Douglas threatened his way straight through the Everton defence to fire a shot just wide of the upright. He got well merited applause. When kay was guilty of a bad foul on Harrison his name went into the book, and Douglas looked at the referee in mute appeal. When Douglas was guilty a moment later of a foul, Everton players indicated that they thought the referee should also book the Blackburn player, but the referee thought otherwise. There were many stoppages for freekicks. When Vernon was brought down from behind, just inside the penalty area, Everton claimed a penalty but did not get one, and a moment later, after a clash between Douglas and Kay, Kay was ordered from the field. It was now a thoroughly ill-tempered match with the crowd angry at Everton’s position.
WITH EASE
Blackburn went 4-1 up at 65 minutes when Pickering got yet another goal. It was made by Harrison who took the ball 40 yards down the left wing before putting McEvoy through. This player rounded Stevens and pulled the ball back square for Pickering to ram it into the net with impudent ease. Everton were inclined to disintegrate now, having only nine fit men and an injured player. Blackburn were content to concentrate on defence. Pickering picked up something that had been thrown on the pitch, shaped as though to fling it back into the crowd and then handed it to the referee. McEvoy was unlucky not to get a goal when his full-blooded drive struck Douglas in the back. There was a succession of free kicks against Stevens, mostly for fouls on Douglas and the crowd started a slow handicap aimed mostly at the referee, whose strictness of control, at least, was refreshing after the many who allow all sorts of rough stuff to pass unnoticed. Temple made it 4-2 at 84 minutes minute with a fine headed goal from a pass laid on by Scott, who had reverted to his old position at outside right. Final; Everton 2, Blackburn Rovers 4.

EVERTON B V BLACKPOOL B
Liverpool Echo & Evening Express- Saturday, November 9, 1963
Everton took the lead after three minutes when Everton’s left back Darcy went through alone and finished his run by putting the ball into the Blackpool goal. Only good work by the Blackpool goalkeeping keep the Everton score down. Half-time; Everton 1, Blackpool 0

LOOKING FORWARD TO RANGERS GAMES
The Liverpool Echo & Evening Express- November 9, 1963
By Alex Young
The announcement that Everton are to play the Scottish champions, Glasgow Rangers, on November 27 (at Ibrox Park) and December 3 (at Goodison) is warmly welcomed by the playing staff at Everton and we are all looking forward to the matches. The cliché used on these occasions is “May the best team win,” but I think it better to change the wording slightly this time and say, “may the team playing the best football win.” I feel that nothing at all will be gained if these matches follow the pattern of our encounters against Inter-Milan and Dunfermline, so let’s keep these on the friendliest possible basis. My opinion is that the vast majority of supporters do not like defensive tactics -that chant at Anfield last Saturday illustrates my point- and I am sure that neither Everton nor Rangers fans want to see a dour struggle in which the result is the only thing that counts. How much happier everyone will be if both sides resolve to play attractive football and give the fans a soccer treat, they richly deserve. Incidentally, Rangers v. Everton is not the only football highlight on November 27. This is the date that Tottenham receive Manchester United in the first leg of the European Cup Winners’ Cup-tie, and what a great game that should be.
POOR DAY
It was a poor day for the leading clubs last Saturday when Tottenham and Nottingham Forest were the only winners in the top half of the table. Leicester were in the bottom 11 before their win at Anfield, but the less said about that the better. Remember however, I wanted you last week that it was too early to write off City’s championship chances. I though our game at Blackpool was an enjoyable one and on the strength of our second half showing, we were perhaps unfortunate to gain only one point. A couple of good saves (and one or two more fortunate ones) by goalkeeper Tony Waiters were, I feel, the reason we dropped a point. Every away game is like a cup tie for us at the moment- everyone wants to beat the champions -and after an early Ray Charnley goal had inspired Blackpool we had quite a struggle to gain command. Roy Vernon did smash home an equaliser 15 minutes after half-time, but this unfortunately was as far as we got. In the Blackpool side, the young inside forward Alan Ball looked particularly impressive Alan may be a fraction slow off the mark at the moment but he should get over this with experience and I am sure we shall hear much more about him in the future.
DUNLOP GOES
As you know, Albert Dunlop has left Everton for Third Division Wrexham and I am told he played an outstanding game in his debut against Crewe last Saturday. Albert did great service during his many seasons at Goodison and we shall always be grateful for the way he stepped back into First Division football towards the end of last season and saw us safely home to the championship. His displays in these matches were terrific. The Everton players wish Albert the best of luck with his new club and hope he will play a leading part in pulling them away from that precarious position they occupy at the moment. It is amazing the way names of former Everton players keep cropping up when one reads the various match reports. Next Saturday, at Nottingham Forest, we come up against Frank Wignall, who now leads the attack of a club managed by our former “boss” Mr. Johnny Carey. I notice that in a call over for the F.A Cup made this week, Everton were quoted as second favourites to Tottenham with Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool following in that order. It is an uneasy position to start favourites, for a competition so I am not upset about Everton being ranked second to Spurs, Anfield fans, however, might not be too happy with their position. Incidentally, I suppose those who like an early flutter on the Cup have noticed the generous odds of 25 to one being offered against Sheffield Wednesday.

BURY RES V EVERTON RES
Liverpool Echo & Evening Express- Saturday, November 9, 1963
Bury Res; Knowles; Roberts, Threlfall; Leach, Colquhoun, Morris; Clayton, Griffin, Brooks, Bell, Brown. Everton Res; Rankin; Thomson, Brown; Jarvis, Heslop, Harris; Shaw, Rees, Hill, Humphreys, Morrissey. Referee; Mr. L. Rouse (Leeds). Playing neat and clever football Everton called the tune in the early stages, but they were unable to force home their attack. Most danger came at the other end and Everton were lucky when Bell drove in for Rankin to turn the ball around the post with his legs. Shortly afterwards Rankin saved brilliantly at the foot of the post from Claxton. Everton continued to play interesting football, and centres from Shaw and Morrissey were only cleared with difficulty. After Brown had missed an easy chance of putting Bury into the lead, Everton went ahead in the 37th minute. Rees heading home a perfectly placed centre by Morrissey. Everton held the lead however, for only two minutes, Griffin heading past Rankin from a centre by Claxton. Half-time; Bury Reserves 1, Everton Reserves 1.

IT WAS BLUE MURDER
Liverpool Daily Post – Monday, November 11, 1963
IT WAS PICKERING NOT REFEREE WHO BEAT EVERTON
EVERTON 2, BLACKBURN ROVERS 4
By Horace Yates
It was blue murder at Goodison Park on Saturday! When all the screaming and screeching died, one fact emerged stark and clear. Everton had been beaten worthily and well by a side, numerically stronger, and on the day at least, vastly more competent and controlled. The crowd’s attempts to use the referee as a smokescreen for their discomfiture, could not stand up to serious examination. Not only were Everton clearly second best, with reputations in one way and another horribly smudged, but a section of the crowd lost most of their medals as well. Their behaviour was inexcusable after the match, with their senseless chant, “We want the referee.” While play went on they littered the field with an assortment of weapons and pelted the referee as the strode to the players’ exit. Let us try to put the picture in focus. For twenty minutes the football was highly entertaining with Everton handicapped by Gabriel’s injury, and struggling after two minutes. By that time Blackburn were a goal up through Pickering. Maybe there was a touch of fortune about the gaol, for Pickering appeared to kick the ground and instead of imparting pace he gratuitously found direction and West was beaten. Gabriel limped off the field with a thigh muscle injury and returned as a stout-hearted passenger for the rest of the match. Pickering with hardly any space for manoeuvre, beat West a second time in 21 minutes. Still there was no dangerous explosive spark. True Gabriel has been spoken to by the referee for the sort of tackle that is noted only by the award of a free kick by many referees. We all agreed that Mr. Stokes seemed determined this game would not get out of hand. Secretly, I think, we applauded him. Surely the sport would be cleaner, better affair for more men of his calibre. Gabriel was first to put to the proof whether the referee really was in earnest. When he repeated the tackle, the half back was promptly booked. The crowd did not like that. They liked even less a third goal by Harrison, which went in off the post, in 27 minutes after West had charged down Pickering’s shot. In danger of disintegration, the match received a life-giving injection when Temple’s corner kick was headed on by Gabriel for the exposed Young to score in 31 minutes.
ROARED ON.
Hereabouts I cannot praise the crowd’s reaction sufficiently to do it justice. They roared Everton on. Even when the ball was out of play and the game held up, on and on went the Everton chant. Vernon, fighting a losing battle with Clayton for the most part, struggled free to send a shot screaming narrowly over the bar. The fans screamed in accompaniment, but Blackburn kept their lead. Only a minute from the interval, Vernon apparently said what he thought about the penalising of Stevens for a foul on Douglas. Like Vernon I thought the referee was in error, but he could not hear what I said. Vernon was overheard and that was booking No.2. in three minutes after half-time Temple and Young went near enough to suggest that all might still not be lost, despite the Gabriel affliction. What seemed to inflame the crowd to the point at which reason boiled over was not so much the booking of Tony Kay (making three Everton men in the match), as the refusal even to wag a cautionary finger at Douglas for the treatment of Meagan. Kay and other Everton players roared for action. The referee brushed them aside. Within minutes Kay was walking to the dressing room following a clash with Douglas. As others will deal with the incident all I propose to say is that Douglas ended on the ground and the referee indicated the use of an elbow by Kay. Mr. Stokes is a very courageous referee, I believe him to be an efficient referee too. I criticise him only on one point. Not a single Blackburn plater was booked!
LESSON LEARNED?
After Kay’s dismissal nobody else was in trouble. It could have been that the punishment was a lesson to the rest -but it wasn’t! I failed to see at what point Mr. Stokes made fouls a booking offence. At least one player on each side, Stevens and Douglas, on the standards earlier set by Mr. Stokes, should have joined those other three names in the book. If the two did not merit booking. It is difficult not to have sympathy with Gabriel and Vernon. When we were all allowed to concentrate on football it was increasingly apparent Everton were making no sort of show in dealing with Pickering and Harrison. They got together in another duel in 63 minutes and Pickering completed his treble. A temple header from Scott’s centre (82) provided the final score line. Now where did Everton go wrong? It was bad enough being a goal down in two minutes, but infinitely worse to lose the effectiveness of Gabriel at the same time. The rhythm was immediately destroyed. Labone could never control Pickering, the most improved centre forward in football. Parker was similarity at sea with Harrison. By contrast Meagan was wonderfully effective in all he did, and I doubt if everybody had ever seen a lean excitable player! Layton subdued Vernon and Young was struggling not very effectively, against a commanding England. With Stevens playing determinedly back in defence, this was hardly the foundation on which to build a winning retaliation against four goals. Everton; West; Parker, Meagan; Gabriel, Labone, Kay; Scott, Stevens, Young, Vernon, Temple. Blackburn Rovers; Else; Bray, Newton; Clayton, England, McGrath, Ferguson, McEvoy, Pickering, Douglas, Harrison. Referee. Mr. K. Stokes (Newark). Attendance 49,340.

BURY RESERVES 1, EVERTON RESERVES 2
The Liverpool Daily Post- Monday, November 11, 1963
Everton Reserves played most of the polished football seen in this Central League game at Bury, but they were as little fortunate to finish in the lead. Rankin made two brilliant saves and was lucky to turn aside one shot with his legs. Yet the visitors were always the more skilful, and if they had effectively finished the speedy raids of their wingers, especially Morrissey, they would have won by more than the odd goal. The enthusiasm of Bury’s youngsters almost earned them some reward, but in the end the result was a good one. Rees’ two well-taken goals for Everton were separated with one from Griffiths.

“TOO MUCH ILL-TEMPER IN SOCCER” -CATTERICK
The Liverpool Echo & Evening Express- Monday, November 11, 1963
By Leslie Edwards
Why is there so much ill-temper in football? Let Everton Manager, Harry Catterick, answer, because he played the game for years and has had sufficient managerial experience to know the difference between what happens now and what happened in his playing days. He said, yesterday. “The game is being spoiled by ill-temper. Whether it is due to the amount of money successful teams and players are getting; whether the generation now playing has different standards from ours I don’t know. Perhaps it is a bit of both. “We always used to maintain that the great players was the one who could endure rough treatment without losing his head; without losing his balance and his football ability. They breed ‘em like that, so often, now. “There are times when the most equable of players, even if he is a star, erupts, but those cases should be rare. Instead they are commonplace. And where you find a man getting ill-tempered you can be almost sure he is bound to lose his effectiveness. The ability to controls oneself is almost as important as one ability to control the ball. You cannot do one if you fail to do the other. It is possible that some clubs have had too much success; that they haven’t learned to lose.” “In my opinion these words are wise. Though Mr. Catterick was studiously, not referring to any specific match when he made them, they could well apply to the match at Goodison Park on Saturday when Blackburn Rovers beat Everton 4-2 and Referee K. Stokes, of Newark, who used to work down the mine, put three Everton’s names in his book and ordered Tony Kay from the field after 58 minutes’ play. These actions -and the fact that he booked no Blackburn player, though some of them were guilty of fouls- so incensed the crowd the referee and his aides had to shield their heads from garbage hurled at them as they left the arena. Not a pretty sight. After the game, several thousands of irate fans, demonstrating in the street outside the players’ entrance and chanting. “We want the referee! We want the referee! Were dispersed by mounted police.
FULL REPORT…
Whether this and the other incidents mentioned will go into Mr. Stokes’s report is of some moment, I imagine, to the Everton club and their following. When I spoke to Mr. Stokes yesterday he said, “I did my job on the field; I will do my job when I make my full report to the proper authority.” Did the referee treat Everton too harshly? One expert opinion answer; In trying to keep on top of the game and of the players he was sometimes too harsh. Many people may not have quarrelled with his decision against Kay or against the booking of Vernon and Gabriel they did quarrel with his failure to book even one Blackburn players.” The answer to this, presumably, from the referee, would be that the fouls committed by the visiting side were not, in his opinion, heinous enough to rate name-taking. I don’t think the Everton crowd, nearly 50,000, quarrelled with the result-one of Everton’s rare home defeats- they were more angered that justice appeared not to be done. My own opinion was that the referee handled a difficult situation with firmness. His performance at least had the classic merit (which many referees performance have not) of not showing favours to the home side or the home crowd. The truth is that Everton’s goal down and with Gabriel almost a passenger from the third minute, had virtually lost the game inside this initial first three minutes. That they got the score to 4-2 and very nearly 4-3, was a good effort, but they would have done better, I think, if they had not pursed a literal “they shall not pass.” Attitude which produced free-kick after free-kick in Blackburn’s favour. It could have been a great match if Gabriel had not pulled a thigh muscle almost at the outset. He left the field for 10 minutes immediately after Pickering bad scored and came back to hobble first at outside-left and then at centre-forward. Kay was sent off shortly after the second half began after a clash with Douglas. It appeared that Kay caught his opponent with an elbow or the back of his hand, Douglas went down and Kay, already having been hooked went off. Despite their double handicap Everton had a fair second half. Their effectiveness was lost through the game being punctuated by too many fouls. Indeed, as a game it ceased to be entertainment from the time the axe fell on Kay.
ALL TOO RIGHT
When the Everton manager warned that Blackburn were the most improved side in the League he was all too right. A big, commanding team, they acted well on the heavy treacherous going’ and uncorked in the one time full-back, Pickering, one of the finest English centre-forwards the game has had for years. He scored three of the goals; laid on the other for Harrison and had Labone in such straits, Everton, at one stage, had virtually no half-back worthy of the name. Gabriel had departed to the attack; Kay was in the dressing room and Labone was as ineffective as he had bene against Burnley. No wonder Blackburn won 4-2 and that Everton became so frustrated at their failure they gave us blood-and-guts where we usually get artistry and winning football. West, too, had a none to happy day, though it is arguable whether he saw Pickering’s first scoring shot until it was half way on its course, parker certainly had little success against Harrison and it was mostly down the left that Blackburn did the damage. Everton’s first goal, from Young did not come until they were 0-3 down. He hammered the ball in from a flicked header by Gabriel. Temple scored the other with a nice header from a centre by Scott. Just as well for Everton they have in Harris a ready deputy for Gabriel, who may well miss a few games. But the possibility exists that he will be needed also on the other flank if things go badly for Kay.

MANAGER HAS TALK WITH VERNON
Liverpool Echo - Monday 11 November 1963
TRANSFER RUMOUR
STATEMENT
By Leslie Edwards
Manager Harry Catterick, of Everton spoke to club captain and Welsh International inside left, Roy Vernon, today about reports that he was unsettled and would be asking for a move. “Vernon told me,” said Mr. Catterick, “that he knows nothing at all about such reports.”
Everton play a Lancashire Senior Cup game against Oldham Athletic at Goodison Park tomorrow evening (7 o’clock). Everton; Burnett; Harcombe, Thomson; Clark, Smith, Sharples; Roberts, Glover, Hurst, Wright, Veall,
Stand seats, all bookable for the first leg of the Glasgow Rangers v. Everton game, in Glasgow, have been fixed at 30s, 20s, and 10s.
GOODISON MATCH
Five Rangers players are eligible for the Scottish Under-23 side against Wales at Wrexham on the night following the second leg match at Goodison Park on December 3, but presumably Rangers have some understanding with the S.F.A that none of their players will be selected; otherwise the match would be robbed of much of its appeal.
VAL HARRIS DEAD
Val Harris, famous Everton and Irish forward has died at Loughlinstown, County Dublin. He started his career with Shelbourne and 20 years later, after ending his long career with Everton, finished it with the same Irish club.

TONY KAY SELECTED FOR SHADOW X1
Liverpool Daily Post – Tuesday, November 12, 1963
THOMPSON, HUNT AND LABONE ALSO GET PLACES
Tony Kay, the Everton half back, who was sent off the field during the match against Blackburn Rovers at Goodison Park last Saturday, has been chosen for the England shadow eleven for the game against Ireland at Wembley on November 20. Also named in the shadow eleven are Brian Labone.
EVERTON PLAY OLDHAM ATHLETIC
This evening (7 p.m.) Everton meet Oldham Athletic in a Lancashire Senior Cup game; Everton; Burkett; Harrcombe, Thomson; Clark, Smith, Sharples; Roberts, Glover, Hurst, Wright, Veall.

THE AFTERMATH OF A SORRY SPECTABLE
The Liverpool Echo & Evening Express – Tuesday, November 12, 1963
By Leslie Edwards
What I wrote yesterday -that Everton’s home defeat was not the thing which incensed the crowd at Goodison Park on Saturday- is bourne out by readers’ letters. Most of them agree that the censures on Everton players were deserved; most of them think that certain Blackburn players also deserved censure. Writing from Hebden Road, West Derby, David Corrin says.
“Although it is the easiest thing in the world to be captious about anything or anyone, I must express my concern at the behaviour of certain Everton players. “Certain minority sections of the crowd display unruly behaviour at times, and the club have difficulty in curbing them. However, Everton can and must do something to control the ebullient temperaments that exist in the team.
“Whether provoked or not, I was saddened at the antics of Kay, Vernon, and Stevens during the game against Blackburn. The referee, of course must take some blame for some strange decisions and failing to take a firmer hold on the game in its earlier stages. “As captain and deputy, Vernon and Kay, despite their undoubted ability, are too hot-headed in their approach to the game.
“It was stated at the start of the season that the captaincy would be decided on a game-to-game basis. What has the current skipper done to command constant selection? “Also, what has happened to the pre-season warning about Everton players becoming involved in disputes with the referee? “It worked for the first few matches, but team discipline is not what it was, despite the good playing record to-date. “It is time a law was introduced fining any player half his wages if his name is taken. He should receive no wage at all if sent off the field. The attack is currently only functioning on two reliable cylinders. Young and Temple and to a lesser degree the hard-working Scott. “Everton must soon start work on the construction of two cantilever stands to increase the ground capacity to at least 100,000. For certain League and Cup games such a ground could be easily filled. Many fans stay away from any big games, due to the fact that they are unable to see all the match in reasonable comfort.”
SEEMED HARSHER
“It appears now that Everton hold the position of League champions everybody seems to have a down on them. I think we can see a very good example of this by the newspapers over the last few weeks. “The decision to book Vernon, Gabriel, and to send off Kay seems even more harsh when you take into consideration the fact that on several occasions he had to speak to Blackburn players for what in my estimation were harsher fouls, but all they got was a little taking to. Not one of them was booked. Perhaps the referee was more interested in filling his pockets with what he picked up off the ground at Gwladys Street end. K.A Wilson, 21 Elm Road, Seaforth.
“I have lost interest in professional football because the wages are ridiculously high and perhaps that is why there is so much violent on the field, I saw my first game as a boy at Goodison Park in 1912 when Glossop came here and won. Standards with players and spectators have really deteriorated since those days,” – H.B. Eaton Road, Liverpool 12.
“Why did the crowd applaud Kay? His team, playing with 10 men were beginning to show signs of salvaging a point when he did the silly thing which got him sent off, reducing Everton to nine fit men. When he left, they had no chance- A. nelson, Class! referee, Buttermere Road, Liverpool.
“After watching the Blackburn game I’ve come to the conclusion that some referees are to blame for a lot of the trouble on Merseyside, I agree with his booking three Everton players and also sending of another, but why, oh why, did he not book that Blackburn player when he was guilty of ungentlemanly behaviour?” -Reg Gadd, 28 Sunlight Street, Liverpool 6.
“What must Blackburn do to get the referee to even speak to them? Douglas was guilty or many fouls; the referee did not caution him. Gabriel, Vernon, and Kay committed two fouls each and had their names taken.”- Peter Meakin, Peter Garrity, 10b Westhead Avenue, Northwood.
“How can any true follower of Everton or Liverpool who cares about his team throw all sorts of missiles at the referee and then wait outside the ground for him? Against Blackburn we were all truly beaten, but the way the referee sided with Douglas would have got anyone excited, if not to the extent it did. We don’t want the ground wired in or closed, so people should keep their apple cores, rolled up newspapers &c., to themselves. They only end up, via the referee at the F.A offices-
P. Johnson, 362 Princess Drive, Liverpool 14.
IS IT COINCIDENTAL
“isn’t it time the club took a firmer hand and rebuked those who bring the club into disrepute? There is never any mention these days of the School of Science. Is it coincidental that there are more adverse Press reports than favourable ones? Envy of a successful side certainly enters into it as Tottenham well know, but rabid fans are more willing to concede the ability of that club.
“if players cannot prevent, by their play, the public censure brought about by referees’ decisions they should be made to give way to those who can until they learn to mend their ways.
There’s nothing particularly unusual that a side like Everton should have season-ticket holders coming from 50-odd miles away, but please let us have a run for our money.” J.P. Waters, Rosehill Road, Burnley.
“To use a Churchillian phrase, never were so many humbled by so few. To say Everton were a disappointment is putting it mildly. Blackburn were slick where Everton were sluggish. The taking of names (all on one side) did not help Everton.
“The deplorable features of the match could have been prevented by a stronger referee, who should have called all the players together and issued a general warning.
“One regrets the bad name our city is getting from the behaviour of people who throw things. One hopes that more good than harm will come out of this defeat, leading to better football, cleaner sport and more home wins- Jock, Rosalind Street, Liverpool 20.
“Call it what you may, it boils down to a very disappointing disturbing exhibition.
Not only are players responsible, but surely the management must share responsibility.
“Further the sporting spirit of many supporters left much to be desired. Along with thousands of others I left the ground regretting having had the misfortune to witness such behaviour at Everton.
“Perhaps the missile collected by the referee was intended as a good-luck token- A. Barrett, Bidston Road, Birkenhead.

LANCS, SENIOR CUP
Liverpool daily Post- Wednesday, November 13, 1963
FLATTERING VICTORY FOR EVERTON
EVERTON 4, OLDHAM ATHLETIC 1
Everton are in the next round of the Lancashire Senior Cup, but their victory over Oldham Athletic at Goodison Park last night flattered them. Except for the first five minutes when a Veall shot hit the inside of the post and spun away, the first half was mainly a midfield battle with defences on top. Then at the 42nd and 44th minute Everton took a 2-0 lead. Hurst headed in a Veall centre and outside right Roberts hit a lovely left foot shot which goalkeeper Swinburne had no chance of saving. Sharples had been using a Crossfield pass to Roberts and at 53 minutes this paid off, when the winger beat two men and centred for Hurst to head an easy goal. Oldham came much more into the attacking picture and centre forward Taylor with right wing pair Burdess and Barlow started to give the Everton defence trouble with some accurate passing and at 75 minutes Taylor reduced the arrears. Play became much more even, but Oldham’s finishing was weak and at 85 minutes Veall got the fourth goal when his shot was deflected into the net off a defender.

EVERTON TAKE THEIR CHANCES
The Liverpool Echo & Evening Express, Wednesday, November 13, 1963
Everton’s Lancashire Senior Cup victory over Oldham Athletic, at Goodison Park last night, was not as one sided as the final score of 4-1 suggests. There was little to choose between the teams- both contained many youngsters -and if the visitors had been stronger in front of goal, they might easily have forced a draw. The first half, except for the opening five minutes when a Veall shot hit the inside of the post and spun away, was mainly a midfield battle with defences on top. Then at the 42nd and 44th minute Everton took a surprise 2-0 lead. Hurst headed in a Veall centre and outside right Roberts hit a lovely left foot shot, which gave goalkeeper Swinburne no chance.
EASY GOAL
Eight minutes after the interval a Sharples pass found Roberts on the right wing. He beat two men and centred for Hurst to head an easy goal. Although three down, Oldham found a new lease of life and went into the attack. Centre forward Taylor, with right wing pair Burdess and Barlow, started to penetrate the Everton defence with some accurate inter-passing and at 75 minutes Taylor reduced the arrears. Play became more even but Oldham’s finishing was weak and at 85 minutes Veall got the fourth goal for Everton with a shot which was deflected by a defender.
WITH LESLIE EDWARDS
STILL AT IT…
From a wealth of correspondence on the Blackburn game I select the following; -
“I have bene a supporter of Everton for many years but never have I been so disgusted with the behaviour of some of the crowd. It would appear that we have lost the ability to ‘take it’ and that no team has a right to come to Goodison Park and defeat us!
“let us be fair admit that Blackburn would have beer, a very hard nut to crack despite the injury to Gabriel. “Also, we have got to make up our minds whether we want rough stuff or football. I prefer to see good English-style football which we know Everton are capable of playing not a display of bad-tempered niggling stuff.
“So much is written and spoken these days about referees being too lenient and allowing matches to get out of hand, yet when a man like Mr. Stokes shows he will stand no nonsense all he gets is abuse and missiles – J. Lane, Pelops Street, Liverpool 20
Like every other true Evertonian Saturday’s game has left me very sour. Admittedly, Everton were desperately unlucky to lose Jimmy Gabriel so early, but his absence from the right half position cannot be offered as an excuse for those ridiculously easy goals.
“I have noticed in almost every Everton game a tendency for defenders to withhold their tackle in midfield and allow attackers to progress to the penalty area. This backing-off has cost several goals (and games), not only at Manchester and Anfield. - Ralph Marner, 3 Warburton Street, Liverpool 7.
“After seeing the Everton v. Blackburn match, I am convinced some referees badly need refresher courses. We need men of the stamp of Howcroft, Bond and Ellis more than ever. There were some level-headed fans by me but how can one blame them blowing their tops after a such a sorry one-sided exhibition of refereeing as this” L. Massey, 90 Gloucester Road, Liverpool 6.
“I have always found your reports of matches very fair, but your report of last Saturday’s game did not, in my opinion go far enough.
“It appears to me that the referee is to be beyond criticism. However, I would point out the fact that the referee is a paid official. Whether he is underpaid isn’t the point. He is part of the game of football. Justice shouldn’t only be done- it should be SEEN to be done and Mr. Stokes on Saturday fell far short in this direction.
Douglas committed as far as I counted SEVEN fouls and got not one warning.
“The Goodison crowd CAN take a licking. No crowd can stand what Mr. Stokes was doing on Saturday, I put the blame on the shoulders of the referee” – K.H. Anders, 22 Greenbank Avenue, Maghull, Liverpool.
“ninety-eight per cent of Goodison supporters do not condone blatant fouls committed by Everton players, not=r do they condone the hooliganism of the irresponsible minority. The same spectators were loud in their expression of appreciation of the good football played by Blackburn in the early stages. Now we come to the crux of the trouble which caused the game to degenerate the refereeing” – A do, C. Exton, Westbourne Road, West Kirby.

IRISH CLUB WANT DAVE HICKSON AS PLAYER-MANAGER
The Liverpool Echo & Evening Express, Thursday, November 14, 1963
By Michael Charters
Ballymena, the Irish League Club, are interested in signing Tranmere Rovers centre forward, Dave Hickson, as player-manager. Hickson, whose incident-packed career stretches through six League clubs and one non-League, is out of Tranmere’s first team at present and would like to try a managerial stint as his next move in football. I understand that Ballymena are sending over representatives to watch Hickson play on Saturday. They had planned to be at Wigan Athletic, where Tranmere Reserves have a Cheshire League fixture, but there is a good chance that Hickson may be recalled to the first team for their F.A Cup tie at Doncaster Rovers. Bernard Evans the tall ex-Wrexham centre forward who was brought recently from Oxford United to take over from Hickson, is suffering from leg strain and may not be fit for the Cup tie. Ballymena therefore may be able to see Hickson in all the fight and fury of a Cup clash, a replica of the second-round tie last season between the same clubs, when Hickson scored twice in a fine victory. Ballymena have not made an official approach to Tranmere for Hickson, but the player himself knows of their interest and is anxious to meet their representatives. Tranmere manager David Russell sounds a warning note to Hickson’s immediate ambitions, however. He told me to-day; “We have heard unofficially of Ballymena’s idea but until we get something official from them, we can do nothing. As it is, I don’t know if we can afford to let him go at present. “When Hickson was playing well, he made out team tick. “If Ballymena go through with their offer, it will have to be considered by our directors.” If Hickson does go to Ballymena, he will follow another former Liverpool player, Geoff Twentyman, the wing half, who was the Irish club’s player-manager for three years before leaving at the end of last season. Twentyman has re-joined his first League club, Carlisle United, but had a successful spell at Ballymena, even being chosen for the Irish League against the Football league and the Scottish League. Ballymena feel that the Hickson personally will help their team. His long experience in the game here is well known in Northern Ireland, and if he does join them it will be yet another unusual twist to the mercurial players career, which started in 1948 with Everton as a promising youngster from Ellesmere Port, then to Aston Villa, Huddersfield, and back to Everton before moving “across the park” to Liverpool. At the end of the 1960-61 season, he joined Cambridge City, the Southern League club, but never settled with them, and it was Bury who took him back into league football. He was released by them and it seemed as though his senior career was over, but Tranmere Rovers offered him a month’s trial at the start if the 1962-63 season. He made a hit, signed full-time terms, and was their star performer for the rest of that season. This time, however, he has not been so successful, and was dropped from the first team a few weeks ago when Evans was signed.

ROY VERNON SAYS…
The Liverpool Daily Post, Friday, November 15, 1963
EVERTON START ANOTHER COME-BACK
After the defeat -the inquest! Every week we at Everton discuss the previous match, where we did well and where we went wrong. I think it is a splendid idea. While no punches are pulled and there is straight talking, there is no ill feeling. Everybody realises that what is being said is for the good of the club in general. That obviously must be our first concern. Much as you might like to read them, I have no intention of letting you into the secrets of what transpired! I can say that we tried to pin-point where and why we went wrong, and we will all be trying to remedy that situation. Obviously, the fact that our opponents are finding it easier to score goals against us than was the case last season is worrying. Defence was an important platform in our Championship-winning programme. We know that if we scored once we had a good chance. If we put two into the net, then we were odds-on favourites for a couple of points. Writing from memory, I can recall Manchester United scoring five, Burnley, West Ham and Blackburn have all counted four Liverpool and Sheffield Wednesday had two each.
ANNOYING THOUGHT
Only Arsenal got four against us last season, I have been told that 17 of our opponents failed to score and fourteen others were forced to settle for one each. You can imagine the tremendous source of confidence this presented to our attack. We have the same men available. What we have done once we can do again. At least, that is how the boys feel about it. It does seen strange talking about starting our comeback at Nottingham Forest to-morrow. After all, we are still right on the heels of the leaders, although we may have dropped three of the last four points. I agree that if we had gained the three, we dropped, we should now be scored only to Sheffield United- and still with a match in hand. That is the annoying thought. A lot has been said about the defeat by Blackburn Rovers. First let me pay tribute to my old team. They are a good side and Pickering had an inspired day. They switched the direction of their attack to advantage. The thought that strikes me is, would they have been able to do that if we had managed to keep 11 fit players?
A TRAGEDY
Kay’s departure was a tragedy. I honestly believe that had he remained we might well have mounted a fight-back that could have earned us at least a point. If Derek Temple’s goal had came a little earlier, we might still have done it, but these ifs are of no help to us now. Some of our spectators have come under fire recently, but I would like the fans to know that the team greatly appreciate the wonderful backing we are getting. We dislike demonstrations as much as anybody. They do nobody any good, but in the main the support and encouragement we receive is fantastic. At Nottingham to-morrow we will be renewing acquaintance with our old colleague, frank Wignall. I see he has scored seven goals this season and is Forest’s leading scorer. We all went to see Wignall when Forest were at Anfield earlier in the season. We gave him a cheer when he scored his goal, and I don’t think we lost sleep over the fact that it happened to win the match! Tomorrow will be different. Much as we like Frank, we don’t want any scoring exhibition from him. If we do as well at Forest as last season, I shall be happy. We had a terrific battle there- won 4-3. Forest made a great start to the season and looked like challenging for a top place. They have only won two of their last eight games and that has pegged them back a bit. We will try our almost to peg them back just a bit further.

THE FADING MEMORIES
The Liverpool Echo & Evening Express, Friday, November 15, 1963
By Michael Charters
Everton visit Nottingham Forest, now managed by the former Goodison chief John Carey and starring an old colleague in centre forward Frank Wignall. The repercussions of the momentous match against Blackburn are fading but slowly, although players everywhere have the happy knack of putting the memories of a match completely behind them very quickly and concentrating on the job in hand. It is the spectators who are still taking about Goodison events last Saturday, and rarely have we received such a heavy volume of correspondence on one subject. A further selection of readers views appears elsewhere on this page. Everton have Harris in place of the injured Gabriel, who is doubly unfortunate in that his all-timed injury possibly cost him a chance of selection for Scotland’s team against Wales at Hampden Park next Wednesday. Gabriel did well when he turned out in the second half of Scotland’s recent match with Norway and must have bene in line for another cap. Temple has joined Gabriel on the treatment table at Goodison and missed training in the early part of this week. At the time of writing, it is believed he will be all right for to-morrow. Everton have a fine record at Forest, who have slipped recently after a fine start. We saw what good football they can play when they beat Liverpool in Anfield’s first game of the season, with top class performances from Whitefoot, McKinlay and Grummitt. The goalkeeper was equally impressive in the England Under-23 team at Bristol on Wednesday night. Everton turned in one of their best away displays of the year in beating Forest 4-3 last season, fighting back after being two goals down. If they can repeat that sort of spirit to-morrow, they could come up with another victory, but it should prove a struggle between two well-matched teams.
MORE READERS VIEWS ON THE EVERTON-BLACKBURN MATCH
“Closing ground, posting notices and putting plain clothes detectives among the crowd will not eliminate the disgraceful behaviour of a handful of thugs. My idea is to put six stewards behind each goal and dressed in a conspicuous way, with the word steward on an armband and perhaps red, peaked caps. In addition, a warning should be given over the loud-speakers before the game that any offender will be prosecuted I think this would be an effective deterrent against those few who give our city a bad name.” W. Etherington, Lower West Ward, Aintree Hospital, Liverpool 9.
CAPTAIN’S APPEAL
“My suggestion to stop this trouble, which always seems to occur behind the goal, is that the teams should come out a few minutes earlier than usual, line up behind the goal, and the respective captains should address the crowd through loud speakers to make an appeal for better behaviour. I also think that the police, instead of taking culprits out of the ground, should summon the offenders and let the courts decide the right penalty”-Peter Sanders, 9 Monkswell Street, Liverpool 8.
THAT INCIDENT
“In my view the incident between Kay and Douglas was not seen by the referee. I saw exactly what happened. Kay did not touch or interfere with Douglas in any way, but Douglas did interfere with Kay, I am not trying to defend the unruly behaviour of the crowd, but I do think they were provoked.” -N.R. Houghton, 50 Union Street, Wallasey.
DISGRACEFUL
“Everton’s success has now turned sour. After last season’s success when they thought they were invincible, they still cannot believe that there are better teams than them. The result is that when they are a goal or two down, especially on their own ground, they resort to disgraceful behaviour, as last Saturday.” – C. Goudle, 10 Claypole Street, Liverpool 7.
HELP POLICE
“We wish to make an appeal to the sporting sense of all Evertonians (they must have some, or they would not be Evertonians!). We would like them all to do their utmost to assist the police in ousting these hooligans from the ground. “We know you will not print this, because we, like all decent Evertonians, do not need to be told to keep up the good name of the club and its own supporters,” -The Gwladys Street Goal Fan Club, 6 Northwood Road, Huyton.
JOKE OR-
“I can’t help thinking that Else, the Blackburn goalkeeper, was just a little to blame for the objects that were thrown at him last Saturday. During the kicking-in period before the game he went behind the net and inquired of the crowd. ‘Where is it?’ Most of us behind the goal took his remark as a joke, but, of course, the hooligans present did not and overcame the ammunition.” L. Jones, 110 Marsh Street, Kirkdale, Liverpool 20.
REFEREE’S’ SCHOOL
Before the powers that be even consider fencing them in, I submit a school should be established right away for the sole purpose of training referees. All persons going in for a job would be taught the correct and only application of the rules of the game. This school should be maintained by a charge levied on all clubs in the leagues on a percentage basis in relation to their average seasonal turnover- J.J. W. Buckley, 135 Waterloo Road, Birkdale, Southport.

WHAT IS WRONG
“this is an opportune time for the Everton administration to put away last year’s Press clippings and take a clinical survey of the state of the championship race generally, and the quality of the present Everton side specifically. “What will they find? Primilarly, that there is a huge slab of mediocrity forming the top half of the First Division League table. And of these sides that starts to click now and can win, say, six straight games, will have the title sewn up. “The present Everton eleven is incapable of accomplishing this. The championship is won on away grounds and here Everton’s glaring weaknesses are exposed. The major shortcomings are jack of power in the shooting box –P.J. O’Shea, 53 Cheyne Walk, Hendon, London, N.W 4.
PRICES PROTEST
“As life-long Evertonians we feel compelled to protest at the increased to be charged for the Everton – Rangers game. It is merely a friendly affair, despite the ‘British Championship’ tag attached to it, yet the prices to be charged for the ground and paddock are the same as for the European Cup game with Inter-Milan, and almost double those charge for a League game with Spurs. ‘However, this is one money-grabbing venture we shall not participate in” – R. Gorman, L. McKay, W. Williamson, F. Cleary, Engineering Office, Liverpool.

RANKIN TO MAKE DEBUT IN EVERTON GOAL
Liverpool Echo & Evening Express, Friday, November 15, 1963
HARRIS AT RIGHT BACK WEST DROPPED
By Leslie Edwards
Everton leave out of their team for the match at Nottingham tomorrow Gordon West their first team goalkeeper since he joined the club from Blackpool in March, 1962. He played in all their championship matches last season except for the final four which he missed through a severe shoulder injury. His outgoing means a First Division debut for the Bootle boy, Andrew Rankin, who is 19 and has been getting “terrific” reports says manager Harry Catterick for his Central League performances. Rankin, a former City Police cadet, was recruited from a boy’s club team two seasons ago by Mr. Catterick. He showed such form in his trials he was signed immediately. He gets his place to-morrow party because Albert Dunlop who deputised for West in the final games last season has now joined Wrexham.
DELIGHTED
Rankin, who stands 5 feet 11 ½ inches and weighs 12 stones, was delighted when he was told he would be in the side to play against Forest. He is a mild-mannered boy and if he repeats his reserve team form, he should do very well,” said the Everton manager. The other change in the side brings in Brian Harris at right half-back in place of Jimmy Gabriel, injured in the first few minutes of the match against Blackburn last Saturday. Nottingham Forest who remain in the top half of the First Division is spite of recent lapses, which have resulted in only three points form in the last five games rely on the side which lost 3-1 away to Sheffield Wednesday last Saturday. Everton; Rankin; Parker, Meagan; Harris, Labone, Kay; Scott, Stevens, Young, Vernon, Temple. Nottingham Forest; Grummitt; Wilson, Mochan; Whitefoot, McKinlay, Winfield, Addison, Quigley, Wignall, Vowden, Le Flem.

RANKIN’S CHANCE
Liverpool Daily Post, Saturday, November 16, 1963
By Horace Yates
So, Gordon West is dropped. He cannot complain of lack of patience by manager Harry Catterick, for West’s goalkeeping has been suspect in several recent games. At Nottingham Forest former police cadet Andy Rankin, a local boy, makes his debut. Since joining Everton from Blackpool for £20,000 in March 1962, West has played in 86 League games, missing only five. Four of those were due to injury at the end of last season. This is the first time he has been dropped. Now Rankin, who forsook the task of guarding the city of Liverpool for the chance to guard the Everton goal, finds opportunity thrust into his hands at a very early date. He is only 19. His advance in the reserves was so marked that earlier this month Mr. Catterick felt justified in releasing the tried and tested Albert Dunlop, who would have been the automatic substitute. Mr. Catterick would hardly have done that without vetting Rankin very closely. While on the subject of goalkeepers, it is well to recall that it was only in a moment of similar stress that Liverpool really awoke to the abilities of Tommy Lawrence. First team football breaks many a man, but equally it makes many more of the right temperament. A Tranmere Rovers friend of mine tells me he is amazed that no top club has spotted the worth of Gillingham’s goalkeeper Simpson. “The best I have seen in any League this season,” he tells me. Certainly, only nine goals against this season is a compelling testimonial. Without Gabriel, for whom Harris deputises, Everton’s task at Nottingham is formidable, even though they have won at Forest’s ground three times in their last six visits. Memories of last week do nothing to inspire confidence in predicting anything better than a draw for them. Nottingham Forest; Grummitt; Wilson, Mochan; Whitefoot, McKinlay, Wignall, Vowden, Le Flem. Everton; Rankin; Parker, Meagan; Harris, Labone, Kay; Scott, Stevens, Young, Vernon, Temple.
EVERTON ARE LOOKING TO THE FUTURE
Looking ahead, Everton have signed three former Liverpool schoolboys as full-time professionals. They are Tom Roberts, outside right or left; Derek Smith, centre half and Geoff Harcombe, right full back. All the boys are 17 and earned their contracts with a convincing show in the reserve team against Oldham Athletic this week. Manager Harry Catterick said yesterday; “I think they are excellent prospects. A few days earlier Mr. Catterick had also put Gerry Humphreys, son of former Everton Welsh International centre half Jack, on professional terms. Humphreys is an outside or inside right.

GOALS BY WHITEFOOT ROB CRIPPLED BLUES OF POINT
The Liverpool Echo & Evening Express- Saturday, November 16, 1963
NOTTINGHAM FOREST 2, EVERTON 2
By Michael Charters

Nottingham Forest; Grummitt; Wilson, Mochan; Whitefoot, McKinlay, Winfield; Addison, Quigley, Wignall (captain), Vorden, Le Flem. Everton; Rankin; Parker, Meagan; Harris, Labone, Kay; Scott, Stevens, Young, Vernon (captain), Temple. Referee; Mr. G.W. Grundy (Grimsby). It was a big day for two young men, Andy Rankin, former Liverpool Police cadet, was making bis League debut in Everton’s goal, and the former Everton centre-forward, frank Wignall was made captain for the day against his old side. Rankin’s baptism was sudden and startling. In Forest’s first attack, from a centre by Quigley. Wignall’s left-footed hook-shot hit the bat=r with Rankin unable to move to it. From the rebound Wignall tried to feed Quigley, but Rankin was quick out of goal to intercept.
SUPERB SAVE
A glorious pass by Whitefoot sent Le Flem away, and from his centre, Wignall beat Labone in the air, only for Rankin, with a superb save, to touch his header over the bar. Wignall was having a great game, and from a throw-in on the right he wheeled round Labone and hit a grand shot just over the bar. Another mistake by Labone allowed Wignall to create an opening for Addison, but the winger tried to pass instead of shooting. Rankin showed great speed and sense of anticipation, several times coming out to intercept dangerous through passes. From one corner, he took the ball from Wignall’s head and, in fact, was the one Everton player doing well. The side was in danger of being outplayed.

KAY CLEARS
Parker and Labone made a hash of a simple clearance, and trying to pass back, slid it out for a corner with Vowden only inches from an open goal. From the corner, Wignall made yet another splendid header. It beat Rankin but Kay somehow headed the ball over the bar. Now came Everton’s first real attack. Young swung the ball to Stevens on the right, and Vernon headed just wide from the centre. Labone was having a nightmare game. He missed his tackle on Vowden, who missed the chance, but won a corner, confidently cleared by Rankin. Forest might have been a couple of goals in front, and only fine goalkeeping by Rankin and some rather lucky interceptions had prevented it. It was thus completely against the run of play when Everton took the lead after 39 minutes. Temple took a free kick, awarded for a foul by Whitefoot on Young, just outside the Forest penalty area. The ball passed across the face of goal and Harris, moving in fast from the right, side-footed the ball in. Grummitt looked a little slow in coming out. As half-time approached Everton’s attack looked a little more menacing. Vernon almost broke through from Young’s pass, then the centre forward connected with a cross from Temple, but Grummitt saved comfortably.
Half-time; Nottingham Forest nil, Everton 1.
RANKIN AGAIN
At the start of the second half Rankin made another good save from Quigley. Everton were playing more soundly, and much of Forest’s good midfield work was marred by over-elaboration near goal. Five minutes after half-time, Everton increased their lead with a first-class goal from Vernon, Parker started the move with a good pass up the wing to Scott, and the winger, seeing Vernon breaking clear through the middle, put a quick pass inside Vernon gathering the ball well and smashed a tremendous shot off the underside of the bar past Grummitt. Meagan, hitherto very sound, let Addison clean through but as Rankin came out to narrow the angle, Addison shot wide. So far, it had been a scrupulously fair game, but the trainer was required for the first time when Stevens was badly fouled by Wilson. Everton, now playing with rhythm and drive, mounted an excellent attack involving all the forwards and Temple was nearly through after a lovely chip by Young.
STEVENS IN FORM
Stevens, who had done more than most towards the recovery was working hard and effectively. Vernon should have scored from a cross by Temple, and Everton were now controlling the game just as Forest had done earlier. When Vernon sent Scott racing down the middle, the winger shot well but Grummitt saved. Then, from a half-opening contrived by Temple and Young, Vernon was wide. Young mis-kicked badly with a good chance, and then Le Flem raced down the left. From his low centre, Rankin came out but only half-saved and Harris wisely conceded a corner. When Quigley headed Addison’s centre back to Wignall, the centre-forward’s shot hit Harris and went for another corner. With 20 minutes to go, Labone limped off for attention to an injured leg, and returned to play on the right wing. Stevens dropped back to right half with Harris at centre half.
OFFSIDE
Wignall headed into the Everton net from Le. Flem’s centre but had already been signalled offside. Forest had revived, and were playing as well as in the opening stages, Everton, with Labone now at centre forward, seemed to have fallen back on defence a little early. Ranking made a magnificent close-range save from Vowden who had headed the ball down and made a fierce shot, but this was Rankin’s second great save of the match. Wignall, always dangerous made a good header-just over -from a cross by Mochan. Le Flem was fouled by Scott and had to receive attention, Scott went to shake hands, but the Forest winger tried to turn it into a fight. The referee, standing nearby, soon stopped any nonsense. With ten minutes left Parker pulled a muscle in his thigh and had to go off, so Everton now had 10 men, of whom Labone was a cripple. After 81 minutes, Wignall headed down a centre from the right to the incoming Whitefoot, who scored from close range. With their depleted team, Everton were now on the collar with a vengeance and a minute later Whitefoot levelled the scores with a header from a centre by Le Flem. Parker limped on to the field, playing on the wing. The rest of the forwards were back in defence. Rankin and his follow-defenders played with great spirit in the closing minutes as Forest put on tremendous pressure trying for a winner which had seemed impossible before Everton suffered injuries to two key defenders. Final; Nottingham Forest 2, Everton 2.

THE BOGEY SIDE STRUCK WELL AND TRULY
The Liverpool Echo & Evening Express- Saturday, November 16, 1963
By Alex Young
There is no despondency in the Everton camp following the unfortunate encounter with Blackburn, at Goodison Park last Saturday; in fact, the reverse is the case and we have been hard at it all week preparing to close in the shortest possible time, that gap which has appeared between, ourselves and the leaders. This morning we had games in hand over all out two of the teams above us, and three of the others have played two matches more than us. There is much I would like to say about the incidents in last Saturday’s match, but they have received a thorough airing elsewhere and nothing would be gained if I carried matters further. All the lucky breaks seemed to go Blackburn’s way, starting in the opening minutes when Jimmy Gabriel damaged his leg. Jimmy went off for treatment and was unable to play his usual full part in the match when he returned. Just before he went off, Blackburn had whipped in a surprise goal, so they were brimful of confidence and we were really up against it. Rovers are something of a bogey team to Everton- remember they took three points from our games last season- and they scored two more goals before I was able to get one back for us.
NO CHANCE
Things seemed to be going much better for Everton and I honestly thought we might pull the game out of the fire when fate struck another blow and Tony Kay was sent off. After that we never really had a chance and the only consolation was a goal from Derek Temple near the end. In the meantime, however, Fred Pickering had notched his third goal of the afternoon for Blackburn. Full credit must be given to Pickering for the way he took the chances, and I see he was on the mark again with a goal for England’s Under-23 against Wales on Wednesday evening. I though Fred Else; too, played very well for Blackburn. The policy of letting younger members of the Everton staff gain experience by training with seasoned professionals, which I mentioned a few weeks ago, continues to prove very popular. One youngster who has already made a few faces flush a little is Jimmy Husband, who joined the Goodison staff straight from the Newcastle Schools team during the close season. Jimmy scored five goals in a recent six-a-side game -most of them laid on by Roy Vernon-and was called on to play at outside left in the first team during a full scale practice against the Reserves on Tuesday when Derek Temple was not available.
AGAINST THE WIND
When I have watched Jimmy in action during training it has usually been in one of the inside forward position and I was surprised when he gave such a promising display on the wing. Later, however, I learned that Jimmy was no stranger to the outside left berth, having played in that position for England Schoolboys lasts season. A strange feature of this practice game, which was played in a half gale was that all the goals were scored against the wind. The Reserves led 1-0 at half-time, but we managed to save out faces with three goals in the second half. There were quite a few young players in the Everton team which beat Oldham 4-1 in a Lancashire Cup-tie at Goodison Park on Tuesday and from time to time others have been helping the Central League team, which is now taking rapid steps up the table. Tony Kay is still very much an Everton possible, being named again in the Shadow X1 for next Wednesday’s game against Ireland at Wembley, which is something of a consolation to him after Saturday’s experience. Congratulations to Tony on his selection; to Brian Labone too, who keeps his place as England’s reserve centre half; and to the Liverpool players who also retained their places.
WING SWITCH
Wales have made many changes for their visit to Hampden Park on Wednesday to play Scotland, but Roy Vernon stays in the team, moving from inside right to inside left. Being a Scot, I view Roy’s selection with mixed feelings but nevertheless wish him the best of luck. There was further cause for congratulations on Thursday evening when Scotland’s team was announced. Alex Scott keeps his place but is switched to the left wing. How strange that Everton should provide players for the outside left position for both Ireland (Jimmy Hill) and Scotland in the same season! A Temple hat-trick appears to be called for. Jimmy Gabriel’s injury last week-end, probably spoiled his chances of being picked, but how Scotland can continue to leave out such fine players as Alex Parker and Ron Yeats baffles me. Alan Gilzean keeps his place, as leader of the attack. Alan was in the same Army unit as me and rated a very ordinary Scottish League club player then, but I remember one day after a match a certain major came across to me and said; “That Gilzean will play for Scotland one day.” How right he was!

EVERTON RES V MAN CITY RES
Liverpool Echo & Evening Express- Saturday, November 16, 1963
Everton Res; West; Brown, Thomson; Jarvis, Heslop, Sharples; Shaw, Rees, Hill, Humphreys, Morrissey. Manchester City Res; Tigne; Chadwick, Gomersall; Benson, Batty, Shawcross, Panter, Hodgkinson, Aimson, Cunliffe, Brown (M.). Referee; Mr. W.M. N. Davies. Everton Reserves completely overwhelmed Manchester City Reserves and in the first 25 minutes had four goals in the net including a half-trick by Rees. Into the attack from the start Everton never let up and West had only one shot to save in that period. The continually hammered at the City defence who understandably were panicking under the pressure of the fast Everton forwards. The first goal came at the nineth minute from Hill after Shaw’s corner kick. The first two of Rees’s goals resulted from upfield drives which the Manchester defence could only parry. His third followed a Brown shot which went to Shaw for the winger to put a beautiful centre across. Everton continued to top and Rees goth a fourth at 38 minutes from a pass by Morrissey. For the first time City came into the game then and were unlucky when an Aimson shot was blocked by West when he came out of his goal. The ball went to Cunliffe whose shot was all the way when West dived back and retrieved the ball on the line. Half-time; Everton Res 5, Manchester City Res nil.

INJURY BLOWS HALF EVERTON VICTORY DRIVE
Liverpool Daily Post – November 18, 1963
NOTTINGHAM FOREST 2, EVERTON 2
By Michael Charters
It was a fantastic match at Nottingham Forest on Saturday. Everton in danger of being outplayed for half an hour, came back to hit their best form to take the lead by two goals, only to see Forest snatch a point late in the game, when Everton only had nine fit men. I feel sure that had Everton been able to complete the game without injury they would have scored a comfortable victory. The first shock to them came with twenty minutes to play when Labone limped off with a pulled muscle and returned quite quickly to move into the forward line, but of course he was only a passenger as he limped around. With Harris doing well as a deputy centre half and Stevens at wing half. Everton’s defence was playing soundly under great pressure, but the second crippling blow came with only ten minutes to play. Parker in reaching for a high ball, pulled a muscle in his right thigh, and went off. Everton’s rearranged team, with everyone back in defence could not hold out and wing half Whitefoot scored twice within a minute to give them a share of the points. Most of the excitement was packed into the closing minutes, because earlier it had looked as though Everton were moving to a comfortable victory. I felt sorry for their young goalkeeper Rankin, playing in his first League game, for he had done splendidly before the ball went past him twice in rapid succession so late on. He had a nerve-racking opening minute, because Wignall, the former Everton player, made captain for the day against his old team, hit a splendid shot on the turn only seconds after the start. No goalkeeper could have got to the hard-hit ball, but it hit the crossbar and bounced right away from the Forest forwards waiting for the rebound.
WIGNALL’S BEST
Everton played badly for the opening 20 minutes and with Wignall giving Labone a tremendous testing, they were by far the better side header beautifully saved by Rankin, and then he put another shot just over the bar. Rankin exceptionally quick around his goalmouth, made numerous timely interceptions, with good positional sense, and also had to save from Vowden before he was beaten again by a header from Wignall following a corner, but Kay acrobatically headed the ball over the bar to save a certain goal. While all this activity was in the penalty area Grummitt hardly touched the ball. The Everton forwards could not find rhythm or penetration, but after half an hour began to come into the game more. It seemed that Forest were dishearted by their failure to score, after so much pressure, but as Everton recovered, they had the incentive of a goal six minutes before half time. It followed a free kick for a foul on Young. Temple put the ball across the goalmouth, Grummitt seemed slow to come out and Harris racing in side-footed the ball into the net. They increased their lead five minutes after half time, with a splendid goal by Vernon. Parker moved the ball up to Scott, who seeing Vernon racing down the middle, pushed the ball into Vernon’s path, and the Everton captain collected it brilliantly, before hitting a tremendous shot non the run. The pace of the shot eft Grummitt standing, the ball hitting the under edge of the crossbar and bouncing into the net. Forest looked well beaten and Everton might well have increased their lead. Grummitt made a splendid save from Scott and Young miskicked with a great chance. Then came the Everton injuries. Forest banged the ball up the middle and no praise can be too high for Rankin, who played bravely and well with the makeshift defence in front of him, also fighting hard. Whitefoot’s two goals were neatly taken the first when Wignall headed to him a few yards out, and the second when he headed just inside the upright from a Le Flem centre. Stevens, who worked tremendously hard, had much to do with Everton’s revival in the middle of the game. Meagan, kay and Harris also did well, but the Everton forwards. Stevens apart, only produced their best for half an hour and that was not long enough. For Forest, Wignall, Whitefoot and McKinlay played splendidly. Nottingham Forest; Grummitt; Wilson, Mochan; Whitefoot, McKinlay, Winfield; Addison, Quigley, Wignall, Vowden, Le Flem. Everton; Rankin; Parker, Meagan; Harris, Labone, Kay; Scott, Stevens, Young, Vernon, Temple. Referee; Mr. G.W. Grundy (Grimsby) Attendance 27,050.

REES SCORES FOUR TIMES- SENT OFF
Liverpool Daily Post- Monday, November 18, 1963
CENTRAL LEAGUE
EVERTON RESERVES 8 MANCHESTER CITY RESERVES 0
Everton Reserves inside right Rees, had an afternoon of mixed fortunes in this Central league game against Manchester City Reserves at Goodison Park on Saturday. Rees scored four goals, including a hat-trick in the first half, and two minutes from the finish was sent off. Referee Davies who controlled the game very fairly consulted a linesman before his final decision, but Rees left the field shaking his head doubtfully about the reason. With their fast-accurate ball play, Everton completely overwhelmed City and were five goals up in 38 minutes, before the visitors even got the chance to test West. They eased off a little after the interval, but still scored three more goals against a completely demoralised team. Everton’s other goals came from Hill (3), and Humphreys.

INJURIES ROB EVERTON OF AWAY VICTORY
The Liverpool Echo & Evening Express, Monday, November 18, 1963
By Michael Charters
Injuries cost Everton a vital point at Nottingham Forest on Saturday, which was divided into three distinct stages as though a curtain had come down between acts. Had they escaped these late crippling blows to Labone and Parker, with Harris also injured in the final hectic moments I feel sure they would have been on to their 2-0 lead. Such a victory would have put them two points behind leaders, Sheffield United, with a game in hand. For the first 30 minutes Forest had Everton running in circles trying to get a hold of themselves and the game; they would have taken the lead with better finishing. Then the Everton forwards toiling early on, began to find their rhythm and the whole side began to play more like a championship outfit. For the next 40 minutes they out-classed Forest with superior skill, took a two-goal lead and should have increased it. Twenty minutes from the end Labone strained a groin muscle and limped uselessly at centre forward. Forest came back into the game, sensing their chance against a depleted Everton, who had Stevens at right half and Harris at centre half. Forest’s attacking tempo rose as the minutes passed, but Everton’s reshuffled defence held them until, with 10 minutes to go, Parker pulled a thigh muscle reaching for a high ball and went off. While he was off Forest scored twice in little over a minute for a dramatic 2-2 final. All credit to Forest’s tremendous late really, and particularly to that excellent wing half Whitefoot who scored both goals, but it must be recorded that they achieved it against 10 men, one of them a cripple.
ONE INCIDENT
That illustrate the three-act version of this game, which was fascinating in its varying stages, although the general standard of play was not as high as it might have been. It’s best feature, possibly was that the game, very well controlled by referee Grundy of Grimsby was played in a fine sporting spirit with only incident of note. Forest winger Le Flem, tackled by Scott, ignored the Everton’s man outstretched hand of conciliation and grabbed his jersey plainly wanting to punch Scott. This fistic flourish with the referee only a yard away was asking for trouble and Le Flem was fortunate not to have his name taken. Scott’s tackle was nothing out of the ordinary. Everton’s early form was the poorest I have seen from them all season- their forwards could do nothing right. It was Forest who snapped quickly into their stride with Whitefoot spreading the ball around accurately and the attack moving well. Former Everton centre forward Wignall, captain for the day against his old side, looked great as Labone, sadly out of form, struggled to hold him. With the rest of the line quick and dominant it seemed only a question of time before Forest would score. That they failed was due to excellent goalkeeping and their own lack of finish after making openings. And here we come to the young man who was at the receiving and -19-years-old Andy Rankin, making his League debut in goal in place of the deposed West.
VIVID SHOCK
The first attack he faced in League football must have been a vivid shock to him, Wignall with a terrific hook shot from 20 yards, flashed the ball past him but Rankin had that touch of fortune which the rest of the team didn’t have towards the end of the game. The ball struck the crossbar with great force and bounced out of the penalty area- so goalkeeper in the world would have had a chance to save this one. Rankin went on to impress everybody with his skill, his quickness about the goal area and his extra-sharp reactions. While he was handling the ball so frequently in the first half hour Grummitt at the other end, had one save to make from Temple, Everton’s attacking ideas in this spell bordered on the pathetic. But as Forest lost their drive as Everton’s defence became tighter, Everton suddenly clicked into action. They were inspired by the non-stop efficiency of Stevens who did more than most to spark this recovery.
HARRIS GOAL
They scored six minutes before half-time as Harris moved in at speed to side foot a free kick from Temple past Grummitt. Now it was Forest who looked as insecure as Everton had. Five minutes after half-time, Vernon scored a superb goal, Parker slid the ball up the wing to Scott who saw Vernon racing down the middle and clipped a perfect pass inside Vernon took it in his stride and produced a fierce right foot shot, the ball leaving Grummitt helpless and hitting the crossbar before bouncing down into the net. This was the best move of the match, but Everton managed others nearly as good in this their finest spell of the 90 minutes, Grummitt save perfectly from Scott and Young miskicked with the goal at his mercy. There was only one team in it now as Everton coasted along to what seemed certain victory. Then came the rush and wash of injuries and Forest’s two goals from their best player, Whitefoot. He scored the first at 81 minutes after Wignall had headed the ball down to him, and then he was near the far upright as Le Flem chipped the ball across and a neat header brought the equaliser. Few games have had such a remarkable finish; few games have seen three goals from wing halves. On the balance of play, Everton can justly claim they were robbed of a point, for Forest have certainly gone back in standard from their display at Liverpool in the second game of the season.

THOMSON MAY JOIN BRENTFORD
Liverpool Echo & Evening Express- Monday, November 18, 1963
EVERTON AGREE TRANSFER FEE
FIVE FIGURES
By Leslie Edwards
Everton and Brentford have agreed terms for the transfer of George Thomson the Scottish back who lost this place in the Everton first team on the arrival here of another Scottish signing Sandy Brown. It is reported that the transfer fee will be a five-figure one, Thomson goes to London tomorrow to confer with Brentford and if there are no snags, he will sign for them straight away. Only a few days ago he said, “I am not happy about my prospects at Goodison Park, I have not been getting a place even in the Central League side, I want to stay in football in England.” Thomson who has won Scottish caps, signed for Everton in November 1961. He came as part of a joint deal in which Alex Young also figured. Everton paid Hearts in the region of £55,000 for the two players.
EVERTON HAVE THREE DOUBTS
AT GOODISON
Everton have three doubtful for their game on Saturday against stoke at Goodison Park- Gabriel, injured against Blackburn, Labone (groin trouble) and Parker (thigh muscle injury)
Ground (5s) and paddock (7s 6d) tickets for the Everton v Glasgow Rangers game at Goodison Park on December 3 will be on sale at the Stadium and at Goodison Park (Bullen’s Road, turnstiles) on Wednesday and Thursday -from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Stadium and from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Everton ground. On subsequent days they can be had at both selling points between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. stand tickets are not yet ready for personal application.
Stand tickets for the Rangers v Everton match at Ibrox Park (November 27) are on sale tomorrow at two Glasgow ticket agencies price 30s £1 and 10s. the agencies are Lunley’s Sauchlehall Street, Glasgow and Sportsman’s Emporium, St. Vincent Street Glasgow C2.

EVERTON PLAYER MAY LEAVE
Liverpool Daily Post- Tuesday, November 19, 1963
Everton’s Scottish Under-23 International left back George Thomson will probably be transferred to Brentford to-day. Terms were agreed between the clubs yesterday involving a free estimated to be £12,000 and Thomson will travel to London to discuss the move with Brentford. He joined Everton from Hearts in November 1960 together with Alex Young the Scottish International centre forward, for a total fee of £55,000.

THOMSON TRAVELS TO BRENTFORD
Liverpool Echo & Evening Express- Tuesday, November 19, 1963
CATTERICK IN SCOTLAND
EVERTON MOVES
By Leslie Edwards
George Thomson, the Everton left back for whom Brentford agreed transfer terms yesterday, travelled to London today to confer with the Brentford manager Mr. M. MacDonald. Any deal is unlikely to be clinched until this evening. The probable fee is said to be £10,000. Mr. D.R. Piggot secretary of the Brentford club said, “We don’t anticipate any snags. We have watched Thomson many times and think he would suit our style.”
MISSES QUIZ
Everton manager, Harry Catterick who was to have been a member of a quiz panel at Liverpool City Supporters Club Old Swan to-night has had to cry off because he has to travel to Scotland to see a game there this evening. Asked if he thought a signing would materialise from his visit, he said he did not think so. It was too early to say yet whether any or all of Everton’s three injured, Gabriel, Labone or Parker will be fit to take their places against Stoke City at Goodison Park on Saturday.
LETETRS
D.L. Evans, of Heswall Avenue, Bebington comments “Rightly or wrongly the crowd at Goodison Park thought the referee was ‘gunning’ for certain home players; yet Douglas seemed to get away with foul and after foul. Blackburn seemed to goas Everton players into indiscretions and foolishly they fell into the trap.”
K.P. McCluskey, of Craig-y_Don, Llandudno, says; Everton players have shattered the last vestige of faith we had in them. One player sent off; three booked and an incensed mob hurling verbal abuse, paper and peel at players and officials. It is easy for a club to exude good fellowship to all when they are conquering champions, but adversity reveals one’s true character. The revelation in this case is indeed a sad story. Even if Everton gain success this season it will be applauded, in some quarters with some misgivings.”

EVERTON MAY PUT UP BARRIERS BEHIND GOALS
Liverpool Echo - Wednesday 20 November 1963
CHIEF CONSTABLE AND CHAIRMAN CONFER
SEMI-CIRCULAR
By Leslie Edwards
Though no official announcement has been made by the club, I understand that Everton F.C are likely to make their own arrangements to prevent missiles being thrown at Goodison Park. Their anti-missile precautions may include a semi-circle, behind-goal enclave, about 16 feet deep at its furthest point with the terracing so enclosed barred to spectators; an appeal over the public-address system to the crowd and the posting of notices in prominent positions asking for the crowd’s co-operation. The chairman of the club, Mr. John Moores, and the Chief Constable, Mr. J. W.T. Smith, have conferred several times recently with a view to formulating some plan to beat the misbehaviour of the minority which brings a club into disrepute.
EXPERIMENT
It is understood that the anti-missile enclave experiment on the lines suggested will be examined by Mr. Moores and the Chief Constable to-morrow and that if it is felt that this is “the answer” barriers may be erected in time to be of use in the League match against Stoke City at Goodison Park on Saturday. Barring the crowd from the terracing immediately behind the goals would not necessarily be a permanent feature, but it is felt by authority that some action should be taken now to offset the behaviour which is occasionally characterising matches not only in this city, but all over Britain. The semi-circular barrier, I understand, would be a substantial one and fairly high but without interfering with the view of people behind. If barriers of this sort were installed Everton would lose, from capacity or near-capacity attendances, the gate money of some hundreds of spectators. This would be a small price to pay for effective action against the few who are tempted to throw things. That the club are implementing their promise that everything possible would be done to solve the problem- and without any hastening from the Football League or Football Association-proves that they are as concerned about it as the great bulk of their supporters who are tired of being taunted as followers of the game who don’t know how to conduct themselves.

MORE TROUBLE COULD LEAD TO GROUND CLOSURE
Liverpool Echo & Evening Express, Thursday, November 21, 1963
EVERTON F.C. GET WARNING ABOUT CROWD CONDUCT
By Leslie Edwards
Everton Football Club have been held responsible by the Football Association for recent incidents at Goodison Park and further unruliness there could lead to the ground being closed. This was revealed this morning by Mr. John Moores, chairman of the club, in giving the decision to barricade off a section of terracing behind each goal making them areas of no-man’s land. Mr. Moores said; “We have received two strong letters from the Football Association following incidents in home games recently against Tottenham Hotspur and Blackburn Rovers.
FIRM TONE
“The first made us responsible for the throwing of a dart-though we have no evidence that it was thrown by one of our spectators and we have received many letters from supporters saying the missile was thrown during the interval and when Brown, the Tottenham goalkeeper, was not even on the pitch. “The second letter, even firmer in tone, followed misbehaviour of some spectators at the Blackburn Rovers game.” Recalling that there had been no prosecution of an Everton supporter for 20 years and more, Mr. Moores said; “Because we are anxious that Everton’s good name should remain and because we realize that further unruliness might lead the F.A to close the ground, we have taken the precaution of erecting barriers behind goal at either end in the hope that we shall get the co-operation of all our loyal fans in ensuring there is no further trouble.
FOUR FEET HIGH
“I want supporters to help us and help themselves. No one’s view of the game is impaired we have not erected fencing. It merely means that we have pushed back the ‘frontier’ of the behind goal spectators by some seven yards. “Where they had a ground-level eye view of the pitch they now have an elevated position which takes in the whole field. The barrier is some four feet high; it is only seven yards deep at its furthest point from the field.”
NOT PERMANENT FIXTURE
The Chief Constable of Liverpool Mr. J.W.T. Smith visited Goodison Park this morning to inspect the work done at the Park-end goal. He is as concerned as the Everton chief about the behaviour at football grounds in this city. The Watch Committees, I understand, were anxious that some move should be made to obviate trouble which has occurred all too frequently this season. The Chief Constable said he thought the barrier would he effective, but he added that he hoped it would not become a permanent fixture, Mr. Moores, too, hoped it would be possible in time, to take the barriers down. “To call it a fence is wrong” the Everton chairman said. “We are not fencing our following in; we are erecting barriers immediately behind the goals and barring a small section of the terracing to spectators. “We think, with the crowd’s co-operation, our scheme should be successful. We have asked the football authorities for any ideas they might have on helping us to solve a problem that affects other clubs as well as ours, but so far, they have not come up with any concrete suggestion.
REGRETTED
“The last thing we want is for the vast majority of followers of this club to be penalised for the sake of the thoughtless for. We don’t like having to take these steps, which have really been forced on us, but the time for talk is past.” I saw the first barrier this morning and I am sure that every supporters who usually make for a behind goal position will not be the least bit worried that their usual vantage point is some seven yards away from the pitch. The no man’s land is really more of a gesture than a filching of spectator’s rights.
VIEW IS NOT IMPAIRED
It is as much in the interests of these spectators as in the interests of the club that the open spaces have been made. They are formed by a system of tubular steel, about four feet high and constructed to a depth of some three or four feet. The ends of the barrier taper, diagonally to the concrete wall surrounding the pitch and are therefore much nearer the pitch than the barrier parallel with it. One cannot think that any follower of the club will see other than good sense in the precautions taken. No one’s view of the game is affected a few hundred people in 50,000 will see the game from a position slightly further from the pitch –that is the only disadvantage. For the club the disadvantage is that they lose gate money from a few hundred fans. Though one or two police will stand inside the barriers to see that no one encroaches beyond them, I don’t anticipate anyone will create any fuss when the experiment is tried for the first time on Saturday when Everton face Stoke City. Talk of the fans trying to wreck the fencing, as it has been described, is mischievous.
LONGER THROW
True, the barriers will not prevent people throwing missiles but the appeal the club are making in their programme and the notice the club are posting about the ground, plus the fact that any missile thrown must have lost most of its impetus by the time it arrives, are all factors which should help the club to obviate the effect of the tiny few who damage the good name of the many. The Gwladys Street end space will be slightly larger than that at the other end because the terracing there is so much larger.

‘NO MAN’S LAND’ IDEA COULD CATCH ON
Liverpool Echo & Evening Express, Thursday, November 21, 1963
By Leslie Edwards
I gather that the city’s Watch Committee was as concerned as most other interested parties over events which have taken place recently on our football grounds. Now that Everton have made the first move by prescribing a no-man’s land behind both goals the fashion might spread, with good effect to other sports where there has been similar spectator trouble. It would be fitting if the city which first gave the game goal nets (through a brainwave from the then City Engineer Mr. Brodie) should be first to introduce effective measures against missilists, as they have come to be known. A spokesman for the Football league said when told of the pioneering by Everton in having a semi-circular enclave free of spectators behind goal; “The proof of the thing will be in the testing. I should imagine it will be effective. It is good to see clubs imposing law on spectators rather than having law imposed on them by authority”
I can’t imagine Everton fans complaining of being denied the first half-dozen rows of the terracing because what the club aim at is the greatest good for the greatest number and any further untoward happenings might easily lead in the closing of the ground. At least football authority has been left in no doubt that the club are as anxious as they are to find a solution to a problem which has baffled clubs all over the country. Visiting goalkeepers will certainly appreciate the extra breathing space they are given. If the experiment at Goodison Park is successful many other clubs might follow suit. No one suggests that the behind-goal barriers should remain permanently.

MR.MOORES APPEALS TO SPECTATORS
Liverpool Echo - Thursday 21 November 1963
‘BEHAVE YOURSELVES OR STAY AWAY
The Everton programme for the match against Stoke City on Saturday will carry this appeal by chairman Mr. John Moores about missile throwing. “It is with the very greatest regret that I as chairman of the Everton Club, have once more to appeal to that insignificant section of our supporters, who induce in the vicious and dangerous practice of missile throwing to stop it or stay away from Goodison Park. “Surely when these few irresponsible realise that such conduct could main a player for life and put an end to his professional career they will realise how serious could be the result of their behaviour.
“BE SENSIBLE”
“Because of this, and because I know that if the Football Association have to take penal action themselves the tens of thousands of Everton supporters who are true sportsmen and deplore, with me, this kind of irresponsible conduct will be the sufferers, I appeal to this minority to be sensible and to realise what its conduct will inevitably lead to. “I am hopeful this personal appeal of mine will receive the response I so earnestly desire, but I am afraid that the Everton board have felt obliged to take the preventive action which appears on the official notices posted around the ground, I am confident that the measures proposed will receive the wholehearted support of our spectators generally and it will gratify and relieve me beyond belief if events prove them not to have been necessary.” Notices posted at the ground will read;-
“The grave incidents of disorderly conduct including the throwing of missiles which have occurred at recent matches at Goodison Park have obliged the Everton Board to take action to prevent further outbreaks if this deplorable behaviour. “That it is indulged in by an insignificant few as opposed to tens of thousands of law-abiding spectators, who number the vast majority of Everton supporters, is no excuse for failure by the Everton Board to take proper and adequate precautions to prevent any repetition. “The Football Association have the power to impose upon the club the severest penalties if this missile throwing is not stamped out once and for all.
THREE EMASURES
“Therefore, in the interests of the good name of the Everton club and all its supporters generally, the Board propose to put into effect the following measures;-
(1) A barrier will be erected on the terraces immediately behind each goal, leaving a clear space between the spectators and the boundary wall on the pitch.
(2) Police will patrol this space throughout the match.
(3) Any offender apprehended will be prosecuted
The Everton Board regret the necessity for the introduction of such measures, but in the present situation consider it to be their inescapable and imperative duty.”

DECISION REGRETTED -BUT THE ONLY WAY
Liverpool Daily Post – Friday, November 22, 1963
EVERTON’S BARRIERS OF SHAME APPROVED
STRONG ARM PLAN REVEALED -ANY OFFENDERS DETECTED WILL BE PROSECUTED
By Horace Yates
What a sorry day for Everton Football club that they should have to become the first club in the country to erect barricades behind their goals to restrain the handful of hot heads to whom sportsmanship is a foreign word! For the visit of Stoke City tomorrow, and until further notice, a fence four feet high and twenty feet deep, spanning both goals areas, will be in position. While everyone was bemoaning the situation and asking; “What can the club do? Mr. John Moores and his board have acted. Whether or not it will be effective, experience alone will show. At least it is the most practical step so far adapted. The only promptings to action have been the letters from the F.A., the second in sterner language than the first, reciting what Everton knew only too well. While congratulating Everton on the promptness of their action, I can hardly do the same over the way in which they handled the warning notices. The first intimation the public have had of their receipt was yesterday.
MISSED CHANCE
Surely Everton owed it to themselves and their public to give these letters the wildest possible publicity immediately on receipt. Certain things most obviously be kept secret (such as present interest calling out for prompt advertisement, surely this was it. Possibly an official letter might have brought home to the culprits responsible for the misbehaviour the seriousness of the position. This may be placing too high a rating on the intelligences of these at whom such publicity might have been aimed, but it was something worth trying. Liverpool F.C at their match last Saturday, broadcast a public appeal over the loudspeakers. The result could not have been more gratifying. Seldom has there been a better-behaved crowd anywhere or at any time.
ALTERNATIVE PLAN
Some inconvenience is certain to be caused by the Goodison barricades. It is the club which will suffer most in that capacity attendances must be reduced by something like 500 spectators. The club could just as easily have put the entire crowd at the goal ends behind a lofty fence. Taking the view that this would be an affront to many more thousands of innocent onlookers this idea was not adopted. The plan to which I would have given most serious consideration was to construct a pen about a yard wide, parallel with the boundary wall, at the extreme ends of the ground. This could have been used to house the police. At the slightest sign of disorder, they would have been on the spot to face the spectators, pick out the offenders and deal with them. An intimation that the club would prosecute anyone caught in the act would have been an additional deterrent. In any event it would be wise for the police to have such a role to-morrow not that I am expecting trouble, but merely as a safeguard. Not all the hooligans of course, congregate behind the goals. How often, on several grounds, have we seen players and officials pelted as they have left the field? Let us hope the displeasure the club have now is forcefully expressed and their determination to stamp out the trouble, will be an adequate warning to anyone who might mot have stopped to think twice before debasing himself. It is distressing to think that if there is any further cause for official compliant the F.A could and might well order the closing of the ground for a period. The warning is there, stark, staring and obvious. If this is not enough, nothing short of the weeding out of offenders, person by person one succeeds. Difficult though this may appear to be it can be done. I saw the Burnley police tackle it most effectively not very long ago. To cure the trouble, they dealt with about 20 spectators. That in itself gives some indication of the numbers who are causing all this upset. The result of their misconduct is out of all proportion to the numbers involved.
“HELP US”
The plea of chairman John Moores; “I want supporters to help themselves; with the crowd’s co-operation we think our scheme should be successful,” strikes the right note. “The last thing we want” he added, “is for the vast majority of our followers to be penalised for the sake of the thoughtless few. We don’t like having to take these steps which have been forced on us, but the time for talking has gone.” As the position now stands, those with throwing inclinations will still be able to throw and reach the pitch. If they showed do that in face of the club’s obvious attitude towards any misconduct, then it would appeal they are beyond voluntary redemption. The Chief Constable of Liverpool (Mr. J.W.T. Smith) yesterday inspected and approved the barriers. In an appeal to appear in the club programme tomorrow, Mr. Moores stresses that a player could be maimed for life and have his professional career wretched by missile throwers and pleads for a sensible response. Supporters will be reminded also that offenders apprehended will be prosecuted. In an interview in a TV programme last night. Mr. Moores defended the Everton players. He was asked whether he thought their actions had any effect on the crowd. Mr. Moores said both he and manager Harry Catterick had often told players to accept the referee’s decisions without question. “A real professional can do it,” he said, “I think our players can do it.”
BAXTER OUT
With the first of the Rangers-Everton meetings next Wednesday, it seems that neither team will be able to field full strength sides. Labone and Parker (Everton) must be labelled doubtful starters and last night came the announcements that Rangers almost certain to be without their stylish wing half Jim Baxter. An X-ray examination of the injury he received in Scotland’s match against wales on Wednesday shows he has damaged an ankle bone. It is serious enough to merit an official estimate that he may miss football for three weeks. In that event Baxter would also be out of the return game at Goodison Park, which at the moment is scheduled for December 3. The match has been labelled at being for “The unofficial British Championship.”

EVERRTON’S ROY VERNON SAYS –
Liverpool Daily Post – November 22, 1963
NOW ONLY THREE EVER-PRESENTS ARE LEFT
When I was a youngster there was little, I liked better than serial stories. I could hardly wait to discover what was coming next. Even the horror stories had me more excited than frightened. Times changes and so do the stories. Now I find myself considerably more frightened than excited in the real live serial starring Everton Football Club. I refer, of course to the alarming almost weekly chapter of injuries which seem to befall us. If you think I am given to romancing just let me help to remind you of the difficulties Everton are experiencing in their championship trophy at Goodison Park. All was going well with Alex Parker until he suffered strained tendons at Nottingham Forest last Saturday. Now the estimate is that he may have to miss at least a couple of games.
THREE EVER-PRESENTS
Injured in the same game was Brian Labone. He has a groin injury. Beyond any shadow of doubt these accidents prevented us from returning from Forest with two points. We were right on top when the injury bogey struck. In the end I suppose we had to be thankful for salvaging one point. Labone has missed only three games in the last three seasons so that the bug has now bitten in a new place. Earlier Alex Brown was forced to drop out with a leg injury. Mick Meagan has missed more matches than he has played this season, following his accident at Bolton. Jimmy Gabriel as strong as a horse but not immune from damage, has had three different spells out of action. Tony Kay, with the reputation of carrying on playing with anything short of a broken leg, has also had to miss a game. Alex Young has fallen victim to the Everton blight twice and I have had to miss four of our League fixtures. This chapter of misfortune will leave us after to-morrow with only three members of the side able to boast, ever-present records. They are forwards Alex Scott, Denis Stevens, and Derek Temple. It is said that Everton have probably the smallest forward line in Division One, but the record for this trio is most heartening. With a sequence of injuries like that one might expect the next chapter must be more encouraging, but do you blame us if we are just a bit hesitant in turning over the page? Although generally I try to avoid referring to the performances of players in the same team, I know that none of my colleagues will mine me giving a hearty put on the back of Andy Rankin. His debut at Nottingham was all the more worrying because of the circumstances but right from the start none of us had any worries about him. Gordon West will be the last to begrudge a tribute to Rankin. West is like that- a grand sportsman. Now we can watch the tussle between this talented pair with only one thought in mind-may the better man win!
NOL ILL WILL…
As I write, Stoke City’s team for their visit to Goodison tomorrow is not known but unless something unexpected occurs, Stanley Matthews will not be in it. That does not mean that City will be without their attraction. It is a team of the League. The newest, but not least, is their centre forward discovery Ritchie, the talk of the League. He may not yet be the game’s top scorer, but he has scored in every game in which he has played -six in succession. That is something which even the great Jimmy Greaves and Denis Law cannot equal. This is how his goals have come -2,1,1,2,1,3. He has bene one of the big factors in Stokes renewed lease of life when things were going badly. We applaud his feats, but with no feeling of ill will, Everton intend to bring that scoring gallop to a stop tomorrow. We have enough unpleasant memories of centre forwards making have against us in the person of Blackburn’s Pickering to last us for one season!

FOOTBALLERS ASKED TO “THROW” MATCHES,SAY POLICE
Liverpool Echo - Friday 22 November 1963
EX-EVERTON PLAYER FINED ON BRIBES CHARGES
James Gauld, former Everton and Mansfield Town footballer, of Berry Hill Road, Mansfield, was fined a total of £60 at Rochdale to-day on six summonses o attempting to corrupt professional footballers by offering them bribes to play badly in order that their team might lose matches. Galt who was fined £10 on each summons was ordered to pay £20 costs. Mr. Kenneth Dowling, prosecuting, said that on March 5 this year Gauld approached Colin Whitaker, outside left for Oldham Athletic and said to him; “Do you think your goalkeeper would be interested in throwing a game? Whitaker replied that he would not consider asking the goalkeeper to do anything like this.
“£500 OFFER”
Gauld continued to talk about throwing matches and said they would make £400 or £500 if the goalkeeper was willing to co-operate. Whitaker said he was not interested but mentioned that two of his team-mates would be coming to his home that evening as three of them would be watching the match at Rochdale. If Gauld wished to speak to them he could do so but he didn’t think they would be interested. Gauld went to Whitaker’s home to await the arrival of peter McCall and Alan Williams, right half and centre half respectively for Oldham Athletic. “They arrived at Whitaker’s home and you will hear that Gauld introduced himself to them and asked them if they were interested in throwing a match about to be played against Mansfield on March 9,” said Mr. Dowling. “Gauld told them they could make some money by doing so. Gauld added that he did not wish to influence their decision; he would not be offended if they refused but would like them to accept the offer.” Mr. Dowling said that after a short conversation about football n general Gauld left the house. A week or two later, Whitaker would say that he received a letter by registered post. There was a foreign name on the back. It was signed Jimmy Gauld.
LETTERS
This letter suggested Whitaker could make several hundreds of pounds by engineering a defeat. Whitaker destroyed the letter. Another letter arrived making a similar offer and this was destroyed. Whitaker tried to speak to Gauld on the telephone at a number given in the letters. About a week later Whitaker discussed the matter with Williams and McCall and the three decided to go to Mansfield to see Gauld. They saw him near his home. They told him they were not interested in his proposals and did not want to receive any more letters. Gauld said they might be interested in his offer but he would not contact them again.
POLICE CALL.
Two police officers of the Nottingham Constabulary saw Gauld at his home. They told him of the allegations made by the three players and Gauld said; “I have never bribed a player. I have been advised by my solicitor not to say anything to the police or Press. Colin Whitaker told the magistrates that Gauld asked if either Williams or McCall would be interested in losing the match at Mansfield. “The lads agreed that we were at the top of the League and it would be ridiculous to do anything like that. Gauld said we were not to worry about it. We lost the game at Mansfield 4-2 and I scored both goals for Oldham.” After he had received two letters from Gauld, Whitaker said he was upset and decided to go to see Gauld and tell him not to write again. He went with Williams and McCall. In a half-hour cross-examination Whitaker denied the suggestion of Mr. Brian Appleby (defending) that the first of the two letters contained £100 –winnings on bets on football matches and the second contained £36- returned stake money.
BETS DENIED
He denied that he, Williams and McCall each contributed £12 and gave it to Gauld to place bets on their behalf. He denied that he had ever heard a conversation involving Rochdale players Burgin and Hepton about betting on matches. He admitted that he had heard of players betting on football matches, but it was not direct knowledge. Whitaker refuted Mr. Appleby’s suggestion that he had agreed to place bets on the results of matches and that his trip to Mansfield to see Gauld was not to tell him not to write again, but to complain about the money he had received from bets placed with Gauld.

MATTHEWS HOPES TO PLAY
Liverpool Echo - Friday 22 November 1963
By Leslie Edwards
Ironically, one of the cities which has seen comparatively little of Stanley Matthews is ours. Fate has often conspired to keep him out of games at Anfield or Goodison Park, though he made one notable appearance in Eddie Spicer's benefit game at Anfield. Now, happily, we seem destined to see the Maestro in action again. There is every chance, Stoke City Manager Tony Waddington tells me, of Matthews playing against Everton at Goodison Park to-morrow. He is keen to play: he is recovered from the back strain which caused him to miss many games at the start of the season and he's over the sore throat and chill which prevented his playing in the friendly at Aberdeen in mid-week. He came through a trial game only yesterday and while the Stoke manager is always " cagey " of being too definite about Matthews (because if he doesn't turn out the public hold it against him) he is as nearly sure as anyone can be that he will take the field against Everton. Moreover, Viollet is certain to be alongside him. Stoke have been greatly handicapped through Injury. Peter Dobing and Jimmy Mcllroy, two of their star attackers, are both injured: the one-time Blackpool star, Jacky Mudie is now soldiering with our old evergreen Everton friend Billy Bingham. So Matthews is likely to come back at a most opportune time. If Jimmy O'Neill had been keeping goal for the visiting side it would have been a rare gathering of old friends, but Laurie Leslie from West Ham will be between the sticks, with new boy Andy Rankin getting his home debut in the same position at the other end. What with the likelihood of Matthews playing and the behind goal no-man's land (an experiment which should bother the fans not at all yet have beneficial results) this should be quite an occasion.

NEW DATE FOR RANGERS GAME
Liverpool Echo - Friday 22 November 1963
VISIT GOODISON ON DECEMBER 2
By Leslie Edwards
Everton and Glasgow Rangers have changed the date of their second leg game at Goodison Park from Tuesday, December 3, to Monday December 2. Several Rangers players are to be chosen for the Scottish Under-23 game against Wales at Wrexham on December 4 and in order that they should not miss their club match Rangers have suggested that the Goodison game be brought forward by one day. People who have purchased tickets for the match and who cannot attend on Monday, the new date, will have their money refunded.
TICKET SALES
Ground and paddock tickets for the Everton v. Rangers match will be on sale up to 2.30 p.m. tomorrow at ground and paddock turnstiles at Goodison Park. Ground and paddock season-ticket holders may purchase their respective tickets to-morrow on production of voucher No.45. Stand tickets will be on sale, from next Monday at the ground and the Stadium and from the other selling agencies except Sharp’s.

CHANGES IN EVERTON DEFENCE
Liverpool Echo - Friday 22 November 1963
HESLOP AT CENTRE HALF
BROWN PLAYS
By Leslie Edwards two much depleted teams take the field tomorrow at Goodison Park where Everton face Stoke City, but Stanley Matthews will be there. Everton will be minus Gabriel, Parker, and Labone; Stoke will be without McIIroy , Dobing and full-back Astbury. Brown, the Scottish back will deputise for Parker; Heslop signed two seasons ago from Newcastle United, will deputise for Brian Labone and Brian Harris continues at right half in place of Jimmy Gabriel. Gabriel was injured in the early minutes of the match against Blackburn Rovers. Parker and Labone were hurt at Nottingham a week ago. The match will give young Bootle goalkeeper Andy Rankin his home debut as a senior. Everton; Rankin; Brown, Meagan; Harris, Heslop, Kay; Scott, Stevens, Young, Vernon, Temple. Stoke City; Leslie; Skeels, Allen; Kinnell, Stuart, Palmer; Matthews, Bridgwood, Ritchie, Violet, Bebbington.

GOODISON’S 52,355 AVERAGE LEAGUE’S BEST
Liverpool Daily Post – November 25, 1963
By Horace Yates
Everton’s eight League game at Goodison Park this season have been watched by a total of 418, 847 spectators, which gives them the best average return of any club in the land -52,355. Those who may be wondering where Tottenham figure in the comparisons, may be surprised that their aggregate attendance is only 361,116, compared with Liverpool’s 43,834 from ten matches. Actually, Manchester United’s 48,834 makes them Everton’s closest rivals for top support. The precautionary barriers erected at Goodison will be no sort of bar to Everton maintaining that fifty-plus figure to-day. If only because of the fleeting reappearance of Stan Matthews in Stoke City side, possibly for the last time on this ground, the highly creditable attendance are certain to be maintained at this enviable level. Stoke, these days, are far from being a one-man show. Matthews may only be the tit-bit to the feast. Whatever else may have suffered with the passing of the years, Matthews’ skill and immaculate ball control are largely unimpaired. If his well-earned reputation for precision centres is not tarnished, his combination with lofty scoring Ritchie is a ready-made menace. Meagan, like Heslop, Brian Labone’s stand in, faces a mammoth task and unless these two key defenders master the duel menace Everton might well be wishing those barriers were infield and not on the terraces. One victory in the last five games, even if two others have been drawn, has done little to boost Everton aspirations. Fortunately, they have not been the only leading side to lose ground and there is plenty of room at the top. The continued absence of Jimmy Gabriel, plus Parker’s first withdrawal, leaves the champions thankful for the doubling up process which gives them two first class deputation to Brian Harris and Sandy Brown. Those constant injury-dictated changes are upsetting to team strategy and spirit alike, but few sides could have met such ill-luck more meritoriously. Andy Rankin, blooded in League football at Nottingham last week, fared well enough to justify his retention and justify his retention and it is a tribute to him that already he has won the confidence of the men in front. Stoke, reinforced by the return of Viollet, with Palmer sufficiently Leslie in goal, would have been more formidable for the inclusion of McIIroy. Even without him victory for Everton is far from assured. For today’s comparisons it matters little what Stoke have failed to achieve at home. What does matter is that their away form is really superb. They have beaten Ipswich, West Brom and Bolton in successive visits, after snatching a 3-3 draw at Chelsea. Everton; Rankin; Brown, Meagan; Harris, Heslop, Kay; Scott, Stevens, Young, Vernon, Temple. Stoke City; Leslie; Skeels, Allen; Kinnell, Stuart, Palmer; Matthews, Bridgwood, Ritchie, Violette, Bebbington.
RANGERS AT GOODISON ON DECEMBER 2
Everton who visit Rangers on Wednesday in the first leg of the unofficial British Championship match, have switched the return game to Monday week (7.30 p.m.). The game should have bene played the following night. As Rangers are likely to have several of their players selected for Scotland’s Under-23 team against Wales on December 4, the new date will allow the Scots to have full strength available for the visit to Goodison Park. Money will be refunded to those unable to use tickets purchased for the original date. Tickets for ground and paddock will be on sale at turnstiles to-day up to half an hour before the start of the game. From Monday stand tickets will be available at the ground and the Liverpool Stadium.

MATTHEWS PLAYS AT GOODISON TO-DAY
Liverpool Echo - Saturday 23 November 1963
NOBLE QUESTION FOR RANKIN’S HOME DEBUT
By Leslie Edwards
Matthews will be there! That was the surprising, most welcome news from Stoke City Manager. Tony Waddington, yesterday. It was thought that Matthews would come to Goodison Park as one of six forwards from whom choice could be made, but the Stoke chief made his decision yesterday and named Matthews as a certainty after hearing from the Maestro, over the telephone, that he had had no adverse reactions from his trial game the day before. Matthews' appearance "makes" the occasion. It is just as well this wonderful character puts his personal endorsement on the match because Everton will be without Labone, Parker and Gabriel all injured, and Stoke will be minus McIlroy, Dobing and Asprey. Matthews has played only four club games this season. He has been bothered by back trouble and more recently by a chill and sore throat. He is now fit and the fact that the going will be heavy after all the rain we have had this week is much in his favour. His veteran bones stand the strain better when the turf is yielding than they do when the pitch is firm! The occasion is doubly notable for goalkeeper Andy Rankin. It isn't every day one has a home debut with Matthews also gracing the proceedings. Brown, signed as left back, takes Parker's place as Meagan's partner: Heslop, the big, blond Newcastle boy who has had few first-team chances since he joined Everton from Newcastle should make a very good deputy for the injured Brian Labone, at centre half-back.
DANGER SIGNAL
Stoke's promotion following their much discussed signing of Matthews and other “senior" players last season is a saga of good football management. True, they haven't cut much ice since they came back to Division One, but most of their trouble has been the inability to pick up home points. Their last six games away should show Everton a danger signal. They've won four of them and drawn the other two. Goodison Park will hold some thousands more to-day than it would have done if, Matthews had not been playing. There will be many who will go especially to see him. He may not be as fabulous as he once was, but he is still worth his place and his fame unlike most other contemporary stars in football, is world-wide rather than confined only to Britain. If one or other of the sides had been at full strength victory would have gone their way. As it is the matter of injuries on both sides equalises the issue and remembering Stoke's fine away form it is likely to be quite an open game.

STOKE PUT UP BARRIER TO EVERTON PRESSURE
Liverpool Echo - Saturday 23 November 1963
KAY AND TEMPLE BREAK THROUGH IN DULL GAME
EVERTON 2, STOKE CITY 0
By Michael Charters

Everton; Rankin; Brown, Meagan; Harris, Heslop, Kay; Scott, Stevens, Young, Vernon, Temple. Stoke City; Leslie; Skeels; Allen; Kinnall, Stuart, Palmer; Matthews, Bridgewood, Ritchie, Violett, Bobbington. Referee; Mr. D.H. Howell (Birmingham). An historic occasion at Everton this afternoon with the now famous barriers in position behind each goal for the first time on any Football League ground. Young Rankin was making his home debut in the Everton goal, and Heslop his second League appearance for the club. For Stoke, of course, the match was notable for the return of Stanley Matthews after a 10-week layoff through injury. In common with all other League games throughout the country there was one minute silence before the kick-off in memory of President Kennedy.
AMATEURS AS BALL-BOYS
Then club were quick to recognise the difficulty presented by the ball being kicked into the barriers, and a loudspeaker announcement was made just before the kick-off asking for four of Everton’s amateur players to come out of the stand and act as ball-boys. Matthews was in possession of the ball from the kick-off and put a superb pass up to Palmer who lost the ball in a tackle by Kay. Everton fought back with a splendid run by Temple, who was obstructed in the penalty area by Skeels. From the indirect free kick Vernon chipped the ball across but Leslie dived out to catch the ball safely.
MATHEWS BUSY
Matthews came infield to produce some choice passes, but the Everton defence covered up well and there was no danger to Rankin. Ritchie sent Matthews away with a good pass and the “wizard” pulled the ball back for Bridgwood to try a first time shot which went wide. Vernon stepped in when the ball bounced off Stuart and wisely tried a first time shot but straight at Leslie.
SURPRISE SHOT.
Stoke were playing more attractive football than Everton at the moment, but Everton’s defence , with Brown and Meagan doing particularly well, looked sound enough. Everton’s first attack for some minutes came when Young dispossessed Stuart and took the ball into the penalty area. His surprise shot from an angle was well covered by Leslie. Scott came into the game with a fine run from the wing, but spoiled his good work by shooting instead of passing to the unmarked Stevens. The result was a good save by Leslie at the expense of a corner. Everton had sudden burst into action and a great pass by Harris sent Stevens racing away. Stevens took the ball around Leslie, but put his shot into the side netting. Scott made another thrilling run, this time down the centre of the field, but eventually the attack was crowded out by weight f numbers in the Stoke defence. Everton’s forwards continued to be disappointing. They lacked the final thrust after they had built up their movements in midfield, and the Stoke defence was able to step in and cut off moves before they really got under way. Everton finally took the lead after 35 minutes with a splendid goal by Kay- although Stoke were entitled to feel that they did not deserve to be trailing after their display. The move began with Scott and Vernon breaking down the right wing and finally the ball was switched out to Young, who centred to the far side of goal, where Temple headed it back to Kay. The wing half took a few paces forward and hit a perfect foot shot from 20 yards into the top corner of the net- his third goal of the season.
GOALMOUTH SKIRISH
This goal gave Everton the impetus they needed and Stoke were very lucky to escape when close range shots were scrambled away from Scott and Stevens in an amazing goalmouth skirmish. In these closing minutes before half-time the Everton forwards began to move with much greater penetration than before, and the Stoke defence was at full pressure to hold them out.
HALF-TIME; Everton 1, Stoke City 0
Matthews was applauded as he left the field at half-time and he had earned the crowd’s appreciation for he had invariably thrilled them every time he got the ball. The game continued to be rather ordinary with not a great deal of excitement. Matthews got in yet one more shot, but put the ball outside.
HESLOP IN CONTROL
Vernon who had not had a particularly successful time, sidestepped Palmer to produce a shot which went straight into Leslie’s arms. Heslop deserved great credit for the way he had controlled so far the free-scoring Ritchie. The Stoke centre forward had rarely been seen. Everton were making too many mistakes for the crowd to be pleased with their performance. The successes of the side were undoubtedly in defence, where Brown and Heslop had done particularly well. Rankin produced his best save so far-from his own half back Harris. A good centre by Bridgwood was headed up in the air by Heslop and Harris in trying to put the ball back almost beat Rankin, who dived full length and saved. Young fought of a couple of tackles and made another fine shot which Leslie saved well, and things suddenly began to look better for Everton. Harris came upfield to link with Vernon and work the ball through for Scott to hit a rising drive over the bar. Everton were attacking much more frequently than Stoke, whose finishing was very poor, but Leslie had very few saves to make. Everton’s shooting was inaccurate.
SCRAMBLED AWAY.
Stevens, who had been Everton’s best forward, collected a long pass from Harris and delivered a fine centre which was scrambled away by the concerted efforts of three Stoke defenders. Harris, who had also had a splendid game played a major part in Everton’s next attack. He brought the ball far up field and when it was finally switched to Scott, the winger hit a great drive which was rising all the way and slid over the top of the bar. Everton nearly succeeded with a free kick which Vernon pushed to one side, and Kay hit a ground shot which was deflected only inches wide of the post by a Stoke man.
PENALTY CLAIM
The game had been absolutely free of incident so far, but the crowd became really annoyed when the referee refused Everton’s appeal for a penalty when it seemed to me that temple had clearly been fouled by Skeels inside the box. Vernon even went so far as to ask a linesman for his view of the incident, but the referee refused the penalty. At this point a roll of toilet paper was thrown on to the pitch-well away from the barrier. Young made a fine run from midfield and pushed the ball across to Scott whose fast shot was brilliantly turned aside by Leslie. Everton were doing all the attacking now and Stoke could hardly raise a gallop in attack themselves. Seven minutes from the end Everton increased their lead, which they deserved on their second half dominance. Young put a perfect pass into the middle to Temple, whose quick left-foot shot left Leslie helpless. Immediately afterwards Temple beat Skeels superbly and his fast cross missed everyone until Kinnell cut it out for a corner. Everton had earned their win with their much improved second half display, in which they had pinned Stoke down on defence for most of the 45 minutes. Final; Everton 2, Stoke City 0. Official attendance 47,143.

BOLTON WANDERERS B V EVERTON B
Liverpool Football Echo- Saturday, November 23, 1963
Everton goal had a first minute let-off but they recovered to take command. Roberts put them in the lead and their defence don’t effectively with later Bolton attacks. Half-time; Bolton Wanderers B nil, Everton B 1.

GOODISON TREATMENT ROOM IS ON OVERTIME
Liverpool Echo - Saturday 23 November 1963
By Alex Young
With seven members of the first team corps “not available” because of international calls and injuries, there has been a rather depleted Everton “team" at most of the week's training sessions. Alex Scott, Roy Vernon, Jimmy Hill and Tony Kay were away on international duty, while Alex Parker, Jimmy Gabriel and Brian Labone have been receiving treatment for injuries. George Thomson's transfer to Brentford on Tuesday meant the departure of one of my oldest football pals. George and I have been friends ever since I joined Hearts as a professional about seven years ago, and we both arrived at Everton from the Edinburgh club in November. 1960 A quiet type of chap. George is nevertheless a great character, and we shall miss him in the Goodison Park dressing rooms. Like Mick Meagan he made a name for himself as a wing half before finally settling down as a left back.
IN THE QUEUE
George’s position in the team is not the only thing which has changed since I first came to know him. In the early days his preference for the dark, sober type of clothing earned him the nickname “The
Cardinal “. . . in recent “.years we have known him as James Bond." All the Everton players wish George well in Third Division football. May it be Second Division next season Albert Dunlop has had a set-back after just a couple of weeks with his new club Wrexham. He was injured during the Cup-tie with Altrincham last Saturday and this week has been taking his turn in the queue for treatment at Goodison Park—an indication of the good neighbourliness which exists in football. At Nottingham Forest last Saturday I think we can claim to be very unfortunate not to gain two points instead of one. I don't like complaining about bad luck all the time but on this occasion I feel fully justified. We were two goals up and coasting home when first Brian Labone and then Alex Parker were injured. Brian moved to centre forward after he was hurt, but even with 10 fit men we still managed to contain Forest. When Alex was injured, however, the task became too great and the Nottingham boys were able to score a couple of goals. In my opinion an injury to a defender is a far greater handicap than if a forward is hurt: and when two defenders became "passengers." well that's that. The reason for this is that when a forward drops back to play a defensive role it takes him sometime to readjust and more often than not he finds himself watching play in front of him, instead of marking an opposing forward.
RANKIN DEBUT
Andy Rankin, the young local goalkeeper, can look back on his debut with great satisfaction. Considering his size. I am amazed at the speed with which Andy manages to get down for ground shots. Next Wednesday we are due in Glasgow to play the first of two friendlies against Rangers. All the Everton players are looking forward to these games and t know Alex Parker in particular is hoping he will be fit in time to play. The Rangers team has changed considerably since I played in Scottish football and they have one or two young players who have been receiving good reports in Scottish newspapers. May I repeat my plea of a fortnight ago that these should be FOOTBALL matches, and let's hope, that the best team comes out on top. Next Saturday we travel again, this time to Wolverhampton. The Wolves are in the middle of the table at the moment, but are still a tough nut to crack at Mollneux.
BINGHAM’S CAP
Former Everton colleague Billy Bingham had a difficult assignment on Wednesday evening, when he led Ireland against an England team which is in top form at the moment. Billy made soccer history in this game by gaining his 56th cap for Ireland and may I pass on congratulations from all at Goodison Park on this notable achievement. The occasion was made more memorable because Billy was called on to act as team manager and look after the pre-match preparations. He is a qualified F.A. coach. Scotland did not get a good Press following their 2-1 victory over Wales, and It would not surprise me in the least to see some new blood introduced when England visit Hampden Park next April. I think our Reserves deserve special mention this week for their 8-0 trouncing of Manchester City, at Goodison Park last Saturday. Young Barry Rees scored four of the goals, while Jimmy Hill, who played outside left for Ireland at Wembley on Wednesday, helped himself to three. This victory took them to joint second in the Central League, so let’s hope they keep it up and soon overhaul Wolves, who are at the top.

BLACKPOOL RES V EVERTON RES
Liverpool Echo - Saturday 23 November 1963
Blackpool Reserves.- Taylor; Prentis, Marsland; Peterson, Berry, Durie; Lea, Loyden, Turner, Fisher, Horne. Everton Reserves; West; Parnell, Curwen; Jarvis, Smith, Sharples; Shaw, Rees, Hill, Harvey, Morrissey. Referee; Mr. R. Harding (Salford). It was not until half an hour before the kick-off that the referee passed the Bloomfield Road pitch fit for play. The Everton forwards raided continuously for a time without making a scoring position. Durie twice shot wide in Blackpool counter-attacks and Smith made a headed clearance before West magnificently held a high centre from Blackpool’s aggressive right wing. In rapid succession Taylor in the Blackpool goal had to fall full length to beat out long range shots by Hill and Sharples. West made a great save from Turner, punching out a scoring shot from close in, and in the 25th minute reached a penalty by Horne, and beat it out wide of the post. Sharples shot a free kick wide before Shaw forced the ball over the line, only for the referee to refuse a goal on a linesman’s signal. Sharples was outstanding in an Everton defence often in retreat but offering close protection to West. Half-time; Blackpool Res nil, Everton Res nil.

MATTHEWS’ MAGIC NOT ENOUGH TO SAVE STOKE CITY
Liverpool Daily Post- Monday, November 25, 1963
EVERTON 2, STOKE CITY 0
By Jack Rowe
Fears that Everton may not have reserves strong enough to sustain a League championship or Cup challenge went a long way towards being dispelled in this match. There were three in because of injuries and goalkeeper Rankin in on merit. All did so well that the only qualification is that Stoke will probably not be regarded as the strongest test. Harris is capable of fitting into any First Division team, but Rankin, brown and Heslop, could not be accepted completely on one or two previous outings in the first team.
ACCEPTED NOW
I think we can accept them now, for Heslop imposed a near shut-down on Ritchie; Brown produced a display full of intelligence and finely judged tackling, while Rankin gave no reason to suppose that he is incapable of consolidating his position. Rankin’s agility is impressive, and his sure handling and confident catching gives him that look of solidity which makes the good goalkeeper. Heslop who had only one game last season, faced the toughest task against Ritchie, and of operating against an attack which included Stanley Matthews who can still control, pass, and swerve with the ball in a way that makes him a wonderful entertainer still. That Ritchie only once looked like scoring and that through passes from Matthews did not bring goals was due in great part to Helsop. He may not have the finesse of Labone, but his strong tackling and ability to recover entitled him to a high rating. With Meagan and Kay also playing notable roles, small wonder Stoke were rarely able to make any capital out of approach work which often looked good, especially when Matthews had the ball.
AGELESS MAGIC
In the first half he gave the crowd and there must have been thousands who went purely to see him, samples of his ageless magic and he earned his half-time ovation. The Stoke attack was never capable of beating Everton’s defence, after Rankin had made an early save from Kinnell. Everton’s trouble was that the forwards did not equal the consistency of the defence. Not until the last twenty minutes did, we see them in anything like lethal mood. Temple was inclined to overdo it before the interval. Vernon seemed out of touch and it was left to Scott and Young to provide the sparkle. Whatever critic of Stevens might think they can never fault him for lack of endeavour. He sidestepped Leslie beautifully in taking a pass from Harris but ruined the best movement of the first half by the final shot, which went outside instead of into an empty net. I never felt Stoke could half did Everton take a real grip and 85 minutes had gone before they supplemented the goal lead Kay had given them ten minutes before half-time.
FINE SAVES
In part this was due to a couple of fine saves by Leslie from Scott and Young, but there were other occasions when Everton’s proneness to make the extra pass stilted the lead-up. The way Leslie was beaten in 85 minutes illustrated the value of the quick ball. Young laid it on and Temple, chesting down the pass, smashed a glorious left foot shot low into the net. Even this did not match the spectable of Kay’s goal. He took a pass from Temple and as the defence moved back let fly from 22 yards, the ball rocketing into the top corner of the net with Leslie hopeless. More quick shooting like this is what Everton need. It is ironic these days that Vernon, the feared shooter of the line, is more remembered by the fact that one can scarcely recall a real effort from him. Stoke had gone a long time without an away defeat. One wondered how, because Matthews is not the only one getting on in years in the side. it could be than once you bottle Ritchie you stop the attack. That is how it appeared and chief credits, when we except Matthews go to the defence. Kinnell played well, although he was lucky not to have had a penalty given against them when Temple was brought down – the only refereeing blemish -and so did Stuart. Everton; Rankin; Brown, Meagan; Harris, Heslop, Kay; Scott, Stevens, Young, Vernon, Temple. Stoke City; Leslie; Skeets, Allan; Kinnell, Stuart, Palmer; Matthews, Bridgwood, Ritchie, Viollet, Bebbington. Referee Mr. D.H. Howell (Birmingham). Attendance 47,143.

WEST SAVES PENALTY AT BLACKPOOL
Liverpool Daily Post – Monday, November 25, 1963
BLACKPOOL RESERVES 0, EVERTON RESERVES 0
There was not a lot of good football in this Central League game at Blackpool. An almost waterlogged pitch made that practically impossible. Everton should have won, for they had sufficient of the play to have made certain of the points long before the end. As it was the visitors’ defence finished in retreat after Hill had been carried off and limped to the dressing room ten minutes from time. Morrissey was the only forward raided with any great purpose in spite of the passes which Sharples, in particular, continually served to his forwards. The Blackpool forwards were gradually mastered by the Everton defence and yet could have won the match in the 35th minute when a penalty was conceded. Horne took this, but West brilliantly saved a shot placed wide of him. Curwen, who was playing on this ground only last season as a Blackpool schoolboy, had a sound and resolute game at left half for Everton.

GOAL BARRIERS BECAME ARAS OF PEACE
Liverpool Echo - Monday 25 November 1963
By Michael Charters
The day the crowd barriers went up at Goodison Park may prove to be as notable in football lore as those which marked historic changes in the laws of the game- the introduction of goal nets, change in the offside rule, numbering of players. These tubular steel enclosures, glistening silver in the sun, seemed to fit quite neatly into the ground pattern with which we are so familiar, and the pioneering move by Everton was an unqualified success. The match against Stoke City on Saturday was played in such a sporting spirit- with one or two minor exceptions –that there was no danger of crowd eruptions and missile throwing. The two policemen stationed inside each barrier, and others patrolling around the area of the goals, had no trouble at all. There was only one crowd-provoking moment, late in the game, when it seemed to me that Temple had been fouled quite clearly in the penalty area, and referee- M.P. Denis Howell refused Everton’s appeal. That annoyed the crowd and one rather forlorn roll of paper was thrown onto the pitch near a corner flag. It was a futile gesture and otherwise all was harmony, with the visiting team being applauded for their efforts. Everton chairman Mr. John Moores was delighted with the success of the no-man’s-land area behind the goals and it was he, after the game, who suggested that the experiment may go further. He thought that his club, after seeing the effect of the barriers for a few more games, might consider proposing to the Football Association that such a blanked-off area he made permanent on all grounds. He visualised the space being filled in with soil, surrounded by concrete walls, and grass grown to form an arc of peace behind every goal on every ground. This is the situation at Wembley and Hampden Park, and it would take an Olympic javelin thrower to deliver a missile into the goal area on those grounds. This, of course, is very much in the future and clubs would be opposed at first to the thought of losing space normally occupied by paying spectators. Loss of revenue would only obtain when there was a capacity attendance.
ATTENTION ELSEWHERE
Now to the game itself, I thought it was rather average entertainment and the impression I got was that the players seemed to sense there was something important happening outside the field of play and their attention to matters on hand was diverted slightly. There was a good deal of rather pointless midfield play but justice was done in the end when Everton emerged clear 2-0 winners. However, it was not until Kay opened the scoring after 35 minutes with a magnificent 20-yard shot that Everton began to find their form. And as they did not make the game safe until Temple’s neatly-taken goal few minutes from the end, it can be seen that they made rather heavy weather of winning. Everton’s defence was exceptionally sound and they kept the Stoke forwards so bottled up near goal that Rankin, making his home debut in goal, had very little to do. His best save, in fact, was from a strongly-hit back-pass by Harris, to which he dived full length when the ball looked as though it was going to creep just inside the upright. What he had to do was performed with sure confidence, and he impressed everyone. Brown and Heslop, brought in because of injuries to Parker and Labone, both played splendidly. Heslop was particularly good in controlling the free-scoring Ritchie- 15 goals in nine games –and the Stoke centre forward was reduced to nonentity long before the end by Heslop’s strength in the tackle and excellent heading ability. Brown was the best full back of the four and the obvious ability of these two players poses problems when the recognised first-teamers are fit again.
RHYTHM CAME LATE
Kay and Harris were also near faultless so it was in attack that Everton were disappointing. The forwards took best part of an hour to find collective rhythm. There had been flashes of individual brilliance before then from Scott and Temple, plus a remarkable 90-minute show of constant challenge and endeavour from Stevens, the best of the five forwards because of his non-stop efforts. Midway through the second half, however, the attack started to move so brilliantly together that the Stoke defence took a hammering. Young and Scot brought great saves from Leslie, with Temple moving inside to play his full part. This was powerful, attacking play employing varied tactics and Stoke were outplayed after the interval. Apart from Leslie, I thought Stuart and Palmer played well in Stoke’s defence while up front only the immortal Stanley Matthews was impressive. This incredible performer, his ball control and artistry in slipping past an opponent seemingly unimpaired, was kept out of the game for long spells by his colleagues obviously by design. When he did get the ball he invariably made good use of it and it was not his fault that the rest of the Stoke attack made little headway. He remains the great crowd entertainer, but, on assembling his value to his side, a doubt must remain. However, he earned and deserved his generous applause from the crowd, who were thrilled by his midfield magic.

EVERTON DELAY TEAM ANNOUCEMENT
Liverpool Echo - Tuesday 26 November 1963
FIFTEEN IN PARTY
RANGERS MATCH
There was 15 players in the Everton party when they left for Glasgow this afternoon, but manager Harry Catterick will not name the team to meet Rangers at Ibrox Park until shortly before tomorrow’s game. Two of the contenders for Scottish international recognition, Alex Parker and Jimmy Gabriel, will not be playing, nor will England’s reserve centre half, Brian Labone. Gabriel was injured against Blackburn on November 9, while Parker and Labone were both hurt during the games at Nottingham Forest on November 16. Gordon West, Colin Harvey, Barry Rees and Johnny Morrissey are added to the side which beat Stoke City at Goodison Park on Saturday and the Everton team will be chosen from; Rankin; West; Meagan, Brown; Harris, Heslop, Kay; Scott, Stevens, Young, Vernon, Temple, Harvey, Rees, Morrissey.

EVERTON HOPE TO MAKE £30,000 PROFIT
Liverpool Daily Post – Wednesday, November 27, 1963
TWO-LEGGED CLASH WITH GLASGOW RANGERS
SUBSTITUTES WILL BE ALLOWED IN BOTH MATCHES
By Horace Yates
If Everton’s crowd for the return match with Rangers at Goodison Park on Monday measures up to expectations the clubs will net a profit approaching £30,000 which is almost the equivalent of a run to Wembley in the F.A. Cup Competition. Add to this receipts from the European Cup clash with Inter-Milan and already the pointers are towards a record season financially. For the time being at any rate that is the end of Everton’s good luck story – for when they travel to Ibrox Park to-night for the first leg of the unofficial championship of Great Britain they will be without Jimmy Gabriel, Brian Labone and Alex Parker. Rangers official were almost as disappointed to hear the news as was Harry Catterick to confirm fears that this star trio could not play. What is more, Mr. Catterick is not the least bit optimistic there will be any change in the situation for Saturday’s visit to Wolves. “One cannot be certain,” he told me last night at the team’s Glasgow headquarters, “but I cannot encourage the slightest hope that any of them will be fit to resume. “This game at Ibrox is one for which we would dearly have loved to be at strength, for Rangers are a fine side, not easily beaten by the strongest opposition. “By now, I suppose we should be accustomed to the cruel strokes of fate which can be inflicted by injury for I think we have only been given unrestricted choice in four or five games this season.
FIFTEEN PLAYERS
“We have brought with us fifteen players. There are the eleven who played against Stoke, and in addition Gordon West, Johnny Morrissey, Colin Harvey, and Barry Rees. We have not left one fit member of the first team panel at home.” In contrast, Rangers’ supporters were able to congratulate themselves on the intimation of manager Scott Symon that Jimmy Baxter, who damaged an ankle bone playing against Wales is expected to play. The manager said, “Baxter had a workout to-day and felt no ill effects afterwards if there is no reaction to-morrow he will definitely play.” Left half Baxter, hero of Scotland’s victory over England at Wembley last season has been one of the most sought-after players in Scotland for several seasons. Money is more plentiful with Rangers than with any other Scottish club and that is why they can afford to keep repeating “No” to England efforts to take him South of the border, I fancy they will never tire of turning down advances. About nine months ago, Everton’s outside right Alec Scott was fighting a weekly battle with Willie Henderson for the right-wing berth in Rangers’ side. He told me, “One below-par games and I was out. It was all very unsettling and that is why I moved. Every man drops below peak form from time to time. At Everton, if I am not 100 per cent, in one game there is not the fear that assisted at Ibrox that my name will be missing from the team the following week. “I am much more relaxed now and enjoying my football better. Certainly, have no regrets at having made the change. “Moreover, I think my game has improved in England football. You are learning all the time, more so in England. In Scotland there are fewer good sides. Alex, who was with Rangers for eight seasons, first appearing in their team when only sixteen added: “Rangers playing attacking football. They always give value for money, and that style would suit us. “It is bound to be a good, close game and the pity is that we could not have met this challenge with our best to ensure we are still in with a chance of winning when Rangers pay their return visit.” This battle of the blues (although Everton will be in white to-day) will have an unusual feature, in that both sides will be permitted to introduce substitutes for any position at any period of the match, which will also apply in the return game. Mr. Catterick explained; “We intend to see that the spectators are thoroughly entertained, so far as it lies within our power.
A MESSAGE…
“We don’t want new injuries to mar the chances of either side. mind you, there will be none of the continental stuff with a player dancing round on the touchline ready to take over at a given signal. Changes will only be made for genuine injuries. If Baxter plays as is expected, McKinnon who deputised for him on Saturday, will occupy his normal centre half spot, Bayllie standing down. The line up is expected to be Rangers; Ritchie; Shearer, Provan; Creig, McKinnon, Baxter; Henderson, Millar, Forrest, Brand, Watson. Everton; Rankin; Brown, Meagan; Harris, Heslop, Kay; Scott, Stevens, Young, Vernon, Temple.

TONY KAY SUSPENDED FOR 21 DAYS
Liverpool Echo - Wednesday 27 November 1963
EVERTON F.C FINED £100, MUST POST WARNINGS
NO EVIDENCE THAT DART WAS THROWN DURING MATCH
The F.A. Disciplinary Committee to-day announced that Tony Kay. the &Mon and England wing half had been suspended for 21 days from next Monday, December 2, as a result of being sent off during the Division One game against Blackburn Rovers on November 9. Everton F.C. have been fined £l00 and ordered to post warning notices to spectators on the ground and in the programme for one month from December 2. Following reported incidents at the same game. They have also been told that a recurrence of misconduct could lead to the ground being closed - But the committee, referring to the complaints of dart and marble throwing at the match against Tottenham Hotspur on October 26. said that from the evidence placed before them they were unable to determine whether the dart was thrown during the match or during the interval and decided that no further action be taken regarding this incident.
THEY SPAT AT LINESMAN
The Committee said they were satisfied those missiles were thrown at the match between Everton and Blackburn Rovers and that some spectators were guilty of other misconduct after the match. The referee in this match had reported that a linesman spat upon by a spectator whilst he was leaving the field. The club has been ordered to broadcast the decisions to the spectators at all matches played at the ground during the period commencing Monday, December 2. 1963. SATISFIED
But the committee noted with satisfaction the action already taken by the club and the police to prevent a recurrence and hoped that these precautions would have the desired effect. SuspendingKay for striking an opponent the committee stated they had taken into account the player's record of previous misconduct on the field of play. In the Leyton Orient v. Northampton League game on November 9, in which the referee reported that a spectator had thrown a dart, the committee decided that Leyton Orient be ordered to post warning notices in prominent positions at their ground for one month from Monday. December 2, 1963, and to print in the official club programme for the same period a warning to their spectators similar to that contained in the warning notices.
MISSES FOUR GAMES
During Kay's suspension Everton are due to play four First Division games-- Chelsea (h), December 7, Arsenal (a), December 10; Fulham (a), December 14, and Manchester United (h), December 21. In addition the return friendly against Glasgow Rangers is next Monday night –the day his suspension starts. The first game Kay will be able to play after Saturday’s visit to Wolves is at Leicester City on Boxing Day.

TO-NIGT’S GAME
Liverpool Echo - Wednesday 27 November 1963
By Leslie Edwards
Scotland is taking more seriously than fans on Merseyside the two-legged meeting of Rangers and Everton for the championship of Britain. What happens at the first meeting to-night will have marked effect on the attendance at the return game at Goodison Park on Monday. As nothing tangible is at stake both matches may have an unrealistic air, but there can be no doubt that the teams will be eager for victory, if only for the prestige at stake.
WOLVES STAR EXPECTS TO BE FIT
Injury hit Wolves hope to be back at full strength for the visit of Everton to Molineux on Saturday. Last week, when the Midland club were trounced 5-0 by Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough they were without George Showell, Chris Crowe, Peter Broadbent and Alan Hinton. All four players are expected to be on duty against Everton. Crowe, the former Leeds and Blackburn inside forward has been out of the side for the past six weeks through injury but reports from Molineux indicate that he is fit to resume. Despite skipper Ron Flowers playing a second centre half role with David Woodfield, Wolves have still tossed away several careless points this season. With the reserves currently top of the Central League, the future looks bright for the club who have such fine players as left back Bobby Thomson, who won his first cap against Ireland last week, and 18-years-old inside forward Peter Knowles, already in the side. Thomson, the only ever-present last season, is rated the fastest player in the country. Wolves, who were beaten 2-0 I the corresponding game last season, have an old score to settle. They are still upset by that 6-0 humiliation on September 16 at Anfield and aim to prove that they are still capable of putting one across either side from Merseyside.

THREAT TO EVERTON GAME IN GLASGOW
Liverpool Echo - Wednesday 27 November 1963
FOG AROUND CITY
LATE CHOICE
By Leslie Edwards
When Everton players awoke at their Kilmacolm headquarters, some 10 miles from Glasgow, this morning visibility was limited to 40 yards. Near Glasgow, where Everton are due to play Rangers to-night, visibility was nearer ten yards. Mr. Scot Symon, Rangers’ manager said that there was only light mist at Ibrox and it was nothing a decent puff of wind would not shift. Everton Manager Harry Catterick said that if the match were fogged off he would not readily agree to its being played to-morrow as this would mean Everton travelling home on Friday and going straight to Wolverhampton for the League match there on Saturday. Everton will not name their team until immediately prior to kick-off. Presumably if to-night’s game did not take place the return game fixed for Goodison Park on Monday would become the first ’’leg” of the contest. All the 10s tickets for this match have been sold. Stand (15s) paddock (7s 6d) and ground (5s) tickets are still available.

HESLOP STARS IN GREAT IBROX VICTORY
Liverpool Daily Post, Thursday, November 28, 1963
BRITISH CHAMPIONS- EVERTON NEARLY THERE
GO INTO SECOND LEY WITH 3-1 LEAD OVER SCOTS
GLASGOW RANGERS 1, EVERTON 3
By Horace Yates
Everton’s pre-match calculations, which were that if they restricted Rangers’ winning margin at Ibrox last night to two goals the stage would eb set for a thrilling decider at Goodison Park on Monday were exceeded beyond the wildest hopes. The English champions now go into the second leg two goals up and with the knowledge that they have the beating of the Scottish champions with a fair amount in hand. What Everton can do to the side, beaten only Real Madrid at home this season, when they play before a Goodison crowd and possibly in more assertive form than they showed Scottish fans last night, one can only crowned British champions it will be just about the biggest turn-up of the season. Quite rightly Everton entered this teat under some apprehension, playing as they were without Labone, parker and Gabriel and with Rankin in the process of earning his spurs.
WORRIES GROUNDLESS
Their worries were groundless for all the deputies gave first rate performances. Indeed, it appears that new star has risen on the Goodison horizon for in Rankin Everton have a goalkeeper of rare promise. Without a sign of nerves playing before the biggest audience in his life, the youngster was the essence of coolness at all time. Apart from two handling errors, in a very busy evening, one of which presented Rangers with their goal, his fielding would have done credit to a professional cricketer. He set the pattern he was to follow almost as soon as the game opened when Forest failed to beat him from almost point-blank range. Hearts sank when he conceded a penalty kick in the second half. Not Rankin’s however for like a hero he dived to keep Brands shot out. Everton’s defence, against which was posed the biggest query, rose to the challenge with almost unbelievable courage and ability. Praise there must be for the workmanlike displays of Brown, Kay and Harris, but stepping forward for an out-size in bouquets is centre half George Heslop.
MODEL OF PRECISION
What an exhibition this boy gave. Part from the one early chance conceded to Forrest, the centre forward was hamstrung almost throughout. Not only was Herslop’s tackling a model of precision, his anticipation could not have been improved. I suggest that Everton can now relax over the news that Labone may be out of action for a match or two. Not only will Helsop fill the ball, but he will offer the sternest opposition to any challenge Labone may make to climb back into the team. Before getting foot on the ground Meagan knew quite well that he was confronted with an outsize headache in coming face to face with Henderson, the winger who made Liverpool’s Gerry Byrne’s death such a misery at Wembley. The headache developed as the minutes rolled by and Meagan from time to time flew distress signals, but the Irishman rallied and clung to big task. I thought Rangers played into Everton’s hands by placing too much trust in the innocuous Watson. Henderson should have been worked to death. He was the one man who really appeared capable of turning this magnificent Everton defence.
DAMAGE ANKLE.
Rangers suffered an unfortunate blew before half time when their star artist Baxter a doubtful starter until to-day, with a damaged ankle, broke down and had to retire. He was substituted by Baillie who took over at centre half with McKinnon at left half. It would be difficult to go into raptures over the Everton attack for anything except their fantastic finishing. Throughout the match I doubt if they enjoyed more than eight shots at goal. Three of them found the target and by any standards that presents a satisfactory display. This looked as though it might be a day for Temple to forget. Nothing would go for him according to plan until the moment he broke loose to score the best goal of the match. To nobody did success taste sweeter than Scott for, against his old club he helped himself to the luxury of a goal. The tempo was really set by Alex Young for he displayed masterly judgment with his shooting to notch the first all-important goal. Vernon too tried to join the scoring picture but was very closely watched and Stevens has never worked harder. There was much to admire in the Rangers clever play, but their attack never developed no expected against such a granite-like defence. Little did they know it, but the crowd set the pattern for what was to follow with their song “Follow Rangers.” Rangers were following Everton almost throughout and never looked like catching them.
CONTINUIUS ROAR.
Everton made Alex Scott skipper for the occasion and the vast crowd could hardly be said to have given much encouragement to Everton. Their enthusiasm was worthy of the occasion for the roar was continuous and ear-splitting until their decided that Rangers had met their match. Seldom has there been so little noise however from such a vast crowd to herald an Everton goal as there was after nine minutes. A Temple-Kay movement ended in Kay running on to the ball and crossing it square in front of goal, McKinnon reached out with his leg but failed to make contact and Young swooped. Young shot with superb accuracy and the Everton dream ambition of a leading goal has been realised. Kay found himself in trouble when he felled Henderson and promptly became the target for the crowd’s attention. In 59 minutes, Everton were two up and Temple was the scorer. What a grand individual effort it was! Receiving almost on the touchline near half-way, Temple beat two men, cut right into the penalty area and as Ritchie advanced, drove the ball through his hands. The shot merely trickled over the line, but it was enough. It could have been three in sixty-four minutes, just as the slow handclap and derisive whistles were breaking out. Young was hustled off the ball before he could flick into goals. Almost immediately Everton went further ahead. Scott and Young combined to leave the winger with the easiest of scoring tasks, and Rangers were rewarded for their efforts in 71 minutes when Henderson hit a ground shot at Rankin. The goalkeeper failed to gather and Creig running up had a gift goal. Rangers; Ritchie; Shearer, Provan; Creig, McKinnion, Baxter, Henderson, Millar, Forrest, Brand, Watson. Everton; Rankin; Brown, Meagan; Harris, Heslop, Kay; Scott (Captain), Stevens, Young, Vernon, Temple. Referee; Mr. L. Callaghan, Merthyr, Attendance 70,000.

RANKIN WAS OUT OF THIS WORLD, SAYS RANGERS CHIEF
Liverpool Echo - Thursday 28 November 1963
By Horace Yates
Everton's well-earned 3-1 victory at Ibrox Park, last night, sends them into the second leg at Goodison Park, on Monday, with an advantage which should ensure for them success over Rangers. A result. Which I am sure exceeded all expectations, did much more than that, for in the achievement of it Everton have proved that their reserve strength is far greater than they had dared to hope. The situation often finds and the men. That is exactly what has happened with Everton. They know now that cruel blows though the injuries to Gabriel, Labone and Parker undoubtedly were, they have the men ready to hand to plug the gaps. This was my first sight of Andy Rankin as a goalkeeper. While experience has taught me never5 to be swayed by first impressions, I am confident I am on the safest of sound ground by predicting for Rankin a highly successful career. He is a discovery beyond price, ripe and able to add something to the first team scene. Once or twice only was his handling at fault but in the course of an evening which kept him fully employed he displayed the all-round qualities that bore the stamp of a first class craftsman. West was there to see his successor seize his opportunity. I say successor advisedly for unless Rankin slips or West dramatically hits tip-top form I cannot see how the former police cadet can be displaced.
HESLOP’S PART
Almost as emphatically did George Heslop lay claim to a position for so long regarded as Brian Labone’s own, he brought vigour, drive, clean-cut talking to a position where such qualities are of paramount importance. It was no easy task having to subdue Forrest but subdue him he did. Harris we expect to do well and despite a troublesome shin bone injury which slowed down his reactions late in the match he was a reserve extraordinary. Similarly with Brown. Here he was with the finest display he has given with Everton for the discomfiture of his fellow Scots. Whether Watson would have been a menace in other circumstances the unchallengeable fact was that last night Brown subdued him. Probably chairman John Moores put the position as aptly as anyone could when he said; “On hearing of the F.A decision I was very heavy of heart. The display of the boys last night and particularly of the comparative newcomers introducedinto the side made my day. It was inspiring to see the way they played. I am proud of them." Naturally victory was earned on the field by 11 stout-hearted and dedicated men but that is only half the story. It is seldom we hear of the backroom planning which goes into a game. I happen to know that the tactics laid down by manager Harry Catterick were followed to the letter and could not have worked more successfully. This was planning in excels is. Had Everton gone put to play their normal attacking game no doubt we would have seen an even more cultured and exciting match, not that this one lacked either thrillsor enterprise. Everton decided on awatertight defence, quick breaks, and snap goals. That is precisely what happened I was rather surprised at the than that in England. Rangers did everything possible to belie that theory and yet it was not enough against a highly competent and unyielding defence. SHUT OUT
No one contemplates a match with Rangers without taking into account the danger posed by Henderson, possibly the most talented wing raider in the home countries. He threatened to run Meagan into the ground but I have seen enough of Irishman down the years to realise that the greater is the danger of his being over- run, the more determinedly does he grit his teeth and fight back. This is what happened at Ibrox. With willing and able support from first Kay (who had an admirable game) then Stevens and Vernon. Everton were able to shut out thisraider with a finality that stunned the crowd. "Easy. Easy, easy" they chanted as the teams took the field. It was never easy, for Everton I mean but once Alex Young had given them the lead after magnificent, play by Kay in nine minutes I always felt that Everton had the game in their keeping. I doubt if Young has ever made a more precise shot. The target was severely restricted but like an arrow its goal sped the ball from Young's foot. As cheering as anything was the magnificent finishing of the Everton attack. In their defence-dictated approach they enjoyed no more than seven or eight shots in all, yet three were made to count. If we could depend on finishing of this high order in all Everton's matches, no, longer would critics be inclined to doubt their ability to be in at the kill when the championship is being decided. Everton s goal, scored by their captain for the occasion, Alex Scott, in recognition of his first appearance against his former club mates, was the result of accurate interpassing between Young and the winger. Scott's gaol was then a formality from the centre forward's offering. Just when we were beginning to write off this match from Derek Temple's point of view he burst like a bomb into action. From a harmless position on the touchline at half-way he rocketed past two defenders, worked his way into the penalty area and forced his shot through Ritchie's hands.
AT HIS BEST
This was a flash of Temple at his devastating best. Rangers had to field a substitute for Baxter in the second half and gained a late reward for a fielding error by Rankin when Creig scored. I am convinced Monday’s Goodison crowd will enjoy the game far more than did the deflated Rangers following. Even though Everton may not be able to risk a switch to all-out attack (Rangers are too good for that) there is certain to be a greater role for the forwards. The Rangers chairman, Mr. John Lawrence after the match, said; “If this is Everton’s reserve goalkeeper, do us a favour on Monday by playing your first team man. He was out of this world. Even when we were awarded a penalty I knew we would not score- and we didn’t.” Well done, Everton! I think some of the lessons they learned from Inter Milan have already started to pay off on big match occasions.

YOUTH CUP DERBY
Liverpool Echo - Thursday 28 November 1963
Everton are at home to Liverpool in second round of F.A Youth Cup. To be played by Saturday, December 21.
ANOTHER EVERTON F.C. PLAYER SUSPENDED
BARRY REES GETS 14 DAYS FOR STRIKING OPPONENTS
Barry Rees to-day became the second Everton player given a suspension by the Football Association this week. Yesterday England wing-half, Tony Kay, received 21 days suspension and now Rees has got 14 days from December 2 for striking an opponent during the Everton Res v. Manchester City Res Central League match on November 16.
BAXTER OUT SIX WEEKS
Jim Baxter, Rangers’ Scottish international wing-half is out of football for six weeks. He left the field after 35 minutes against Everton at Ibrox Park last night with a damaged ankle. To-day he went to hospital and his right leg was put into plaster.
EVERTON WARNING
A plain warning which should be heeded by Everton supporters has been given by the Football Association. A recurrence of misconduct could lead to the ground being closed. It has been said before and it should be said again, that the troubles are due to the behaviour of a relatively small number of people, to whom appeals have frequently been made in the past. A responsibility now rests on this unruly element to mend its ways. Nor is it unreasonable to suggest that the majority should lend their help in maintaining order. The club themselves have made every effort to stamp nut unruly conduct. This fact has been noted with satisfaction by the F.A. disciplinary committee. First experience of the barriers which they have put behind the goal has been encouraging. There should be reason to hope that the slur which has been cast by the few on the good name of the many will shortly be removed.

EASY CHANT WAS A BIG SURPRISE TO THE EVERTON PLAYERS
The Liverpool Daily Post, Friday, November 29, 63
By Horace Yates
Professional footballers are prepared for any and all kinds of receptions. By now the more experienced members of the Everton and Liverpool teams must consider they have experienced every phrase of the fans’ enthusiasm. Yet the Everton players at Ibrox on Wednesday admitted to some surprises when they were greeted by a thunderous chant of, “Easy, easy, easy.” Whether this salvo, directed at undermining a visiting team’s confidence at the outset, is of any advantage to Rangers is doubtful. Knowing the Everton boys, I am certain that all it achieved was to persuade them to roll up their sleeves and mentally resolve “We’ll show ‘em.” Show them Everton certainly did and it is note-worthy that once the game had started the “Easy” chant was never resurrected. Goodison’s “Ev-er-ton” reply on Monday evening will hit Rangers forcibly. Never at a loss for improvisation I should not be taken by storm if they decided anything the Ibrox following can do they can do better.
“DEAD EASY”
What I wonder would be Rangers’ reaction if they lined up to roars of “Dead easy,” for the Everton confidence is boosted by two goals start. Still, this is the type of crowd behaviour that nobody minds. It all adds atmosphere to grounds. Of course, having seen how the chant recalled on Rangers, Everton’s thousands may think better of it. I hope no one will run away with the idea that all is over bar the requiem. On Monday Rangers will certainly miss Baxter, but will his losses be any more widely felt than will be Kay’s of Everton? I doubt it! This Rangers’ side is full of talent. They may not have realised it but to an outsider looking in it appears that Scotland’s star team suffers mainly from lack of adequate competition. If only ways and means could be found, without causing a riot in Scotland, of including Rangers in the English First division, their stature would grow. In addition, that vast following of theirs, while possibly seeing their pet side defeated far more frequently than ever, they have known, would find really competitive football far more stimulating. If I must be honest, I really do believe that while Rangers could add considerably to the English soccer scene, gone would be their monopoly of honours. What a tragedy this theory is never likely to be put to the test! That Rangers would be a required. Probably the only hope we have of seeing Rangers regular competition this side of the border is for the so-called Super League to emerge from fantasy to fact. Rangers are a legend, not only in Scotland but in England too. I think Monday’s return will be a stirring duel, Everton could afford to be defensively minded in Glasgow Rangers would be courting certain disaster not only to rely on all-out attack, starting as they will, two goals down. Everton too, will feel justified in opening up. The result could be a football feast. Joining the big three- Labone, Gabriel, and Parker- in the treatment room yesterday were the most recent causalities of Ibrox, Tony Kay and Brian Harris. Both received shin injuries, sufficiently extensive to be taken seriously. Harris, I would say is the more doubtful of the two for the visit to Wolves. Manager Harry Catterick will not commit himself on the fitness of the others.

ROY VERNON SAYS-
Liverpool Daily Post- Friday, November 29, 1963
IBROX TERRIFIC BUT I PERFER TO PLAY HERE
My first sight of Ibrox Park impressed me greatly. What a wonderful ground, it is. Bigger than Goodison Park. I will not quarrel with the theory I have heard advanced that it has the finest club premises in Britain. The office and other buildings under the stand are fabulous affairs. Before we went up to Ibrox I was told I would find that by comparison the Goodison scene of which we are so proud, would look like a Second Division affair, I will accept that from no one for Everton’s home is also something right out of the ordinary. For all that that I take off my hat to the Ibrox planners. I don’t know where the money could be found to build its equal to-day. At a time when we are congratulating ourselves that our club ideas of putting up barriers behind the goalposts at Goodison has been such a success, it was particularly interesting to see the Ibrox arrangement. There is so much space behind the goals there that I believe nobody, but a champion shot-putter could land a bottle, toilet roll or similar weapon anywhere near the pitch. On the touch line sides, too, there is sufficient room to accommodate two lines of invalid carriages (all of them in Rangers’ colours, by the way), in front of this track there is another wide strip of turf before the actual pitch is reached. The players seem to be in a world of their own, but the sound from the crowd comes over loud and clear. The ground accommodated over 80,000 in comfort; I was told that in 1939 there were packed into the ground 118,567 for a Rangers v Celtic game. If Rangers cared to copy the English club ideas of taking the crowd right to the edges of the pitch (which heaven forbid) I am no expert but I should think they could make room for another 20,000 to 30,000. As it is Ibrox is ample for most needs!
WONDERFUL GROUNDS.
From what I have seen of Scotland there is not a lot that would persuade me to play my football up there, but I admit they have some wonderful grounds. The building under the main stand are terrific. The entrance hall in itself is almost enough to frighten away visitors accustomed to much more humble surrounding. Even we Evertonians were somewhat awe struck, but you will have noticed from the result that we did not allow this to bother us at all. We have always felt that our dressing room at Goodison was among the biggest in the country. It probably is, so long as we don’t include Scotland in our calculations. Here again, there is the “think big” Men prevalent everywhere. One has to stand on something to hang up clothing. I all add up to a suggestion that only giants use these quarters. The baths too are wonderful affairs. I am not exaggerating in the slightest when I say it is quite big enough for anybody to swim in. in football we find improvements are being made all the time in various respects. I think it is a safe wager, however, to state that the Ibrox set-up may never be equalled, let alone exceeded. Costs have soared so much since they set about the task and they are hardly likely ever to come down sufficiently to permit thinking on such and grand scale.
NOT SO EASY
Because we won 3-1, some there are who are inclined to think that Rangers were easy meat for Everton. That is not so. They gave us quite a game and had it not been for one of the most convincing defensives displays I have ever seen from our lads; we could have been struggling. Still, two goals up and the second leg at Goodison, made us all feel good. I would like also, on behalf of the team, to pay tribute to the wonderful Scottish hospitality we found. After the match we were all presented with beautiful clocks as mementoes of our visit. This was the first of these games between Everton and Rangers if ways and means are found to make it an annual of the players will offer the slightest protest. Moreover, I think Rangers will be the first to admit that they stand to learn quite a bit from clashes with England sides. The temptation is to get a false sense of values when playing only against Scottish sides, whose strength varies so much. Without any doubt our experience against inter Milan was used to advantage. Who knows that Rangers will not have profited similarly from this belief acquaintances with Everton?

EVERTON’S BARRY REES SUSPENDED
Liverpool Daily Post – Friday, 29 November 1963
Barry Rees a member of the Everton party which travelled to Glasgow for Wednesday’s match with Rangers, was yesterday suspended for 14 days from December 2. The Football Association Disciplinary Committee announced that Rees was sent off for striking an opponent during the reserve match against Manchester City on November 16.

SHOCKED SCOTS
Liverpool Echo - Friday 29 November 1963
Everton's performance at Ibrox—a staggeringly good one remembering their team was makeshift —must have shucked the home Scots. Rankin, It seems, has come to stay; Heslop, a fine player when with Newcastle, but too long in the Everton Central League side to seem to have a great potential, have certainly " arrived" in big time soccer at the right time. With a stiff game at Wolverhampton to-morrow and the return match against Rangers, at Goodison Park, on Monday, Everton's commitments come thick and fast. It is to be hoped the injured players will recover in time to offset the absence, through suspension, of Kay. Being without him for 21 days will be a great handicap. Wolves started almost disastrously this season, but characteristically they snapped out of their rut and in the past five or six game, at least, have scarcely put a foot wrong. Doubtless Everton will take a big contingent with them. Any side capable of beating Rangers on their own ground should approach a run-of-the-mill League game such as this with good morale, but knowing Wolves (and Mr. Cullis) Everton won't pick up points without having to battle hard for them.
An interesting sidelight on Everton's 1963 barriers comes from Mr. A. Nelson, 69 Buttermere Road, Liverpool 16. He writes: — "Most people are under the impression that Everton had their first barrier erected last week. I wonder how many supporters remember a wire cage erected over the players' entrance to the field of play? This was erected after a Tottenham match around 1934.
"I remember the playing pitch being invadedafter the match by hundreds of supporters. The reason was an incident which happened during the game when a Tottenham player punched the ball out of the back of the net. There was a claim for either a goal or a penalty. The referee gave neither! From then on the game resembled a shambles. Long after the game was over the tempers of supporters were high. A large crowd assembled outside the players' entrance in Goodison Road and were set on man-handling the referee. He had already received harsh treatment on entering the players' tunnel; hence the erection of the cage.
INTER-MILAN PROVED IT
Other letter points: — “It is not, as some pressmen have said, that Evertonians can't face anything but an Everton win. Inter-Milan proved that."—E. S. Clark. 5 Scott Avenue. Huyton.
“I would like, through your column, to air my views on those barriers of shame. I have been watching Everton for 15 years and my father before me from what we considered was the best spot in the ground and to go on Saturday and find I was being deprived of that place filled me with disgust. I have finished with Everton until they are removed. Besides, I don't like the implication I am a hooligan because if I am it has taken them 15 years to find out."—A. Doormen. 5d Springfield Place. Liverpool 3.

BROKE MINUTES’ SILENT TRIBUTE TO PRESIDENT KENNEDY
Liverpool Echo - Friday 29 November 1963
“LONG LIVE KRUSCHEV” SHOUT AT GOODISON PARK
COURT TOLD INTERUPPTION RESENTED BY CROWD
WALTON MAN BOUND OVER
A 24-years-old Liverpool labouring shouted “Long live Kruschev,” during a one minute silence observed for the death of President Kennedy at Goodison Park on Saturday last. James Downey, aged 24 of 24 Deanscales Road, Liverpool 11, denied a summons alleging that on November 23 at Everton Football ground he used abusive and insulting language whereby a breach of the peace was likely to be occasioned. Constable D. Owen told Mr. G.N. England (Liverpool Deputy Stipendiary Magistrate) to-day that at 2.55 p.m., half way through the silence that was being observed by the crowd, Downey shouted “Long live Kruschev.” The crowd remained silent until the period was up and then started to punch and push Downey. As he (Constable Owen) and other officer went to Downey members of the crowd shouted “Get him out of here.” In court Downey said; “I did go to the match, I had a few drinks before I went in. There was no premeditation about it. On the spur of the moment I shouted it whether I was right or wrong.” Downey added “I didn’t mean any disrespect to anybody.
NOT OFFENSIVE
In answer to Detective Inspector A. Evans (prosecuting) Downey agreed that the crowd was upset at what he said, but added; “They were pushing me more than punching me.” The Deputy Stipendiary said; I’ don’t think the words ‘Log live Kruschev’ are offensive or insulting. I do think shouting anything where a silence is being observed is likely to lead to a breach of the peace.” To Downey he said; “Although I dismiss this particular summons, I shall use my powers to bind you over to keep the peace for 12 months.

EVERTON SAME AGAIN
Liverpool Echo - Friday 29 November 1963
NEW WOLVES GOALKEEPER
MOLINEUX GAME
By Leslie Edwards
Everton play an unchanged team to-morrow against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux. This means that the 11 which shocked and shook Rangers at Ibrox –Heslop at centre-half, Brown at right back; Harris at right half-back –get their chance for further glory. Gabriel and Parker are still unfit. It is most unlikely that either will be ready for the return game against Rangers at Goodison Park on Monday. Kay will miss this game through suspension and Sharples could be the deputy.
BARRON’S DEBUT
Twenty-years-old Wolves goalkeeper. Jimmy Barron, who has been putting in fine performances in the Central League makes his First Division debut, at Molineux. Regular goalkeeper Davies is troubled by a leg injury he received at Sheffield; George Showell, Chris Crowe, and Peter Broadbent all return to the team from a spell on the injured list. Barron from County Durham was an amateur with Wolves in the 1961-62 season and he signed as a professional in 1962. His father was a former Blackburn Rover goalkeeper. Wolverhampton Wanderers; Barron; Showell, Thomson; Goodwin, Woodfield, Flowers; Crowe, Knowles, Crawford, Broadbent, Wharton. Everton;- Rankin; brown, Meagan; Harris, Heslop, Kay; Scott, Stevens, Young, Vernon, Temple.

SMOKE -NOW FIRE
Liverpool Daily Post, Saturday, 30 November 1963
By Horace Yates
The smoke produced by recent rumour bursts into flames at Goodison Park yesterday when manager Harry Catterick received requests for transfer from George Sharples and Roy Parnell. Sharples a sturdily built twenty-year-old wing half, whose displays in the youth team suggested he was destined to become an outstanding player, has grown impatient with the difficulties of breaking into the champions side. signed after playing for Wirral and England schoolboy this Ellesmere Port boy made his League debut at home to West Brom in November 1960. His total senior games to date however, number only eight. Parnell last season was regarded as they moment who regarded as the mascot who charmed the way to a League title. His record was never to have seen Everton beaten when figuring as twelfth man. A former Birkenhead schoolboy, he is a full back now 19 years old, and was introduced to League football at Wolves in January 1961. He also played at Fulham in the following season. Only reaction from Mr. Catterick was “Their requests will be placed before the board at their placed before the board at their next meeting.” Kay and Harris have recovered from shin injuries received in Glasgow on Wednesday, and the Everton team at Wolverhampton will be that which smashed the Rangers. Everton won the corresponding game last season and Liverpool have already prevailed at Molyneux this season if the Molyneux this season, if the champions play to the pattern they traced at Ibrox, victory is not beyond them, but my inclinations are towards a draw. The last team to win at Wolverhampton were Blackburn Rovers on September 14, but West Brom and Bolton have since earned draws. The last team to win at Wolverhampton was Blackburn Rovers on September 14, but West Brom and Bolton have since earned draws.
RANKIN’S VIEW
Rankin has done so well in his three outings that it is readily apparent that he now commands the complete confidence of his colleagues. What of Rankin’s reactions to first team football? “I find it easier than Central League football,” he told me. “The backs give greater cover and so far, at least I have had a clear view of the ball. Once I am in the game I am not troubled with nerves. There is a job to do and I just try to do it. A great prospect is this boy! I think the Wolves sharpshooters will only succeed in confirming that impression. Having come through their ordeal by Scottish fire so successfully, perhaps it is not surprising that we are already ceasing to think of these replacements for the injured regulars as reserves. Wolves too have a new goalkeeper Jim Barran son of a former Blackburn goalkeeper, guards the goal for the first time because of injuries to Davies and Finlay. Wolverhampton Wanderers; Barron; Showell, Thomson; Goodwin, Woodfield, Flowers; Crowe, Knowles, Crawford, Broadbent, Wharton. Everton; Rankin; Brown, Meagan; Rankin, Brown, Meagan; Harris, Heslop, Kay; Scott, Stevens, Young, Vernon, Temple.

VERNON MISSES, RANKIN SAVES, IN BLUE HUMDINGER
Liverpool Echo - Saturday 30 November 1963
WOLVERHAMPTON 0, EVERTON 0
By Horace Yates
Wolverhampton Wanderers;- 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. Burtenshaw (Great Yarmouth). Wolves had 19-years-old Barron in goal, making his League debut, against an unchanged Everton at Molineux to-day. After less than a minute Brown was knocked out stopping a first-timer from Wharton, after Heslop had to handle deliberately to stop Goodwin’s pass reaching Crowe. Rankin did well to catch from Wharton’s swerving centre; then he took a shot from Knowles. Everton swooped through Scott, who slipped the ball to one side for Stevens to hit a first-timer just outside. Kay was using the ball well, and Wolves were fortunate to escape a penalty when Woodfield tackled Young rather violently. But the referee waved play on and almost immediately Wolves attacked only for Crawford to shoot wide. While Everton’s football looked impressive, Wolves were more trustful. When Flowers put a through-pass down the idle, Rankin had to come to the edge of the box to foil Crawford. Rankin was hurt in this incident but was soon up again. The referee again seemed lenient to allow another Woodfield tackle on Young to go unpunished. Crowe was Wolves danger man and twice his centres brought anxiety to the Everton defence, but each time Kay coolly cleared. Then, from one of his passes to Vernon, Everton made progress down the left, where Young beat Woodfield, only for the diving Barron to save his left foot centre.
CLASSIER
Everton were the classier side, but quick thrusts from Wolves produced danger and Meagan could do no more than give away a corner to stop Crowe running on to a Wharton cross. From this, Rankin saved a Knowles header. Then Scott a chance in the centre but his shot did not trouble Barron. Vernon made a hash of a chance provided by Temple, completely missing his shot, and straight afterwards Wolves were within inches of going in front. Crowe again beat Meagan and the ball came to Broadbent, whose drive narrowly missed the post. Temple was knocked out in trying to move through the centre and it was a couple of minutes before he recovered. From the corner he had forced, Woodfield cleared in fine style.
WHARTON SHOOTS.
Everton’s close passing counted for little against a strong defence, and the value of the quick ball was illustrated when Crawford switched one across to Wharton. He shot on the run and Rankin, flinging himself to one side, made a grand save. Kay had so far had a grand match. He gave Vernon another, shooting opportunity –first time from the edge of the penalty area- but again it was wide. Temple after a run half the length of the pitch, passed to Scott, whose centre was caught by Barron. For the third time. Vernon was just wide with a first-timer, and at this point Everton’s studied play was making them the better-looking side, without finding the killer touch.
PENALISED
Wood field was eventually penalised for an offence against Young and from the free kick, Harris drove outside. At least Everton were now shooting. Half-time; Wolves nil, Everton nil.
A Stevens dribble and centre began the second half but Flowers ended the danger by his cool collection and pass upfield. Then Heslop’s header disposed of a cross from Wharton. Wolves could not reach Everton’s football skill, but had enthusiasm and used the long ball well.
VERNON’S MISS
Brown came through to make a centre which Barrow tucked away for a corner, taken by Temple but Vernon, from close in, sliced the ball outside a bad miss. Within a minute each goal had remarkable escapes. After a misplaced pass by Scott, Wolves tore through on the left. Wharton centred across goal, but Rankin beat down Crowe’s shot. The goalkeeper was on the ground, however, and Brown had to lead away off the line for a corner. Another bad pass this time by Flowers attempting to find Barron saw Vernon nip in, swerve round the goalkeeper and then shot against the foot of the post and outside. For several minutes there was high excitement and Broadbent and Vernon drove just outside.
ONE TEAM
For football skill, Everton were the only team in it, but Wolves long passing was anyways a threat. Everton had another escape when Flowers centred out of Rankin’s reach, and Crawford’s dropping header was perilously near the line when Heslop headed away. This match was a real humdinger with thrills at both ends. Wharton shot across goal with Crowe just failing to get a touch, and Vernon’s quick shot from Temple’s pass grazed the post, with Barron helpless. Temple was only inches away from a goal from a pass from Kay. Both sides were now providing plenty of excitement and Young and Stevens shot just wide, while Thomson almost put through his own goal from a centre by Scott. Final; Wolves 0, Everton 0. Attendance approx. 30,000.

EVERTON RES V BLACKBURN RES
Liverpool Echo - Saturday 30 November 1963
Everton Res; West; Parnell, Morrissey; Jarvis, Smith, Sharples; Shaw, Humphreys, Rees, Harvey, Veall. Blackburn Rovers Res; Jones; Hall, Taylor; Sims, Holt, Holden, Wilford, Bradshaw, Sandford, Byrom, Ratcliffe. Referee; Mr. A. Johnson, (Smethwick). Everton went into the lead after nine minutes when a free kick for a foul on Humphreys went to VEALL on the left and his low drive beat Jones completely. Everton had the edge, but at 32 minutes Ratcliffe took the ball down the left wing and put in a fine centre for BYROM to equalise. Everton went straight back into the attack after this. Shaw kept putting across some good centres and Veall was unlucky to twice see the ball swirl outside the post. Blackburn were lucky to be on even terms at the interval. Half-time; Everton Res 1, Blackburn Res 1.

EVERTON B V PRESTON NORTH END B
Liverpool Echo - Saturday 30 November 1963
A good shot by Grant was apparently punched over the Preston bar by the visiting right back Walton, but the referee refused Everton’s appeal for a penalty. Grant again netted but the goal was disallowed. Just before the interval Murphy gave Everton the lead. Half-time; Everton B 1, Preston North End B nil.

BROWN’S TIP HELPED IN PENALTY SAVE
Liverpool Echo - Saturday 30 November 1963
By Alex Young
I feel that a special cheer is in order this week for goalkeeper Andy Rankin and centre-half George Heslop who, with only two first-team games in Everton's colours behind them, played magnificently against Rangers at Ibrox Park on Wednesday. On the whole, however, our 3-1 victory was a team success, and one that gave extra pleasure to Scots Alex Scott, Sandy Brown and myself. Andy brought off several seen fine saves, and one of the highlights for him came in second half when he prevented Ralph Brand scoring with a penalty kick. Great as this save was, however. I don't think Andy could have brought it off without the help of Sandy Brown. Sandy seen Brand take penalties several times during Scottish matches and noted that he usually puts the ball to same side of goal. When he saw the Rangers inside-left was going to take this kick, he signalled to Andy the direction he thought the ball would go... and he was right, Incidentally, Sandy tells me this is the first time in seven years that he has played in a winning team at Ibrox. Throughout our short stay in Scotland we had generous hospitality, right from the moment we stepped from the plane at Renfrew Airport and a battery of photographers and reporters were there to of give us the 'film star treatment. After the match, all the Everton team received a clock from the Rangers club as a memento of the occasion. Rangers have a nippy forward line, and I don't think they will give up without a fight when they visit Goodison on Monday evening. We, however, are confident of increasing our lead and look forward to another clean, friendly game, with plenty of good football to please the fans.
ANTI-CLIMAX
After the excitement caused in the week by the erection of barriers behind the goals. I thought last Saturday's match against Stoke was something of an anti-climax. The standard of play was not quite what we have come to expect from matches at Goodison Park, although in fairness I must admit there were times when Stoke looked a very useful side. Earlier this season I said how amazed I was by the skill Tom Finney displayed in a benefit match at Preston, and this sentiment also applies to Stanley Matthews. The maestro is now nearing 50, but still plays with great skill and is amazingly quick off the mark. His short passing can be described by only one word perfect. I notice that these days he does not stick to the wing as much as he used to, but when Matthews has the ball at his feet the opposing defence still feels very uneasy. It is hard to believe that it is over 10 years now since he helped Blackpool to come from behind and snatch the F.A. Cup in a Wembley final. In 1953 his was considered Matthews' “final fling!” From a man who has made football history. I would like to turn to a youngster who has prospects of a good future in the game.
FINE YOUNGSTER
I refer to Gerry Bridgwood, who partnered Matthews on the right wing last Saturday. A Potteries boy Gerry has only played in 17 League matches so far, but nevertheless he is one of the best youngsters I have seen outside Everton this season. Incidentally, I am reminded that Bridgwood and Keith Bebbington were in the Stoke team which was knocked out by Everton in the semi-final of the F.A Youth Cup in 1961. Not one member of that Everton side played in the Everton first team on Saturday and some indication of the way fortunes change in football can be seen from the fact that when the semi-final –final took place, Andy Rankin was goalkeeper for our “B” team. Andy came through the ordeal of making a home debut before the big Goodison crowd brilliantly. He played another grand game and I was particularly impressed by the warm encouragement he received from our supporters. Those barriers behind the goal seem to have done the job they were put there for, but from a players point of view they take away some of the atmosphere around the penalty area. Last Saturday, corner kicked and goalmouth corner kicked and goalmouth melees did not seen quite as exciting as they usually area.
LIKE A ROCKET
Tony Kay's goal in this match must be one of the finest he has ever scored, for the ball went into the net like a rocket from 20 yards. The goal of the week, however, I reckon was the one Derek Temple scored against Glasgow Rangers. Congratulations to Liverpool on going to the top of the First Division, and to Ron Yeats, who headed the goal which put them there. We at Everton, however, are just a step behind and what a great thing it would be if the championship were to develop into a Merseyside battle.

SETTLING DOWN AFTER THE FIRST WORLD WAR
Liverpool Echo - Saturday 30 November 1963
FOOTBALL ON MERSEYSIDE
By Percy M. Young
During the First World War, as during the second, football moved into the background and regional games were all that could be continued. Nevertheless the activity, gentle as it was, in the Lancashire Divisional League was sufficient to project young men's ambitions into a brighter future. In 1915 a boy from the north-east, with bowed legs and pigeon toes and with a ready grin that became more marked when deprived of teeth, presented himself of Tom Watson's door at Anfield. Recognising talent if not more, Watson signed the youngster, Harry Chambers by name. It was the last player he signed before giving up office. Chambers played in the reserves against Huddersfield in April, 1915, then became a soldier, but was soon invalided out of the Army. A period of convalescence in Ulster was brightened by invitations to assist first Distillery and then Glentoran. In 1918, was fit to return to Liverpool, with whom he stayed for 10 memorable years before transferring to West Bromwich Albion. Chambers, popularly ' Smiler, was a great inside forward in the tradition of the club rather than country: a schemer whose plans were developed intuitively rather than by deliberation, and one who was able to play for the right opening for the hard- hit, swerving shots that were of vital service to Liverpool in the years that succeededthe war. Chambers was of simple purpose. On retirement from the first-class he went back to the lowest grade of football and continued to distinguish the field at Oakengates in Shropshire until (so it is said) he was 52. That is, practically to the time of his death. Chambers died in 1949. Ten years later his great contemporary Tom Bromilow died: suddenly, in a train at Nuneaton on his return from watching Wrexham play Merthyr Tydfil in a cup-tie. Bromlow, for the last nine years of his life superintendent of Leicester’s City’s third team.
MASTER OF ARTS
On a day at the end of the first war he too tentatively inquired at Anfield for a trial. This granted, he proved his capacity at once and took up a situation at left half from which he rose high in eminence. Bromilow. Who learned his football in the Army, was small and slimly built. Far from being a disadvantage, his modest stature was an asset. Scorning physical contact, he played with his intellect and became a complete master of the arts of half back play; a precise tackler and an adept distributor. Bromilow married into football, for in 1923 his wedding to May Kelly, the daughter of a celebrated spurting journalist of the Football Echo, was solemnised. As brother-in-law he acquired Theo Kelly, sometime secretary-manager of Everton. His playing days done. Bromilow managed a Dutch club, then, for two periods. Crystal Palace, Newport County, Burnley and Leicester City. Other notable players to come into prominence with Liverpool at the restart of the first post-war season of 1919-20, and under the chairmanship of W. R. Williams were the strong half-backs, Walter Wadsworth and Joe McNab, and Dick Forshaw, who was a skilful and complementary inside forward to Harry Chambers.
Before the war Everton had won the Lancashire Cup more often than their rivals at Anfield. Afterwards it was Liverpool’s turn. They won it outright in 1919 and 1924, and in 1920 shared it with Manchester United, the receipts for that final at Liverpool being 1,081 4s 8d. But these performances were but a barometer reading to other achievements. In 1920 Liverpool were fourth in the League and so they were at the end of the following season. There after they won the championship twice in succession.
FAMILIAR
Liverpool and Everton picked up the threads after the war with the majority of their players already familiar to their patrons. Thus the former continued with Campbell as first choice in goal—though such was the understudy Scott's talent that he was chosen to keep goal for Ireland while Campbell was serving Scotland, in the international match of 1920; with Longworth, Tom Lucas and Donald McKinlay at full back: Bamber, Wadsworth and Bromilow as the regular half back line: and Sheldon, Forshaw, Miller, Chambers<Pearson and Lacey in attack. Everton had Fern in goal; Thompson and McConnachie at full back; Brown, Fleetwood, and Grenyer at half back; Jones, Chedgzoy, Kinsopp, Gault, Peacock, Parker, Clennell, Rigby, Harrison, and Donnachie, all available for the first team duty in the attack. As the grey January of 1920 came in there was nothing much to cheer the football front of Merseyside. Both teams were well down the table and West Bromwich Albion seemed already set for the Championship. Liverpool, the superior of the two local sides, were in fact 11 points behind the Albion.
REVENGE WIN.
Within six weeks, however, there was a changed situation. After seven successive victories (no goals were surrendered at Anfield that year) Liverpool stood fourth in the table. The eight successive win was in the third round of the Cup when they avenged the first round defeat of Everton by eliminating Birmingham. Liverpool returned to the Cup with legitimate confidence. Their fourth-round rivals were Second Division Huddersfield Town, the club which had recently and narrowly escaped transplantation to heeds. Yet Huddersfield, on the Edge of their own most brilliant period, won. That they did so was due to their adoption of the method usually practised by their opponents. Recent success had given to Liverpool a temporary superiority complex and they determined to show Huddersfield the difference in class between First and Second Divisions. Short passing was a pleasure to watch, but while it was being watched Huddersfield saw to it that early tackling and abrasive, if irregular, attacks tilted the mathematics of the business in their favour. They won by 2-1.
SURRENDERED
Meanwhile Everson were sinking at an alarming rate. They brought in Downs, late of Barnsley, to remedy a defensive weakness, gave Peacock the centre forward position, and at the end of March gained their first victory at home for more than two months. While Everton were beating Sheffield United at Goodison, Liverpool were providing the King—on a visit to Manchester—with an afternoon's pleasure at Hyde Road. The occasion however was too much for the players, who, although performing quite delightfully, surrendered the game to Manchester City in much the same way, and by the same score, as they had lost the cup-tie. Everton, whose midseason signings included Brewster, from Aberdeen, and MacDonald,a "Victory" international from Airdrie, escaped relegation, and announced their interest in Jo Gowdy, the Glentoran player, for whom (since Everton were asking) a fee of £2.000 was stated. Everton found the figure unreasonable.
YARD-STICK
Finishing the season in fourth place, 11 teams separating them from Everton. Liverpool played a ceremonial last League match against the Albion, now the assured champions, and a crowd of 45,000 was not discontent with a goalless draw. Since the first post-war season could legitimately be regarded a settling down period, that which followed should give some firmer idea of both absolute and relative merit. The yard-stick was the local derby. For many years Everton had tended to win at Anfield and Liverpool at Goodison. But in the autumn of 1921 Liverpool broke with tradition by winning on both grounds. Football was booming, and both teams had started the season well. Everton coming to Anfield as League leaders while Liverpool were fourth. Everton, whose graceful pattern - weaving was already appearing to pay off, played attractively, Liverpool played purposefully.
INSPIRING
Liverpool won by 1-0, and in the following week exceeded this, the result being 3-0, at Goodison. The two matches for this was an age of large attendances, were watched by an aggregate of 100,000 spectators. Everton had won at home on October 2, and they were not to gain another home success until the middle of December. This lapse cost them the Championship, perhaps, but towards the spring the form of the side was inspiring. Fern was now acknowledged a leading goalkeeper; MacDonald and Downs were firm and constructive; the half-hack line, marshalled by the artistic Fleetwood, "a host In himself", was both clever and forceful, while an admirable mixture of talents gavekaleidoscopic forward play from Fazackerly. Crossley, Harrison, Parker,and Chedgzoy. Although Liverpool’s persistence gave them superiority in the League it seemed that Everton would reach the end of the road in the Cup competition. Stockport Country, Sheffield Wednesday, and Newcastle United (previous victors over Liverpool) were accounted for, and no one gave much hope for a struggling Second Division team at Goodison. Wolves, aside of “: Locals,” arrived in Liverpool on the morning of March 5. By the end of the afternoon their supporters were deliriously delighted; they had mastered the 20,000 pound princes of Goodison. It was during that season that Howard Baker, one of football’s eccentric geniuses and an amateur, occasionally kept goal for Everton, his debut being against another of his clubs Chelsea on February 26 at Stamford Bridge. Parker, Kirsopp, and Thompson left Everton, but the new season opened in a blaze of glory when Manchester United were beaten 5-0 at Goodison. But this was a false omen, for by the end of 1921 Everton were third from the bottom Of Division I whereas the well-organised, relatively undemonstrativeLiverpool were at the top. At outside left was Fred Hopkin, late of Manchester United, who was proving a competent and understanding partnerto Chambers. Hopkin was also durable, being the only Liverpool player, other than Forshaw, that season to appear in every match.
DOUBLE TALK
As Liverpool moved inexorably on there was some talk of their capturing the Cup as well. On January 7, 1922, it became clear that they must do something. Having themselves drawn with Sunderland, they could only sit back and wonder sympathetically at the wreckage strewn about Goodison that day. Everton were drawn against Crystal Palace and they made the mistake of underestimating their undertaking. Crystal Palace were then a middling Second Division side with nothing more to offer than a ruggedness characteristic of their station. Everton determined to play football but they forgot the purpose was to score goals. In a delicate and spinsterish manner they spent the afternoon trying to walk into the opposing net with the ball. Being dispossessed on every occasion they were within the penalty area, they displayed a sensitiveness that merely increased their opponents ruggedness to ruthlessness. Crystal palace shot whenever in the Everton half; to this purpose, that by half-time they were two goals in the lead, through Whibley and Menlove. After half-time Connor scored two goals, Menlove another, and Wood the sixth and last. Everton were outplayed in every position except at outside left, and that exception was only due to the painful fact that Harrison never saw the ball. During the week Hunter Hart was signed from Airdrie and played on the losing side against Bolton on the next Saturday. Some consolation lay round the corner when, and for the first time for 14 years, the Villa were beaten 3-2 in Alan Grenyner’s benefit match. Irvine scored all three goals.