Everton Independent Research Data
WILSON’S FINE DISPLAY
Liverpool Daily Post-Monday, November 1, 1965
EVERTON VALUE FOR THE FIRST AWAY VICTORY
BLACKBURN ROVERS 1, EVERTON 2
By Jack Rowe
Whatever satisfaction Everton feel about victory at Ewood Park on Saturday-and it can be considerable for this was the first away success of the season -must be tempered by the knee and ankle injuries to Jimmy Gabriel. He received his injuries simply by coming down awkwardly after jumping for a ball in the Blackburn goalmouth. About six minutes later after treatment he came back with his ankle and knee snapped, but it only needed another few seconds to show it was a forlorn hope and off he went again, this time to stay off.
BROWN SUBSTITUTES
Brown came on as substitute and his part in the win was far from negligible, but whether he can successfully fill the specialist Gabriel role if that is necessary, is problematical. However, Everton travel to Budapest with the knowledge that they had broken it deservedly. They had to fight back from being behind in nine minutes and in the second half composedly and assuredly beat back Blackburn’s pressure. At times this was heavy, but only rarely did it seen likely that Everton’s defence would surrender its poise and command and then it was only because Blackburn realised that the one way to cash in on their big asset, the tail powerful England at centre forward, was to ply him the ball in the air. Then Everton were more troubled because England is a fine player even if he did see a little robust in the second half, but Rankin was proof against his best effort’s and so Everton fulfilled all the promise of the first half. It was then that they were at their best in the attacking sense and at one stage had the Blackburn defence so rocky that a margin of three or four goals was not out of the reckoning. They were quicker to the ball, slicker in its use and carried a higher grade of class. It is easy to see why the Rovers are eager to keep England. Without him and Douglas they would be nothing. What must also have been pleasing to Everton was that on a slippy pitch their control was better and that when the time came to show the defensive front the whole side did the job without flurry.
TEAM EFFORT
That is how I rate this victory. It was a team effort with Wilson not only giving a polished show on his own wing, but going everywhere when the situation demanded it. I thought this was as good as any display I have seen from Wilson, especially in covering, and Wright also had an outstanding game. Labone stood up well to England well and if out-headed at times gave the big man few chances to develop accuracy. Everton might have decided on a defensive policy in the second half, for they were seen so little on attack, and if they did it paid off handsomely. Probably they missed the Gabriel drive because when Harris went forward as a member of the attack he did not look quite as good as he does when coming from behind. This apart one must give all-round credit to Everton for winning. They were never really extended and if they had been it might not be possible to be as generous because Blackburn, on this display at any rate, were not a side really to make a good team go. They had Newton and England as the only two men to compare with any Everton player and it was Newton who made it possible for England to produce his airborne menace by his appreciation of the fact that this was the one way likely to bother Everton. The goal Blackburn got from McEvoy in the ninth minute came when Rankin failed to hold a centre from left winger Harrison when England rose with him. Everton claimed that Rankin was fouled, but I did not see it that way and when the ball dropped McEvoy prodded it home.
PICKERING’S EQUALISER
The irony was that Everton equalised within a minute of Gabriel being taken off the first time. Temple and Morrissey slipped down the left. Temple laid on a low square pass and when Morrissey missed it Pickering hammered it into the net from about twelve yards with his left foot. This was in the 20th minute and 18 minutes later, after Pickering had gone close with a good shot following a great run, Everton were in front. From a left wing corner the ball bobbed out to the edge of the penalty area and this time it was Scott who swept it into the net with his left foot. With Everton more on defence the second half lost much of its entertainment value, but the work of the Everton victory was never in doubt. What is in doubt is the wisdom of some of their younger fans whose enthusiasm took them on to the pitch to add their congratulations to the scorers. After the second time the referee instituted a loud-speaker warming at half-time that if there was any more encroachment he would take action. There were no more goals or invasions. Blackburn Rovers; Else; Newton, W. Wilson; Clayton, Mulvaney, Sharples, Ferguson, McEvoy, England, Byrom, Harrison, Sub McGrath. Everton; Rankin; Wright, R. Wilson; Gabriel (Brown ), Labone (Captain), Harris; Scott, Harvey, Pickering, temple, Morrissey. Referee; Mr. W.M. Hollan (Chesterfield). Attendance 15,096.
CENTRAL LEAGUE
The Liverpool Daily Post- Monday, November 1, 1965
GOALS ONLY POINTS OF INTEREST
EVERTON RESERVES 2 LEEDS UNITED RESERVES 0
Two goals from half-hearted shots early in the second half gave Everton Reserves two undeserved points from their Central League game against Leeds United Reserves at Goodison Park. The first came from first-teamer Young at 47 minutes and he gave Husband the second eleven minutes later and all the interest in the game began and ended there. For the rest of the time both sides kicked the ball aimlessly with little idea and neither goalkeeper-Everton tried out amateur Nevison- had much to do. The only constructive football at all came from Everton full back D’Arcy, who spent most of his time playing an attacking half back role.
EVERTON BLOW: GABRIEL RULED UNFIT
Liverpool Echo and Evening Express, Monday, November 1, 1965
CUP=TIE IN BUDAPEST
By Michael Charters
Jimmy Gabriel, the Everton wing half-back who was injured in the match at Blackburn on Saturday, and who was left out of the party travelling to-day to Budapest for the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup game there on Wednesday, was this afternoon ruled unfit. Although arrangements had been made for him to join the rest of the party, he will now remain in Liverpool for further treatment. Gabriel had treatment from the Everton physiotherapist at Goodison Park this morning. This afternoon he saw the club orthopaedic specialist, who ruled against any possibility of his being able to play on Wednesday.
PARTY OF 15
Everton have taken a party of 15 players, staying overnight last night at Manchester, before flying out from there early this morning to Budapest via Brussels and Cologne. The players are the team which played on Saturday with Sandy Brown as substitute for Gabriel, plus Dennis Stevens, Jimmy Husband, Gerry Glover, and reserve goalkeeper Geoff Barnett. John Hurst, the young wing half, would have been in the party, but is suffering from a similar injury to Gabriel. The Budapest club has changed the time of kick-off for Wednesday's game. It was originally hoped to have an afternoon kick-off on theirown ground which has no floodlights but apparently :pressure has been brought to bear on them by the Hungarian F.A., and now the match has been switched to the main stadium in Budapest with the kick-off at 5.30: Budapest time. 4.30 our time Apparently the reason for !this late change in kick-off time is because the Hungarian !authorities want the game to be televised from the principal stadium in the city.
EVERTON’S CALMNESS WAS FACTOR IN FIRST AWAY VICTORY
Liverpool Echo and Evening Express- Monday, November 1, 1965
By Jack Rowe
Everton gained their first away victory of the season-2-1 against Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park on Saturday -and I think they warranted it, not only because they came back after losing a ninth minute goal but also for the calm way in which they faced some intense Blackburn pressure in the second half. Everton lost Gabriel with an ankle injury after 18 minutes although it was some five minutes later when he finally decided to go off and Brown came on as a substitute. Brown and the rest of the defence did a most workmanlike job in containing the Blackburn pressure, but it must be said that the Ewood Park side had little method in their approach and without England at centre forward I doubt whether they would have been able to give Everton as much trouble as they did. In the first half Everton's football was always more incisive and they built up their attacks in such a way that the Blackburn defence was often caught off balance to a point that it seemed likely at that stage anyway, that the Goodison Park side would not be stretched as much as they were later. I feel In some respects that Everton were more content on a defensive policy in the second half especially in view of the game in Hungary this week and as long as the ball, could be kept away from England it was probably the right one.
ENGLAND'S THREAT
Fortunately for Everton, it took Blackburn some time to appreciate that the only way England could aid their cause was in the air and when right back Newton, did see this there was much more menace to Rankin. Twice the Blackburn leader got in fine headers, one of which scraped the bar, and the other which Rankin saved brilliantly at the foot of the post. And for most of the second half the pattern of the play was always towards the Everton goal but rarely was there a semblance of any panic or uncertainty in the defence. I thought they all did well with Labone facing the England menace coolly and for the most part competently, while Wilson and Wright kept their wingers in subjection. It was a pity that Everton could not find the attacking flair in the second half because much of what they did earlier looked good and was good. But in face of the Blackburn pressure their consolidation as a team was complete.
DOUGLAS MISSED
Blackburn are a poor side without Brian Douglas. They had nobody to hold the ball or open up the defence and their goal in nine minutes was the result of failure by Rankin to hold on to a centre from Harrison. There could be some excuse in the fact that the man who challenged him for the centre was England. Anyway the ball evaded the goalkeeper and fell at the feet of McEvoy who had only to prod it into the roof of the net. Gabriel's injury came when he was challenging for a corner in the Blackburn goalmouth and no sooner hadhe been carried off than Everton got on terms. It was a goal worked by Morrissey and Temple with Temple going forward before flicking the ball into the middle. Morrissey actually missed it completely, but behind him was Pickering and a first-time left foot shot sped into the Blackburn net, well away from Else. Gabriel returned to the pitch for a few seconds but soon came off again with Brown taking over and in 38 minutes Scott produced the goal which enabled Everton, who were always the quicker and more imaginative team, to break this away ice. It followed a corner on the left and the ball came out to Scott who was near the edge of the penalty area. Like Pickering he struck it first time with his left foot, driving hard just under the bar so that Else was again helpless. Each of these goals was greeted by some of the younger Everton fans going onto the pitch and at half time we had the loudspeaker warning which unfortunately is not a rarity these days, that if there was any more of it the referee, Mr. Mohan, would take action. But if the defence took the main brunt in the second half the forwards always willing to fall back and help, did their part earlier especially after the set-back of that Blackburn leading goal.
EVERTON’S JIMMY GABRIEL FAILS IN BID TO GET FIT
The Liverpool Daily Post- Tuesday, November 2, 1965
STEVENS EXPECTED TO BE FAIRS CUP DEPUTY
MOBILE DEFENCE TO COPE WITH FAST HUNGARIANS
By Michael Charters
With Jimmy Gabriel failing to recover from his ankle injury in time to fly out to join the rest of the Everton party before the Inter-Cities’ fairs cup-tie with Ujpesti Dozsa to-morrow night, there is considerable speculation about which of the reserves with the team will step in for this vital match. Sandy brown substituted for him at Blackburn on Saturday after Gabriel had gone off hurt and played well in a defensive role; Others in the party are wing halves Dennis Stevens and Gerry Glover, plus inside forward Jimmy Husband. I believe Stevens will come in, not in the striking role which Gabriel has filled so well in recent weeks, but more as a mobile defender able to cope with a fast and brilliant Hungarian inside forward trio who are all internationals. The Everton trainer, Tom Eggleston, who is caretaker manager in the absence of Harry Catterick, told me that they were disappointed that Gabriel, who hopes to be fit for Saturday, had not recovered sufficiently despite the intensive treatment he has had at Goodison Park in the last two days.
BARNETT STANDS BY
He added; “But I really didn’t expect him himself to be able to come.” He will not name his team until the morning of the match but I think the line-up will be; Rankin; Wright, Wilson; Stevens, Labone, Harris; Scott, Harvey, Pickering, Temple, Morrissey. Only a goalkeeper is permitted as substitute under the rules of the competition and standing by with the Everton party is that exciting young prospect Geoff Barnett. Mr. Eggleston planned to give the players a brief training work-out when they arrived in Budapest late yesterday afternoon, but the schedule was taken out of his hands when the coach bringing the party from Budapest Airport to their hotel headquarters broke down nearly a mile from their destination. They players had to walk up a one-in-eight hill. This strenuous hill climb gave the party all the fresh air they needed and took the travel stiffness out of their legs, which is what Mr. Eggleston planned to achieve. The breakdown was an anti-climax after the journey from Manchester yesterday via Brussels and Cologne had gone without a hitch. The drive from the airport from one side of the city to the other across the Danube, lasted more than hour- longer in fact that it took to fly from Manchester to Brussels. The hotel, perched in the hills 1,400 feet above the city is reached by a road more than two miles long, twisting and turning up gradients as much as one-in-six in places.
ISOLATED AND QUIET
The Hungarian National team stay here before their big game in the city and it is so isolated and quiet that it is ideal to give the Everton party plenty of rest before what is going to be a tremendous test against Ujpesti. The schedule drawn up by Mr. Eggleston is that the players will train this morning in the Ujpesti stadium and later go on to see the Nep Stadium, the ground which stages all the big matches in Hungary. As the kick-off in the Nep Stadium is now at 5.30 p.m. local time, there will be no training that day and the routine will follow the same pattern as before an away League match, the players staying in bed most of the morning and relaxing before being driven down to the stadium.
EVERTON FACE Z-CAR MAN IN HUNGARY
The Liverpool Echo and Evening Express-Tuesday, November 2, 1965
By Leslie Edwards
Everton face Z-car Ujpest Dozsa, Everton's Inter Cities' Fairs Cup opponents to-morrow, and one of the top three clubs in Hungary, hold the rare distinction of having played in all four leading European club competitions. In 1960, they made their only appearance in the European Cup, losing to the eventual winners, Benfica, after beating Red Star, Belgrade. The following two seasons they represented Hungary in the European Cup Winners' Cup beating Floriana (Malta), Ajax Amsterdam, and Dunfermline before going down to Fiorentina of Italy in the semi-finals of 1962. The next season, another Italian club, this time Napoli, were responsible for knocking them out. This year, Ujpest are making their fourth appearance in the Inter Cities Fairs Cup. They had a bye in the preliminary round. They have also made numerous appearances in the Mitropa Cup, the pre-war predecessor of the European Cup, which they won in 1929 and 1939. The club were founded in 1885 as the Ujpest Gymnastics club. Ujpest is a district of Budapest, the name Dozsa is taken from the legendary hero of Hungarian history who led the peasants revolt of 1514. After the revolt had been put down, Dozsa was roasted to death on a red-hot throne and 50,000 of his followers were executed. In all, Ujpest have won the Hungarian championship nine times, five times before the war in 1930, 1931, 1933, 1935 and 1939 and three times in succession in 1945-46-47. Their last success was in 1960. Although they are currently too far adrift in their league to win the championship they recently had the satisfaction of beating both Ferencvaros and Vasas. The Ujpest revival stems from the appointment of former Ujpest player and Hungarian international, Sandor Balogh, as coach last July. He has high hopes for his team, which he feels have yet to realise their full potential as the average age of the present side is only 22 ½. Outstanding among Balogh's youngsters is centre-forward Ferenc Bene (20), a law student, who has scored 19 goals this season. Bene, already "capped" 14 times for Hungary, hit the world's headlines when leading goalscorer in the Tokio Olympics which Hungary won. A short yet soundly-built man, who combines the subtleties of an Alex Young with the breath-taking goal-grabbing ability of a Greaves. Bene is said to be out of form at present.
NEW GOALKEEPER
In goal, and a new signing from Vasas, is Antal Szentmihaly (26) a vastly experienced player who has won 18 "caps" for Hungary as well as playing in many European Cup matches with Vasas. Both full-backs. Beno Kaposzta (23) and Kalman Sovari (24), have represented Hungary. Kaposzta gained an Olympic gold medal in Tokio; Sovari, whose father was a prominent wrestler, has won five full "caps." Currently out of the first team, Erno Solymosi (25), 35 times an international, was a regular choice for his country for many years. A six-footer, nicknamed ironically "Pixie," Solymosi came to Budapest from Diosgyor and quickly gained a reputation as a natty dresser with a way with the ladies. Unfortunately, he lost a little of his finesse in his play on the field, which may account for his present absence from the club and national teams. Erno Solymosi, who works at Budapest police headquarters, should not be confused with his namesake, the right winger. Another policeman, Janos Gorocs, who works in Budapest's Z car, plays at inside right. In spite of being Ujpest's most experienced player, having played 51 times for Hungary, Gorocs is still a bundle of nerves before every game. A provider rather than a scorer of goals, Gorocs, who made his league debut when only 18 and won his first "cap" 12 months later, blends well with Bene in a forward line that has scored 49 goals in 24 league matches this season. Ujpest's ground holds only 40,000 people, so the big game will be played in the 90,000-seater Nep Stadium.
STEVENS LIKELY TO FILL GABRIEL’S PLACE
The Liverpool Echo and Evening Express- Tuesday, November 2, 1965
EVERTON TRAIN IN BUDAPEST
TEAM TOMORROW
By Michael Charters
BUDAPEST, Tuesday.
Everton had a long training session at the magnificent Nep Stadium, here this morning to prepare for their Inter Cities Fairs Cup-tie against Ujpesti Dozsa on the same ground tomorrow night. Afterwards, Tom Eggleston, the first team trainer who is in charge of the side in the absence of manager Harry Catterick, told me that hewould name his team to-morrow morning and, of course, the only doubtful position is at right half, the big question being who of the reserves with the party is to replace the injured Jimmy Gabriel. From talks I have had with Mr. Eggleston I believe it will be Dennis Stevens who will take over, but his job will be far different from the attacking role which Gabriel has adopted with such success in recent League matches. The team will probably read: Rankin: Wright, Wilson: Stevens, Labone, Harris; Scott, Harvey, Pickering, Temple, Morrissey. Only a substitute goalkeeper is permitted under the rules of the competition. The brilliant youngster Geoff Barnett is standing by. The other reserves are Sandy Brown, Gerry Glover and Jimmy Husband. The party was very impressed with the superb stadium which holds 100,000 -all seated but no one under cover -although thepitch itself, after weeks without rain, is hard and bumpy, although well grassed. ROPING FOR RAIN
All the players are hoping for heavy rain before the kick-off, but at the moment, their wish does not look like coming true. The weather is warm and sunny, some 10 degrees higher than temperatures at home. The appointments at the stadium are quite breath-taking, with a magnificent entrance hall, and the finest dressing room facilities I have ever seen. Mr. Eggleston planned to give the players a brief training work-out when they arrived in Budapest late yesterday afternoon, but the schedule was taken out of his hands when the coach bringing the party from Budapest Airport to their hotel headquarters broke down nearly a mile from their destination. They players had to walk up a one-in-eight hill.
ANTI-CLIMAX
this strenuous hill climb gave the party all the fresh air they needed and took the travel stiffness out of their legs, which is what Mr. Eggleston planned to achieve. The breakdown was an anti-climax after the journey from Manchester yesterday via Brussels and Cologne had gone without a hitch. The drive from the airport from one side of the city to the other across the Danube, lasted more than an hour-longer in fact that it took to fly from Manchester to Brussels. The hotel, perched in the hills 1.400 feet above the city is reached by a road more than two miles long, twisting and turning up gradients as much as one-in-six in places.
ISOLATED AND QUIET
The Hungarian National team stay here before their big games in the city and it is so isolated and quiet that it is ideal to give the Everton party plenty of rest before what is going to be a tremendous test against Ujpesti. There will be no more training for the players, and the routine to-morrow will follow the pattern before an away League match. the Players spending most of the morning in bed and generally relaxing. This afternoon, the party was being taken on a sightseeing tour of the city to enable them to do some shopping as they will not be able to leave their mountain retreat to-morrow before they go down to the ground for the match itself.
GCODISON GAME
Jack Parry, who was left-half and captain of Derby County's first team until he lost his place recently, will be at inside-right in an experienced reserve side against Everton in a Central League game at Goodison Park to-night (7.0)Everton Reserves- R. Nevison; Pearson, Darcy; Grant, Smith, Royle; Shaw, Wallace, McLoughlin, Tarbuck, Maher. Derby County Reserves; Sotton; Barrowcliffe, Young; Waller, Rhodes, Jones; Cleavers, Parry, Metcalfe, Hopkinson
GOOD REPORT ON COOKE
Liverpool Echo and Evening Express- Tuesday, November 2, 1965
EVERTON WATCH YOUNG SCOT
By Leslie Edwards
Everton F.C. have received a five-star report from their representative in Scotland on the play of Charlie Cooke (inside forward or wing half back) who cost Dundee £40,000 when they signed him from Aberdeen. Cooke was outstanding in Dundee's 5-2 win against St. Mirren on Saturday. He stands 5ft. 9ins., weighs 10st. 91b., and has been capped in the Scottish under-23 team. In the same Dundee side on Saturday was Andy Penman, the one-time Everton forward, who also had an excellent game.
EVERTON PLAN THEIR CAMPAIGN
The Liverpool Daily Post- Wednesday, November 3, 1965
STEVENS’ COUNTER TO HUNGARIANS’ BRILLANCE
By Michael Charters, Budapest, Tuesday.
Having trained this morning at the magnificent Nep Stadium in preparation for their Inter-Cities Fairs cup-tie against Ujpesti Dozsa tomorrow night, the Everton players went early to bed to-night, hoping for heavy rain to soften a bone-hard ground- and tonight rain began to fall. Although the pitch is well grassed, the surface is very bumpy, and hard conditions would suit the ball-playing Hungarian stars, who are well used to it. The stadium must be one of the best in Europe. It holds 100,000 all seated but with no cover, and there are plans to push its capacity to 125,000, so that they may be able to stage an Olympic Games in the future. The dressing rooms are palatial and the whole set-up is far better than Wembley. The vast seating, however, is likely to be sparsely used tomorrow, when a 15,000 attendance is expected.
THE TEAMS
Dennis Stevens has been named by Tom Eggleston as deputy for the injured Jimmy Gabriel at right-half. Everton; Rankin; Wright, Wilson; Stevens, Labone, Harris; Scott, Harvey, Pickering, Temple, Morrissey. Ujpesti Dozsa; Szemtmihalyl; Kaposzta, Csordas; Sovarl; Solymosi, Nosko; Zambo, Gorocs, Bene, Kuharszky, Solymosl (G). nine of the team are Hungarian internationals or players who have represented their country of the Olympics. Technically all are amateurs, but their free interpretation of the status has enabled the Ujpesti team to have four weeks special training. They have been at a training headquarters in the hills ten miles outside Budapest, emerging to play Hungarian League matches on Sundays. The League programme here is practically finished, and Ujpesti are third behind Varas and Ferencvaros, holders of the Fairs Cup after beating Juventus last season in the final.
BRILLIANT FORWARDS
The great team strength is their brilliant forward line led by Bene, who is the hope of Hungary in the World Cup. This slightly built player is the natural successor to the famous Hungarian forwards of the past decade. His style is reminiscent of Hidegkuti. He is ably backed by seasoned internationals Gorocs and Kutharszky and the three are expert ball manipulators, fast and liable to cut a solid defence to pieces. Everton’s defensive plan visualises Stevens and Collin Harvey shadowing the inside men, with Brian Harris as the “sweeper” behind Brian Labone and full-backs Ray Wilson and Tommy Wright. Everton have received an expert briefing on the Hungarian individuals by coach Ron Lewin, who was here ten days ago to see them in a League match. He has prepared an amazingly detailed report and this has been duplicated so that every player can have his own copy to study. The recognise this match will be very different from their games against Nuremberg, who made up for the lack of technical skill by a willingness to play physically hard. The Hungarians are masters of control and delight in artistic touches- their supporters brought up on the tradition of the famous Hungarian sides of the past in the Puskas era will stand for no other type of play.
GREAT TEST
For Stevens particularly this will be a great test because he has only made three previous senior appearances this season. At the stadium to-morrow Mr. Eggleston will inspect the ball to be used in the match, as the balls used in training this morning were smaller than those in England. Mr. Eggleston is anxious to see the referee, a Yugoslavian, and officials of the Hungarian F.A. to ensure that the match ball conforms to international standards.
WRONG TACTICS BY EVERTON
The Liverpool Daily Post- Wednesday, November 3, 1965
EVERTON RES 0, DERBY COUNTY RES 0
Everton Reserves had enough of this game to have won in the first half, but they failed to keep the ball on the groundagainst the bigger Derby County side and in the end were lucky to get out with a draw. Derby came to life in the last twenty minutes, swung the ball about, splitting the home defence open and should have had at least two goals when Hokinson and Parry had only Nevison to beat and failed.
EVERTON’S URGENT PRE-MATCH MOVE
The Liverpool Echo and Evening Express- Wednesday, November 3, 1965
TRAINER IN BID TO CONTACT OFFICIALS
CUP CONDITIONS FAVOUR THE HUNGARIAN SIDE
By Michael Charters, Budapest, Wednesday.
Everton trainer Tom Eggleston, who is in charge of the team in the absence of manager Harry Catterick, spent several hours to-day trying to ensure that the Hungarians do not try to pull a " fast one" before the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup-tie with Ujpesti Dozsa here to-night. After training at the Nep Stadium yesterday morning, he was so disturbed that the footballs provided for their workout were so much smaller than those in use in England, that he described them as "beach balls." He told me: "They are smaller than the regulation size laid down by international law. If the match ball to-night is the same, it will be a handicap to our boys and a help to the Hungarians."
KEEPING AN EYE ON THE BALL
He was trying to contact officials of the Hungarian F A. and also find the Yugoslavian referee appointed by the sub-committee. The referee, of course, has the final word in the choice of ball, and Mr. Eggleston was having some difficulty in tracing the official during the day to make his point as strongly as possible. Although there was some rain during the night, it was not sufficiently heavy to have any effect on the state of the pitch at the Stadium. It is well grassed, but very firm and rather bumpy after considerable wear and tear during the Hungarian season. Conditions, therefore, will suit the Hungarian style of play, and the Everton team will not only face one of the finest teams In Hungary, but also have the problem of controlling a lively ball.
LINE-UP
Dennis Stevens has been named by Tom Eggleston as deputy for the injured Jimmy Gabriel at right half. EVERTON: Rankin: Wright, Wilson; Stevens; Labone, Harris: Scott, Harvey, Pickering, Temple, Morrissey. UJPESTI DOZSA: Szemtmihalyi: Kaposzta Csordas; Sovari, Solymosi (I), Nosko: Zambo, Gorocs, Bene, Kuharszky. Solymosi (G). Nine of this team are Hungarian internationals or players who have represented their country at the Olympics. Technically all are amateurs, but their free interpretation of this status has enabled the Ujpesti team to have four weeks' special training. They have been at a training headquarters in the hills ten miles outside Budapest, emerging to play Hungarian League matches on Sundays. The League programme here is practically finished, and Ujpesti are third behind Varas and Ferencvaros, holders of the Fairs Cup after beating Juventus last season in the final.
BRILLIANT
The great team strength is their brilliant forward line led by Bene, who is the hope of Hungary in the World Cup. This slightly built player is the natural successor to the famous Hungarian forwards of the past decade. His style is reminiscent of Hideghuti. He is ably backed by seasoned Internationals Gorocs and Kuharszky and the three are expert ball manipulators, fast and liable to cut a solid defence to pieces. Everton's defensive plan' visualises Stevens and Colin Harvey shadowing the inside men, with Brian Harris as the "sweeper" behind Brian Labone and full-backs Ray Wilson and Tommy Wright. Everton have received an expert briefing on the Hungarian individuals by coach Ron Lewin, who washere ten days ago to see them in a League match. He has prepared an amazing, detailed report and this has been duplicated so that every player can have his own copy to study.
DIFFERENT
They recognise this match will be very different from their games against Nuremberg, who made up for lack of technical skill by a willingness to play physically hard. The Hungarians are masters of control and delight in artistic touches -their supporters, brought up on the tradition of the famous Hungarian sides of the past in the Puskas era will stand for no other type of play. The Hungarian goalkeeper with the unpronounceable name has played at Goodison Park. In September 1959, he was in the Hungarian under-23 team against England. He is said to be in magnificent form at the moment, living up to his nickname of the "Black Cat."
CONFIDENT
The Hungarian style is based on ball play, individual skill and improvisation. They do not conform into any set pattern, using a very flexible version of the W formation. It should be pleasant, therefore, to-night to see a European game not offset with defensive mania. The Hungarians are very confident of getting through to the quarter-final by establishing a good lead to-night, but the Everton players, all fit and well, are equally confident that they can hold them and then beat them at Goodison Park. They will obviously miss the attacking flair of Gabriel, but they will have a striking spearhead of Pickering and Temple in the 4-2-4 pattern. Much will depend on whether these two can snap up isolated chances. For Stevens particularly, this will be a great test because he has only made, three previous senior appearances this season.
HIGHLY SKILLED HUNGARIANS ARE THREE GOALS UP
Liverpool Daily Post- Thursday, November 4, 1965
EVERTON’S TASK NOEW SEEMS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE
RANKIN TWICE DECEIVED BY WELL PLACED BANANA KICKS
UJPESTI DOZSA 3, EVERTON 0
By Michael Charters
Everton face an almost impossible task to continue in the Inter Cities Fairs Cup competition after this defeat here tonight. They fell early on for two “banana” kicks by an acknowledged expert in the art, Egor Solymosl, who scored one and made another, but were always second best to a highly skilled Hungarian team, whose control and passing were brilliant. By comparison Everton were ragged and disappointing, with none of their players touching peak form. Not only have Ujpesti expert ball players in attack, but their defence is very strong as well and their general game was indicated by the fact that their goalkeeper only had one direct save to make. Everton complained of body-checking by the Hungarians, but the final free-kick tally of 24-20 in Everton’s favour shows that it was six of one and half a dozen of the other. It was a case of superior technical skill by the Hungarian forwards bringing them a worthy victory. The match was played in a dreadfully dull atmosphere, with only four thousand spectators sprinkled around this 75,000 nep Stadium. The hard ground conditions suited the Hungarians ball playing ability with Gorocs, Kuharsky and Bene artists who will delight the Everton crowd in the return game at Goodison Park on November 16.
DOMINANT FIGURE
Solymosi, who wears No. 5 on his back and plays at right half was a dominant figure in attack and defence but Csordas was little behind him in the way he controlled the middle of the field, reducing the Everton twin spearhead of Pickering and Temple to nothing. Everton started by playing a defensive game, but when they tried to open out their play they failed to make any headway. In midfield it was the Hungarians on top all the time. Only Morrissey was at all consistent among the Everton forwards, with Harris putting obvious we have got a very difficult task ahead of us in the second leg. At the start Everton packed their defence with Harris playing behind Labone and the only attack from them in the opening minutes came from Morrissey, who broke through cleverly but shot over the bar. Everton seemed to be holding the Hungarians until Rankin was beaten by the first Ujpesti shot after nine minutes. The big strapping Solymosi moved through and hit a tremendous shot from twenty-five yards, which was in the net while Rankin was still in the air trying to save. The Everton players had been well briefed on this player’s ability to swerve the ball at speed as Solymosi had scored a similar goal in the match seen by coach Ron Lewin ten days ago and Lewin had told the players to watch for this particularly. Csordas kept up the Hungarian pressure with another long shot which hit the side netting and Everton’s first opening came from a fine pass by Harris which Pickering headed on to Temple. The forward lost his balance when about to shoot and the ball went ten yards wide. This was an isolated Everton attack and Solymosi did his trick shot again after dangerous attack by defensively they had fought hard and well against the lively, brilliant Ujpesti forwards. The second half was much along the same lines with the Everton defenders trying to withstand the quiet ball control and thrustful play of the Hungarians. Zambo made a good break on the left, but a clever interception by Labone cleared the danger. Bene, the great favourite with this crowd, went through at top speed to take a long pass from Solymosi but shot across the goal face- this was the sort of incisive move which Everton could not equal. Bene and Gorocs linked for the third goal, to break through the Everton defence on the right, Zambo crossed the ball low and it bounced off a defender to Kuharsky, who cracked his shot high into the net. The nearest Everton came to scoring followed a free kick by Scott, which Pickering headed down to Harris. The wing half’s quick shot struck the goalkeeper and bounced clear for Ujpesti to race down on the Everton goal in their smooth style, but Bene spoiled a brilliant move by shooting wide with only Rankin to beat. The body checking and little niggling incidents continued unabated and Harris had his name taken for a foul on Kuharszky, while Kaposzta was also booked late in the same for a foul on Harvey. The Hungarians took it easily after getting three goals in front but Rankin made the best save of the match from a fierce shot by Bene with only a few minutes to go. Sandor, Balogh, Dozsa’s trainer after the game said he was confident that the three goals’ margin would be enough to bring his team through to victory. He complained about the “rough, if not foul play by the English players,” and added, I expected a hard game, but I was surprised to see such a “rough playing team.” Ujpesti Dozsa; Szemtmihalyl; Kaposzta, Csordas; Solymosi (G), Solymosi (E), Nosko; Kuharsky, Gorocs, Bene, Lemkei, Zambo. Everton; Rankin; Wright, Wilson; Stevens, Labone (Captain), Harris; Scott, Harvey, Pickering, Temple, Morrissey. Referee; Mr. Zecsevics (Yugoslavia). Attendance 4,000.
EVERTON PLAN FLOPS AGAINST ERMO'S POWER
Daily Mirror- Thursday, November 4, 1965
From DAVE HORRIDGE, Budapest, Wednesday
Ujpest Dozsa 3, Everton, 0
TOMMY EGGLESTON, deputy team manager, fashioned a defensive plan to see Everton through first leg of this Cities Faits second-round cup-tie—and watched it crumble inside twenty-four minutes. That's how long it tookthe Hungarians to score two goals and virtually put Everton out of European competition again. Eggleston banked on a man-for-man marking system, with Brian Harris as "sweeper " to stop the clever, quick moving Hungarian inside forwards. But he reckoned without a big, strong wing half named Ermo Solymosi, who packed more power into his shooting than any forward in the near-deserted Nep Stadium.
EMPTY
Only 4,000 fans were scattered around a stadium that can hold 80,000 when Solymosi raced on to a loose ball and hammered a ten-yard shot past goalkeeper Andy Rankin in the ninth minute. Fifteen minutes laterSolymosi struck again, when Ujpest were awarded a free-kick in Everton's half, near the touchline. With Everton positioned for the usual high centre, he lashed in a low shot. It beat Rankin and was blocked on the line by Tommy Wright, but centre forward Bene belted it back into the net. This caused a re-shuffle in Everton's system, with Harris moving alongside centre forward Fred Pickering. From then on they had as much of the game in midfield as Ujpest, but right winger Kuharszki snatched a third goal. Harris and Hungarian right back Kaposzta had their names taken in the second half.
EVERTON COULD NOT MATCH HUNGARIANS’ TECHICAL SKILL
Liverpool Echo and Evening Express- Thursday, November 4, 1965
By Michael Charters, Budapest, Thursday
Everton set off home to-day fully aware of the heavy, almost impossible task that lies ahead of them if they are to retain an interest in the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup after their 3-0 defeat by the brilliant Ujpesti Dona team here last night.
They will need to raise their game to the eminence of their championship-winning season and frankly, on the evidence of last night's game, I don't think they can do it because they cannot match the high technical skill of these Hungarians, particularly in attack. They base their hopes for the second leg at Goodison Park on November 16 on two factors-- the return after injury of Jimmy Gabriel to lend his attacking energies to a front line badly in need of that sort of inspiration and the hope that the referee will interpret the rules of body checking and obstruction more in keeping with English standards than the Yugoslavian official did last night. Undoubtedly they missed Gabriel in this defeat but I doubt if he would have made all that difference. So far as body checking was concerned the referee undoubtedly allowed the Hungarians to get away with obstruction which would anger an English crowd.
SUPERIOR SIDE
But even taking these points into due account, the stark certain fad remained that Everton were beaten by a vastly superior side whose ball skill, accurate passing and smooth switching of defence into attack was on a far higher level than their own. The Hungarian forwards, particularly Bene, Gorocs and Kuharsky are a type rarely seen in English football these days. They are fast, brilliantly clever ball with the ability to cut through a defence by sheer skill rather than sheer strength. Behind them they have a very competent strong defence in which Egor Solymosi, wearing No. 5 but playing right half, showed himself to be one of the finest players in Europe.
BANANA SHOTS
This powerfully-built wing half, with nearly 50 Hungarian caps, sent Everton on the slippery slopes of defeat by scoring the first goal and making the next with "banana" shots, at which he is an acknowledged expert. Everton really fell for this gimmick. Csordas, the centre half, who wears the No. 3 jersey, is another great performer ably assisted by strong tackling, quick covering full backs. I could not assess the goalkeeper's ability because Everton never tested him—indeed he only had one direct save to make because Everton's attacking ideas were so limited, in idea and execution. Csordas reduced the twin spearhead of Pickering and Temple into comparative oblivion.
BELOW FORM
Rankin must share some of the blame for the first two goals, but otherwise he handled everything that came his way in competent fashion. The rest of them were well below form. Conditions were all against Everton. The match was played in a very dull atmosphere with only 5,000 people in a stadium that holds 100,000. The pitch was firm and the ball lively, made to order for the skilful Hungarians, but a definite embarrassment to Everton. Altogether, Everton's performance was so haphazard that it adds further proof to my long-held theory that this is going to prove a mediocre season for the club, but I can assure Everton supporters that they will see a team of class players when the second leg is held.
FIRST SHOT SCORED
At the start Everton packed their defence with Harris playing behind Labone and the only attack from them in the opening minutes came from Morrissey, who broke through cleverly but shot over the bar. Everton seemed to be holding the Hungarians until Rankin was beaten by the first Ujpesti shot after nine minutes. The big, strapping Solymosi moved through and hit a tremendous shot from 25yards, which still was in the netwhile Rankin was still in the air trying to save. The Everton players had been well briefed on this player's ability to swerve the ball at speed as Solymosi had scored a similar goal in the match seen by coach Ron Lewin ten days ago and Lewin had told the players to watch for this particularly. Csordas kept up the Hungarian pressure with another long shot which hit the side netting and Everton's first opening came from a fine pass by Harris, which Pickering headed on to Temple. The forward lost his balance when about to shoot and the ball went ten yards wide. This was an isolated Everton attack and Solymosi did his trick shot again after twenty-three minutes to make Everton go two down. He took a free kick wide on the right after Harvey had fouled Bene, swerved a low vicious shot across the goalmouth, which beat Rankin as he came out and Wright blocked the ball on the line. It bounced out a couple of yards to Bene who scored easily.
HARRIS MOVES UP
After this goal Harris moved up from his double centre half position to try to put some zest into Everton's attacking play, but it was the Hungarians who always looked more threatening with Kuharszky roving around the field to make a lot of openings. In the first half Everton were second best, rarely managing to create a dangerous attack but defensively they had fought hard and well against the lively, brilliant Ujpesti forwards. The second half was much along the same lines with the Everton defenders trying' to withstand the quick ball control and thrustful play of the Hungarians. Bene and Gorocs linked for the third goal, to break through the Everton defence on the right. Zambo crossed the ball low and it bounced off a defender to Kuharsky, who cracked his shot high into the net. The nearest Everton came to scoring followed a free kick by Scott, which Pickering headed down to Harris. The wing half's quick shot struck the goalkeeper and bounced, clear for Ujpesti to race down on the Everton goal their smooth style, but Bene spoiled a brilliant move by shooting wide with only Rankin to beat. The body checking and little niggling incidents continued unabated and Harrishad his name taken for a foul on Kuhanszky, while Kaposzta was also booked late in the game for a foul on Harvey. The Hungarians took it easily after getting three goals in front but Rankin made the beat save of the match from a fierce shot by Bene with only a few minutes to go. UJPESTI DOZSA: Szemtmihalyi; Kaposzta, Csordas; Solymosi Solymosi (E),Narko; Kuharsky, Gorocs, Bene, Lemkei, Zambo. EVERTON: Rankin; Wright, Wilson; Stevens, Labone, Harris; Scott, Harvey, Pickering, Temple, Morrissey. Referee: Mr. Zecsevics (Yugoslavia)
GABRIEL; 50-5- CHANCE FOR SATURDAY
The Liverpool Echo and Evening Express- Thursday, November 4, 1965
DOES LIGHT TRAINING
WEST IMPROVES
By Leslie Edwards
Jimmy Gabriel, the Everton half back who had to miss yesterday’s Cup game in Hungary through injury, is improving and did a little training yesterday. He still feels some pain from his damaged calf muscle and at best has only a 50-50 chance of being ready in time to play against Leicester City at Goodison on Saturday. Leicester after beating Chelsea 2-0 at Stamford Bridge and Arsenal 3-1 at Filbert Street, will be unchanged. Leicester City; Banks; Sjoberg, Normans; Roberts, King, Cross; Sinclair, Goodfellow, Douglas, Gibson, Stringfellow.
The club’s injured goalkeeper, Gordon West , is progressing well and has full arm range again after breaking his collar bone. He is doing light training but it may be two or three weeks before he is considered sound enough to take his place in a Division 1 match.
HARVEY HEARING ON TUESDAY
The Liverpool Daily Post- Friday, November 5, 1965
Colin Harvey, Everton’s inside forward, sent off at Fulham on October 16, who has asked the Football Association for a personal hearing, has been notified this will take places in Birmingham Tuesday.
A RAY OF HOPE
The Liverpool Daily Post- Friday, November 5, 1965
TOM EGGLESTON BELIEVES EVERTON CAN BEAT THE HUNGARIANS
By Horace Yates
After yesterday’s dirge on Everton’s defeat in Hungary in the Inter Cities fairs Cup competition, it was refreshing to hear trainer and chief coach Mr. Tommy Eggleston sound a more optimistic note when the team reached Liverpool last night. “We have learned a lot from this game, and although we were disappointed at losing three goals we are by no means despondent,” he said. “I think we still have a chance at Goodison, I believe we can beat this side, but the question is by how many? We would have been very happy to have returned with a 1-0 or even 2-0 deficit. That third goal admittedly was a bit of a killer. “I don’t for one moment expect that Ujpesti will play the second leg entirely defensively. They will stiffen their defence certainly but they do not strike me as being a defensive side. “It will not be another case of Inter Milan. They just shut up shop, with only two forwards up-field. These boys play attacking football from behind and they do it very attractively too. “My view is that the second leg will be a real thriller. Football followers here will be in for a treat when they see this side. They have some wonderful players. They are vulnerable in certain aspects and it is up to us to try to exploit them when the conditions will be in our favour.” When I asked how he thought Ujpesti would fare in our First Division, without any hesitation Mr. Eggleston said. “Very well, very well indeed.”
NOT THE BEST
At the same time Mr. Eggleston did not consider the Hungarians to be the best foreign side Everton have ever encouraged. “I wouldn’t compare them with Inter Milan,” he said; “I don’t think they are in the Italians’ class, but they are a very useful side- no super team but there is an awful lot of skill in it. “The plain truth is of course, that we did not play as well as we can. Otherwise we would not have lost three goals. They might not get the run of the ball at Goodison as they did in Budapest. “The lads after the match, were trying to work out how they had lost three goals, but it is difficult to out a finger on it. The main thing is to try to rectify matters when our next change comes along.” I understand that the target date for manager Harry Catterick’s return to duties is Monday week. If he is able to keep to that schedule he will be back in harness in time for the second leg game.
TRAVRL-WEARY EVERTON HAVE BIG TEST
The Liverpool Echo and Evening Express- Friday, November 5 1965
By Leslie Edwards
Leicester City and their goalkeeper, Banks, are almost as much a bogey team to Everton as they used to be to Liverpool. They beat Everton, at Leicester, last season and got a draw at Goodison Park. Having been resting while Everton have been travelling and playing hard in Budapest it may be that Leicester will get a point here to-morrow. Much will depend on whether Jimmy Gabriel's injury has responded to treatment. Everton seem a less volatile side in his absence. Listening to the radio commentary which came from behind the iron curtain on Wednesday one could not avoid the conclusion that the Upsy-Daisy team was clearly the better, more talented side—and this allowing for some partisanship on the part of the commentators. What was most remarkable about the Budapest match was the attendance between four and five thousands. This in a stadium capable of holding more than 70,000 must have made the occasion seem like a Central League match in this city in mid-winter. Just as well home teams in the Fairs Cup take the whole of the home gate. I cannot see Everton being keen on remaining in this competition if they had to share a forty to fifty-thousand Goodison Park attendance with opponents whose home attendances don t match those of some English Fourth Division clubs. To revert to the immediate task of Everton (which many fans will probably find more acceptable than the much-ballyhooed Continental games in which both teams are more anxious to avoid losing than winning), Leicester bring with them Derek Dougan whose shaved head when he came to Goodison Park with Aston Villa not long ago had some fans whooping like Red Indians. He is a good, if rather histrionic, forward who seems to be settling down at last and making goals of the passes provided by that bundle of Scottish energy and expertise, David Gibson.
Wiry Stringfellow
Yet the wort dangerous of Leicester's defensive-minded forwards is the lanky all-wire-and-whipcord chap at outside-left, Mike Stringfellow. He is about the same size and weight as Huddersfield's famous W. H. Smith and Berry Nieuwenhuys, once of Liverpool, whose daughter, by the way is shortly to make her first visit to South Africa to visit her father. No doubt of it, although there have been some magnificent midget wingers, the big chaps, other things being equal, have always been the more dangerous raiders. Fresh-complexioned, sizeable Graham Cross, nominally a forward, but usually to be found doing some defensive job is another of Leicester City's characters. They were a fine club last season, as their Cup games against Liverpool indicated, but only a week or two ago did they begin to resume that form after a very shaky start in which they lost to nearly everyone, Including their first match at home against Liverpool. If Everton had not spent the best part of the week travelling to and from Hungary their task would not have been easy. As it is Leicester must be the fresher side. For this reason Everton may find it difficult to get both points.
EVERTON UNCHANGED FOR GODOISON GAME
The Liverpool Echo and Evening express- Friday, November 5, 1965
GABRIEL STILL UNFIT
By Leslie Edwards
Everton play the side which lost 3-0 in Hungary on Wednesday against Leicester City at Goodison Park to-morrow. Gabriel, injured at Blackburn a week ago, cannot be got fit in time, so Stevens remains at right half-back. Leicester are also unchanged. Everton; Rankin; Wright, Wilson; Stevens, Labone, Harris; Scott, Harvey, Pickering, Temple, Morrissey. Leicester City; Banks; Sjoberg, Norman; Roberts, King, Cross; Sinclair, Goodfellow, Dougan (D), Gibson, Stringfellow.
TEAM BEATEN IN BUDAPEST RETAINED AGAINST LEICESTER CITY
Liverpool Daily Post- Saturday, November 6, 1965
EVERTON NEED A MORALE-BOOSTING PERFORMACE
GOODISON PARK CLUB MAY HAVE TO SETTLE FOR A DRAW
By Horace Yates
WING POWER
Douglas is their leading scorer with seven goals while the irrepressible Stringfellow has registered in five games. Power on the wings would seem to be Leicester’s most satisfactory feature, for Sinclair, the outside right today, claimed six goals in the first ten games, since when he has not registered. Names have changed little with the passing of time and reputation alone guarantees respect for Leicester to-day. Two years ago they shocked the Everton crowd with a 3-0 triumph and last season earned a 2-2 draw after appearing well beaten. Obviously Everton’s aim will be to achieve a morale-boosting performance, for confidence can hardly be sky high just now, and yet it would not surprise me to find them having to settle for a draw. With Stevens retained at right half, Harvey will be expected to place more emphasis on attack, and although I am convinced that here is a youngster of genuine class, when eventually he achieves the real break through it is more likely to be as a wing half. Everton are undoubtedly deploying their forces to what they consider greatest advantage, but it is not easy to ignore the fact that Scot’s goal at Blackburn last week broke a sequence in which Pickering had been the only scoring member of to-day’s attack. No matter what England team manger Alf Ramsay may think, Pickering’s record since joining Everton tells a remarkable success story, for in fifty-six League outings he is credited with sixty goals. By any standards that suggests remarkable consistency and effectiveness. Everton; Rankin; Wright, Wilson; Stevens, Labone, Harris; Scott, Harvey, Pickering, Temple, Morrissey. Leicester City; Banks; Sjoberg, Normans; Roberts, King, Cross; Sinclair, Goodfellow, Douglas, Gibson, Stringfellow.
BACK FROM HUNGARY TO AN IRON CURTAIN
The Liverpool Football Echo- Saturday, November 6 1965
EVERTON DO ATTACKING, LEICESTER GET POINTS
EVERTON 1 LEICESTER CITY 2
By Michael Charters
Everton; Rankin; Wright, Wilson; Stevens, Labone (Captain), Harris; Scott, Harvey, Pickering. Temple, Morrissey, substitute Young. Leicester City; Banks; Sjoberg, Norman; Roberts, King, Cross; Sinclair, Goodfellow, Dougan, Gibson, Stringfellow, Substitute; McDermott. Referee.- Mr. G. McCabe (Sheffield). Gibson was twice pulled up for fouls on Morrissey and Stevens, and from the second just outside the penalty area, Pickering tried a power shot which bounced off a Leicester defender. From the rebound he sent the ball well wide. The combination of a firm ground and blustery wind made conditions difficult, but Everton showed some bright attacking ideas and Temple got in another shot which Banks saved at full length. Banks came out fast to pick up an inaccurate back pass by Roberts and from his clearance Leicester took the lead with their first attack, after nine minutes. Banks cleared the ball far up-field and Dougan headed it down. With both Labone and Wilson hesitating and Rankin slow to move out, Goodfellow moved in quickly and steered the ball into an empty net. Everton, however, had done most of the attacking so far, and they replied immediately with a move down the leftfrom which Morrissey centred and Pickering headed just over the bar. Harvey went through very neatly to try a shot from 25 yards which Banks almost casually watched as it went by the post, but generally the Everton play was full of drive and spirit and Leicester were mainly on the defensive. Rankin made a good catch from a cross by Gooodfellow, but this was an isolated Leicester attack and the visitors were packing the defence, with Cross as an additional centre half. Leicester were adopting the same defensive tactics they have used so often in this city, but Temple found a way though with a beautifully flighted centre for Scott to run in at speed, but he put his header into the side netting.
ATTACKING SPIRIT
Everton had shown more attacking spirit in 15 minutes than they had done for the whole game in Hungary on Wednesday. The speedy Temple nearly connected with a fine Harris pass, but King had anticipated the move well. After a brilliant piece of work by Harris, Sinclair cut Everton's defence open with a superb cross field pass to Goodfellow, whose fast angled shot surprised Rankin. The goalkeeper was fortunate to see the shot pass just over the bar. The usual imperturbable Leicester defence got itself into a tangle from a centre by Scott, and Roberts, trying to find Banks with a casual, overhead flick, almost puts the ball into his, own goal. Harris saved his side from going two down after Roberts had given Goodfellow a heading chance. He beat Rankin in the air, but Harris saved right on the line with a brilliant overhead kick. Everton looked very suspect to these sudden Leicester raids and the crowd was getting very restive.
FINE FOOTWORK
Generally Labone had kept Dougan quiet, but the tall Irishman produced a fine piece of footwork to keep theball in play and then lashed in a shot from a fantastic angle that was only a fraction off its target. Rankin missed a centre by Stringfellow and was fortunate to find Labone in position to head for a corner. Everton's first attack for some 10 minutes came when Pickering headed down a pass from Wilson and Harvey, trying a volley, sent the ball high over the bar. Just as Sinclair was about to put the ball into the Everton net, the whistle went for half-time and Leicester were robbed by seconds of what would have been a first-class goal. Half-time. Everton nil. Leicester City 1.
Immediately on the restart, Everton lost a glorious chance of an equaliser. Morrissey crossed the ball in front of goal, where both Pickering and Harvey missed it and finally Norman cracked the ball for a corner. From this, Harris came up to beat Cross and hit a good shot which was touched away for another comer by Norman.
BURST OF PRESSURE
Pickering missed another shooting chance as Everton rocked Leicester with a burst of pressure. Everton were getting close to the Leicester goal without creating a shooting chance, and the big Leicester defenders were now using off- side to help them. Dougan, well beaten in the air usually by Labone, was very good on the ground, however. He and Goodfellow made an opening between them but it was Harris, Everton's best player, who was there to clear. Dougan got Stringfellow away, but the winger's shot was blocked for a corner by Labone. The game was very scrappy at times, with Everton trying almost too hard to get a goal and not showing any craft or real method in their attacking ideas. On the isolated occasions the Leicester forwards moved into attack they looked much more impressive, Goodfellow and Sinclair particularly good.
STRUCK DEFENDER
From a corner by Scott, Banks punched the ball out to Temple. who returned it immediately, and his low shot struck a Leicester defender to go for yet another corner.Temple cut through in his old style and put the ball inside to Harvey, whose fine shot was only a fraction wide. Temple was now beginning to play with more power and decision and he went through well to hit such a strong shot that Banks could not hold it, but the ball bounced out of the goalkeeper's' grasp just away from Pickering. Everton attacked with tremendous power for minutes on end with the bell rarely escaping from the Leicester penalty area, but the Leicester defenders, with luck on their side at times, still prevented that clear shooting chance and all the Everton effort became, meaningless without a goal to reward it. At last the Leicester wall opened and Everton equalised after 69 minutes. Temple centred into the heart of the goalmouth, and Pickering flicked the ball for Morrissey to ram it over the line from close range. Three minutes later Leicester were back in the lead. A corner by Gibson was headed straight back to the Leicester player by Temple, Gibson centred again and Labone's header struck Sinclair, bounced down and the Leicester winger hammered it into the roof of the net. BRILLIANT HARRIS
Harris continued to be Everton's star in defence and attack, and he once tackled brilliantly to get the ball away from Stringfellow when Leicester from Stringfellow when Leicester's third goal looked imminent. Crossalmost pulled Temple's jersey off his back to prevent him going through to prevent him going through. From the free kick Temple's shot went into the side netting. From a another Everton free kick the ball bounced around in the Leicester goalmouth, but inevitably it was one of their big defenders who got it away to safety. Rankin did his best work of the match by saving from Stringfellow When the winger was clean through. Dougan missed a great chance in the last few minutes. Final.— EVERTON 1 LEICESTER CITY 2 Attendance: 30.195.
SHEFFIELD UNITED RES v EVERTON RES
Liverpool Football Echo and Evening Express- Saturday November 6 1965
Sheffield United Res; Widdowson; Coldwell, Shaw (G); Richardson, Finnigan; Matthewson; Docherty, Birchenall, Parks, Fenoughty, Hartle. Everton Res; Barnett; Brown, Darcy; Pearson, Smith, Glover; Wallace, Tarbuck, Royle, Husband, Maher. Referee; Mr. C.P. Ackroyd (Leeds).
Everton were first to launch an attack. Maher sending a good centre over, but Wallace completely missed it. Hartle had a chance for United, but he shot wide from a Docherty centre. Brown was then only just inches wide of the far post with a good 25-yard shot. United went into the lead In the 23rd minute, Hartle cleverly beating Brown crossed the ball to BIRCHENALL. who stabbed it into the net. United piled on the pressure and Matthewson made Barnett bring off a good save. Birchenall put a good ball through to Parks, but Brown just nipped in. Half-time.—Sheffield 1, Everton Res. nil
S.O.S FOR MR. YOUNG!
Liverpool Daily Post- Monday, November 8, 1965
CAN EVERTON LEAVE OUT CLASSY ALEX?
EVERTON 1, LEICESTER CITY 2
By Jack Rowe
Someone said after this match that the Everton directors would be perturbed at the size of the crowd- a little over 30,000-but if I were among them I should be even more perturbed at the apathy of the crowd. There were no slow handclaps, no shouted advice to the directors’ box, only, so it seemed to me, a resignation that the great days of three seasons ago were a long way from being just around the corner. Leicester are a better side than Blackburn, where Everton won the previous week, but one can scarcely cast them in the role as title challengers and one of the most disturbing features to Goodison fans must have been the incapacity of their team to raise themselves to a standard, which should have returned at least immunity from defeat.
CLASS WANTED
Everton’s trouble part of it anyway, at present is that they lack real craft at inside forward and what a lot of their supporters are beginning to wonder is whether they can afford to leave Alex Young, the one player who has class. It seemed strange that he should be sitting in the trainer’s box and the slight of him there could not help but make the same supporters also wonder why the other man who did so much on the title year, Roy Vernon, was allowed to go. True, to be whether a man like Gabriel is a handicap, but another strange feature is that Everton might have started this season without him in the club and also Brian Harris, who on Saturday, as he has been so often lately was the star of a team which generally lacked personality and drive. They tried hard enough and in the second half especially have the Leicester defence something of a roasting, and that, in a way, it might have seemed unfortunate that they should lose. However, that they did was due to their own failings because there were several chances which went astray, particularly one to Pickering just after half-time, but one has to concede that Leicester, despite some hurried defensive work had the more studied approach and certainly more thought in the attack build-up.
THEIR OWN MAZE
Leicester made the ball do more work than did Everton whose inclination to keep it close too often left them in a maze of their own making and this was just as apparent in the second half when they were blasting away at the Leicester defence. On pressure alone perhaps, they did not deserve to lose, but the pressure did not carry the conviction that it would succeed and when it did Leicester came right out again and within little over a minute Everton were back where they started, facing a fight to salvage some prestige. Everton’s defence looked nothing like as secure as it did at Blackburn. Maybe this was due in part to Leicester’s better luck than the Ewood Park side, but Stevens did not play as well as he has done. Wright is going through an uncertain patch and even Wilson did not stamp himself on the match. Labone was against a centre forward in Douglas, who apparently had his bets game of the season for Leicester and had a tough task. Everton could be thankful Harris that they did not concede more goals. His work in defence and in attack made him stand out so much everybody else.
SHIRT-TUGGING ACT
There was much which was uncompromising in the Leicester defence and one second half incident in which Temple was the victim of a blatant shirt-tugging act was lucky to escape more stricture from the referee. Everton helped them a lot by this failure to make the longer pass, a rather surprising fact because in the first ten minutes or so they used it satisfactorily and in that time gave promise of a good show. Them Pickering, Temple and Morrissey were at their best, but it was not sustained and it is clear that Everton have many problems to solve. They could have used a player like Gibson or Goodfellow, for example. Those Leicester forwards showed some craft in their work and on the day Douglas was a better centre forward than Pickering. It was Douglas who made the headed flick from a Banks clearance which created Leicester’s first goal. There seemed slowness in the Everton defence with Rankin a bit tardy in coming out so that Goodfellow was able to glide the ball home. Everton’s equaliser in 69 minutes was scrambled in by Morrissey, after a long high ball from Temple had evaded Banks and King, under Pickering’s challenge. Then a minute or so later Leicester were in front. Temple headed Gibson’s corner kick straight back to him and when the ball came over again Labone’s clearance bid hit someone, bounced down and gave Sinclair a chance he did not miss. The only time Everton fans had any real cause for shouting was when a loudspeaker announcement said “Here is an SOS for Mr. Young…” They did cheer and shout then. Were they right in their reaction? Everton; Rankin; Wright, Wilson; Stevens, Labone (Captain), Harris; Scott, Harvey, Pickering, Temple, Morrissey. Substitute Young. Leicester City; Banks; Sjoberg, Norman; Roberts, King, Cross; Sinclair, Goodfellow, Douglas, Gibson, Stringfellow. Referee Mr. G. McCann (Sheffield). Attendance 30,185.
CENTRAL LEAGUE
The Liverpool Daily Post- Monday, November 8, 1965
SHEFFIELD U RES 2, EVERTON RES 1
Sheffield United reserves just managed to hold on to their unbeaten record against Everton Reserves. Although United took command of the first half they only managed to penetrate the Everton defence on one occasion when Birchenall scored. It was a different tale in the second half when the Everton forward line came more into the picture and Husband causing havoc, in the United defence. His goal came when he easily beat the United defence and lobbed the ball over the advancing goalkeeper. In defence for Everton Barnett and D’Arcy making some good saves. The winner for United was from a penalty in the 73rd minute, scored by Docherty.
WHAT ABOUT AN SOS FOR THE MR. YOUNG
The Liverpool Echo and Evening Express- Monday, November 8 1965
By Leslie Edwards
It could not have happened more appropriately. Everton were 1-0 down to Leicester City: the crowd were restively starting their customary chant: " We want Alex ... " and the game was at a standstill while the Everton trainer attended injured forward Derek Temple. Then, over the public address system, came the message: " Here is an SOS for Mr. Young, of 30 . . ." The rest was lost in a roar of laughter, which broke out afresh when the voice was heard urging Mr. Young to please come to the Everton office immediately. If Everton had needed their own Alex Young in emergency to act as substitute, or for any other reason, the message could not have made greater impact. Here was an Everton, minus, as so many Everton teams have been recently, the man whose football artistry is needed. The loyal crowd let the matter rest there. But, not long afterwards, the ground was emptying of those of the 30,000 who could not bear any longer the indignity of Leicester's supremacy or endure the agony of seeing Everton trying ineffectually to snatch a draw. The coincidence of the talented Dougan leading the Leicester attack in precisely the same nonchalant, but effective way as Young has led Everton lines added to the disgruntlement of supporters given two defeats in the space of a few days. Everton, without West and Gabriel-they have lacked one or other of their defenders almost from the start of the season—have "struck a patch," and if anyone doubts this, the ease with which Leicester took this game is salutary.
GOAL ON THE WHISTLE
True, the scoreline suggests that there was not a lot in it, but this takes no account of a Leicester City "goal" denied them only because the referee's whistle for the interval had sounded a fraction of a second before the ball found the net, or of Brian Harris's goal-line retrieving a few minutes earlier. Harris acrobatically hooked away a header from Goodfellow which was as near over the line as any header will every be. So, in effect, Leicester were unlucky not to have the match more than half-won before the interval. Everton had started promisingly, despite their long hours of travel to and from Hungary, and had looked the better side in the opening minutes. Unhappily, Leicester, the bigger and, in the event, more effective team, shook their opponents with a goal "out of the blue." Banks's goal-kick found the head of Dougan. The flicked pass to the right meant that it was an even-money bet whether Rankin or Goodfellow would reach the ball first. Goodfellow stretched out a long leg and turned the ball over the line from some distance, and Everton were on the collar. Rankin's propensity for leaving his line and thus giving Leicester forwards opportunity to float the ball over his head was only one weakness in an Everton defence which degenerated markedly as the match progressed. Yet it was the attack and its lack of understanding and inaccuracy in passing which caused the crowd so much concern.
FIERY OPENING
With Leicester a goal up at the interval all was not lost, and Everton's fiery opening of the second half suggested we were going to see them win from behind. Leicester lost the initiative and were more than once in a defensive tangle. Indeed, when Morrissey levelled the scores from close in. Banks seemed to have lost sight of the ball. Whatever hopes Everton had of getting a point were short-lived. Sinclair put Leicester ahead again almost immediately with a good shot after luckily getting the ball from a rebound from Labone. It wasn't Harris's fault that Everton didn't win, and it wasn't Dougan's fault Leicester City did not go close to winning the sweep. Harris, non-stop defender, non-stop attacker could not have done more. The pity is that Pickering seems "all alone' and without visible support at the business end of Everton attacks. Dougan, the Irishman, has never played better. He gives the impression of being languidly disinterested, but his play is full of beautiful finesses. He almost gave some Everton defenders three yards start in ten and got away with it. He must be about the best centre forward in football in Britain. Mercurial or not, he's a born footballer. His seven-league stride often left defenders hopelessly astern. Leicester City started the season badly; Banks's return has brought them back to being a good side again. They look to me to be a good proposition for the Cup. Everton, with so many players switched from one position to another, haven't begun to start their re-emergence as a top-class proposition.
Note
Temple travelling as Reserve for England v Ireland at Wembley on Wednesday.
SOME APATHY AMONG EVERTON FANS?
The Liverpool Echo and Evening Express- Tuesday, November 9 1965
By Leslie Edwards
Is there apathy among Everton followers? I known at least one man who not only thinks there is, but is prepared to prove it. I must confess the Everton size of the exodus of spectators before the end of the Leicester City match was surprising. So, apparently, was the interval announcement of the appeal to fans to see the match against Ujpesti Dozsa next week because this Hungarian team is such a brilliant one. At least one Everton follower thinks it strange he should be asked to attend Goodison Park not to see Everton's fine football, but the opposition's! The announcement may well have been made in less negative terms. I see the club's point of view in stressing the excellence of the Upsy - Daisy side, because a good gameof football is, after all, what attracts spectators, even in days when everyone seems to be happy only when they are supporting winning teams!The Fairs Cup rules are different from those of otherEuropean competitions and so the task Everton face next week is of getting the three goals they need in order to force a replay. This, in itself, must be a very tall orderagainst a team which Everton officials acknowledge to be the best Continental side they have ever met. As to the now famed SOS for Mr. Young, made at the Leicester City match, many people thought this the work of some pro-Alex Young joker. This is not true. The appeal was genuine for a man who was wanted urgently at home. In my opinion Everton could do with the immediate return of West, Gabriel and Young. They have players ofthe requisite skill; what they have not done is to find the most effective permutation of them. In this context it must be mentioned that during the past five weeks the Everton manager, Mr. Catterick, has owing to illness, had no part in the selection of the Everton team, mainly, I suppose, because one who does not see games cannot very well assess players' performances. Although many fans think the Everton attack is where the weakness lies, this is not confirmed by League table figures. Burnley, the top club, have scored only one more goal than Everton, who have 30 to their credit. But Everton’s goals against column (29) is illuminating.
AND NO DINNER!
The measure Of soccer fans' enthusiasm for their team is fantastic. I learned this week, for the first time, that it extends to whether they buy eight newspapers on Sunday or none ! One man confesses that if his side wins he cuts out eight different reports and pastes them in a scrapbook. If his team lose he doesn't even buy one paper-and the family doesn't need Sunday dinner either! I have heard of people not fancying their tea after Everton or Liverpool have lost, but the extension of lost appetite to Sunday, so far as reading material and food is concerned, is a new disclosure.
How can you expect such followers of the game to see football objectively as a referee must ? The answer is you cannot. That. I submit, is why fans become genuinely aggrieved with referee's decisions which, in fact, could not be more correct. Of one thing lam convinced. The ever-increasing wave of lawlessness and misbehaviour on both sides of the fence will not take long to engulf the game as a whole. Decent people are not going to continue to attend matches where the language of certain sections of the crowd and their behaviour is so offensive, and who shall blame them. The suggestion that other fans should act as vigilantes is useless. People go to matches to be entertained; they don't go as unpaid trouble-shooters liable to be involved in any trouble which occurs on the terraces. They don't pay good money for that.
Everyone is passing the buck. The railways can’t or won't act: the police do their best: clubs do their best. The F.A. and Football League keep appealing to people who haven't any finer feelings for the game or themselves. Football will learn the remedy the hard way-after League club’s attendances have fallen so markedly that talk of paying anything like £100 per week will be as ludicrous as referring to the days when first-class footballers got a £6 a week and deserved £100 for their skill and good behaviour.
HARVEY CENSURED
The Liverpool Echo and Evening express- Tuesday November 9, 1965
DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE
TO PAY COSTS
Colin Harvey, the Everton inside forward who was sent off in the First division match at Fulham on October 16, was severely censured and warned as to his future conduct at a personal hearing before an F.A disciplinary committee meeting in Birmingham to-day. Everton’s chairman, Mr. E. Holland Hughes defended Harvey at the meeting and speaking for the player was Fulham manager, Vic Buckingham, who played overnight in Birmingham following his club’s League cup-tie against Aston Villa last night. Harvey was sent off by a Birmingham referee Mr. Danny Lyden, after an incident with John Dempsey, the Fulham centre forward. Dempsey also gave evidence in Harvey’s favour. After the meeting the committee issued the following statement; “From the evidence adduced the commission is satisfied that Harvey adopted an aggressive attitude towards Dempsey after being fouled by that player and that the referee was justified in the action which he took. “The commission has decided that Harvey be severely censured and warned as to his future conduct. In deciding not to impose a suspension the commission took into account the player’s previous exemplary conduct on the field of play. “Harvey, having asked for a personal hearing, is ordered to pay the costs of the commission.”
EVERTON MAKE STANDS ALL TICKET
MATCH WITH LEEDS UNITED
By Leslie Edwards
Everton have decided to make the Leeds United League game at Goodison Park on Saturday, November 20, all-ticket so far as the stands are concerned. Admission to ground and paddock will be at the turnstiles as usual. Stand seats for the Goodison Road and Bullens Road stands (3s) and for Gwladys Street stand (7s) may now be booked at the club offices or at any of the club’s agencies.
COLIN HARVEY
Liverpool Daily Post- Wednesday, November 10, 1965
Colin Harvey, the Everton inside forward, who sent off in the match against Fulham on October 16, was “Severely censured and warned as to his future conduct,” by an F.A. commission, meeting in Birmingham yesterday. Harvey asked for a personal hearing and his defence was conducted by Everton’s chairman, Mr. E. Holland Hughes. In addition evidence on the behalf was given by Fulham’s centre half John Dempsey and manager Vic Buckingham.
The commission met for over an hour and afterwards issued the following statement:-
“From the evidence adduced the commission is satisfied that Harvey adopted an aggressive attitude towards Dempsey after being fouled by that player and referee was justified in the action which he took. “The commission have decided that Harvey be severely censored and warned as to his future conduct. “In deciding not to impose a suspension that commission took into account the player’s previous exemplary conduct on the field of play. “Harvey, having asked for a personal hearing, is ordered to pay the costs of the commission.” Referee Danny Lyden (Birmingham) and both linesmen also give evidence.
ENGLAND NEED NEW ADVENTURE SPIRIT IN ATTACK
Liverpool Daily Post- Thursday, November 11, 1965
ENGLAND 2 NORTHERN IRELAND 1
By Horace Yates
The best that can be said of England after a completely lack-lustre game at Wembley last night was that they won. The Irish held them so well for 71 minutes that the query being posed was not what changes team manager Alf Ramsey could make in the home side so much as what opposition could be produced to furnish an England victory. England were again far from impressive and had Ireland not relapsed into the defensive shell in an effort to hold what they had their cause would have been better served. Far from binding together a World Cup winning side England’s one distinction at the moment appears likely to be that they will stage the competition. Allowing for all the customary gallantry of the Irish and the close marking which stifled so much of the movement, England’s needs are vast. They showed the most limited ideas of how to open up a defence which was tight, but nothing like as tight as they are likely to encounter when they tackle World Cup opposition. Mr. Ramsey’s biggest consolation was that Joe Baker at least gave him the opportunity to boast merit in his replacement of Jimmy Greaves. He was outstandingly England’s most dangerous raider-an obvious centre-forward choice. It was Peacock who did the prompting and Baker the raiding, although in fact both men scored. I hope Mr. Ramsey will be so encouraged by Baker’s promise to justify him in looking outside the usual list of names from which selection is made nowadays. It would be retrograde I think, merely to drop Peacock move Baker into the middle and recall Greaves. Surely the time is now crying out for the pairing of Hunt or Ball with Baker. England need new blood and a new spirit of adventure in an attack which so easily these days becomes lifeless and unenterprising when things are not moving their way.
DROPPED OUT
It cannot always be an accident that the crowd’s reactions at Wembley veer away from the home team in favour of the opposition. The Irish had the crowd roaring them on while they were doing something to merit the support. The opening promised something far different. There was Charlton commanding the scene like a master at play with his pupils, but as so often happens he dropped out of action for long periods. Finishing was not the greatest of his virtues for in the last minute Thompson, with a clever back heel, gave him a shot at goal from an ideal position. The old Charlton I feel would not have blasted the ball yards wide as he did on this occasion. Thompson, of Liverpool, is still in search of his first international goal. His nearest approach goal last night came with a terrific drive which carried so much power that when Elder intervened with his head he was knocked down. This was not a Thompson night to remember for he came up against one of Ireland’s most accomplished performers in Elder. The Burnley back, although playing with two stitches in an ankle wound received in Burnley’s League Cup game with Stoke City on Tuesday was equal to everything Thompson tried. Baker needed two dummy runs before finding his scoring touch. First Thompson and then Peacock tried to give him an early goal but the Arsenal man’s reactions did not suggest the ability which he showed in 19 minutes. The last laugh was his when he ran on to a cleverly flicked pass from peacock. He took Harvey to the right-hand corner of the penalty area before cutting inside to hit a fine left foot drive wide of Jennings into the net.
MOORE’S MISTAKE
England’s joy was short lived for straight from the restart Ireland were level. It was a mistake by Moore from Wilson’s pass that left Irvine in possession on the edge of the penalty area. Irvine in possession on the edge of the penalty area. Irvine appeared to shoot between Wilson’s legs and Banks was completely deceived and unsighted by the shot. The match had come to life with a vengeance for England’s retaliation was immediate. Stiles, running on to a pass from Baker as Jennings advanced slipped the ball no more than a yard wide of the open goal. There could easily have been three goals in two minutes. This was too good to last and thrills were few in the second half until Baker was brought down by Nicholson, and despite appeals from players and crowd no penalty kick was forthcoming. England went ahead after 72 minutes with a Peacock goal after an all-Manchester United build-up, Charlton and Stiles exchanged passes in a movement from half-way before Connelly was brought into play on the wing. He took the ball to the line before crossing to Stiles whose shot rebounded from Jennings for Peacock to score with an overhead shot. This was one of Connelly’s most worthy contributions and it was a pity he had to wreck the memory a few minutes later. Wilson gave him the opportunity to present either Peacock or Baker with a clinching goal. The winger put the ball straight into Jennings’ hands. Jackie Charlton served England well. Twice he intervened when Irish goals were there for the talking and both Williams and Cohen added to their reputations. Moore, somewhat cumbersome in his movements was entirely responsible for Ireland’s goal, but Stiles stepped up on his last showing without leaving anyone under the impression that he is the best material at England’s command. England; Banks (Leicester City); Cohen (Fulham), Wilson (Everton); Stiles (Manchester United), Charlton (J) (Leeds United), Moore (West Ham United) (Captain), Thompson (Liverpool), Baker (Arsenal), Peacock (Leeds United), Charlton (R.) (Manchester United), Connelly (Manchester United). Ireland; Jennings (Tottenham); Magill (Brighton), Elder (Burnley); Harvey (Sunderland), Neill (Arsenal) (Captain), Nicholson (Huddersfield); McIIroy (Stoke City), Crossan (Manchester City), Irvine (Burnley), Dougan (Leicester City), Best (Manchester United). Referee Mr. L. Callaghan (Wales). Attendance 70,000.
EVERTON’S MANAGER IS BACK AT WORK
The Liverpool Echo and Evening Express- Thursday November 12, 1965
HENNESSEY POSITION
BOARD MEETING
By Leslie Edwards
Everton chairman, Mr. Holland Hughes, said to-day of the chances of Terry Hennessey, Birmingham's wing half, becoming an Everton player: " I don't know anything about it; we have a board meeting to-night, but the matter of Hennessey being available for transfer is not on the agenda so far as I am concerned. Whether it will be discussed I cannot say." Point is added to any possibility of Hennessey, a Welsh international, coming to Merseyside by the news that the Everton manager, Mr. Harry Catterick, was back at work to-day for a few hours. It had been expected he would not return until after the week-end. A specialist report yesterday on his convalescence was unexpectedly favourable. NOT HELPLNG
It Is possible that Mr. Catterick himself could raise the subject of Hennessey or that a director might bring it forward. Spurs wanted Hennessey some time ago, but Birmingham refused to let him go. The player feels that Second Division football is not helping his international career. Expert opinion on the player is that he is a Blanchflower type of wing half but that he can only be an essentially attacking or defensive type of player, Birmingham are said to want £50,000 for his signature. It is unlikely that Gabriel, the Everton right half, will be ready for the game at Sheffield United on Saturday.
SELECTION RESPONSIBITIES STAY WITH TOMMY EGGLESTON
Liverpool Daily Post- Friday, November 12, 1965
EVERTON PUT YOUNG TO TEST TO-MORROW?
GABRIEL UNLIKELY TO BE FIT, BUT WILSON EXPECTS TO PLAY
By Horace Yates
After the mishap of last Saturday’s defeat by Leicester City and the subsequent inquests, to-day we may be given the verdict. How will trainer-coach Tommy Eggleston tackle the problem of team selection, for tackle it he must? While manager Harry Catterick returned to part-time duty yesterday for the first time since his abdominal operation, he emphasised that at the moment he has no intention of taking over team selection responsibilities. For the next few days at least Mr. Catterick will be very much a part-time manager, spending a couple of hours or so dafty at Goodison Park, mainly attending to administrative requirements. Yesterday, however, he went to Bellefield to see all the players in training. For the present he will not return to any form of scouting or coaching, but I have no doubt his advice will be readily available to Mr. Eggleston. The leading question among all Everton supporters is whether or not the Mr. Young broadcast last Saturday and the controversy which has followed will coincide with Alex’s return to the team.
NO CLUES OFFERED
No clues are being given on the subject and even today the nearest we may be allowed to approach to a solution is to find Young’s name included among selected twelve, with a decision revealed only on reaching Bramall Lane for tomorrow’s match with Sheffield United. My personal belief is that Young’s claims will be seriously considered not because public opinion suggests it should, so much as the fact that on Tuesday next Everton oppose Ujpesti Dozsain the second leg f the Inter Cities Fairs Cup match- a clash which many consider to be tailor made for a Young contribution. If there is any intention of playing Young in that game, it might be considered wiser to reacquaint him with first team football to-morrow. My view is that the return of Derek Temple to the wing position that suits him best is of paramount importance. The club, even in emergency, are not getting the best out of the player in this make-shift role and for the most part Temple is not enjoying his transposition. Temple is twice the man when able to make his breaks infield from the wing. He was just another name on the Everton register until Mr. Catterick whipped up his enthusiasm for a wing role. The team would undoubtedly be stronger for his return to that raiding position. As the odds are all against Jimmy Gabriel being fit enough to resume the highly promising experiment of turning him into an inside forward the opportunity exists if there is the will, to restore Young.
HUSBAND OR YOUNG
There is not a lot to choice available to Mr. Eggleston and in the end he could be forced to a straight selection between the comparatively inexperience in the end he could be forced experienced-laden Alex Young. On the weight of experience there should be no argument, but if confidence in Young has been lost by so many unproductive displays in recent times, has he anyone but himself to blame? Young, in the full majesty of the wonderful display at Goodison against Sheffield Wednesday, is a joy to watch and a terror to oppose, but how many times has he remotely approached that standard in recent times? It is a terribly ticklish problem. The theory that Young is now ready to come roaring back after so long in the discard might be a temptation to put it to the test, but Everton badly need a reinvigorating performance against United, even if outright victory eludes them. Will that requirement be better met with Young in the team or with Husband? Mr. Eggleston will began with the realisation that Sheffield United’s defence is among the most uncompromising in League football and that suffocation tactics have not generally produced Young at his best. His rare demands an open game between constructively minded opponents. If despite this realisation Young were to be chosen and triumphantly answered the call, what a load of worry would be lifted! Another problem to be settled is whether or not Stevens stays at wing half or whether Sandy Brown should be introduced. In the present difficult times the decision is likely to be in Stevens; favour although the chances of Brown repeating the forward thrust that Gabriel has been imparting will no doubt be considered. Sooner or later, the highly satisfactory reports young Barnett has been receiving for his goalkeeping in the lower regions will be translated into action by promoting him to a League debut. Rankin has not proved himself to be the goalkeeper he was before injury allowed West to take over from him. In less exacting moments, Barnett’s chances might have been better than they are today when there is so much pressure on the team. Ray Wilson has had four stitches inserted in an ankle wound received in Wednesday’s international match against Ireland. Elder played with stitches in his ankle in that game-and played really well-as did Wilson after his injury, so the odds are that he will play.
NO RISK WITH GABRIEL
The Liverpool Echo and Evening Express- Friday, November 12, 1965
By Leslie Edwards
Everton go to Sheffield United with a team which may well not be disclosed until the last moment. They would like to play Gabriel, but if there is any risk of his playing and breaking down and thus being unavailable for the Cup game against Ujpesti Dozsa next Tuesday it will not be taken. I am surprised at the number of followers of Everton who have sent me their idea of why the club are not succeeding and what should be done. Here is a typical selection:— " Your heading ' Some Apathy Among Everton Fans' is perfectly true. " Take last week for instance. After the 3-0 defeat in Hungary, an official was quoted as saying, 'We were short of craft in the forward line yet the next day, he picks the team for the Leicester match and says 'Same again.' "After watching some of the stuff served up during the last 12 months, it should be made known to the Everton management that quite a lot of Everton spectators would prefer a bit more brain and a little less brawn; a bit morepassing because it is the right thing to do and not because it is the last thing to do, and a bit more running into the open space to receive the ball and less standing around waiting for it."—J. CURRY, The Cottage, Arbour Lane, Kirkby.
"The reason for apathy among Everton fans is the club's policy of total disregard for the people who keep the club going, i.e. fans and players. Players with neat skill have been replaced by players who have plenty of stamina if not much else. “Now I see they don't want the game with Burnley televised. " This attitude will never win friends for the club. "I have watched Everton since I was eight and have been going to the match for 30 years. This season I did not renew my season-ticket. I have missed two home games this year—a thing which to me a few years ago would have been a crime."—,JOHN M'EADE, Gorselands, Aigburth Vale, Liverpool, 17.
"It seems we have spent a lot of cash to reduce a potentially great side to a very ordinary one but an unsettled team will remain an unsettled team in more ways than one. "Some supporters have said that if Everton bought Pele they would put him in goal ! "If we must have experiment why not play Alex Young in the middle. "Despite his critics we won the League with him there, and we have had no success since he vacated the spot. "There is no substitute for class. He is the best ball player we have had and he has no master in the air. "Everton as a team scored more goals when he led the line than they have since, so why not switch this famous 'Twin Spearhead' and see if there is any improvement. "It would take courage to replace his own signing with the original occupant but it is this sort of courage we need right now. "The club is greater than the man—or is it ?" G. BOWES, 475 Princess Drive, Liverpool, 14.
NO YOUNG IN EVERTON 13 TO-MORROW
The Liverpool Echo and Evening Express-Friday, November 12, 1965
WILSON DOUBT, GABRIEL OUT
AT SHEFFIELD
By Leslie Edwards
Everton's team to play at Sheffield United to-morrow will not be chosen until to-morrow morning. Thirteen players will be making the trip, but Young is not among them. Gabriel is unfit. The club have suffered another blow by the injury, at Wembley on Wednesday, of full back Ray Wilson. His left leg was badly lacerated late in the game against Ireland and required four stitches. The club are waiting until to-morrow to see how he feels. No chances will be taken of his aggravating the trouble In view of the match next Tuesday, at Goodison Park, against Ujpesti Dozsa. If Wilson does not play to-morrow, Sandy Brown will probably take his place. The 13 are: Rankin, Wright, Wilson, Stevens, Labone, Harris, Scott, Harvey, Pickering, Temple, Morrissey, Brown and Husband.
SHAW DOUBT
Sheffield United, who have lost three games in succession, make at least one change. Reg Matthewson, who was dropped last week, comes in at right half for David Monks, who will be out of football for three months because of a broken leg. There is a doubt about centre half Joe Shaw, who is in bed with a heavy cold. If he is unfit, Denis Finnigan will take his place. SHEFFIELD UNITED . Hodgkinson; Badger, Mallender; Matthewson, Shaw (J.) or Finnigan, Wagstaff (B.): Woodward, Kettleborough, Jones, Wagstaff (T), Reece.
CITY MOTORISTS MAY HAVE TO PAY MORE
Liverpool Daily Post- Saturday, November 13, 1965
The “screw is being tightened on Liverpool’s commuting motorists and thirty-four pieces of land just outside the street parking meter zones which are now free from restrictions may soon be fitted with meters. And at the same time the corporation are seeking authority to vary the maximum parking charge they can levy from 6d to 1s an hour. “The object is to find how much the public are willing to pay for parking facilities and meet the demand accordingly,” a spokesman of the City Engineer’s Department said yesterday. “If we find a park is being fully used the charge will go up, if not it could come down. The ideal is to have some 10 per cent of the spaces in any city centre car park available for a visiting motorist at any time. The spokesman added that the 1s maximum hourly charge would not be brought in immediately but said that one park likely to be charged in the near future was the Victoria St. park where about 35 people did not seem to mind paying 5s a day for parking and kept their cars there all day long.
“NOT OUT TO MILK MOTORIST…”
If they are not deterred from hogging parking spaces all day by the increased charge then it increased charge then it could be that the charge will go higher still, even to as much as 2s 6d an hour in the future.” Said the spokesman, “The City Council’s policy provides for frequent regular price reviews of the charges levied with a view to rationing out the space available for parking. “We are not out to milk the motorist, but we must make the most of what space we have available and make sure it is stretched out as far as possible “he said. Authority to impose higher parking charges on additional bits of land are sought in an Order which the corporation are submitting to the Ministry of Transport Objections are invited before December 3. Controlled parking grounds already in existence and are subject to the proposed Order are these at; Ghree, Mann Island, Cable Street, South Castle Street, Victoria Street, Paradise Street, College Lane, South Castle Street King Street/South Paradise Street. John street, Cable Street, Paradise Street, Thomas Street, South John Street,Atherton Street, King Street, King Street, Coopers Row, South John Street, King Street, St. George’s plateau.
New controlled parking places created by the Order will be at Bromilow Hill, Byrom Street, Mersey tunnel, Manchester Street, Mersey Tunnel (Dale street), Grange Street, Vernon Street, Vauxhall Road, Leeds Street, Vauxhall Road, Argyle Street, Ainsworth Street, Blake Street, Marybone Marlborough Street/Pickup Street, Midgehall Street, Park Lane, Paradise Street, Frederick Street, Park Lane, Frederick Street, Park Lane, Canning Place, Vauxhall Road/ Gascoyne Street, Lydia Ann Street/ Henry Street, Paul Street, Vauxhall Road, Stephens Lane, Moorfields, Sea Brow, Park Lane/ Greenham Street, Park Lane, Upper Frederick Street, Bispham Street/ Fontenoy Street, Bispham Street/ Marybone,, Bispham Street/Addison Street, Milton Street, Alexander Pope Street, Edward Street/ Warren Street, Tong Street/ Seagrave Streets, Warren Street/ Seagrave Street, Rose Place, Upper Milk Street, Bath Street/ Gibraltar Row, Adlington Street.
YOUNG STILL OUT
The Liverpool Daily Post- Saturday, November 13, 1965
EVERTON CAPABLE OF DRAW
By Horace Yates
There is no place for Alex Young even among thirteen players from whom Everton will choose their team against Sheffield United at Bramall Lane to-day. The longer he is omitted and he last played a League match against Liverpool on September 25, the more one is tempted to ask, what place does he occupy in the club’s future calculations. Today finds him at inside left in the Central League fixture with Blackburn Rovers at Goodison Park. If it is not intended to play him against Upjesti Dozsa on Tuesday in the Inter Cities Fairs Cup-tie, I do not criticise Young’s continued relegation, especially against Sheffield United.
BROWN MAY PLAY
As expected Jimmy Gabriel cannot be considered because of injury, and Brown joins the selected in case Ray Wilson’s Wembley injury rules him out. The only other query is whether Temple returns to the wing, with Jimmy Husband inside, or whether last week’s forward line is retained. I believe the team will be less despondent about their reverse last week than some of their supporters have been, for it should be realised that better teams than Everton are to-day have been exasperated and defeated by Leicester City- even at home. United, whose right half David Monks fractured a leg at Highbury last week, must be wondering what scurvy tricks fate can play in football. After playing thirteen games with only one reverse, and soaring proudly to the table top, three successive defeats have sent them tumbling down. In exploring fields for an answer to their problems, one is inevitably steered to their defence. In better days their rear-guard was the most fearsome of any for in eight of the first 12 matches, their opponents failed to score Liverpool figuring twice in that role. In the four most recent games they have conceded 12 goals or more than in the rest of the programme. The position will scarcely be improved if United have to substitute Finnegan for the highly experienced Joe Shaw at centre half. Everton go to Bramall Lane in search of an opening victory there since United regained senior status. They have drawn three of the four games and the last two visits have produced goal-less draws. I believe that another draw is not beyond Everton’s capabilities to-day. Sheffield United; Hodgkinson; Badger, Mallender; Matthewson, J. Shaw or Finnigan, H. Wagstaff; Woodward, Kettleborough, Jones, T. Wagstaff, Reece. Everton (from); Rankin; Wright, Wilson; Brown, Stevens, Labone; Harris, Scott, Harvey, Pickering, Temple, Morrissey, Husband.
EVEN UNITED GOALS DID NOT RELIEVE DREARY GAME
The Liverpool Football Echo and Evening Express- November 13, 1965
SHEFFIELD UNITED 2 EVERTON 0
By Michael Charters
Sheffield United; Hodgkinson; Badger, Mallender; Matthewson, Finnigan; H. Wagstaff, Woodward, Kettleborough, Jones, T. Wagstaff, Reece. Everton; Rankin; Wright, Brown; Stevens, Labone (Captain), Harris; Scott, Harvey, Pickering, Temple, Morrissey, Substitute Husband. Referee Mr. R. Tinkler, Boston.
Everton decided not to risk Ray Wilson,who had four stitches put in a wound above an ankle after playing for England on Wednesday night. He way rested in view of Tuesday night's game against the Hungarian club Ujpesti of Dozsa, and Brown took his place. Only a few hundred Everton supporters had made the trip and the crowd seemed well below 20.000. The game opened slowly,with both sides failing to control the lively ball. The Wagstaff brothers were the first to make a dangerous move. A good pass by Barry into the middle was just missed by Tony who must have had a great chance had he managed to collect the ball.
SURPRISE SHOT
Everton's first attack, however, almost brought a goal when Harvey sent Temple away down the left wing. Temple, seeing that Hodgkinson had moved off his line for a centre, tried a long shot which almost deceived the goalkeeper. Everton made another left wing break at the 11th minute and from Morrissey's centre Temple collided with Hodgkinson in making a header which went into the side netting. Temple went down heavily and was carried off by Hodgkinson and placed on a stretcher Just behind the goal. While Temple was receiving attention United took the lead with a goal by Jones after 15 minutes. It stemmed from a right wing corner which Tony Wagstaffe diverted to Jones and the centre forward turned to put in a slow bouncing shot which deceived Rankin as it went through a crowded goalmouth into the corner of the net. Immediately after the goal Temple returned after being off for four minutes.
PASSES GO ASTRAY
Both teams were making many passing errors but United looked the more dangerous and their goalkeeper was rarely troubled by an innocuous Everton attack. Everton were trying the hopeful pass up the middle as their sole method of progress, but it didn't yield much although twice Hodgkinson had to come far out of goal to pick up as Pickering chased through. Everton produced their first good-looking attack and had the ball moving from the left in a series of accurate passes for a change, but the move ended with Pickering unable to get his head to a centre by Temple and used his hand instead.
TOUCH OF CLASS
Jones was the one forward on both sides who was showing a touch of class and once Labone brought him down heavily. From the free kick two United players got in a shot, but each was charged down. There were occasions when the Everton attack threatened danger, mainly when Harris moved up to help them, but invariably they failed through poor finishing and the United defence was rarely in trouble. Rankin did well to spot the danger of an in swinging corner kick by Woodward and touch the ball over the bar to start one of the few spells of interest in this dull first half. United got three corners in quick succession and from the last Rankin was lucky to be position to take a close rangeshot from Reece about which he knew little until the ball was in his arms. Half-time—Sheffield Utd. 1, Everton nil. The second half started with Jones making a good run down the right wing but his centre was cut off by Harris. The United centre forward's display was one of the few bright spots in a mediocre game. Labone came up field for a free kick and Scott got his head to the ball only to send it well over the bar.
COVER DEFENCE
The United defence was quick to cover when it looked as though Temple was going to find a way through and when he put a pass across for Pickering there were two or three defenders there to clear. Reece tried a first time shot from a cross by Woodward but sent it well wide. Everton got their first corner of the match after 55 minutes and although there was some indecision by United defenders, the ball was finally scrambled away after all the forwards had come back to help. Woodward got Reece away with a glorious pass—the best of the game—but Labone managed to get his head to the centre and deflect it away. The ball was never properly cleared and finally Kettleborough put it well over the top from 25 yards. The crowd took more interest in the fact that Sheffield Wednesday were winning 3-1 at Tottenham than they did in this dreary game. Defences were so much in command that there was hardly an attack worthy of the name. Tony Wagstaffe cut through Everton’s defence with a fine pass to Woodward, but Labone was in position to turn away the winger's centre with two United forwards ready to put the finishing touch to the move.
PRESSING HARD
Wright took the full force of a centre by Reece and had to hare attention. United were now putting on more pressure than at any time in the game, but they rarely looked convincing. Rankin had no trouble to save a close range shot from Jones, and even this player, the best of the first half, had gone off. United seemed to be quite happy with their one goal lead and Everton incapable of making a worthwhile challenge to get on level terms. There was a moment of danger from Everton when a Pickering pass got Temple away down the wing. Temple had switched positions with Morrissey and he took the ball to the goal-line before crossing it low, but there was no other Everton forward in position to take advantage of it. With 12 minutes to go Tony Wagstaff came off shaking his hand in pain and before substitute Birchenhall appeared. United twice came close to increasing their lead. From a good run by Reece, Matthewson beat Rankin, but Brown stopped his shot on the line. Then from the rebound Jones hit a swerving shot which struck the angle of bar and upright. Seven minutes from the end Jones put United two up with a good headed goal from a cross by Badger. Rankin came out and missed his attempted punch and as Jones collided with the goalkeeper, he got his head to the ball and sent It high into the empty net. In the closing minutes United kept up their command of what had been the poorest game I have seen this season. Final; Sheffield United 2, Everton nil.
Lancashire League
Burnley A 4 Everton A 4
EVERTON RES v BLACKBURN RES
The Liverpool Football Echo and Evening Express- Saturday, November 13, 1965
Everton Res; Nevison; Curwen, Darcy; Glover, Smith, Grant; Shaw, Wallace, Royle, Young, Maher. Blackburn Rovers Res; Cooper; Hall, Halstead (D); Anderson, Holt, Whittle; Mahoney (J), Tomlinson (J), Blore, Holden, Helliwell. Referee; Mr. R. Leech (Manchester)
In the early stages, Everton looked the more dangerous, and only competent defensive measures by Blackburn kept them in check. Rovers gradually settled down. Helliwell and Whittle bringing goodsaves from Nevison, but Everton were not daunted for long and at the eleventh minute took the lead. Maher put across a nice centre from ROYLE. who nipped round full back Hall and gave Cooper no chance. Blackburn were not daunted by this reverse and Nevison had to make two further saves from Holden and Blore. but the Blues weresoon on the attack. YOUNG made it two at 24 minutes, when he found himself unchallenged in front of goal and neatly put the ball clear of Cooper. Blackburn kept fighting and a minute later reduced the arrears through BLORE. The centre forward had taken the ball to the goal-line, lost it, but was in the right position when Tomlinson returned it to head into the net. Rovers were unlucky not toequalise when Tomlinson was tripped from behind when heading for goal, and Blore's free kick just went over the top.
Half-time --Everton Res. 2 Blackburn Rovers Res. 1.
CONFIDENCE SAPPED
Liverpool Daily Post- Monday, November 15, 1965
EVERTON NEED NEW BLOOD IN VITAL ROLES
SHEFFIELD UNITED 2 EVERTON 0
By Michael Charters
The crowd at Bramall Lane announced their own verdict on this drab match when they showed more interest in the half-time scoreboard announcement that Sheffield Wednesday were winning 3-1 at Tottenham than in the happenings on the pitch. Everton have not won at Sheffield for eleven years and it is a sad commentary on their present form that they were not able to do better against a team, who were no more than workmanlike. United have slumped from their top-of-the-table position by losing three games in succession, but were never in danger of not beating Everton, whose displays continued to be most disappointing.
WORKED HARD
They worked hard, but showed a lamentable lack of method and there was so little challenge from the forwards that they were only able to make two decent shots throughout the game-and this against a defence which looked suspect at times. The game was practically devoid of incidents. Dozens of mistakes were made by both teams and the match generally was based disappointingly in midfield with defences in general command, although United always looked the more dangerous and fully deserved their win. They had the best players in Jones, who scored both goals, and Badger, who gave a first-class exhibition at right back. For Everton Rankin did well until he made a mistake which brought United’s second goal near the end and there were sound displays by Brown, deputy for the injured Wilson, Stevens and Harvey, who worked very hard, without getting any worthwhile response from the attack. The couple of hundred Everton supporters behaved themselves impeccably -there was not enough excitement to warm anyone’s blood on this cold day- but after the players had left the pitch a few stood in front of the directors box to chant, “Alex Young.”
LACKING CRAFT
As caretaker-manager Tom Eggleston said recently; “We have not got enough craft up front?” This comment typifies Everton’s forward display. Although Temple and Morrissey switched positions in the second half to give Temple his favourite left wing position, it brought little change in the general pattern of weak finishing and lack of control or style. With Harris not quite at his best, there was no one behind to make a constructive pass and the lesson is that Everton need new blood in the vital chance-making position at inside forward and wing half. The two shots Everton made came from Temple and Scott, but it was most disappointing to see the lack of challenge from Pickering who is completely out of form. For United, who always moved with more purpose than Everton without looking convincing, Jones won them the game as early as the fifteenth minute when he scored a scrappy sort of goal in keeping with the general trend of the game, after a right wing corner.
TEMPLE KNOCKED OUT
Shortly before that Temple had been off for a few minutes after being knocked out in a collision with Hodgkinson but when he came back he did not seem any the worse. Reece, a lively winger for United made a couple of dangerous runs but even these fizzled out through lack of finish and neither Rankin nor Hodgkinson were troubled to any extent. The only incident apart from the two goals, came ten minutes from the end when brown saved a shot from Matthewson on the line and from the rebound Jones hit the post. Shortly after this Jones scored the second goal with a header from a centre by Badger-it was fitting that the two best players should combine to make the game safe for United. Rankin came out of his goal in an attempt to punch away Badger’s cross but missed the ball completely and Jones nodded the ball high into the net. The fact the United brought on substitute Birchenhall for the injured Tony Wagstaffe with only a few minutes left really went unnoticed. By that time the crowd had slumped into an attitude of complete apathy. Everton looked as though their confidence has been sapped by their recent lack of success and urgently need some commanding on-field character to pick them up and restore them. Sheffield United; Hodgkinson; Badger, Mallender; Matthewson, Finnigan; H. Wagstaff, Woodward, Kettleborough, Jones, T. Wagstaff, Reece. Everton; Rankin; Wright, Brown; Stevens, Labone (Captain), Harris; Scott, Harvey, Pickering, Temple, Morrissey, Substitute Husband. Referee Mr. R. Tinkler, Boston. Attendance 16,570.
CENTRAL LEAGUE
The Liverpool Daily Post- Monday, November 15, 1965
EVERTON HAD TO STRUGGLE
EVERTON RES 3 BLACKBURN ROVERS RES 2
Everton Reserves struggled to beat Blackburn Rovers Reserves and if the ever-dangerous Blore had been given more support-he outwitted the home defence on numerous occasions -they might easily have lost this central League game at Goodison Park on Saturday. Everton took the lead through Royle at eleven minutes and got a second goal from the occasionally brilliant Young at twenty-four minutes only to see Blore reduce the deficit a minute later. For the rest of the game there was little between two mediocre teams with the home side having the luck. Royle got the third goal at sixty-nine minutes to make a home win fairly safe, although at eighty-one minutes Blore reduced the lead for Rovers from a penalty.
EVERTON SLUMP IS AT DANGER POINT
The Liverpool Echo and Evening Express- Monday, November 15 1965
By Michael Charters
There will be no easy, comfortable period of convalescence for Everton manager Harry Catterick after his operation. As he returns to full-time duty within the course at the next few days, he is faced with the immediate task at halting the incredible slide of his team which, remember, finished fourth from top of the First Division only last May. But the process of disintegration has set in so rapidly that unless something is done, there can be only one end—a struggle to avoid relegation. I appreciate they have been without West and Gabriel recently through injury but this cannot completely account for the way they have slumped so badly. They have lost method and rhythm and, worst of all, their confidence. They are playing as though they know things are going to go wrong before the ball is kicked. I don't intend to spend much space on describing their match at Sheffield Utd, on Saturday—the future is more important and no useful purpose is served in criticising individuals when the players know better than anyone how poorly they performed. United deservedly won 2-0 because they were more workmanlike than Everton in the most dreary masquerade for a First Division match I've seen for a long time. United did not play well, so you can appreciate how disappointing Everton were. The match was full of elementary mistakes by both sides. Moves broke down before they could remotely resemble the sort of football one expects from top-class professionals. It was dreadful, a disaster of a game. United's centre forward Jones, the one forward to show any class, scored both goals and right back Badger also gave a first-rate display. Everton's biggest weakness was lack of challenge and ideas by the forwards. They went through the motions without any sort of enthusiasm.
DEPRESSING
Time and again a player would hold the ball in midfield looking for someone to pass to. But no one was running off the ball intelligently, and use of the open space seemed to be a mystery to them. Altogether, a depressing afternoon on the drab wastes of Bramall Lane. Afterwards, Tom Eggleston. Everton's first team trainer and coach, who has been in charge of the side during Mr. Catterick's absence. told me: "We are having a run of poor form and results have been disappointing. “I have done my best to chose a successful team from the players available and I am sure they have tried their best, but unfortunately that has not been good enough. Nobody can complain that they have not been given every chance- now changes are inevitable." I have very sympathy for Tom Eggleston, one of the top men in the game at his job. He was thrown in at the deepend in the unfortunate absence of Mr. Catterick and his period of caretaker managership has coincided with a general slump in form by so many of the first team players. In addition, there have been the injuries to Gabriel and West to add to his worries. Everton's immediate problem is to find a team to face one of the finest sides in Europe -the Hungarian Ujpesti Dozsa in the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup-tie at Goodison to-morrow night. Gabriel and Wilson will be back and it is hoped that Gabriel's verve and drive at inside forward will be the biggest single improvement. He has been greatly missed as Everton's inside trio have been devoid of spark without him.
WHAT OF YOUNG?
And what of Alex Young? His non-selection is the issue which has caused Everton supporters recently to unleash thousands of words, in argument and print. Let me make it quite clear that had Young's form in the Central League team been good enough, he would have been brought back to the first team. Quite simply, he has not been showing the sort of form which would indicate he is eager to fight his way back to favour. However, he could be the type of player who needs the big-time atmosphere to bring out his best. He may be given another chance to come back, and certainly Pickering couldnot complain if he in turn was given a dose of Central League football to prove that no player has a permanent claim to a first team place, however badly he is playing. In the immediate future, my suggestions would be: Play Barnett in goal until West has recovered from injury: switch Harvey permanently to the right half position: move Temple to the right wing with Gabriel at inside right; permutate the other two inside forward positions between Pickering, Young and Husband, with Morrissey to the left wing. A suggested team therefore would read: Barnett; Wright, Wilson: Harvey. Labone, Harris; Temple, Gabriel, Pickering Young/Husband, Morrissey. Once young Hurst is fit again, he could be challenging at either wing half or inside forward as well. Then they would need a first class win over a good side to boost their confidence —this, above all, is what they 'want. For the long term. it is obvious that a couple of top-class signings would go a long way towards improving morale and form.
DISTURBED
The Everton directors are greatly disturbed naturally at the way tine team has fallen off. The club has the financial resources to buy anyone available. whatever the price and Mr. Catterick knows that if he makes a move for a new players he believes will strengthen the team, he has the backing of his directors. The problem here is finding the right sort of player who is available, and that is the operative word. What the players would appreciate just now is some encouragement from the supporters—not the sort of abuse that was hurled at them by a few hotheads as they left Bramall Lane on Saturday. They have a major job ,tomorrow night against the I Magyar artists but real support would help them to buckle down to it and show some spirit, fight and method.
YOUNG MAY BE RECALLED BY EVERTON
The Liverpool Echo and Evening Express- Monday November 15, 1965
CUP PANEL OF 13
GABRIEL CHECK
By Leslie Edwards
Alex Young, whose only first team appearance for Everton since September was against Nuremburg on October 12, may be back in the side for to-morrow night's Inter-Cities Fairs Cup-tie against the Hungarians. Ujpuesti Dozsa. at Goodison Park. Along with Jimmy Gabriel and Ray Wilson, Young is named among 13 players from whom the team will be chosen to-morrow. Gabriel is to have a fitness test. The thirteen are: Barnett, Rankin, Wilson, Labone, Harris. Gabriel, Wright, Harvey, Young, Pickering, Temple, Husband and Morrissey. Ujpesti Dozsa, who have a three goals start, will have a 20 minutes outdoor warm-up.
FACILITIES
They have asked for facilities for this and Everton have agreed that they should use the all-weather practice area to the left of the Bullens Road stand. Like other Continental sides, Ujpesti also warm up on hot black coffee. Members of the Everton board entertained the Hungarians to lunch in Liverpool to-day. For the game to-morrow, ground and paddock season-ticket holders can go through their usual turnstiles, tendering special match voucher No. 2 and the appropriate admission money. The club ticket office will be open for the sale of tickets until 7 p.m. to-night and any unsold stand tickets will be available at the turnstiles to-morrow.
YOUTH CUP
Everton, the F.A Youth Cup holders, have been drawn away to Wrexham in the second round of this season’s competition after being exempted until this stage.
VICTORY TO-NIGHT WOULD MAKE GOODISON FANS HAPPIER
Liverpool Daily Post- Tuesday November 16, 1965
EVERTON’S CHANCE OF STOPPING THE SLUMP
ALEX YOUNG IS LIEKLY TO MAKE HIS RETURN
By Jack Lowe
There are a few optimistic among Everton fans who believe their team can pull back that 3-0 deficit against the Hungarian side Ujpesti Dozsa, of Budapest, in the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup second leg at Goodison Park tonight, but even if they don’t the opportunity if there for the side to show they are capable of stopping the slump which has hit them recently. It will need a good show to-night to do that and the majority of Everton supporters will, I feel, be much happier if they see the Hungarians defeated even if the margin is not sufficient to take the Goodison Park men into the next round. Chances are that Alex Young will be back because of the thirteen players named yesterday two-Barnett and Rankin-are goalkeepers and assuming that Gabriel passes a fitness test to-day, the forward choice would seen to rest between him and Husband. I don’t see how Everton can do anything else except bring Young back, but what has been causing a lot of argument among their supporters lately is what position he should fill.
GREATEST SERVICE
Many of them point out that young came to Everton as a centre forward and it is in that role that he rendered his great service to the club especially during the championship year. On the other hand there has been the view that Young was good enough to fill any inside forward position, but those who think he is better at leading the attack say that he has not had much chance there since Pickering was signed. This may be a thought for Everton to consider especially at a stage when they require all the skill and talent they possess to give their supporters the hope that the season may yet provide some reward.
AT LEFT BACK
However Everton will not be naming the side to tackle the Hungarians until later to-day, but what is certain is that Ray Wilson is fit and returns to left back. Much depends on whether Gabriel comes through his test all right, but yesterday the prospects were that he would. Everton announce that ground and paddock season ticket holders can go through their usual turnstiles tendering special match voucher No. 2 and appropriate admission money. Any unsold stand tickets will be available at the turnstiles to-night. Everton (From); Barnett; Rankin, Wright, Wilson, Gabriel, Labone, Harris; Temple, Young, Pickering, Harvey, Husband, Morrissey.
PICKERING IS DROPPED-YOUNG BACK
The Liverpool Echo and Evening Express- Tuesday, November 16, 1965
TEAM CHANGES BY EVERTON
GABRIEL FIT
By Michael Charters
Alex Young is back in the Everton" team tonight—Fred Pickering is dropped. This was the news from the club to-day as caretaker manager Tom Eggleston named his side for the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup-tie against the Hungarian team, Ujpesti Dozsa, at Goodison Park (7.30 p.m.). Young was dropped after the "Derby" game at Anfield on September 25 and has only played in Central League matches since then. Pickering is dropped for the first time since he joined Everton from Blackburn Rovers in March, 1964. for £80.000, a record fee for centre forward in England. Other changes are, as I indicated yesterday. Ray Wilson resumes at left back for Sandy Brown after missing last Saturday's game through injury: Colin Harvey is switched from inside forward to right half in place of, Dennis Stevens: Derek' Temple moves from Inside left to outside right: Jimmy Gabriel fit after injury, is at inside right, and that fine young prospect. Jimmy Husband, is left wing partner to John Morrissey. It is a massive shake-up. but Mr. Eggleston said on Saturday changes were inevitable.
LEADING CLUB
The Hungarian side, leading 3-0 after the first leg in Budapest a fortnight ago, are one of the leading club teams in Europe, but many Everton fans will now give their team a chance of pulling back the deficit with this re-shaped combination. The choice of Young to lead the attack once more will satisfy his admirers, who have been demanding recall for weeks in an attempt to halt Everton's current slump from form. To-night will a personal test for him, but he should benefit from having the thrust and drive of Gabriel , alongside him. EVERTON. Rankin: Wright. Wilson; Harvey, Labone, Harris; Temple, Gabriel, Young. Husband, Morrissey.
A TALL ORDER FOR EVERTON
Liverpool Echo and Evening Express- Tuesday, November 16, 1965
By Leslie Edwards
Everton’s task tonight is to get four goals against Ujpest Dozsa, the from Budapest who have members of the Hungarian national eleven in their side. If Everton were playing well this would be a tall order; in view of their recent record the task is even more formidable. Everything depends, I think, on whether Gabriel and Wilson are fit to play and whether Everton decide to bring back Alex Young. From one or two correspondents’ letters I gather he is not everyone’s cup of tea, but it would be equally true to say that the great majority of Everton fans like him and his play and feel a place should be found for him. Ujpesti Dozsa must be one of the best club sides on the Continent, and I am excluding Inter Milan, Real Madrid and other tip-toppers. Everton have no illusions about the skill of their opponents, who beat them in the first leg tie by 3-0 and were fairly causal, I am told, in the second half when sitting on their long lead. If ever there was an occasion when Everton needed to pull out all the stops it is this. They need a solid victory to-night to restore their supporters’ faith in them but whether they can get the four goals they need is open to doubt. When Everton entertained the Hungarian players to lunch yesterday they seemed a sizeable, likeable lot. I understand that four of their men have been named for the Hungarian national side which meets Tottenham in London later this week. The Ujpesti President, Mr. J. Davies, said he hoped to-night’s would be a nice friendly game! Everton obviously cannot make it as friendly as all that. Southport did themselves a bit of good by inviting the Hungarians to join them at Haig Avenue yesterday in a trial spin. It was intended that the game should last only twenty minutes, but it was prolonged by many minutes-and Ujpesti got their equalising goal only in this “extra time.” Southport I am told, played most impressively.
YOUNG-FOR AND AGAINST
Reader F.G. Murphy, of Parthenon Drive, is one man confident that all will soon be well at Goodison Park. He says; “I find all this criticism of Everton by readers of your column rather unnecessary. With luck and Alex The Great back Everton will soon be back where they belong at the top.”
The ant-Young brigade of whom almost a dozen write to this column under the signature of J. Davies, 417 Woodchurch Road, Prenton, point out that last season Everton, with Young present, won only five of the twenty games played, but without him won 12 of the remaining 22 matches. This may well be so, but there must have been changes other than that of Young during the period so one cannot really assess this player’s value on statistics.
EARLY SPIRIT AND ENTHUSIASM HARRIED HUNGARIANS
Liverpool Daily Post- Wednesday, November 17, 1965
EVERTON WIN LEG, BUT LOSE FAIRS CUP TIE
FINE GOALKEEPING HELPED TO DENY THEM IN FIRST HALF
EVERTON 2 UJPESTI DOZSA 1
Aggregate Everton 2, Ujpesti Dozsa 4
Everton matched the club crumb at comfort that could reasonably have been expected from the second leg of the second round tie of the Inter-Cities fairs Cup competition at Goodison Park last night when they won the leg and lost the tie. For a few exciting minutes after Harris had snatched back a goal in four minutes there seemed exciting possibilities that a revitalised Everton might still put their Hungarian conquerors to the test. On several occasions Everton approached near enough to goals to make everybody less conscious of the bitterest winter’s night this season, but the mirage faded when Lenkei’s goal in 31 minutes meant that the deficit was re-opened to almost impossible proportions. Everton were credited with their second goal seven minutes from the end when Noskn deflected Temple’s shot past Szentmihayi. It was too late to labelled a new incentive, for Everton early spirit and enthusiasm had largely subsided and the Hungarians were firmly entrenched in the role of worthy survivors. At half-time one felt that Everton were most unfortunate not to have narrowed the gap, for several chances came their way and brilliant goalkeeping helped to defy them. A Young header seemed certain to score, but a one handed flick over the bar by the backward leaping goalkeeper denied them reward. A cracking drive from Gabriel flew straight to the goalkeeper when a deviation either way must have crashed into the net from sheer speed. Szentmihalyi was to the fore again to cope with a splendid drive from Harvey, and Gabriel put the ball against a post. The Hungarians too, came near goals without quite succeeding, but on balance it was Everton who were the greater sufferers.
MARKED DIFFERENCE
Still, there had been enough fire and vitality in the Everton approach to suggest as encore to a splendidly-contested first half, but Everton were never allowed to harry Ujpesti to the same extent after the interval. In fact, the difference on class between the two teams became most marked. Everton’s was very much a frenzied, ball chasing desperation against a much more cultured, methodical and talented Hungarian combination. They taught Everton the simple lesson that football is both easier and more effective if the ball is allowed to do the work. Not all the Upjesti combination was 100 per cent, accurate and often enough passes found their way to home players, but they were far and away the more controlled exponents and they were not toying with Everton for one period in the second half that was the impression that was created. I give Everton full marks for the wholehearted way in which they set about their task, and even when goals refused to come their spirit was never that of a side which is so badly down on its luck these days. The Hungarian were hardly as composed defensively as offensively, and in moments of danger did not hesitate to take the alternative of man to ball. Quite clearly this Everton display must have bene far superior to that in Budapest, for while the Hungarians may have been content to some extent to rest on their laurels; it was for much of the time an uneasy composure. Slymosi, the man who did so much of the damage in Budapest with his “banana” kicks, showed us a variation before the game was more than a few minutes old, when he produced a steep dipping ball to land on top of the net. For the rest of the time he was more concerned with a more occasion when he trickled the ball along the ground from a very favourable position.
REAL ARTIST
Many a time centre forward Bene became tangled with his own defence, such a deep lying role did he adopt with Lenkei more or less taking over in the middle, but he was a real artist in the way he distributed the ball and pumped passes where they were most inviting. Sovari, who played throughout the second half with his head bandaged following a first half collision with Young, helped Kaposzta to turn back Everton offensive over and over again. Of course. Everton made it easier for them by pumping the ball into the air as they might have done for Pickering, but as Pickering was not there, it was a mistaken policy. In the early moments when we saw Everton really alive on both wings, with Temple celebrating his return to near normality and Morrissey equally effective on the other flank this was a new and very much more mobile attack. Especially so with Young threatening to make a genuine come-back with clever headers and flicks with the feet. Everton’s hero was Brian Harris. He took it upon himself to lead the side by his example and he did it brilliantly. Never for a moment was he tied to any particular position or responsibility, except to keep driving the team on. He was in the crowded goalmouth when Wilson placed his free kick towards the far post and an immaculate header gave the goalkeeper no chance. This was completely contrary to Hungarian ideas and Rankin saved in thrilling style from Lenkei, before Harris headed a cleverly flighted free kick from Young narrowly wide. It was not only in attack that Harris shone for it was a common event too see him chase two or three opponents and force them to pass. Time without number he broke up raids and must have covered more ground than any player in the match.
LESS AND LESS
When more and more was expected of Young, I am afraid bit contribution became less and less, and the calculated risk Everton took in dethroning their leading scorer was not the success that some people had hoped. Clearly the lesson to be learned here is that Pickering needs nourishment rather than punishment. Without support and prompting of the right type an Everton centre forward these days is on a hiding to nothing, and it is hardly logical to blame the finisher if there is precious little to finish. The pace and fury of the exchanges became too much for the inexperienced Husband, who seems hardly fitted just yet to carry the sort of burden expected of a player in his position. It was not lack of effort that caused Gabriel’s endeavours to lose force of impact. Ujpesti would have been most short-sighted to have let him off the tight rein, and there never seemed the slightest danger of this occurring. Labone was defensively first rate and Wright at least was not debited with the surprising error committed by Wilson which produced the Ujpesti equaliser. It was Kaposzta, the right back who began the move by pushing the ball well forward for Kuharszky and Wilson apparently in the belief that the Hungarian was offside, let him go. The inside forward, who had brought Rankin to the nearside post centred across goal. Bene took a crack at it and missed and it was his great good fortune to deflect it to Lenkei, who was unopposed. His simple tap into the net punctured the bubble of high expectation that had begun to form. I am sure the Hungarians were somewhat taken aback by a much more enterprising and offensively minded Everton than they encountered in Budapest, but by tightening their ranks, after the intervals, they not only held Everton, but put them firmly into the position of second best from a football stand-point. The Hungarians are a top class, quality side. Against less talented foes, Everton’s best might have been good enough. Last might they needed the run of the ball to have produced at least another first half goal before the Hungarian equaliser. Whether or not it was an attempt to re-kindle the Everton flame in the second half, somebody set fire to a sheet of newspaper and, carried by the wind, it found as way almost to raid field before petering out. Everton are out of the Fairs Cup and I am afraid without the consolation of seeing all their experiment pay dividends. Everton; Rankin; Wright, Wilson; Harvey, Labone (Captain), Harris; Temple, Gabriel, Young, Husband, Morrissey. Ujpesti Dozsa; Szentemihalyi; Kaposzta, Csorcias, Sovari, Solymosi, Nosko; Lenkei, Gorocs, Bene, Kuhars, Sizky, Zarnbo. Referee; Mr. L. Van. Ravena (Holland). Attendance; 24,201 (receipts £7,843).
EVERTON’S DASH COULD NOT MATCH THE MAGYARS’ SKILL
The Liverpool Echo and Evening Express- Wednesday, November 17, 1965
By Michael Charters
There were signs, in the first half at Goodison Park last night, of an improved Everton display but it did not go further than that. They played with greater spirit than recently but in the basic arts of the game they were no match for the talented Ujpesti Dolma. Although Everton won 2-1 on the night, the Hungarians went through to the third round of the Inter-Chits Fairs Cup by an aggregate of 4-2, Everton went out of Europe for the season and, perhaps, for several seasons to come until the side is revitalised. It was asking too much altogether for Everton to hope to pull back the three-goal lead that Ujpesti established in Budapest. This is one of the great club teams of Europe—as they demonstrated to the frozen spectators at Goodison. But Everton, spurred on by a splendidly headed goal by Harris after only four minutes, following a well-flighted free kick by Wilson, had the crowd roaring as though there were 44,000 there rather than 24,000. Young, back in the side to the obvious delight of the fans, turned on his considerable artistry, Morrissey dribbled and swerved his way down the left wing like a Magyar himself, there was urgency and purpose wafted into the attack by the service they received from Harris and Harvey. This attacking urge lasted only for some 30 minutes, I fear, because once Ujpesti equalised on the half-hour, there was a marked decline in Everton's play. Before the equaliser, Everton's enthusiasm kept them on top although it was always clear that the skill of the Hungarian team could emerge at any time. They brought the ball so smoothly out of defence and the most marked difference between the teams was in the use of the open space.
TEAM-WORK
A Ujpesti player stroked the ball almost casually, it seemed, away from his intended tackler, knowing that a team-mate would be in the clear ready to receive it. He did it without looking to see if his colleague was there, because he knew he was going to be there. It was team-work of the highest order and Everton could not equal it. Indeed, had Lenkei and Zambo taken advantage of two incredibly rapid strikes in the first couple of minutes, the game would have been over there and then. It was winger Lenkei who scored the equaliser, shortly after Rankin had saved brilliantly from him. The Hungarians struck like lightning after Everton had been drawn upfield for a corner.The ball moved from Gorocs to Kuharszky, who looked offside but wasn't when the pass was made, and this brilliant inside man pulled it back almost from the line to Lenkei., who tapped it into the net.
UNDER PRESSURE
To their great credit, Everton fought hard to take the lead again. Young made a fine header, brilliantly saved. Morrissey shot wide, andGabriel headed against the upright. The Hungarian defence was under pressure but never panicked out of their superbly fluent and fluid style. They showed their danger when a pass by Csordas went arrow-straight down the middle to Gorocs, who left the Everton defence standing but put the ball just wide after draining Rankin out of goal. Gabriel hit a tremendous shot at Czentmihalyi just before half-time, and it appeared that having failed to pull back the Hungarians' lead while they were fresh, with the gale-force wind behind them, Everton did not have the craft or method in attack to create chances afterwards. They were easily contained in the second half by the Hungarians. Young and Gabriel faded completely, obviously lacking the pace to last the game against opponents of this quality. Husband struggled hard but looked what he was—a boy playing among men. Even Morrissey fell off, although it was he and Temple on the wings who presented the most threat to the Hungarians. fleeting though that was. So this much-changed Everton team, after a flattering opening, fell right away and long before the end thousands of spectators, chilled to the bone by the biting wind, were moving out of the ground knowing that the changes had brought' about some improvement but not enough to make an appreciable difference against a team as good as Ujpesti. Everton's best were the half-backs. Labone and Harvey played with great heart and fight, never giving up when others seemed to have done, while Harris showed class and spirit. If some of his drive could have been shifted into the forwards, there might have been a different story. The goal Everton got, towards the end, was lucky because Temple had pulled the ball back low in the general direction of his other forwards when left half Nosko deflected it past his own goalkeeper. Despite Everton's possession of the ball for the majority of the second half, it was the slick way the Hungarians moved into attack which impressed most. This inside forward Kuharszky is worth £75,000 any day of the week, while Gorocs and Lenkei were nearly as brilliant. Centre forward Bene, acting in the deep-lying role, was the starting point of most of their attacks. Centre half Czordas quickly had the measure of Young once the first fine rapture of Young's play had been blunted. He was the kingpin of a grand defence, and there was no apparent weakness in this wen-drilled team.
WORLD CUP TICKET PLANS AT GOODISON
The Liverpool Echo and Evening Express- Wednesday, November 17, 1965
SPECIAL OFFICE
STEADY DEMAND
By Leslie Edwards
The special ticket office Everton F.C. have installed at their ground to deal with applications for the five World Cup games to be played at Goodison Park next summer reports a steady demand from postal and personal applicants. The games to be played at Everton are fixed for: Tuesday, July 12 (7.30); Friday, July 15 (7.30); Tuesday, July 19 (7.30): Saturday. July 23, quarter-final (3.0); Monday. July 25. semi-final (7.30). Block booking of seats for the first four matches at Goodison Park is in progress: all who secure tickets for these matches automatically go into a ballot for tickets for the semi-final match. The Everton office is not at present selling tickets for single matches and in view of the way the block bookings are going they are hopeful that no sale of tickets for single matches will be necessary.
STANDS GRADED
The stands have been graded. Grade one comprises Goodison Road and Bullens Road stands at £8 16s for the first four matches; grade two covers the Gwladys Street stand and the new one at the opposite end which will be completed in time for the World Cup tourney. The block price for these is £4 15s. Paddock charges are £2 12s 6d and ground £1 10s. To all these charges 3s 6d must be added for registered postage of tickets. Up to ten applications for any one grade will be received on receipt of the single 3s 6d (postage charge. No tickets will be issued until next April, but those who apply for tickets will receive speedy acknowledgment of their instructions, so that they are assured of their places at the games. An Everton ticket office official urges people to order their tickets as soon as possible as the earlier the application is received the better the seat. Personal applicants will find the World Cup office at Goodison Park at Gwladys Street near the Bullens Road end.
FULL BACK BELL CENTRE FORWARD AGAINST EVERTON
Liverpool Daily Post- Friday, November 19, 1965
By Horace Yates
While the restart of Alex Young to centre forward against Ujpest Dozsa on Tuesday could hardly be claimed to have been an outstanding success, there are those who would like to have him alongside Pickering again before reaching any firm conclusion. Leeds United, who have had very much the better of the one-season argument with Everton winning both League matches and triumphing at Goodison Park in the F.A. Cup fourth round replay, show courage in improvisation in the absence of their international centre forward Alan Peacock. They bring up left back Willie Bell to lead the attack, and introduce Madeley at left back. Bell missed Leeds’ last game because of brushed ribs, but is now fit again. He has only once previously figured at centre forward, but Evertonians will remember him as the player who scored the only goal of the trouble-strewn Goodison game last season. He scored four goals last season, including one penalty and has netted once this term. Leeds United; Sprake; Reaney, Madeley; Bremner, Charlton, Hunter, Storrier, Lorimer, Bell, Giles, O’Grady, Substitute; Cooper.
LET’S HAVE A GOOD GAME OF FOOTBALL
The Liverpool Echo and Evening Express- Friday, November 19 1965
By Leslie Edwards
When Leeds United last came to Goodison Park there was the father and mother of a schemozzle and at one time there wasn't a player on the pitch! This, of course, was due to the referee sending them all off, temporarily, for a cooling off spell. The following week, at Stamford Bridge, Referee J. Finney, of Hereford, was sent to cover the match against Everton and the world of football was in London to see what happened. Where the Everton v. Leeds game had been a veritable cauldron the match in London was fought in tepid warmth and all went serenely. Perhaps it is as well the Football League have appointed the same Mr. Jim Finney to handle the Everton v. Leeds United match at Goodison Park to-morrow. At least three players wild figured in the match a year ago will be absent this time and the rivalry between the clubs is not nearly so intense. So Mr. Finney's task may not be so onerous, indeed it may prove less onerous than the one he had a few days ago in London—judging a baked beans meal contest. It is up to both teams to forget what was and concentrate their energies on giving the crowd a good game. There is enough trouble in football without these two teams perpetuating old animosities. Mr. Finney tells me he will treat to-morrow's game as any other—firmly, fairly. He had the Leeds United v. Everton game in Yorkshire last season and neither side gave him trouble. There's no reason why he should be given any trouble to-morrow.
Need all the breaks
Everton's 2-1 win against Ujpesti Dozsa broke a sequence of failures, but more is required to convince followers of the club that they have really turned the corner. Leeds even minus Bobby Collins, who seems to be recovering remarkably well, are formidable opposition. Whatever team Everton select will have a job on their hands to win. In the Cup game which Leeds won at Goodison Park a season ago Everton, I thought, were a little luckless. They'll need all the breaks to-morrow to console themselves for two defeats at Goodison Park last season at the hands of their opponents to-morrow.
PICKERING COMES BACK TO LEAD
The Liverpool Echo and Evening Express- Friday November 19, 1965
YOUNG AT INSIDE RIGHT
EVERTON TEAM
By Leslie Edwards
Everton have made forward changes for the match against Leeds United at Goodison Park to-morrow. Gabriel is unfit and Husband, who played on Tuesday against the Hungarians, Ujpesti Dozsa, now appears in the Central League team. Pickering is restored to the centre-forward position with Alex Young at inside-right. Stevens will be inside left. Everton; Rankin; Wright, Wilson; Harvey,Labone, Harris; Temple, Young, Pickering, Stevens, Morrissey.
NO REASON TO FEAR ANOTHER FLARE-UP AT GOODISON
Liverpool Daily Post- Saturday, November 20, 1965
EVERTON FIND ROOM FOR BOTH YOUNG AND PICKERING
STEVENS’ FIRST LEAGUE GAME AT INSIDE FORWARD SINCE 1963-64
By Horace Yates
Just over a year ago Leeds United, then very much the new boys of Division One, figured with Everton in a flare-up which had to be interrupted by the referee to give passions an opportunity to cool down. Subsequently the teams got through three clashes without any undue heat and there is not the slightest reason to fear that the referee to-day. In twelve months the personal of both sides has changed considerably. Absent from the Everton line-up are; Vernon, Gabriel, Brown, and Rees, while Belfitt, Madeley, Collins and Johannesson will not be playing for Leeds. In fact, not one of the Leeds forwards occupies the position he did last November, and only Giles and Storrie survive, but Bell, left back on that occasion, is now centre forward. Is victory beyond an Everton side, whose first half show of spirit against Ujpesti Dozsa on Tuesday, was the most encouraging development for weeks? It is not easy to forecast a triumph, but the possibility of a draw cannot be ruled out.
PEACOCK OUT
If Everton can recover their misplaced stride, they could surprise a Leeds team which, while unbeaten at home have won only two of their seven matches away. Offensively there is only one goal between them, but the holes sometimes revealed in the Everton defence leaves Leeds with a defensive average twice as sound as Everton’s. The Yorkshiremen’s most dangerous raider Peacock has been removed by injury and this allied to the loss of Collins a grievous blow made easier to hear by the way Giles has shown welcome constructive response, leaves them with a pitched up, but still worthy line. From Everton’s point of view the most interesting team development is the pairing of Alex Young at inside right with the restored Pickering at centre-forward. Not since the “derby2 game have they linked up together and much will depend on the way they hit it off. The restoration of Pickering at the first available opportunity is a worthy move. To remove their most lethal marksman was a calculated risk which never looked likely to pay off. Playing together, Young and Pickering produced eleven goals in ten matches, the one goal lead being claimed by the centre-forward. In the absence of Young, Pickering scored four times in seven games. Young must realise that this is his big chance to show that the skills that made him such a hero against Sheffield Wednesday, are still his for reproduction. How much happier everybody would be, except Leeds United of course, if Young were to recapture that glory to-day. If Young can shine against Leeds, he can sparkle against any side, for United match up perfectly to the theory that a half back line in the foundation of greatness in Bremner, Charlton and Hunter they claim to have a trio unsurpassed anywhere. Since September 18 when they lost three goals in a 3-3 draw at filbert Street, none of the seven teams opposing Leeds have registered more than once, and three of them not at all. Denis Stevens turns back the clock to appear at inside left. How many people, I wonder, will recall that not since season 1963-64 when he was an ever-present, has he figured in a League match as an inside forward. Yet in 1963-64 he was there in every game except one. The injury to Jimmy Gabriel, which keeps him out of the team, is a decided blow, for Everton’s inside forward strength these days is not such as to enable them to make light of such misfortune. If they are to make any real impact in League or Cup affairs this season, it would seem that the acquisition of a first class inside forward is a top priority. To realise this, however, is very different from being able to satisfy the lack. Manager Harry Catterick could hardly have returned to responsibilities at a more testing or worrying time, but anyone who really knows him is well aware that complacency has never been one of his failings. The sight of Bremner’s non-stop activity is enough to turn most managers green with envy and his incursions into attack could pose quite a serious threat. He has scored four goals this season and Leeds have also learned to think very highly of Lorimer (six goals) since winning a first team place. Everton; Rankin; Wright, Wilson; Harvey, Labone, Harris; Temple, Young, Pickering, Stevens, Morrissey. Substitute; Scott or Brown. Leeds United; Sprake; Reaney, Madeley; Bremner, Charlton, Hunter; Storrier, Lorimer, Bell, Giles, O’Grady.
SPRAKE CALLS TUNE AS BLUES FIND RHYTHM
The Liverpool Football Echo -Saturday, November 20 1965
EVERTON CONTAINED BY UNITED DEFENCE
EVERTON 0, LEEDS 0
By Michael Charters
Everton; Rankin; Wright, Wilson; Harvey, Labone (captain), Harris; Temple, Young, Pickering, Stevens, Morrissey, Substitute; Brown. Leeds United; Sprake; Reaney, Madeley; Bremner, Charlton, Hunter; Storrier, Lorimer, Bell, Giles, O’Grady, Substitute Cooper. Referee; Mr. J. Finney (Hereford).
Leeds United manager DonRevie was at the game to-day at Goodison—his first match since his operation for appendicitis. Another notable visitor wasformer Everton captain, Bobby Collins, who came on to the pitch using crutches and sat in the visiting trainer's box. The light were on fromthe start on a cold, dull afternoon, and Leeds opened in a style to warm their fans as O'Grady beat Wright in the corner of the box but put a shot only a couple of yards wide. The game had opened inlast, entertaining fashion with both sides attacking in turn,but it wasn't long before there was an " incident "—Bell, who scored the goal from full back which defeated Everton in the corresponding game a year ago, lunged into Labone andflattened him. The referee spoke to the Leeds' player, and a minute later, when Bell hurled himself at Rankin, the referee took Bell's name. Charlton went up for Leeds'first corner kick and headedthe ball down, but it wasHarvey who got it away to safety. The Everton forwards weremoving with pace and determination, and Pickering did well to beat Madeley near the line and bring the ballinside, but Stevens, sliced his first-time shot wide.
BREATHING SPACE
Everton maintained a siegeof the Leeds goal for minutes on end, but Leeds gained breathing space when a shot by Stevens rebounded off Charlton for a corner. Everton maintained this pressure, but could not manage a clear shot at Sprake. Pickering produced one of his favourite right foot shotswhich Sprake gathered low down with some difficulty, and Everton 's display so far had been heartening. Morrissey made an excellent run and was unlucky tosee his shot blocked by a Leeds defender. The same thing happened to Pickering,who beat Charlton beautifully in the air to bring the ball down to his right foot, but Madeley had covered the danger and Pickering’s shot nearly knocked him over. Lorimer came up with Leeds’ first shot, which Rankin saved, and then Charlton incensed the crowd with a fierce body check on Pickering. Leeds were coming more into the game. Their fluent attacking play often gave them a half chance, but the Everton defence with Labone doing well, held them out. Storrier cut inside from the wing and made an angled shot which Rankin just pushed out. The ball ran loose in front of goal, but Wright got there first to clear for a corner.
DRAMATIC SAVE
In their attacking attempts Everton were inclined to bunch up and get in each others way. But Young, however, found an opening for a shot and he hit the ball well from 25 yards, but Sprake clutched the ball at full stretch for a dramatic save. Pickering was the one Everton forward to really challenge the strong Leeds defence. A corner followed one header he made and from it he made a good attempt to score when surrounded by opponents, but Sprake got the ball first. Then Giles, who was filling the Collins role in the Leeds team, made a good run down the middle but shot over from 20 yards with only Rankin to beat. Everton’s principal attacking gambit was to fling the ball high into the middle in the hope that Pickering could get to it. He did on one occasion, but with his hand, and no one missed his deflection of the ball into the net.
BEST CHANCE
A great pass by Madeley to Giles gave Leeds their best chance so far. From the centre. Rankin pushed the ball straight out at Lorimer whose shot hit the goalkeeper on the ground. Then the ball came back to Lorimer, and his second shot was deflected by Wilson on to the crossbar and over the top for a corner. Half-time nil, Leeds United nil
A free kick gimmick by Everton when it was intended to give the ball to Pickering failed because Leeds anticipated it well. Then Leeds came back on to the attack, but there was a good deal of slipshod play by both teams at the moment. A fast centre by Temple was deflected out by Hunter, and the same player got in the way of a shot by Wright. The cover of the Leeds defence was admirable, but the Everton attack showed little method or ingenuity in trying to get a way through. SCRAPPY
The game had become very scrappy and, although Everton had more of the play there was not much finality about any of their moves. There was more danger from a Bremner inspired Leeds attack, from which Labone did well to head the ball away. Temple, with his best work of the match brought the ball along the goal line and turned it back to Stevens. The inside left's shot struck Charlton and bounced to Young, whose shot hit the goalkeeper and Reaneycleared from the goal line. This set up heavy Everton attacks from one of which Wright made the best shot of the game, and Sprake turned the ball away for a corner with a great save.
Temple made an amazing run to bring the ball in from the line parallel to the Leeds penalty box, skipping out of tackles all along the way to finish with a left foot shot which went through Pickering's legs but straight at Sprake. Everton's best move of the game enlivened the crowd. Temple sent Morrissey down the right wing and from the winger's centre Temple madea good low header, whichSprake saved brilliantly near the foot of the post.
LINK WORKS
Everton were now having their best spell of the match. For the first time the twin link of Pickering and Young worked and Leeds were lucky to get away with it as Pickering made his shot. Then Young made a good downward header from a centre by Wilson which Sprake saved, and the Leeds goalkeeper had been very busy in the last 10 minutes. Charlton went up for a free kick taken by Giles, but Rankin punched the ball out straight to O’Grady, whose low shot through a crowd of players just missed the far post. Storrie brought Young down with a foul as bad as Bell’s in the opening minutes and the referee spoke to him before Morrissey took the free-kick. Labone robbed Bremner with the best tackle of the match, just when it looked as though the wing half was going through to shoot. Bremner had been Leeds best player.
STYLE LACKING
Freezing rain was now making conditions very unpleasant and Everton’s spirit as they fought to win this match was very commendable, but their style was rather lacking. Free kicks for each side in rapid succession brought nothing, but Everton dominance this half had been worthy of goal, but Sprake had made the saves which mattered.
Final; Everton nil, Leeds United nil. Official attendance 36,291
DERBY COUNTY RES v EVERTON RES
Liverpool Football Echo and Evening Express- Saturday November 20, 1965
Derby County Res;- Boulton; Cholerton, Ferguson; Young, Rhodes, Hopkinson; Nixon, Jones, Barrowcliffe, Metcalfe, Cleverley. Everton Reserves; Barnett; Curwen, Darcy; Hurst, Smith, Glover; Shaw, Humphries, Royle, Husband, Maher. Referee-Mr. W.S. Castle (Sedgley). Husband combined neatly with Royle in an early Everton raid but the centre forward wasted a good opportunity. Everton took the lead in the sixth minute though an own goal by RHODES. Shaw’s cross came over from the right and Rhodes attempting to pass back to Boulton pushed the ball into the corner of the net. Derby equalised in the 20th minute when BARROWCLIFFE headed in from a corner. Derby were unlucky not to go ahead when a powerful header from Cleverley went just wide and then Barnett brought off a magnificent save from Barrowcliffe. Everton regained the lead in 40 minutes when SHAW hit a volleyed shot from close range after a brilliant forward movement.
Half-time.- Derby County Res 1 Everton 3
For Derby County Reserves Cleverley scored after 80 minutes and Husband for Everton after 70 minutes.
EVERTON B v LIVERPOOL B
The Liverpool Football Echo and Evening Express- Saturday November 20 1965
After 15 minutes Bennett attempting a pass back to the Everton keeper, put the ball into his own goal. McDermott hit the Liverpool bar with a penalty shot. After 42 minutes Long added a further goal for Liverpool. Half-time; Everton B nil, Liverpool B 2
Lancashire League
Everton A 1, Liverpool A 3
Everton B nil, Liverpool B 4
TWO GAMES AND NOT A SINGLE GOAL TO SHOW FOR THEM
Liverpool Daily Post- Monday, November 22, 1965
EVERTON SPIRIT POINT WAY TO BETTER DAYS AHEAD
QUALITY SIGNINGS NEEDED-BUT WHERE ARE THEY?
EVERTON 0 LEEDS UNITED 0
By Horace Yates
Everton have still to gain their first victory over Leeds United since the resumption of First Division competition between the clubs and yet there was a measure of satisfaction in a hard and justly earned point at Goodison Park on Saturday. Compared with some of the Everton performances in recent times this effort could fairly be said to have been moderately encouraging. More than pious hopes are necessary, however, to recreate the more illustrious Everton imagine.A draw against the Yorkshire challengers for League leadership was far worthier than easier disappointments visits of teams like Leicester, Blackpool and Blackburn Rovers at Goodison left behind them.” “I am always happy with a point away from home,” was how Leeds manager Don revie summed up his feelings. In fact one point was the maximum to which Leeds’ achievements entitled them- and if Everton can truly claim equality on the day with one of the most difficult teams in the game to beat, then obviously better things should be in store.
NOT AVAILABLE
If they were able for example, to transplant players of the calibre of Bremner and Blackpool’s Bell into the team, what an immediate transformation there might be! As this link-up is far more likely to take place at Elland Road, the observation is of more academic than practical interest. “Can you tell me where the sort of players we want are available?” asked manager Harry Catterick. And of course, nobody can. Leeds’ team spirit was tremendous -but most agreeably, so was Everton’s. There was still too much hurry and flurry about the Everton advances and a lack of calm, calculated deliberation, to produce a football pattern more in keeping with tradition, although Harvey, for all the crowd’s impatience, was a player with the right ideas. It was hardly his fault that his colleagues were slow to aid him by running into positions where passes might have been more productive. My greatest complaint of the Everton attack was that by their lack of movement. The Pickering-Young twin spearhead was hardly the success that had been hoped for although both could point to some achievement. Two shots in particular from Young emphasized the punch he packs but where was the link-up, the understanding to convert. Pickering’s ascendancy in the first half over Jack Charlton, into something tangible.” I doubt Charlton has experienced a more uncomfortable 45 minutes this season, that Pickering subjected him to on Saturday. Clearly the centre forward was full of admirable intent to prove that whether or not his omission against the Hungarians was justified, he is still far and away the club’s most accomplished centre forward. Possibly the fact that they have grown apart during their prolonged separation may have been the answer to the lack of understanding between Pickering and Young, but clearly there is an urgent need of an improved liaison. Not by any means was this the most thrilling game we are likely to see at Goodison, for too much of each side’s endeavour was cancelled out by a similar tactical approach that produced stalemate. Bell’s early exuberance threatened to disrupt the peace of the afternoon when first he felled Labone and a minute later spread-eagled Rankin. Prompt production of the referee’s notebook (four minutes) was a stern indication that any wayward intention that be given short shrift. The result was a display of legitimate vigour, with no overstepping of boundaries. Labone was the man threatened with the most storm-tossed afternoon, but his complete ascendency over Ball, who still looked like a full back’s despite his centre forward number went far towards disrupting Leeds’ offensive designs.
INSPIRING LABONE
From that early season uncertainty Labone has staged an inspiring recovery. Stevens did not set Goodison aflame on his return to inside forward, but then, that was hardly the intention. His specific task was to ensure that Bremner’s frequent and dangerous attacking incursions were restricted to the minimum and in this specialised demand Stevens was almost completely successful. The other Leeds wing half, Norman Hunter, seldom fails to fill me with admiration of his qualities and if one day soon team manager Alf Ramsey were to be sufficiently enlightened to decide that Moore’s claims to the England left spot are no longer automatic. Hunter must be a leading contender for promotion. Because so much was expected of the Leeds forwards Harris was saddled with a defensive briefing that served Everton well, but left them the poorer for lack of his normal attacking contribution. When Collins fractured his leg in Rome (incidentally he was at Goodison to see the game) many people forecast that the withdrawal of this power behind the Leeds’ throne might send it toppling. In fact they have weathered the storm uncommonly well and Giles has been smothered with praise for the way he has taken over. On this -showing at least Giles is no Collins. How Leeds missed the Collins generalship, the long balls that so dangerously probe the open space and the unerringly pin-pointed kicks to chosen raiders near goal. No, that accuracy has gone from the Leeds’ team! While Sprake had more full-stretch activity to undertake than Rankin especially with drives from Young, Temple and Wright, the line-up in the front of him was impressive. The only danger from their curtaining of the goal seemed in the danger of unsighting the goalkeeper. While Morrissey beat the able Reaney far oftener than most wingers, I remiss in taking so long to encourage Temple to probe the frailties of the comparatively inexperienced Madeley. More danger probably stemmed from Temple’s Crossfield sorties than from any other Everton approach. Once Wright had been forced to an appreciation of O’Grady’s possibilities, he, like Wilson on the other flank, kept the Leeds’ wingers firmly in place. Everton; Rankin; Wright, Wilson; Harvey, Labone (Captain), Harris; Temple, Young, Pickering, Stevens, Morrissey. Leeds United; Sprake; Reaney, Madeley; Bremner, Charlton, Hunter; Storrie, Lorimer, Bell, Giles, O’Grady. Referee; Mr. J. Finney (Hereford) Attendance 36,291.
EVERTON RES WORTHY OF THE POINTS
The Liverpool Daily Post –Monday, November 2, 1965
DERBY RES 2 EVERTON RES 3
Everton Reserves failed to find their usual power and thrust in this Central League game at the Baseball ground on Saturday but they were worthy of both points even if it was only for their determination in thwarting Derby’s late bid for an equaliser. Derby could claim they were unlucky but generally Everton were far stronger in defence and had more idea in attack. An own goal by centre-half Tony Rhodes in the sixth minute put Everton on the road to victory and shaw (40 minutes) and Husband (70 minutes) got the others. Barrowcliffe (20 minutes) and Cleverley (80 minutes) scored for Derby.
HERE’S THE EBST WING HALF-BACK IN BRITAIN
The Liverpool Echo and Evening Express- Monday, November 22 1965
By Leslie Edwards
If Sir Stanley Rous's remedy for riotous football had come twelve months ago the notorious 1964-65 game between Everton and Leeds United would have finished a few minutes before the interval. Fortunately Saturday's corresponding fixture, ably handled by referee Jim Finney, of Hereford, was never in danger of not running its full course, though two incidents in which the Leeds United centre forward Bell, was concerned might well have been the beginnings of serious trouble. It was Bell, a year ago, whose foul on Temple brought the game to boiling-over pitch. Now this one-time full back, pressed into service as leader of the attack, opened with a lunging charge (and not to the shoulders) on Labone and a few minutes later flattened Rankin with the goalkeeper in possession. No wonder Mr. Finney booked him. Despite Bell's protests, it was asking too much of coincidence to believe that both offences were accidental. It seems some Everton loyalists rate this latest performance as vastly better than anything they have done in the past four or five weeks. My assessment is that though they got a point against a good Leeds United team they were nearly always the inferior side and the one most likely to lose. Their main lack, I think , apart from the obvious absence of West and Gabriel, is confidence. Everything they do is done in such a painstaking, pedestrian way. No one seems confident enough to make a quick pass, much less one given the instant the ball arrives. Players seem to want to take the ball all round earth when an attack starts; often the ball arrives back where it started. Sometimes it is lost to the opposition, as well it might be, in the course of its lateral meanderings.
BIGGER, FASTER
On this occasion Leeds were manifestly the bigger, faster team. While Everton thought, and moved, sluggishly, Leeds United stepped in and took possession and the crowd, obviously, didn't like it. Young, I think, wants more time in which to regain the morale he must have lost from a series of droppings. One still senses that the line has " something" when he is in it, but to expect him to revert, successfully, from Central League football and be as good as ever in the course of a couple of matches is asking too much. There is no doubt that Pickering needs a purveyor of the ball and chances. He did better this time, despite Leeds' uncompromising defence, and in time I am sure will hit form again. On the whole a draw, for Everton, was meritorious remembering the greater number of chances the Leeds United attack enjoyed. They had good understanding and were much more penetrating, but they still could not a solitary goal and for that reason alone they fell short of many other lines we have wen this season. Little Bobby Collins, still on crutches but obviously very perky, saw the game from one of the trainer's boxes. He must have ached for the chance to have been on-field to put at least one logical conclusion to Leeds' many wellfound attacks. series of fast moving attacks, the week-end because of a leg, resulting in a Gowans goal. strain . '
PULLS DOUBLE HIS WEIGHT
Leeds may be without their captain, but they have in Bremner, the fiery wing half-back who must be about the best in Britain. He has everything-fire; skill, stamina and tactical know-how. There isn't much of him physically but he pulls more than double his weight. It wasn't his fault Leeds did not clinch it. The Everton crowd, brought up on football fitnesses of the sort Young is always liable to bring off, roared approval of Bremner's virtuosity and though he was guilty of one reckless tackle on Stevens his play in general was without blemish. He was quite outstanding. Harris, at best, might have rivalled him, but this was not a day on which Brian put his imprint on events. Nor was it a day when Harvey could take over from his more senior team-mate. Indeed, there were times when the flow of the game and of Leeds United forwards seemed to pass him all too easily. Just as well Labone facing the rather obvious manoeuvrings of Bell had one of his best days. Wright, on the other hand, played impressively. He kicked away from the vicinity of the line in one of Leeds' early attacks and later went on to the offensive with success on several occasions-not least when Sprake gave way a corner in saving brilliantly from his cross-shot. Everton's possible scoring moments were not many, but Sprake had to fling himself yards and stretch hard to get at one Young delivered with unexpected power and direction. In the first half at least Leeds might well have scored twice-Giles making one blatant miss and Lorimer's deflected shot touching the bar as it sped out of play. Everton did rather better in a second-half in which Leeds had one colossal escape and might well have conceded a goal to Temple after he had made a typically individual cross-field run with the ball figuratively tied to his feet. Everton's emergence from their bleak spell will take time and maybe some more team changes. They have skilful players, but for the moment everything they do is done the hard way. Some better and more intelligent running by players off the ball might be the answer. Too many obvious passes are made with the provider usually standing still as though his day's work is done.
EVERTON YOUTH TIE
Everton’s Youth Cup tie at Wrexham will be on Saturday December 4.
REPLAY TEAM
The Everton team at Blackburn to-morrow in a replayed Lancashire Senior Cup tie; is; Barnett; Brown, Darcy; Hurst, Smith, Glover; Scott, Humphreys, Royle, Husband, Maher.
LANCASHIRE SENIOR CUP
The Liverpool Daily Post- Wednesday, November 24, 1965
EVERTON GAME CALLED OFF
The replayed Lancashire Senior Cup first round game between Blackburn Rovers and Everton was postponed last night because of the waterlogged state of the Ewood Park pitch. The match referee, Mr. D. Pritchard (Blackpool) called the game off in time to stop the Everton party travelling from Goodison. Heavy rain and hail couldn’t get away through a bone hard ground, leaving a lake of water.
EVERTON YOUTH
The Liverpool Daily Post- Friday, November 26, 1965
Everton’s second round Youth cup game with Wrexham will be at the Racecourse on December 4. They oppose the England youth side at Goodison on December 7.
EVERTON AT WEST HAM
The Liverpool Echo and Evening Express- Friday, November 26, 1965
By Leslie Edwards
Everton go to West Ham, where they won 1-0 in the corresponding match last year. Considering West Ham's experience in Continental tournaments this season and last it would seem unlikely that the current Everton will be able to repeat that performance, but their victory against Ujpesti Dozsa followed by the draw against Leeds United may have given them much-needed confidence. It could be that the anxiety of Everton players to do well in front of their own supporters is one reason why they are not succeeding at a time when they have been without at least two players, Gabriel and West, who are among their best. I think Young needs time to recover his confidence. The team's display with Young and Pickering back a week ago was certainly more hopeful, though the side as a whole are still not performing as they should. In the week of the biggest (in a money sense) fight in history it was interesting to get from such an authority on the game as Dom Volante, expert impressions on what went on in Las Vegas. He voted it a "terrible exhibition" and thought Clay could have ,won as early as the fourth it he had really set his mind to it. Dom added: "I did more in my last fight at Madison Square Garden than either Clay or Patterson did in their contest this week—and look at the money they were getting!"
EVERTON MANAGER’S STATEMENT
The Liverpool Echo and Evening express- Friday November 27 1965
DENIAL OVER ASSISTANCE
TEAM NAMED
By Leslie Edwards
Mr. Harry Catterick, the Everton manager, travelled with his team to London to-day for the match at West Ham tomorrow, for which Everton play an unchanged team. He said: " I feel fairly fit after my operation and shall be travelling to all away games from now on. It is wrong to say, as has been said, that I am asking the club to give me some assistance while I am recovering from my illness. " Everton have never contemplated this; nor have they been in touch with Peterborough over the possibility of Gordon Clark, their manager, coming here to act as my assistant. Mr. Holland Hughes, the Everton chairman, has been in touch with Peterborough this morning to assure them that there is no foundation whatever for this rumour." Everton.—Rankin; Wright, Wilson; Harvey, Labone, Harris; Temple, Young, Pickering, Stevens, Morrissey. Substitute Scott.
SAME TEAM
West Ham manager Ron Greenwood has named the team that beat Olympiakos of Greece 4-0 in Wednesday's European Cup Winners' Cup first leg for to-morrow's' game. This means England centre forward Johnny Byrne, who scored one of the goals on Wednesday, makes his first League appearance since October 2. West Ham; Standen; Kirkup, Charles; Bovington, Brown, Moore: Brabrook, Peters, Byrne, Hurst, Sissons.
EVERTON REARRANGED
Everton have rearranged their League match with Manchester United at Old Trafford. The match, postponed on October 2, will now be played on December 15 (7.30).
NOT COMING
Liverpool Daily Post- Saturday, November 27, 1965
GORDON CLARK DENIAL
By Horace Yates
Everton chairman Mr. E. Holland Hughes, spent a busy morning yesterday assuring manager Harry Catterick and Peterborough United of the complete lack of foundation for a suggestion that there had been a move to bring Peterborough manager, Gordon Clark, to Goodison, as assistant to the manager. Not surprisingly temperatures rose. That Mr. Catterick had no knowledge of such a move was no guarantee that one could not have been made and so it was that Mr. Hughes dashed into action to give a guarantee that the story had no substance whatever. Last night Mr. Hughes told me; “I am mystified. There is not a vestige of truth in the report. I am contacting Peterborough to remove any suspicious they may have that the Everton club has tried to contact their present manager. “I want them to know this has not happened.”
BACK AT THE HELM
With Mr. Catterick back at the helm in his first away trip since returning to duty after his operation he has paid tribute to the brave show given by his team against Leeds United last week by leaving it undisturbed for the match at West Ham. Alex Scott becomes substitute and young Darcy completes the party. West ham, experiencing an eventful but not unduly rewarding season, as they struggle draw clear of the worrying zone at the foot of the table, were cheered tremendously by their midweek victory over Olympiakos in the European Cup winners’ Cup competition. This game was important to them also because it marked the return to the first team of centre forward Johnny Byrne, plagued with injury from the start of the season. Although he finished the match limping treatment twice a day on his demand ankle has produced a completely fit report for his return to League football. It is most unlike West Ham to see them debited with 44 goals in only 18 games and only 24 for Sheffield United. Liverpool, Leicester City and Nottingham Forest all put five goals into the West Ham net and even in the last three fixtures they conceded three goals to Burnley and Arsenal and another to Chelsea. Four games have been won, so that quite obviously Everton are not without a chance of gaining some reward for their labours to-day. Most Everton supporters will associate Upton Park with the failure of a recent F.A Cup mission, but on the other side of the picture they can show two victories in the last, three visits.
RELIABLE STEVENS
Everton are equipped to be a problem to West Ham, and the inclusion of Stevens in the forward line may promise limited attacking enterprise but the strengthening he gives the defence is undeniable. So many sides these days, are playing an extra defender with a forward’s number at his back, and as it has proved profitable to them, so may it also help Everton in anxious times of retrenchment. I think it a good thing to admit that Harvey is a wing half and I hope the intention is to allow him to prove that this the position for him. Mr. Catterick’s show of confidence in Alex young sends him to his first away League game since he fell from grace, with so many others in that Anfield debacle. Both sides desperately need a win and if Everton do succeed, the suggestion last week that they are over the hump would be cheerfully underlined. West Ham United; Standen; Kirkup, Charles; Bovington, Brown, Moore, Brabrook, Peters, Byrne, Hurst, Sisson. Everton; Rankin; Wright, Wilson; Harvey, Labone, Harris; Temple, Young, Pickering, Stevens, Morrissey, Substitute; Scott.
SISSONS DOUBLE GIVES A LESSON TO SHOT-SHY BLUES
The Liverpool Football Echo and Evening Express- Saturday November 27 1965
WEST HAM 3 EVERTON 0
By Jack Rowe
West Ham United; Standen; Kirkup, Charles; Bovington, Brown, Moore; Brabrook, Peters, Byrne, Hurst, Sissons, Substitute; Britt. Everton; Rankin; Wright, Wilson; Harvey, Labone (Captain), Harris; Temple, Young, Pickering, Stevens, Morrissey, Substitute; Scott. Referee.- Mr. G.D. Roper (Swaffham Prior, Cambs.). Before the game, three young spectators, one carrying a blue flag, defied a loudspeaker warning not to encroach on the pitch. All three were taken out of the ground by police, and another warning was broadcast that this treatment would, be repeated if any more spectators went on to the pitch. The pitch was tacky, as we saw when Harvey slipped in trying to cut off Moore's pass. But there was no danger because Labone turned the ball back to Rankin. In the next minute theEverton goalkeeper was on hand to take a header from Sissons which bounced awkwardly. Everton got a corner and then a free kick on the right but each time they were easy meet for the West Ham defence. It was soon clear that the quick ball would be the best tactic on this pitch. Young was almost through after a nice dribble, but Moore and Brown him as he tried to get the ball positioned for a shot.
NO CONCERN
Everton are equipped to be a problem to West ham, and the inclusion of
When Temple shot from just outside the penalty area, his left foot attempt caused Standen no concern. From a Temple centre, Pickering chested the ball down, then shot outside as it dropped at his feet, while Morrissey had one good run which was ended only by an excellent tackle by Kirkup. Moore's long passes were always dangerous and it needed a fine interception by Wilson to prevent Brabrook getting clear. In another quick attack a header from Peters was cleared by Wright with Rankin on the ground. Everton were inclined to be a little too delicate in their passing, but so far they were the classier side. West Ham began a spell of pressure which had Everton struggling defensively, and when Brabrook saw Rankin advance in anticipation of a centre, his lob passed only just over. Temple provided relief with another fine run, but his attempt to find Pickering was cut off by Brown; then Morrissey ran the ball out before centering. There was more power from West Ham, and a shot from Peters was saved finely by Rankin, but the game was also having one of two towsy moments
SCRAMBLING
Charles once raced down the left wing and centred to the far post, Brabrook headed the ball down and a scrambling Rankin cleared. In 36 minutes, West Ham went in front when, after Peters had brought the ball to the inside-left position, Byrne took over and from near the line made a centre. Sissons headed the ball up and over Rankin, the ball dropping just under the bar with Wilson making a desperate attempt to keep it out. The referee might have been a little stricter about some hacking by both sides, I thought. Everton's attack was not making much headway against a quick - tackling defence, but they were keeping the ball too close on a pitch not made for it.
Half-time. West Ham 1, Everton nil.
A shot from Sissons, which Rankin dived to save, began the second half. Everton were still keeping it too close, but Young hada chance when Harris swung the ball through. The shot did not come quickly enough, and Kirkup blocked it away for a corner.
SCRAPPY
Much of the play was SCRAPPY, but West Ham were more dangerous. They had a chance when I Byrne put the ball across the goal-face, but Peters was much to slow to get in a shot. Everton were almost on terms twice withina couple of minutes. The first time was when Pickering put in an excellent header from Harris's cross, but Standen pulled the ball down from under the bar. Then the centre forward hooked Stevens's headed pass yards over from about six yards out. Standen and Brown were so close to Pickering that he had to have a first-time go. Everton were now showing more drive, and there was one beautiful pass from Young for Temple. The winger answered it with a shot which Standen saved while seconds later, Young brilliantly tricked Kirkup and then saw his drive rebound off Brown.
INACCURATE
Although Everton were shaping with more purpose, Peters ruined two chances for West Ham because of his inaccurate shooting. But he brought a moment of excitement with a shot taken on the run which Rankin turned over the bar with one hand. Labone and Harvey were getting through a lot of work in the Everton defence, with Harvey acting as a second counter to Byrne, who was getting few chances to show his shooting power. West Ham went further in front in the 82nd minute, though Everton were justified in claiming that Kirkup handled in robbing Pickering before sending the ball upfield to Brabrook, whose centre was headed on to Sissons. His left-foot shot went into the far corner of the net. Harris got in one header which Standen saved excellently, but, apart from a spell early in this half. Everton had not looked like saving the game. Two minutes from the end,Brabrook headed a magnificent goal from a centre by Sisson - probably the best feat of a poor match. Final.— West Ham United 3 Everton 0
BLACKPOOL B v VERTON B
The Liverpool Football Echo- and Evening Express- Saturday, November 27, 1965
In a high wind scoring chances were few, but after 40 minutes Fraser put Everton one up and Prindle increased the lead after Yaager had hit the bar. Half-time Blackpool B nil, Everton B 2.
Lancashire League
Blackpool A 3, Everton A 3
Blackpool B nil, Everton B 3
EVERTON RES v BLACKPOOL RES
The Liverpool Football Echo and Evening Express- Saturday November 27 1965
Everton Res; Barnett; Curwen, Brown (A); Hurst, Smith, Glover; Shaw, Humphreys, Royle, Husband, Maher. Blackpool Res;- Taylor; Hughes, Craven; Dean, Conway, Fisher; Brown, Robinson, Waddell, Loyden, Parry. Referee; Mr. J. Whittaker (Bacup).
Blackpool went straight into the attack and Barnett had to make two quick saves from Fisher and Waddell. Little was seen of the Everton attack in the first 20 minutes except for one drive by Humphreys, which just scraped the top of the bar. Everton were lucky not to go behind when Loyden hit the post with a tremendous shot. A bit of needle was developing in the game and the referee had to speak to Hurst and Loyden when they had a bit of a scuffle. Against the run of play. Everton nearly scored when Taylor made a brilliant save. Shaw put the ball across to Maher who put it back slightly for Humphreys running in to let drive. His shot, going into the corner, was just pushed round the post by Taylor. The goalkeeper had another good shot from Humphreys to save. Everton could consider themselves lucky to be on equal terms at the interval. Half-time.—Everton Res nil, Blackpool Res nil.
NO-ONE TO INSPIRE
Liverpool Daily Post- Monday, November 29, 1965
EVERTON ARE NOT GETTING THE BREAKS
WEST HAM 3 EVERTON 0
By Jack Rowe
There were two unfortunate moments for Everton at Upton Park on Saturday. The first was early in the second half when Pickering rose to a long job from Harris and made a header, which was flashing into the top of the net until the goalkeeper Standon leapt sideways to make one of the game’s best saves. A goal would have put them level and as they were playing as well as they were playing as well then as at any time during the match it might have done more, especially as West ham were showing signs of being happy enough to settle for their slender lead.
HANDLING MISSED
Then, in the eighty-second minute, full back Kirkup got away with a clear handling offence in hooking the ball away from Pickering in the centre circle and from his pass Brabrook ran on to make a centre, which was headed out to outside left Sissons and a first time left foot shot on the volley put West Ham two up and pretty well recovered all their fears. Everton’s contention, and rightly was that this goal removed the chance of them saving a point but at that time I must confess that the hope they had generated earlier had then, for me disappeared. The third West Ham goal came with two minutes left when Brabrook made a great header into the top corner of the net from a centre by Sissons. It was a fine goal, but it helped to make the score-line unreal because on this display West Ham were never three goals better than their opponents. They just about deserved to be in front at half-time by a goal from Sissons, also a header from a cross by Byrne but in this case the scorer was lucky in that Rankin had come too far out to goal, so that his effort looped over the goalkeeper and dropped just under the bar. If West Ham had finished that goal ahead it would have been a much more truer reflection of how a match, which never gave me real satisfaction, went.
FINESSE WITHOUT DRIVE
It was played on a sticky pitch, which never helps close ball playing; and while I give credit to Everton for spells in which their football had the better class, it always seemed to me to be finesse without drive and force. They started so well that in the first ten or fifteen minutes I thought they were going to deliver something. The ball was moved sweetly, but by half-time the more sweeping methods of West Ham had given them the attacking edge. Everton next potent period was the twenty minutes after half time. Then I did have hope that they could pull the game back. They were worrying this parked West Ham defence without quite conquering it. It would be easy to blame Pickering for missing a chance from the six yards line when he put the ball almost over the stand, but his difficulties were immense, particularly as Standen and Brown were blocking the direct route. Still, it was a chance and it came at a moment when Everton so desperately when Everton so desperately needed a goal. What Everton also needed then was someone with the ability to inspire and drive. Pity was that the man who might have done it, Harris, did not have one of his best games. He could not find the surge and with Stevens also finding difficulty in pin-pointing the passes there were few occasions when we had real penetration.
NOT CONVINCING
Everton had more of the play in the second half without being really convincing. There was plenty of effort and I can sympathise with the view that Kirkup’s handling escape sobbed them of the chance, remote though it seemed of getting a goal which would have given them a point. This thought was not the only time referee Roper was at fault. For a time in the first half I feared the match was going to get completely out of hand. There was hacking and kicking by players of both sides with the ball nowhere near and not once did Mr. Roper do more than wave the players away. I thought it called for much more censure and the fact that we had none of it, by comparison at least, in the second half was due to the good sense of the players. One of Everton’s problems is the need for a regeneration of confidence. They tried hard enough in this game, which never reached any high standard, and it is true in some respects they are not getting the breaks. How they are going to get that confidence is another matter. A couple of good wins might do it, but the more one sees of them, the one appreciates what a tremendous blow it was when they lost Tony Kay.
MAGNIFICENT HARVEY
The players, I thought stood out were Harvey and Labone. Harvey’s covering was magnificent and he certainly prevented Byrne from producing his scoring menace, while Labone had a strong day in the air. All the Everton players tried hard enough with Young doing a lot of foraging. A trouble was the inability of Morrissey and Temple to beat the full backs, but Temple was always closely marked. West Ham looked nothing like the side which won the European cup Winners’ Cup last season. They were flattered, but always struck me as being the more likely to make a defensive breach, probably because of their more liberal use of the long ball. Moore was the best half back, without ever imposing himself on the game, and outside left Sissons was the best forward. He looked more capable of getting goals as he did in this case, than many other wingers I have seen. West ham; Standen; Kickup, Charles; Bovington, Brown, Moore; Brabrook, Peters, Byrne, Hurst, Sissons. Everton; Rankin; Wright, Wilson; Harvey, Labone (Captain), Harris; Temple, Young, Pickering, Stevens, Morrissey. Referee; Mr. G.D. Roper (Swaffham Prior, Cambridgeshire) Attendance 21,920.
CENTRAL LEAGUE
Liverpool Daily Post- Monday, November 29 1965
EVERTON RES 1 BLACKPOOL RES 1
If Blackpool Reserves had taken some of the chances they got in the first half Everton Reserves would never have managed to save a point with their late rally at Goodison Park. Everton could find little rhythm early on and allowed Blackpool to dictate the speed of play. It was only after the visitors had scored through Waddell at the 46th minute that the home attack started to click Husband and Humphreys forcing Taylor to make some brilliant saves. Blackpool lost their hard-working hard-tackling Loyden after sixty minutes with a leg injury and this gave Everton the edge, but it was not until the 77th minute that Maher headed in a Crossfield pass from Shaw to equalise. They kept up the pressure to the end, but luck was not with them, the ball being kicked off the goal line twice.
EVERTON HAD TOO MUCH FINESSE AND NOT ENOUGH DRIVE
The Liverpool Echo and Evening Express- Monday, November 29 1965
By Jack Rowe
It will be small consolation to Everton and their followers to know that they were not three goals worse thanWest Ham at Upton Park on Saturday because the real sting is that they were beaten by a side which is nothing like asgood as it was last season or the season before. In a match, which was generally of a standard one does not expect fromFirst Division teams there were probably only two spellswhen the Goodison Park men looked like achieving anything, early in the first half and for about 15 minutes after the interval.True, the pitch, tacky andslippery, was not particularlyhelpful to good football buthis one of Everton's failures wasthat there was too muchfinesse and not enough drive. This was all very well as long as the players were able to make the passes with accuracy. But so many of them failed in this respect that the close-passing tactics were made for a quick tackling West Ham defence. Neither were West Ham a lot better in their passing but at least they used the long ball more frequently and it was this which enabled them to take on the look of a side more likely to create an opening. However, for long spells the match had little to provide excitement of thrill for the spectators and there were some, no doubt, who probably thought that three youngsters who were taken out of the ground before the game started because they encroached onto the pitch in defiance of a loudspeaker, warning, did not miss much.
DELICATE PASSES
I thought Everton were going to show us something in the first 10 minutes. They looked the classier side and the ball was moved fluently.There were two shots from Pickering and a couple of delicate passes from Young, but it was not sustained. The longer the first half went the more certain it seemed that if anyone was going to score it would be West Ham. The Everton defence had one or two nasty moments before West Ham did take the lead in 36 minutes through left winger Sissons, whose header from a Byrne cross went over Rankin and just under the bar into the farside of the net.
PICKERING'S MISS
When the second half started Everton again gave some hope that they could get on terms with Pickering having a fine header saved by Standen and then shooting over from six yards out. A miss which could be excused by the fact that the ball bounced badly for him and he was under challenge from Standen and Brown. But slowly Everton lost even this threat and although they can say that West Ham's second goal was tainted by a handling offence I think we had reached the stage then that if the Goodison Park side had scored it would have been something of a surprise. West Ham made sure of victory in the 82nd minute when Kirkup clearly handled the ball in stopping Pickering.From his pass Brabrook centred and when the ball was headed on to him by Peters, Sissons struck it on the volley, into the net. Six minutes later West Ham got theirthird, the best move in the game, ending with Sissons centering from near the flag, and Brabrook making a grand header into the top corner of the net.
TOO MANY MISTAKES
Labone and Harvey were the pick of the Everton side, with Harvey moving behind the centre half to make certain that Byrne could not develop a consistent threat, but there were far too many mistakes in passing and control by the other Everton players. Neither Stevens nor Harris could find a consistent level for their passing and Young, who had the occasional flash, was also bothered in finding the target for his distribution. Pickering tried hard enough but is not getting the right kind of support and neither Temple nor Morrissey could beat the full backs to the point that they could provide real menace to the West Ham defence. This was far from being a healthy performance by Everton who could not lift themselves to a height which ever made them look likely candidates for their second away victory of the season. West Ham would be thankful for the win because it eased their position in the table but they were not a good side and even Bobby Moore did not stamp himself on the game to an extent which made him outstanding. Sissons was their most dangerous attacker, and he took his goals well but if Peters had been on anything like shooting form he might also have got a couple.
A BUDAPEST ‘BLAST’ FOR EVERTON
The Liverpool Echo and Evening express- Tuesday, November 30 1965
By Leslie Edwards
It never rains but what it pours—Everton, at least, know the truth of that saying. Without some of their best players, through injury: without their manager for weeks through illness and now comes a blast from the London Press with an unexpectedly fierce delayed -act one from Budapest for good measure. They have the answer to these allegations, but first let me quote the leading sporting newspaper of Hungary, Nesport, and its bouquet for British girl athletes and brick-bats for Everton. Their writer says: "We have read the criticisms concerning the conduct of the Everton football club during the recent match with Budapest and we have had cause to doubt whether the term 'fair play' originated in Britain. We felt inclined to believe that the tradition of fair play was a myth. However, in connection with another sporting event, concerning British gymnasts, we have seen that our misgivings were not altogether justified. "The facts are these: during the warm-up exercises preceding the final women's event. Margit Orozi, of Hungary, was injured and was unable to continue. The captain of the British team realised that Hungary would suffer an undeserved defeat because of this accident and withdrew one of the British girls so that the scores of two girls should be registered for each side and, therefore, the result would be based on an equal number of competitors "This action was received with tumultuous applause and, as so many have since commented, such sportsmanship, and not the Everton team's behaviour, truly represented the British tradition of fair play."
Complete surprise
News of this adverse report on Everton came to me from a schoolmaster whose pupils, he says, are my readers. The reaction of Tom Eggleston, the Everton trainer and caretaker manager at the time of the first Ujpesti Dozsa match, was one of complete surprise. He said: " So far as we were concerned, this was not a match much different from any others. They gave away more free-kicks than we did. It was a good game, and I told the Hungarians afterwards that they fully deserved their victory and had played excellently. We were fairly and squarely beaten and our team certainly did not try to be nasty about it. Perhaps the Hungarians like our ladies better than our men! Football is a contact sport; gymnastics is not." Of the West Ham match on Saturday, the first half of which was reported to be altogether too contentious, Mr. Eggleston says: "There was a lot of hard play and hard tackling, but the condition of the ground led to some fouls. It was so treacherous players committed to the tackle just could not pull out of it. I cannot understand why we should get such an adverse report." Part of Everton's trouble, of course, is that they must compete at the moment with the finest, most successful team in the land, their neighbours. But when one looks at Everton's League placements since 1960-61, their record is remarkably consistent and about as good, one imagines, as 'anyone else's: 60-61, fifth; 61-62, fourth; 62-63, champions; 63-64, third; 64-65, fourth. This compares favourably with their positions from the war years onwards (10th, 13th, 18th, 18th, relegated, 7th, 16th, 2nd (promoted). 11th, 15th, 14th, 15th, 14th, 14th), but, unhappily, most fans these days want more.
November 1965