Everton Independent Research Data

 

EVERTON 4 BRADFORD CITY 2
February 2 nd 1931. Liverpool Post and Mercury
The Grip Tightens
Everton Prevail in Strong Finish
Bradford City Mastered after Rally
Everton strengthened that grip on the League leadership when they beat Bradford City 4-2 under conditions that could hardly have been worse. The ground had been rendered particularly soft on top, and was quickly churned up into a sea of mud and water. That play was so good was a tribute to the stamina and skill of the players, and Everton came though the feat with credit. Their period in the second division has involved a variety of experiences, and under the exceptionally difficult conditions of Saturday they beat a typical Second Division side. It was a grim vigorous non-stop type of game yet there were times when play reached a fairly good standard.
Direct Methods.
Bradford are a side that trouble little about fitness. They employ direct methods without frills. Occasionally vigour overreaches disorganation, and more than once the referee cautioned players, on the Yorkshire side. Everton had much the better of the first half, and their two goals lead at the interval was justified. Then followed a Yorkshire revive, and goals by Hallows at fifty minutes and Peel at sixty minutes equalised those scored in the first half, by Dean and McClure. Hereabouts Bradford produced their best work and play was fairly even. Both sides strove gamely for the lead, and for a time the issue hung in the balance with many narrow escapes. At seventy-one minutes, however, Dunn but Everton ahead again, and a fourth goal by Gee two minutes from the end gave Everton a win they well deserved. They never made the mistake of holding the ball too long, and much of their passing was very accurate, considering the state of the ground. Bradford too, made few mistakes, although Everton superior skill turned the scale.
Cook's Display.
There was no better back on the field than Cresswell. He was cool, and confident under very trying conditions, while Cook who made his first appearance in the senior side did well, especially in the first half. The Everton half-backs were a sound and solid line. McClure was a great worker, always where the fight was hardest, he was effective in both defence and attack, while Gee and Thomson were little inferior. Dean had a good first half when he made some capital openings, although he was not so prominent afterwards. Johnson was the pick of the line. His passes were well timed, and he frequently drew the Bradford defence very skillfully. Dunn left the field injured a few minutes before the end. He played a useful part in Everton's attack with, however, being as elusive as he can be. Bradford were well served by Peachy, Keetley, Peel, and Scriven . Teams;- Everton; - Coggins, goal; Cook and Cresswell, backs; McClure, Gee, and Thomson, half-backs; Critchley, Dunn, Dean (captain), Johnson, and Stein, forwards. Bradford City; - Gill, goal; Patridge and Bicknell, backs; Moore, Preachy and Bauld, half-backs; Cochrane, Keetley, Hallows, Peel and Scriven forwards.

SHEFFIELD UNITED RESERVES 4 EVERTON RESERVES 3
February 2 nd 1931. Liverpool Post and Mercury
Central League (Game 24)
Everton were a little unfortunate in losing by the odd goal of seven to Sheffield United at Bramell-lane. The winners, played clever football, and but for some indifferent finishing in the first half might easily have won. The defence was good, Sagar making some clever saves, and the forwards combined smartly, both wingers being dangerous with Martin and Webster clever inside forwards. Spicer (2), one penalty, Raynor, and Harrison scored Sheffield's goals, Roberts, Martin, and Webster repying.

EVERTON’S LATEST
Liverpool Echo - Monday 02 February 1931
By Stork
Everton delighted me, then annoyed me, on Saturday, for after a beautiful exhibition of football on a  ground which did not lend itself to science, they went " dead cold " for a spell, and allowed  very ordinary team like Bradford City to snap two goals—two goals which could  have been saved if Everton had continued  as they had started.  I am fully aware that it must take a lot out of a man to plod the Goodison turf at top speed for ninety minutes, but after their “siesta" Everton came again, which brought the belief that they were content with their two goals lead, and had Bradford City where they wanted them any old time. They nearly misjudged their foe, for when they tried to get going again they found the Bradford City defenders unwilling to surrender a point, which they could never have expected to take, fudged on the first half.  The conditions at Goodison were terrible. On top of the usual mud patch there was a covering of wet snow; yet, here was Everton simply walking their way through the Bradford ranks by methods which prove the versatility of the present Everton. Their passing  was simply magnificent, for don't forget  that the ball had to be hit mighty hard  to send it ally distance, but Everton  made few miss-passes in the first half, and  Bradford City became a defensive side.  There were times when questionable tactics were brought into being to stop the Everton attacks, and I have never seen a more emphatic case for a penalty than when Critchley was deliberately pushed in the back well inside the box. 
DANGEROUS 
A word or two early on by the referee might have quelled the fouling business, but he let it go on all too long instead of getting at the root of it straightaway.  He had to have a "chat” with several Bradford men before the finish. All the blame cannot be levelled at Bradford, for McClure was guilty of a show of fists, and a nasty foul on Peachy, which, fortunately for him, went unseen.  Everton seemed to fight shy of a close tackle, and they had some reason for so doing, for there was vigour about the Bradford defence which at times bordered on the dangerous. Still, Everton went on to win, but they had to fight hard to bring it about, and once again it was late on when they scored the winning goals. It is said that a late on leading goal is the best time to get one. That may be so, but there will come a time when it cannot be accomplished.  What then? One of Bradford's goals was the direct result of a debatable corner kick. To my mind, it was a goal kick. Cresswell was of the same opinion, but the referee was against us both, and Peel was able to nod the goal which set Everton the task of starting all over again. It was a heavy task then, for Bradford had more belief in themselves than was the case when Everton were continually pushing them back on to their fortress, and holding up any occasional sally with consummate ease.  Bradford missed a great chance of drawing first blood when Hallows failed with an open goal in the first five minutes, and some say that Dean’s drive was only made into a goal through the ball touching a defender. Nothing of the sort. 

EVERTON CALL THE BLUFF' OF BRADFORD
February 2 nd 1931, Evening Express
Craft Triumphs over Force.
4 Men Cautioned.
Cook impresses on his Debut
By the Pilot.
Craft overcame force in Everton's 20 th League victory of the season on Saturday, when they defeated Bradford City by four goals to two at Goodison park and, incidentally, gave themselves a clear lead of eight points. There was a period, however, when it seemed that the Blues would succumb to the spoiling tactics of the City. Buffered and rattled, the Everton players seemed to forget what they knew about real football, and almost descended to the "play the man and not the ball," style adopted by the City. The result was that Bradford levelled the scores. The final issue might have been disastrous to the Blues, had they not "called the bluff" of Bradford and quickly returned to their usual incisive, scientific methods. During the game the referee had to make no fewer than four cautions –all to Bradford men. Bauld was cautioned twice and Moore and Blacknell once each. In the opening half Everton were completely the masters. The City were out-generalled in all departments, and the Blues had a two goal lead at the interval. Then came Everton's lapse and the City equalised the scores. It needed the throughful manceuvre of Johnson and Thomson to pull the Blues out of the depts of low-grade football, but once they began to play correct football again they regained the two goals advantage, leaving the City to flounder. Everton were not seen at their best, but this I attribute mainly to the mud and the unceremonious tactics of the City. The Blues treated us to some splendid football in the first half. They displayed foresight and skill. Had it not been for Gill, who by the way, was the City goalkeeper, and not Sherlaw, as stated in some other papers, but not the Football Express, I think they would have scored more goals in the first half.
Cook's Debut.
Johnson was the best forward on the field –a man who passed at the right moment to the right spot, and who could discriminate between a shot or quick pass. Dean was a hard worker. He always made a fight of it if there was the slightest chance of getting the ball and he was unselfish and discerning in his leadership. Critchley, Stein, Thomson and Gee were also prominent. Cook has no reason to be disappointed at his debut at full back, though he will be the first to admit that Cresswell's guidance and invaluable support helped him considerably. Cresswell sponsored Cook and yet was able to discharge his own work with fault. Cook used the ball excellently with both feet and wisely adopted the gentle slip through to the half-backs, instead of taking chances with heavy kicking. Coggins, in goal, was safe with his fielding and anticipation perfect. The City had a brilliant centre-half in Peachey. Partridge and Bicknell were defenders of the intrude type who did not use the ball well, but Gill was a fine goalkeeper.
Sports Pie
•  Everton still lead the way in the Football League as highest scorers. They have scored 87 goals, and Aston Villa (84) and Tranmere Rovers (82) are the only clubs who have also touched the eighty mark.
•  Tottenham Hotspur have made inquires for Harold Houghton the ex- Exeter City and former Everton inside left.
•  It is anticipated that more than £3,000 will be spent by Everton in the close season on returfing Goodison Park.

CAN EVERTON DO IT
February 3 rd 1931. Liverpool Post and Mercury
By John Peel
As a consequence of the continued point –gathering; both at home and away, the question has raised whether Everton can break the record number of points, gained in one season by any club in the Football league. This record is held by Tottenham Hotspur, who won the second division championship in 1919-20, with 70 points from a possible 84, their record reading Play 42; Won 32; Lost 4; Draw 6; For 102; against 32; Points 70. To date Everton have obtained 44 points from twenty-seven games, and they have fifteen games to play. Seven home, and eight away. It will be seen therefore, that Everton, would have to win thirteen of these games to equal the "Spurs" record. So that the task is a tremendous one, in any case the Goodison Park side should certainly break their own record number of points, which is 53, this total being established in their championship season of 1927-28. Appended is a list of the clubs holding the points record for the Division.
Division One 1919-20 West Brom 60 points
Division One 1921-22 Liverpool 60 points
Division One 1929-30 Sheffield Wed 60 points
Division Two 1919-20 Tottenham Hotspur 70 points
Division Three (North) 1929-30 Port Vale 67 points
Division Three (South) Plymouth Argyle 68 points

GRIMSBY’S OUTLOOK ON CUP-TIE AT GOODISON 
Liverpool Echo - Tuesday 03 February 1931
Everton's Minors Due For Promotion To Majors 
Bee’s Notes
Grimsby Town, who appear at Goodison Park in the next round of the English Cup, came on the field more or less in disgrace after their Arsenal defeat, but raised the hopes of their followers once more by showing a welcome return of something of their old form in their match with Manchester United. Thus it would seem that the opinion expressed by Jock Priestley, the captain of the Town, that it was his belief that the tide had turned once more in favor of the Town, who would make good to the end of the season, contained more than a crumb of truth. For the Town supporters it was indeed a welcome return, for, apart from hopes that lie in the Cup, there is the future of the League to think about, and it would be no idle suggestion to say that among those who regretted the palming of Grimsby Town out of the premier League would be many enthusiastic followers of the game.  Last Saturday's match, writes a Grimsby correspondent, was sufficient to show that when occasion demands the Team can rise to it. True there were changes in all departments,  but these, though only decided upon  after the catastrophe of last Wednesday,  served to strengthen the side very  effectively, and if the Town can only  play like that next Saturday week  Everton will have to be all out. A feature of the match against Manchester United was the splendid marksmanship of the attack, and although this might not be indicated in a 2-1 victory, the Manchester team had to thank Steward, their goalkeeper, for keeping down the score. The team was: Read (goal); Wilson and Jacobson (backs); Hall, Priestley, and Buck (half-backs); Prior, Best all, Coleman, Cooper, and Marshall (forwards).  This team, unless accident should intervals, will in all probability line up at Goodison Park.
FROM CENTRE TO GOAL 
Read, the goalkeeper, has been with Grimsby since 1927, joining the club at the beginning of the 1927.8 season.  During the same year he had visited Blundell Park as custodian of Stockport County Reserves and on that occasion favourably impressed the Town directors.  As a boy he was a centre forward and helped his school to win the championship of the West Bromwich Schools League. Later he followed his father's footsteps and became a goalkeeper.  Read is often spoken of by critics as one of the foremost goalkeepers of the country, but his one failing is attempting the theatrical. The full backs. Wilson and Jacobson, are a partnership which has been in being for some time until a few weeks ago when Wilson was hurt in a match. Wilson is a local product, and is known amongst the club supporters as Grimsby’s first utility man, having served in the forward line, the half-back line, and the backs. As a boy he captained the Grimsby Boys’ side, and on leaving school was looked after by Cleethorpes Town, the local nursery for Grimsby players. He has been with the Town close upon eight years, and helped the Town to win the championship of the Northern Section.  His partner, Jacobson, celebrated his benefit on Saturday last, and in honour of the occasion he captained the side.  When he was spotted by Grimsby he was playing for Blyth Spartans, a famous nursery of players. He then had the reputation of being the best full-back in the North Eastern League.  He is a fearless and an accurate tackler, and kick, well with either foot. Just before Grimsby climbed into the First Division again they were inquiring of a First Division club about an inside forward, and they were told they could have any raider they liked who was on their books in exchange for Jacobson.  Hall, the left-half, is another local product, who, previous to being put into the first team, rendered yeoman service for the reserves. He is a tearless defender and knows how to hoot a ball, and is, moreover, very quick. Priestley is a Scotsman, and was playing for Chelsea when Grimsby secured his transfer in May, 1928. Until recently he has played as a wing half, but when necessity arose and he was placed in the centre-half position, he was found to suit the position quite effectively.  He has captained the side for some time past.  Buck, who came to Grimsby from Leeds United, is a valuable servant, and has got the side out of many a fix by his clever work on several occasions.  His first match was at Blundell Park, on Christmas Day a year ago in a memorable match with Leicester City.
THE PRIOR CLAIM 
Prior, who came to Grimsby from Sunderland during the troublous times of 1927, is a North-country man. After schoolboy football he joined Blyth Spartans, but was not with them long before he was induced to join Sunderland.  Whilst with them he got valuable First Division knowledge. He is a fast and clever winger sod can get in centers which should be productive for a smart inside man.  Bestsll is probably one of the smallest men in football, but what he lacks in he makes up for in tricky footwork, which often makes a tall half back look “smaller" than he. He learned his football amongst minor clubs in the Sheffield district, his first important club being Rotherham United, which he joined in 1924-25. He was transferred to Grimsby in 1926. Ever a schemer, he gets through some hard work.  Coleman, who succeeded Joe Robson as leader of the Grimsby attack, is a native of Hucknall. It was while with Hucknall Church F.C. he was given a trial by Nottingham Forest, but it was Halifax Town who gave him his first professional engagement when he was  ' eighteen years of age. He spent two years at Halifax before coming to Grimsby. 
TEACHER 
Joe Cooper, the inside right, indulges in football as a recreation and not a profession, for he is a school teacher in Grimsby .  He came to Grimsby from Notts County, with whom he had experience of First Division football. Prior to that he had experience with Chesterfield for two years. Cooper is another player with plenty of tricks, and a wet ground sees him in his element. William F. Marshall, or " Billy " Marshall, hails from Birmingham.  He began his football in schoolboy days, and as a youth played for a Worksop eleven, Chesterfield then secured his services, and he was with them for two years before signing on for Grimsby. That was nearly eight years ago, and all the time he has given remarkably consistent service, missing few games. 
EVERTON RES MID-WEEK GAME 
It is not often one has a chance to see Everton Reserve, as they do not favour the Mid-week Central League games. To-morrow they tackle a set of young fellows, Bury Reserve, whom we met when we were going up to Huddersfield a week or so ago. They look strong, big, and youth is their dominating point.  I shall be glad to take the chance of seeing the minor Everton side, because by all the rules of theory and thought the minors of today should be the Everton majors of to-morrow. 

WILLIAMS RETURNS TO EVERTON SIDE
February 4 th 1931. Evening Express
By the Pilot
Everton, for their visit to Charlton Athletic at the Valley, will have Ben Williams, their captain, once again in the right back position. Williams was laid a side with a slight touch of Bronchitis last week, but has now fully recovery and well displace Cook. Everton defeated Charlton by seven goals to one when they visited Goodison Park on October 4, but since that date the Athletic have shown improvement. This has been primarily due to the acquisition of McKay, the inside forward from Sunderland. Everton tea is; Coggins; Williams, Cresswell; McCLure, Gee, Thomson; Critchley, Dunn, Dean, Johnson, Stein
Sport Pie
•  All the 3d 6d tickets for the Everton and Grimsby Cup-tie have been sold. There are tickets left at the higher price.

BURY RESERVE GAIN GOOD LEAD
Liverpool Echo - Wednesday 04 February 1931
EVERTON PLAY PRETTY BUT UNPRODUCTIVE
By Bee 
This Central League game was brought forward two months so that the Everton ground could have a chance to become a normal football ground from April onwards.  Everton played very prettily, their passing being of a fine strength and length, and they should have had a spot kick for hands. Martin shot high over, and while Everton sauntered through, apparently playing within themselves, Bury went on to score a very sound goal per Leightley.  Martin, Britton, and Wilkinson formed a triangle that was fascinating, if not fulfilling its mission by the last and necessary touch. White was crowded one minute and the next made a header go quite near. He also drifted out to the left and then wasted a ball.  It was interesting football for the holiday maker, and Bury revelled in Everton's idea of combination. 
TWO FOR BURY 
Leyfield, partnered by Rigby on the left, had a good day, and Britton had a touchline of flight that brought little from the right wing. Towers tried a long shot, and Burnham made a half-length of the field run and finished with a good centre. White connected with a centre from the left, and the Bury goalkeeper was fortunate to find the touch the crossbar.  Sager made a finely-judged catch, and Leyfleld was legged down inches outside the penalty area Bury were always more troublesome in front of goal, and after Chambers had scored a second goal for Bury, Martin slid up close to goal to miss an easy chance.  Bury's resoluteness and free-swinging combination had carried them to a useful lead.  Before half-time Cook saved his goal. Halt-time.—Everton 0, Bury 2.  White hit the side net and Bury continued to be the more practical and sensible team, and it was well that Sager was secure in goal. 

SQUARES OF LIVERPOOL
Liverpool Echo - Wednesday 04 February 1931
NO. 18 –THE PIER HEAD;
A WONDER-PLACE OF THE WORLD
By Michael O’Mahony
The chariots shall rage in the streets, they shall jostle one against another in the broadways, they shall seem like torches, they shall shine like lightnings.”  What the prophet Nahum said of Ninevah over 2,000 years ago can be realized in the thoroughfares of our modern cities to-day, but I have not yet realized it more vividly than I did the other evening as dusk fell round the Pier head.  Brilliant electric cars swung down with heavy grace towards the bridgeheads, moving festoons of glittering traffic, “Echo” cars rushed with audacious confidence to half a dozen pitches, skittish taxis darted to and fro like fire flies, one beautiful blue Panhard, with one lit lamp, paused to stare at me as a masher with a monocle might at a tramp, and moving aside from its searching flag I was able to reflect at leisure on one of the most animated scenes in Liverpool.  On my right from where I stood rose from a green plot the equestrian statue of King Edward looking down on the flashing and orderly lines of cars as they rushed, retreated, and deployed beneath his bridle rein in a way which suggested a review. On my left, and between the tram lines, extended two grassy rings, still without statues and looking just at present, in their comparative bareness, like saucers without cups. " Comparative " is a timely term to use just here, it is inseparable from the thoughts that arise in me as I look on the three great buildings which stand like a line of citadels between me and the town. Who is it that can fail to fall into a comparative mood when gazing at them?  The first (little need to class it as the first), the offices of the Dock Board, a noble model of superb symmetry is a goodly sight to see at dawn or dusk, standing apart even while it graciously approved of the splendid expression of the utilitarian which firmly arises besides its domes.  The second, the Cunard Building, strong and stately bearing on its facade the frown of power which the Florentines loved, yet graceful in its details as the Columns Rostrata at its gates, who, looking on these two fine building!, cannot recognise in them a combination of beauty and commerce prospering hand in hand.  For the third—little need be said; it speaks very eloquently for itself. Opinions about it are various and not always reserved.  For whoever looks far enough and just clear of the north wall of Liver Building. There awaits prompt compensation for any peace of mind disturbed by the incongruous. There, springing into clear air raises the lantern of the Church of Our Lady and St. Nicholas above a tower which looks down like a crowned queen on the subject roofs around it.  The old churchyard or plateau, on which the present building stands, is indeed a patch of historic Merseyside.  The spreading trees which shed a grateful shade upon it have gone long ago; truly has it been said that the roar of commerce swelling round its walls is ever rising and surging against them as if grudging the small space left unappropriated to its all devouring instincts, but even the fact that it is in part a thoroughfare cannot blot out its associations.  The altars and chantries erected by pious and noble founders in an older and more venerable building have long disappeared while space forbids the recalling of the changes witnessed by this unique promontory rising above the tides of traffic.  From the time when the Birkenhead monks grounded their keels on the shingled slope beneath it, to running out of the ramshackle pier shown in the maps of 1725 and don to our own day of a Landing Stage, whose undulating bridges linked to its Pier head are wonderful enough to be unrivalled, is a story of many chapters; it has seen the laborious writing of them all.  For laboriously if triumphantly grew the perfection of what we from the Old Churchyard see to-day.  An open boat in rough weather suggested no comfort even to those who called themselves good sailors in days when a voyage to Cheshire, not to say a landing adventure, was the event of a lifetime. Until well on into the last century the ferryboats were rowed in close to the shore at the end of Water Street, and the passengers had to scramble up the shingle, ooze, and dirt at low water, or be carried in on men's shoulders if they didn't want to plug through the mud.  When the tide was in your way to land was along a rickety foot-board, on which you reached terra firma if you possessed the aplomb of a Blondin; many didn't, and went in—tall hats, bonnets, feathers, furs, mittens, muffs, and all.  Tales are told of people passing half the night on the river, drenched by the waves, trying to get in where they could, and glad enough when the darkness lifted to move carefully towards Garston Creek and in wind and rain stump the six miles to Liverpool.  Wouldn't they have voted with relish for a tunnel?  To-day, our ferryboats, floating shuttles, ever weaving the life of one community into another, move ceaselessly day and night over the face of  the waters, as if conferring on the Mersey the first right among the rivers of England to proclaim “Men may  come and men may go, but I go on forever "; while close to them, mirrored in the tide, rise the steel cliffs of a majestic liner, lying beside the stage as inauspiciously as a phaeton at a doorstep.  The ceaseless crossing of its ferry-boats from county to county is no more a common place of the Mersey than its sailings from one world to another.  The fascination of the Pierhead is inescapable: it is a way to one of the wonderful places of the world.  Next week: Lime-street Quadrant. 

BURY RESERVES 2 EVERTON RESERVES 1
February 5 TH 1931. Liverpool Post and Mercury
Central League (Game 25)
Bury Give A Lesson
Tight Rein of Fanciful Everton Side
By "Bee."
Everton Reserves had notions about winning the championship of the Central League. They team shee suggested better things than a defeat from Bury Reserves by 2-1, but Bury are not in the fancy goods department. They eschew frills, and by swinging the ball across the field they did more with one move than some Everton forwards or half-backs did with three dainty dribbles. The truth was that the turf did not allow such fanciful capers until a margin had been created. It was Bury who created that margin and maybe were better than their sponsors thought, because when they had won 2-1, Bury said. "Our teams are now so level that we could really jumble up in a hat and pick them like a sweepstake draw." Certainly the visiting side had size and sense and the goals gained by the energetic Vernon and the likely new centre forward. Leightley turned the game to the right channel. The winners were worth their points, albeit Everton had a busy last fifteen minutes, after White had got a goal trying to get just one more to make a draw of it, and thus save the Goodison championship "face," and hope. Everton were not deadly; they were dallying, delaying and disdaining the practical measures necessary on such "turf." That was the secret of the day's home failure.
Common's Return to Form.
The work of Sagar in goal was excellent, Common too, has come back with a ram vigour and a fairly sure delivery kick, but Cook did not play so well, as he had done with the senior team he lacked sparkle and seemed to bank on the use of his weight. Add the test of a back at centre half-back, and the fact remains that Towers was the surest, Everton half-back, and in the forward line none was so determined as Leyfield, a box of tricks, a local player, but not a weight lifter. Rigby returned to the forward line and had an understanding with little Leyfield, who once had a trail with Liverpool F.C. Leyfield caught the fault of the whole of the home forward line –excess of dribbling. Yet Bury must take praise for a fine show from Clipson, the back, a Wesleyan church goalkeeper not out of his teens, a mere habe at outside right, and the rallying forces in the inner forward position. Change the forward line and Everton would have won by a crop of goals . Teams; - Everton; Sagar, goal; Common and Cook, backs; Britton, Lowe, and Towers, half-backs; Wilkinson, Martin, White, Rigby, and Leyfield, forwards. Bury; - J. Smith, goal; Chester and Clipson, backs; Robertson, Curry and T. Robinson, half-backs; Fox, Vernon, Leightley, Chambers and Armstrong, forwards.

EVERTON’S MINORS; BURY CAPTAIN FOLLOWS THE RESERVE TEAM SIDE
Liverpool Echo - Thursday 05 February 1931
Bee’s Notes
I suggested yesterday that the Everton minors were due to be promoted to the major rank.  But having seen them battle with the boys of Bury I think some of them will have to be brought to mere corporal state. They were disappointing against a side that knows not where to find money, but has a facile habit of picking up youngsters of nineteen years of age, without price, and with much prospect of football ability.  Bury are a remarkable club, with turf that everyone would like to buy up.  They have two teams so even that they could put the whole of the names in a hat and pick the team out sweepstake fashion. Lucky Bury. They tried a Smithing—a Wesleyan club junior of nineteen years of age—and straightway put him in the first team through his display yesterday. That may be taking a climes, because Everton's forward form was not of shooting style.  The boy at outside right was nineteen  years of age, and the club tried Vernon  as inside forward, with a quaint name,  Leightley, at centre forward, and here  again a boy of nineteen who is sure to  make good. On the Everton side the stocky - Towers struck me as being dour and sure, and Sagar once again proved what a fine fielder he is. Britton did many brilliant things, but the whole side suffered a superior complex and lacked foresight and force near goal. At outside left they fielded a boy with a box of tricks-Layfield-whose only crime is that he lacks inches and weight.  Dunn looking on was making his first outdoor appearance this week. I think Captain Williams must have given him some 'flu. Another onlooker was Norman Bullock, who has qualified for his second benefit with Bury—he was due to be signed by Everton six years ago. Bullock takes sufficient interest in his team to follow the reserves when the chance permits. It is a thought. He and Hunter Hart had chats upon the day's proceedings. Hart is still playing with Everton, albeit he is coach of the second team.  It is remarkable, yet a fact, that within the last week a First Division club asked Everton to transfer him to their ranks. The club was not keen to make the deal, and the player was content to continue in the service of the club he has graced so long. Still, it is a remarkable gesture at this time of day. Another Everton player was asked for and here again Everton said “No, we cannot afford to let this young player leave us." 

CHARLTON ATHELETIC EXPECT 50,000 CROWD
February 6 th 1931. Evening Express.
Charlton Athletic are making arrangements for a crowd of between 40,000 and 50,000 spectators, for the return match with Everton at the Valley on Saturday. The Blues dazzing record of success this season, including their smashing win of 7-1, over Charlton at Goodison Park last October, gaves Charlton supporters but a slender hope that the home team will pull off a surprise win. On the other hand, Charlton's away victory over Cardiff last Saturday, when their football was described as a revelation has put a new heart into the team and their supporters, and there is a feeling that any they many happen in this battle of "David and Goliath." "We expect to play the same team which beat Cardiff City last week by 3-0 at Ninian Park, ""aid Mr. Linden, the assistant manager." "Astley our star inside forward is playing well and will meet Everton for the first time on Saturday. He was unable to take part in the Goodison Park match, owing to a damaged ankle. Teams; Coggins; Williams, Cresswell; McClure, Gee, Thomson; Critchley, Dunn, Dean, Johnson, Stein. Charlton; Erobertson; Smith, Searle; Pitcairn, Pritchard, Morgan; Wyper, McKay, Whitlow, Astley, Houghton.
Sports pie
Collins, Llanelly's Welsh international outside right have interested Everton, who have watch him recently. It is possible that he my become an Everton player shortly after todays match at Aberystwyth.

EVERTON’S EFFORT AT THE CHARLTON GROUND 
Liverpool Echo - Friday 06 February 1931
Bee’s Notes
For the third week in succession a visit to the Metropolis, for a football lesson, twice with Everton once with Liverpool F.C. Mayhap I shall have further journeys for a Cup message-. V.  Chelsea for a revengeful act after remarkable defeats at Stamford Bridge —the third revenge act by Everton in recent times—and maybe we shall “going up to town “for a final tie, in which we shall be more than usually interested. It is getting a habit, this week-end trek to London, but so long as we are continuing our Cup chase no one grumbles about the journey or the disposition of the cards or the hours of play without a solitary call!  Happy days are here again—that’s Everton’s slogan. At the annual meeting, when the shareholders would have had the blood of the directors, the chairman said: “If, as you say, WE put you in the Second Division, let us have the opportunity of pulling you back." The shareholders murmured—it in almost a perpetual murmur, spreading its tones over twenty years—and here are Everton nearly safe for promotion to their proper sphere. They have a long way to go even yet, but the eight points lead satisfies even me—and I am alleged to be the most severe critic of this winning side. Well, we judge Everton by First Division standards and probabilities, not by Second Division strife.  At the moment we look forward to the morrow's match at Charlton because they, of all the Second Division sides, have been built up by Manager McFarlane with an eye to the good-class football. They showed us nothing at Goodson Park. They were overawed by the occasion and by the accommodation.  To-morrow they will be a  different proposition and as Everton  players, whether they wish to or not,  are sure to keep one eye on the Cup  to-morrow it may be that Charlton will  he as athletic as their name and will  make Everton go hard and all the way  to make a further away victory.  Actually Everton's best form this season has been away from home and having conquered such as Port Vale, Swansea, desperate, &c., they are aspiring to make another away victory to-morrow through the fine form and delightful forward work that has been ermined to Everton for some three months now.  It is good to know that Ben Williams will be the Whip again—he says little, he does a lot; he hides his light under a bushel when the honors and praise are being given out. Hence he is an ideal captain.  Good fortune be his and theirs tomorrow.  Everton; Coggins; Williams, Cresswell; McClure, Gee, Thomson; Critchley, Dunn, Dean, Johnson, Stein.   
Everton “A” v Shell-Mex, at Stopgate lane, 3.0; Corry; Parker, Jackson; Poole, Speakman, Lloyd, Frayne, Penlington, Davies, Fryer, and Jenkins.  Webster is the inside left in the Central League team tomorrow at Goodison Park an not Rigby. 

EVERTON DO THE CHARLTON
Liverpool Echo, Saturday, February 7, 1931
FIVE GOALS IN TWELVE MINUTES THROUGH SKILL, JUDGEMENT AND POWER
EVERY FORWARD SCORES A GOAL
By Bee
Everton; Coggins; Williams, Cresswell; McClure, Gee, Thomson; Critchley, Dunn, Dean, Johnson, Stein.  Charlton Athletic; Robertson; Langford, Searle, Pitcarin, Pritchard, Morgan; Wyper, Astley, Whitlow, McKay, Horton.  Referee; Mr. W.B. Bristow, Stafford. 
Everton have had a couple of cold cases this week, Dunn and Williams.  They were reasonably fit when they  turned up at the Charlton ground, this  being Everton's first visit to this quaint  place, whose walls are such that it  could be made into a Hampton Park  with ease.  Resembling Selhurst, the Crystal Palace ground it has all the possibilities of the future, and, developed, the ground could hold 120,000 comfortably.  The Valley was fairly full to-day and the club reckoned Everton would and some 40,000 spectators. They generally over-estimate and hope for the full figure.  The turf was quite good, the amount of grass causing Everton to look on jealously.  No wind, no wet, no icy blast; it was a perfect day and quite unusual for a Saturday, which is now known as "Wet day."  Everton had the most unpromising welcome they have had this season.  Everton won the toss. Astley and McKay changed places. At once Thomson fed Stein with judgment, and the winger slipped his half-hack in a manner that provoked applause from the home people.  Dean passed back to make a possible shot for Johnson, who dragged the ball. 
The home side went up per their centre and also their outside right, and Williams kicked away a header that came towards goal.  The referee had an unlucky decision reversed, and Thomson thus got his deserts. The greasy ground three times beat McClure, and now he shot as he fell.  Charlton had a chance when Horton found an empty defence through Williams and Gee slipping.  Charlton were baulked by Creswell and Coggins, and Everson went on to give the crowd a rare treat. Within five minutes a spectator by my side said “This is the best team we have ever seen here."  Dean ankled the ball artistically, so that Stein could have a shot. It flashed out of play.  Johnson had ill-fortune on two occasions, and at the third attempt he turned the ball to centre, and Dean made an instant shot, the goalkeeper again being beaten, but again the ball swung half a yard wide.  Dunn ran across the field as Dean, with one of his deadly headers, tried to make a goal for Critchley, who was a traction too late.  The game was clean and hard, and Charlton outplayed with a certain degree of ease, yet Creswell had to crash to the right corner flag to prevent tall Whitlow scoring the first goal of the day.  This ball was not cleared before Cresswell slipped, and Wyper found himself in front of goal. Coggins, patted the sharp shot away. Dean head, Stein’s centre, and Dunn's acceptance of pass by Critchley promised a goal until Dunn I shot slightly over. 
STEIN AND DEAN 
A foul against McClure was unfortunate and perhaps undeserved, but one estimated a goal as coming, and in twenty minutes it arrived.  A goal made in two moves, all distinct and compact, without trimming, unless we except the pass-out check given by Dean to Stein. I should imagine everyone except this pair, Stein and Dean, thought Dean would pass to the right, where Critchley was calling for show.  Dean diddled the defence and put the ball towards the left, where Stein shot a goal so hard that it entered the net and bounced into play again.  In two minutes a second goal came from a shot of startling power. Dean being the shooter after Dunn had served up the pass.  Again the ball was crashed into the net in a manner which caused it to rebound into tile field of play. 
ALL FORWARDS SCORE 
Now came a deluge of attacks by Everton's beautiful passing; a magnificent solo attempt by Johnson, a good and a bad save by the home goalkeeper, and a view of Stein deliberately allowing the ball to pass over, for a corner, from which a goal came to Dunn—time, 28 minutes.  Dunn's effort was easy; the defence was paralyzed. and Dunn had only to  tap the ball in. It became a shooting-in match, and Johnson gave Critchley his chance of using the boot.  He said, “Thank you," and the ball now entered the left-hand corner of the net for the first time during the game.  Four goals in half an hour, and everybody would have to admit that football skill was riotous and rampant.  Dunn netted again, but Dean for once had charged the goalkeeper a moment too soon. At home Everton won 7-1 against Charlton, and there was promise of a repeat order.  Johnson made it five goals in thirty-seven minutes, again a magnificent shot, Dean and Stein doing the donkey work to make the goal possible.  Every forward bad scored. Horton rightly appealed for a penalty, and Coggins saved remarkably.  This was not a match. It was a procession. Everton have now scored ninety-three goals this season in the League, and were thirsting for more.  Dean scored the sixth goal after passing brilliantly to Critchley, who hit the upright, and Dean took the rebound.  Half-half-Everton 6. Charlton 0. 
EVERTON TRULY GREAT
BEST AWAY WIN OF THE SEASON
SEVEN STUNNING GOALS
EASY IN THE SECOND HALF AT CHARLTON
Everton ran amok at Charlton, and slaughtered the innocents.  They scored six seals in twenty-five minutes of the first half through magnificent shooting, shots of surprising power considering the muddy ground and football that was alive with artistry and effect.  They totalled 93 goals by half-time, and if they had net eased up one imagines they would have reached their 100 in this game.  Having beaten Charlton 7-1 at Goodison, they have made a meal of the London club; in fact, a full course dinner.  This was Everton at their greatest, the pinnacle of brilliant forward play, for every one scored, and I have never seen such fierce driving power.
Everton had set the London critics afire. They acclaimed this the best exhibition of football seen in Town this season. Such expression as " Perfect football,' Classic football,' and a gorgeous display," were remarks heard on every side.  The air became fuggy, and those near with local knowledge said." I wish these chaps would go back to Fazakerley."  A foul against Gee brought the first “boo "of the day. Coggins ran out sharply, and McClure made a run to the centre berth, and then, surprisingly for him, missed the pass.  The great need now was to keep out of injuries, and Critchley now dribbled far too long and got a venomous trip.  A Charlton full back headed off the goal line when his goalkeeper was marked “absent." and in one of their rare splashes of forward endeavor, Coggins punched over.  Gee hit the crossbar and left his mark the ball dropping out of play. The position continued Gee and Cresswell joining in the dribbling bout. Had Everton stressed themselves this would have been an avalanche of goals.  Coggins made the save of the match when he prevented McKay scoring from five yards out.  Thompson played delicious football all through, and Williams showed speed, judgment, and tact. Charlton had no cover, and Dunn had many inspired moments.  This was a toying match. Everton toyed with the Charlton mouse, and as a result the London side had a chance to get a goal. Coggins twice stopped them by stepping into the breach.  Robertson, the goalkeeper had never been to blame in this one-sided game, and he now stopped Stein's strong drive.  Robertson also saved from Johnson when the forward stood three yards away from goal, and took seconds to make up his mind where he would place the ball.  Dean scored the seventh goal of the day from a perfect pass up the field by Gee. This was three minutes before time.  Final:  Everton 7, Charlton 0

EVERTON RES V DERBY RES
Liverpool Echo, Saturday February 7, 1931
There was not a great deal to choose between them throughout the first half, and although Everton did a good deal of sound attacking, the County revealed a snappy finish that bothered Everton’s defence considerably.  Sagar saved smartly from Alderman and Ruddy.  After Derby had opened the score at the 17th minute Everton did some really good work.  The County were somewhat lucky to lead at the interval.  Cook put through his own goal to give Derby their second goal, and Martin, with a penalty scored for Everton.  Final; Derby County Res 2, Everton Res 1.
Liverpool County Combination
Shell-Max 5, Everton A 3

STUD MARKS
Liverpool Echo - Saturday 07 February 1931
By Louis T Kelly

CHARLTON ATHELTIC 0 EVERTON 7
February 9 th 1931. Liverpool Post and Mercury.
Goals from every Forward.
How Everton swamped Charlton.
By "Bee."
Charlton expected 40,000 spectators to their ground on Saturday for the visit of Everton. Perhaps it was well that there was only 17,000, because the game turned into an avalanche of attacks and many goals against the home side, and the effect upon the enthusiasm of the locals would not be very helpful. Yet in this, the greatest victory Everton have obtained for many seasons, the Charlton men deserve credit for refusing to exploit the off-side game. There was no debate about any point scored in the furious portion of the play when Everton, having tasted a gaol in twenty minutes, made it six before half-time. Such rapid scoring was due to two causes –the amazing strength of shot and the fine fashion of weaving they way through the Charlton side. The result was 7-0. It could have been twice the number. Everton eased up and remembered they had a cup-tie next Saturday at Goodison Park –the first for five years. They were kind in their mind. The game really needs little discussion. It was thoroughly one-sided; it was won after twenty minutes of "fencing," and then Everton had their inspired period when they scored almost at will. They have lately developed a scoring habit, but this was a glut the like of which they had not shown us this season. At Swansea their form had been delightful and the margin good; against Charlton they were better still, and when one compares the Crystal Palace cup-tie score with their latest score, one has to remember that Crystal Palace are Third Division and they had ten man for a time, and the side also had a try-on half-back.
Surprised Outburst.
This was a win about which there could be nothing but glittering praises for the winners. It was an astonishing outburst of goal-getting, the most colourful feature of the margin being the fact that all but one of the goals came from extraordinarily fast shooting. Twice the ball was hit was a ferocity that lad it to bound out of goal into play again. It was the sort of forward play Everton people have yearned for, for many a season; the sort that was lacking in recent First Division appearances. Having beaten Charlton 7-1 at Goodison, Everton's margin is 14-1. The Charlton side had their chances in the second half when Everton plainly rested on their oars, but Coggins was them in brilliant form, and three of his saves were of rare merit. The basis of Everton's win, however, was the brilliance of the forward line. They saved their half-backs and backs a lot of work by definite combined football that brooked no denial. The craft of Dunn and Johnson was allied to the stern, sure heading and shooting and passing of Dean. Johnson was varied in his feeling qualities –he would gave Critchley a number of wide swinging passes; he and the able Thomson linked up with Stein in a manner they recalled the famous Sunderland left triangle.
Varied Style.
Stein, varied his style with shots crossing the goal mouth; indeed it was most fortunate for the home side that he had not taken three when the final whistle went. The first half was naturally the big portion of play after that the game was bound to drag a bit. On the right forward flank Critchley scored, but he had a bad habit of over-indulgence in the dallying business, and by this means he not only courted injury, but also allowed the defence to get settled for any centre he could deliver. However, it would be churlish to be hyper-critical with such a margin put up away from home, and it must be said that here was a team that won by scientific measures, and by expert football, the ball being kept where it was supposed to be kept –on the turf. It was holding turf, but compared with Goodison Park; it was good turf, and it had its greasy portions. The display of the whole Everton side drew from the London spectators high encomiums –they were lavish in their praise, but never exaggerated the value of the visiting side. They could not say too much in favour of the winners.
The Goals.
The goal-getting was a small portion of the excellence of the side. Gee came near scoring with the ball that it hit the crossbar, and there were other woodwork cases that kept the score down in rational proportions. McClure was hard and sure and near the finish a trifle too near the dividing line between a fair and a foul charge, and Thomson on the left had no equal –a delicious game. There is nothing to be said of Cresswell and Williams-they were just their normal selves. The goal register reads. Stein scored 20 minutes, Dean 22, Dunn 28, Critchley 30, Johnson 37, Dean 44, Dean 87.
Teams; - Charlton; - Robertson, goal; Langford and Searle, backs; Pitcairn, Pritchard, and Morgan half-backs; Wyper, Astley, Whitlow, McKay, and Hutton, forwards. Everton; - Coggins, goal; Williams (captain) and Cresswell, backs; McClure, Gee and Thomson, half-backs; Critchley, Dunn, Dean, Johnson, and Stein, forwards.

EVERTON RESERVES 1 DERBY COUNTY RESERVES 2
February 9 th 1931. Liverpool Post and Mercury
Central League (Game 26)
Derby were rather fortunate in annexing both points at Goodison Park. Everton did well in attack, but were never able to master the rugged County defenders, who were just a shade superior to the losers' rearguard, White, Leyfield, and Wilkinson had shots that were saved smartly by Kirby, while Sagar found Alderman, Ruddy, and Robson shooters who were frequently on the mark. Derby led at the interval by a goal scored by White, and during the second half Cook, put through his own goal, gave the County their second goal. A penalty successfully taken by Martin in the closing minutes reduced Derby's lead. A hard but even game. Everton; - Sagar, goal; Common and Cook, backs; Britton, Lowe, and Tower, half-backs; Wilkinson, Martin, White, Rigby and Leyfield, forwards .
Everton "A" 3 Shell Mex 5
Liverpool County Combination
At Stopgate Lane. Even play characterised the first half and at the interval the sides were on equal terms. Penlington and Mercer scoring. In the second half the visitors were constantly attacking, and the home defenders were kept busy. Jackson being a hard worker. Further goals for the home side were added by Frayne and Dane, while Roberts, Mercer, Barley, and Williams netted for Shell Mex.
Everton and a Llanelly Forward
Collins, outside-right of Llanelly, who was watched by representatives of the Everton club, when playing in a Welsh Senior Cup tie against Aberystwyth in a fair game, his passing was cool and correct. He was always dangerous when on the ball, and will probably be heard of in first class football.

11 FOOTBALL BRADMANS.
February 9 th 1931. Evening Express.
Everton Hit the High Spot at Charlton.
Dean England's best Leader.
By the Pilot.
Nine successive wins –seven in the League and two in the Cup competition. Ninety-four goals in 28 League matches –41 against nine in their last nine games. Dean the second best goal-getting forward in the kingdom, and now a moral certainty for the new national honours. These were some of the thoughts that flashed through my brain after watching Everton's flawless seven goal victory at Charlton on Saturday. What a team! During the summer we used to watch Don Bradshaw's machine-like action bringing century after century and were amazed. Everton had eleven football Bradmans at the Valley. There was a never a hitch in the development or execution. It was football such as we dream of but rarely see.
Avoiding Injuries.
Everton on Saturday reached the zenith of their brilliance. They never will play better; no team possibly could. "The best team I have seen this season," said Mr. Jimmy Jones, the chairman of Aston Villa, to me after the match" " I cannot see anyone putting them out of the cup." Anybody who saw Saturday's game will agree. All five Everton forwards scored within 20 minutes in the first half. The Blues slowed down in the second half. They were thinking of their cup tie with Grimsby next Saturday. They were wise. Injuries had to be prevented, and the easing off brought everyone through sound in wind and limb. Charlton had more of the play than the score would suggest, but, as I have indicated, they were only able to go as far as Everton allowed them. At times they escaped the vigilance of the Blues, and then it was Coggins' turn to show his mettle. Three of his saves were superb.
Sports pie
•  Everton have taken four points from Plymouth Argyle, Swansea Town, West Bromwich Albion, Bradford City, and Charlton Athletic this season.

EVERTON’S GREATEST FEAT
Liverpool Echo - Monday 09 February 1931
A REVIEW OF SEVEN GOALS AND MUCH BRILLIANT FOOTWORK
WHO SHALL STOP THEM
Bee’s Notes
Everton have won all their matches, including two cup-ties, this year. About 200 Everton supporters from down south showed their colours, umbrellas, and hats at Charlton, and yesterday morning they sent two special representatives to Euston Station with the order to congratulate Everton upon the magnificence of their display.  Dean has scored in each of the last eleven games.  Andy Ducat in Saturday’s “Football Echo" suggested that all five forwards should score. Everton replied without delay. 
Nine against Plymouth at Goodson Park; a win at Swansea against a hard never-stop side, a Cup victory of big margin against Crystal Palace—a win I did not bank much upon; and now a stunning performance against Charlton.  It is difficult to know where to start in this latest slashing victory. It was a seven goals' margin. Perhaps 'twere  better to start at the back end of the  game and at the back end of the team-I  refer to Mr. W. Coggins, the Bristol  man, who is playing so well every week  that one famous international says  " Hibbs cannot play better than this  each week." That is high praise, but a lot of praise has got to be showered over this classic win and adjectival enemies may turn up their noses, but if they want confirmation of my review they can, for once in a while, look to London’s paean of praise to the team that is marching to Division 1 after a year’s experience of the Second Division. Coggins had to hear the brunt of the second half when the rest of the Everton side cried “Hold, enough."  It was a fair and sporting measure, and was a unanimous decision. They had taken six of the best and brightest in the first halt. There followed one more—near the close. So it can be seen that Everton lay down during the second half. They were still the highly-skilled side; they still enjoyed their own wares; they did not toil; they were content to ride easy to the winning post. Otherwise their unstoppable superiority would have carried them well beyond the seven marks. It was Coggins who then took a stern hand in the business.  Coggins isn't only a goalkeeper; time was when he played goal in a morning match and full back in the afternoon on the same pitch. He is versatile. In goal to-day he is handling positions of rare danger with extreme ability. He has not the average goalkeeper's huge size eights in hands; it is his quick brain that carries him to the spot he divines the shot must come. He made four saves on Saturday of a remarkable character. 
NOW, RYES FRONT 
Having paid him just tribute and added a word—so regular and consistent in their cases—to Cresswell and Williams let me turn your attention to the front that was never quiet. The Everton forward line excelled itself. I have never seen so many complete, convincing goals— or so many definitely ferocious driver. Dunn's poker-goal was the only one that did not arise from first-class craft and positively brilliant finishing touches. Critchley got a goal and gave one—aided by the upright; he and Stein are both taking their part in this aggregation of goals—nearly 100 in League warfare this season. Stein had the basest of luck not to get four on his own. He got one; Johnson got one  again, but he like Dunn o does so much  initiation work that one must rot judge  him by goals alone. Johnson has brought the cross-field pass to Critchley to a perfection point. He does not know the word “selfish," yet his shot was with Dean's and the wingers' shots, one of intense strength and direction.  The goals at Charlton have a backing that tends to make the ball come out to play again. Twice Everton got the ball in only to find the force of the ball bring the ball hack to the playing space.  I don't fancy those nets; but I do fancy the way the Everton line is operating just now. I curbed the value of the  victory over Crystal Palace; at Swansea  I said this was perfect football; I have  pointed to the half-hack construction  which has altered Everton's forward outlook, but here I am happy to say  that Everton played superb football and'  probably the best display they have  given for three years. It was convincing football fore and aft and in the middle.  There was never a debate about a solitary goal gotten; Charlton had full strength and were keen for a rebate of that 7-1 win at Goodison Park. Yet they were made to look commoners by the methods adopted by the winners.  The margin was not an ounce too heavy; it did not tell how beautifully and kindly Everton played in the second half.

BEE’S NOTES
Liverpool Echo - Tuesday 10 February 1931
Goodison Park's tufts of mud have been carted over to the Bullens-road side of the ground, and with the wind blowing the park is almost living up to the right side of its name. The Cup-tie training of the Everton club against Grimsby is just the normal pattern, and I think a word of tribute is due to the trainer. Mr. Harry Cooke, for his methods and his success, because it is admitted by all that the men in his charge have shown a lasting standing that has not been equalled at any other time; in fact, Everton have won most of their games in the second half. The curriculum is severe, and the training has been taken up by the players not with that “hope it is an easy morning’s gallops," but with the relish of doing themselves and the club justice.  The men do more than most teams on the training track.  The tie with Grimsby has aroused big talk—talk of doubles, talk of Wembley —talk that pervades all the other dressing-rooms of clubs still in the Cup!  They all talk hopefully, not glibly; they hope for the Royal handshake and fear the worst may happen at the next round. The Cup has got them all guessing.  Grimsby had looked easy—as far as any Cup-tie visitor can look easy, but suddenly they have wiped out the 9-bombe from the Arsenal and have put up a remarkable victory at West Ham as recently as last Saturday. Thus Grimsby come to Everton at a moment when they are reviving, and they face a side that has been presented with medals all over the country. No wonder the 6d tickets have gone like hot cakes and that there are now only the 5s seats left. One thing left at Goodison recently was agolosh—he who lost it can get the other foot by showing the one he took with him from the Bradford game. It  is odd to think of a spectator going home  with a solitary galosh, yet it is only in  the same category as my memory of the  man with one spat—and he had it on  back to front!—and also the tenor on the  platform who broke his ankle trying to  " reach top A !"  He slipped off the platform in his overreaching endeavour! 

EVERTON RELY ON WELL TRIED ELEVEN
February 11 th 1931. Evening Express.
By the Pilot
Everton's team for their fifth round cup-tie against Grimsby Town will be; Coggins; Williams, Cresswell; McClure, Gee, Thomson; Critchley, Dunn, Dean, Johnson, Stein.
This side carried the club through the two previous rounds and has yet to concede a goal in the national knock-out tournament. Continuance of dry weather as improve the surface of Goodison Park and it will find it better than for months past. It will still be on the soft side, but this is calculated to be an aid to Everton and a handicap to Grimsby. The Everton players know their Goodison only too well, and have the happy knack of being able to overcome the difficulties presented by it. Harry Cooke is well satisfied with the progress of the players in their training, and he is optimistic about the chances of the Blues.
Grimsby Yield Nothing to Thieves.
But Everton Hope to Rob Them on Saturday. Somebody tried to break into the offices of the Grimsby Club at Blundell Park last night. One of the gates was forced, but in their attempt to open the offices underneath the stand, the visitors were evidently interrupted. "I do not know what they hoped to get," said Mr. W. Hooton, the assistant secretary. "The visit was premature, because we haven't got the F.A. Cup here yet." Everton hope to get more from Grimsby than last night's visitors. Grimsby's chosen team is that fore-shadowed in the Evening Express last night. No chances is being made in the side that has earned full points in three successive League matches. The side will be; Read; Wilson, Jacobson; Hall, Priestley, Buck; Prior, Bestall, Coleman, Cooper, Marshall. The players were indulging in ball practice when I visited Blundell Park today, and Mr. Herbert Woods, the trainer, told me that he proposed to take them for a long walk this afternoon.
Sports pie
•  All the cheaper stand tickets for the Everton and Grimsby Town Cup-tie have been sold and the remaining tickets are being snapped up rapidly.

GRIMSBY TOWN'S LOSS
Liverpool Echo - Wednesday 11 February 1931
EVERTON'S CUPTIE TEAM
Making Tom Griffiths into A Full-Back 
Everton are taking their usual course of training at the Park, and a spirit of enthusiasm prevails in the camp. The team will turn out as follows:—Coggins; Williams, Cresswell; M’Clure, Gee, Thomson; Critchley, Dunn, Dean, Johnson, Stein.  Everton Reserves  meet Manchester  City at Maine-road on Saturday in a  Central League match, and the following  side will turn out for the visitors:—  Sagar; Cook, Lowe; Britton, Griffiths,  Towers; Wilkinson, Martin, White,  Webster, Layfield 
Grimsby Town's team will be the same which has been doing big things of late, gaining all points in the last three League matches. It. is—Read; Wilson, Jacobson; Hall, Priestley, Buck; Prior, Bestall, Coleman, Cooper, Marshall. The players are not going away for special training, but are carrying out the usual routine exercise at home. The players will travel on Friday. 
OF YOUR MERCIEs, SIRS 
A correspondent has suggested that I am being unkind to the game when I suggest that Everton deliberately refused to score a dozen in the second half of their Charlton game.  It was the fact that I glory in the merciful deliverance of a full team of triers who ran into a rampant aide.  But in their might Everton were kind.  It is no secret to state that the officials present, and the players themselves, made up their minds at half-time that it would be gross to pile on the agony, and they deliberately set themselves out to make the game interesting, without the gathering of pals. Some people  say this is not a fair manner of playing;  but one does not forget that Charlton had lost a cup-tie, had then won at  Cardiff and thus drawn the spectators  to their fold again, and now, with a  huge defeat, would have slumped their  own gates.  One player of the Everton side put it this way:—" There is no sense in going on with big scoring. The losing side feels the heaviness of a wide margin, and it comes to all teams to suffer a hiding some time in their career.  Charlton never showed any sign of temper, although the crowd barracked their back. Lanford, from almost the first moment to the last kick; and that they did not resort to offside measures and also to the rough stuff is greatly to their credit.  We found them very sporting, and it is not all teams can take a defeat at home or anywhere else without showing temper.  I shall never try to push a lead of four goals any further, it is an ample margin-or should be.”
A  SOLUTION
“Ohce” writes;- We Evertonians are naturally pleased at the magnificent displays Everton are serving up week after week, in their triumphant march back to the First Division.  But there is one fly in the ointment which all Evertonians would like to see you hammer away at, and that is if Williams or Cresswell get crocked there is not another class back on the books.  This is a weakness that must be remedied at once.  Hammer away at this, “Bee” and oblige all Evertonians.  Has anyone thought what a great back Griffiths could be?

SQUARES OF LIVERPOOL
Liverpool Echo - Wednesday 11 February 1931
NO.19 –LIME STREET QUADRANT;
ST GEORGE’S HALL- AND PUNCH
By Michael O’Mahony
From Rushworth's to the station, and from the Earle statue to the Art Gallery may be defined as a square, but to the popular it inexact mind I fancy that the term quadrant also takes in the expansive space which, spreading southward, gradually narrows to St. John's-lane.  Be the accuracy of that opinion what it may, I think that in this, the concluding article of this series on squares, the present is the most interesting one I have had to write about.  The comeliness of Falkner-square or the haggard beauty of Kent-square are  absent, but in nowhere else it the pulsating life of a city—unfolded as a film—more faithfully portrayed, while the buildings which rise round it confer on it incomparable distinction.  One would like to be able to say that the name of the street had its origin in an ancient avenue of lime trees—an English " Under den Linden "—alas! No. Where now pours out the morning throngs down the station slops, where trains rush is to rest, or are murmuring as if straining at the leash, at this half-way  house of continents, once smouldered a limekiln destined to give a name to one of the leading highways of an Empire. 
St. George's Hall 
The limekiln ceased to burn with the dawn of the nineteenth century and the paling of its fires synchronized with the lighting of the flame of genius in the mind of the youth who, as the architect of St. George's Hall, enriched the rising town with enduring dignity.  Though Harvey Lansdale Limes carried off the prize for the design of a large hall, it cannot be said, that like the Temple of old, the building grew to greatness without pause or contention. The plans were altered many times. The original project was the erection of a hall large enough to accommodate the crowds attending the triennial musical festival, and the foundation-stone of such a hall was actually laid close to the base of the Wellington Monument, where, as far as I know, it still remains. While these preliminaries were in progress, the corporation found it necessary to erect assize courts for South Lancashire, and after a severe contest. the prize for a design for this second building was again carried off by young Elmes, who forthwith prepared plans embracing the objects of both schemes. Obstacles were not absent from the path he had clearly marked out for himself, but, surmounting them all, he went boldly on till there arose in its magnitude and harmony of proportion a building which takes its place as one of the noblest of  its kind in any age or nation.
The Judges' View
Although primarily intended as a great hall for music it is curious that in the plan no provision had been made for the reception of an organ. One great object, of the architect was to have a vista from end to end of the great building by which "the judge sitting in one court could see through the long perspective his brother judge on the bench in the other." To any interference with this ides five he was said to be sternly opposed, and at any rate it wasn’t until after his death that the great organ was placed in its present position.  It has been said that the justice due to the brilliant genius of Elmes might have been satisfied did his great conception assume form and strength in white marble under the azune skies and amid the green palms of some island of the Egean Sea, but to pay that debt would to be rob Liverpool of the dramatic surprise she holds for every traveler who, coming forth from the gloom of a tunnel, finds rising before him the Homeric majesty of her great hall.  Such was the effect produced some years ago on the great Russian artist Verstchagen, who, while he admired, shuddered in his furs to see the splendid colonnade rise, not from a green English sward, but from a stony plateau! Desirable as a grassy forecourt would be to the fluted columns of the eastern façade, it is to be feared that even the plinth of an adjoining monument would never be accepted as a substitute for what has so long been the Forum of Liverpool.  Not only victories, but even eves of victories have been celebrated on this historic ground. 
“WHO’LL KILL THE BILL?”
Of one of the latter occasions, associated with the threat of an unpopular enactment on education, there lingers in my mind as I write the following fragment of prophecy crystallized in immortal verse;-
  “Who’ll kill the Bill?
  “Tis we’ll kill the Bill,
  Way up at the plateau,
  With drum beat and tattoo
  “Tis we’ll kill the Bill.” 
The plateau is all right if but left alone, and, to the minds of many, it has been gravely interfered with lately.  St. George’s Hall is truly the home of great happenings, and may never be associated with the lighter side of life.  There Sovereigns may receive their lieges, there a great Prelate be acclaimed by a faithful people.  There Justice may hold her scales with terrible equity, her sword may flash or fall, majestic music may roll through its aisles and cloisters, but under its resounding roof frivolity never lingers as in a native nest.  Yet who, coming forth from its courts in the failing daylight “that hour” as they say, “between dog and wolf,” and gazing down from the cliff-like rampants of the stately south porch, would not like to imagine that the mighty pile looks down to and with grave approval on the fragile roof of the booth of Punch and Judy?  There islanded in the traffic stands something which, like classic architecture, came up from the south and unlike it in that it is treasured to-day as a heritage of the days of merry England. 
THE ALFRESCO THEATRE
“The children in front of the booth do not enjoy the show one bit more than the ladies and gentlemen who stand on the other side to watch their faces,” was once the remark of a shrewd showman to me, and it fully applies to Liverpool.  Long may the alfresco theatre flourish to listen to the laughter of its youthful patrons! Long may its lamps shine to brighten the eyes of the rising generational! Lime-street would be lonesome without it.  commutation-row, in the Quadrant, is a name which has puzzled some correspondents, I can tell them now that it dates from the days of the “Window Tax.”  The residents in the Row, compelled to pay for windows, decided to make the few they had as large as possible and carried out their purpose so well that there was a dust-up with the Revenue authorities.  After a stiff dispute a commutation was agreed upon, hence the name.  Other correspondents I will reply to by letter, Will Mr. Walter Maddocks kindly send his address? 
“The Bay of Biscay,” as applied to the Quadrant, a title whose fame is unshared by any other square in the world, speaks clearly of its stirring milieu and out-of-dourness.  Yet quaint legend lingers in what is a most unlikely quarter.  From a score of them I select the story of how Wellington, wearying of the wayside orators who wrangled round his base, resolved to quit his perch and leave Liverpool for Manchester.  But as the historian has it, he reckoned without his neighbours.  He was no sooner missed than the couchant lions sprang to action and boned him as he was coming out of Edge Hill tunnel.  Driving him home before them, they restored him to his base, where he stands aloft to listen not only to the rude music of Liverpool speech, but borne on the briny wind the song of distant tides which Manchester never knew.
SQUARES OF BIRKENHEAD
Following this Liverpool series by Mr. O’Mahony, Mr. Fabian Lacon, who has a wonderful knowledge of Birkenhead, will contribute two articles, each appearing on Wednesdays, on “The Squares of Birkenhead.”  The first will appear next Wednesday, on Hamilton-Square. 

GREAT WAS THE FALL THERE OF-BUT WHOSE FALL?
Liverpool Echo - Friday 13 February 1931
Bee’s Notes
Ladies and Gentlemen.—This is to give notice that I shall spend the morrow at home. Maybe I shall regret it in the shades of the evening, but having made my Cup bed by going to Plymouth I will go through to the finish with the Everton Football Club.  If they let me down to-morrow it will be their funeral. Yet he would be churlish who would grumble at as occasional defeat. As they give other side, hidings, so must Everton accept the inevitable when it does come alone.  They showed much restraint and sense when they were beaten at Bradford.  They took their Yorkshire gruel with a good heart. They were only official receivers for that day; they were getting what they had given. I do not suggest this sporting gesture will be necessary to-morrow or the next week; it is just a desire to remind people of the happy days that are with the Blues this season and show the contrast with a year ago. I have not a fear that Everton will lose against Grimsby to-morrow. Three weeks ago I had my doubts; since then Grimsby have put up three startling performances—the most notable against West Ham last week. Yet, instead of wavering my judgment it has hardened it. I have a belief in Everton today that is built up on continued sight, of their style and their football skill.
A DARING PROPHECY 
I go far into the future and suggest  that as far as is humanly possible in  the forecasting zone, this Everton side  will go far into the First Division of  the Football League, always granting  the modicum of fortune necessary  regarding injuries, &c. At the moment our concern is the immediate future, not the vastly deeps of 1931-32, which must take care of itself. To-morrow the Everton club's greatest danger is that they will consider they have no match on—nothing to beat, "easy meat." Grimsby can be beaten by Everton and Grimsby can heat Everton, just as they showed us when Robson put the four beyond Coggins. Since then Coleman's been mustard, Robson has gone back lumps with Huddersfield, and the Grimsby side has touched some very fine heights. But I do not; forget that on a mud heap at Grimsby, Everton, with Troup as left winger and captain, laid the side low by a splendid margin. This is my greatest, memory of Grimsby. They could not go through their own mud-swamp.  Everton have learned all about the swamping business at Goodison Park this season, and the heavy going seems to suit them. Perhaps the pace of the Grimsby wingers may be the deciding factor in the Cup-tie to-morrow. It is a vital part of the Grimsby machinery, and probably Bestall, the skilled l dribbler, will once more attempt to do too much.
WHO CAN SAY? 
Cup-ties are in the lap of the gods; Everton, however, have that confidence born of victories against all and sundry.  They took toll of Division 111, and  Division 11, in their Cup stride;  to-morrow they tackle the first grade, and the city has literally gone mad over  this test, because it serves to show  Everton against the stern realities of  First Division status—it is a pointing  hand towards next season at Goodison  Park. Who can say what will happen?  Who could say that Everton in a previous meeting did not have three, fourths of the play against these fisher folk, yet the score was Grimsby 4-2. Let Everton keep to their methodical football even though this is a Cup chase:  let the forwards produce the same driving force from all quarters of the attack, and there is no reason why Grimsby should be able to stem the tide, of success. Home ground, first Cup-tie for five years at this ground; a full team; no flu cases; no eleventh-hour sensations; everybody fit and happy, and let us hope Everton not overconfident.  The grave danger of the home side, to-morrow, is that their almost  nonchalant way of dribbling may be  snapped up through lack of inches in a  pass, or lack of a yard in a speed matter  and Grimsby will dash into the  Goodson Park citadel. Steady, boys, steady. Skill tells more urgently in a Cup-tie than in a League game. Play the game for your credit’s sake, and play your natural game, the game that has sent the London critics into a whirl of happiness and a chorus of praise.  We greet Grimsby; we “greet” because they have lost our good friend Mr. Stookes; we wish them well; but we think they “ought to go,” and we would like them to concentrate in the future days upon their escape from Divison 11. The ends of the grand stands are priced at 2s, pay at the turnstiles; for the rest the tickets at 3s 6d went in doubly quick time; the 5s tickets run of Wednesday and yesterday was very emphatic.  It will be a 50,000 gate.  Nothing but the ordinary measures have been adopted by trainer Cook, who has got his men into a method of staying the full ninety minutes and showing surprising speed in the closing stages of the games.  He must take his share of any success the team gains.  Everton; Coggins; Williams, Cresswell; McClure, Gee, Thomson; Critchley, Dunn, Dean, Johnson, Stein.  Grimsby Town; Read; Wilson, Jacobson; Hall, Priestley, Buck; Prior, Bestall, Coleman, Cooper, Marshall. 

EVERTON PLAYERS NO-BALLED
Liverpool Echo - Friday 13 February 1931
HAVE NOT SEEN A FOOTBALL THIS WEEK
By Bee

Everton F.C., are having Cup-ties every week of their 1930-31 season.  One of the famous London onlookers has given forth his dictum that Cup-tie teams see too much of the ball in training prior to the Saturday game.  It will surprise him and many other folk to know that Everton refuse to deal with a ball the week of a Cup-tie.  They wait until Saturday.  Thus they prevent staleness and a sort of “ball-sickness” that comes to anyone overdoing the preliminary stages.  Everton have seen a ball this week, however, and they use it for “heady” purposes.  It is a light, almost useless sort of ball, without wind or weight and is used solely for the purpose of keeping the players in the open and allowing them to keep their heading expert.  They have not even put on their football boots this week, but they will “pull up their socks” tomorrow and put on their shooting boots at 2.15, keen to see the real ball.  Everton have been “no-balled” for a week. 

THE ROAD TO WEMBLEY-FIFTH MILESTONE
February 13 th 1931. Evening Express.
Why Everton should be in the Race at the Sixth.
Rivals captains last words before the Battle
Everton.
Everton are playing so well at the moment that I expect us to win. We are not counting our chickens before they are hatched, but although it is likely to be a hard fight we are confident of winning. Ben Williams
Grimsby.
We shall will. We feel that our luck has now changed for the better, and we shall take the field at Goodison Park full of confidence. After all, why should not Grimsby Town go to Wembley? Priestley.
By the Pilot.
Let me say at once without equivocation that I expect Everton to win their fifth round F.A. Cup-tie with Grimsby Town at Goodison Park. Southport's chances, in my opinion are less rosy, but if they can strike the form they showed in their wonderful fight against Blackpool they will accompany Everton into the next round. Don't run away with the idea that Grimsby are "small fish." They are not. Everton know it but the knowledge is serving not to diminish confidence but to inspire even greater effort. If Everton should not win tomorrow it won't be for want of determined.
Reasons.
My reasons for so definitely fancying Everton are that they are clearly the form team, they are playing better football at the moment than they have for seasons; they have secured such a lead in the Second Division that they can enter the Cup-tie without any League anxieties; they have the team spirit and confidence so necessary to success, and, finally, they will be playing on their own ground. On the other hand, the Mariners have not been at all convincing this season prior to their last three matches, which they have won. Here are the club's League records to date;'
Home Away
Position Played Won Lost Drawn Won Lost Drawn For Against Points
Everton 1 28 12 1 1 9 2 4 94 42 46
Grimsby 18 29 7 4 2 3 11 2 50 63 24
Everton completed their training early today, and all the players are fit and well. Town are travelling to Liverpool today, having finished their preparation yesterday. I place great reliance on the ability of the Blues' three young, strong half-backs –McClure, Gee and Thomson –to hold up the Town attack and give the required support to their own forwards. In this line I think we have the key to the position. Tim Coleman, the Grimsby leader, is a tricky player, and did the hat trick last week, but I think Gee will more than master the former Halifax man. Everton's attack with Dean in such excellent shooting form, appears the more likely to get goals. There is balance and finish about the line. The ground is much better than it was, and with a continuance of the drying wind should suit both teams, though it is bound to be heavy. Teams; - Everton; Coggins; Williams, Cresswell; McClure, Gee, Thomson; Critchley Dunn, Dean Johnson, Stein. Grimsby Town; Read; Wilson, Jacobson; Hall, Priestley, Buck; Prior, Bestall, Coleman, Copper, Marshall.

EVERTON NEARER WEMBLEY
February 14 th 1931. Liverpool Post and Mercury
By John Peel
Main interest on Merseyside is centred in Everton's bid for the cup. At this stage the premier Second Division club is called on to face a First Division side in Grimsby Town, at Goodison park, and as this is the first home tie in five years, I am confident local enthusiasts will make the most of the opportunity to see and to revel in a game which promises all the thrills associated with the knockout tournament. The match undoubtedly has a special appeal for it is recognised that Everton at the moment are one of the finest sides in the country while Fate has decreed that they are to have a chance of revenge against a team which was instrumental in administering the blow which sent Everton head long into the Second Division. I do not consider that relegation was a terrible disaster, though it may have hurt the pride of one of the League's aristocrats, but all the same the club will relish the opportunity of turning the tables. Whether they will succeed, or be made to eat humble pie, depends, very largely on the magic element trucked away in the Cup lucky bag.
Class should tell.
On form, however, there should be no two opinions, for Everton have the advantage of playing at home, have the confidence born of a great run of success, and as a team they appear superior to their opponents. At the same time Grimsby Town since the Arsenal defeated them them 9-1 at Highbury have won three League games, and I am prepared for a great fight on their part. Still, Everton should win with something to spare. It will be the shocker of the round if they fail. Both sides are full strength.

GOODISON SCENES AND GOALS
Liverpool Echo - Saturday 14 February 1931
THREE GOALS IN FOUR MINUTES; TWO FOR STEIN
THRILLS AT OVERCROWDED CORNER
FIRST CUP-TIE GOALS AGAINST EVERTON
SIXTY THOUSAND PEOPLE LOOK ON FLUCTATING AND FASCINATING STRUGGLE
FISHERMAN NET TWICE IN TWO MINUTES TO LEVEL
By Bee
Everton; Coggins; Williams, Cresswell; McClure, Gee, Thompson; Critchley, Dunn, Dean, Johnson, Stein.  Grimsby Town; Read; Wilson, Jacobson; Hall, Priestly, Buck; Prior, Bestall, Coleman, Cooper, Marshall.  Referee; Mr. W. Thomas, Walsall. 
After languishing in the wilderness of Cup-ties away from home for a period of five years, Everton F.C. to-day made their appearance at home, having been drawn to face Grimsby in the fifth round of the English Cup.  It was an occasion of extraordinary scenes in the city and on the ground.  In the city the tram queues stretched as far as North John-street and nearly to the top of that street.  Every ticket had been sold, and scenes such as were witnessed at Goodison Park to-day reminded one forcibly of the year that Newcastle United and Barnsley fought a replayed final-tie at this ground.  Then, as now, the great difficulty of stewards and police was the, corner of the ground where the grandstand, links up with the stand known as the “back of the goal “stand. Here there was a crush of a terrible character.  It began in a simple manner, but a quarter of an hour before the game it assumed ugly proportions. Women and boys were thrown pell mell over the heads of the spectators around this corner of the ground, this being the only place where the ground was crowded to a dangerous point. 
AMBULANCE CASES 
At one moment there were half-a-dozen ambulance cases stretched out along the touch-line. The police and the ambulance men concentrated on this awkward corner, and after first refusing  to allow the spectators who had "gone  over the top " to stay on the ground,  force of numbers convinced them that  it was better to let the incomers sit by the concrete wall.  Frantic appeals were made to the people to spread themselves nearer the goalmouth, but it was impossible for them to help themselves.  In among the spectators one noticed Shaun Glenville, and one regretted the  absence of a good friend from Grimsby,  Mr. Stookes, a Grimsby director, who  died this week, the Grimsby players  wearing a black armlet as a token of  respect.  By three o'clock it was estimated that there were 50,000 people present, but imagined this was an overstatement of case. Four well-wishers from  Rhuddlan came all the way  from Lime- street to Goodison Park in the only  hansom cab, "to see Everton win," as  they side
AFTER TWELVE MONTHS 
Everton appeared first and Dean gave the only mascot on the ground, a boy of five years of age, the first pass of the day.  The turf was at its best for the first time for three months. There were no eleventh-hour eruptions, and the all-conquering Everton side met exactly  the same eleven that beat them 4-0 in  the relegation match a year ago, except,  of course, that Coleman played for Robson, who has since been transferred.  Grimsby were fit to fight for a kingdom. The crowd buzzed into excitement as the preliminaries showed Everton winning the toss. Williams looked around him, and then decided to kick towards the Stanley Park end.  It was a thrilling send-off. Bestall opened the way, and Grimsby showed skill and ability in their first portion of play, but Everton then laid on thick and fast, Dean making a solid charge on Jacobson before be shot hard and high.
AN ESCAPE
Read fielded this catch admirably, and he followed it up with another catch of equal confidence from Critchley, who shot when swerving inwards.  Against that came a very dangerous looking move by Prior, whose shot fled along the line, and then passed outside.  This was an escape, and it served to show Everton’s needs of the moment.  They fought chiefly on the left of the attack, and Johnson had very bad luck when he was shooting hard to find the ball cannon against a defender.  Johnson accepted Stein’s quick throw-in, and although angled acutely, the inside left shot and Read made another of his catches.  There was just one period of poor play when each centre-half kicked foolishly and wildly, and a Grimsby defender, Hall, in his excitement misskicked to such an extent that there was a danger of his putting the ball through his own goal. McClure was more than usually artistic until he burst in upon Marshall unceremoniously. 
DUNN SHOTS 
Everton applied attack upon attack for the best part of a quarter of an hour, and, although Dean fell when about to shoot, Dunn was able to make two good shots. One was tipped over the bar by Read, the other skirted the goalpost and just missed its mark.  Dean and Critchley, in open- field effort, became entangled. Dean's header was possible to each man, but finally Dean was considered offside. Johnson made perfect passes, and Creswell raced to the extreme right flank, cleared the ball, and then scurried off to the left-back position, where Bestall threatened to do some damage. 
FINE COLEMAN GOAL
Johnson beat three men by perfect strokes, but as so often happens where good class football has been the resigning factor for a quarter of an hour the side that had been hammered by first-class footballers and many good shots gained the first goal.  It was a very simple affair, but a very praiseworthy shot.  Marshall had got the ball, and when he turned it to the middle of the goal.  Coleman rushed against Gee, and the latter fell to the ground, appealing for a foul.  Coleman’s reply was to proceed with the business in hand without delay, and he let out a very fine shot well into the right-hand corner, unbeatable, unstoppable.  Everton were surprised, but not unduly worried, as they would have been in their relegation days, and after Dean had found himself in front of goal, thanks to Johnson, he shot straight at the goalkeeper.  Then there was a debate about a free-kick taken by arrangement of Johnson with a definite purpose, and after those minutes of excitement wars crowded into this game. 
TWO FOR STEIN 
Stein scored at the eighteenth minute and the twentieth.  The inside forwards helped the  Scottish left-winger to make his mark, but it can be truthfully stated that the  force of the first scoring shot for Everton  made the top netting of the goal " Sing "  with the repercussion, so that it was a  case of the Stein song and the twine sing.  Stein always bit a ball extremely hard, and be scored four here against Plymouth to begin the New Year well, but he never in his entire career crashed the ball with the venom of his equalising goal today.  The crowd bellowed, and before the strains had died down they yelled their pleasure that Stein had taken the lead.  Dunn exhorted Critchley to go well up the field, and this movement and the canniness of Dunn created a goal after Read had had a lucky escape. Johnson shot, and the struck the goalkeeper's arm and travelled on to the side of his face. He had escaped for the moment only, because Stein was soon on the spot and crashed the ball for a goal mark and a joyful lead.  Everton had fought back in five minutes with a will and skill that had pleased the multitude, but Grimsby were not done with, and one was rather surprised to see Gee toiling at the heels of Coleman.  Marshall, for instance, was very able on the left wing, and one of his shots was taken securely by Coggins; while Johnson, at the other end, shot high over. Grimsby were shocked if not stunned by the course of events, but they were a very gallant aide and puzzled the Everton defenders to the point they began to use the offside trap.  Twice Read fell, and twice he took a risk of injury in very sporting manner,  once from an upraised leg by Dean, and  then, being crowded out by Critchley,  who stood sentinel over him, he threw  away with an overarm stroke such as  one sees in water-polo matches.  Williams back-heeled the ball as his only resource under difficulties, but McClure over-dribbled, and thus made a loophole in the defence.  Dean was yearning to keep up his goal record, and he had bad luck when a strong shot hit the foot of the post, and worse luck followed, because he was on top of goal, ready for a gift from Critchley when he was accidentally tripped, and a 3-1 lead was ruined.  It is worthy of mention that the goal Coleman scored to-day was the first against the Everton defence in this season’s
DEAN BORES THROUGN 
One would not call the Dean-Stein pair a music ball turn, because while Dean is comic. Stein is sombre, but in football matters these two have produced a lot of goals, and as a pair they are star engagements.  They showed their goal gag at the thirty-eighth minute, when Thomson, as is his custom, made a pass along the touch line, that Stein could centre at will.  Stein knew exactly where to find Dean, and the ball was put into the middle so that it became a question of Dean’s race and header and Read’s hands and height. Dean got there first by a process best described as boring, and his header make the game 3-1 in thirty-eight minutes. 
BESTALL AND MARSHALL 
Then Coleman burst into song again, his first shot was of tremendous power, but swung out of range. A moment later  Buck, son of a former Liverpool footballer,  made a movement on the left  that brought Marshall into play with a  centre that ended with Bestall shooting  up against the right upright, from  which the ball cannoned over the line, to create consternation in the Everton  camp.  That was at the forty-fourth minute, and, amazing to relate. Grimsby found time to take a corner and score the equalizer in this sensational Cup-tie.  Cresswell was the centre-piece of this incident. He got his body across Bestall to prevent him centring, and a  corner which came thereby appeared to  be a simple matter until one saw Cresswell  slip up and instead of kicking up  the field he merely turned the ball  twenty yards up where Marshall, the  inside left, had become centre forward  for the moment.  Bang went the goal, and off came Marshall wearing a broad grin, the score being 3-3 after a score of 3-1 two Minutes from the interval. This was real Cup-tie stuff!  Half-time.—Everton 3 Grimsby 3.
EIGHT GOALS AT GOODISON
EVERTON BEAT GRIMSBY IN THRILLING SCORING DUEL
A CROP OF SIX, THEN TWO
JOHNSON CLINCHERS
VERY HARD BATTLE OF VARYING STYLES 
Everton have duly passed into the joy of the next round of the F A. Cup, had thus the critics, who looked for a double event, have yet another chance of seeing this accomplished.  It was extremely grim fighting at Goodison Park, although the Grimsby side had their fortune in the closing stages of the first half.  It was a very fine battle from first to last, yet Everton, on the day, were the superior side, and with a little more definiteness in front of goal they would have brought oven more goals than the five that were duly heralded.  Johnson, to my mind, was outstanding in his brilliance, yet Stein was the deadly man when it was most needed—that is, after Coleman had been the scorer.  It was a real test to Everton, and they tired through perpetually running about and through the fierceness of Grimsby's work, their attacking line being their best feature.  Everton deserve great praise for having beaten a First Division side after the first goal of the day had gone to the other side—a very important point in a Cup-tie.  Coleman's opening goal was the first scored against Everton in the Cup-ties this season.  The impressions of the first half were summarized into one belief, namely, that Grimsby were very emphatic in front of goal; that Gee had been a trifle below par, and that goal crop had made the game an astonishing one.  Read, a big, tall goalkeeper, ran out with precision and decision to take a Johnson pass, and Prior replied by slowing a centre over the bar—a waste.  Stein returned the compliment by trying a first-time shot as a venture, and the ball sent out of all reckoning.  The game had been clean and without injury of any kind, but at this moment a foul on Johnson led to a terrific discussion.  At the fiftieth minute Everton claimed they had scored a leading goal. Stein took the free kick, Johnson carefully coveted the view of the goalkeeper by walking across his sight, and the bell appeared to pass everyone and cross the line on the right-hand side of the goal.  Everton jumped for joy, and then had their hearts broken because the referee said the ball had not crowd the line.   There were protests and appeals to the referee, who was asked to consult the linesman, but refused.  In the end the teams went on with the business in hand, and when Cresswell was beaten by Coleman nothing seemed more certain than a goal to the visiting side.  Coleman shot outside  Dean, without being " policemen,"  was being carefully watched, and  Grimsby were now playing with superb  confidence, yet one of the host shots of  the match came from McClure a high  awkward ball that Read punched up  and over 
PENALTY APPEALS 
Everton made vigorous appeals for a penalty when Critchley put in a corner and Stein in a collision went to earth.  A remarkable feature of the play thus far was the fact that Coggins had one save in the best part of an hour, which was something like his experience when he made his debut in Everton’s team against Grimsby in a 4-2 result.  Robson scoring the four goals.   Territorially Everton were still  masters of their Cup-tie fate, yet the  Grimsby forwards were earnest and  sharp, so that it was still anybody's  game and one hoped and looked for an  improvement at centre-half, where Gee  had not touched his normal form.  Everton were near scoring through Johnson and Stein at there was a palpable push by Dean that escaped the referee it was good to see there was no goal from this incident. Hall met Everton's best wing, and was a very rugged half-back. 
DEAN SANDWICHED
Dean called his men to “come up,” the side was crowding on attack upon attack, but no shooting was being recorded.  Dean had the misfortune to get sandwiched fora moment when he threatened to go right through the Grimsby backs.  Bestall had a chance, and Read followed with a save from a centre, when Johnson, Stein, and Thomson had brought out their famous trinity movement.  Critchley tried to squeeze the ball into the blory-hole, and while doing so Read was hurt. When Read recovered, Coleman lapsed into an error uncommon for him.  On the other hand, Stein made a full-fledged shot that Read caught securely, and be also took a long drive by Gee.  Where there had been goals there were now groans. It was an excessively hard game, full of good sport and possibilities. McClure went down with a damaged ankle, this being one of the few stoppages of the day. Bestall was quite a  commandant when dribbling in close  quarters, and tall Cooper should have  done better than kirk over the ball presented  to him by the smallest man on  the field— if one excepts the local  mascot. 
JOHNSON REGAINS LEAD 
Dunn had no pace, and Critchley shot over after Dean had done a dribbling turn within half a yard of space. It was really remarkable how Everton could have so much of the game without the fire of a goal-shooting finale.  No sooner had I said that than Thomson linked up in a now-famous left-wing partnership. Stein receiving the ball and passing it back towards the inside left position. Johnson finally shooting low, true, and fast, in the extreme left-hand corner of the goal net.  The great joy of the crowd and the hearty leap of the scorer were followed by a disappointment that McClure and Marshall should collide with bad results for Marshall, who was off the field while the Everton right wing was mowing lip space and offering a chance of Dean making a goal. 
A PENALTY 
Dean was undoubtedly "crossed,” but it struck me as being anything but a foul. However, the referee was the only judge, and he ordered a penalty kick Johnson scoring at a point to which Read had not gone; in fact, Read slipped down when about to make a move towards the shot. Grimsby fought to the bitter end a very gallant and brave fight, what time the crowd chanted the refrain.  “We want six.” Coggins made a half-save and then gripped the ball, risking injury, but saving the goal in this most exciting Cup match.  Everton 5, Grimsby Town 3. Attendance 65,534; gate receipts 4,801.  The attendance is not a record, being 1,000 less than in a game with Liverpool Football club. 

CITY RES V EVERTON RES
Liverpool Echo-Saturday February 14 1931
Both sides gave a first class display of football but the Everton forwards were weak near goal.  Cook, Griffiths, and Britton were outstanding and Sagar kept a fine goal.  Martin and Webster played well in midfield, but failed with good scoring chances.  The home side were very strong at half-back.  Syme and Payne scored for the home team in the first half, and Wrightson scored twice and Bray once in the second half.  Manchester City Res 5, Everton Res 0

STUD MARKS
Saturday, February 14 1931 Liverpool Echo
By Louis T Kelly

ENTER GEE, THE YOUNG PIVOT
Liverpool Echo - Saturday 14 February 1931
By Bee
Charlie Gee—not to be confused with  George Gee, the comedian. Yet Charlie a breezy young boy.  He came to Everton with a dark complexion, a trusty left foot, and a prospect of languishing in the second division of team ranks for a longish time.  Griffiths was in the first team; he had taken charge of the position. But as showing how easily a man falls by the wayside, it is only necessary to show that Gee, after playing great stuff at Swansea, suddenly left the firm team because Griffiths was fit for service again. And on the day of the game-an important cup-tie—Griffiths fell out of the team, fearing he would break down or not do himself justice. Gee went in.  In a trice he had his overcast of ready for the word “Go." I believe he put it on again, at request, but then came an S.O.S, and Gee jumped into the nude and went into the cup-tie as if he had played for Everton for 30 years.  Gee, like James Jackson, comes through a ruck of players with the ball at his toe as if the crowd was made for his special benefit and he was used to crushes.  He came from Stockport, as did Critchley. Fielding went from there to Grimsby. The Stockport side has been alive with "provides' for the senior side, from the time Tiny Fayers was in their ranks.  Gee is one of the best they have ever sent from the old town.  His form has been so breezy and bright that one wonders how other teams could miss him. But is it not the fact that he is a great copyist, and is he not apeing the best people of the club?  If that is not the case, how is it that he makes a dribble in front of his own goal, and you have no qualms about his “nerve”?
The answer is that this, a tall young man, a strong young man, and a natural-born footballer, must never lose his head or his good conduct marks, or else his play will deteriorate. He has the flair for doing the Creswell tactics, and no one believes the hall will be taken from him. The confidence of the man is rather startling; the enthusiasm isn’t startling. It is catching, and the improvement in Everton's forward form can be traced down to the moment when a constructive ball-back line got moving smoothly and the darkie from Stockport began to make his presence felt. He can shoot, too, and has been unlucky save that in one game he was faulted for a goal, worried about it, was told to forget it, "or else go up and get one yourself."  Typical of the man, he went up and got a goal against Bury in the last moment of play.  A comedy man off the field, but on the field a stern merchant with fine control and a passing notion that makes me believe he will be a truly great pivot.  He has only to grow in his game, keep on learning, and forget the flattery of those who would be first to decry him.  Let him follow in his father's steps; he can then do no wrong.  I want to see him get on. I want him to succeed. I am confident of him, and everyone will join in saying "Well done” if he, like many another young player before him, does his part fairly and does it ably—as at present.  This is 1931.  Think of 1941. Charles.  And remember what "Bee" said in 1931." 

EVERTON 5 GRIMSBY TOWN 3 (F.A Cup Game 129)
February 16 th 1929. Liverpool Post and Mercury.
Everton Rally to Win
Tough Tussle with Grimsby Town
Home Forwards the Deciding Force
By "Bee."
Everton have been away from Goodison Park for five years of Cup struggle, and, returning on Saturday, they were heralded by a crowd of 65,534. Representing £4,801, and producing 73 cases of attention by the St. John Ambulance Brigade two of the number being sent to hospital through the squeezing process at the bottle-neck between the two stands at Goodison-road. Everton did not play as a team as well as they had done at Crystal Palace. Charlton, or Swansea. There was a distinct drop in the work of Gee and McClure, while Cresswell made an error that left him sad at heart as the team left the field at half-time. Gee produced his best, and the form that made him famous, in the last ten minutes. McClure had a collision, and was not the dependable sure tackler that he has been in the last four weeks, yet Everton beat Grimsby 5-3, thereby adding to their list of revengeful acts this season with teams that have made them smart under the previous meetings.
Dangerous Raids.
The Everton forward line won this game. Grimsby were always apparently extremely dangerous when they broke away, yet this was contradicted by the remembrance that three Everton players were below standard, and Coggins had little to do. It was possibly fear of Grimsby forwards, not belief in them, and the outstanding line of this memorable Cup-tie was centred in the Everton forward line working in beautiful concerted action. The fluctuation certainly added zest to the game, and the big crowd that overlooked beyond the barriers had full value for its money. Grimsby scored first –that was the first surprise, and all against the trend of the play when Coleman placed the ball into the corner of the net at 15 minutes. Everton were not perturbed, and Stein quickly nullified this point with a goal at 17 minutes, the result of a terrific drive, while 3 minutes later the same player put them ahead following a half save by Read when he stopped, but failed to clear a shot by Johnson.
Dean Heads Through.
Everton justified their lead, and although Grimsby struggled hard it was due mainly to the good work of their defence that they kept their goal form further disaster till Dean headed through from a centre by Stein at 38 minutes. A lead of 3-1 seemed good enough to wit, and it was not more than Everton deserved. Then came a goal to Grimsby that few were prepared for. Bestall scoring at 44 minutes later by a goal by Marshall that made the game all square 3-3 –at the interval. Thus the contest fluctuated remarkably in a very short period, and what had looked like an easy win for Everton meant more hard labour with the result again in the balance. Everton, however, tackled the problem with grim earnestness, and although it was not until the 77 th minute that Johnson gave them the lead again it seemed only a question of how long the Grimsby defence could withstand the persistent hammering of the Everton forwards.
Johnson Settles the Issue.
Ten minutes from the end, Dean was brought down near goal, and from the penalty kick , which followed Johnson, scored with ease. That was the end of Grimsby's hopes. Throughout they played with great spirit and a fair amount of skill. They had the tonic effect of the first goals and two goals near the interval that were hardly justified on the play. Yet Everton triumphed by superior craft and a confidence that refused to be subdued even when goals did not materialise as expected. It was good thrilling football and at times Everton touched their best form. Of the forwards Johnson was outstanding. Many of Everton's best movements were engineered by Johnson, and he frequently shot well. Dunn did not quite reach the form that has made him as prominent in recent games, but he did much neat and effective work. Obviously Dean was marked for special attention, although that did not prevent him being a trustful and clever leader, while Stein and Critchley were smart and dangerous raiders. Thomson was the most satisfactory performer in the middle line and Williams was better than Cresswell although both did a fair amount of good work. Cresswell, however, seemed to be at fault when Marshall equalised a minute from the interval. The work of Coggins was simple when compared with that of Read, who was one of Grimsby's success. Many daring and clever saves were credited to Read, while Johnson was a sound back. Others who did well were Hall, Bestall, and Prior. Teams; - Everton; - Coggins, goal; Williams (captain) and Cresswell, backs; McClure Gee, and Thomson, half-backs; Critchley, Dunn, Dean, Johnson, and Stein forwards. Grimsby Town; - Read, goal; Wilson and Jacobson, backs; Hall, Priestly (captain), Buck, half-backs; Prior, Bestall, Coleman, Copper, and Marshall, forwards.

MANCHESTER CITY RESERVES 5 EVERTON RESERVES 0
February 16 th 1931. Liverpool Post and Mercury
Central League (Game 27)
Everton Reserves were completely outclassed, at Maine road by Manchester City Reserves, who won by five goals to nothing. In the first half Everton had a fair share of the game, but their forwards lacked finish with the consequence that they were in arrears at half-time by two goals to nil. After the resumption the City Reserves took command of the game and eddied three further goals without response. The City goals were obtained by Wrighton (2), Tyne, Payne, and Bray. Everton; - Sagar, goal; Cook and Lowe, backs; Britton Griffiths, and Tower, half-backs; Wilkinson, Martin, White, Webster, and Leyfield, forwards.

EVERTON SUPPORTERS DREAM OF WEMBLEY
February 16 th 1931. Evening Express.
By the Pilot.
I am told that some Everton supporters already are making arrangements to go to Wembley for the Cup Final, to see Everton win the cup. Their optimism is justified, although Everton will need to finish up unevenness they deserved on one or two occasions in the fifth round tie with Grimsby. These little troubles are mainly defensive. Cresswell was not Cresswell at his best. His first half lapses on Saturday must have upset the calculation of the half-backs and until he find his feet in the second half, conditions was always inclined to sacrifice his usual thoughtful constructive work on the alter of "Safety First." It was occupied too much with covering and the Everton attack suffered. Gee, too, was uncertain, especially early on. He seemed to require time to get into his stride, and in the process he to was prone to retreat. My one and other criticism concerns Everton's match forward line, who undoubtedly took all the honours. It a small point, but worth consideration. Is that Critchley, on two occasions in the second half, hesitated to cut in and run when he had really gilt-edged chances of scoring. I realise that an inside man is always at the disadvantage of having to shoot from more less acute angles, but sometimes it better to take the shot than risk the comparatively short inside pass which might be intercepted. Critchley figured in two of these instances in the Grimsby match.
Johnson the Key Man.
And now for a word of praise. Everton were worthy winners, but commendation goes to the Town for their gallantry and work. Everton were a cohesive band. Each man worked in harmony and sympathy with his colleagues. Grimsby were quite as honest in their endeavour but they did not collaborate like the winners of display such shrewdness.
Easy for Coggins.
Everton had fully three parts of the game and were always banging away at a brilliant defence in which three half backs played a sterling part. Read, the Grimsby goalkeeper, was always in the pluckiest of the fight, and yet Coggins did not have four really difficult shots to stop the game through. That shows the difference. Read was heroic at times and lucky at others. He took risks which came off, the revealed uncanny judgement and rightly more than once. He and the defensive brainy Bestall were the key men of Grimsby. Bestall was as good as any man on the field and if some of his schemes had been correctly anticipated by his confreres greater success might have attended the efforts of the Fishermen. Everton also had a key man. This was Johnson, to my mind the best player on the field. No man could have worked harder; no man could have made things easier for his partner; no man could have done spade work and then slightly crept out of the limelight. It was fitting that Johnson should get the finishing goals. Some of his passes went astray, but he made more than anyone else, and helped both flanks alike.
Williams's fine Example.
Stein and Thomson completed a left side, which had few faults. Stein was as irresistible mood and hardly wasted a pass, while his shooting was both opportunism and accurate. Behind was the throughful, strong and untiring Thomson. Dunn had every move and artifice at a command, and exploited them fully. In the centre was the electric Dean, always a sharpshooter, always the fine leader, and always well watched. Dean did not mind being "policed" as it meant that others were getting the openings. Williams was the best back on the field. He was an intrepid intervener, hard tackler, and careful kicker. It was ideal cup football with the pendulum swinging first one way, then the other. The issue was never satisfactorily settled until the final whistle blew. Everton are now in the last eight for the first time since 1921, when Wolverhampton Wanderers defeated them by a single goal at Goodison Park.
To Meet Barnsley on Wednesday.
All Everton players Report Fit.
All the Everton players have reported fir for Wednesday's re-arranged Second Division match with Barnsley at Goodison Park. McClure, who was carried off the field shortly before the finish of the cup match was suffering from cramp and is ruled all right again. The team will be selected at the weekly Directors meeting tomorrow evening.

EVERTON BEGET SUCCESS AND GIVE GREAT DELIGHT
Liverpool Echo - Monday 16 February 1931
THE LAST EIGHT 
Bee’s Notes
Steadily, shoulder to shoulder—these Everton, Southport, and Exeter sides proceed from success to success. Success begets success in Everton's case. I congratulate them upon wearing down a First Division side and giving us a line towards the possibilities of next season.  When they have swamped a Third Division side in the Cup-I have given the full strength of that victory—judged it for what was worth and entailed some people’s wrath. We are dealing with Trinity Swifts when tackling the Everton F.C. That is the reason for my high and keen scrutiny of all their games. Now we have seen there in action against a  First Division side—not one of the top  lot, but certainly one of the sides that  had done work sufficient to install them in the danger list through their victories  over West Ham and others. Secretary Gillow, the former player, told me at mid-day on Saturday that he had great confidence in an away victory because this team was playing so extraordinarily well that it was against the games they had played that they should he thinking or fearing relegation. Well, they showed us some stern stuff on Saturday, and the 65,000 people who looked on were, doubtless, unanimous that here was a fine fighting spirit, a lot of first-class football, even for a Cup-tie, which generally eschews craft for graft. I enjoyed every moment of it. 
THE STORY-TELLER 
Yet the game had many contradictions. Coggins, for instance, had little to do compared with Read, the daring and risky. Coggin, knows his Grimsby.  He has to let one or more pass by and have no show against them. It had been that way in the relegation battle between the teams a year ago. No, Coggins had little to do. Yet Coleman took the lead after Everton had started sufficiently heartily, and well, and cleverly to have damaged most defences for the rest of the day. Grimsby's defence asked for more. They even went on the defence in the second half.  That was asking for trouble, because unmistakably Everton had been succeeding because of their powerful forward line; not from the usual measures, Gee having had a lean time and looking rather laboured. So we find that in two minutes before half-time Everton have sacrificed a lead of 3-1 (made in incredibly short time) to a draw of 3-3.  Grimsby were dangerous-looking every time they moved up. They were so sharp short in their needs and swift in their sweeping passes that they looked ominous. Especially as some of our  men were not playing so well as usual,  Creswell being apparently worried over  his fatal mistake on half-time when  Marshall scored If Grimsby were so  noticeable in their danger, how comes  it that Coggins had so little to do? Does it not infer that the look was worse than the outlook? Or that Grimsby had their spice of fortune near half-time, and then were well beaten; but we had fears of put season's memories being revived?  I think so. Certainly the game was a story-teller in many respects. 
FURTHER SAMPLES 
Other inconsistencies were the finale of the failure, Gee. He wound up in the last ten minutes with just the sort  of stuff he had been doing in previous  games, close sure dribbling and  security when it was most needed, because without denial Everton had  run themselves out by the early stages  when they had sought to make a commanding lead. McClure did not give his wing much rope with his rousing tackles and body strength, and through it all Thomson was the demure and secure half-back. Now this game was won by the forwards, yet I am trying to find Bestall was the equal of Johnson, the supreme forward, who “made" the victory, not so much by his late on goals, but by reason of his superb passes—passes that made his fellow forwards go on with the ball and eat up the defensive space. Stein will agree with me, I'm sure. This young man of sombre mien has come out of his lethargic reserve team way, and is dashing in to success, aided by his half back and by Tom Johnson’s superb play. Dean dashed hither and thither; it was not his hectic day, but he had a wealth of meaning applied by those glance-headers and by his ankle-passes. The right wing varied a trifle—it often does—but there was much "meat" in their dish, and I enter them in the honours list with the whole forward line when doling out the praise.  It was the forward line that won this game, yet I would not forget to mark the determined display of the captain.  Williams. Of the Grimsby side we can say they played hard and somewhat striking football: Bestall deserved a better reward. Coleman's shooting is such that he is another Camsell, with promise of being more dependable: Marshall is rather light, but he is a bright performer, and at half-back there is strength and much wisdom. A hard-fighting side—they made us quiver to the final kick: they merit our hand.  The winners merit another stage of Cup-tieitis. They seem to thrive on these continuous performances of what really form a chain of Cup-ties!  Working off the old sores, and having laid low Grimsby, Crystal Palace, and Port Vale in the league register, we now come to the Barnsley game of Wednesday, when there is a point at the point of the dagger of revenge. Everton seem to be working off all their old sores this season. I know they want to be drawn against Chelsea to “wipe another off the slate." 

THE CUP TIE ORDER 
Liverpool Echo - Monday 16 February 1931
Everton Receive S’port “Shock “Team 
"DERBY DAY" FEATURES 
By Bees
Southport, the shock side, has to go to Everton's ground for the next round.  The sixth round of the English Cup could not have been drawn with a better eye to geographical and football interest.  Southport’s second away visit of the tournament occurs this 'time, and Everton having broken the ice of home icicles in five years now get a touch of fortune.  Everton have in turn met 
A Second Division side, and  A Third Division (South) side,  A First Division side,  A Third Division (North) side.  Thus they will have met every grade of opposition.  Never have they met Southport before in an English Cup-tie, although they have tackled them in a Lancashire Senior Cup series, and they have visited the side in connection with the Central League games.  Last night I had a telephonic communication with the honorary manager of the Southport Club. Alderman Clayton, J.P.  He said: "We should dearly love to have a tilt at Everton."  I said: " I'll 'phone you the happy verdict to-morrow about three o'clock."  To-day Alderman Clayton got his wish, and in an interview from a Southport Corporation committee-room he said: 
THE TEAMS GO AVISITING
 “This is a delightful experience. We have never met before, and this is going to be our special gala day. We know what we are up against, but we have taken all-comers in the same style; we are eleven; they are likewise; we must have our chance to create the greatest Cup surprise the tournament has ever known.  "The tie will lead to a lot of visiting cards being issued.  "We are playing at home to-morrow, and of course the Everton players and officials will be present to see us.  “Then next day there is the Everton game at Goodison against Barnsley, and we on our part shall go to the game to take notes and compare matters of moments for the great day of Saturday week.” 
Wanted Chelsea
I could not get the Everton secretary, Mr. Macintosh, because he was watching for talent at the Rochdale ground where Halifax were engaged.  But an official of the club said, “Of course we are glad; we are glad to receive anyone, rather than make these continual visits to other grounds year after year.  We would have liked Chelsea because they are a side that has put us out of the Cup in recent times, and this season we seem to be wiping all the old scores off the slate.”
THE SIGNAL
Within five minutes of the “Echo” publishing the Cup draw, the Everton official-in-charge, Mr. John Fare, was inundated with calls.  Mr. Fare requests us to advise supporters that it is unless sending on money or making telephonic inquiries regarding the game until the prices are arranged.  The Everton directors will settle this point tomorrow night.

EVERTON TO TRAIN AT HOME
February 17 th 1931. Evening Express.
Cup Rivals take Stock of Each Other.
Southport "not Afraid."
Match of 36 Years Ago Recalled
By the Pilot.
Some of the Everton players were spectators at the Southport v York City League match at Haig Avenue this afternoon, making notes. Tomorrow Southport players will visit the Everton v Barnsley game at Goodison Park for the same purpose. As one of the Everton eleven remarked to me today; "One can't know too much about opponents, especially when a cup-tie is at shake." You see Everton are determined to leave nothing to chance –neither are Southport.
Mr. T.H. McIntosh tells me that the Goodison men are likely to continue their cup-tie policy of training at home for their sixth round match. This train-at-home policy is a new departure this season for Everton, and I know that players perfer it. The matter will be definitely decided at tonight's meeting of the directors. The draw has pleased Everton. Had they been allowed to choose which team they should meet in the sixth round of the F.A.Cup, there would have been an unanimous vote for Southport –at Goodison Park.
Not Certainty But-
As a matter of fact, no one connected with the club would have feared any of the surviving clubs at Walton. As Tommy Johnson said to me before the draw was made known; "if we are drawn at home we shall figure in the semi-final." When we heard of the Blues' good fortune he said "Splendid, it could not have been better. Of course, it is no certainty for us. Any team which reaches the last eight of the F.A.Cup is to be feared, but I do not expect Southport to upset us on our own ground." Ben Williams, the captain speaking of the draw to me today expressed satisfaction.
"We must not count our chickens before they are hatched," he said, "but I think we have a fine chance of reaching the Semi-Final. Seeing that this is my first season as captain I should like to get so far. "Southport cannot be treated lightly as their victories over Millwall, Blackpool, and Bradford signify; but Everton are playing so well just now that I am hopeful of our success."
When They Met Before.
Up to the present it has been the lot of Everton to avenge former defeats, but now Southport will be anxious to square accounts for the cup defeat inflicted on them by Everton in 1895, when the Blues visited Southport and won by three clear goals. That match was played on February 2, and the ground had to be swept of snow before it began. The teams were; Everton; - Williams; Kelso, Parry; Boyle, Holt, Stewart; Reay, McInnes, Hartley Chadwick, Bell. Southport central; - Gee; D. McLaren, Smith; Tattersall, Fryers, C. McLaren; Hasting, Brice, Halsall, Hollows, Whittaker. Everton gained a lead of two goals in the first half through bell, and in the second half Hartley bundled Gee and the ball into the goal for the third point.
Everton's game with Barnsley
A win Tomorrow will Mean Much.
Everton, by capturing all their remaining home points, can reach a total of 60 points for the season, a figure which should give them promotion. At the moment they are 10 points ahead of the third team, West Bromwich Albion, who, with also 14 matches still to play can secure 64 points by winning every game. Consequently, if Everton can defeat Barnsley at Goodison Park tomorrow afternoon, while West Bromwich are opposing Wolverhampton Wanderers at Wolverhampton the Blues will go a long way towards setting the seal on their return to the First Division. This will be Barnsley's first visit to Walton in opposition to the Blues, and the fifth meeting in Cup and League with Everton. I anticipate that Everton will win comfortably tomorrow.
Changes unlikely.
The team to do duty will not be chosen until this evening, but as all the players reported fir following the Grimsby Cup-tie I do not think there will be any change. The Blues' Cup side should prove too strong for the Yorkshire side. The league records of the clubs to date are.
Home Away
Position Played Won Lost Drawn Won Lost Draw For Against Points
Everton 1 28 12 1 1 9 2 3 94 42 46
Barnsley 19 28 8 5 2 0 8 5 34 47 23
It will be seen that Barnsley have yet to win away from home, and it will be something of a sensation if they do so tomorrow. Probable teams;
Everton; Coggin; Williams, Cresswell; McCLure, Gee, Thomson; Critchley, Dunn, Dean, Johnson, Stein.
Barnsley; Crompton; Dixon, Richards; Smith, Henderson, Caddick; Curran, Proudfoot, Wallbanks, Harvey, Gibbs.
Everton Football Club –League match at Goodison Park tomorrow (Wednesday), Everton V Barnsley. Kick off 3-15. Admission 1/- Boys 4d. stands extra including tax. Book seats at Sharp's Whitechapel.

EVERTON'S PROBABLE TEAM BARNSLEY
Liverpool Echo - Tuesday 17 February 1931
Bee’s Notes
This is the rush hour of sport, and particularly football. Southport were at home to-day to plain Mr. York; Everton  are at home to-morrow to Barnsley and  Caddick, their former player; and on  Thursday Southport, who are, of course, the team of the moment, in spite of  Everton, Chelsea, and everyone else, go  to Barrow to see how their former  manager, Mr. Commins, is getting along  in his new job.  If Southport continues in their winning strain and vein, they are entitled to be vain enough to imagine they can perform a double, because it is not out of the range of possibility for them to leap to promotion, especially if they win at Lincoln on Saturday.  Of course, they have only one huge desire at the moment, and that is to beat Everton on Saturday week. A correspondent points out to me the fact that Everton beat Southport 3-0 in an English Cup-tie many, many years ago, when the team was known as Southport Central.  This was away back in 1894, and it is not surprising that a young man like myself should miss this record in rushing the comment through last night.  The tie at Goodison Park on Saturday week will bring all Lancashire to the city, and another 60,000 attendance is in prospect.  Everton's team for to-morrow will be chosen to-night, but I understand it will show no difference from Saturday’s side, thus:—Coggins; Williams, Cresswell; McClure, Gee, Thomson; Critchley, Dunn, Dean, Johnson, Stein.  Brandley gave us a very hot game in the Yorkshire town in October, but their ground was so compact and confined that one does not fear a repetition of the draw that resulted there when the game is played to-morrow. 
WEDNESDAY MUSIC AT GOODISON PARK 
Owing to the men having to attend straight from work the band will not be in uniform.  Aigburth Silver Prize Band (Conductor Mr. J. Evans)-March, “Clear the Road” (Stanley); waltz, “Gypsy Melody” (Laurence Wright); fox-trot, “Say a Little Prayer” (Laurence Wright); selection, “The Desert Song” (Romberg); song march, Gorgonzola” (Lawrence Wright); March “The Paladin” (carter); March, “Deeds of Daring” (Rimmer). 
A FOOTBALL THEATRE
Meantime, in between time, let us think of the Lyric and its lyre.  The Lyric is a football theatre.  It lays mid-way between the Everton and Liverpool grounds, and this week the Everton footballers will be there on Thursday, Liverpool on Friday, and Southport tomorrow.
In an interview with Colonel G.  E. C. Simpson, corps superintendent  of the St. John Ambulance  Brigade, I learned that the corps  had twenty-five officers and men at  Goodison Park for the Cup-tie, and  they dealt with seventy-three cases,  most of them through crushing and  fainting at awkward Goodison-road  corner. Two were removed to hospital, one suffering from injuries to ribs, another through a fanlight injury causing the laceration of his to forearm.  A number of women were also attended.  The corps had Marshall, the winger of Grimsby, under their care for twenty minutes. He suffered from concussion through bumping into McClure.  The secretary of the corps, W. E.  Searle was congratulated by the club upon the work the corps had done during the difficult part of the day. 
THE LATEST 
This conversation I overheard at Goodison Park on Saturday, during the Everton-Grimsby Cup-tie:— “Do you think Everton stand a chance of winning the Cup and League?"  "What! win Cup and League?  If we had this team in 1914 we would have won the war."  —CYMRIC.

BARNSLEY AT GOODISON PARK
February 18 th 1931. Liverpool Post and Mercury
By John Peel
A Member of Football League games are down for decision today. Chief interest on Merseyside being centred in Everton's return game with Barnsley. Compared with the wonderful run in the Cup from 1910, the Yorkshire club has fallen on evil days, but they still have a side capable at times, of testing the best. They held Everton to a draw this season at Oakwell, but I expect the Goodison Park team to gain full points today.
A Cup Team
Barnsley's main history centres round the Cup. They have twice appeared in the final winning the trophy in 1911-12 when they beat West Bromwich after a draw and an extra half-hour in the replay. Today will mark the third occasion they have met Everton at Goodison Park, but each of the previous meetings have been in the Cup competition. The first met in 1909-10 in the first round, when Everton won 3-1, and then met again the following year in the semi-final round, when a goalless draw resulted at Leeds, and Barnsley won the replay at Old Trafford 3-0. They next came together in 1915-16 in the first round again, and the Goodison Park side were victorious by 3-0.
Their great struggle with Newcastle at Goodison Park in 1910 will always be remembered. The crowd was a record one and the ground in a terrible state on a wild day. Newcastle won in the end and took the Cup for the first time, after being beaten in three previous finals in five years.
Everton at Full Strength.
Everton will have their cup team on view. The club is not taking any chances in the promotion race, and the men are always keen to turn out to augment their record. A fast exposition of the code is likely, for I believe Barnsley, who defeated the champions in the cup, but lost to the Wolves on Saturday are capable of testing Everton to the full. The kick off is at 3-15, and the Everton team will be; Coggins; Williams, Cresswell; McClure, Gee Thomson; Critchley, Dunn, Dean, Johnson, Stein. The Everton Reserve team to meet Manchester united at Manchester, on Saturday is; Sagar; Cook, Lowe; Britton, Griffiths, McPherson; Wilkinson, Martin, White, Webster, Rigby.

A LOOK AT THE SEMI-FINAL SIDE-EVERTON OR SOUTHPORT?
Liverpool Echo - Wednesday 18 February 1931
Bee’s Notes
Southport welcomed Everton F.C, players, and said: "How d'ye do?"  That was yesterday. Today Everton welcomed Southport F.C. at Goodison Park, and said: “This is how we do it."  A foretaste of what will be shown to Southport on Saturday week when the pair meet to decide which shall go to the semi-final tie. Saturday week is the last home cup-tie view of the Everton team. The remainder of the ties will be played at neutral grounds. Always providing Everton get through this tie.  I went over to Southport yesterday to see this shock side, and when Alderman Clayton had introduced me to the Mayor this Cup mascot, as he calls him), I was taken to renew acquaintance with a very dear and old friend Frank Jefferies. The idea was that I should heard the Southport shock side in their den. I expected to see a fierce eleven- shock side.
EVERTON TRAINING SECRETS 
Last season. “Oxo and Bisto." 
This season. “Brusso” and “Glitto” They are now a brilliantly polished side. 
E Everton, Easter Hero, Ellerby, Election and the "ECHO." 
C Conversion, Captain Campbell, Carnera, Cambridge, and Charity. 
H Harvey, Hodgson, Hammond.  Holidays, and Happiness. 
O Overseas. Orders, Oxford, Oxclose, and Osiris. 
S  Southport, Snowdon, Stadium, Spring-then Summer!

TWO FOR DEAN
Liverpool Echo - Wednesday 18 February 1931
CRITCHLEY SCORES THE NINETY-SEVENTH
BARNSLEY TERRIERS
GOODISON SIDE’S HUNDRED GOALS AMIBTION
By Bees
Everton to-day sought a revenge act against Barnsley, who had taken a point from them at the Barnsley game some months ago.  Southport F.C., next Cup-tie visitors, were present taking notes of Goodison Park form. Teams: Everton; Coggins; Williams, Cresswell; McClure, Gee, Thomson; Critchley, Dunn, Dean, Johnson, Stein.  Barnsley; Crompton; Dixon, Richards; Smith, Caddick, James, Wallbanks; Ashton, Proudfoot, J. Wallbanks, Harvey, Gibbs.  Referee; Mr. Bunnell, of Preston.   Everton kicked off before 17,000 people, and instantly they went off on the right wing, where the threat of a Critchley centre being transferred was nullified when Dean did not go forward to take the honour. The mud beat Dean a moment later when Critchley, full of promise, thanks to Gee's magnificent pass, forced a corner which suggested a goal to Stein.  Everton, with their ninety-four goals, were anxious to bring up the hundred to-day.  Stein was near with the first portion of this desire, and after Crompton, the goalkeeper, had thrown down the ball and was shocked to find it would not bounce, he slipped up in an endeavour to make his goal kick. 
DEAN OPENS 
Dean was the centre of much admiration on the part of the Yorkshire people.  When he was anyway troublesome Caddick, his former clubmate, stayed closer than a brother, yet when Johnson made one of his perfection passes to Stein, and Dean, with a beautiful shot, converted a centre, everyone was surprised to find the referee's whistle had gone for off-side.  From the stands it was an ideal goal.  In five minutes Everton had scored through Dean. This was some consolation for the disallowed point, and the manner of its making was worth special praise.  Johnson provided the pass, but with the goalkeeper and a full back leaving their positions to tackle Dean, Dean’s chance of squeezing the ball in was paltry, yet the hall was made to travel just over the line into the far right-hand corner. 
PROUDFOOT EQUALISES 
The joy of this point was soon curbed, because Proudfoot tried a simple-looking shot from a long range, and everyone was surprised to see the ball beat Coggins, whose outstretched right hand could not take the high ball.  Two goals in three minutes was reminiscent of Saturday's Cup-tie, but Everton appeared to think naught of the surprise goal against, Dean taking a chance very swiftly. Crompton diving to make a daring save, after which Stein hit the side netting and Dunn headed just over the bar.  Dean and a full back collided, and the home centre was about to leave the field when he felt the injury to his forehead did not matter. Dean was but one of a number of prominent players, and his overhead hook for Dunn was one of the choicest things of the day. 
CROMPTON THE BACKBONE 
Gee and McClure were playing their best game, and Crompton, although he  misfielded one ball, recovered possession, and in general was the backbone  of his side. Yet Gee had to produce his best to stop a runaway raid by Barnsley.  The most entertaining period of play came when Barnsley had four processes of shots. Let us be quite fair to Barnsley. Everton saved each one, partly by good positional play and partly by good fortune.  First a shot from Ashton hit Cresswell on the head. A second shot by Ashton made a goal until Williams was seen until Williams was seen at the foot of the post kicking away. Wallbanks and Proudfoot had simple tasks to rejoice in the rebound, but they failed in their crowded portion. 
DEAN AGAIN
Everton realized their fortune, and Dean went on to make three typical efforts, the first a glorious shot slightly over the bar, the second a solo in which he turned the ball slightly to the right, and then shot the leading goal to the left-hand side of the goal. 
CRITCHLEY SCORES THIRD 
Before half-time Everton had the good fortune to enjoy a penalty kick for an alleged foul by Caddick on Dean, Johnson missing the mark, and thus giving Dean a chance of his "hat-trick."  Actually Dean could have thought  nothing of this personal performance, because it was he who unselfishly gave  Critchley the third goal to the home  side after Crompton had half-parried  the ball from the right-winger.  Dean's dribbling speed and perfect control were a menace to the red jerseys and a joy to the crowd.  Half-time.—Everton 3, Barnsley 1.  Everton resumed on the attack against a team that was bound to be feeling stale after the running about they had suffered in the first half.  Critchley over-ran the ball, and Dunn could not quite get round Richards to take a gift offering.  Critchley shot hastily and hot with a ball that struck the side net, and Proudfoot, helping the defence, deserved a pat on the back for his endeavour and skill.  Everton walked through the second half with one eye on Cup-tie and the other on the security of their legs, although Barnsley were never suggestive of anti-football rules in their endeavour to break down the matter-of-fact superiority of the Everton side. 

EVERTON'S CUP TIE TRAING
February 18 TH 1931. Evening Express.
To begin in Earnest Next Week
By the Pilot.
Everton will not begin their real Cup-tie preparation until next week, owing to the mid-week Second Division match, and they will train at home. The directors decided this last night. The players will do a little training tomorrow and on Friday morning in readiness for the Notts Forest game on Saturday, and then will follow a full week's training for the Southport Cup-tie. The Everton players' confidence in their ability to reach the semi-final was exemplified during the visit of some to the Southport v York City match (1-0). Everton are not disturbed by the form revealed at Southport yesterday and the opinion is that they will win, if they continue to play ordinary League game. Tickets for the match will be on sale on Friday. Prices will be advertised in Evening express.
Sports Pie
•  Mr. W.C. Cuff, the secretary of the Central League, states that the League has nothing to do with the circular which, undated and unsigned, has been sent to the clubs in the competition suggesting an extension of the League
•  Three Everton players have been selected to play for international trial teams.
•  Dean and Johnson for England and Coggins for the Rest at Highbury on March 4, in preparation for the final international game of the season with Scotland.

SQUARES OF BIRKENHEAD
Liverpool Echo - Wednesday 18 February 1931
NO.1 – HAMILTON SQUARE
“THE FINEST IN ENGLAND”
By Fabian Lacon
“Echo" readers have been so appreciative of the series of articles on - The Squares of Liverpool" that an old Birkonian thinks they may be in some account of the Squares of Birkenhead. And though the casual one may not think so, there IS more than one square in Birkenhead—there are three as a matter of fact, the Square, the Market Square, and Holborn Square.  THE Square is, of course, Hamilton Square, than which there is no finer square in England. I do not say in the United Kingdom, because in design it is based on the model of a square in Edinburgh, its architect being Mr. Gillespie Graham. The first builders of houses in the square included Mr. William Laird, great grandfather of the present Lairds, and pioneer of iron shipbuilding, who commenced erection in 1826 of four houses, including the one now the Education Committee's offices. Mr. Thomas Forsyth, one of the first Improvement Commissioners, built another house; and then Mr. Thomas Brassey and others followed suit. But this individual erection was slow  work and the completion of the houses  of the square took up nearly twenty  years: while where the Town Hall now appears in all its glory was an open  site for forty years, forming a grand open-air space for the " Wirral Academy " in the back street facing it, 
Weeping Willow Remains 
Originally the gardens were enclosed and admission restricted to residents and their friends and retainers, and for years when I first started my commercial career at 63, Hamilton-square, in the private office of Birkenhead's first M.P., I used to spend much leisure in the sylvan glades of these gardens—for sixty years ago they were embowered in trees, ruthlessly destroyed, all but, appropriately enough, a weeping willow, when the present " improvements' were effected. In those days all the houses were occupied by wealthy private residents, all except one, one, No.  1, which for many years was old John C.  Ward's bookselling establishment. John C. Ward was usually denominated John Candle Ward from the fact that he issued a periodical quaintly entitled “The Composite," then the description of a well-known make of candle.  The houses were all well-built of white stone taken from the Storeton quarries, now being filled up again with salvage from the new Mersey tunnel.  In these quarries have been found the remains of the great creature Labyrinthodon, relic of thousands of years ago. 
THE SWEEP’S BOY
But well-built as were the houses, they still had peculiarities and windings in their chimneys which led to the use-forty years after abolition by Act of Parliament –f the sweeps’ climbing boys, the employment of whom Justin McCarthy so vigorously condemns in his History of England.  Going into the servants’ hall one day, in search of “yesterday’s papers,”  I caught a glimpse, as I opened the door, of a naked little boy suddenly flop himself into a heap of soot what time the sweep guffawed, and said to me, “Aw, he’s shy, he thought it was one of the women.”  I was so impressed by the appearance of the shivering, blackened, mite of a lad that I reported the incident to my M.P, employer, who not only stopped the employment of climbing boys in his own house, but used means to stop it generally.  And this incident was forty years after the passing of an Act prohibiting sweeps’ climbing boys, and the substitution of efficient appliances to replace them! 
THEW LAIRD HOUSE
A nephew of the family, on holidays from school, and myself were unwittingly responsible for improvement in the lighting of the houses in the square.  We used to drive through the square in the family brougham, and as we slowly passed the houses take aim at the windows with missiles from catapults, being careful, owing to my companion’s instinctive cannoiness, to aim only at the small panes of glass “so that the damage would not be so great.”  The result was the gradual replacement of all small panes by large sheets.  Perhaps the poor glaziers were blamed; the real culprits were never discovered.  There were always great crowds at the Laird House in the Square to celebrate the invariable victory of John Laird, but the real election excitement occurred in that other square of Birkenhead, market-square, of which more anon.  Next Week- Market Square

EVERTON 5 BARNSLEY 2
February 19 th 1931. Liverpool Post and Mercury
Everton's Non Stop run
Leaders Reach 99 League Goals.
Dean's Supreme Moments in Barnsley Match
Tommy Johnson Penalty Sent Wide, and Bar and Post also hit.
By "Bee."
There is no stopping those Everton forwards. They appear to be able to score at will. Nothing daunts them; nothing worries then; they march on towards the net of the opposition and score readily; so readily that they are really in danger of taking things too easily. Against Barnsley, the team that beat Sheffield Wednesday out of the English Cup, they went an even way for a long time. They thought nought of a seemingly good goal by Dean being put down as offside. This was a more detail. They would go on to collect some more. They got five, they missed a penalty kick thanks to Johnson slicing his drive, (Dean won penalty after Caddick grassed him) and they hit the upright and crossbar . But they could not get the one goal to make this game into a notable one by reason of the hundredth League goal of the season being recorded.
Elusive Century Mark
The crowd of 20,000 yearend for the goal called for the goal, and the Everton players caught the spirit of desire. They fought hard in the last few moments of play to try to gain their three-figure mark, but it did not come chiefly through a personal desire of two extremes wing men to get a goal when a pass inward would have been fatal to the Barnsley goalkeeper, Crompton who had his strokes of fortune and had played really well against an avalanche of attacks. So the result stood 5-2 and Everton have to wait a few days longer before they attain their desire and then go on to break the record of 120 goals. It was surprising there should be any difficult about getting six in this mid-week game. They were there for the asking, the defence of Barnsley being overrun. Let us see how the game progressed; dean got two, gave two –to Dunn, came near taking a bunch of goals for his own clever self, and Critchley added another goal. The response was provided by Proundfoot, a clever young forward, who scored both goals credited to the plucky Barnsley side.
Sound half-backs.
Some good fortune to the Everton defenc, which packed its goal early on, stopped Barnsley getting more goals. But the result was sufficiently unbalanced as it was. The score and the margin give no indication of the Everton forwards and half-backs. In defence, Everton were not so good –the goalkeeper had little to do and might have saved the first surprise goal, and Cresswell was not so good as usual, yet the half-backs McClure and Gee were incontestably their true selves yesterday, whereas in the cup-tie versus Grimsby they had been below par. McClure is suffering a calf muscle injury; but his speed is not impaired, and one of his solo runs right into the goalmouth might have brought a penalty kick for a sweeping tackle –of which he knows a good deal, because he is relentless in his tacklers. However, the margin was sufficient to carry Everton nine points in front of their nearest rival and they are sailing to promotion. Barnsley played Caddick usually a wing half-back, at centre half-back –thus he met a former club mate in Dean. Caddick strove hard to bring the defence into a proper positioning and playing the ball, but they were all powerless to stop the conquering Dean, who gave one of his brightest, fastest displays, and also one of his most unselfish games. His heading was as is usual with him, deadly and accurate, causing the ball to pass to a point at which his fellow forwards were about to advance.
Skill of Dunn
Dunn did much skilled work too, and the left wing was a trifle below its big style, chiefly through Stein having a day when his centre pulled outside. By the same token Critchley wasted many good chances by weak centring. However, with the improved form of Gee and McClure, added to the steadiness and sure touch of Thomson, the team gave little throught to trifle until the crowd urged them to take the hundred. Barnsley's best were Keen trying defenders, a lively goalkeeper Caddick at centre-half back, and a bright right wing in Proudfoot and Ashton, but the whole side was over powered by the brilliance of Dean and the general facility with which the forward line swept through the visitors by means of first class football skill. The Everton forward line can win these matches by its own unequalled brilliance; it is up to the defence to consolidate its position a little better than during the last two games. Teams; - Everton; - Coggins, goal; Williams (captain) and Cresswell, backs; McClure, Gee, and Thomson, half-backs; Critchley, Dunn, Dean, Johnson, and Stein, forwards. Barnsley; - Crompton, goal; Dixon and Richards, backs; Smith, Caddick, and James, half-backs; Wallbanks, Ashton, Proudfoot, J. Wallbanks, Harvey and Gibbs, forwards. Referee Mr. W. Bunnell, of Preston.

EVERTON SCORING FORWARDS
February 19 th 1931. Liverpool Post and Mercury
By John Peel.
Since December 27 th , when they defeated Plymouth Argyle by 9-1, Everton have enjoyed a riot of goal scoring, eight matches yielding maximum points in the League tournament while three F.A.Cup Cup-tie have been won, a run of eleven victories, with a goals record of 51 for and 14 against. Thirty of these goals I note, I have been scored in the last six matches, the list including two cup-ties; while eight goals have been recorded against the Goodison Park team. This is a most impressive record, and shows the power of the forwards backed up by an aggressive set of half-backs. The team was much superior to Barnsley yesterday, and Everton were rather unfortunate not to make their total League goals for the season 100, for the post and bar were hit and Johnson sliced his penalty kick, which sent the ball just wide.
Record to be Eclipsed.
The teams total, of 90 goals in the Second Division should be made into a record before long. Bradford City, in the Northern Section, with 128, holds the record for a season, but Everton should eclipse these figures. Notts Forest visits Goodison Park on Saturday, so that local supporters will again have the opportunity of seeing the forceful forward line in action, and probably the century of goals passed. Aston Villa and the Arsenal are Everton's closest rivals in the goals race. Including Saturday's match, Everton have six home and seven away engagements to fulfil.

THEY CAME; THEY SAW; THEY –ARE THINKING
February 19 th 1931. Evening Express.
What the Southport Think of Everton.
The Ground's The Thing.
By the Pilot.
After the match I spoke to some of the Southport players who witnessed Everton's 5-2 victory over Barnsley at Goodison Park, and they assured me that their only fear for Saturday week is the playing pitch. Vincent, the centre-half, said he considered Southport 100 per cent better than Barnsley. "We most certainly will put up a much better show against Everton than Barnsley did," he said.""Butt what a ground! It is more like a farmyard. The players seemed to have great difficulty in pulling their feet out of the mud. Of course it is equally bad for both teams." McConnell, the Southport Captain, said he did not think that Everton played as well as he had been led to expect. "We shall gave them more than they had today" he commented. My view is that Southport will have to contend with a very different Everton from that which they saw defeat Barnsley. The Yorkshiremen were purely a brave, sturdy set of defensive footballers who occasionally showed individual aggressiveness. On these occasions, it is true, the Everton defence did not inspire confidence. Thomson and Cresswell seemed to have lost their customary understanding and were often found out of position. Thomson often found out of position. Thomson moved up the field more than usual, and in these circumstances it would have paid better if Cresswell had tackled his outside forward opponent instead of simply feinting to tackle him and then holding off. This, no doubt, will be remedied for the Cup-tie.
Three Match Winners.
Southport spectators at the Barnsley match must have been impressed by Everton's three inside forwards, Dunn, Dean and Johnson –the men who were chiefly responsible for victory. Both Stein and Critchley seemed to think they alone should place the century on the telegraph. They shot at every opportunity while there were men waiting in the goalmouth to receive the passes. Moreover, their shooting was poor. They sacrificed direction for speed. Apart from the inside forwards and McClure, Gee and Williams, the team was not up to standard.
McClure's Great Match.
Barnsley struck me as being honest fighters who lack guile. Their defence was grand and sounder than that of the Blues. Though not blessed with height and weight their backs and halves tackled grimly and were never beaten. In addition Crompton was a fine goalkeeper who displayed keen judgement and showed a safe pair of hands. The forwards, however, want cohesive ability. McClure had a great match. He was the best tackler on the side, and his attacking was excellent. He knew just when to pass; while he was always ready for a quick dribble through. Coggins did well except when Proudfoot got the first of his two goals. Then the completely misjudged the flight of the ball.
Everton's team to meet Notts Forest.
Everton for their match with Notts Forest at Goodison Park on Saturday, make no change. Team; Coggins; Williams, Cresswell; McClure, Gee, Thomson; Critchley, Dunn Dean, Johnson, Stein.

EVERTON SO NEAR AND YET PUT OFF THE CENTURY DAY TILL SATURDAY
Liverpool Echo - Thursday 19 February 1931
 DEAN'S DELIGHTSOME GAME 
Bee’s Notes
The crowd yelled and yearned for the sixth goal against Barnsley not because they wanted to swamp the little Yorkshire side. They just wanted to be marked present at the game when Everton got their 100th league goal of the season. And they have to bear their patience until Saturday against Nottingham Forest. It is hard on them, but it is bearable! Oddly enough, the goals were there for the taking, but for once the extreme wingers took a violent liking towards cross-grained shooting and thus many balls were wasted. So was a penalty kick taken by Johnson, who sliced his  effort, and that was another reason why  Everton were called upon to say " 99”  when the crowd was keenly anxious  to celebrate the 100th goal. The record must go, because the Everton forward line is playing well enough to win all the games. They cannot afford to adopt a cocksure method, otherwise there will be a severe jerk, but certainly, so far as the league is concerned, the position is now such that Everton can look to their championship laurels. The lead is enormous and uncommon, and it has been brought about by a number of happenings. Dean's form yesterday showed one of the main reasons. I don’t remember a more subtle and yet a more deciding game than yesterday's.  His markings were generally threefold, yet he back-headed the ball and came near a goal; he scored two, gave two to Dunn, and, generally speaking, took charge of the game. But his speed through the mud, his delightful dribbling in close region—all these things were unmistakably the work of a man who must lead England against Scotland. They said he would never come back to his old form, it could not be excepted; they said Johnson was too slow! They said Thomson would not fit English football ideas; Cresswell was too old—they said these things; and across the Park they told us how Barton should be sent right about turn instead of outside right; they went on to tell Hodgson a few things he did not deserve. Spectator, do not be so dogmatic in your opinions. Recall your harsh words. 
IMPROVEMENT 
I am happy you saw the real Gee yesterday. It was a totally different man from that which struggled through the game with Grimsby. Incidentally, Grimsby had their chief scout at Goodison Park, and I think he went away empty-handed. He must by now wish he had a hand in these Everton victories, which come by fives, sizes, and sevens. Not only was Mr. Gillow looking on—there was the Southport side and Frank Jefferis, and they were duly impressed. But they say "Southport is a seaside place; Barnsley could never be called that which means-look out for squalls!  Not only did Gee show his "away” form, but McClure introduced a speed and sure tackle despite his injured muscle that made the Barnsley left wing crumble up. Add the tonic of Thomson's touches, and you had the key position towards stopping the Barnsley rushers, who have to depend a good deal upon their pace and bigness of heart. Dunn added his topical touches and a shot or two, and if we I would be churlish we should point to the extreme wingers as not being satisfying in their finishing points. Similarly, we should say that the easy-go-easy-come nature of Cresswell was liable to produce goals—against. Cresswell  has had been amazing in his ability--chiefly  away from home and when Everton  were having their awkward moments in  October, November, and December it  was Cresswell who stood out like Horatius. Let us not forget these vital months of play. 
WAITING THE WEEK-END 
Saturday's game against the Forest is another of those away draws that must be made into a home win—Forest could blame themselves for not winning the first meeting in the first half. We shall all be waiting for the week end, and I among the number, because after having arranged to go to Leeds I have to revoke. There is a reason for it— Anfield—and I apologies for seeming neglect. However, I must be at Goodison Park on Saturday. Meantime, just remember that Everton have scored 42 goals this year! It is an amazing figure, whether you count the class of opposition encountered in Cup and League in that period. And there are more goals to come. The question arises "How many?”  Well, I want just one more—so I am not a greedy soul, am I?  A word more—one for the losers for their continued fight; for the Caddick  manner of never stopping; always going  on and striving—and showing no spleen  or suggestion of foul tactics. The name is still Barnsley, but their ways have altered a good deal since the war! We remember when—no, we won't dig up past history!
UP TO YOU 
The St. John Ambulance Corps has done its big work for the local clubs.  Now it is up to Goodison Park and Anfield people to take their part to task.  The Everton directors have kindly given permission to have a collection on their ground on Saturday for the St. John's fund. 

A FOREST DEBUTANT 
Liverpool Echo - Thursday 19 February 1931
Nottingham Forest will be without their captain, Thompson, on Saturday, when they visit Everton. He was injured last Saturday, and his place will he tilled by Smith. Pugh resumes in the half-hack line, while a new player in Forest makes his debut at inside right. Team: Dexter: Barrington:  McKinlay, Graham, Pugh: Burton, Forest, Dent, Dickinson, and Simpson.

EVERTON CAN SET UP RECORDS.
February 20 th 1931. Evening Express.
100 Mark in Goals and 50 Points.
Notts Forest Visit.
They have Taken a Point from the Blues.
By the Pilot.
Everton can set up two club records tomorrow by defeating Notts Forest at Goodison Park. Never at any period in their history have they recorded their 100 goals and captured 50 points so early in the season. They require one goal for the century and two points for the half century. I think they will reach these figures tomorrow. If they do so they will be the first club to accomplish the feat this season. Everton will find Notts Forest a hard side to beat, for the Forest are fighting to get away from the lower places in the league chart. They are fought from the bottom at the moment. It must also be borne in mind that the Forest are one of the seven teams to take a point out of the Blues this season. That was at Nottingham in October. Still, the Everton of October and the Everton of February are different propositions. The team had not settled down to the dazzling constructive side, which are giving so much delight at the moment. The records of the clubs to date are;
Home Away
Position Play Won Lost Drawn Won Lost Drawn For Against Points
Everton 1 29 13 1 1 9 2 3 99 44 48
Notts Forest 18 29 6 2 6 1 11 3 56 65 23
It will be seen that the Forest have gained but five points in fifteen away games so that the visit to Goodison Park does not appear to hold out much hope for them, seeing that Everton have not dropped a point since Christmas Day. Everton will play the side which defeated Barnsley in mid-week, but the Forest have changes. Forrest, a young player will make his debut at inside right. Thompson, their captain, is injured, and Smith takes his place at right back, while Pugh returns to left half.
Everton; Coggins; Williams, Cresswell; McClure, Gee, Thomson; Critchley, Dunn Dean, Johnson, Stein. Notts Forest; Dexter; Smith, Barrington; McKinlay, Graham, Pugh; Burton, Forrest, Dent, Dickinson, Simpson.

THE MYSTERY GAME; WHAT LIES BEHIND GOODISON PARK TUSSLE WITH NOTTINGHAM FOREST;
Liverpool Echo - Friday 20 February 1931
A HIDDEN CHARM 
Bee’s Notes
There is a mystic something concerning to-morrow's game at Goodison Park that I would willingly make known if I dare. But my lips are closed. It is not the hundredth goal of the season that we go to see tomorrow; it is a solitary something that is historic. To-morrow's game with the Foresters of Nottingham is a  remembrance of times that were when  Forest were a power in the land; yet  my imagination gives the game a reign and rein that is uncommon. What the secret is cannot be divulged at the present moment, but be assured it is a momentous affair, one of extreme interest and pleasure, and bearing a personal ring that will be of much concern to the followers of the Everton club. For the moment we will call it “The X Match," and leave the “Football Echo" to tell the full story of the affair, if it is possible to do so, to-morrow. At the Goodison ground there will be scenes when the hundred is hoisted—as I have no doubt it will be to-morrow. It is a remarkable achievement, and promises to put up a record score-register unheard of in the history of Senior or Second Division football. Here we are, not out of February yet, with the Plymouth No. 9 of the back end of the year tacked on to this year's goal-range, with a net total of 51 goals in Cup and League.  What will the harvest be to-morrow ?  That is the manner in which we approach the Everton games these days —because they have taken full toll of all sides, and though the defence has tired a trifle the main concern has been “How many will that well-knit forward line take in their merciful view of the Forest defence?" Don't accuse me of counting chickens before they are hatched. Everton have the flair for goals and the foot for making them Forest should have taken, or could have taken, four out of Everton in the previous meeting if they had been sound in front of goal. Those times have changed, and to-day we have a five-tonner attacking line, each man competent to get goals. I don't think the Forest defense can stand up to such assaults. Of course the fortune of the club is that they can continue to play a well-knit side that is keeping out of the way of injuries. May that good feature continue. Forest have made many a Dent in the Second Division  armours, but the former Huddersfield  centre forward will have to be nippy on  the heavy Everton turf if he is to get  reward to-morrow. 
CUP-TIE TICKETS 
Already the sale of the Cup-tie tickets for the Southport game has shown an extraordinary demand for a match that many would imagine will be easy to win.  First, it is not incessantly easy to win, and second, it is the last chance Southport or Everton people will have the thence to see the semi-final side of 1931.  Thus, the interest in the match grows day by day, and people who saw Everton win against Grimsby say: "I must be there to see the semi-final decision in ease I cannot get a ticket for Wembley or the semi-final match." There has been enormous discontent with the way the tickets for Wembley have been allocated.  Already I hear murmurings of grievances; it is said a local association had a dust-up when working out the ticket scheme; every year we have Wembley slated for an impossible position that arises over the final tie, but this year it is claimed that the distribution leads to the belief that there will be more wangling than ever before in this troublesome business of final tie tickets.  It is claimed that one club has booked £600 worth of tickets, although that side has been out of the Cup for weeks, by their wangles shall we know them.   I have drifted from the Everton of to-morrow to the Cup final of April 25, but you can excites the cutting-up of months in these buoy times.  And now let me show the local aide in this to-be-memorable game at Goodison  Park to-morrow, the game marked " X,"  and probably marked " Xcellent" by  five o'clock to-morrow night; Everton; Coggins; Williams, Cresswell; McClure, Gee, Thomson; Critchley, Dunn, Dean, Johnson, Stein. 
ACCORDING TO PLAN OF LETTERS
One can see Everton going right through their remaining Cup-tie opponents as follows (writes “Bebington”);-
          EX E TER
     WOL V ES
            CH E LSEA
    SUNDE R LAND
         SOU T HPORT
WEST BR O MWICH
      BIRMI N GHAM

EVERTON’S CUP-TIE
Liverpool Echo - Friday 20 February 1931
EXTRAORDINARY INTEREST IN THE GAME
ALL STANDS BOOKED
LEAGUE’S RULE REGARDING DIX, OF BRISTOL ROVERS
WARNING TO OTHER CLUBS 
Dix, of Bristol Rovers, cannot go to any club, save Everton, without the Football League instituting an inquiry into the transfer.  All clubs have been warned to this effect.  Aston Villa were to have signed this  young centre forward during the  To-day it is discovered that the Football  League Management Committee, at  their last meeting, decided that no  transfer would be allowed to any club,  save Everton, without inquiry.  The League calls it a caveat—it is a warning -off notice to all clubs who have taken a fancy to this centre-forward since he has made his name.  Everton's contention all through has been that they discovered Dix before he was a known player, and fixed a price for his transfer. Now he is being named as a £6,000 player.  Mr. C. W. Cuff, the Everton chairman, has conducted the Dix business from the start, and the Management Committee’s decision shows how right he was in his decisions and arrangements.
CONFIRMED 
The Bristol view is shown by our  correspondent:—  Bristol have received notification from  the Football Association, which makes  very clear the position of Bristol Hovers  and the transfer of Dix to any club  other than Everton. Everton have submitted to the management committee an agreement entered into giving Everton the option to call for the transfer of the registration of Dix, of Bristol Rovers. The secretary of the League was instructed not to accept any form transferring the registration of such player other than in accordance with such agreement until the circumstances in connection therewith have been fully investigated. 
THE CUP BOOKINGS 
The Cup-tie with Southport at Goodison Park has already aroused astounding enthusiasm and interest.  For the second time in their football lives, Everton have had to book every seat on the ground, the original plan of ticket campaign, to book 6,000 seats, having been oversubscribed.  The last time this occurred was some ten years ago, when Wolverhampton Wanderers visited Everton in a Cup-tie and Wolves won 1-0.  Southport have booked 3,000 tickets, whereas Grimsby only took 500 and seat some of these back again before the day of the contest.  The prospect of a record gate is rich.  The previous best was 66,737 v. Liverpool in a League match, 1927. 

EVERTON AND TRANSFER OF DIX
February 21 st 1931. Liverpool Post and Mercury
Football League Take Action
The Everton club have submitted to the Management Committee of the Football League an agreement made between them and Bristol Rovers clubs giving Everton an option to call for the transfer of Ronald Dix, the much discussed young inside forward of the Bristol club. As a result of the action the Bristol Rovers club have received a notification from the Football league informing them that the secretary of the League has been instructed not to accept any form transferring Dix other than in accordance with the agreement between the Everton and Bristol Rovers clubs, until the circumstances in connecting with the agreement have been fully investigated. The directors of the Bristol Rovers club met yesterday, and decided to ask the Football League to hold an immediate inquiry to decide for what period Everton have the right to exercise the option given in the agreement between the clubs as on time limit was mentioned when the agreement was drawn up. Everton had an agreement with the Bristol Club last year regarding Dix. Since that time, however, the player has been much sought and Aston Villa it is reported were among the clubs willing to pay a big price for the transfer of Dix. The Forest at Everton
By John Peel.
Everton are reaping the fruits of judgement and foresight, and the wonderful run the club has enjoyed appeals strongly to followers of football on Merseyside and I expect another large crowd at Goodison Park today to see Everton endeavour to increase still further advantage at the head of second Division. Everton should come out on top with a deal to spare. It would be fitting for Dean to be the scorer of Everton's 100 th goal today, though I expected all the forwards are keen to get the century point. Dean so far has scored 35 League goals this season. Two points will bring Everton's total too 50. The kick off is at 3-15 and the teams are; - Everton; Coggins; Williams, Cresswell; McClure, Gee, Thomson; Critchley, Dunn Dean, Johnson, Stein. Notts Forest; Dexter; Smith, Barrington; McKinlay, Graham, Pugh; Burton, Forrest, Dent, Dickinson, Simpson

EVERTON STRUGGLE FOR A GOAL
Liverpool Echo, Saturday, February 21, 1961
NOTTINGHAM FOREST HALF-BACK IN GRAND FORM
GOALLESS FIRST HALF
DEANMISSES NOTABLE RECORD BY HITTING POST
By Bee
Everton; Coggins; Cresswell, Williams; McClure, Gee, Thomson; Critchley, Dunn, Dean, Johnson, Stein.  Nottingham Forest; Dexter; Smith, Barrington; McKinlay, Graham, Pugh; Burton, Forest, Dent, Dickinson, Simpson.  Referee; Mr. Cartlidge, Burslem. A fine day and a filthy ground greeted the Everton and Nottingham Forest players, together with probably thirty to thirty-five thousand spectators.  Everton were in search of the hundredth goal of the season, and the crowd brought their rattles to make them in good order for the Cup-tie, and to celebrate the hundredth goal when it arrived.  There was a very commonplace opening, in which Dean mispassed towards Dunn, and the latter was unlucky with a pass intended for Critchley, who was covered by Barrington. Dunn introduced the first laugh by a trick of schoolboy memory, performed in a way that would not disgrace Robb Wilton.  On the other hand, Thomson was almost too careful in his dalliance after Cresswell had made a gliding header of rare point.  Nottingham moved quietly, but rather well on the right wing, and the heavy hitter. Dent, shot strong and too near the mark to be comfortable. Then Simpson ate up the muddy ground and passed Cresswell, who had crossed the field, and  near the corner flag was surprised by  Simpson, and a centre went across full  of goal-getting possibilities.  This incident served to show Everton the work on hand was tougher than they imagined would be the case. 
FOOT OF THE POST 
So they went off on the right and left, and while Dunn was near with a shot, Dean was much nearer, because had Dexter well beaten when the ball struck the foot of the post and cannoned out of play.  This would have been a very popular goal. Critchley was the next shooter, and he missed fire after the whistle had gone for offside.  Cresswell was like Nelson in that he had but one eye; the other was mud-bespattered.  Perhaps that accounted for Notts being so dangerous. They were quite worthy of a goal when Simpson shot the ball across the face of the goal, but there was nobody there to help himself.  Dean positively flung himself into the fray, and Thomson, from half-back, tried to get the glory of the hundredth goal.  Twice the referee was in the way of the ball, and as a consequence Everton had what one might call “a rub of the referee."
TOO CONFIDENT 
Forest knew little about this mud-heap, and Everton were playing far too confidently and conveniently in the imagination that they could win any time, together with the fact, of course, that they had to keep themselves out of injury in view of the Cup-tie on Saturday.  Dean was unselfish without getting quite the right type of return pass from Critchley, who opened in his moderate manner. His control was good—his conclusion with centre was bad.  Graham was brilliant as pivot of the red jerseys, but when a corner came he was helpless, and nothing but a first-class catch by Dexter from a ball that was deflected prevented McClure getting the first goal with an astounding shot.  A moment later Dean headed well enough to beat the goalkeeper, but the ball stewed inches outside, so that the crowd was still yearning for the land.  McClure dribbled from right half to the extreme left side-a fine piece of individualism—but Everton were really too individualistic, and Notts were a shade the more tactful side. 
NIPPY NOTTINGHAM 
Williams and Cresswell were given come awkward work in the goal area, and the referee exercised his discretion in favour of Notts--Nottingham for Nippiness. Coggins had to make two startling saves, after which McClure brought Simpson to earth too near the penalty portion to be comforting. Pugh wasted the free kick.  Gee became the “black-eyed Kaffir “when the ball fined his optic. Graham filled the eye by his splendid solo effort.  The crowd kept saying to itself “Here it is," but time continued to fugit, and the long-wanted goal was a fugitive pimpernel.  A Stein centre let Dean have a 33-1 chance, but the ball dragged, and his second effort was no more successful.  Everton were more satisfying near halftime than in the first half hour. Perhaps Forest had run themselves out. 
FINE FOREST HALF-BACKS 
Dean, possibly more than any other player, was anxious to knock up the hundred mark, and when he headed ably, Dexter made a grand save, although the whistle had gone for offside.  It was odd to see a team that had been getting 5's, 6s, and 7’s; trying to get one in forty-five minutes, but let us not underestimates the Forest's half-backs.  Each of the three was excellent.  Rarely did Nottingham get away in the later stages, but Dent, in one sound effort, made a beautiful shot, Coggins catching by going down on the knee and saving a certainty.  The public had to possess their shouting lungs for the second half.  Everton missed their way when Dean hit the foot of the post.  Halt-time; Everton 0, Notts Forest 0
JOHNSON GETS 100TH GOAL FOR EVERTON
DEAN MISSES PERSONAL RECORD OF 200
FOREST TWO DOWN
A BRAVE DISPLAY IN FACE OF INJURIES
Everton have scored so many big margins lately that their mediocre margin of two against Nottingham Forest was disappointing to the crowd.  The fetish of the hundredth seal, however, was over when Johnsen opened the score, but Forest had to play without Pugh for half the game, and therefore they made a plucky fight.  Dean wanted one for his 200th League goal.  I would not mention it yesterday, because I did not want any suggestion of selfishness to enter into the game.  We must await another occasion for this epoch-making score.  In the first half them was no score.  Everton were welcomed back with “Come on, the Blues!" Thomson's touchline efforts were of immense power, and after Burton had made a drive outside Dean shot moderately against a windy full-back, and corners were collected by Everton.  Dunn bit the crossbar, Dean shot into the hands of the goalkeeper, and at the fifty-third minute Stein began the hundredth goal of the season, but Dexter’s did not fall until Johnson's shot had escape d his hands.  Daxter touched the ball, but could not keep it out. Thus the milestone was passed after a wait for a singleton longer than any cricketer has ever known. Johnson was warmly congratulated upon his success, and Everton were glad of the relief.  Meantime Pugh and Dunn were hurt, and the former had to go off for some minutes.  The crowd had almost tired of signalizing the first goal the day, and but for a brilliant delivery by Williams we should have seen Nottingham the opening scorers. Pugh left the field, apparently for the rest of the game, alter ten minutes.  Barrington was also damaged, so that the plucky Forest side was having an awkward time. The crowd was generous in its applause of half-back work by Graham and McClure, and realized that when Cresswell handled that it was a foot from the penalty area.  Dean went amongst the full backs to make a wall of defence, and Dent's shot struck him that the ball passed to safety. Forest had been unmistakably a very difficult side to overcome, as was the case at Nottingham. Pugh came heck for a moment at outside right, but had to go off again. 
DUNN INCREASES 
He had no sooner left than Dunn scored from Stein's centre, and the goalkeeper, kicking the ball up the field for the centre kick, struck the referee on the back of the head and stunned him.  Trainer Cook trace him attention, and he came round in a few minute, what time the crowd enjoyed themselves in shouting Take him off."  The Everton ground cut up very badly, till one began to wonder whether the turf could he called fit for football Forest, with depleted forces, played worthily to the finish, but should have suffered another goal when Critchley shot straight at the goalkeeper.  Final; Everton 0, Notts Forest 0. 

MANCHESTER UNITED RES V EVERTON RES
Liverpool Echo- Saturday, February 21 1931
At Manchester.  Everton opened well, but their finishing was poor in the extreme, and during the first 45 minutes the home goalkeeper had not to make a solitary save.  The United were also a poor side, but just before the interval their forwards showed great improvement, and it was only the cleverest of Sagar that saved the Everton goal.  There was no score at half-time.  Manchester showed considerable improvement in the second half, and in the first five minutes Rowley, with a dropping shot, completely deceived Sagar, and opened the score.  Everton responded with vigour, but they could not break down the Manchester defence. 
Liverpool County Combination- Everton A 4, Prescot Cables 2

EVERTON CUP-TIE TICKETS 
Liverpool Echo - Saturday 21 February 1931
All tickets have been sold, but tickets for the goal double-decker are being printed and will be sold at 3s 6d. They will be on sale on Monday, after two o’clock, at Jack Sharp's or at Goodison Park. No further bookings will be accepted by phone or post, but applications already in the post will be dealt with on Monday, and, as far as tickets go, will be sent out on that day. 

DIXIE DEAN 200 NOT OUT
Liverpool Echo - Saturday 21 February 1931
AMAZING RECORD OF YOUNG MAN WHO HAS HAD FIVE-AND-A-HALF SEASONS OF SENIOR FOOTBALL
A BRADMAN OF FOOTBALL
William Ralph Dean to-day wanted but one goal to make his 200th goal in senior football.  Dixie Dean, the Everton centre-forward, gets goals with a regularity that makes the register ring with features and facts.  But this milestone in his goal-getting life is almost as memorable as his 60 in a season—the championship season.  Yet through it all there is no selfish strain in his football character. He continues to be content to get or to give goals.  Think of it-200 goals from this still young man in the space of  five and a half seasons of football, some portion of which he spent in  hospital with a motor injury that threatened he would never play again,  and some spent nursing a damaged bone that was operated upon.  Dean's record up to the point of his expected goal (inclusive)  to-day reads:  194 League appearances: total goals 200.  Steve Bloomer scored 352 in twenty-one years of senior football life with Derby County, Middlesbrough, &c.  Of course, it must not be forgotten that goals are cheaper to-day than they were ten years ago, because the offside rule was changed.  Nevertheless, Dean's performance is truly astonishing and warrants the complete list given below Bee " says: I interviewed Dean about his epoch-making goal, and he said, "If you had not told me I should not have known. We were all wondering what this mystery match story was in Friday’s notes. Now the public will know, but I am glad you kept it a secret till to-day “What is one goal among so many?" Dean went on to say, adding “Not one of the lads cares a brass farthing who gets the goals so long as they come steady and strong. We had our bits of bad fortune last season when many people gave us the stick; but we're all right now and a happier mob you could not imagine. Each man plays for the other man, and there is no pride about a player; it is pride for his team."  Dean concluded by saying he had great hopes of going further into the Cup business—they had now reached the real danger mark-the sixth round, but having seen Southport play, the Everton side believed they could win next Saturday's Cup-tie, and then everyone would put forward a very special effort for the last two chapters of this most interesting and successful season!'  When with Tranmere Rovers Dean scored 27 goals in 29 appearances in Third Division games. 


THE SPORTS LOOKING GLASS
Liverpool Echo-Saturday, February 21 1931
MEMBERS FOR OUTSIDE-RIGHT-OLD TIMER AND PRESENT DAY PLAYERS
DIRECTOR JACK SHARP AND TED CRITCHLEY
By Bee
He who does not mix with the crowd knows nothing. Flattery won't hurt you. 
Mr. Jack Sharp Born at Hereford, where the cider is best of all ciders, reared at Birmingham with the Villa Club, with Brother Bert and Manager Ramsay, still hale and hearty—Birmingham, which is—well, I must not dilate on a favourite subject, or I shall become an object of scorn.  Still, we love our home towns, it is well there are people not too ancient nor too proud to revisit old schools, lanes, and sporting lines, where the memory runs riot.  Enough of salt. More of Mr. Jack Sharp, Everton director and former Everton player.  Celebrated his birthday this week; happy returns.  Celebrated player at outside-right with Everton when they won the Cup.  Has given the repeat order for this year's Wembley desire.  Played for England at cricket and football.  Looks enviably young; carries himself well; enjoys a joke; knows his place, and keeps it; not a wordy man, but a business man who is an object lesson to all football professionals as to how to keep a clean tongue in a clean head, and although a pro., be able to conduct one’s self in a manner becoming a pro, or anyone else!  Not spoiled by hero-worship. Yet I mind the day when he was a centre forward with hopes of being a future Dixie Dean as it were!  Has a son who turned his attention to rugger till he got rattier badly knocked.  Funny how these codes change a man’s life. I was not allowed to play sooner at school—it was a vulgar game; it was infra dig.  And I've lived in and on the soccer game for the last —en years!  Jack's son was a rugger player for Liverpool. He “minds the shop “to-day a very important business, where another Edwards is to be found.  Let the present professional footballers  see what can be done by a pro,  footballer in a business sense; let them  copy their Campbells, their Sharps,  their Tyldesleys. There is money in the game. The lesson is there to be learned; there are no financial jerks lurking in the sportsman's business.  It needs a cool heed and a sound, sane outlook on life with the basis remembrance. 
TED CRITCHLEY


Like Gee, up from Stockport.  It used to be the home of players needed for senior clubs.  They took their Tiny Fayers and the Stockport signing became a habit.  Charlie Wilson, the trainer, came from there.  I think Arthur Goddard had a spell there.  But that’s not the point at issue.  This issue is to put Ted Critchley “among us mortals.”  The most debated football winger we have had for years.  An outside right, as was Jack Sharp, Chedgzoy, and company before him.   A good hearty, plucky, messed about a bit through selection botherations that did not let him settle down to a long spell of activity; he probably felt he had not made good.  Yet he was a championship medalist and got a lot of goals.  He can take goals with a crack-s-jack shot just u hard as Stein's winging shot.  But temperamentally he seems to have been tarred for a time by the crowd’s bark.  Barton, outside right, of Liverpool, was the same style. The crowd would have sacrificed him. I said, "If you want to transfer him I'll get you a buyer right away. He must make good." The public wrote me, saying that I was no judge. The public do not have their verdicts in cold print, or they would be found out pretty frequently and held to scorn.  But Barton, like Critchley ("another of your pets. ‘Bee,'" I can hear the sultry people saying) is making good.  Critchley is still young, is stremely  fast; needs encouraging to take his  centre at a convenient time rather than  prolong the process of dribbling—a mere  detail; no one hugs the ball better  than Critchley, but when he is covered  or controlled the people sigh heavily  and wonder what we can see in him.  To which I reply, "Hands off the regular outside right." Voices off, too.  Noises off, they call it in the theatre world.  Spectators have been able to maul a good player. He is transferred, and they say “Why did they let him go?"  They barracked Freeman until the club had to play him away from home to escape the bark and the bite. Then Mountford and Freeman were transferred to Burnley and helped to win than the English Cup final of 1914.  They used to tell me I was "Freeman-daft."  Foemen of Freeman were, in the main, the crowd of thoughtless people who rooted him when he was not playing as he had played when he got thirty-eight goals!  When he got the goals they gave the credit to Jack D. Taylor and Coleman.  Yet most of his goals came through (dapper little dribbles, and scores came through anything but a shot—he took the ball right up to the goalkeeper and then dribbled round him.  Let us bear this in mind when we think of Critchley; let us bare our minds of the unfair criticism that is rife in 1931.  There is only one thing one knows of football—that one knows nothing.  The longer you live in football management the more you realize the traps and trips of the game.  Critchley has been hailed in various degrees of good, bad, indifferent.  He's very good—if you give him the necessary encouragement.  Let the good work begin. 

STUD MARKS
Liverpool Echo –Saturday, February 21, 1931
By Louis T. Kelly

EVERTON A V PRESCOT CABLES
Liverpool Echo- Saturday February 21 1931
The home side, with the advantage of the slope, had most of the opening play, and gained the lead after ten minutes through walker putting through his own goal.  Keeping up a strong pressure the home side went further ahead through Fryer and Davies.  The visitors made attempts through Jones and Bevan to reduce the lead, but their shots went wide.  Half-time Everton “A” 1, Prescot Cables 0

EVERTON 2 NOTTS FOREST 0
February 23 rd 1931. Liverpool Post and Mercury
Notts Forest make a Fight
Everton Top Century Mark
Tommy Johnson scored Everton's 100 League Goal
By "Bees."
Everton's spectators have become greedy. They look upon the margin of two as trifling, but if they would cast their minds back to the filthy conditions of the ground on Wednesday and Saturday, they would realise that the Goodison mud is taking its toll of the stamina of the players. On Saturday about 30,000 people gave no thought to the remembrance of Wednesday's hard work, and they went there believing that Nottingham Forest would be mowed down. This was all against what anyone could expect if they had been witness at the game at Nottingham, where Everton drew, for Notts Forest had thrown away four bright chances of scoring in the first half. The difficulty of play at Goodison Park is abnormal even for the players who appear there every fortnight. The ball and the ground are so heavy that it is very unfair to be hypercritical. The referee on Saturday received the ball on the back of the neck when Dexter, the goalkeeper kicked the ball towards the centre of the field after Dunn had scored. The weight of the ball led to the referee collapsing semi-conscious.
Lofting the Ball to Dean.
So long was the first goal in arriving that when it did come to signal Everton's 100 th goal of the season the crowd had become lethargy. They had lost their enthusiasm. They did not know any more than did Dean that he wanted but one goal to celebrate his 200 th League goal in five and a half seasons off senior football. Far, too often was the ball put upwards lofted towards Dean for a leaping Forest defenders to head away. McClure, Gee, and Thomson played extremely well, and the defence showed improvement upon the last two occasions they have appeared at home. It simply amounted to this –that the Everton forwards could not quite connect with the goal register. Yet they scored twice and hit the woodwork twice so that the margin is hardly just. This does not for a moment deny the Nottingham players praise for their unavailing plucky display; one which led the crowd to show their appreciation of their work when they left the field –a fine tribute to a gallant team and –testimony to the Everton spectators sportsmanship. They reached the They reached the century, however, when Johnson scored the first goal at 53 minutes, and Dunn's goal at 66 minutes carried the League goal total for the season to 101. While the game was never a bad one, it was not one of the best probably because Everton did not touch what has come to be regarded as their usual standard, and that Forest played with great plucky right through, even when they lost Pugh early in the second half.
Accurate Play Impossible.
Then again the ground was not a great deal short of being unfit so that accurate play was almost impossible. The players had to chance a lot even when taking ordinary passes because the ball often unexpectedly stopped dead. Although Notts fought earnestly and Everton's goal was a long time coming one never got the impression that Everton would lose the game. At times Notts threatened a lot, and they had a particularly good period midway in the first half without having a great deal to show for they energy. Everton could not claim much advantage in this respect although they found a fair amount of work for Dexter in the Nottts goal. They should, however, considering their chances have taken the lead much earlier. Time and again they worked out good openings only to fail at goal. Sometimes it was poor shooting, and as others good work on the part of the Notts defence. If there were many exasperating mistakes due chiefly to the sticky mud, there were a fair number of clever touches. Without doubt Everton were the better side.
A fine Half-Back.
They attacked for the major portion of the game, and more deadness near goal would have brought the usual crop of goals. Six minute after the start Dean sent a great shot against the upright, and in the second half Johnson centre, Dunn struck the crossbar. Everton where sound and a solid defence while the best man on the Notts side if not in the game was Graham in the pivot position. He got more of the ball than any other player and knew well how to use it. A great worker he covered a wide area in the middle and played so well right through. Everton, too, had a sound defence and if both Williams and Cresswell took more risks than usual they were no doubt conscious of their ability to recovery as actually they did. A fair amount of good work came from the middle line where Thomson was the notable performer. It was not one of Dean's best days. Few opportunities came for a clean break through, but he gave fine chances to both Dunn and Johnson and they responded effectively. Critchley and Stein have often been better, and for a time in the second half, the latter was rather neglected. Teams; Everton; - Coggins, goal. William (captain) and Cresswell, backs; McCLure, Gee and Thomson, half-backs; Critchley Dunn, Dean, Johnson, and Stein, forwards. Notts Forest; - Dexter goal; Smith and Berington, backs; McKinlay, Graham and Pugh, half-backs; Burton, Forrest, Dent, Dickinson and Simpson, forwards .

MANCHESTER UNITED RESERVES 1 EVERTON RESERVES 2
February 23 rd 1931. Liverpool Post and Mercury
Central League (Game 28)
At Old Trafford. All the scoring was accomplished in the second half. Rowley opened the score for the United, but Martin quickly equalised, and just on time Rigby won the game for Everton with a clever goal. Sagar was very sound, and Cook strong in defence, but the outstanding player was Griffiths at centre-half . Everton; - Sagar goal; Cook and Lowe, backs; Britton Griffith and McPherson, half-backs; Wilkinson, Martin, White Webster and Rigby, forwards.

EVERTON’S MYSTERY MATCH-A REASON FOR HIDING THE TRUTH TILL SATURDAY 
Liverpool Echo - Monday 23 February 1931
Bee’s Notes
FIGURES AUDITED 
Dean had no idea, any more than other people at Goodison, that he wanted but one more league goal to make his total 200 in live and a half seasons. When I reached Goodison Park was greeted thus, “Hello. Mr.  X." Another man said, “What is all this mystery, why not tell us?" I said “Because if I tell you before the game I shall at once be accused of making a personal claim for a player rather than encourage the team value. There will be a suggestion that I have created a needless selfishness. Yet if there is one outstanding feature of Dean's play it is that he is utterly unselfish." Oddly enough many who had been looking for this 200th goal had got their facts wrong. They banked on a certain annual that got last season's figures wrong. It was the same fault with another annual; hence the quiet smile when I saw one paper justify itself by reproducing Dean's summarized figures —making him show 22 one season instead of 23. The official figures and  credit mark to Dean last season was 23  —let's have it right.  It was right in the “Football Echo,” and the only blot all day was that Dean left a black mark on the goal post instead of a goal-mark, the goalkeeper having been beaten in six minutes yet still stood without a goal against him.  This was hard luck for Dean and the team. I think it set the side on edge, and Forest played so extraordinarily well and fast in the mud-swamp that it was good to see the game won, whatever the margin. Dexter was a delight, and his harks were a fine little pair. Add the great work of the light-haired Graham, who did well against Everton in the first meeting, and you have only to add the spice of the swift-moving forwards to see how good Nottingham Forest could be. But they looked to be more dangerous than they were. People who have not seen the three Everton defenders this season in the early months don't know how ably Coggins, Williams and Cresswell held up the side that was faltering. In the last two games at home people were inclined to blame the backs and talk to hurried scurried tones of departing from the usual phase of resting this or that man. The three of them answered thee challengers on Saturday. 
RISING 
Now I reckoned that McClure played  better than ever—perhaps a trine too  elongated in his solo runs, but a shooter  and a determined tackler and a  genuinely good feeder; Gee, too, played  the right sort of stuff with the exception  of the argument he had in the corner  of the field—there are no prizes for  argufies; there are medals for the  silent men; they get the benefit of the  referee-doubt. Remember that Gee, Thomson was strong in the leg and in the brain-box, and the line was adept.  So that it was the unusual rank that suffered for once in a way—the forward line. It isn't necessary to point to the faults; they were trilling and tiny may have come through a desire to give Dean a goal on this auspicious occasion.  The ball was put a trifle too far up and Dean seemed to get “squee-geed “between defenders and mud. It is uncommon in these later months to have the forward line in any other than a striking light.  It is the uncommon phase of football, at Goodison Park, and I think it can be traced back to the severity of two games in such wretched conditions.  Besides which there was the lurking memory of a Cup-tie that allows no shillyshallying. Everton will not go into the Southport test feeling they have but to bestir themselves moderately to conquer. They have the right visions for the tie with the side that snatched a penalty-kick draw on Saturday at Lincoln. Everton, as the only Cup-tie side that won during the day, have got further in the news. The Blues get into the news with a persistence only equaled by Arsenal. Let them prove themselves worthy such publicity.  And when Saturday week comes along let us join in celebrating the 200th goal of the man who made the name Dixie famous; the man who made goalkeepers dizzy with his headings and shots. That game is versus Reading, who have taken a tremendous leap into the foreground after being bottom of the chart for months. 

CUP-TIE TICKETS 
Liverpool Echo - Monday 23 February 1931
DISAPPOINTED "FANS" AT GOODISON PARK 
Five hundred football fans were turned away from Goodison Park, to-day, after a vain wait to purchase tickets for the Everton Cup-tie with Southport.  The first queue formed up at 9 a.m.  They were turned away until 2 o'clock, but the queue began to form again at noon. At 2 o'clock a hundred or so tickets were supplied, and the doors were closed.  "There is not another ticket in the place. You can't get one for love or money," said Mr. John Fare.  The staff has worked until midnight every night sorting out the applications to see that everyone got a fair chance.  " Southport's big demand for 3,000  tickets—practically half the number  available—caused the trouble," an  official said, " and we have had to send  hundreds of pounds back to would-be  purchasers." 

EVERTON'S LESSON FOR THE CUP-TIE
February 23 rd 1931. Evening Express.
It is Team Work that Counts
The Ground Problem
Will the Mid-Week Match be Postponed?
By the Pilot.
Everton's players should be all fit for next Saturday's Cup-tie with Southport. None of them has report any serious injury, and it seems likely that the side that has carried them into the sixth round of the competition again will be available. Training begins in earnest tomorrow. Some of the players turned in at Goodison Park today for a "muscle loosener," but no serious work was attempted. Everton's worry is the playing area. Even with the best weather conditions possible it would not be by any means a first-class condition by Saturday. The club's programme at present provides for the playing of a Central League match at Goodison Park on Wednesday, but in view of the importance of the Cup-tie, it would be a wise move if the Everton directorate postponed this Reserve game until some future date. This would give the ground the best possible chance of recovery. This particularly Reserve game with West Bromwich Albion has already been postponed once on account of ground conditions.
Saturday's Lesson.
Taking a line from Saturday's 2-0 victory over Nottingham Forest –the game which saw Everton score their 100 th League goal of the season, but in which Dixie Dean did not get the 200 th League goal of his career with Everton –the Blues must concentrate on team work and forego playing up to any one man. Lack of team work lost Everton first division status, this season the error has been rectified. Let Everton stick to the ideal of Team Work. I am sorry that Dean will have to wait a least 10 days for his 200 th goal. Still it is not long to wait.
Room for Improvement
Cresswell, has disappointed his many admires since the Charlton game. His is capable of much better things than we have seen him provide this last week or two. Everton cannot afford any weakness in defence, and I hope to see Cresswell strike his happiest vein against Southport. The criticism apples equally to Gee, a great worker who, however, has failed to settle down quickly enough in recent games. The Forest had equally as much of the play in the first half as Everton, and everyone admired their gallantry, their quickness on the ball, their determination and grit. They were as brave as the Robin Hood who used to roam their county. Graham was the big man of the match. It is not long ago since Graham was a forward, but when tried as a pivot he was an instant success. Today he compares favourably with any in the land. Had the Forest attack been one smart as good as their rear division, Everton might not have won. Dean and Johnson were the best forwards because they were the men who varied their tactics and introduced most of the guile seen in the game. Critchley and Stein were good in approach work, but they always tried to find Dean when centring, and so their play suffered. Dean was well watched to be a really potent force, and I am convinced he would have been pleased had he not been exploited so often. Everton now require 13 points to be absolutely certain of promotion.
Sports Pie
•  An Everton director, accompanied by Secretary Tom McIntosh, watched the Ary United –Partick Thistle game. The player under observation was David Ness, the Thistle outside-right.

A REPLY 
Liverpool Echo - Tuesday 24 February 1931
Bee’s Notes
This is a very interesting topic, because when Everton allowed their broadcasts they started off with their marvelous gate versus Leeds United the first broadcast I ever did. This week an attempt has been made to get the local Cup-tie over the ether, but it has failed, not enough an Everton cause. I believe someone is to broadcast a commentary on Saturday night. The point at the moment is that' sport does I not have a sufficient play in the B.B. C.  arrangements, and that far from handicapping football the wireless of  matches has always produced a big  effect; people who had never been to a  game got used to the names of players,  and when they came to our midst they  wanted to see these players—thus they  were won over by the wireless for  football. It has been said that New Brighton lost none through the broadcast of the Corinthians game. They have  never told me that, but I would like to  remind people that that famous, dirty  January day was the filthiest Cup-tie  history has ever known, and therefore  the attendance was quits an excellent  one under the circumstances, and was  not barred or tarred by the broadcast.  Do let us be fair to the “Bee" and the B.B. C. 

SOUTHPORT HARD AT HOMEWORK
Liverpool Echo - Wednesday 25 February 1931
FRANK JEFFERIS SAYS HIS SAY;
A FULL-STRENGTH SIDE
BEE’S Notes
Follow the posters and come to Southport to see Everton's Cup opponents hard at work. Who said football was a pastime? Who wanted to be a pro? I dare suggest that after one peep at a Cup team in training any international-in-embryo would be willing to go back to his petty cash book and rest content.  Training to schedule becomes irksome when it has to be done. Playing football to schedule—and not to one’s liking—becomes irksome when it has to be done (writes " Buss").  Southport start early. Their Cup training for the biggest match in the club’s history is intensive stuff—not mere fancy work for the delight of the picture press! Yesterday I was met by Alderman Clayton, busy conjuring tickets; director Parkinson, conjuring up visions of an amount of money lost through too few “quota “tickets, and the musical sound of foot meeting ball.  Players were grouped in twos and threes, while Sheila, the mascot, a Shetland pony, filled the spectatorial pastures and nibbled at Press photographers’ hats. Baker was busy stopping “shots” front Roberts; he looked fit enough to be in no doubt about playing. Captain " Paddy “ McConnell and Waterston (feeling and  looking better than when he was at Tranmere)  helped themselves to intensive  ball practice, and others got into touch  with the strength of the ball with first-time  passes.  No lead-swinging here! It seemed as  though training came as second nature,  because the chances of meeting and  beating a side such as Everton and  reaching the semi-final of a Cup tourney  are probably one in 10,000 to a Div. 111, club. Southport means to make the most of their chance. They take their task lightly, yet seriously. Their gym is well equipped, and after ball practice there was ample time for them to do physical jerks and punch-ball work.  Let's hope they will never need the latter help at Goodison. Having finished training the players were left, with nothing but light exercise and walks for the remainder of the week, when all the schemes and best-laid plants will be fully tested. 
IRRESISTIBLE! 
The team does not train without the doubtful help of their own fans and Press photographers. The latter, incidentally, could not resist the urge of the game, nor could they resist the urge to split up Manchester v. Liverpool.  Let it be added that the result is in just as much doubt (and dispute) as any Liverpool v. Manchester venture in sport! Mr. Rylance, now a veteran in years, but young enough to remain a great enthusiast, told we of his father’s pluck in bringing soccer to Southport when the town was a Rugby stronghold. Southport looked upon the round ball with something akin to disgust, but the Blackburn “fashion "  survived, and here we are in 1931 still  getting fruit from the tree which was  planted nearly fifty years ago.  There is no doubt in the minds of  the Everton follower as to whether  Everton, can or will win, but for mere  interest's sake let me give you the views  of Frank Jefferis, the old Everton  player. He is a wit—dry as some of the football Scots he talks of when he  explains that these big wigs let the ball  go saying: " Hoch, away man, it's his  ball let him ha' it"  Frank said: " We have had the  necessary amount of luck in Cup-ties,  but we have something just as valuable.  It is the grit of these boys, most of whom were unknowns at the start of the season, which has carried us so far.  "We are not expected to win. I'm not pretending we shall, but I do say now that there are four little clubs, Villa, Arsenal, Sheffield Wednesday, and Liverpool, who would give something to be in our shoes! “Southport have made plans for the game and are not frightened to let them be known. Dean will be shadowed, policed, patrolled, and (if Southport can keep him out of a job) “petrified." In short, Mary and her little lamb will not be “colored “when Vincent begins his best. Frank Jefferis says that Dean is the best ever, but he remembers another similar kind of player who was at the top of his form when Southport played and beat Blackburn in a Cup-tie.  Bimson on that occasion never left Puddefoot, and if Vincent is as successful in his spotting Southport will be happy. 
FITNESS-THE FORTE 
Southport rely on their fitness to last a grueling game. I have seen them in their last six matches, including two Cup-ties, and, candidly, I fancy Everton.  But Everton must not count on the division gulf to see them through.  Stripping the clubs of their qualifications and records, it boils down to eleven v. eleven. Southport mean to put their best foot forward from the word “Go." They have a plucky defence, hard in itself, if not always hard to beat, and in Waterston and Cowen two very capable forwards.  McConnell is a law unto himself. He takes the hall along with him in unorthodox dribbles—and the unorthodox footballer these days is the most difficult man to combat.  It will be a clean affair. Southport realize that they are “up against the grain." but to their credit they are fully aware that they will be defeating their own ends if they resort to unfair tactics.  Frank Jefferis fancies Everton's half-back line. He received an application for a job from McClure not long before Everton picked up their man, and naturally Frank is delighted that this youngster is doing so well.  Southport will send nine special trains an assortment of charas and ears, and some beautifully heavy Lancashire dialect! Hill is expected to be fit, so that the team will probably be that which defeated Blackpool and Bradford.  Everton team: Coggins; Williams, Cresswell; McClure, Gee, Thomson;  Critchley, Dunn, Dean, Johnson, Stein.  Everton have the distinction of being the only club in the last eight to turn out the same team in all the ties. As stated yesterday, the Southport team will not be chosen until to-morrow, but think we shall me the following selected: Baker; Little, Robinson; Seagrove, Vincent, Holmes, Hills, McConnell, Waterston, Cowen, Roberts.
NIGERIA PAYS TRIBUTE 
Whilst home on furlough from  Nigeria, I have had several visits to  "foreign fields," including Manchester  United, Nottingham Forest, Crystal  Palace (v. Everton; what a sheer delight  the latter were!). West Ham United. The main fact elicited is, how well Everton and Liverpool cater for the 1s spectator (says Mr. G. L. Kettlewell, of Heswall). At West Ham (v. Newcastle) I was frankly amazed at the smallness of the ground and the bigness of the admittance. When I told a “Hammer “supporter probably 20.000 could have squeezed under Liverpool's "Spion Kop” he said,” Aw, yer don't get it 'ere,"  proving that our two local clubs do look  after the small-price man. They have a lot to be thankful for. Crystal Palace ground was worse than West Ham's.  Probably, when they played Everton there were over 30,000 without any cover at all. With reference to that game, I should say it was more like Newman playing me billiards (so easy—for Newman). I have never seen Everton play like that for an age. Although I shall be back in Nigeria when the teams line up at Wembley. I hope to read your graphic account of the Cup coming to Liverpool! I look forward to the “Football Echo “each mail. Long may you be spared to be its chief contributor?
Follower’s baseball will be pleased to learn that the Everton Baseball (1931) Club is under construction, and its new management intend to carry on the best traditions of the game during the coming season at the Baseball Park.
NAMED AFTER US?
Geographically there are fourteen Liverpools.  I suggested to Friend Mooney that there was only one Everton.  He now writes; - I find we have telegraph offices as the following points;
Everton, Arkansas, U.S.A
Everton, Indians, U.S.A
Everton, Missouri, U.S.A
Everton, Ontario, Canada
I suggest you write to the clerk in charge of records at the above named places to ascertain how names were obtained.  It might lead to useful information from a local point of view.  We also have telegraph offices at echo, Washington, U.S.A., but there could be no connection between your paper and this point. P.S- This is additional and total list of the world’s Everton’s;-
Everton, Australia
Everton, Hampshire, England
Everton, Notts, England

A HODGSON FOR EVERTON 
Liverpool Echo - Wednesday 25 February 1931
Marine forwards part in today goals
By “Bee” 
Everton Reserves played West Bromwich Reserves, on the Cup-tie pitch, to -day, and I noticed in the crowd representatives of Port Vale, Tranmere, and other clubs making notes, and one was left wondering which player was wanted.  The Marine player, Hodgson, made his debut for Everton. He is well set-op.  His record this season is 37 goals in 28 League matches and cup-ties. It was thought he was signed by Liverpool, but the deal was not completed. Hodgson made the first goal to-day with a brilliant shot that struck the bar and rebounded to Martin for gift.  The second goal, scored by Wilkinson, was also helped to its end through a good header by Hodgson.  Alec Raisbeck, the manager, was a looker-on, along with many other scouts.  Rigby twice and Webster once made beautiful first-time shots, to show the brilliance of Ashmore, the Albion goalkeeper, who was once saved by a full-back heading away.  The Albion forwards were disappointing, even allowing for the brilliance of Griffiths.  Half-time; Everton res 2, West Bromwich Res nil.

HAVE SOUTHPORT A SECRET PLAN TO OVERTHROW EVERTON ?
February 25 th 1931. Evening Express.
Suporters say "Yes" But Players say Nothing.
Everton's team Unchanged.
The Most Placid Cup-Training Camp in the Country.
By Ijay.
Have Southport a secret plan of campaign for their cup match with Everton on Saturday! In the seaside town this has become the outstanding topic of the day. Every other person one meets seems to know of Southport's "secret," but exactly what is the supposed special plan I have not been able to discover. Certainly the players will shed no light on the matter. In some quarters it is believed that Southport are going to make a stupendous effort to rush through an early goal in the hope that it will upset Everton's morale. In others the idea is that a certain method of stopping Dixie Dean has been evolved. A third theory is that Southport have discovered a weakness in the Goodison team and intend to play on that without cessation. If there is a mystery, then only the Southport players can supply the solution, and they are as close as oysters. Suffice it to say, that Saturday's match holds no horrors for Southport. Were they preparing for an ordinary Third Division fixture the players would have indulged in exactly the same training methods. But they cannot disguise that extra touch of keenness that animates the Haig-avenue camp. Every player in the side is just living for 3 o'clock on Saturday. Not even the poor state of Goodison Park is likely to upset Southport. They have played on many heavy grounds this season in away games, and have done well. Goodison Park, even at its slippiest, is unlikely to upset their style of play. Should they win no team will have more thoroughly deserved their success. Should they lose. I know they will go down fighting to the last kick.
It Makes No Difference to Everton
No Worry; No Discussions; Just Usual Work.
By the Pilot
The one thing that is not discussed by the Everton players in training at Goodison Park is Saturday's Cup-tie. It is not indifference, but the realization that the game will call not for any superhuman effort, but reproduction of ordinary form. Not a word is said about tactics; not an extra ounce of effort beyond the usual is being expended in training; not a worry clouds the calm atmosphere that ordinary pervades Goodison Park. No matter how one might allow imagination to run riot, it would be difficult to form the impression that Everton are fitting themselves for a match that will place them in striking distance of capturing the greatest sports trophy in the world. Strange, yes; but it is a fact! "All happy; looking forward to a good game and a good victory." This is today's Everton buttetlin. The Blues are delighted that they will be able to field the same team th8at has won three Cup matches this season. They have been fortune's favourities in avoiding injury, but it certainly gives them grounds for further confidence. The side to do duty is; - Coggins; Williams, Cresswell; McClure, Gee, Thomson; Critchley, Dunn, Dean, Johnson, Stein.
This afternoon the players were given a rest to watch the Reserves in action. There is only one more full day's work. On Friday morning Trainer Cooke will give his charges the finishing touches.
Everton's Men of the Moment
Billy Coggins (Goalkeeper)-
Called "Sailor" by his friends. A native of Bristol. It's a case of "all hands on deck" when Coggins is guarding the net. Thoroughly "able bodie."
Ben Williams (Right back and captain)
Discovered playing on the coal heaps at Penrhiwceiber. Has done almost as well in the boxing ring as on the football field. A Welsh International who came to Goodsion Park from Swansea. The ideal captain; the ideal player.
Warney Cresswell (Left back)
Long headed and level headed, Warny. Makes football look easy. Once told me he loved Second Division football because "they give you the ball." A brilliant positional player who makes his brain save his feet. Another international and still one of England's best defenders.
Joe McClure (Right half)
A few weeks back was regarded as a Central League player. Opportunity knocked at his door once and that was sufficient for Joe. Hails from Workington; the son of a famous footballer. A real find.
Charlie Gee (Centre-half)
Like Critchley, comes from Stockport. He still loves Stockport as much as he does Everton and Swimming. A champion water polo player.
Jock Thomson (Left Half)
The dour Scot. Everton got him from Dundee after all the directors, scouts and staff had watched him. Wish they had secured him after the first view now.
Ted Critchley (Outside-Right)
Another from Stockport County. One of the fastest wingers in the game. Has a director who "fathers" him and applies the slipper when he makes a mistakes.
Jimmy Dunn (Inside Right)
Diminutive, dainty, drapper, deceptive, deft, delightful. Dunn is the Maskelyne and Devantt of Everton. Can produce all sorts of schemes from "his pocket" while opponents look on. One of the magic five who dumbfounded England at Wembley three seasons ago. Formerly with Edinburgh Hibernians.
Dixie Dean (Centre-forward)
Is England's best –was always England's best. The selectors have recognised it again. The greatest header of a ball the game has ever seen. Some called him game has ever seen. One of the greatest personali8ties football has ever known
Tommy Johnson (Inside Left)
The man who put the spirit into team spirit. Liked by everyone. They say he is best with his left boot. Watch him use his right on the practice ground.
Jimmy Stein (Outside left)
An outside left whose best football is his right. Take notice of this. He was born at Glasgow. Was celebrated even before they named a song after him.

SQUARES OF BIRKENHEAD
Liverpool Echo - Wednesday 25 February 1931
NO.2 –THE MARKET SQUARE, OLD ELECTIONS, AND HOLBORN SQUARE
By Fabian Lacon
The original market building stood on what is now the Market-square, Birkenhead, its front being formed by the old Town Hall and police courts, the main entrance being through columns in the centre. The imposing facade formed by the white Storeton stone frontage of these buildings remained for years after the old market was replaced by the present one; and at the back the husting used to be erected—thereby being most conveniently situated in the square, with the market midden at one end and the police cells at the other!  The hustings were open-air wooden erections, consisting of a raised platform reached by steps at either end. On this platform the opposing parties—one to the right and the other to the left- carried  on the election throughout nomination day and polling day, all free and open. The entire proceedings were rough and ready; indeed, at times riotous, but through all generally good-humored.  Of the first election, in 1861, to which my father took me as a child, my outstanding recollection is the procession of big and little loaves on pikes borne by men howling: " For big loaves, vote for Brassey; the little loaves are Laird’s." But Laird got in, then as always after. 
Election Scenes 
The second election, in 1865, also thoroughly enjoyed as a small boy.  The market midden and other sources for missiles, and the police cells, were in full requisition. When John Ravenscroft, chairman of the Liberals, began to speak from the hustings, a huge bag of sour struck him in the face, burst, and nearly smothered eyes, nose, and mouth. He ran off amid roars of laughter, what time Harry Aspinall, leader of the Conservatives, explained that these bags were really not injurious, being made up of thin tissue paper expressly for the purpose.  Which faded oranges, decayed cabbages,  &c, from the market midden were not, but came in just as handy for silencing Harry and his friends: that is, after a few free fights. And so the election went on, cartloads of Lairdites on the right, the same of Jacksonites on the left, each lot struggling up their respective stairways amid the execrations and assault and battery of their opponents.  0 the wild charge they made! And the  whole huge concourse of people in the  square yelling with delight or derision,  according to their political sympathies,  when the hourly state of the poll was given in the windows of the Market  Tavern and the Globe Inn—the latter  now being rebuilt after disturbance by  the new tunnel. This hourly indication of the state of the poll was very convenient in keeping up the pecker of the winning side and showing the other when the case was hopeless. 
Breaking the Crockery 
At this '65 election Join Laird was so  far ahead at midday that the Liberals  wished to close the poll, but the Tories  insisted on proceeding till the usual closing time—four o'clock—thereby  augmenting their majority greatly. But election times were not the only occasions of interest on the Market Square.  Every Saturday it was a delight to go the square to participate in the pleasures and profits of the open-air fair held thereon, and in which all the attractions of the old-time village fair were enhanced by thou of modern salesmanship.  Particularly did we boys enjoy the smashing of crockery by the mock auctioneer, who, when he couldn’t get his price for his wares, incontinently smashed them on the cobblestones, and thereby ensured subsequent great and rapid sales.  The Market Hall itself used to be a great attraction at Christmas time owing  to its decoration and illumination,  especially the illumination of the fountains  standing in the central isle or  avenue, but which were subsequently  removed to Arrows Park, in pre-Scout  days. 
The Garibaldi Riot 
The old Town Hall was once, as recently recorded in "An Onlooker’s Diary” in the "Echo." attacked by a mob of religious rioters, when the magistrates were sitting, and the whole bench incontinently took refuge in the prison cells underneath. But one of the solicitors, Mr. Bretherton, of the old faith, and some policemen sallied out and persuaded the rioters to disperse.  As a riot this was nothing in comparison with the Garibaldi riot of 1862.  At this I was present—as a very small boy—with my father (as spectators only). Its venue was Price-street, Birkenhead, chosen on account of its roadway of loose macadam flint stones, and its nearness to the homes of the rioters in the "North End."  There were hundreds of rioters, and sticks and stones were freely used, to the infliction of many injuries. My outstanding recollections of this riot are, first as a prisoner being escorted to gaol clad in his skirt only. He had been throwing stones from his bedroom window, and tripped over a heap of them when rushing to his bed on hearing the police coming upstairs.  Secondly, Father Chapman's successful appeal to the rioters to lay down their sticks and stones, and depart in peace.  Yes," added my father, a bit of a wag," better that than depart in pieces." Thirdly, two cart loads of sticks and stones being subsequently collected. 
Holborn-Square 
Holborn-square, the third square of Birkenhead, became so when Birkenhead absorbed Tranmere, for it is in the district on the lower slopes of the Holt which more than any other part of Wirral has been maltreated and malformed, due to peccant parochial bodies in the past. This Holborn-square was originally, and much more appropriately “Taylor's Delph," with some half-dozen country-like cottages built of the red sandstone hewn out of it. Access to it was, as now, through an archway ' piercing the block of houses abutting on to Old Chester-road, then almost equally old-world and rural.  To-day the Delph is, alas, only a back-yard with a grand name.  More houses have been built in it, and all traces of rurality have disappeared.  But the new brick-built cottages are certainly bright and cheerful, as was the lady in one of them to whom I recalled the days of my boyhood when I and my chums used “Taylor’s Delph” as “The Smugglers’ Cave”- the which tittle being suggested by the continuity of the fishing village of Hinderton. 
BATHING IN THE ATTIC
The fact that Holborn-square has the conveniences of the original cottagers all huddled together in one corner, apparently as an afterthought, recalls that the magnificent houses in Hamilton Square, as orgininally built, had no bathrooms.  Domestic bathing took place in portable baths used in the bedrooms or sky-lit attics.  Harry Aspinall used to tell the story of the three daughters of one of the houses having their tubs in the attic, when a shadow fell across the skylight, a man’s hand appeared and dropped three beautiful roses among the nymphs.  The hero of this incident was never discovered, but shrewdly suspected. 

 

EVERTON RESERVES 4 WEST BROMWICH ALBION RESERVES 0
February 26 th 1931. Liverpool Post and Mercury
Everton Reserves New Centre
Hodgson Gives Promising Display
Ted Sager saved Penalty Kick from Finch
By "Bee."
The feature of the Everton Reserve's victory of 4-0 against West Bromwich Albion Reserves at Goodison Park, yesterday, was the appearance of Hodgson, a player 20 years of age. He was credited with being signed on by Liverpool along with a half-back from the sane club, but actually this young Marine man started in the Everton jersey, and played such an adept and alert game that he quite pleased the onlookers. He has one uncommon feature in keeping with Dean, namely, that his back-heading of the ball is deadly. I was pleased with his general display. Actually he played for Manchester City as well as Marine, and has scored 37 goals for 28 League and cup games. He scored 2 out of 4 in games for Manchester City. They say he is 5ft 10ins., but he does not look it. The Everton Central League side has been having a poor innings recently, but has now recovered, and Ashmore, the Albion goalkeeper, had to put up a fine show to prevent double figures.
Strong Half-back Line.
West Bromwich Albion were opposed by a half-back line composed of Britton, Griffiths, and McPherson –Everton's first team line for many weeks at the beginning of the season –and it was no surprise that the little Albion forwards were unsuccessful. Still, this raiding line gave Sagar quite a lot to do, and he saved a penalty kick taken by Finch. He with Griffiths were perhaps the most outstanding figures on their sides. The scorers were Martin (2), Wilkinson and Rigby, and Martin not only made Wilkinson play a good game, but shot strongly. Webster did likewise, although he was often covered when inclined to shoot. Webster first time driving is a special feature of his play, and Rigby also added power. Fitton was the best Albion forward, and the rear division had more than they could manager.
Teams ; - Everton; - Sagar, goal; Cook and Lowe, backs; Britton, Griffiths, and McPherson, half-backs; Wilkinson, Martin, Hodgson, Webster, Rigby, forwards. West Bromwich Albion; - Ashmore, goal; Finch and Foulkes, backs; Rix, Smith, and Clarke, half-backs; Boston, Sankay, Line, Murphy, and Fitton, forwards.

EVERTON ‘CARDS” FOR THE CUP-TIE
Liverpool Echo- Thursday, February 26, 1931
Bee’s Notes
When there is a mid-week game the scouts gather at the fountain of tea with, cake and take their meal while they consider ways and means of broaching the subject of a possible transfer deal.  There was such a case yesterday at Goodison Park when Mr. Huntbach and a Blackpool director were in the act of stocktaking. Everton have not been idle —they have been searching for a back, have considered a Scottish deal, but are not enamored of it, and now are settling their minds about the Cup-tie of Saturday and future days, if any!  For eve years Everton have had but one Cup-tie; it drew 65,000 people. This week-end the second chapter has created even more interest and concern; so much so that there is a wholesale row about tickets.  This being so, the directors have put a resolution on the books that in any future affair of a big character there will be one method:—all applications by letter—with the money enclosed! That will be a barrier to some of the “supporters."  It is hoped the bottle-neck difficulty of the last twenty years will be missed for the first time in any big match; spectators are asked not to centralize on the Spellow-lane entrance, as one might terms it, but to spread themselves out.  Those who have stand tickets are asked to prevent congestion by attending the game at the earliest possible moment, not the last—as was the case at the last cup-tie versus Grimsby. When I  tell you that 2,000 pounds worth of tickets  have been sold you can imagine the  difficulties entailed with sales, and  realize what a charm cup-ties produce  at Goodison Park or at Anfield. The Cup's the thing. The rainfall of last night made the Goodison ground still heavier, and all this is unfavorable to Southport, who have had lovely turf upon which to work.  The trains can do their bit by taking the people to Harlech-street, instead of  unloading them by the Spellow  terminus—it is only a matter of 200  yards further on, and the trams "have  to go that way " in any case. By unloading at Harlech-street they would then give the Aintree end of the ground a better chance of taking its load.  Yesterday the Everton reserve side had a rat-a-tat exhibition against an able goalkeeper in Ashmore, but the main point of the game was the revelry of the new centre, Hodgson, who has a heading manner somewhat similar to Dean's.  He had just one chance of showing this to the public yesterday, but they have yet to see his daring and amazing head-back of a goal-kick which he has practiced to a degree never before known. He tends twelve yards out and tries to head the goal-kick—and is often successful (say the Marine "engineers," M Fred Lake and Burnie). It was believed Liverpool had signed Hodgson, but actually it was two forms Corkhill, front the same club, had signed that led to the confusion. Hodgson's debut was all successful. 
A broadcast of the Everton-Southport match to be heard from Liverpool station at 6. p.m. 

WHO'S FOR WEMBLEY? WHO'S FOR THE SEMI-FINAL STAGE?
Liverpool Echo - Friday 27 February 1931
PLAIN MATTER OF FACT WORDS ABOUT THE EVERTON CUP-TIE GAME-AND OTHER TIES 
Bee’s Notes
Because this is a special Cup-tie, do not let us get out of the normal rut that will lead us to think of abnormal thing.  This is a very momentous occasion for Everton and for the Southport side. The winner goes to the semi-final stage of the Association Cup—an honour and a financial gain that are not to be sniffed at. The Crompton, Pennington, Hardy, and so on, would all have given their lives to get into the semi-final  stage, and have had the chance to go through to the bitter  finality end. Some get their desires; Crompton never got his. It is necessary to have a stroke of fortune and a streak of draw luck to get to the final tie. For the moment, however, our great concern is the last but one stage, and to that end I will give my pointed criticisms or suggestions--the latter the better word. Candidly, I fancy Everton. I have seen Everton and Southport, but it is not wise to take the Southport midweek League game and game as an indication of anything. There was a gale blowing and anyone to do any good in that game must have been superlatively clever. The wind is biggest cheat of all. And those who go chasing round for players to sign say, Never sign man will on through a friendly game's revelation: nor through a Cup-tie, nor an international game
THE TRUTH
I could add quite fairly, I think:  Never pick a man for what he has done in mid-week, because the midweek game is as unreliable as most of the other barred clauses put on in the previous paragraph.  The truth about this stage of the Cup round is this—Here are young, strong Southport men, full of 'giant and gigantic hopes, realizing no doubt that if they were to win to-morrow they would be hailed as the greatest Cup victors the game has ever known. And eleven v. eleven is always in the lap of the gods. I do not forget that a man had to run away from the Midlands through a belief that divisional ideas were dependable in Cup finals. He was from Newcastle, and he worked in the  Midlands. The Newcastle side played Wolves in the final tie, and this man, remembering his great team of 1906, and that period, banked heavily on something that did not arise. Wolves won and startled Newcastle to such an extent that they could not and dare not go home by the front door—or by the prearranged train! I do not forget these traps, when I talk of Everton winning this game handsomely.  If they cannot or do not beat  Southport I think it is fair to say the  side do not deserve to go any further  in the Cup tournament and their defeat  will be ignominious. That must not on any account he used as evidence against Southport’s deserts, if they win. It amounts to this: Southport know their Everton quite well; they have hopes of victory and wisely go into the fray with a huge determination. Against that,  when selecting a winning side, one has  to put the natural temperamental  feeling that must come to any young  player who has leaped to unheard of  heights and is now parading his wares  before the mighty throng of 65,000 or  more, wills the consequent awkward  feeling that arises to every keyed-up  sportsman who is called upon to tackle  a superb foe. For it cannot be denied that here is a superb foe, and by common consent this team is not in the category that led to Everton falling before Palace and other teams like Fulham and Bradford. 
Remember Bradford
The one thing Southport can point to is the victory Bradford got over Everton and the fact that Southport beat Bradford.  That sort of reckoning is very comforting to those who believe in collateral form, but this game is at Everton, not Bradford, and Everton have gained about 60 per cent. since  they played there, in the sense that they  have improved their half-back show  where it was most needed, and to-day the  forward line are playing in a manner that  makes me wonder who shall beat them,  no matter what the opposition. There is  not a semblance of conceit in Everton;  it is a joy to find them filling the  victory hill for a change; but make no  mistake about my reading of the side I  slammed for months on end, whether  they won or not—they were carried  by Williams, Coggins, and Cresswell  in the first four months of the  season. Now the forward line is taking its big share of the work, and the defence has perhaps tired a little bit-and no wonder.   Why should collapse against Southport?  I can see no reason if you except the average adjuster-or the Fickle Fate that plays such quaint tricks with football wares.  I look upon the Goodison Park game tomorrow as an exceedingly interesting one, and can foresee Frank Jefferis marking the card of the shrimpers so that they shall take full measure out of their doughty opponents. Jefferis, however, knows full well in his own heart that the Everton attack today is playing just the sort of football that made Everton attractive in the days of 1908, when Jefferis was a means by which the side played the right kind of forward work.  Southport will show up best in defence, yet they have three very striking qualities that have carried them far ahead thus far. 
ELEVENESS
Stamina, enthusiasm, and eleven levelness.  The last term may be bothering you, but it indicates what I know of them; there is not an outstanding feature; there is a general level of endeavor and excellence, so that if you were wanting a new player you could not say which of the eleven you would prefer.  And such a team, you may argue is just the sort to put the cat among the pigeons of the Goodison coop-which has starting requiems!  I quite see that point of view.  Yet I am going to be emphatic in my declaration that I put Everton and Sunderland in the same category tomorrow.  I pick them to be in the semi-final sides, and here I may as well put up the selected quartet party; Everton, Birmingham, Sunderland, West Bromwich Albion.
CUP-TIE MUSIC
The programme of music for Goodison Park, tomorrow, by the Aigburth Silver Prize Band (conductor, Mr. Harry Wearing) will be as follows;- March  “The Elephant” (Ord Hume); overture “The Bohemian Girl” (Balfe); foxtrot, “Wasn’t it Nice?” (Feldman); selection, “Community Land” (Feldman) foxtrot.   “All the King’s Horses” (Lawrence Wright); two-step.  “The Stein Song” (Keith Prowse), march ‘C.B.B and C.F.” (Ord Hume). 

CAPTAINS' FINAL WORDS BEFORE THE GAME.
February 27 th 1931. Evening Express.
By the Pilot.
Everton's Leader.
I should like to reach the semi-final in the first year of my captaincy, and we have a fine chance of doing so. In the Cup nothing is certain, but I am hopeful of success. -Williams.
Southport's Skipper.
I think we shall give Everton a good game. We are all fit and shall go on the field with a determination to win. It must be borner in mind that both sides start level. –McConnell.
How the Rivals reached Round 6
Everton;
Round 3 beat Plymouth Argyle (a) 2-0
Round 4 Beat Crystal Palace (a) 6-0
Round 5 beat Grimsby Town (h) 5-3
Southport
Round 1 beat Darlington (h) 4-2
Round 2 beat Gainsborough Trinity (a) 4-0
Round 3 Beat Millwall (h) 3-1
Round 4 Beat Blackpool (h) 2-1
Round 5 beat Bradford (h) 1-0.
Training is over; everyone is fit; there are hopes of the ground being in comparatively good condition if we do not get heavy rain. All that remains now is the game. Victory will mean the shouldering of the Lancashire banner in the semi-final –an honour for either team and especially Southport, who have never been in the last four in their history. Let me say at once that I expect Everton to win. On form they look something in the nature of a certainty, but the cup competition is a great leveller and anything can happen. Southport have preformed gallantly so far –they even beat Bradford, who defeated Everton this season in a League match –but this is the first time they have been called on to travel, if we except the journey to Gainborough in Round 2. They are a clever side, not one of the kick-and-rush order. They have a stern defence and penetrative ability. Goodison Park will be heavy and trying, but Southport will not be upset by this. The mud will not upset them nearly so much as some people seem to think. It must be remembered that they are used to playing on League club grounds, which are as bad, if not worse, than Goodison Park is at present. Still, Everton are the team of the year, and everything indicates a victory for them. Undefeated since December 13, they have dropped only one point since. This represents ten league victories and three-cup victories. The club has escaped the injury bogy, and can field the eleven, which has carried then through the previous rounds. They play the highest class of football, and have secured more points and scored more goals than any club in the country. It will be a great fight with no quarter asked or given. Southport are assured of wonderful support, and a win for them would be the sensation of the competition. Preparation have been made for a record attendance.
Sports Pie
•  A Commission of the Football league, which had been called to sit in London on Monday, to investigate the case of Ronald Dix between Everton and Bristol Rovers has been cancelled. Bristol Rovers, who had asked for the Commission, have notified the League that a witness cannot attend through illness.

SOUTHPORT TO TEST EVERTON
February 28 th 1931. Liverpool Post and Mercury
By John Peel
Everton are undoubtedly a great force, and on paper, at any rate, their task today would appear to be a comparatively easy one. Appearances, however, from a football point of view, are often deceiving and Southport are out to show that they are capable of testing the all-powerful Goodison park team to the full. In view of the apparent gulf between the sides the extent of the interest in the match is really astonishing, and the reserved seats have long since been taken up. There are, however, great spaces around the ground, and it is possible to house 65,000, so that these should be ample room particularly as the First Division match between Liverpool and Blackpool at Anfield will ease the pressure. If Southport maintain their reputation as Cu-fighters, it ought to be an interesting match, but Everton should win. Everything points that way for their record is a very impressive one. Still, funny things crop up in Cup-Ties, and so no doubt Southport will put in all they know in the endeavour to bring off the unexpected. Whatever happens, the visitors will contest the issue strongly, and their dashing forwards are likely to cause Williams and Cresswell endless trouble. The contrast in style will be interesting, too. Altogether the match should be one worth seeing. The kick-off in this and all other ties is at 3, and the teams at full strength, will be; Everton; - Coggins; Williams, Cresswell; McClure, Gee, Thomson; Critchley, Dunn, Dean, Johnson, Stein. Southport; Baker; Little, Robinson; Seagrave, Vincent, Holmes; Hills, McConnell, Waterston, Cowan, Roberts.

SOUTHPORT SWAMPED IN GOODISON CUP-TIE
Liverpool Echo - Saturday 28 February 1931
EVERTON, WITH SEVEN GOALS, SET UP RECORD FOR HALF-TIME LEAD
BLUES’ FORWARDS IN DEADLY SHOOTING FORM
SOUTHPORT MAKE A BRAVE ENDEAVOUR, BUT ARE OUTCLASSED
By Bee
Everton; Coggins; Williams, Cresswell; McClure, Gee, Thomson; Critchley, Dunn, Dean, Johnson, Stein.  Southport; Baker; Little, Robinson; Seagrave, Vincent, Holmes; Hills, McConnell, Waterson, Cowen, Roberts.  Referee; Mr. W.P. Harper, Stourbridge. 
It was cruel luck that February 28 should have been attended with a severe snowfall, the like of which we have not experienced this winter.  The money side of the Cup-tie was of no concern of anyone except the-two clubs, Everton v. Southport, when they met at Goodlson Park, to-day, to decide which of our two local clubs should enter the semi-anal stage of the Cup.  The morning fall was so bad that a large number of people imagined the game could not be played. It was no use telling them that the Goodison ground was snow-capped only at its corners, and that the middle portion had no snow upon the turf.  In the city the rumour was rife that the game would not be played because the snowflakes were so large that they would “blind" the players, and the referee could not hope to keep in touch with the important Incidents of play.  At two o'clock, although there had been no queues in town or around the ground, there was quite a large crowd present, and for the first time in Everton’s Cup history this season, there was enthusiasm and colour in the opposition benches, which phrase reminds me that Mr. Jack Hayes, M.P., sent a telegram of good wishes to the Everton club.  This was only one of a bundle of congratulations  sent to the club office from  all round the country, and a Plymouth  friend recalled the fact that Everton  began their Cup travels by a journey  to Plymouth, and on the morning of the  match were greeted with the strains of  the funeral march by a military hand . 
SINGLE THOUGHTS 
Southport came to Goodison gaily bedecked. Mother, father, and family have thought of nothing else in tram and train for a fortnight.  This match against the great Everton side had been their greatest prayer.  Some of them developed housemaid’s knee through a yearning that Southport should have fine weather, a 5,000 pound gate to divide, and entrance to the semifinal stage for the first time in their history.  This was their second away match in the Cup tie series, and it was Everton’s second home match of the Cup-tie series.  If the weather had been fine  the enthusiasm around this tie would,  I am certain, have broken all records.  Southport sent her schoolboys in their maroon and black-striped cape, plus their top-hatted mascots, two young boys in fancy costume.  Then there was the Southport Supporters Club, which rolled into “D stand, and duly placarded the front of the grand stand with their huge identification discs.  Where we had enjoyed fine weather and a crushing well-nigh unto death in the Grimsby game, there was now some degree of comfort. There was only one ambulance case, a sick man being led off, but this had nothing to do with crushing or crowding.
LIKELY LUCRE 
It was a good thing for Southport that 2,000 pounds worth of stand tickets had been sold before the snow threatened to ruin the game. I judged the crowd  at 35,000 twenty minutes before the  kick-off, which would mean the money  return would be on the verge of 3.750 pounds.  The weather was the only last-minute influence, and some extent of the drift of the snow can be gauged by the fact that the stewards had to go round the grand stands with cloths to make the seats presentable and seatable.  There was no change in the sides, and the Mayor of Southport, Alderman Peplow, wished his side luck, so that they could not give him a happier birthday present than a victory.
ANOTHER CELEBRATION 
The Mayor of Southport was not alone in his joy day. Critchley, the Everton winger, was presented with a daughter this morning.  Among those present was Mr. John McKenna, English League President, who, in spite of a cold, climbed the giddy height, of Goodison grand stand.  Mr. Tom Laithwaite, of the Lancs, F.A, was present, together with various other officials, and Mr. Chairman Cuff, Secretary McIntosh, and directorate were busy comparing notes ten minutes before the teams turned out.  The icy blast was thawed by the enthusiasm of the crowd, and by the time Everton made their appearance the crowd had buzzed itself into warmth of excitement that brought this Cup-tie to a point very near normality.  It was difficult to estimate the attendance, because the ground now looked full, but the fact that the people in the popular portion could move about with a degree of ease showed me it was not nearly full. Perhaps it would be best to describe it as three-quarter full.  The air was thick and suggestive of more snow, but I did not anticipate a recurrence of what occurred here some years ago, when Everton started in a snowstorm, and the game had to be called off by half-time.  As showing the thoroughness with which Southport had tackled this side, I understand that they had been training on a ploughed field to get themselves acclimatized to this Goodison Park and its reputed ditch. 
A MUCH-TOSSED COIN 
Four times Williams tossed the coin and it stuck in the mud, and finally the whole crowd burst into an enthusiastic roar. Southport having won the toss and kicking towards Stanley Park.  Dean, offside, Critchley wrongly anticipating a throw-in to his side, and then a hook and a hope by Johnson, were the features of the opening moments.  Then Southport slid 'slobs on the left, so that when the ball went towards the corner of the field it gathered snow and became a perfect snowball. Cresswell slipped up and slid seven or eight yards, and Southport were full of dangerous moments, and added to this danger was a free kick on the left-hand side.  McConnell being charged with fouling someone in the mouth of the goal. 
DEAN'S OPENING GOAL 
This was the beginning of the very vital opening goal, and Southport had played so sharply and well that it was a surprise to find the goal snap.  It began with no especial feature, Gee opening with a useful tackle, and Stein helping the ball along. But when the ball went towards Dean he kept onside with a great sense of positioning, and as the ball went up towards the right hand side of the Southport goal, Baker, having left his goal, tried to reach a higher ball than he had anticipated, missed it, and Dean, flying in quick-step fashion three yards towards goal, caring not a fig for the appearance of a full-back in goal, slammed the ball into the net.  This was a blow to Southport and a blessing to Everton, because Southport had already shown a great deal of ability, and within ten minutes Coggins had made three excellent saves on a ground that was not helpful to goalkeeper.  McClure had had a word of advice from the referee. Waterston had twice gone out of position to make excellent raids, and it was necessary that Coggins should be very safe, because the ball came to him at a remarkable pace considering the state of the turf.  Yet there was evidence of the Everton forward line's ability to score goals.  After Dean had kicked over the bar when he should have scored, Critchley having shot in, Vincent on the goal-line offered a rebound to Dean, who is not an habitual aeroplane shot. 
TWO FOR DUNN 
Robinson also kicked away on the goal line, and then at the twelfth minute Everton got their two home.  It was a Dean-Dunn ding-dong bell.  Dean, challenged by Baker, who was at fault, had his shot knocked away towards Dunn, who at once delivered a shot of rather surprising power for one who is generally looked upon as a place shot, and this found the net.  Hills, at outside right for Southport, had had little chance till now, when he brought out a very effective back-heel touch, and later showed confidence and control, but Everton were determined to  transform these Cup-tie giants into  pygmies, and after Dunn had got his first goal at the twelfth minutes, he  made the margin three at the sixteenth minute.  This goal was made by a lovely pass-back from Dean to Dunn, and this time the hall went in merrily to the left-hand corner. Play was very interesting in spite of the score, and Southport were playing quite unlike a side down in the dumps.  In fact, they rallied to such a tune that Roberts and the team in general got the applause of the crowd for their marked efforts and their spirited and rather good football.
McCONNELL NOT OFFSIDE 
Actually McConnell netted the ball after the whistle had gone for offside, and Waterston thought the referee wrong in an offside decision, the player being at fault in his judgment.  The Southport half-back line was a study of endeavour, and Seagrave made a nose-dive that carried him to earth, but connected the head and ball cleverly.  Yet Everton's forward line wanted a lot of controlling, and Stein twice got into the shooting portion without testing goalkeeper Baker, who had a penchant for running out of his goal a distance that was not warranted.  Southport now set their hearts upon the offside trap, which could not be good tactics or helpful to their chance of breaking down a brainy forward line. Dean, for instance, back-heeled the ball with rare charm, and passed to his wings with perfection in direction.  McClure made a useful length hook-away, and Dean, who had been off the field for a moment for a “strap," now accepted a gift that Johnson offered him. 
DEAN'S THIRD 
The first Dean vary decently and unselfishly  passed on to Critchley, the next  one Dean used for a goal to strike a  final point of the half-hour, and settled  Southport's aspiration in this their  longest and most gallant fight in the Cup.  The Southport supporters shouted aloud “Are we downhearted? No," but the score continued to rise. Everton’s number four came through Dean slipping a full back and making an unstoppable shot. He scored the fifth five minutes later, after Gee had made three dogged dribbles and had squeezed a pass  through a defence that was now  ,bewildered. 
CRITCHLEY SUPPLEMENTS 
Dean added the anal point to this movement with a crack shot, swift to a mark to the right-hand corner of the net. Nor was this all. Critchley worked inward to the centre-forward position, and gave his new babe a present by pushing the ball into a goal that was empty.  Thus six goals had been scored in thirty-seven minutes, and Southport felt there was no health in them. 
HOW TO DO IT 
Yet they should have scored when Cowen and Waterston had chances to drive in but dallied beyond endurance.  Oddly enough, an Everton half-back.  McClure had to show Southport the way to do it. His pass-back became a real difficulty for Coggins.  It created a laugh from the locals, who felt the need of a ready-reckoner, and began to argue as to whether the score was six or seven.  It was made into seven when Critchley's pace carried him well beyond the defence, and gave him a shooting chance he accepted in no half-hearted manner.  Thus Everton in forty-two minutes had scored a larger margin before halftime than their previous record of Six against Charlton (a League match).  In spite of the almost unfair margin, Southport continued to be sticklers, and to carry the game in their own pre- arranged plan. Waterston, for instance made a very good try after Cresswell had unsuccessfully leaped into the air to try to head a ball.  Half-time; - Everton 7, Southport 0.  Scorers;- Dean (4 minutes), Dunn (12), Dunn (16), Dean (30), Dean (35), Critchley (37), Critchley (42). 
EVERTON IN THE SEMI-FINAL
GOALS GALORE IN AN EASY PASSAGE AGAINST SOUTHPORT
WATERSTON'S USUAL AMID THE WELTER 
Everton are safe for the semi-final. They potted the Shrimps from Southport to-day, and once more made a wholesale and wholesome meal of their adversaries. Southport were always plucky, but the difference between the sides was very emphatic, and the margin favouring Everton was not one bit too severe. Yet in the first five minutes of the play Southport shot hard and well, and Coggins had to be secure to prevent a sensation that might have shaken the smug Everton side, whose forwards get goals with an ease that makes their forward line one of the strongest in the country.  Everton took six goals in the first half against Charlton, at Charlton, but helped themselves to seven, to make a record in their history, in the first half to-day.  Southport played well enough to suggest the margin was all wrong, but they were frail in front of goal, while Everton, on the other hand, and were deadly.  Southport have had their grand run. Everton are continuing theirs, and for the first time since 1915 have reached the semi-final stage.  Congratulations to the winners; a vote of sympathy to the losers, and a hope that Wembley will be attached to the name of Everton. 

To keep tally of the day's register one must now point to Everton as leading by eight goals to one. Dean having scored at the sixty-second minute.  Dean and Johnson were very keen that this game should be won without 

Everton felt that seven were sufficient, and Southport, still chasing the elusive goal, had the pleasure of breaking the spell when Waterston got his usual goal.  It came is a muddled, mixed manner after Coggins had pulled the ball down awkwardly through a back getting in his way.  Roberts had begun the half in refreshing manner, and the sun now came out to smile on Southport after their goal in fifty minutes, and the elements became quite excellent.  Everton had to realise their easy-goal efforts would have to be altered when the Southport shrimp began to spike his way through the sea of mud, and Waterston made a miss and a mess of a very bonny centre by Hills, while Coggins ran to catch a cross-centre by Hills.  Everyone knew that the Southport shrimps has been potted, and that Southport were attacking through Everton’s ease up. Critchley, Dunn, and Stein had shots at goal, and Baker's best save was from a header by Dean, the ball being tipped over the bar. 
DEAN'S FOURTH 
And the corner that came from this led to a breeze by Waterston on Gee.  McConnell tried to work the ball in close confines, and when Southport brought up their defence en masse for the offside trap they got nothing for their trouble except further goal one of the greatest example, of Dean’s headwork the ground has ever shown us.  Yet it was a very simple matter, summarized into the simple phrase a Stein centre and Deign heads the ball into the net,” but such phrasing would not do justice to the scoring of or to the centre.  Dean contrived nod the heavy, leaden ball three yards from Baker's right arm at a pace most men would be content to accept with a boot shot.  To keep tally of the day’s register one must now point to Everton as leading by eight goals to one.  Dean having scored at the sixty-second minute.  Dean and Johnson were very keen that this game should be won without untoward incident—a draw for instance, would have meant them amassing the international Trial on Wednesday.  So Everton were very hearty to-day, and need I say, very happy.  Although the margin was impossible, the crowd staved until near the end of the game, and kept a close interest in Dean and Co. Baker saved three or four awkward shots and headers, but it was noticeable now that Vincent had run himself out after a hard day's work.  JOHNSON THE NINTH 
Stein, in the last portion of play, was having his moat exuberant innings.  Johnson scored the ninth goal for Everton seven minutes from the end, which now made Everton's score 9-1. He completed a nice movement when he took the ball smartly from Dean and gave Baker no chance.  Final; Everton 9, Southport 1.
Everton left the field amid the furores of the crowd, and Southport players sportingly shook hands with their conquerors and wished them well in the next step.  Scorers (second half) —Waterston (50 minutes). Dean (62). Johnson (81).  Gate receipts, £5,971 2s 4d. Attendance, 45,647.

THE SPORTS LOOKING GLASS
Liverpool Echo, Saturday, February 28, 1931
McCLURE AND HIS FOOTBALL FAMILY
By Bees
McClure.  The text is very much the same as when we talked about and with Gee, his clubmate.  McClure has a romantic history that warrants us going deeply into his antecedents.  He is of a football family; I know his father and uncles very well indeed.  He himself has been starring in the act styled "Roamer."  Is it not funny that he should have been tried by Liverpool and found wanting? Today he offers his thanks to trainer Charles Wilson for taking care of him and showing him the slight of Liverpool.  I don’t quite know what Charlie’s notions are in this direction of light finding. Whatever they may be McClure says "Thank you for shepherding me until the midnight train arrived to take me home, a disappointed young footballer."  McClure went to Preston, he went abroad; he roamed Canada, doing a little football and a lot of farming.  Home called him back and be found no football to take a fancy to him, so he went on with his up-northside by Newcastle.  Then he had a shot with Everton.  It was not a hearty one, and the first day he played for the first team—at Sheffield United by his definite tackles. He also startled his directors! Without curbing his enthusiasm, they said “That is not exactly the Everton method."  Reserve team appearances followed-and it is wonderful how these can blunt a man's football notions and his desires.  It is sot out of place to say here and now that McClure was put on the not-wanted list about a year ago.  Think of it—on the books a year ago an offering and a burnt sacrifice, and twelve months later being sought by the  then champions, Sheffield Wednesday, who were prepared to pay the same price for him as they paid for Robson  —3,000. This man had been watched by Swindon's father, Mr. Sam Allen, and it was only a fifty pound note that prevented him following in Alec Wall's steps.  Fifty pounds margin! And later, On Wednesday, come up with a cheque for 3,000—for a man not wanted a year ago. It is one of football's funny chains. The imp who sits on football’s transfers must be laughing up his sleeve every minute.  McClure stayed—fortunately—and he  made good, and whoever it was that  watched the reserve side and pointed out  his good features when his name was  being bandied about for transfer ideas  deserves a pat on the back.  McClure came into the side at a time when Gee arrived. The pair of them have stayed, and McClure has added the wealth of bodily strength that nature has given him, into his work. He needs to keep a tight hold on physical attributes lest they run away with him towards a referee's hold-up. He does not mean to hurt, but when he makes his sliding tackle it is a very severe tackle, sweeping all else beside his way.  Sometimes the opponent gets vetted, and I think in that present-day bad habit Mac can hold his own.  But I would rather he held his peace, his complacence, and his football cult rather than conjure with habits that go back to the bad old days. In fact, at risk of being termed impertinent, I would welcome him to follow the train of thought I put forward to Gee a week or so ago. Both are young men; the world seems very happy; the brusqueness of the crowd has not yet reached their sensitive ears. Let them remember that this is the luck of the Everton year; let them hoard their financial strength; let them remember they are filling the shoes of men of the stamp of Taylor. Makepeace, and Abbot—men who held the half-back forte as gentlemen, and made good in this game. We want all our younger football pros, to earn their money, to stick to it, to be gentlemen, remembering that one cannot be a good sport if one is not a gentleman.  On with the game, McClure; keep learning; keep the guiding line half-back success in the forefront. Use the ball to purpose; otherwise it will use you for a defence run which is tiring and needless.

STUD MARKS
Liverpool Echo-Saturday, February 28 1931
By Louis T. Kelly

FRANK JEFFERIS VERDICT
Liverpool Echo - Saturday 28 February 1931
"FOOTBALL ECHO" EXCLUSIVE”
This was what we might have expected to happen; what we hoped would not happen, but what everyone could see was going to happen once those clever Everton forwards began their machine-like work," said Frank Jefferis, in an interview with “Bee."  “They made goals with an ease that leads me to estimate the five of them as probably the best forward line that ever represented Everton. That is merely an opinion of mine, but I ought to know something about it, as I played in the Blues' colours for so long.
FOREIGN "SOIL" 
“Naturally, the big ground at Goodison Park, with its mud swamps, was something quite foreign to the Southport boys, but I think everyone will agree that our lads showed remarkable pluck, and the way they carried on after they had the hopeless margin of seven goals to face was very fine.  "We simply met a very excellent side, that had possibly got two goals start by being on its own ground, but that must not be taken as meaning that I am decrying Everton's lead or the difference between the teams.  A GOOD RUN AND A LONG ONE 
“The winners played well and earned their luck, after a year of very bad luck.  We on our part have no complaints, and would like Everton to go on and win the Cup now.  Our run has been a long one and an excellent one, and every man on the defeated aide deserves praise.  “There is no point in arguing the run of this game, except that I do say Coggins played very securely in the first five minutes, when out shooting was at its best.  Everyone from Southport was glad to see Waterston break the spell of Everton’s goals by taking one for Southport." 

February 1931