Everton Independent Research Data
EVERTON RES V MAN UNITED RES.
January 1, 1936, The Evening Express.
Manchester United had a good chance of an early lead when Ramford shot over, but afterwards Everton were clearly the better side. When Dean made a perfect pass to Dickinson the latter shot finely but Breedon made a fine save. A shot from Archer produced corner which led to Dean heading over and then the Manchester keeper made a great save from a terrific drive by Webster. Some of the United forward work was of good quality but they seldom reached the goal are through the excellent defensive work of Cresswell and Gee. Archer was a marksman in the Everton attack, two of his shots going close to scoring. A typical Dean header which Breedon only partially cleared led to Webster giving Everton the lead. Manchester were quickly on level terms, however, McMillin netting following a right wing corner. Everton were clearly the better side during the first half, but Breedon, in the United goal, had played magnificently. Half-time Everton Res 1, Man United Res 1. In the second half Everton continued to have the best of the game, and Dickinson again placed them ahead with a smart shot. Final Everton Res 2, Man United Res 1.
EVERTON RESERVES 2 MANCHESTER UNITED RESERVES 1
January 2, 1936. The Liverpool Daily Post
Central League (Game 23)
At Goodison Park, Everton Reserves were deserving winners in a rather drab game. They were on top for the better part of the game, quicker on the ball, and moving easily. But they found the Manchester United defence steady, particularly Breedon, who made several brilliant saves in goal. The United forwards were poor in comparison. McLenaham, Ferrier, and Mellor were the United’s best with Archer, Webster and Cresswell doing well for the winners. Webster and Dickinson scored for Everton, McMillan reducing.
COULTER TELLS OF HIS IMPROVEMENT.
January 2, 1936. Liverpool Echo.
Bee’s Notes.
Jackie Coulter is alive and well I have news from Belfast that Coulter in his own words, “is in light training again, fit and well, and keen to get back to the Everton side at the first possible moment. This is indeed good news.
“Jimmy” writes: - I have a complaint to make about the non-provision for juniors in the 3s 6d stand at Goodison. When very young, in Jack Sharp’s days, I was taken to see my first match at Goodison. On Boxing Day, I thought I would give my youngster (six years of age) a treat and a grounding to become an Evertonian. I lifted him up in my arms to go through the turnstiles (he is only the size of six penny worth of copper) and out down 3s 6d. I was told I would have to pay for him. As I had to pay 7s –and he sat on my knee the whole tome –I reckon the match cost me far too much. Surely some arrangement could be arrival at to encourage the future generations to become Evertonians, I am annoyed more so when I hear from a friend that he went in the 2s stand and got his two nephews in that stand for 1s each –though a special turnstile. Needless to say, my boy does not go to Goodison anymore. I know Gillick’s transfer has to be paid for, but at 7s a time I think it should not be long before we can sign the whole of the Rangers on. Judging from the present position in the League. Everton will be glad of supporters of the younger generation. In conclusion I think it only right to encourage the youngsters –not send them away.
70TH LEAGUE BATTLE OF EVERTON AND LIVERPOOL ON SATURDAY
January 2, 1936, Evening Express.
Reds Have Not Won At Goodison Since 1924.
By the Pilot.
Forty-two years ago –in October, 1894 –the first “Derby” battle between Everton and Liverpool took place. Everton won 3-0 at Goodison Park! On Saturday the clubs meet for the 70th time in the League at Goodison Park. So far Everton have enjoyed the better of the argument, though Liverpool have been slowly reducing the balance of points. Everton have won 30 of the matches, Liverpool 22, and 17 matches have ended with honours even. At Goodison Park, the Blues have won 16 games, Liverpool 10, and eight resulted in draws. In all, Everton have earned 77 points, while the Reds have collected 61. It was on October 13, 1894, that the clubs first met under the auspices of Football League. The match took place at Goodison Park before a “gate” of 45,000 people, who paid more than £1,000. The teams were;- Cox; Adams, Parry; Boyle, Holt, Stewart; Latta, McInnes, Southworth, Harley, Bell. Liverpool: - McCann; Hannah, Mclean; McCartney, McQue, McBride; Kerr, Ross, McVean, Bradshaw, McQueen.
Mighty Struggle.
The return game at Anfield in the following November ended in a draw of 2-2. On that day Matt McQueen, who was destined to become manager of the Reds was in goal. Since then there have been some mighty struggles between the clubs, and providing sensational results. Some of the finest games have been witnessed in the last ten years, and never shall I forget the grand Liverpool rally at Anfield in 1928. Everton were leading 3-1 when Liverpool, kicking towards the Kop goal and spurred on by the cheers of the “Kopites,” managed to draw level. History was repeated in 1930 at Goodison Park when once again the Reds, after a great uphill fight, managed to draw 3-3 when defeat was staring them in the face. There was a time when Liverpool always managed to do well at Goodison Park, and Everton generally took the honours at Anfield. That order has changed, however. Liverpool have not won at Goodison since October, 1924, while Everton have not won at Anfield since September 1931. On Saturday it will be a case of one of the youngest attacks in the country –that of Everton –opposing one of the finest defences in the land. It should prove a great a game as any of the series.
COLLIER SIGNS FOR EVERTON
January 3, 1936. Murpeth Herald
It was revealed yesterday that E. Joyce, Ashington's clever inside-right, who is a professional, has been transferred to Everton. He scored a hat-trick recently and had not missed a match for Ashington since coming to Portland Park except for the last two matches from which he was absent through injury. He came to Ashington from Jarrow and played excellent football for the Colliers.
NEW FORWARD FOR EVERTON.
January 3, 1936, Liverpool Daily Post.
Everton have signed a young player from Ashington who is likely to prove a most thrustful forward. He is E. Joyce, inside right and in twenty-six North-Eastern League games this term he has scored 15 goals. Joyce, who is a brother of T. Joyce, of Grimsby Town, is twenty years of age, stands 5ft 7ins, and weighs 10st 10lbs. He formerly played for Wardley Welfare in the Tyneside League, and when he assisted Ashington in a Cup-tie against Horden Colliery. Yesterday Derby County, Sheffield Wednesday, and Newcastle United in addition to Everton, were represented with a view to securing Joyce, and the Everton club, it is said paid £200 for the transfer. Everton have had a number of successful players from this area, and Joyce is regarded as a forward of great promise.
Tomorrow’s “Derby.”
Tomorrow’s feature, so far as Merseyside is concerned, is the return game between Everton and Liverpool at Goodison Park. The results of the post-war games at Goodison Park (Everton’s score first) have been: 0-0, 0-3, 1-1, 0-1, 1-0, 0-1, 3-3, 1-0, 1-1, 1-0, 3-3, 2-1, 3-1, 0-0 and 1-0. In all, the sides have clashed at Goodison Park on thirty-four occasions, and Everton have record 16 victories, Liverpool 10, and 8 games have been drawn.
THE LATEST “DERBY” GAME.
January 3, 1936, Liverpool Echo.
Newcomers To The Mersey Feat.
Changes At Goodison Park Game.
Bee’s Notes.
Off we go on the second lap and the lap of the gods is the most important part of the second spasm of fixtures. The Cup cuts into the fixtures from now onwards –at least we hope Everton and Liverpool stay in the Cup sufficiently long to keep the “pot” boiling, and the League fixtures can look after themselves in that period. The season has sounded its half-time spell, and now the football enthusiasts goes breathless into the game knowing the Cup can compel as no other game compels. And the first chapter in the second half of the season’s “games” is the great meeting of Everton and Liverpool at Goodison Park. It does not need recalling that Everton were beaten “defensively” early in the season in the first of the “Derby” games. That day Howe and Hodgson cracked goals with venom, and Liverpool followers considered the game well won before Dean went off with his broken toe. It was a freakish result, and Liverpool got more confidence out of the result than you can imagine. Since then the fluctuation of both sides has been rather remarkable. At the moment we find Everton struggling. The knowledge that Brentford, Grimsby, and Aston Villa are winning makes Everton’s task the more difficult. But Everton have not been standing still; that was a great performance against Sheffield Wednesday, and at Derby a point was a valuable pick-me-up. Everton have a youthful strain in their side that is not to be found in the Liverpool eleven, which has been built up on the solid lines, of Bradshaw, Cooper, Blenkinsopp, McDougall, &c. The attack has its youthful onlook, but Everton’s side is still younger, and I mention this because sometimes the young are unset by “Derby” games, they do not play their normal game, and the atmosphere of the big occasion beats them. So tomorrow’s game is in the lap of the gods. Liverpool having lapsed will be keen to take up the winning strain such as they showed at Highbury. But Everton will win, I imagine through the fiery nature of their attack in which there is new spirit, and a flair for unusual football. Miller’s first half work is always good and when it is attached to the vinility of a Gillick the wing can be not only very effective and pleasing to the football eye but also punishing to any defence. Gillick will be the cynosure of all eyes and I would counsel you to note the call Gillick makes to his partner; it is a “yell,” gruff, commanding and instructional.
Stalwarts.
Readers must not convict me if the home side lets me down. I am entitled to an opinion just as you Reds or Blues. I do not forget the stalwart way White is playing or the fastness of Mercer or the dainty leadership of Cliff Britton. Behind them X; Because King will keep goal for Sagar, and it is a big question to a youth like King, who, however, has never let his side down. At back Everton have a question mark when comparisons of both sides are in the air. Having said so much of the home side let me recall the effect Riley has on the Anfield side; add the tremendous force of the backs and the outstanding man of the season –Cut-eye Bradshaw –and you have reason why Everton should not get a goal. Savage comes back and McDougall, if playing in his Christmas Day and ice-box day against Sheffield Wednesday will be another barrier to the home side. But all these things can count providing the Liverpool rear divisions can “keep in time” with the flighty and peaceful Everton attack. What of the Liverpool attack and their possibilities? They got six last time, you remember. Why should they be bulked this time? Well, the greatest feature is in the middle, where Tom White has by now become thoroughly used to the pivotal work under the goal-bar. So Everton feel this occasion will see Howe covered up effectually. But Howe has a good habit of floating out to the left wing and, like Cunliffe in his roaming, has to be followed. Well, there you are. The backs will have something to say about that and so far as the Wright-Nivvy wing is concerned we all know what can happen there if they get going in the right mood. Carr and Glassey may not yet be stalwarts but some day Carr will break into goal sweat and the people will wonder where he has been hiding his undoubted power of drive all this time. Glassey returns to the Anfield side and will revel in a tussle of this kind because he is a neat worker and is inclined to run himself out in the early stages of play. The prospect is great; the game should be likewise and I do hope all the newcomers to this engagement will remember the meetings of Everton and Liverpool have been spotlessly clean; do not besmirch the good name of either club. Keep it clean, lads, and may the better side win. It will be rather uncommon to have a game of this character with so few of the Liverpool directors present to see how it proceeds, I believe Liverpool have a very important signing-factor in view; at any rate no fewer than five of their directors will miss the Derby game in the hope of finding new talent just in time for the fourth rounds of the Cup!!! . Teams: - Everton: - King, goal; Cook and Jones, backs; Britton (captain), White, and Mercer, half-backs; Geldard, Bentham, Cunliffe, Miller, and Gillick, forwards. Derby County; - Kirby, goal; Udall and Jessop, backs; Nicholas, Barker and Keen, half-backs; Hagan, Napier, Gallacher, Ramage and Duncan, forwards. Referee Mr. J.E. Mellor (Bradford).
MOT VITAL EVERTON-L’POOL DUEL EVER PLAYED.
January 3, 1936. The Evening Express.
Youngest Blues ‘Derby’ Team’s Stern Battle For Point.
60,000 To see Great game.
By The Pilot.
One of the most vital “Derby” games ever played at Goodison Park tomorrow. This 70th match between the clubs under Football League auspices finds Everton only one point from the bottom position in the table. Therefore this is one “Derby” match that Everton really must win, and all their remaining home matches as well, for that matter, if they re to reach safety. It is expected that 60,000 people will witness the match. The record for a “Derby” game at Goodison Park is 66,737 who paid £4,114 on October 15, 1927. Rarely have Everton entered into a match against their neighbours with such vital issues at stake. Even the loss of one point will make Everton’s position more perilous. The Blues have consolation in the thought that in recent games they have revealed marked improvement. The team is on the upgrade. They are fighting zealously and have recaptured that all-for-one and one-for-all spirit which is essential to success. The responsibility of this important game falls on the shoulders of the youngest side ever to represent the Blues in such an encounter. Can they overcome what I consider to be the finest defence in the country? That is the burning question. It will be a case of Everton’s young attackers matching their speed, enthusiasm and skill against a rearguard which is as resolute as the Rock of Gibraltar. It should be one of the “best-ever” games between the clubs. My personal fancy is for a draw. Everton may enjoy the balance of attack, but in facing such as Bradshaw and company, the forwards will need the essence of skill in drawing, and placing and the ability and agility to snap up every scoring chance. The Liverpool defence covers perfectly, possess the faculty for taking and ball in the air, and it makes positional play count. Mark you, I think that if the Everton attackers play with the same precision as they did in the first half against Derby County last Saturday, they will win. I say so with due regard to the fact that I consider Liverpool’s defence to be superior to that of Derby.
Man Blues Have To Watch.
The Reds will rely on sweeping raids to overcome Everton, and the man to watch is Freddie How, the young centre forward who signalise his “Derby” debut by scoring four goals. Howe is a worrier and an opportunist and he will need careful watching by White the “stop-all” pivot of the Blues. Liverpool are happy in the thought that Bradshaw, Riley, and Savage are able to return to duty, and they are bringing back Glassey as partner on the left to Carr. Everton make no change from the side which drew at Derby, so that Glassey (Liverpool), King, Mercer, Bentham and Gillick will have their first experience of “Derby” encounters. If Liverpool win they will complete their first “double” of the season, having beaten the Blues 6-0 at Anfield. . Teams: - Everton: - King, goal; Cook and Jones, backs; Britton (captain), White, and Mercer, half-backs; Geldard, Bentham, Cunliffe, Miller, and Gillick, forwards. Derby County; - Kirby, goal; Udall and Jessop, backs; Nicholas, Barker and Keen, half-backs; Hagan, Napier, Gallacher, Ramage and Duncan, forwards. Referee Mr. J.E. Mellor (Bradford).
THE DERBY GAME.
January 4, 1936. Liverpool Daily Post.
By John Peel.
Meetings between Everton and Liverpool always provide local enthusiasts with the opportunity to weight up the merits of the sides in proper perspective, and today at Goodison Park there will be the customary enthusiastic gathering ready to watch what, I thrust will prove a highly skilled exposition fought out in true sporting spirit. The teams have proved rather erratic, and in that respect it is difficult to know which way the balance is likely to turn. In point of table positions Liverpool hold a district advantage and on some of their form seem likely to gain the day. Liverpool have had their unexpected lapses, however, and Everton, in the desperate straits they find themselves at the moment, are sure to make a bold-bid to reverse the heavy defeat sustained at Anfield earlier on in the season. Everton’s record is in great need of improvement, and the players will be all out today to make the most of their opportunities. The Liverpool defence, however, will require a lot of beating, even if the news found pace of the Everton attack is regarded as an asset which suggests an Everton recovery. The Anfield team have their regular goalkeeper, Riley in his place, and with Cooper, Blenkinsopp and Bradshaw in front a sturdy barrier faces Everton. Liverpool’s team, with Bradshaw in his place, will be much stronger than last week. It is unfortunate from an Everton point of view that sagar is deprived by injury of the opportunity of playing in this match, and in this respect Everton are handicapped. A number of players are to make their first appearance in Derby games, notably Bentham, Mercer, Gillick, King and Glassey. Whatever happens, it should be a tight struggle and the advantage of ground may just turn the scale. The kick-off is at 2.30 and the teams are: - Everton: - King; Cook, Jones; Britton, White, Mercer; Geldard, Bentham, Cunliffe, Miller, Gillick. Liverpool: - Riley; Cooper, Blenkinsopp; Savage, Bradshaw, McDougall, Nieuwenhuys, Wright, Howe, Glassey, Carr. . Teams: - Everton: - King, goal; Cook and Jones, backs; Britton (captain), White, and Mercer, half-backs; Geldard, Bentham, Cunliffe, Miller, and Gillick, forwards. Derby County; - Kirby, goal; Udall and Jessop, backs; Nicholas, Barker and Keen, half-backs; Hagan, Napier, Gallacher, Ramage and Duncan, forwards. Referee Mr. J.E. Mellor (Bradford).
BLENKINSOP COLLPSES; DABBS’ DASH TO DERBY GAME.
January 4, 1936. Liverpool Football Echo.
Dramatic Curtain –Raiser To Great Goodison Park Match.
Noughty-Noughty Everton – Liverpool Game
Everton Pitch Away Chances In First Half;
Liverpool Revive And Earn Their Draw.
By Bee.
The Everton forwards in the first half of the “Derby” game were lamentable. So the first goalless draw in the series at Goodison Park, for 22 years was registered. It was a graceful gesture on the part of Carr to handshakes the deputy Dabbs for his part in the draw. Liverpool deserved a point for their plucky fight back after being riddled by attacks in the first hour. Teams: - Everton: - King, goal; Cook and Jones, backs; Britton (captain), White, and Mercer, half-backs; Geldard, Bentham, Cunliffe, Miller, and Gillick, forwards. Liverpool: - Riley, goal; Cooper (captain), and Dabbs, backs; Savage, Bradshaw and McDougall, half-backs; Nieuwenhuys, Wright, Howe, Glassey, and Carr, forwards. Referee Mr. Thompson, Leamington. Goodison Park was in good order for the seventieth meeting between the local sides. Everton, who had been at Everton, inside no changes from the side that drew at Derby, although there had been a doubt about Gillick, whose mother-in-law passed away two days ago. Liverpool brought back Riley for Kane, Bradshaw for Lowe, Savage for Rogers, and Glassey vice Hodgson, Day met a trifle cold, but excellent for football. Everton keen to take the edge of their 6-0 would sustained at Anfield early in the season. The moment I reached the ground I was a witness of an unusual and dramatic change of front. A taxi speed up the side streets, and Police-Superintendent Hughes was anxious to know why this taxi proposed to break all regulations. Inside the cab was dabs, who had been rushed from the Anfield ground at five minutes to two to play in place of Blenkinsopp, who at half-past eleven this morning had collapsed in the Liverpool offices through an attack of flu. Doubtless some Liverpool supporters said “Ah! Then why did they transfer Tennent the day before? The answer is on Tennent’s head, not on the Liverpool’s Club’s head. Cooper captained the Liverpool side, and after the players had come out two by two the game got on its way, Cooper, having won the toss, electing to kick towards the Aintree end. The excitement was intense when, in two minutes, Cunliffe fed Geldard across the legs of Dabbs. Bradshaw was beaten by Geldard, and finally a pass back by Geldard produced a scoring chance for Britton, whose shot struck Dabbs full in the face, and thus the newcomer had saved a goal in a minute. McDougall responded with fine result and “Nivvy” was most unfortunate when he spirited along took the tackle, fell and could not recover himself. Referee Thompson of Leamington, was unemployed not so the Liverpool defence especially when Mercer went bounding along towards the middle of the field for a shot at any price. He did not strike the ball in the correct manner, and Liverpool were glad to see the ball go outside. The first foul was committed by Geldard on McDougall. Interested onlookers from the sick ward seated in the front row of the Press box were the following players:- Sagar, Stevenson, Coulter, Stein, &c. Bradshaw made some sound play with his head against the tall Cunliffe, and Savage was particularly pleasing in the early phases. It needed the offside trap on the part of the Liverpool defence to stop a perfect of pairing by Britton those who have not seen Geldard at his best in the last few weeks.
Gillick Hits The Post.
However, Everton continued on the offensive, and Geldard’s corner kick ended in Gillick shot against the foot of the left post. A second corner kick on the other side of the field culminated when Mercer’s shot struck a defender and presented Geldard with a further chance. The goal was well packed and Geldard’s shot lacked pace and direction. Mercer made a wild attempt at a clearance failed to connect with the ball and White had to subdue Howe, Glassey joined in a close shave for Everton and Cunliffe probably hurt his leg in a long winding run on the right flank, which had no value because, when he could pass, he would not, and Bradshaw started where Cunliffe was made to end. The sequel was a strong attack by Liverpool, in which White had to stand firm against Wright. Moreover, Glassey got the ball in his favourite move clasping the ball with ease in a similar manner to a subsequent save by riley against Cunliffe, who was unbalanced through the attention of Dabbs and Cooper. After McDougall had been unable to time a shot, Britton became full-fledged outside right centring far across the field to Gillick, whose header landed on top of the net. Even nearer was an Everton chance, made through Bentham’s excellence. Geldard closed in, could have shot, and preferring to pass low, found Bradshaw touch the ball towards his on goal, where Riley prevented any though of Bradshaw putting through his own goal. However, the move leading up to this point had been so good that it was rather a shocking waste to find no Everton forwards ready to connect with a gift goal.
Everton Net –But Offside.
Cook, the full-back, commenced the movement by which Everton netted the ball for the first time, but the referee said “Offside.” Cook work had parried him to the three-quarter mark and his enterprise had earned something better than an offside verdict. The best thing in the match so far was the acme of perfection in timing on the part of White, who was bothered to collect a high ball and yet back-headed that ball behind him, and thus saved an awkward situation for his full backs.
A Gillick Thrill.
A swapping of positions between Gillick and Cunliffe collapsed through Cunliffe’s shot being far and wide. Vice Wright produced a long shot of much pace, and the biggest thrill of the match came when Gillick, using his customary cut-through to inside left, raced beyond the backs and, and seeing Riley out of goal tried an old-fashioned lob over the goalkeeper’s head. He got too much loft on his effort, so the lob that failed to go into the empty goal could be likened to the light that failed. Fate plays a heavy hand with the club that fails to take reasonable chance, and Everton thus far had three gilt-edged chances of scoring. Everton did other unexpected things, notable when Cunliffe back heeled the ball while Geldard stood at his side waiting a pass. White kicked over Howe’s pace in another Liverpool breakaway made by the resourceful Glassey. All Everton’s prettiness became futile so long as Riley was not called upon to handle the ball, and this phrase gives a complete survey of the first half-hour’s play, Riley was unemployed, yet the Everton right flank continued to flash through for what seemed to be an easy raiding party. Two Everton players went for the ball at the same moment, and Geldard found to his astonishment that he had a priceless grit if he could beat Riley. Over-running the ball he trapped it just far enough for Riley to advance and not only smother the attempted shot but also gather the ball. If Everton had taken their chances today as Liverpool took theirs at Anfield the margin must have been in the nature of a 6-hit. A further sample of Everton’s futility in front of goal arose when Gillick centred and Bentham’s shot struck Bradshaw, putting Cunliffe onside and no more than seven yards from goal, yet Riley advancing, was able to smother what should have been a gift. The overworked Bradshaw again found Riley in his best mood when Cunliffe tried to go through, and Bradshaw’s mis-hit was well taken by the goalkeeper. Much more practical attack was shown by “Nivvy’s” first-class centre and Howe’s header towards goal. There was only one stoppage in the first half, Dabbs straining a knee. Until now neither goalkeeper had a shot worthy the name; but Riley amended this by a very good save, even if Geldard’s shot was practically at him –one more instance of Everton’s inability to take the golden chance. Everton’s finishing was lamentable.
Half-time Everton 0, Liverpool 0.
The first half could be described as Everton noughty-noughty without being nouty and the beginning of the second half was little different except that Geldard’s last shot was saved by Riley after the right winger had been allowed much space, and had closed in to what it was reasonable to call a scoring position. Dabs brought down Geldard when another Everton raid suggested possibilities and so the game went on, with the Liverpool attack easily held and rarely in the picture, King having enjoyed a day off for the best part of an hour. Gillick’s was the best endeavour when he employed a placed header in the same way that he scored against Sheffield Wednesday on Boxing Day. This time the ball passed a foot outside the post. Bradshaw did heroic work while Everton’s attack proceeded to do everything but score, and Cooper linked up in similar manner. But nothing could have saved Liverpool in Cunliffe cross had been caught a thousandth part of a second quicker by Gillick. As it was, the ball fired a yard from Riley’s post. Referee Thompson had no trouble, and a number of his decisions were hall-marked. The possibility of a snap goal to Liverpool was always rife, and a pass out to Carr created an opening, until King came forward in confident manner. The Liverpool right wing was unusually quiet, and the match continued to be Everton’s over-neat attack without punishing finish. The crowd, which was probably 54,000 in number, had tried of the passed away shooting department and was over anxious for a goal. Cook gave away a corner kick with a complaisance not justified by the result as Glassey and Wright between them threatened to head it into goal although the ball passed just over the bar. The Liverpoolians begged the referee to change his decision of offside when the ball was netted. It was a pity “Nivvy” and King had not heard the whistle sounded because they played on and both were injured in the process, and with King diving to make a half save he was the more seriously hurt. Liverpool strongly contested the referee’s verdict, Cooper and Glassey joining in but being waved away by the referee. It was the only unfortunate debute in play, and was followed by Mercer showing petulance. Liverpool found the off-side trap on the Everton forwards a matter of supreme ease. Liverpool now had their best moments of attack; there was fire in the eleven, and the game now became more rousing. Gillick went through at a great pace, cutting inward, and, although hampered by Bradshaw and dabs got close to goal when his shot was smothered out, Dabbs being hurt thereby. When Liverpool were playing at their brightest and best, Britton, who had been the attacking half of the first half, stopped the Liverpool danger zone with a perfect tackle. Riley caught a further Gillick header. Carr had the best Liverpool chance of the afternoon, having beaten the back, but his tame centre was headed out with ease. This lapse might have been costly as Bentham now made a trim shot which swerved outside after it had appeared safe for goal.
The save Of The Match.
White made an astounding save against Howe when Liverpool made another insistent raid. Everton came back to engineer, through the aid of Miller’s subtedly another golden chance, but it was frittered away in the same way as all the others had been shelled. A free kick taken by tom White was sailing under the crossbar when Riley made the save of the match, turning the ball over the bar. Liverpool had been a revelation to Everton in the second half. With a minute to go, Cunliffe gave the dummy to Bradshaw, and then having got his position secure, trod over the ball. So the game ended 0-0, and Everton’s position became more perilous. Right on time, Cunliffe made a leap in the air, fell on his neck, and damaged himself. Final, Everton 0, Liverpool 0.
STUD MARKS.
January 4, 1936. Liverpool Football Echo
By Louis T. Kelly.
• King is the ninth post-war goalkeeper called up for services by Everton in local “Derby” Games.
• No fewer than 13 different players have led Everton’s attack v. Liverpool during a like period, and this in spite of the fact that dean has 14 times occupied this difficult role.
• Everton and Birmingham alone have had no “penalty” awards and only Grimsby and Portsmouth conceded none.
• A propos Everton’s right winger as a deputy goalie, be it known that Geldard almost invariably puts in a lot of practice in this line, “at the nets.”
• The last time, Everton and Liverpool crossed swords at Goodison on January 4, was six years ago when Everton, as today, were next to bottom on the table. A feature of this match was the “stone-cold” debut made by Lachlan McPherson. Not one of the Everton side in that game was starter this afternoon. A week afterwards Ted Sagar made his debut with the seniors.
• The Toffee’ luck still out –had Jackson badly damaged on Saturday.
• They say you can’t put an old head on young shoulders, but Gillick seems to refute this idea.
• Hagan, the 17-year-old winger who made such a successful start with Derby County v Everton, is the son of a former Newcastle United forward.
• Everton’s most improved player in recent weeks –the ex-Ellesmere Port boy, Mercer. Is father was a similarly fine upstanding, eating-up-space half-back for Notts Forest in the old days.
• A well “groomed” pair –the newly weds, Gillick and Geldard.
EVERTON FAIL TO FIND THE GOAL ROUTE IN “DERBY.”
January 4, 1936. The Evening Express, Football Edition.
Polish, But No “Punch.”
Honours Even After Stern Battle for Lead.
Riley’s Great Game In Liverpool Goal.
By the Pilot.
Faulty finishing cost Everton a valuable point in their 70th Football League “Derby” game with Liverpool at Goodison Park. The game was drawn 0-0, but if Everton had accepted all the chances they had, they would have been comfortable winners. Everton’s midfield play was superb, but they were unable to push home their advantage near goal. Riley, the Liverpool goalkeeper, was the hero of the game, which pulsated with action and thrills. Blenkinsop, skipper of Liverpool, had to cry off at the last moment, owing to an attack of influenza. Dabs took his place. There were 55,000 spectators present when Cooper and Britton, the deputy captains, led their men on the field together. Teams: - Everton: - King, goal; Cook and Jones, backs; Britton (captain), White, and Mercer, half-backs; Geldard, Bentham, Cunliffe, Miller, and Gillick, forwards. Liverpool: - Riley, goal; Cooper (captain), and Dabbs, backs; Savage, Bradshaw and McDougall, half-backs; Nieuwenhuys, Wright, Howe, Glassey, and Carr, forwards. Referee Mr. Thompson, (Leamington-n-Tyne).Everton opened strongly through the agency of Geldard and Britton. Geldard twice beat Dabbs for pace, and then, when Britton centred, Gillick pushed the ball back for Mercer’s to drive one by the post. “Nivvy” cut inwards to get the Reds attack in motion. Cook intervened, and Howe’s back header failed to reach “Nivvy” who had come out of position. Britton and Geldard were in joyous form and after perfect interpassing the ball was pushed through to Cunliffe, who in his eagerness had got offside.
Riley There.
Geldard forced a corner off Dabbs and following his kick and a punch away by riley, Gillick drove a swift right-foot shot, against the foot of the post. Bradshaw next conceded a corner on the left. Again Riley’s fists were there and this time the ball ran to Miller, whose shot was turned aside by Riley at full length. The ball fell to Geldard’s feet, but the winger, in trying to avoid Riley’s body, placed the ball yards wide. In Liverpool’s lone raid, Mercer miskicked, but recovered. Then King had to fast away a free kick from Savage. Once again, Bradshaw frustrated Everton with a masterly tackle after a lone dribble by Cunliffe. Nieuwenhuys was causing Jones plenty worry, and now it was only White’s enterprise which prevented Howe from getting to work on a neat “Nivvy” slip-through. Cook came up to join the forwards and with Miller’s aid cut out a chance for Cunliffe, who was given offside as he glided the ball into the net. This was a near thing. Vic. Wright went close with a 20-yard drive. Then a lucky rebound gave Cunliffe a chance to feed Gillick. Gillick swerved past Cooper and with only Riley to beat, turned the ball over the top. Everton were pattern-waving and doing it well, but they lacked finishing punch.
Swift Raids.
Liverpool Attack Tests Blues’ Defence.
Liverpool were relying on swift raids and from one of these Nieuwenhuys headed outside. Everton had another great chance when Cunliffe headed through and Geldard was through on his own. Riley came out of goal, and with Geldard allowing the ball to run a little too far beyond him, the South African fell on the ball to save a certain goal. This was the biggest thrill of the game so far. Once again Everton failed at the vital moment. They were, metaphorically, being presented with goals, yet could not take them. The ball came off McDougall to put Cunliffe clean through six yards from goal, but the ball and struck Riley’s knee and run to safely. Bradshaw made a mistake in allowing a ball to pass him, and Cunliffe was through like greased-lighting. Riley grapped the ball, which had goal label on it. Everton were having much more of the game, but their forwards had little idea of finishing. Liverpool with much fewer attacks, were not lacking in goal thrusts. Cunliffe was coming out well in his heading duels with Bradshaw and he back-headed a perfect pass for Geldard to cut through. Once again the spectators were preparing to shout “goal,” but the keen anticipation of Riley, who came out to narrow the angle, saved another certainty. Cunliffe contributed a praiseworthy dribble which brought two successive corners to the Blues, these being taken charge of by the ever alert Riley. Cunliffe shot across goal, but there was no one up to do the necessary.
Half-Time Everton 0, Liverpool 0.
Everton should have had the game in safe keeping, but they had to begin the battle all over again as a consequence of faulty finishing. The Blues had played perfect football in midfield, yet when they came to finishing they failed. Twice Riley had to fist away after the interval –once from a fine effort by Bentham –and we saw some strange miskicking by both sides. Riley deserves double bonus for this show. Geldard went through again, but Riley dashed out and the winger’s shot banged against the goalkeeper’s chest. Gillick drove outside with a speculative, shot then went much closer with a tricky header from Britton’s centre which went a foot by the far post. Another big thrill came when Cunliffe took over the outside right position and squared a ball which Riley could not reach. Gillick flung himself out to make a mighty header which flashed inches by the post. Liverpool made spasmodic raids, but King was able to take command by coming out to pick up.
Off-side Trap
Everton Fail To Round-Off Midfield Efforts.
It was still Everton’s game so far as midfield endeavour went, but they fell to Liverpool’s offside trap and they were lacking in goal sense. A misunderstanding between Britton and Cook saw Carr sweep through and middle a ball which Howe just failed to reach. After Cook had conceded a corner Glassey got in the way of Wright, so that the inside right’s header flew over the top, instead of into the net.
Offside Goal.
The game had been in progress 65 minutes when Liverpool thought they had scored through Howe, but long before the whistle had gone for offside. There was little in it when the Reds swept through and Nivvy’s shot cannoned off King to be pushed across goal for Howe to shoot into the net. There were hand-shakes, but the majority of the players were standing up field waiting for the free kick. King received an injury, but he was able to resume. Liverpool were having more of the game at this stage, and it seemed as if Everton were becoming upset by their own inability to score. Gillick made a heroic effort for the Blues, cutting through the middle after help from Cunliffe, and his final shot was turned aside for a corner by Dabbs, who suffered an injury, but was soon back into battle. The game was producing everything in football except goals. Geldard, ably fed by Cunliffe, dropped over another one. Gillick was there, but Riley, as usual, was also there to make the safe catch under the bar. Carr tricked Cook, and his short centre had Everton worried until Mercer nipped in with the winning header. Everton fought back, Bentham making a wonderful shot which swept by the far post. White put paid to the next Reds’ raid – his value to Everton was the same as Bradshaw to Liverpool. Riley was there with his fist when Bentham went through and centred. Then when Bentham was fouled on the edge of the penalty area, White sent a magnificent shot through the barrage of players, Riley turning the ball over the bar when it seemed like a goal at last. Gillick tried to go through on his own only to run up against the effective Bradshaw barrier, and Cunliffe hesitated after swerving around Bradshaw. Final Everton 0, Liverpool 0.
DEAN’S HAT-TRICK FOR EVERTON RES.
January 4, 1936. The Evening Express, Football Edition.
Liverpool Res, Lose Early Lead.
The Everton side in the local Reserve Derby at Anfield included five players with international experience. Liverpool during the early minutes of the game were the smarter team. Hesitancy by Balmer allowed Cresswell to intervene, otherwise’ the Reds might easily have had an early goal to give them confidence. The first definite move made by Everton came from the right wing, where Leyfield spoiled a good opening by shooting over. Lowe was in the way of a shot from Webster, but although the Liverpool defence was hard pressed for a time it survived. Balmer, on the Liverpool right wing, was a smart raider and for some time the Liverpool side which included several “A” team players, were shown in a favourable light. Three corners forced by Liverpool jeopardised the Everton defence, and White was rather lucky to clear when Balmer shot. The Everton goalkeeper smartly saved a back-header from Cresswell, but when Liverpool came again Balmer drove in obliquently to give Liverpool the lead. Everton showed some improvement and Dean smartly place the ball beyond Flowers and scored an equaliser. Everton now seemed to take the measure of the home side, and Dean with one of his old-time headers sent in an excellent goal to place the Blues in the lead. Half-time Liverpool Res 1, Everton Res 2.
EVERTON 0 LIVERPOOL 0 (Game 1543 over-all)-(Div 1 1501)
January 6, 1936. Liverpool Daily Post .
Derby Game Of Missed Chances.
Everton Failure To Clinch The Issue.
By “Stork.”
The final “Derby” game of the season, which was played at Goodison Park, will go down in history as the “Derby” of many missed chances, and the many Liverpool supporters will readily admit that their side were lucky to go off with a point as the result of the goalless draw. The Anfielders suffered an eleventh hour blow when it was found that Blenkinsop, their captain, had influenza, and a hasty call had to be made on the services of Dabbs to take his place. The game, therefore, was full of debutants, and many big names were missing from the team sheet, the most notable absentee being Dean and Hodgson. The Liverpool defence defied their opponents attempts to land a ball in their net, and while I admit to the great game of Bradshaw and his colleagues, the reason Everton went without a goal was because they frittered away chances in an annoying fashion. They were the better side for the best part of an hour, during which they gave a superlative display of intricate football, get with all their cleverness they could not boast a goal, although Gillick bumped a ball up against the foot of the upright. The first half was just one long series of darting raids on the Liverpool goal with an occasional breakaway by the Liverpool attack, but Everton were so much the superior side and made such splendid openings with their clever combined play, that goals should have been the natural outcome.
Cunliffe’s Miss.
It is all very well having most of the play, but what good is it all if there is nothing to show for it? Cunliffe had the simplest chance of all when he was put outside through the ball coming to him off Bradshaw, but when only a matter of a few yards from goal he could do no better than slam the ball straight at Riley, who was thankful of the chance to save. The right wing trio, Geldard, Britton, and Bentham, did enough in the first half hour to have had a solid foundation for a win if there had been any accurate marksmen in the line, but Cunliffe was forever getting offside, and Miller was never near enough to goal to take advantage of the centre, which either flashed across the Liverpool goal or landed in the goalmouth. Not even a Bradshaw could have saved the situation had there been any driving force in the Everton front line. Gillick showed his football brain when he tried to lob the ball over the head of the advancing Riley. That he missed is now of no consequence, but it only goes to prove that Gillick is a thinking footballer. So the game went on and on. Everton riddling and raiding way through to what seemed certain goals, only to fall at the critical moment. They played entrancing football. Perhaps they were over-indulgent in the matter of artistry, but the manner in which the players changed positions, found their man with “carpet passes,” and swept onwards, was undoubtedly a joy to watch, even though it brought many an anxious moment to the Liverpool defence and its supporters. The crowd simply yearned for a goal. They were entertained by Everton’s combination, but they wanted goals, but they were denied that pleasure.
The Disputed “Goal.”
Only once did the ball finds it way between the post, and the joy in the Liverpool camp was great, until it dawned upon them that the referee’s whistle had been sounded long before Nieuwenhuys and Howe started off on their trek toward’s decisive blow. The righteousness of the referee’s decision will be disputed for many a long day, but it is my firm opinion that a verdict was a correct one. Liverpool were uncommonly quiet during Everton’s hectic spell. Naturally, with Everton dictating matters, it was only to be expected that Liverpool were mainly concerned in defence, and what a defence, even allowing for Dabbs, who found Geldard in one of his brightest moods. Geldard flitted here and there, and gave his best home display for months, and Cunliffe had only used more judgement when making his passes, Geldard might have won the game for his side.
Out Of touch.
Liverpool’s forward line has not been affected for some time and it was uncommonly out of touch with itself in this game. Not for an hour was it seen, at least that was how it appeared, so seldom did it burst into the picture. Howe was “blacked” out by White, just like Cunliffe, Bentham, and Miller were at the mercy of Bradshaw, and it was not until a trace of tiredness showed itself in the Everton ranks that Liverpool’s attack became a dangerous force. For about 15 minutes they gave one the impression that they might carry the day with a snap goal. They had seen Everton cast away chances they were not going to be guilty of such an offence, and decided to try a bow at a venture whenever the slightest chance loomed up. King had to save from Glassey, and Nieuwenhuys became a menace for the first time in the game, and the Everton defence, for a change had to undergo what the Liverpool rare lines had suffered for over an hour. But Liverpool missed their way more than once when they had carried the ball into the Everton goalmouth, but they never missed such a chance as fell to the Everton attack. Quite the best shot of the match was made by White, who, taking a free kick, managed, to lift the ball over the heads of the line of players Liverpool had set up against him, and Riley had to make a “late” save by tripping the ball over his cross-bar. I are not forgetting Geldard’s shot which, although they went straight for Riley, carried plenty of power behind them to make Riley’s task trouble-some. Near the end of the game, Geldard slung across a long length centre which Gillick headed. The outside left had not much time to make up his mind, for the ball was cutting across at a great pace. He flung himself at it, but did not connect just as desired; otherwise Riley would have been helpless to save. That was not the best chance, for Cunliffe, after string the ball into the required position, trod over the ball, and as Everton lost their chance of winning a game they should undoubtedly have won had there been more punch in their front line.
Sound Pivots.
The defence triumphant and I would place Bradshaw and White in front of all others. Bradshaw seemed unbeatable, his towering frame was to be seen when Everton set out on their goal mission, but White was just as solid, Cooper played a grand game, as much so that Gillick was not allowed to do much. Naturally Liverpool felt the loss of Blenkinsop. That was made apparent by the way Savage and others came across to the left wing to stern the Geldard-Britton pairing and it required some quelling particularly in the first half. McDougall and Savage rendered able assistance, and Mercer helped along the good work of White and Britton for Everton. Liverpool’s attack was unable to get away from the Everton defence. Howe has not been held so firmly for a long time, and as already explained; they only had about 15 minutes when they tested the Everton goal. Geldard was the “star” forward of the day. He got the ball right, and while Bentham foraged and brought pace into the line, Cunliffe was not crafty enough to think out a way to beat Bradshaw. He did some cute things, following with one which a novice would not have attempted; Miller was too far back to be of any use in a goalmouth battle. He made some nice passes, but was not a helpmate near goal. I cannot conclude without paying a tribute to the referee. Mr. Thompson, of Leamington. He was a referee who was ever up with the play and made his decisions promptly. With such a man in charge there need be no talk at the two-referee plan. Teams: - Everton: - King, goal; Cook and Jones, backs; Britton (captain), White, and Mercer, half-backs; Geldard, Bentham, Cunliffe, Miller, and Gillick, forwards. Liverpool: - Riley, goal; Cooper (captain), and Dabbs, backs; Savage, Bradshaw and McDougall, half-backs; Nieuwenhuys, Wright, Howe, Glassey, and Carr, forwards. Referee Mr. Thompson, Leamington.
LIVERPOOL RESERVES 3 EVERTON RESERVES 3
January 6, 1936. The Liverpool Daily Post.
Central League (Game 24)
Dean’s Hat-Trick.
Liverpool’s Great Bid In 3-3 Draw.
This game at Anfield proved one of the most interesting reserves “derby” meetings of recent times, for if a strongly representative Everton team provided the more constructive and skilful ply, it was Liverpool’s whole-hearted enthusiasm and earnest endeavour that nearly came out on top, Liverpool deserved the lead when Balmer scored but 10 minutes from the interval Dean, from Webster’s pass, scored the equaliser. Five minutes later Dean headed a typical “Dean goal,” and soon after resuming the Everton centre completed the hat-trick. The Goodison side than dominated matters for a lengthy spell, but Liverpool rallied to great purpose and Harley scored from a penalty. Taylor followed with the equaliser and Everton’s defence then underwent a harassing period. It was unfortunate that Balmer should fail when a chance offered in the late minutes, for throughout he had Liverpool’s most brilliant raider. Dean was a quiet but effective leader, and the day’s best work came from the respective goalkeepers, the defenders and Balmer. Teams: - Liverpool: - Flowers, goal; Harley and felton, backs; Ramsden, Lowe and K. Peters, half-backs; Balmer, Neal, Rogers, Browning and Taylor, forwards. Everton: - White, goal, Williams and Cresswell, backs; Kavanaugh, Gee and Thomson, half-backs; Leyfield, Dickinson, Dean (captain), Webster, and Archer, forwards.
EVERTON & LIVERPOOL START SPECIAL CUP TRAINING.
January 6, 1936. The Evening Express.
Blues At Buxton; Reds Visit Northwich.
By The Pilot.
Cup-tie training began today throughout the country in readiness for the third-round ties which will be decided on Saturday. The Liverpool players, who oppose Swansea Town, went to Northwich for brine baths, and the Everton players, who receive Preston North End, set out for Buxton for a week’s special preparation. Stevenson’s Everton’s international forward, will be fit if required. Fourteen Everton players will be in special training at Buxton, where the Blues have prepared for all their Cup-ties since 1933. The party is in charge of Mr. A. Coffey, director, Mr. Theo Kelly, acting secretary, and Mr. Harry Cooke, trainer. The players in the party are: King; Cook, Jackson, Jones; Britton, White, Mercer, Archer; Geldard, Bentham Cunliffe, Miller, Gillick, and Leyfield. All the players engaged in Saturday’s match with Liverpool came through without injury, and tomorrow they will have ball practice on the ground of the Buxton football club. This will be followed by special baths and walks in the afternoon. The party will remain at Buxton until Saturday morning, and will return to Liverpool in good time for the match. I had a chat with Alex Stevenson, the Irish international forward, who has been on the injured list. He said that he would almost certainly be fit for next Saturday’s games. The Everton directors will meet tomorrow night to select the eleven to do duty, but I do not anticipate any alteration in the side which has taken a point from each of the last two League matches. Mr. Kelly states today that spectators who have not yet secured their grand stand tickets at 5s, and 3s. 6d, should make early application. There are seats available in all parts.
EVERTON Will Have To Finish Better.
Great L’Pool Defence In “Derby.”
Everton ill need to improve their finishing power if they are to overcome the Preston cup hurdle. It was because the forwards could not accept the easiest of chances that Liverpool escaped defeat at Goodison Park on Saturday. Everton had enough opportunities to give them a commanding lead at the interval, but time after time a forward got through and then disappointed with a misjudged shot. The result was a goalless draw. While blaming Everton for missing “gift” chances, one must not lose sight of the fact that the Liverpool defence was magnificent with Riley and Bradshaw supreme. As an attacking force, Liverpool never compared with Everton; in fact, the field work of the Blues was a source of delight in a game which pulsated thrills and produced everything except goals. Their approach work was perfectly engineered, with the ball moving smoothly and accurately, but yet when players were “on their own” with only Riley to beat they seemed to be fascinated by Riley, who was quick to advance to narrow the angle and whose positional play and anticipation were uncanny. Bradshaw had a difficult task against an ever-moving Cunliffe, who came out fifty-fifty in the heading duels, but Bradshaw shaw was one of the big successes of the game. Time after time he held up the quick Everton raiders. Savage played well, and Cooper did much sound graft. Dabs took time to settle down, but served his side well, and saved a certain goal late on. McDougall was the prime initiator for the Reds, but the forwards, apart from Wright, who always endeavoured to tread the path of pure football, were not a menacing force. White blotted that Glassey and Carr got the better of Britton and Cook. Nieuwenhuys had has bright moments and his centres were always nicely timed. In the field every Everton player did well, but the shooting...! Geldard, Cunliffe, and Gillick were the pick of the forwards, being well exploited by Bentham and Miller, while Britton was the complete constructionist. Mercer, on the other intermediary flank, was a zealous worker ever keen to make good use of the ball. The defence was sometimes slow in recovery, but King was so well covered that he had little to trouble him. This is the second time in three seasons that a “Derby” game at Goodison Park has ended with no goals, and the match was improved by the fine refereeing of Mr. Thompson, of Leamington-on-Tyne.
LOVELY TO LOOK AT –BUT WOEFUL IN FINISH.
January 6, 1936. Liverpool Echo.
The Aftermatch Of The Meeting Of Everton And Liverpool.
Tasks For Goodison Players In The Near Future.
Bee’s Notes.
A vote of thanks to the players for their stirring and clean game at Goodison Park in another of the fascinating “Derby” games. The refereeing my not have suited the Anfield side with one offside decision, the final touches of Everton must have displeased their spectators, but at least this was a game which kept 53,000 spectators on tender hooks from the first to the last kick of a fluctuating game. And referee Thompson, of Leamington-on-Tyne, merits our special thanks for his control. When the announcement was made that Blenkinsop could not play and Dabbs would take his place came over “the mick” one could almost feel the heart of the Liverpool supporters lapse into a state of coma. Dabbs had to face the most successful wing on view the most combined effort came from the right. Dabbs himself rushed to the ground all hot and bothered and half dressed for a thankless task. He must have “heard” the spectator exclaiming that Liverpool had blundered by transferring Tennant. But he struck to his task with grim determination, and in the final stages was kicking with rare abandon despite his injuries. I mention this factor first because Dabbs has probably thought of seeking a change. Let me tell him and the public the club had a chance to transfer him and would not. “He will never let us down; we like him and we appreciate his effort.” And Dabbs on Saturday never flinched in a wearying task of watching Geldard go by or Britton doing his beat work this season. Now, to stop those who have already complained of Liverpool’s short-sighted policy in transferring Tennant, let me state the facts: Tennnts wanted to leave; and the club, knowing all the facts the Anfield public don’t know were wise to make the move. Please take that from me, and do not search your mind for complaints against the management of the club. Maybe the easy way with which the Everton right wing floated through the game for half an hour was the Everton club’s undoing. It looked too easy a game to win. It looked all over bar shouting the goals by thirty minutes. Everton got into a false sense of security; all their skill and wiles meant nothing when the tap was turned on and a shot was necessary.
Simple Tasks Became.
So Dabbs helped to make Everton picture a return vengeance for the 6-0 defeat. And the longer Everton failed in front of goal the more certain the home forwards found it difficult to take on the simplest tasks. Standing in front of goal, with no one but great-heart Bradshaw, or Cooper, or perhaps Riley to face, the task which should have been simple became awkward, Riley to face, the task which should have been simple became awkward, Riley’s greatest save was in the gloaming, when he edged the White free kick over the bar. I have nothing but the high-test praise for the work of the Liverpool defenders, and Bradshaw in particular, but one must not forget the foraging and feeding of McDougall and Savage. Coming to the attack of the visiting side, one was amazed to find the right wing held tightly, and Howe in the grip of White was not surprising; but Carr eventfully became the one dangerous forward of the Anfield flanks, and he in his effervescence made a blunder near the close which turned the game out of Liverpool’s victory column. It was one of the most unbalanced games I have ever seen, because after one side had laboured heavily against the prettier combination. Liverpool fought back with a will that promised a victory, and Everton could ill afford to lose a game they had “held” so long Everton were really too clever and too subtle, they got themselves into a maze and amazed themselves by their shocking finishing efforts. Gillick, unemployed too long, was best when he was placing his headers; Bentham strove hard, and Cunliffe, working too hard, failed to save his legs by the wise distribution of the ball the moment he could afford to pass. His runs, are elongated and wearing, but they are wearying when the chance to pass is not made at the critical moment and the ball is lost to him through the smothering process.
All Round The Field.
In the end a draw was a worthy verdict. Apart from the players mentioned, one must say a word “around the field. And so I started with King, a cool deputy for Sagar; the work of Cook and Jones, both equally good and daring. At half-back I have named the stars Britton and White, and Mercer must have a good word for his endeavour and keen striving which at times only loses its point by reason of an over-strong kick or shot. In the attack Geldard had a great time, Bentham is a player after my own heart, although possibly he runs himself out, as does Glassey, through sheer endeavour in the early stages. Cunliffe nearly broke his neck in a during effort –and doubtless he broke some supporters’ hearts by not getting at least one goal. On the Liverpool side I have named the defence and the half backs. Really, with the best will in the world, it is impossible to say anything of the forward line as a line or in the individual sense. The game should have brought a crop of goals and gave none to a crowd yearning for a yell. My predication of Friday night were borne out to the letter; pace told its tale upon the Liverpool side, but Everton’s finishing effort was puerile. The team cannot afford to lose any points in home games, as you will agree when you have seen the list of their future engagements.
They Say.
J.W.J, of Goodison-avenue, says: - Since the introduction of the third back policy Everton must counter got it with two speedy wing men like Archer and Geldard and three strong inside forwards like Cunliffe, Dunne, of the Arsenal, and Hodgson, Liverpool. Now behind these we must have weight, strength and ability. We have these in Gee, White and Clark, who could hold off any opposing forward line and keep them out of scoring distance. At present our weakness is half backs, hence the goals against. Then it would be “Aucto Splendidore Resurgo” –the motto of my dear old Regiment, 2nd King’s Shropshire Light Infantry –“We will arise again with renewed splendour” and very fitting for our dear old Everton.
The match, Everton v. Sheffield Wednesday has been provisionally arranged for Monday, January 13, subject to Cup-ties being completed.
EVERTON CUP RIVALS.
January 7, 1936. Liverpool Echo.
Bee’s Notes.
Everton will be at home on Saturday, when they are due to meet Preston North End at Goodison Park in the third round of the F.A. cup competition. The game at Goodison Park should prove a real tit-bit for both Preston and Everton are very old rivals being members of the League since its inception. They have provided many sterling tussles in the past, but the majority of these have been under League auspices. The Deepdale club, however, are not the power they used to be, and have had many ups and downs. They last regained First Division status two seasons ago. In League football North End have paid seven visits to Goodison park since the war (once in the Second Division game), and goal-scoring has been very low, except for the meeting last season, when Everton won 4-1. Everton, however, have secured nine of the fourteen points that have been t stake by means of three victories and a similar number of drawn games. In cup warfare the clubs have clashed on four occasions the first being in 1887-88, when Preston won at home by 6-0; the next was the famous semi-final tie which Everton won 2-1 after two drawn games in 1893-94; the third in 1924-25 when Everton won at home 3- in the first round, and the last in 1928-29 when Everton won at Deepdale by 3-0. Thus, with home advantage and Preston not doing so very well away from home, it would appear that the chances of Everton progressing are fairly bright.
“Old Everton,” of Rock Ferry, wants to know.
(1) Why this season started without a recognised outside left. They immediately sign an outside right (Miller) at a big fee to fill the position already satisfactorily filled by Cunliffe.
(2) They also sign a centre forward deposed by Wolverhampton. If he was not good enough for Wolverhampton he was not good enough for Everton.
(3) Why has Cunliffe been playing out of position. Is it to make room at any price for the expensive and subsequent signings?
(4) If Geldard was not good enough (he is in my humble estimation) why was Hughes, the second team man, passed over without a trial? If he was worth signing on he should be worth giving a trial.
(5) Then they sign Gillick who satisfactorily fills the outside left berth; so Everton immediately put him on the other wing. I admit that in this case they have now put the matter-right and given Geldard his place back. To the man in the street, the shuffling of players is a source of wonder they cannot get results from team which is chopped and changed continually.
Cyril Maher has resigned as a South Liverpool player, and will join Everton again next season.
EVERTON TEAM
January 7, 1936. The Evening Express.
By the Pilot.
So far as Everton are concerned there is not likely to be any changes from the team which drew with Liverpool last Saturday. It is possible that the directors may re-introduce Dean to centre-forward, and find a place for Stevenson, the Irish international, but that is not probable, I expect Everton’s side to be: - King; Cook, Jones; Britton, White, Mercer; Geldard, Bentham, Cunliffe, Miller, Gillick.
Preston’s Cup team.
All Players Will Be Fit For Goodison Clash.
It is unlikely that Preston North End’s Cup team to face Everton at Goodison will show any change from that fielded in recent matches. All the players who reported for training today were fit, except Milne and F. O’Donnell, who are suffering from bruises. Trainer Will Scott, however, expects to have these players in perfect conditions by the week-end. The slight concussion which Gallimore sustained during the match at Middlesbrough last Saturday has completely passed away. Today the men went through the customary routine of physical jerks, ball practice, sprinting, and later had sunray treatment in their own quarters at Deepdale. The players may go away to the coast for the last three days. Mr. James Taylor said today that he was satisfied North End would at least hold their own at Goodison Park. It is expected that the team will be chosen at the directors’ meeting tonight.
• E. Tunney has been selected to play for Lancashire Amateur International Trials.
EVERTON SIDE UNCHANGED.
January 8, 1936. Liverpool Daily Post
By John Peel.
The Everton team to meet Preston North End in the third round tie at Goodison Park, kick-off 2.15, will be the same that draw with Liverpool, namely King; Cook, Jones; Britton, White, Mercer; Geldard, Bentham, Cunliffe, Miller, Gillick. The reserve side to play Sheffield United at Sheffield will be: - White; Williams, Cresswell; Kavanagh, Gee, Thomson; Leyfield, Dickinson, Dean, Stevenson, Archer.
FIVE EVERTON F.A. CUP DEBUTANTS AGAINST PRESTON.
January 8, 1936. The Evening Express.
By the Pilot.
The youngest team ever to represent Everton in an F.A. Cup match has been selected for Saturday’s great all-Lancashire third round tie with Preston North End at Goodison Park. This is the eleven which fought a goalless draw with Liverpool on the same ground last Saturday. With Sagar, still unfit, King continues in goal. Only four players who won the cup for Everton in the 1933 final at Wembley will be on view –Cook, Britton, White and Geldard. Five of the players -Kings, Mercer, Bentham, Miller and Gillick will have their baptism in the Cup competition. Everton: - King; Cook, Jones; Britton, White, Mercer; Geldard, Bentham, Cunliffe, Miller, Gillick. Preston North End play An unchanged team. Holdcroft, the goalkeeper; Gallimore and Lowe, the backs; and Tremelling, the centre half, have retained their places for more than 12 months. Holdcroft and Lowe have played continuously in the first team since they were transferred from Everton three seasons ago. The Deepdale players have been undergoing their training at home, but today left for a rest at Morecambe. At the seaside they will have long walks, but little ball practice. The team will travel direct from Morecambe to Goodison Park by motor coach on Saturday morning. Preston North End: - Holdcroft; Gallimore, Lowe; Shankley, Tremelling, Milne; Dougal, Beresford, Maxwell, O’Donnell (F.), O’Donnell (H.).
Buxton “Order of The Bath”
Cup Fighters At Derbyshire Spa. How They Are Getting Fit.
Two famous Cup fighting teams have been invested with the “Order of the Bath” –so to speak. They are Everton and Sheffield United, who are undergoing their F.A. Cup Preparation at Buxton. All the players are keen on taking the special thermal baths at the Derbyshire spa. Everton took up their headquarters at Buxton early in the week, but yesterday the United players arrived at the spa bent on having thermal baths. Everton have arranged to take their “plunges” in the morning after ball practice, but the Sheffield players were practice, but the Sheffield players were there ready to strip. There was a compromise. The Blues took the morning season, and the United the afternoon. When I arrived at Buxton I found Everton a really happy party, thoroughly enjoying themselves in the brisk air and pleasant weather. There were plenty of Cup talk and the players view the tie as a grim battle, but one, which they firmly believe they will win. As the acting captain Cliff Britton, point out. “The team is playing excellent football and good football can get you anywhere. Of course,” he added eagerly,” we shall have to take our chances. When I arrived at the Buxton Town ground where the boys were sprinting and ball-kicking under the watchful eyes of Director Andrew Coffey, acting Secretary Theo Kelly, and Trainer Harry Cooke, I found that the Blues were only too anxious to improve their shooting. I positioned myself behind the goal and the way those shots rattled into the net bodes ill for Holdcroft. I had to do some dodging myself, too, for several shots were deliberately aimed at me! “Short and brisk” was Harry Cooke’s motto, for after about ten minute of sprinting and trotting he brought out three balls for dribbling and passing practice and then shooting. That lasted another ten minutes. Then followed a jog to the town for the baths.
Treatment For Muscle Injury.
George Jackson, the young back, has been having special treatment all the morning for his muscle injury in the right calf. Is showing improvement. In the afternoon all the players went to the High peak golf course, and one player revealed “championship form.” This was Cliff Britton, who beat Joe Mercer 4 and 3. On the last nine holes Britton was only two over bogey. “Dusty” Miller and Tom White went out together, but did not finish. They seemed to me to be spending a tremendous amount of time searching for lost balls. They give it up! The boys went off to the pictures in the evening and thence to bed. Today they had long walks through the pinewoods and tomorrow will have their final ball-kicking practice and baths.
CENTRES OF 1936.
January 8, 1936, Liverpool Echo.
Bee’s Notes.
Mr. A. Holmes, of Elcho-street says, just a line to give you my views of Everton’s weakness in the finishing power of the forward line. As you no doubt know, and have observed in the past, when the prolific goal-scoring machine was in action, the centre forward of Everton (as in other goal getting teams) never as at present, posted himself in the middle being content to stay put and being overwhelmed, but veered to right then left, and by so doing made the third back game of no value to the opposition. I have seen “Billy” Dean even take a throw-in on the wing without waiting for the opponents to get settled. Now this is Everton’s only chance! The team with this exception is almost perfect.
“Rake-Lane” writes perusing your notes I was amused reading the letter from “Jimmy” You must receive many interesting and amusing letters, but I am sure nothing ever exceeded this one of “Jimmy” He complains of “non-provisions for juniors in the 3s 6d stand at Goodison Park, and recent having had to pay the above amount for a child of 6 did the size of six penny worth of copper? I might complain of the non-provision go children in the stranger’s gallery at Westminster. But “Jimmy” must have had some easy money to spend. (Probably his firm give a bonus at Christmas) Does “Jimmy” imagine the 5s 6d stand is provided for children? Did “Jimmy” expect a bottle of milk also for the child? Accommodation is provided at all grounds for boys, but not for children. But I am sure there is no attempt to exploit the public to pay for transfers. But if all parents were as foolish as “Jimmy” there would be no poverty in football. What a blessing such parents would be at Rake-lane!
Caps For All.
Walter Aubery writes me- I want to compliment our teams, Liverpool especially for their fine games. One grievance I had –why do men in the shilling places insist on wearing bowler hats or high Trilby hats, Christmas Day was no excuse for wearing hats owing to business calls. I think it very unfair, and more so, if you are only 5ft 8ins, in height. The taller a man is the higher the hat. Also some of the critics on the game and bad language used by the same –and the silly advice shouted to players whilst plying. Some of these people want to go on the field and play say for five minutes and see how clever they would be in passing the ball to so and so. I was sub-captain of the Rose F.C. after Liverton F.C (Everton split up). I joined Everton Athletic with the greatest dribblers –George Farmer, Mike Higgins, Gibson, Harbour, Keys, Harry Warmby, Kirby and Owens etc., I Played full back with Kirby. My weight was only 10 stone.
HARTILL JOINS LIVERPOOL.
January 9, 1936. The Evening Express.
Everton Centre Forward’s Transfer Today
Anfield Club’s Third Big deal In A week.
By The Pilot.
Billy Hartill, Everton’s centre-forward, was today transferred to Liverpool. He is not eligible for the cup-tie on Saturday, and will play in the Central league match against Sheffield United, at Bramell-lane. This is the third, sensational transfer deal in which Liverpool have been concerned in the space of a week. Tennent was transferred to Bolton last Thursday, and yesterday Gordon Hodgson left for the Villa. The Reds have secured a centre-forward who, during the past few seasons, has been one of the most successful in the Football league. The question of Hartill was discussed by the Liverpool directors on Tuesday night, and no sooner had Mr. George Patterson, secretary-manager of the club, completed the transfer of Hodgson yesterday than he was in touch with Everton. Mr. Patterson met Mr. W.C. Cuff, chairman of Everton, and terms were greed on. Mr. Patterson then hastened back by car to Anfield. There was a talk regarding terms and other vital matters which affect a transfer, and then Hartill asked the clubs to wait until today for his decision. He expressed a desire to discuss the position with his wife. Today Hartill returned to Anfield, and put pen to paper. So another “Blue” becomes a “Red.” Hartill is one of many players who have been subject of transfer deals between the two big Merseyside clubs. Others have been: Billy Lacey , Everton to Liverpool; Billy Gracey, Everton to Liverpool; Uren, Liverpool to Everton; Donald Sloan, Everton to Liverpool; Dick Forshaw, Liverpool to Everton; Tommy Johnson, Everton to Liverpool; Alf Hanson, Everton to Liverpool; Charlie Leyfield, Liverpool to Everton; Jack Balmer Everton to Liverpool. Hartill, familiarly known as “Hartillery,” is a product of army football and it was from the Army that he joined his home town club, Wolverhampton Wanderers, in season 1927-28. In each succeeding season Hartill headed the Wolves’ scoring lists- he scored 123 goals in 154 matches. Everton fancied him last season, but the Wolves would not agreed to a transfer. Everton persisted, and on July 1 last Hartill signed for Everton. He has played four matches with Everton’s first team. He is a player admirably suited to the more open style of Liverpool. He is fast, can shoot with either foot, is good with his head, and takes up excellent position.
Tranmere Star Who Trains Alone.
“Bunny” Bell, the goal record-breaker, is the only member of Tranmere Rovers cup side not training during the day. He trains alone. When night falls, Bell hurries home from a Liverpool shipping office where he is employed as a clerk, and after snatching a little food he walks to Prenton Park to carry out his training alone.
HARTILL OF EVERTON SIGNED BY LIVERPOOL.
January 9, 1936. Liverpool Echo
Bee’s Notes.
Liverpool today, took Williams Hartill, of Everton, to their fold. It is a surprise signing. Hartill was the subject of another Scottish inquiry less than five minutes before Liverpool took their man. Hartill was signed in the summer to replace Dean. He had a good show in the trial games, and later got a first-team show, but he has hardly lived up to the reputation he made with Wolverhampton Wanderers. While with Wolves he was a dashing leader, and could play in any inside forward positions. A soldier –hence his nickname “Artillery,” –Hartill has the height and heading ability to make him a power if he can recapture his Midland form. Livcerpool will hope he turns out as well as their previous signings from Everton –Lacey, Gracie, Balmer, Hanson, &c.
LIVERPOOL’S NEW FORWARD.
January 10, 1936, Liverpool Daily Post
By John Peel.
Having transferred Tennent to Bolton Wanderers and Hodgson to Aston Villa, Liverpool yesterday secured Hartill, the Everton centre forward, and he will play in the reserve team tomorrow against Sheffield United at Bramall-lane. Hartill joined Everton last July from Wolverhampton Wanderers, being signed on at Blackpool, where he was on holiday. He made a name in Army football, and joined Wolverhampton Wanderers in the 1927-28 season, scoring 163 goals in 224 matches for the Midland club. He has played only four times with the Everton first team, and scored one goal. He can play in any of the inside position, but I think, is best at centre. Hartill, who has born at Wolverhampton, stands 5 feet 10 inches, and weights 11 stone. Hartill is the fourth ex-Everton player now with Liverpool, the others being Johnson, Balmer, and Hanson. I am told that Balmer has been playing very well indeed recently t outside right in the Liverpool reserves team.
EVERTON NEED IN BATTLE WITH PRESTON
January 10, 1936. Evening Express.
By the Pilot.
Everton’s hopes of success in the big all-Lancashire match with Preston North End at Goodison Park depend on the ability of the forwards to take their chances. So far as actual football merit goes I think Everton the superior side, but when it comes to finishing off their delicate approach work there is a doubt. The forwards have been inclined to carry their intricate manoeuvres too far. Everton attackers must realise that once the opposing penalty area has been reached, they must sacrifice combination for quick shots. Preston will prove a team of subtleties not only in attack but in defence. The Deepdale folk make progress by quick short passing, and in the brothers O’Donnell they possess of the finest left-wing in the country. There is construction in all that the Deepdale men do, for their defence, sound in covering and possessing fine anticipatory powers, are keen exploiters of the offside game. That tactic may upset the Everton forwards, who are inclined to hold the all rather too long before pushing it through for the benefit of the wingers, Geldard and Gillick. This will be the youngest team ever to represent Everton in a Cup-tie, and I hold the opinion that they will win. Two great barriers to the progress of the Blues are Holdcroft and Lowe, the boys who left Everton for Preston in 1933. They have proved two of the finest investments ever made by Preston. Holdcroft is one of the best goalkeepers in the land, but he has a propensity for running out too far. Let the Everton forwards bear that in mind. This match will produce some of the keenest Cup-tie football of the round for the clubs are well matched and any Preston League superiority is offset by ground advantage. When the sides met in the League match at Preston early in the season the result was a 2-2 draw. Everton: - King; Cook, Jones; Britton, White, Mercer; Geldard, Bentham, Cunliffe, Miller, Gillick. Preston North End: - Holdcroft; Gallimore, Lowe; Shankly, Tremelling, Milne; Dougal, Beresford, Maxwell, O’Donnell (F.), O’Donnell (H.)
No Inquiry For Dean.
Mr. W. C. Cuff’s Statement Today.
Everton state that they have received no inquiry from Heart of Midlothian for the transfer of W. R. (Dixie) Dean the Everton captain and centre forward. Mr. W. C. Cuff, chairman of Everton, said to the Pilot today. “There is not the slightest truth in the report that Hearts have inquired after dean. There has been no inquiry and I know nothing, about such a statement. A rumour has gained currency that Mr. David Pratt, the Heart’s manager was seeking Dean. Mr. Cuff’s statement sets all doubts at rest.
What The Captains Think.
Cliff Britton. (acting-captain of Everton): The manner in which our boys have been playing in recent games is sufficient to indicate victory. The team has been playing scientic football, and I firmly believe that if we take our chances we shall pass into the fourth round.
Tremelling (Preston North). We know we have a chance of winning this tie –for three reasons.
1, We know Everton play good football and we can match them in this respect.
2, our team spirit;
3, Our team plan will take some beating. If we can strike the game we play at home, we have a chance of at least making a draw.
THE CUP KICK-OFF.
January 10, 1936, Liverpool Echo
Everton Refuse To Transfer Dixie Dean.
Bee’s Notes.
The city of Liverpool is well to the fore in the football news this week. After Hodgson, none other than Dixie Dean. He has been “wanted” by a Scottish club, which desired to make a spectacular singing. Dean was just the man they needed, and they were prepared to go to a big figure to obtain the man they require. The club was Dave Pratt’s at Edinburgh, and, as he said, “We have the two finest inside forwards in Great Britton in Walker and Black, but the centre forwards on our books are just a shade too young and inexperienced for the job just now. If we can get the right centre forward we would have the bets team in Scotland. So he made inquires for various stars. His first effort was at Everton with Dixie Dean, and the answer was “Nothing doing.” Everton had not been playing Dean for some weeks but when the chosen captain of the season played against Liverpool Reserves last Saturday he got a hat-trick, which would suggest he has not lost his old-time ability, even if he has gone slower than of yore –a very natural, human happening. It may have been that Dean played badly because the style and support of the Goodison attack was not playing well. At any rate, Goodison Park devotees will be happy to know Everton turned down any inquiry concerning Dean’s transfer. I can state with authority that the main reason for Aston Villa taking Gordon Hodgson can be traced to Tom Griffith’s recommendation.
The position locally is most engaging. Everton, with the side, capable of winning in name on every bit of turf outside the penalty zone last week, is blessed with a home-tie. It is good the crowd will be at Everton’s back because much can be done by the crowd, and the young Evertonians will want all the vocal support they can get from their onlookers. Preston is so near they look like providing about 6,000 people from their own town to lend their aid to North End. The official view at Everton seems to be this; “Our fellows played frightfully well up to the goal-point, and whatever the result the ply was at least channing. The ball was not going in and Riley had a lot to do with that falling. However, by degrees the Everton club is getting on its feet and the attack just now is in best form, and has only to capture the spirit and performance of a visit to Derby County’s ground to make a home win sure thing.”
Youth Will Be Seen.
The youth of the side must be showed to settle down in uncommon circumstances, such as Derby “days, but when you come to the end of a perfect cup day the knock-out principle makes it imperative you make no slips for an hour and a half, otherwise “out you go.” Preston have said little about this tie, but they do not forget the way North End players in the first meeting with Everton. This match should have been a win for Preston in the last two minutes of play. A draw resulted, and since then the chance of simple chances going begging has been decreased by means of the sharpening of the Preston Scots. This was made evident when Preston came to Anfield a week or two ago. North End that day lost the points and picked up new friends. People said “Now that’s what I call football; I like to see the carpet-baggers. “ If they repeat this style and Everton’s right wing continues to dance around as a week ago, then the game at Goodison Park will touch greatness.
A Nuisance
For me the draw is a nuisance. I know not what to do, and have already had everyone advising me which game “you are sure to visit.” They little know, and must watch events. Wagers have been made regarding my destination tomorrow. The Evertonians say “Ah, he’ll find a means for going to Anfield.” The Politans says “Of course he will say, ‘I must see Everton v. Preston, because that is really a First Division match,” It is nothing of the kind; all cup-ties are meetings of sides full of hope and fear regarding the morrow’s outcome. League do not count in such conditions, and the heavier grounds of the present days will provide some fruity shocks to the football mind. However, we shall be assured a very fine struggle at Goodison Park when the teams line up in this way. Preston having the height and finesse in attack to make the home defence all the way. Everton: - King; Cook, Jones; Britton, White, Mercer; Geldard, Bentham, Cunliffe, Miller, Gillick.
EVERTON NEED FINISHING POWER.
January 11, 1936. Liverpool Daily Post.
By John Peel.
Everton and Preston North End will, I believe, attract the larger crowd, as in addition to Everton’s own legion of supporters Preston is within easy reach and North End are sure to have a loyal band of followers who can reach the ground with ease by rail or road. Who’s going to win? Everton’s lowly position has given rise to some misgiving, but they are an improving combination, who, however, need more thrust near goal. They must play with greater power in this direction if they are to win today, the Preston defence being strong and resourceful and adepts at using the offside trap when necessary. Holdcroft’, a former Everton player, has earned high praise and he is undoubtedly one of the best goalkeepers in the League. In the brothers O’Donnell North End have a trustful left wing, and the attack is one calculated to test the Everton halves and backs at their best. It is unfortunate that Sagar is unfit, but in King the club has a good substitute, even though he lacks experience of these big occasions. I look for a capital game played at a great pace, and with the ground in their favour Everton ought to finish on top. Everton: - King; Cook, Jones; Britton, White, Mercer; Geldard, Bentham, Cunliffe, Miller, Gillick, Preston North End: - Holdcroft; Gallimore, Lowe; Shankly, Tremelling, Milner, Dougal; Beresford, Maxwell, O’Donnell (F.), O’Donnell (H.).
PRESTON’S “PUNCH” KNOCKS OUT EVERTON.
January 11, 1936. Evening Express, Football Edition.
Blues Pay penalty For Weak Shooting
Match They Should Have Won.
By the Pilot.
Everton are out of the Cup at the first hurdle. Preston North End beat them 3-1 in the third round at Goodison Park and Everton had only themselves to blame. It was a match Everton should have won, but they failed to produce shooting of quality and Preston, the team with the “punch,” pass on. Everton did all the attacking, but the forwards frittered away chances, and White missed a penalty. Maxwell (2) and O’Donnell scored for Preston and Geldard for Everton. Preston brought 4,000 supporters with them. Teams: - Everton: - King, goal; Cook and Jones, backs; Britton (captain), White and Mercer, half-backs; Geldard, Bentham, Cunliffe, Miller and Gillick, forwards. Preston North End: - Holdroft, goal; Gallimore and Lowe, backs; Shankley, Tremelling (captain) and Milne, half-backs; Dougal, Beresford, Maxwell, O’Donnell (F.), and O’Donnell (H.), forwards. Referee Mr. H. Nattrass (Seaham). North End opened well, but Everton were first away. Bentham’s pass being too fast for Geldard. There was some faulty football by both sides. Cook lobbed one to the goalmouth and Gillick returned it to Bentham, who was whistled offside in his shot crashed against Holdcroft. Miller dribbled on a sixpence with resulted in Preston securing relief with their offside tactics. The opening stages had been thoroughly uninteresting with North End adopting a negative policy, although credit is due to them for the neat way in which they exploited the offside game. After 13 minutes there was a curious ruling on the part of the referee. F. O’Donnell shot through a pass for Maxwell.
Let-off For Everton.
White had pushed out an arm and took the ball. The referee blew his whistle and pointed to the penalty pot. Everybody through it was a penalty, but the referee had spotted that Maxwell was offside. A lucky let-off for Everton. Gillick almost got through, Tremelling pulling out plenty of speed for a veteran to prevent the Scot getting in his shot. Everton went remarkably close when Cunliffe sped down the middle and his left-foot daisy-cuter brought Holdcroft full length. The ball bounced off Holdcroft’s chest, but before Geldard could get in his shot Milne intervened. Preston were only seen in quick spasmodic raids, and when Hugh O’Donnell looked dangerous Cook pulled him up in great style. Holdcroft’s propensity for running out twice placed the North End goal in jeopardy. Cook’s free kick from just outside the penalty area was turned behind for a corner. At last Gillick got a “though” ball, but Holdcroft was there to take charge of the centre –so once again Everton found themselves strangely lacking in shooting power.
Preston Ahead.
In 34 minutes Preston took the lead with a beautiful goal by Maxwell. The brothers O’Donnell were responsible. Hugh slipped the all to his brother, who raced across to the right to turn a beautiful pass to Maxwell. The centre forward let go a great shot with his left foot and it went at such a pace that it hit the under netting and rebounded for Dougal to head in, but it was Maxell’s goal. It was another case of Everton-doing all the attacking with the other team getting the goal. Maxwell was nearly through again, White tackling him successfully at the crucial moment. There was a lot of scrambling play, with Everton still pressing, but always going that step too far. Bentham nearly got through, then Gillick’s header was turned aside. Bentham got it and Holdcroft missed his punch, but Lowe was there to clear.
Half-time Everton 0, Preston N.E 1.
An old-time centre forward, Fred Geary said to me during the interval that with Everton it was a case of 100 per cent pressure and no “bite.” Four minutes after the interval Maxwell had made it two for Preston. The bounce of a dropping ball enabled Maxwell to go through on the right with the aid of Dougall. Maxwell turned the ball to the winger, who deceived Everton by feeding Hugh O’Donnell. O’Donnell made a quick accurate centre, and Maxwell, standing close in, promptly headed into the net. Everton had only themselves to blame for being in arrears. They should have had the game well won by this time.
Everton Play Too Closely.
Everton continued to keep the ball too close, and they rarely got away in the same open way as North End. Britton tried to go through on his own, but was crowded out t the expense of a corner, which was placed straight to Holdcroft. Preston were proving much quicker on the ball and opening up the game in fine style, a plan Everton might well have copied. Cunliffe tried to find a path through five opponents and them miskicked. He recovered and his short centre was turned away by Gallimore. At 66 minutes Everton virtually passed out of the Cup, for F. O’Donnell made it three. Everton had been “fiddling” on the left when Shankley beat Mercer and shot a ball to the left. The pass beat White, and King was late in making up his mind to come out, when he did so the damage had been done, for the ball swirled by him and O’Donnell merely placed it into the empty net. Everton launched a fierce attack in which the ball passed from one part of the Preston goal to the other and twice Holdcroft missed the ball, yet Everton could not put it into the net. Cunliffe and Bentham changing places enabled Everton to enjoy the balance of play, but it never gave them the chance of scoring. Cunliffe won a corner and this was placed beautifully to Gillick, whose header beat Holdcroft and was passing into the net when Gallimore leapt up and turned the ball over the bar. The referee gave a penalty –poor compensation for a certain goal, and White’s low right-footed show was saved by Holdcroft at full length. . In 78 minutes Everton got a consolation goal. Miller paved the way, crossing a ball which Bentham missed. It ran on to Geldard, however, who scored with a fast rising shot. Final Everton 1, Preston 3.
EVERTON OUT OF THE CUP.
January 11, 1936. The Liverpool Football Echo.
Proud Preston’s Quick Raids.
Two Maxwell Goals.
By Stork.
Everton had one of their worst games. They never looked like scoring despite their cleverness, whereas the North End, with more straightforward tactics, and the sharp-shooting Maxwell were always noble for a goal or two. Teams: - Everton: - King, goal; Cook and Jones, backs; Britton (captain), White and Mercer, half-backs; Geldard, Bentham, Cunliffe, Miller and Gillick, forwards. Preston North End: - Holdroft, goal; Gallimore and Lowe, backs; Shankley, Tremelling (captain) and Milne, half-backs; Dougal, Beresford, Maxwell, O’Donnell (F.), and O’Donnell (H.), forwards. Referee Mr. H. Nattrass (Seaham). There was no change in either-side, and the crowd would be 35,000 when Everton won the toss and kicked towards the Town goal. Straight away the Everton right wing worked its way through and Holdcroft had to rush out of goal to prevent Geldard from getting in a first minute shot. North End replied with a spirited attack through their right wing, and the Everton defence got itself clustered together to a manner which did not convey confidence, and if only Preston could have produced a marksman King might have been troubled, and it was not until Cook held off O’Donnell (H.) and claimed a foul, that the Preston pressure was relieved.
Little Punch.
Miller was much too close in his work, although his control of the ball when dribbling almost in the space of a six-pence was extremely clever, but as it did not bring the desired result it was of little use. Everton were now dominating the play, even although goalkeeper Holdcroft, who was once a colleague of theirs, was not unduly stressed by the Everton forwards for there was little punch shown thus far. Holdcroft between gave us a sample of long throwing when he found himself challenged by a number of Everton forwards and found that his only chance of ridding himself of their attention was to make a mighty throw which landed almost t the half-way line. Everton found the North End’s offside trap a difficulty, and more than once their well intentioned combination was held at bay through this old fashioned method of defence.
A Sensation!
Geldard was given a chance by Miller to make fame, but the outside right at previously, put the ball a shade too far forward. T twelve minutes there was a sensation. White handled the ball in the penalty area, and when the referee pointed towards the “spot” there were few who thought that the spot kick was not justified. So you can imagine the surprise of the crowd when it was found that a free-kick was awarded for Everton. It may have been that White committed his “crime” after the whistle had sounded for some other efforts, probably an offside award. Two minutes after this a smart run and centre by Geldard appeared to have the making of a goal for both Bentham and Gillick rushed up to take the gift offering. Gillick arrived on the spot first, and made a fiery shot which Gallimore kneed out for a corner. Geldard was brought down rather ruthlessly, and the crowd did not like the way it had been done. Most of the play took place in the Preston half, and when Cunliffe let loose a hard drive, Holdcroft only half parried the ball, which dropped between Lowe and Geldard.
Geldard’s Innings. It then became a question as to whose ball it was but the Preston back soon showed who it belonged to. Geldard was having a fair innings but would persist in overdoing it. He was not content with beating one man, but wanted to take on others and that proved his undoing on more than one occasion. Holdcroft ran far out of goal to take an incoming ball, and did not make perfect contact, the result being he was eventually mulcted in a corner.
Unusual Free Kick Method.
Everton tried an uncommon method with a free kick. Cook took it, and as he did so Geldard rushed across, apparently with the idea of unsightening the goalkeeper. Everton were playing much too close, and would have been advised to open out the game a little more, for I am sure it would have had better effect against the North End defence. O’Donnell (H.) made a long lob, which landed on the top of the net, and Cunliffe undoubtedly fouled Holdcroft when Gillick had made a nice centre.
Striking The First Blow.
At 34 minutes Everton suffered a blow when Preston took the lead, O’Donnell (F.) made an uncommon and wise pass, which “placed” Maxwell, who had come over to the left wing. Maxwell with a fine shot, which sent the ball just under the bar and came out again, and to make doubly sure Dougal dashed in and placed the ball into the net the second time, but Maxwell was the scorer. This goal was all against the run of play, but only went to prove the value of the quick raid and the first time shot against the incessant over-dribbling and no shooting by the Everton forwards.
Half-time Everton 0, Preston North End 1.
Maxwell Again.
Within five minutes of resuming Everton’ task was made more difficult by another Maxwell goal. The making of the point was rather a curiosity, for Maxwell, who has habit of running out on to the wings was at outside right when he attempted a long shot. The ball, however, had tremendous pull, and it travelled over to O’Donnell (H.), who immediately flashed it back into the goalmouth for Maxwell to mark Preston’s second goal. Preston had cause to be proud of themselves for having withstood Everton’s pressure and rushing in their might to mark up two goals on a foreign ground, for away from home they have anything but a good record. They were certainly riding on the crest of the wave, whereas Everton, at this point appeared to have no set plan to combat the quick raids of their opponents. It was anything but a classical exhibition of football, and Everton’s efforts were simply appalling. Cunliffe’s made a tricky run and squared the ball nicely, but there was no one handy to take a goal that was made for anyone. Preston sealed Everton’s fate with a third goal. A ball had been sent up the middle, O’Donnell (F.), and King went for it together, and I think the Preston man’s foot just got in advance so that the ball came off the goalkeeper and went back to O’Donnell (F.), who promptly fired it into the net. Time 65 minutes.
Holdcroft Saves Penalty
Holdcroft made a good catch from Geldard, and avoided a charge by Bentham, who was figuring at centre forward. Gallimore punched the ball over his own crossbar after Holdcroft was beaten. White, from the penalty, kicked the ball hard, Holdcroft making a clever save. At 78 minutes Geldard reduced the lead, putting the ball past Holdcroft, who had rushed out. Final Everton 1, Preston North End 3.
STUD MARKS.
January 11, 1936. Liverpool Football Echo.
By Louis T. Kelly.
• Everton were beaten 6-0 in the Cup by Preston North End (second round) in 1888
• Everton’s public hero No 1 against Liverpool –Tommy White. Of last week’s side he alone had ever scored against the Reds in a “Derby” game, and he came close to doing the trick again on Saturday, too. This popular Everton all-rounded, by the way, is still looking for his first 1935-36 goal.
• Everton’s present team is one of the most youthful ever, averages round about 22.
• One of the best –Referee’ Thompson, who handled last week’s “Derby.” He was pleased, too, with the good sportsmanship shown by both teams. It was not always so in the bad old days.
• The Everton captain Cliff Britton, will read the lesson, and yours truly” take the chair. Miss Melba Kelly is the socialist.
• The Everton trainer Harry Cooke, M.P (Minister to the players) was “on reserve” hen Everton defeated Newcastle United in the 906 final. Today he would probably be more or less on tenterhook. There is no more capable. Courteous or popular trainer in the game.
• Motor cars were more plentiful than ever with Goodison Parkers on Saturday’s “Derby.”
EVERTON 1 PRESTON 3 (F.A.Cup Game 145)
January 13, 1936. Liverpool Daily Post
Inept Display By Everton.
How Preston Raids Won The Day
White Penalty saved by Holdcroft
By “Stork.”
Everton’s stay in the F.A. Cup lasted just 34 minutes, for it was at that moment that Preston North End scored the first of their three goals at Goodison Park, the goal which was the cause of Everton’s exit from this season’s tournament. But how could that be with 56 minutes remaining for play? Just this. Up to the scoring of Maxwell’s first goal Everton had suggested a possible victory, but after that they never looked like winning. Frills do not win Cup-ties and that is where Everton tumbled down. For nearly half an hour they kept the North End packed in their own half by clever, far too clever, football, yet Holdcroft, the North End goalkeeper was not hard worked. Just as a week go, in the Derby game, Everton flattered only to deceive, so that the blame for their swift Cup demise must rest on their own heads.
“Bite” That Made The Difference.
If Preston had been a really good side Everton’s defeat would not have been so galling, but the visitors were just an ordinary team with just that more bite” which made all the differences. Everton were a bad side on the day’s play. I have never seen them so inept; so devoid of method, or so whimsical when it came to producing a shot. They fell into the error of trying to play the close game, which was folly against a set of defenders, who thundered down upon them and fought grimly for possession. In cleverness Everton were the masters, but the North End’s raids promised much more than all Everton’s finesse. Once in the goal area Preston were not slow to let out a shot. It annoyed the Everton spectators to watch their players take the ball forward by fanciful passes and dribbles and then fritter away their chances for the want of marksmen. Even a penalty could not be turned to account in the late-on stages of the game, and the only compensation Everton received was a goal by Geldard 10 minutes from the end. Everton have still a long row to hoe to escape relegation and perhaps it is that their dismissal from the Cup will be a blessing in disguise, but there will have to be a big improvement if they are to rise. They would not win many League games on Saturday’s exhibition, which was deplorable. What would have happened had a Gillick shot not bounded against Gallimore and flew for a corner? Would it have set Everton on a winning trail? No one could tell, but one could tell where Everton’s weakness lay. It was forward, where the great need is a man with driving forces; a man who is not so much concerned with the tricks and dribbles of a magician as one whose great joy is to see the ball in the back of the net.
Geldard’s Faults.
Everton must go quicker into the tackle than they do. They were beaten time and again through the other fellow being there first, but perhaps of more importance is the needlessness of trying to win just that extra yard or beat just one more opponent. Geldard was a sinner in this respect. He was good enough to beat one man; with the desire to do it all over again when a ball in the middle would be of infinitely more value? The game should have been in Everton’s keeping in the first half-hour, but having found that all Everton’s cleverness availed them nothing. Preston got a belief in themselves, and one swift raid produced a goal, and from then on they played from a winning hand, for Everton suffered a shock and never got over it. I was astonished the way Everton fell into Preston’s offside trap. It only required a little through to make the defensive plan a costly affair; but there was no thinking forwards in the Everton line on Saturday, so that Preston went on from strength to strength, whereas Everton faded out, and were a well-beaten side at the finish.
Penalty Rule Revision Needed.
The penalty was an injustice to Everton, for the ball was certain to drop into the net had not Gallimore punched it over his bar. There should be no doubt about a penalty kick, but as there is always just a chance of it failing, that is why the powers that be should make an alteration governing such happenings. White’ shot was strong enough, and slightly to Holdcroft’s right hand, but the goalkeeper dropped on the ball and got it away. There looked to be another penalty-this time to the North End –for, when White handled, the referee instantly pointed to the region of the penalty spot, but it was for an offside decision, which had preceded White’ s handling case. Where Everton’s forwards ran themselves into a maze, Preston exploited the open game, and when Maxwell ran out to the right wing to accept F. O’Donnell’s pass, the Preston centre was admirably placed, and his shot was a beauty. King seemed to be right under the ball, which must have pulled a little, for it voided his hands, struck the underside of the top netting, and came out to Dougal, who promptly headed it back into the net, but it was Maxwell’s goal. There was a bit of luck about Maxwell’s second point, for when Maxwell shot, the ball curried away from the goal and went to H. O’Donnell, who centred right across for Maxwell to head a nice goal. When F. O’Donnell went sailing down the middle King rushed out and the pair came into collision. When things had straightened themselves out O’Donnell found the ball at his feet, and all he had to do was to walk it into the net. Ten minutes from the end Everton got a consolation gaol, when Geldard closed into a centre from the left, and although Holdcroft dashed out, Geldard scored. Preston’s defence was as solid as a rock. They had four full backs, for Holdcroft was invariably standing on the edge of the penalty line. This former Everton goalkeeper was one of the “big” men of the Preston side. The two backs, Lowe and Gallimore were given prominent and the half-backs were well able to cope with the Everton forward line. The forwards had not the craft of their adversaries but they had something better-pace and shooting ability. Maxwell was a roamer, but he roamed to good purpose, and the left wing, the O’Donnell brothers, were always a source of danger. Teams: - Everton: - King, goal; Cook and Jones, backs; Britton (captain), White and Mercer, half-backs; Geldard, Bentham, Cunliffe, Miller and Gillick, forwards. Preston North End: - Holdcroft, goal; Gallimore and Lowe, backs; Shankley, Tremelling (captain) and Milne, half-backs; Dougal, Beresford, Maxwell, O’Donnell (H.). and O’Donnell (F.), forwards. Referee Mr. H. Mattrass.
SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY RESERVES 2 EVERTON RESERVES 3
January 13, 1936. Liverpool Daily Post
Central League (Game 25)
Although 2 goals in arrears at the interval Everton Reserves recovered magnificently at Hillsbrough. The visitors throughout showed superior craft and football ability, but for a long period were enable to find necessary punch. Their defence was excellent, and Stevenson and Leyfield were outstanding in a clever line of forwards. An injury to Ashley, the Wednesday centre forward disorganised Wednesday. Scorers; Ashley and Robinson for the Wednesday and Dean, Dickinson, and Archer for Everton. Everton: - White, goal; Williams and Cresswell, backs; Kavaugh, Gee and Thomson, half-backs; Leyfield, Dickinson, Dean, Stevenson, and Archer, forwards.
CUP SLAUGHTER
January 13, 1936. Liverpool Echo
Bee’s Notes.
And everywhere I went the people told me they were sure which Cup-tie I should attend. They were prepared to bet on it; right up to the time I left this office everyone with a blind partisan eye was telling are where I should land. And I saw both matches. The first half on Everton was not too inspiring; the second half at Anfield was awe-inspiring. Everton’s footwork on Saturday reminds me of the theme song –“They put down the value and the ball goes round and round –Oo, Oo, Oo, Oo, Oo, Oo –and comes out here –O.” In short, they wind in and out but there are no goals about. It was an interesting experience watching two Cup-ties in a day, and it was a novelty, foreshadowed by two correspondents, one, “Fifty-fifty” and the other, so the lady vouchsafed at mid-day meal. “My Husband” Well it was rather harrowing to picture Everton going out of the Cup, because one shot had been delivered in the half I saw at Goodison Park. One shot, one goal. It is convincing if the other forward line is too intent on wheeling in and out the defence before making the simple pass. Allowing for Everton’s youthful make-up these days, and the stress of the clubs position and Cup fears, one is faced with the thought that here was a side so captivating on its general football art a week ago; they must change their style and add the finishing touch. As if to encourage them, Holdcroft put up his hands in anything but satisfying manner; he jumbled the ordinary tasks, and at the other end the Everton defence looked on till Preston bethought themselves that this game could be won by a stroke of combination. So the big O’Donnell began one of the best moves of the match and it had a very sensible concluding note-a finishing shot from a centre who had gone out of place to accept a pass. Preston had taken this game in hand. It was theirs for the asking. Everton continued to do three pieces of work where Preston made one pass sufficient, and so Preston won, and Everton looked on lamenting the blow. I think Low and Gallimore were the beginning of Everton’s troubles; they were so secure and sound in their pairing.
Fripperies
Preston may not be world-beaters, but there is a fine understanding in defence and attack, and had the raiding lines been changed Everton would have won. That does not help Everton any at this stage of the Cup proceedings. I am more concerned with the after-effect of such a defeat when the League games are studied. Aston Villa in the same boat, will make every effort to step into the higher grades, and many people have already expressed a wish that Everton not Aston Villa, had taken Hodgson, who, after all, has been the top goalgetter for years and wants only some real, watery grounds to produce his fierce low drives. Everton’s difficulty at the moment seems to be that there are so many “fripperies” in the front line, and half back line. The simple task is done in such a manner that it becomes lubricious. I am no believer in the instant pass, but I would sooner have a drawing of one defender out of place than the all-round roaming that is going on when a pass could be delivered with safety and grounded made in that process. Everton have been too elaborate for a fortnight; the young fellows are entitled to be patent hearing and a patient show, but first of all the wing half-backs must show them the natural way to make the pass without recourse to the winding stat case which has so many steps upon which the player can fall. I hope I am being constructive I am trying to be in this trying football game which has so many pitfalls for all of us, whether players or merely indicators of the 1,2,or x process.
EVERTON COMPLAINANTS
January 14, 1936. The Liverpool Echo.
Bee’s Notes.
Manager Pratt was in Liverpool this week-end not watching Everton, he said, because he had already asked them for the transfer of Dean and had been refused. He was keen to take Maxwell, of Preston North End, but after the Cup victory that is out of the question. Mr. Pratt said that he made inquires of Everton for Dean. There was a hint that a swapping arrangement might be considered.
Public Views.
“Floreant Ambo” say: Let the Everton board resign as gentlemen. I hope the directors noticed the expressions on the faces of the supporters after the match.
“True Bluey” writes: I can’t understand why Everton dropped Dixie, still a ‘general” for the line. The team is good, but they lack shooting power.
“Old Blue” says: Everybody seems to know (except Everton directors) that since Johnson went Everton have wanted a hard-shooting, inside forward, a big one preferred. They have missed Hodgson. What about Herd (Manchester City)?
“Staunch Blue” says; The Blues have the men, but persist in playing them in their wrong positions. I would suggest the following; Sagar; Cook, Cresswell; Clark, White, Mercer; Geldard, Cunliffe, Dean, Stevenson, Gillick.
FANS VIEW
January 15, 1936. Liverpool Echo.
Bee’s Notes.
“Fans’ Tanned” says: -Please ask or suggest the Everton “forwards” and right and left half backs call at the Everton’s director’s premises in White-chapel and obtain the sporting game be plays.
“Try Everything Once.” Says –Everton is doomed if something is not done at once. There is no need to buy more players. The faults are too much youth, and too much pretty-pretty stuff. The forwards will do well when two experienced and hefty wing half backs are put in the team. Dean should be restored to his old place. My team is: - Sagar; Williams, Cook; Clark, White, Thomson; Geldard, Cunliffe, Dean, Miller, or Stevenson, Gillick.
“Everton Blue” says; - After seeing Everton v. Liverpool, and Everton v. North End I am now beginning to see the light. Previously I thought that the main thing in competitive football was to try and score more goals than your opponents. But those naughty Everton directors have been the villains of the piece; how they have led us up the garden and had us barking up the wrong tree. The week before the “Derby” match we all had visions of getting some of those six goals back, but oh, not the players give us a wonderful exhibition of how not to score goals. The directors say “That fine; we shall reward these lads, they will go to Buxton for a week.” Dixie scores three goals for the reserves and that seems to disqualify him for a trip to Buxton or for a place in such a thing as a Cup-tie. We at home do our bit; we all get our badges out, nice blue, and white colours with a cup on them; dress ourselves up and fill Goodison park. Now this is a Cup-tie, different stuff from League matches. Outcome the player’s fresh from Buxton. As Everton appear to play the game the opponent way to all the other teams –they pass the ball back instead of forward, you know the stuff, forward to half-back, half-back to back, and so on –I presume they are also going the opposite way in the League *c, this no doubt accounts for them being next to the top in the League.
From Woolton. H.P. C.M.F writes: - I returned here a few months ago after residence in Canada and California, where I played cricket and studied the U.S. Rugby Soccer football psychology. My diagnosis of Everton F.C. judging by recent games is that the forwards will not take the reasonability of shooting when near goal –possibly in view of subsequent adverse comment –and leave it to the other fellow to try his luck e.g. “Passing the buck.” Both Dean (when playing) and Cunliffe (on Saturday) had chances, but instead of drawing the defence or going through alone they invariably kicked the ball anywhere, hoping that it might reach one of their colleagues. Co-ordination and positional play amongst the forwards is lacking Everton appear to lose heart, if they can’t score early. You can understand that the raggedness and individuality play of the forwards, must from a psychological standpoint have a reaction upon the half backs and defence generally. Any portion of the foregoing can be published, if necessary. Before Preston’s first goal was scored five of their men touched the ball, but no Everton player did so. Saturate their minds with the belief that they can, must, and will win.
“Jimmy” writes: - I complained in your notes recently about the no provision of a turnstile at Goodison in the 3s 6 d stands for juniors. I wrote to, knowing how your columns are open for constructive suggestions and helpful remarks to both our clubs. Judging by the comments of friends, I know my letter was welcomed by supporters. I really wanted a reply by an official of the club, but of course, some fools but in where Angels fear to tread. Of course “Nosey” under the non-de-plume of “Rake-lander,” would butt in.
A CLUB’S LETTERS.
January 16, 1936. Liverpool Echo
Bee’s Notes.
It would seem that if your newspaper man is not “in” first he must seek to explain away a true story. Thus we learned yesterday of David Pratt desiring Hartill’s transfer, not’s Dean’s, and it is even suggested “it was a publicity stunt.” Let me therefore put the matter before my readers in its latest light. These are the facts. Dean was sought by Hearts a week ago; having been turned down, Mr. Pratt asked me “What of Hartill?” and the answer was. “He was transferred less than half an hour ago.” So readers see Hartill was sought after Dean had been ought, and in Hartill’s case it was a mere “thought” in Dean’s case it was genuine endeavour. To clinch everything let me settle these newspaper “adventures” by giving publicity to the following letter received today from Mr. Pratt;
A short note to thank you very much for your kindness. I approached Everton last Tuesday for Dixie Dean. I had a phone chat with Mr. Cuff at 11-30, Wednesday morning, and he said he was not prepared to part with Dean unless we were prepared to give something in return. That something was Walker. This I refused, and there the matter ended.
Exiles Concerned.
“All-Blue” sends a column from Southampton. I select some of his urgent points –On the principle that the onlookers see most of the game; it is possible that one of the further-most Everton “fans” can see Everton’s trouble. I have seen the “Blues” only three times this season –v: Sunderland, Leeds and the Wednesday –but I came away after each match with the same convictions. In spite of the undoubted skill of the players individually, they are not getting full value for their midfield work. Everton have had the bulk of the play in lots of the games that they lost. I m convinced that the approach work is good enough, but what was I contend is that the old-fashioned high droppings centre is the match-winning move that Everton have forgotten how to use, and which their opponents are using with success against then. The game is still the same game it was years ago, in spite of “W” formations,” third back centre halves,” and any such supposedly modern moves to defeat the opposition. Does any middle-aged old player who remembers pre-war football think there is anything new nowadays because sport writers have coined words to described old tricks? Teams still win matches with old-fashioned obvious football. Old-time wingers got down the wing and put across a centre and made the corner flag area a danger spot for the opposition –thus drawing defenders away from the goal area. Nowadays outside men seem to think they have been given the ball to cut into the centre with it, and try themselves up hopelessly with the inside forwards. Everton’s wingers particularly Geldard, have developed this fault to the nth degree, and in consequences opposing defenders have had an easy time crowding out Everton’s efforts in a small area in front of goal instead of having to spread out to tackle dangerous centring, wingers slogan for Everton –“Let’s have more old-fashioned football.” Let the wingers centre instead of adding to the general lack of method. Let them be told to get down quickly and swing it across, and “Dixie” will be there to meet it. Remember Arthur Dominy to his many old friends in Liverpool particularly Mr. Theo Kelly, Arthur a very old friend of mine, is keeping very fit – also keeping the Masons’ Arms, St. Mary’s street-Southampton.
Left-Right.
“Disgusted” (Birkenhead) say: - for thirty years I have been a follower of Everton, and after Saturday’s display I am prompted to write to you. To be beaten in a Cup-tie with two Everton cast-offs is one thing, but to envisage Everton v. Tranmere Rovers next season is another. I observed the hole left side of Everton (Gillick, Miller, Mercer, and Jones) without exception, kicking with their right foot. Can success be achieved with this? Shades of Jack Sharp. Only White and Cook are worthy their places on this showing.
“Still Blue Shirt.” Says –Gillick’s is an outside right, and not an outside left. This boy has football brains, and will be a great asset to Everton when he has a partner who knows how to give him the ball. You cannot make ground by a forward passing back to his full back, who punts the ball in the air. The onus is on all the forwards when it comes to having a shot at goal. I suggest the following would soon pull Everton out of the depths: - Sagar; Cook, Jones; Clark, Gee, Thomson; Gillick, Bentham, Dean, Cunliffe or Stevenson, and White.
“Blue Specs” says: - the trouble is the wing half backs lying too much on their own forwards. The new man, Gillick, wants plenty of room to work in. This over-dribbling instead of the direct pass has put them where they are.
“Fading Blue.” Says: - after seeing Everton I wonder why the club go after Scotch players, who are yards slower than any other. Bring back Dean.
“Fed Up,” says; - we must have Dean and Stevenson. Wing halves should have decent passes. The third back game is no use to Everton, so let us back to the old game that won the League and Cup.
“True Blue.” Says: - Everton went players with punch. Why not sign Joe Bouis and Popeye?
EVERTON FORWARD CHANGES.
January 17, 1936. The Daily Post.
By John Peel.
Everton and Bolton Wanderers renew old-time rivalry at Goodison Park tomorrow, and as both are out of the Cup the gathering of League points is their only concern. Everton are making two changes – one positional –compared with the team which lost to Preston North End. Stevenson, the Irish International, returns to inside left as partner to Gillick, Miller, who has been playing with Gillick, crossing over to the other wing in place of Bentham. Cunliffe retains the centre forward berth. The team is: King; Cook, Jones; Britton, White, Mercer; Geldard, Miller, Cunliffe, Stevenson, Gillick.
Bolton Eleven.
Tenant, the former Liverpool full back, is expected to resume in the Bolton team, while Milsom is due to lead the attack. The team is expected to turn out as follows: Swift; Tennant, Finney; Goslin, Athkinson, Taylor (G.); Thomas (G.), Eastham, Milsom, Westwood, Cook. On September 14 Bolton defeated Everton at Burnden Park by 2-0, Milsom and Cook being the scorers. Of the team which represented Everton on that day only Britton, Geldard, Miller and Cunliffe are due to turn out tomorrow.
How They have Fared.
Early League visits of Bolton Wanderers to Goodison Park were not very profitable, but during post-war games Bolton secured 10 points from 13 visits, scored 20 goals, and conceded 25. The results of these meetings (Everton’s score first) are 3-3, 2-3, 1-0, 1-1, 2-2, 2-2, 2-1, 1-1, 2-2, 3-0, 3-3, 1-0, and 2-2. So far this season Bolton have gained seven points from away engagements by means of victories over Aston Villa (2-1), Stoke City (2-1), and drawn games with Huddersfield Town (0-0), Sheffield Wednesday (2-2), and Wolverhampton Wanderers (3-3).
Central League Side.
Dean is to lead the Everton attack again at Bolton in the Central league game, the eleven selected being: White; Williams, Morris; Kavavagh, Gee, Thomson; Leyfield, Bentham, Dean, Dickenson, Archer.
EVERTON MAKE TWO TEAM CHANGES.
January 17, 1936. Evening Express.
Both Are In The Attack.
Miller On The Right; Stevenson On The Left.
Former L’Pool Back In Bolton Side.
By the Pilot.
Everton are still striving to find a goal-getting attack in their bid to get away from the bottom positions in the First Division. For the match against Bolton Wanderers at Goodison Park tomorrow two further alterations are made. Bentham, the young Warrington player, is omitted and Miller the Scot, is moved from inside left to inside right. This admits Stevenson, the clever Irish international, to inside left as partner to Gillick. Cunliffe retains the leadership and Geldard continues at outside right. Some surprise has been occasioned by the fact that Dixie Dean, the captain, has not been realised. It is strange that a club so deficient in scoring power should not include one of football’s greatest goal-getters. However, I hope the new attack will be able to finish their work as well as they approach. Everton are second from bottom by virtue of a better goal average than Aston Villa, but they have two games in hand of the Villa. It is vitally important therefore, that the Blues, if they are to improve their position, must win every point at home besides picking up a point or two away.
Home Programme
The Blues have eleven home engagements, including tomorrow’s match. If they won all they would aggregate 40 points for the season. Now 40 points mean safety. To secure victory there must be more willingness to shoot. Against the Wanderers it is essential that only one forward shall act as fetcher and carrier. The remaining four must be up the field on shooting bent. Miller and Stevenson re essentially schemers, but my advice to Stevenson is to keep well up and allow Miller to fulfil the role of creator. Bolton will be strengthened by the return of Jack Tennant, the former Liverpool player, who figures t right back, and Jack Milsom, the Bristol born centre-forward. Tennant, who played so brilliantly with Liverpool last season, is certain of a warm reception. A more whole-hearted player never donned football boots. Everton: - King; Cook, Jones; Britton, White, Mercer; Geldard, Miller, Cunliffe, Stevenson, Gillick. Bolton Wanderers: - Swift; Tennant, Finney; Goslin, Atkinson, Taylor (G.); Taylor (G.T), Eastham, Milsom, Westwood, Cook.
• Advertisement in Evening Express. League Match at Goodison Park Tomorrow (Saturday), Everton v. Bolton Wanderers, kick-off 2.45. Admission 1/- Boys 4d. Stands Extra (Inc tax) Boys under 11 and half-time to goal-double-decker stand, Bullens-road 1/- Booked seats Sharp’s Whitechapel.
NOW TO SAFETY ZONE.
January 17, 1936. Liverpool Echo.
Everton’s Urgent Need in The Game With Bolton.
Practical Efforts in Goal-Range
Bee’s Notes
Everton F.C, once more they are busying themselves with a relegation problem. They are not alone in this, but Aston Villa’s win over Sunderland shows how long they may be footing the league ladder, and Blackburn, having won a Cup-tie may easily break into league life. So Everton’s task is growing more and more difficult. Tomorrow, Everton set upon their task of making their home safe for First Division purpose. The first principle of their effort must be the home victory –a draw will not suffice; home games have to be won. There is a good spirit in the Goodison camp in spite of difficulties experienced in recent weeks and the games they played at Derby, and –with limitation against Liverpool at home –show there lays football talent if it could be welded together and encouraged to make the most of their efforts near the goal area. Approach work has been off a character well worth watching; the third back game has been argued pro and con, and even now there are as many for the third back style as there are against it; but my view is that if the third back game is to be played there must be a rather more wise positioning of backs, because if the backs take the wing men near the touchline and get crowded upon their own half backs, the least success to a winger means that instead of a packed defence, Everton have no more than a centre half and goalkeeper in the middle of the vital area. Arsenal do not play their backs on the touchline, but at a convenient place “inwards,” so when attacks are made the two backs can close in and help the third back. I hope I am not trying to “teach” footballers to play the game.” Everton’s case seems so near and yet so far from successful that I feel warranted in taking the principle of the third back style and amending Everton’s present mode of positioning.
A Little Too Youthful?
Everton’s youth is bound to be helpful at some stage of the club’s career –say, next season –yet three times recently the team has played so well everywhere except in front of goal that I can see them moving away from the bottom of the League table. The start should be made tomorrow with an enthusiastic crowd urging on the players –not by telling them what to do, but by paying tribute to anything they do with virility and keen endeavour. Bolton’s Cup blow in the mid-week game will not help the Wanderers to be in happy frame of mind, and I forecast Everton’s first step to safely by a good win tomorrow.
BOLTON WANDERERS’ VISIT.
January 18, 1936. The Liverpool Daily Post
By John Peel.
Bolton Wanderers played a cup tie during the week, but I expect the players will be as fresh as ever when they oppose Everton today at Goodison Park. In view of the position Everton must make special efforts to recover lost ground during the remainder off the season, and home points are essential if they are to stand a reasonable chance. It should be a lively encounter today, though the players will have difficulty in giving of their best on what seems likely to be a treacherous surface. Everton bring in Stevenson as partner to Gillick, while Miller is on the right. Bolton will have the services of Tennant and Milsom, the latter of whom usually does well on Merseyside. The kick-off is at 2.45 and the teams are: - Everton: - King; Cook, Jones; Britton, White, Mercer; Geldard, Miller, Cunliffe, Stevenson, Gillick. Bolton Wanderers: - Swift; Tennant, Finney; Goslin, Atkinson, Taylor (G.); Taylor (G.T), Eastham, Milsom, Westwood, Cook.
EVERTON GAME POSTPONED
January 18, 1936. Liverpool Football Echo.
Referee Rules Ground Unfit.
Football especially the handing code, was in danger of complete extinction today, on account of the snow covered and frost-bound grounds.
By Stork.
The game between Everton and Bolton Wanderers arranged to be played at Goodison Park today, was postponed. I personally cannot recall a match on Merseyside being abandoned before at least not because of snow or frost. I remember two instance, one at Everton, and one at Liverpool, where the conditions seemed infinitely worse then they were at Goodison Park today, where the referee decided that play was impossible owing to the conditions of the ground. From the stand the ground did not look at all dangerous, for it had been well sanded, but apparently there was water underlying the top sand, and, no doubt, there was a lot of bone a little further underneath. Quite a number of people were unaware of the decision to abandon the game, and it was a disconsolate crowd which stood around wondering how they would fill in their time. The Bolton team, along with the directors returned almost immediately the decision not to play was made, and on arrival at Bolton, I understand, arrangement will be made for a new date for the game, but it is more than probable, however, that Wednesday will be decided upon. Neither Bolton, nor Everton have a game on Saturday next, due to their exit from the Cup. The referee Mr. Dedman, decided that the ground was covered in ice, although it was obvious that it was softening every minute.
Goodison Crowd Visit Anfield.
The postponement of the Everton match, at Goodison Park, resulted in Liverpool benefiting for a big crowd from across the park to Anfield, for the Reserve match.
STUD MARKS
January 18, 1936. Liverpool Football Echo.
By Louis T. Kelly.
• Prior to Saturday, only once had Everton gone down at home to a team outside the city walls in the opening round for over 30 years. This was Crystal palace in 1920.
• In the first Everton-Liverpool “Derby” there were 17 Scots on view; in the latest one, 17 English-born players.
• Ted Sagar has only once figured on the losing side in an F.A. Cup-tie during the past four seasons-at Tottenham two years ago.
• Only two former winners of the Cup went out at the first time of asking on Saturday –Everton and Aston Villa.
• From 1925-26 to 1935-36 is a fairly good span. William Dean and Arthur Riley are now the “sole” survivors of the former seasons still in our rival Goodison and Anfield camps. The many little personal tilts they have had do not appear to have done them much harm.
“NO PLAY TODAY” ORDER AT GOODISON.
January 18, 1936. Evening Express, Football Edition.
Referee Calls Off Everton Match.
By the Watcher.
A frost bound ground at Goodison park today caused the postponent of Everton match with Bolton Wanderers. I understand that it is proposed to play the game at Goodison Park next Wednesday. The Everton and Bolton directors are considering the new date and a decision will be made later. The ground had been covered with straw during the week and had also been liberally sanded. Up to an hour before the match was due to start Everton officials held out hope that it would be possible to play, but when the referee, Mr. H. Dedman, of Blackpool, inspected the ground, he decided to call off the game. “The ground is very hard,” Mr. Dedman said to me, “and I do not think it wise to allow the match to be played.” The cancellation of the match is a big blow to the Everton club. They should visit Huddersfield Ton next Saturday, but with the Town engaged in the Cup, this also s postponed. Thus, Everton will not have a Saturday League match for a fortnight. Mr. Theo Kelly, the acting secretary of Everton, was extremely disappointed when the referee for today’s match gave his decision. “We thought that the match would be played,” he said, but the referee thought it best to cancel it.” The referee’s decision, which was not made until nearly two o’clock –only 45 minutes before the match was due to start –meant that several thousand people knew nothing of the postponement until they actually arrived at the turnstiles. Scorers of crowded trams were arriving every minute at Walton when the news leaked out. Steps were immediately taken by the tramway officials to prevent other cars leaving their starting point in Victoria Street. The vehicles were diverted on to other routes for general service. Bolton players returned in their motor coach immediately, and a few officials walked across the park to see the Reserves match at Anfield. The weather caused the postponent or cancellation of many other games.
Stanley Holmes
Hull Daily Mail-Monday 20 January 1936
Following the Northern League match between Stanley United and Evenwood, Stanley Holmes, the Stanley outside right, signed professional forms for Everton. Holmes has been one of the most sought after players in the north east, and had already refused offers from three prominent clubs to go on trial. Bolton, Chelsea, and Derby County were represented Saturday's match.
STANLEY PLAYER JOINS EVERTON
January 20, 1936. Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer
Stanley Holmes
Following the Northern League match between Stanley United and Evenwood, Stanley Holmes, Stanley outside right, signed professional forms for Everton. Holmes has been one of the most sought after players in the North-East, and had already refused offers from three prominent clubs to go on trial. Bolton, Chelsea, and Derby County were represented at Saturday's match with Holmes as the magnet.
BOLTON WANDERERS RESERVES 2 EVERTON RESERVES 3
January 20, 1936. Liverpool Daily Post
Central league (Game 26)
The Wanderers Reserves, much the smaller team, at Bolton, made a praiseworthy rally and almost merited a point. Everton started well, a shot by Dean being deflected through by Hurst, who made amends by saving from thirty yards. A second goal by Bentham was followed by one headed over the goalkeeper by Bower, the new back from South Liverpool. Currier added Bolton’s second. Strong, efficient halves contributed to Everton’s victory. Everton: - White, goal; Williams and Morris, backs; Kavanagh, Gee and Thomson, half-backs; Leyfield, Bentham, Dean, Dickisnon, and Archer, forwards.
Holylake 1 Everton “A” 3
County Combination.
At Hoylake. Had the Hoylake forwards been better finishers the result would probably have been reversed. Davies, Hatton and Adams all missed easy openings. From their first break away Hullett, the Everton centre, scored. Prescott later had no difficulty in defeating Sherlock. Hullett raced through the defence and gave Everton a three goal lead prior to the interval. The second half was almost a repetition of the first, except that Jackson and Hadley kept a better hold on the Everton forwards. Adams scored for Hoylake eight minutes from the end from a centre by Foyne. Tunney was outstanding throughout for Everton. Several tons of snow had been removed by voluntary labour, the workers being busy right up to the kick-off.
EVERTON AND LIVERPOOL INTERESTED IN EASTHAM
It is understood that there have been negotiations for the transfer of Eastham, the Bolton Wanderers’ inside forward. Everton and Liverpool re reported to be among the clubs who have made inquiries concerning the player, who is a very clever exponent, though it is said that the spectators at Bolton have not appreciated his close game. Rather frail in build, he is 22 years of ago and a native of Blackpool.
EVERTON TO MEET BOLTON ON WEDNESDAY.
January 20, 1936. Evening Express.
Blues Secure Another Young Winger.
By the Pilot.
The postponed Football League match between Everton and Bolton Wanderers, which should have taken place at Goodison Park on Saturday last, definitely will be played on Wednesday. The Everton officials were in touch with the Bolton club today, and everything was settled. Everton announce that all tickets purchased for the match on Saturday will be available for Wednesday. The kick-off will be at 2-45 p.m. Everton’s League match with Sheffield Wednesday postponed from Christmas Day-has been fixed, provisionally, for Wednesday, February 5.
Everton have secured the signature of Stanley Holmes, the young outside-right or right half, from Stanley United, the Northern Eastern League club. This boy, who is spoken of as one of the most promising players in the North-East, was secured in face of competition from Derby County, Chelsea, and Bolton Wanderers. Holmes had refused several offers to play trial matches, and is 5ft 7ins, and 10st 9lbs.
• Advertisement in Evening Express. League Match at Goodison Park Wednesday Jan 22, Everton v. Bolton Wanderers Kick-off 2.45. Admission 1/- Boys 4d, stands extra (Inc tax) Booked seats, Sharp’s Whitechapel.
EVERTON V BOLTON-WEDNESADAY
January 20, 1936, Liverpool Echo
Bee’s Notes.
Everton F.C., announce that their posponent game against Bolton Wanderers, will take place on Wednesday, kick-off 2.45 p.m. Tickets issued for last Saturday’s game will be usable on Wednesday. It is almost certain that the snow will have cleared completely in time for the match.
Everton have signed Joseph Holmes, an outside right from Stanley United, the Northern-League team. Holmes who is in his teens is 5ft 7ins, weighs 10st 9lbs, can also operate at right half-back.
• Advertisement in Liverpool Echo. League Match at Goodison Park Wednesday Jan 22, Everton v. Bolton Wanderers Kick-off 2.45. Admission 1/- Boys 4d, stands extra (Inc tax) Booked seats, Sharp’s Whitechapel.
EVERTON’S GAME WITH BOLTON.
January 21, 1936. Liverpool Daily Post
By John Peel.
The postponed match between Everton and Bolton Wanderers is due to be played at Goodison Park tomorrow, kick-off at 2.45. The change in the weather suggests that the ground will be fit for play. Tickets issued for Saturday’s game may be used. Everton have signed J. Holmes, an outside right from Stanley United, the Northern League team. Holmes, who is in his teens, is 5ft 7ins, weights 10st 9lb, and can also operate at right half-back.
BOLTON VISIT TO EVERTON.
January 21, 1936. Evening Express.
By the Pilot.
Everton, struggling to get away from the bottom positions in the First Division, are due to entertain Bolton Wanderers in the postponed League match at Goodison Park, tomorrow afternoon. If the match is played, then it is one which Everton must win. Their position is not, at the moment, serious, for they have matches in hand of their rivals in distress but now is the time for Everton to set their house in order. In order to conquer the Wanderers, Everton will need to have at least four forwards always up in attack. Too often have we seen the two inside men lying back acting as the creative powers, but in a team which has been lacking in penetrative power, one only is sufficient. The directors meet tonight to transact the weekly business of the club and if necessary the team will be chosen. Everton (probable); King; Cook, Jones; Britton, White, Mercer; Geldard, Miller, Cunliffe, Stevenson, Gillick. Bolton Wanderers; (probable); Swift; Tennant, Finney; Goslin, Atkinson, Taylor (G.); Taylor (G.T.), Eastham, Milsom, Westwood, Cook.
• Advertisement in Evening Express. League Match at Goodison Park Tomorrow, Everton v. Bolton Wanderers Kick-off 2.45. Admission 1/- Boys 4d, stands extra (Inc tax) Booked seats, Sharp’s Whitechapel.
SUPPORTERS VIEW.
January 21, 1936. Liverpool Echo.
Bee’s Notes.
“Blue Vision” writes: - Davie Pratt had his head screwed on right when he wanted Dixie, and I along with many thousands am glad that the swop did not take place. Everton will not get my bob till Dixie is returned to the first team. The following would soon poll us out of danger. Sagar; Cook, Jones; Britton, Whit, Mercer; Geldard, Cunliffe, Dean, Stevenson, Gillick.
Bunny Bell’s 100th Goal
An event of particular interest which has passed without previous mention is that “Bunny” Bell, the season’s leading scorer in the whole of the Football League, shot his 100th goal in the tournament when he got his brilliant goal in the match between Tranmere Rovers and Carlise United at Prenton Park. A record of unusual merit is embodied in this century-completion feat. Bell, in doing it, has averaged almost a goal per game, which is an achievement paralleled by very few in the game’s history. It was in February 1932, that he made his Football league bow in a match against barrow, at Prenton, and this is the full summarised story of his progress to a notable milestone in his career.
Season 1931-32 goals 13 games 11
Season 1932-33 goals 17 games 32
Season 1933-34 goals 35 games 34
Season 1934-35 goals 6 games 9
Season 1935-36 goals 29 games 20
Total 100 goals 106 appearances.
A League century with four years of one’s baptism in the game is something quite out of the ordinary, and it has to be remembered that Bell would probably have been “100 not out” long before this but for the fractured jaw and broken collarbone sustained last season, which mishaps limited his appearances in League life to nine. As it is of particular interest to note that several contemporary players of Lancashire association are among the very few in the game’s whole history who have arrived at the three-figure mark so quickly as Bell. The record in this respect is held by James Cookson, who began his professional career with the City of his native Manchester, and is with Plymouth Argyle now. His League bow was made t the start of season 1925-26, and he reached 100 soon after the opening of the 1927-28 campaign. Peter Simpson (now with West Ham United) began with Crystal Palace in 1929-30 and completed 100 before the end of 1931-32. Alfred Lythgoe led off with Stockport County in 1932-33, and was a centurion with Huddersfield Town in this season’s first month; and James Hampton, introduced by Nelson in 1925-26 had collected a three-figure haul with Blackpool before the end of 1928-29. Another noteworthy point about this Bell feat is that no other player past or present has got 100 League goals for Tranmere Rovers, celebrities like Dean, Waring, Rimmer &c., who are among contemporary centurions, having left Prenton for higher company before they had travelled very far on the three figure road. Another Rovers, however, may equal Bell’s feat before this season’s end, for outside-left Fred Urmson stands on the 88 mark of Northern Section goals-all obtained in his only league club service. Bell, by the way, is the eight player to complete a League century since this season’s start, the others being Lythgoe (Huddersfield Town), Drake (Arsenal), Astley (Aston Villa), Mangnall (West Ham United), O’Callaghan (Leicester City), Rigby (Crewe Alexandra and late Everton), and Mantle (Carlisle United).
EVERTON’S GAME TODAY.
January 22, 1936. Liverpool Daily Post
Dean’s Return.
By John Peel.
The Football League having decided that their fixtures are to be carried out as arranged, the Everton v. Bolton Wanderers, match, which was postponed on Saturday owing to the ground being unfit, will be decided this afternoon, the kick-off being timed for 2.45. Goodison Park is draining very well, and though the going is bound to be heavy it is expected that the ground will be in fair condition. From an Everton point of view the match is of the utmost important, and they hope to win to improve their position at the foot of the table.
Dean’s Return.
Dean, who has been out of senior team for some considerable time, is recalled to fulfil the centre-forward berth once more. He has been playing well with the Central League side, and has scored four goals in the last two matches. The presence of Dean has always had an influence for good on the team as a whole, and it is hoped that he will add more thrust to the attack. The team chosen for today’s game is as follows: - King; Cook, Jones; Britton, White, Mercer; Geldard, Cunliffe, Dean, Stevenson, Gillick. The Everton reserves team to meet Huddersfield on Saturday in the Central league match at Goodison Park, kick-off at three o’clock is:- White; Williams, Morris; Kavanagh, Gee, Thomson; Leyfield, Bentham, Hullett, Dickinson, Archer.
HAT-TRICK AGAINST EVERTON.
January 22, 1936. Evening Express.
But Blues Fight Back to Draw Level.
By the Pilot.
There was sensational goal-scoring in the re-arranged Everton v. Bolton league match at Goodison Park today. Taylor (G.T) did the hat-trick for Bolton in the first half and Dean, who again led the Everton line, scored a goal in each half. Everton were two goals down in the first half, but drawn level at the end of 69 minutes’ play. The match was postponed on Saturday owing to frost, and snow. Today the ground was covered with ice and water. The players wearing, black armlets entered the field together and lined up on the centre spot. Two minutes’ silence was observed as a token of respect for the late King George. Teams: - Everton: - King, goal; Cook and Jones, backs; Britton, White and Mercer, half-backs; Geldard, Cunliffe, Dean (captain), Stevenson, and Gillick, forwards. Bolton Wanderers: - Swift, goal; Tennant and Finney, backs; Goslin, Atkinson and Taylor (G.), half-backs; Taylor (G.H.), Eastham, Milsom, Westwood, and Cook, forwards. Referee Mr. H. Dedman (Blackpool). Stevenson adopted the cross-field pass to good purpose and there was some dainty feeding by Dean. The players, however, generally found the ball moving too fast for them and combination was affected. Dean put Geldard through, and was there to nod the centre just wide of the far post. Westwood weaved a spell, and from his swinging pass Milsom went through on good ground, but centred direct to King.
Quick Goal.
In nine minutes Everton took the lead, Dean justifying his return with a picture goal. The ball came fast off the ice so that Geldard received a pass never expected and centred promptly to the far corner of the goal area. Dean headed the ball into the top corner of the net, well beyond the reach of Swift. Within a minute the Wanderers were on terms, Eastham, the man with whom Bolton will not part, paving the way Eastham came out to the right, dribbled the defence with body swerves and perfect ball control, moved up the goal-line, and crossed a low centre, which Taylor (G.H.) easily shot into the net. Just afterwards Everton had an excellent chance of regaining their advantage, Dean nodding the ball back to Cunliffe, who shot too high. Eastham and Westwood tried their lone dribbles only to come up against the immovable White barrier. White also found time to move up with his forwards, and bring Swift to his knees with a quick “daisy-cutter.” Everton were enjoying the balance of pressure, and when Gillick centred Athkinson had to concede a corner to hold up Dean. From this Dean headed the ball downwards to Geldard, who, instead of shooting, turned the ball into Swift’s arms. Bolton took the lead in 27 minutes, G. T. Taylor again being the scorer. Britton was off the field after a heavy fall when Eastham got moving, enlisted Westwood’s aid and turned a pass to Taylor, standing on the corner of the penalty area. Taylor shot struck the far post and bounded into the net. King flung himself out in an effort to save, but was too late with his drive. Within three minutes Taylor (G.T) had completed his hat-trick, thanks to an opportunist shot. When the ball came over from the left, King punched it out, but not far enough, and Taylor, standing close in, banged it into the net. The score flattered Bolton, yet with less pressure than that applied by Everton they were more dangerous. Dean left the field after a heavy fall, and while he was away Swift saved a surprise shot from Stevenson before Westwood ran through, only to be forced over the line. Then Westwood hooked a lovely shot just over the top. Geldard shot well following a corner, then Gillick had an excellent chance from Stevenson’s pass, only he hit the ball too quickly, and it passed a yard wide of the post. Westwood was brought down when going through, but the referee to the surprise of the 15,000 spectators awarded a goal kick and then Stevenson placed outside with a back header.
Half-time Everton 1, Bolton Wanderers 3.
Dean returned after the interval, but was limping. His left leg seemed to be troubling him. Bolton nearly made it four when Eastham landed a surprise shot, which King turned over the top. Everton were all at sixties and sevens, and more often pass backwards instead of forwards. Play had developed a keen note, but Everton had lost their shooting power, something which characterised their early play. They swarmed around the Bolton goal, yet could not put enough boot behind the ball to trouble Swift. Everton reduced the lead in 56 minutes Dean being the scorer. Geldard was going through when he was fouled by Finney. Geldard took the free kick and landed the ball into the goalmouth, where Dean bent low and headed into the net, the ball touching Finney’s foot in transit. Bolton protested that dean had pushed Goslin. Milsom, after attention on the touchline, went to outside right, Taylor (G.T), taking over the leadership. Dean headed back the perfect pass which Stevenson, owing to the ice, could not reach. Everton were not to be denied, however, and in 69 minutes they were on terms, Stevenson being the score. The attack developed on the right, and by dint of a series of short passes the ball was worked away to Stevenson, standing on the edge of the penalty area. Stevenson shot first time and the flight of the ball completely deceived Swift, who was far too late with his dive. Stevenson tried the same move a minute later, but this time the ball swung outside. Everton had put up a really wonderful fight, and the fact that they had a drawn level was largely due to their recapturing the spirit of shooting at every opportunity. Dean, who was making his first appearance for Everton since December 14, gave Everton the lead after nine minutes with a brilliant header, but within a minute Taylor had equalised. Taylor went on to complete his hat-trick in 39 minutes. Dean reduced the arrears at 59 minutes and Stevenson scored Everton’s third goal 10 minutes later.
DELVING INTO THE PAST.
January 22, 1936. Liverpool Echo
Bee’s Notes.
Mr. J. Simpson, who claims membership of the Everton Football club since 1880 writes to “Stork” concerning the abandonment of the Everton v. Bolton Wanderers game last Saturday. Here is his interesting letter: - in answer to your query on Everton and Bolton wanderers not being able to recall a match being abandoned on Merseyside under similar conditions, as a member of the Everton Football Club since 1880 I can recall one similar case of a match being abandoned through frost and ice. It was a fixture between Everton and Aston Villa, when Everton were playing on the ground now occupied by Liverpool. By the way, many of your readers may not know that Bolton Wanderers were the first professional team to come and play Everton for love, when the latter were playing in Stanley Park, and wonderful to relate, not even a collection taken on the ground. Old Evertonians have always had a warm regard for the Wanderers.
TAYLOR HAT-TRICK AT GOODISON.
January 22, 1936. Liverpool Echo.
But Everton Flight Back to level.
By “Bee.”
Everton did not open their gates for the Bolton League match until 2.30, with the result that the crowd at Goodison Park was one of the smallest on record. The players, with Dean back in his old position and leadership, entered the ice-plank ground in two’s and at once the referee signalled for the attention, and a two minutes’ silence as memorial of the patron of the Football Association, the late King. It was an impressive ceremony. Prior to the start of play workmen had been spiking and forking the ground, which seemed still to be in a wretched conditions. However, when Bolton won the toss and kicked towards Stanley Park end, White showed no tremors, and the ball was flung about with rare gusto –a remark in which Cook and Jones joined when they made full-fledged, massive punts. Milsom had an offside decision against him, and later went up in menacing fashion, King, the goalkeeper, leaving his goal and horror of horrors, half missing his kick away, with the result that Jones tackled Milson and fell on the ice, hurting his shoulder and elbow.
Deliberate Dean.
Stevenson and Gillick were getting on famously in their new found partnership, and Everton took a joyous lead in eight minutes, and as Dean was the scorer, the opening blow had a special significance and pleasure. Geldard centred, and Dean headed the goal; that is the simplest way of stating the fact. But only the spectators present will remember with what perfect poise, decision, and precision Dean, standing near the left goalpost, delivered the ball to the right-hand corner of the posts. He has never made a more deliberate goal.
Eastham Goal Pass.
The lead was killed in sixty seconds by the delicious interchanges of positions on the part of Eastham, and George Taylor. Eastham escaped a trip, and went on with his sinuous dribble, and at the right moment made an unselfish pass to his partner, G.T. Taylor, who had done what so few wingers do nowadays, namely, filled the vacancy created by the forerunner. It was Eastham’s goal from end to end, and although Taylor applied the conclusive touch. In conditions such as these the play was of unusually good order and standard. Cunliffe shot over the bar; Geldard fell on his head; without serious damage I am glad to say. And the battle for points began afresh with Everton needing home victories if their position in the League is to be made secure.
A Taylor Hat-Trick.
While Britton was being attended by the trainer for some leg trouble, Bolton were proceeding with their task of taking a lead, and once more it was an excellent goal in the making. The misfortune so far as Everton was concerned lay in the fact that King had damaged his right knee, and was unable to hobble around his goal with any sense of security or speed. Otherwise he might have edged the swinging shit by G.T. Taylor beyond the post. As it was, Taylor’s shot swung against the left upright and over the line to the back of the net. This at twenty four minutes Everton were in arrears 1-2. Once more it was the dancing master Eastham who had made the goal possible by means of his first class weaving and pattern making, but another minute passed and G.T. Taylor had performed the hat-trick –an unusual feat for modern outside rights and a blow to Everton’s chances. Taylor once more caught the inspiration of the scheming Eastham at work and when the Bolton applied his shot King punched away and Taylor met the rebound and scored with a resounding blow. Time 26 minutes and Taylor formerly of Notts County, had performed the hat-trick for the first time in his career with Bolton Wanderers.
Dean Reduces.
Everton’s position got worse because Dean had to leave the field with a damaged knee just after half an hour. Gillick an easy chance, and with no one but the goalkeeper to beat, pulled his shot outside the mark, which thus left off the Bolton defenders, which serves to prove that when you are down and out of luck nothing will go right for the cub. Westwood broke through, and found himself thrown to the floor by what some must have through a penalty offence. Referee Dedman swept the appeals away as though Westwood had kept his feet.
Half-time Everton 1, Bolton 3
The second half showed what few had seen in the first half, namely that Britton and Jones were limping. Dean returned, but the other two named, were absent for some moments, and when the ball became “dead” the latecomers were signalled on to the field, and had a close-up of a very good save by King from the centre –half Atkinson’s strong shot. The Everton forwards could not finish and were fretful and at times frightful in their use of the ball. The crowd was inclined to jeer, but when Tom White commenced one of his forward marches the crowd became enthusiastic and gave every encouragement to the home side. G.T. Taylor was all for goals and was discovered on the extreme left position. His shot struck White’s head and the danger to both was passed. At the hour Dean scored with a header, Finney actually connecting with the ball before it went over the line. Everton had a spell of shooting, and Stevenson after hitting the crossbar scored a bonny goal to make the score 3-3. Time 70 minutes. This was a new Everton shooting hard and often.
EVERTON 3 BOLTON WANDERERS 3 (Game 1544 over-all)-(Div 1 1502)
January 23, 1936 Liverpool Daily Post
Everton Take A Point.
Six Goals Shared At Goodison
Dean Shows Good Form
By “Stork.”
Everton picked up a valuable point in their rearranged game with Bolton Wanderers at Goodison Park yesterday. The score was 3-3, and Everton had to fight against a two-goal lead, and towards the end might have snatched the game, but of the fire had Cunliffe taken a grit offering from Dean. There was an uncertainty about the game almost up to the last minute, for the gates were not opened until 15 minutes from the start. Looking at the ground one began to wonder what kind of game we would witness, for the turf was not only covered with water, but had a top dressing of thin ice, which, however, soon yielded under the studs on the players’ boots. The conditions did not suggest good football, but in the circumstances I thought the play was distinctly clever, particularly on the part of Bolton Wanderers, who were in their brightest and best mood in the first occasion. When the Wanderers do hit the high spot they can be an entertaining side, and although Everton scored the first goal, Bolton provided the better fare. They went to their work as though the conditions were excellent and the way they carried the ball about and made passes which were the some of perfection it was soon apparent that the Everton defence was in for a rough time.
Dean’s Fine Goal.
The return to the Everton side of Dean, who resumed the captaincy, was indeed an improvement, and when he scored in nine minutes, Everton seemed set for a victory, for I had seen more shooting from their forward’s then in their last two home fixtures. Bolton, however, had soon wiped away the deficit, for within a minute, G.T. Taylor equalised and that was the starting point of the Wanderers, to great heights. Taylor ultimately scored a others goals –his first “hat-trick” for Bolton Wanderers since he joined the club from Nott’s County. Taylor has had such a poor season up to this point, and when Milsom was hurt, he was drafted into the centre forward position, and when there was ever a danger to Everton’s prospects. The best of the Bolton side, however, was Eastham.
Eastham’s Skill.
Eastham might have been operating on a Wembley turf the way he made his passes and ran through to take up position, and he had a hand in the making of Taylor’s three goals. But to get back to Dean’s first goal. Only a Dean could have turned Geldard’s centre away from the waiting goalkeeper, Swift, the way he did. Swift had come across to narrow down the angle, but Dean simply lobbed the ball (with his head) right to the other side, and although the ball carried no great pace it was so perfectly placed that Swift was helpless. That goal was enough to give Everton every encouragement, but once Bolton had equalised they got right on top, and excellent work by Eastham enabled Taylor to go on and place Everton in a difficult position. The goal was one of the best I have seen, for the work leading up to it, was magnificent. An interchange of position by Eastham and Taylor was the real cause, and when the former pulled back his pass a goal was the natural outcome. The third goal of Taylor’s came after King had swept away a cross shot by Cook, and before he could recover Taylor had alarmed home a terrific shot. Everton, after their smart opening, did not promise to fight out against a two goal lead, for their forwards instead of improving, fell easy victims to the Wanderers half-back line. One had to admit that their prospects were not improved by injuries to King, Jones, Britton, and Dean, the only man to leave the field during play being the captain. Then the Wanderers suffered a blow, Milsom being injured and being sent out to the right wing. This seemed to disturb Eastham, who did not maintain his first half brilliance, and with Westwood failing to strike his best form, there was not the ability nor the “bite” in the line afterwards, yet they had their chances to win the game just as Everton had after they had levelled the score through goals by Dean and Stevenson. One expected errors on such a ground, but when a man has the ball at his toes and is only a matter of a few yards away from goal, he should score. Cunliffe was offered such a chance by Dean, but swept the ball round the post, and the Westwood, after treading his way through all opposition, crashed the ball a matter of inches the wrong side of the upright. Swift, who is a brother of the Manchester City goalkeeper, made a mighty save from Stevenson just before the latter scored. So the game ended all square. Everton’s forward work was feeble to a degree, and had it not been for Dean one began to wonder who would score. White was the most likely one, for he would have a shot and Swift had to make a number of saves from him. Stevenson, apart from his goal, was moderate, and Gillick as a consequence suffered, while Geldard was just ordinary. Cunliffe dribbled and dribbled until his colleagues did not know what to expect. The line was not definite enough. In dribbles they were good enough, but there their usefulness ended.
Scoring Forwards Needed.
White was the big man of the Everton side, and Mercer played well up to a point. Jones played well all through, and King made one or two grand saves. He might have saved the first goal had he not been limping. Bolton Wanderers was a clever side, yet with all their cleverness there was punch, allied to their progress, and Atkinson and Goslin were a capable pair of half-backs who seemed to accomplish so much with so little effort. With such a lead the Wanderers should have won, yet when Everton found that they had a fighting chance of winning the match, I saw flaws in the defence. Finney kicked out a great deal, and tenant was not always master of Gillick during Everton’s fight back. This point may mean a lot to Everton before the season is out, but until they find some scoring forwards they will have a stiff task ahead. Teams: - Everton: - King, goal; Cook and Jones, backs; Britton, White and Mercer, half-backs; Geldard, Cunliffe, Dean, Stevenson, and Gillick, forwards. Bolton Wanderers: - Swift, goal; Tennant and Finney, backs; Goslin, Atkinson, and Taylor (G.) half-backs; Taylor (G.T), Eastham, Milsom, Westwood and Cook, forwards. Referee Mr. H. Dedman, Blackpool.
EVERTON’S THREE MATCHES IN SIX DAYS.
January 23, 1936. Evening Express.
By the Pilot.
There are busy days ahead for Everton Football Club. Although on Saturday they will be without a match, beginning next Wednesday they will have three matches in six days. Everton have arranged to travel to Huddersfield next Wednesday for the postponed League match, provided Huddersfield’s Cup-tie with Tottenham Hotspur is settled. On the following Saturday Everton will be at home to Middlesbrough, and on the Monday they visit Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough. If the Blues reveal the fighting spirit which characterised their play against Bolton Wanderers at Goodison Park yesterday, when they drew 3-3 after being 3-1 in arrears there is hope that the position will be improved. Everton might even have snatched a victory over Bolton had good chances been accepted later on, but I think a draw was a fair reflex, for Everton were fortunately to not have two penalties against them.
Still Flaws.
The opening play and second half rally showed Everton up in a much better light than in recent matches, but there are still flaws in the make-up. In my opinion it was because Britton and Mercer wandered to much to the centre of the field that the Wanderers ‘ wingers were able to accomplish so much. Mercer was never near Taylor (G.T) in the first half, and the opportunist Taylor did a hat-trick in little time. Britton was handicapped by a leg injury. It was the grand stand of the backs- Cook and Jones –and the enterprise of the three inside-forwards which led to Everton’s sprinted recovery when everything seemed lost. The return of Dean made a wealth of difference for he led his line with fine judgement and created many openings with those subtle head passes. Further Dean scored Everton first two goals. Stevenson’s clever foraging and accurate passing, and Cunliffe’s courageous solo dribbles and good shots, were also important factors in Everton’s “come-back,” but neither of the wingers –Geldard nor Gillick –was happy. Tennant, the ex-Liverpool back, had the full measure of Gillick. Everton’s team to oppose Huddersfield Town in the Central league match at Goodison Park on Saturday will be; White; Morris, Kavanagh, Gee, Thomson; Leyfield, Bentham, Hullett, Dickinson, Archer.
EVERTON’S “POINT.”
January 23, 1936. Liverpool Echo
Bee’s Notes.
It is not sufficient for Everton to draw their home games; they have to win home ties. Yesterday their greatest feat was the ability and “spike” to draw level after appearing out of touch with a point. The enthusiasm is there, but when the players get near goal the desire to drag on the weary, winding dribble seizes them all and when the goal is gaping the utter fear of missing seems to make them stress the placing of a shot –they place it wide. Bolton looked winners when Westwood made his famous through-run in the last seconds of play; he took a sandwiching bump from one and another, and with an open goal and his tired legs he turned the ball a foot outside. Everton had escaped. Nothing goes right with Everton just now, and Stevenson’s crack to the crossbar threatened to be one more stone hurled at them. However, with sterner tackling by the wing half backs and the forwards, not the throwback pass Everton can improve considerably. Dean lent weight and height and enthusiasm to the attack, also a couple of goals on his birthday. Bolton were a delightful “winning side,” but proved they cannot “take it” when the punch is applied. Everton have received a telegram from Copenhagen expressing sympathy with the club at this time of national lost. Everton have replied “in the name of football we thank you for your sympathy and thoughts.” Everton Reserves at home to Hudersfield, expect an overflow; they will start at 3 o’clock, will show the Cup scores periodically, and will field this side against Hiddersfield Reserves –White; Williams, Morris; Kavanagh, Gee, Thomson; Leyfield, Bentham, Hullett, Dickinson, and Archer.
EVERTON GAMES.
January 24, 1936. Liverpool Daily Post
By John Peel.
Everton are two games, behind in their programme and new dates had to be found for the away engagement with Sheffield Wednesday and Huddersfield Town. The fixture at Hillsborough on Christmas Day was postponed, owing to the weather and tomorrow’s fixture at Huddersfield is, of course put aside as the Yorkshire club are in the Cup. In the event of Huddersfield deciding their Cup-tie tomorrow, Everton visit the Leeds-road ground on Wednesday, and on the following Monday they visit Hillsborough, so that they have three matches in rapid succession.
JACK COCK
Surrey Mirror - Friday 24 January 1936
Jack Cock, the old international was associated with the team for a long time -he may even still be with them -so it can be assumed that walton will not be lacking in the finer points of the game.
FALLACIES OF CUP-TIE FOOTBALL
January 25, 1936. Evening Express, Football Edition.
No Such Thing As “Typical Cup Teams”
Defence Not Everything
By Ted Sagar, Everton’s International Goalkeeper.
Which is the greater struggle –the F.A. Cup competition, or the League championship? Is Cup winning a matter of luck or good foot ball. These are questions on which many people have deep-rooted ideas, ideas which have no real foundation in fact, and it is my intention in this article, writing as one who has known both joys and disappointments of Cup and League football, to explode some of these popular fallacies. There are difference between League football and Cup football. That must be so because of the differences in the conditions. The League struggle is a long drawn out affair, spread over more than eight months, and the team which is successful in League must maintain a general level of consistency throughout the eight months of the season. Lapses have to be pay for in the League, of course. But there is always a chance, in that competition, of picking up, in subsequent games, points which have been lost during a lapse. On the other hand the Cup competition can be described as a sudden-death affair. As they say in Lancashire, “one clout, and you’re out!” No club can afford even one bad day in the Cup competition. But the Cup may be won by a side, not consistently good; by a side which has bits of luck here and there, and particularly by a side which rises to it on the big Cup days –which finds in the knock-out tournament inspiration. We get into the habit of talking about the Cup competition as the surprise affair; the struggle which leads to unexpected successes. But I am prepared to say that we do not get more surprise results in proportion in the cup than we do in the League. The idea that it is the Cup which provides most shocks arises because in the league the effects of one surprise result are not so obvious. If you must have evidence that the unexpected turns up in the League, take a striking case from recent play. On New Year’s Day Sunderland were at the top of the League. They had won 11 home matches in a row, had scored more goals than any of their competitors, and led the First Division with many points to spare. On that day they had as opponents Aston Villa, right at the bottom of the League, and with many more goals scored against them than any other club in any of the big Leagues. If ever there was a “cent” result in football it was that Sunderland would beat the Villa. But they lost by three goals to one. If that had happened in the Cup we should have referred to it as typical of Cup football. It is equally typical of League football. That Sunderland should also have provided the big surprise of the third round of the Cup was just a coincidence.
Typical Cup Team “Myth.”
Use of the word typical reminds me of another “myth “which has sprung up concerning football. Every time the Cup competition is started on, and right through its course, we continually come up against the phrase, used in connection with this or that side, that they are a “typical “Cup team. I do not quite know what the phrase means, but in any case it does not matter very much, for I am firmly convinced that there is no such thing as a typical Cup team, so far as success goes. If you doubt, it look as the successful teams of comparatively recent times. Take the last five winners –West Bromwich Albion, Newcastle United, Everton, Manchester City and Sheffield Wednesday. Can it be said that they played the same type of football –that there were definite points of similarity in their methods? Just to give one example from the fore going. West Bromwich Albion have different ideas from the other winners concerning the positional play of their wing half-backs for defensive purposes.
Defence Not Everything.
Again, there is a deep-rooted idea that, first and foremost, defence wins the Cup. I have been taking notes in recent times, of the teams the critics have picked out as the most likely to be successful in this season’s knock-out affair. There critics, generally speaking have picked on those teams whose League record shows them to be strong in defence. Personally, however, I think it is a failure to say that strength in defence is the most desirable asset for Cup-winning purpose. In Cup football, as in other football, it is the teams that score the goals which win. Safely-first tactics are no more likely to see a team through to success in the Cup than in the League. I do not mean that a team has a good chance of winning the Cup with a strong attack and a weak defence. I am not putting that forward as a reasonable argument. What you do want for Cup winning purposes is a team strong in every department –without a weak point.
Falling Back For Safety.
There will probably be many occasions in the course of the next few weeks, when it will be said that teams have gone out of the Cup because they adopted the wrong policy after taking the lead. They fell back on defence after going ahead-and lost. That has been written of so many Cup-tie failures that many people have come to the conclusion that teams deliberately fall back on defence when they have taken the lead. So far as my experience goes they do not. What does happen is that they are forced back on defence, wily nily. The members of the team which has lost a goal in a big Cup-tie roll up their sleeves and go for the equaliser for all they are worth. They put forth an extra effort, and force the opposition back on defence. It would almost seem that a goodly proportion of the teams playing Cup football need a goal against to bring them to a full realisation of the possibility of defeat –and the need for a super-human effort. It is good to be a goal ahead, of course, because that means the other fellows must score two for victory. But surely even the season’s experience up to now has done much to kill the idea that the first goal in a Cup-tie is all-important. There are many teams in the fourth round this week-end who would not have been there if the first goal in a Cup-tie was as important as many people believe. Dartford were two up at Derby; Workington were two up at Bradford, Bristol Rovers scored first against Arsenal, and Margate had a goal lead at half-time against Blackpool. But all those teams that took the lead and others which could be named, lost in due course.
EVERTON RES OFF THE MARK.
January 25, 1936. Evening Express, Football Edition.
Forwards Finish Off The Mark.
Before the start of the game both sides lined up in the centre of the field, and with the spectators standing bareheaded observed two minutes silence. Huddersfield were seldom in the picture in the first minutes of the game, and the home side came close to a goal when Dickinson delivered a shot which seemed certain to find the net. Hesford flung himself across the goal, however, and diverted the ball for an unproductive corner. Dickinson was again the shooter when Archer sent across a well-judged centre, and then Leyfield centred just behind. Huddersfield’s first advance ended through Crawford failing into an offside trap. When Williams slipped up he did well to recover at the cost of a corner. This was safely cleared, and Archer made a fine solo run, finishing with a shot which swung just across the goal. Although Everton to this point had been clearly the better side. Huddersfield were first to score, Crawford neatly taking a pass and giving White no chance from close range. The Huddersfield goal had a stroke of luck, when a full back cleared after Thompson had first hit the upright. Generally, however, Everton’ finishing work was poor. Repeatedly the forwards progressed through good combination, but when near goal they either delayed shooting or their efforts were off the mark. Malan was the craftsman of the Huddersfield front line, and he frequently beat Kavaugh and pushed the ball forward to Crawford to make several good attempts at scoring. When the ball came in from the opposite wing, Crawford was only inches over with a good header. At the other end Leyfield centred, but Hayes headed clear, and then Hullett went through only to shoot straight at Ashford. Half-time Everton Res 0, Huddersfield 1.
STUD MARKS
January 25, 1936. Liverpool Football Echo.
By Louis T. Kelly.
• Do you remember Wilf Chadwick’s cannon-ball shots at goal? He was one of the strongest shot in the League. If only Everton had a Chadwick in the forward line today.
• Everton have not enjoyed an interval lead in any home match since November 2.
• Wednesday was the first time this season that Cunliffe had occupied the inside-right berth.
• Tommy Johnson’s Cup run v Swansea was his first since Everton lost to the Spurs two years before.
EVERTON RESERVES 0 HUDDERSFIELD TOWN RESERVES 2
January 27, 1936. Liverpool Daily Post
Central League (Game 27)
This was one of Everton’s most disappointing displays of the season, chiefly because the finishing work of the forwards was of such a poor standard that the chance of a comfortable victory was not taken, and Huddersfield, after defending for lengthy periods, were able to add another goal to one that had been scored in the first half, and achieve a commendable victory. The Town merit praise, for although Everton, dictated the run of the ply, the open methods and better finish of the Yorkshire side made them an effective combination. However, the outstanding feature was the brilliant work of the diminutive Malam in the visitors front line, his scheming and fine ball distribution being mainly responsible for Huddersfield’s victory. Crawford scored the winners opening goal in the first half, and it was near the finish when Malam made the chance for Chivers to add the second goal. Everton: - white, goal; Williams and Morris, backs; Kavangh, Gee and Thomson, half-backs; Leyfield, Bentham, Hullett, Dickinson and Archer, forwards.
EVERTON’S VISIT TO HUDDERSFIELD.
January 28, 1936, Evening Express.
Blues Usually Do Well At Leeds Road.
By the Pilot.
Everton chances of escaping from the lowly position in the chart lie in the fact that they have three matches in hand of Aston Villa, who are t the foot of the table, and one in hand of Blackburn Rovers, who are two points head of the Blues. Two of those games are away from home, and the Blues have not been convincing in away games. Few harder tasks have to be faced than that tomorrow, against Huddersfield Town, who are third from top in the League. Everton have shown improvement of late, and have taken five out of the last eight points played for. During that period they have escaped defeat in the league. Yet, comparative from does not hold out a great deal of hope for success against Huddersfield, who have the opportunity of bringing off a “double,” having beaten the Blues 3-1 at Goodison Park.
Sagar To Resume.
Everton’s team has not been elected, but there is every hope that Sagar will return to goal for the first time since Boxing Day, when he was injured against Sheffield Wednesday., it is certain that Dean will continue as leader of the attack; in fact, I do not anticipate any forward change as compared with the side which drew with Bolton Wanderers last Wednesday. Britton, who of late has been suffering from a sore muscle, may be rested, so that the intermediary line may be reshuffled. Whatever the constitution of the side, it is essential that the wing half-backs, do not again make the mistake of crowding to the centre of the field and leaving the opposing wings unattended. The policy almost proved fatal against Bolton. Everton have generally fared well at Leeds-road in recent seasons, and the Town will be suffering from the shock of the Cup dismissal at Tottenham. This is a chance which Everton must accept. Every point is vital. Good defensive covering can crowd out the small forwards of the Town, among whom Lythgoe is the danger man. Everton (probable) Sagar; Cook, Jones; Britton (or Mercer), White, Mercer (Or Thomson); Geldard, Cunliffe, Dean, Stevenson, Gillick. Huddersfield Town (probable) Turner; Craig, Mountford; Willingham, Young, Wightman; Brown, Richardson, Lythgoe, Butt, Luke.
EVERTON’S AWAY TASK.
January 28, 1936. Liverpool Echo
Bee’s Notes.
Everton who visit Huddersfield tomorrow, let us hope there is a recall of the threequarter time display given by Everton against Bolton Wanderers. In that period the inside forwards slammed the ball in shooting as if their very lives depended upon the act. The venom of their shooting was in strange contrast to the fiddling methods that had been noticeable and waste in earlier matches, Everton cannot afford to await the falls of Blackburn (who look worst of all), Villa, Brentford, and so on, because they should seek their own salvation by their own effort and ability. The fixture left for Everton, read. Home:- Middlesbrough, Wolves, Blackburn, Manchester City, Grimsby, Brentford, West Brom, Birmingham, Preston. Away;- Huddersfield, Sheffield Wed, Aston Villa, Chelsea, Stoke, Sunderland, Arsenal, Brentford, Leeds City.
Impressive List.
It is an impressive list and while the home portions are severe the away list eases itself little tomorrow because teams beaten in the cup have a habit of flopping in the next few league games. Huddersfield, put out by Tottenham, on Saturday, will perchance be a means for Everton striking one of their come-back shows. The enthusiasm of the players for their task is undoubted there has been a lack of consistency in almost every rank of the side this season. The blend seemed to be “almost there” without the follow up of a display such as they gave at Grimsby. However, I go to Huddersfield tomorrow to see just one more relegation battle on this famous ground. May, the news be heartening because one point there and a subsequent win at home against Middlesbrough on Saturday would greatly ease Everton’s situation in the league chart.
EVERTON TEAM
January 29, 1936. Liverpool Daily Post.
By John Peel.
Sagar and Thomson Return
Locally especial interest is centred in Everton’s match at Huddersfield. This League game was to have been decided on Saturday, but was postponed until today owing to Huddersfield’s cup-tie at Tottenham. The Everton team shows three changes from the side which drew with Bolton Wanderers a week ago, one of them being a positional alteration. Sagar, after a long absence, following an injury returns in place of King, and in the half-back line Mercer crosses to the right for Britton and Thomson returns after long absence from first-team duty to left half. The return of Sagar and Thomson at their best should considerably strengthen the team, and a good display is expected. The players leave lime-street for Huddersfield at eleven o’clock. Huddersfield have selected twelve players, and the team will be finally settled this morning. The teams are: - Everton: - Sagar; Cook, Jones; Mercer, White, Thomson; Geldard, Cunliffe, Dean, Stevenson, Gillick. Huddersfield (from) Turner; Craig; Mountford, Willingham, Young, Wightman, Brown, Richardson, Lythgoe, Butt, Luke, Chester.
EVERTON HAVE NO LUCK WITH SHOOTING.
January 29, 1936, Evening Express.
Huddersfield In The Lead.
Chester’s Goal After 34 Minutes.
By The Pilot.
A Goal by Chester, at the end of 34 minutes gave Huddersfield the lead against Everton in the rearranged League game t Huddersfield. Everton were unfortunate to be a goal down, but they were out of luck when it came to shooting, Stevenson missing the target three times by inches only. Everton were forced to make a last minute change, Gee deputising for White, who is suffering from an ankle injury. Teams: - Everton: - Sagar, goal; Cook and Jones, backs; Mercer, Gee and Thomson, half-backs; Geldard, Cunliffe, Dean (captain), Stevenson and Gillick, forwards. Huddersfield Town: - Turner, goal; Craig and Mountford, backs; Willingham, Young (captain), and Brown, half-backs; Luke, Richardson, Lythgoe, Butt and Chester, forwards. Referee Mr. E. V. Gough (stoke). Town threatened danger immediately, with Gee slipping. An Everton attack developed on the left, and when the ball swung to the other side Stevenson got in a low header which dropped in the goalmouth. Dean was there to do business, but the offside whistle sounded. There was some good work by Cook and Jones, before Stevenson adopted the far flung pass to Gillick, who was beaten by Craig. Town did rather more of the attacking and in a close up free kick brought worry to the Blues until Sagar took charge. Then neat forward movement, initiated by Stevenson, saw things run well for Gillick, but that player ran offside. Sagar saved low shots from Richardson and Lythgoe, then Craig nipped in to stop the dashing Cunliffe after Dean had nodded across.
Stevenson In Form.
Stevenson was playing delightfully and now cut out the work for Cunliffe to go through and reach the side netting. Dean was leading his forwards, well and was on the spot with a speculative hook over the top after precise dribbling and passing between Geldard and Cunliffe. Next, Cunliffe got too far under the ball when taking over from Geldard. Geldard kept at it and his next centre was punched against Dean’s head by Turner and so over the top. Next Dean gave a perfect “though” pass to Gillick. The Scot cut in and raced ahead unattended but his left foot shot passed beyond the far post. This should have been a goal. A low shot from Richardson was parried by Sagar, quickly returned by Richardson, and booted aside by Jones. Thomson and Sagar then collaborated to clear a dangerous situation. Dean forged ahead from Cunliffe’s pass and his shot was turned aside by the intrepid Young in the nick of time. Stevenson drove inches over the top from the edge of the penalty area and was soon at it again following grand work by Cunliffe. Turner held the swift drive well and in Everton’s following raid, Dean turned the ball a foot outside when beset by three opponents. Lythgoe turned a low centre from Luke, the ball hitting the side netting as Lythgoe turned a somersault. It was an attractive game, with hardly a pin to chosen between the teams. Town took the lead in 34 minutes, Chester was the scorer. Stevenson’s pass struck a defender, bounded back to Lythgoe, who hooked a neat pass to Chester. Chester swept past Mercer, drew Sagar out of goal, dribbled just past him, and as the ball was running over the dead-line, side tapped it into the net. Dean was spoken to for a foul on Lythgoe. Lythgoe had to go off and some feeling crept into the play. Dean did some useful work at outside left to provide Stevenson with a chance to place another fine shot only inches too high. Dean deserved a goal for a mighty header off Gillick’s corner. As luck would have it, Turner was right in line. Lythgoe came back after five minutes and went outside right. Mercer had to pass back to Sagar to hold off Chester. Half-time Huddersfield 1, Everton 0.
SMART CHESTER GOAL.
January 29, 1936. Liverpool Echo.
Puts Everton In Danger
Stevenson Shines. Resolute Raids & Shots At Huddersfield.
By Bee.
Everton worked off one of their postponed matches today, when they visited Huddersfield. It was an appalling day and rain fell increasingly. The ground was churned up, and the attendance was the smallest I have ever seen here. The Kop side running the full length of the field, was empty ten minutes from the start. Huddersfield made changes after their Cup-tie defeat at Tottenham, Luke becoming outside right, and Chester, the former Villa man outside left. W. Brown taking the place of Wightman. Everton had to make a last minute change, White finding his injury from the Bolton game stopping him playing today. Gee was his successor. Sagar and Jack Thomson returned to the side after many weeks of absence. : - Everton: - Sagar, goal; Cook and Jones, backs; Mercer, Gee and Thomson, half-backs; Geldard, Cunliffe, Dean (captain), Stevenson and Gillick, forwards. Huddersfield Town: - Turner, goal; Craig and Mountford, backs; Willingham, Young (captain), and Brown, half-backs; Luke, Richardson, Lythgoe, Butt and Chester, forwards. Referee Mr. E. V. Gough (stoke). Both teams arrived on the field with out a murmur except for an ardent Everton “fan” who welcomed the side with acclamation all by himself. The attendance was estimated at 2,000 when Dean and Young tossed for choice of ground. Young apparently proceeded to tell Dean of the handling case by which Huddersfield went out of the Cup. Dean kick-off, and after Sagar had his first handling case Thomson and Gee caused an Everton attack which ended with Dean being counted offside when Geldard had hooked the ball towards goal. Cook got in the way of a pass intended for Lythgoe. Mercer’s first pass was to Stevenson putting a sweeping pass to Gillick, who was smothered. Richardson made the first shot of note. It was a curling, spinning, low ball, and Sagar showed he had not lost his old-time form when he got down to the ball, holding it securely. Jones scrambled, fell, and handled the ball without “getting away with it.” The defence did not get the ball, clear for some moments. Stevenson followed up with resoluteness, and got the over finessing Huddersfield half-backs into a knot. A fine let-go move by Dean gave Stevenson a chance, and his pass to Gillick found the latter shooting over and offside into the bargain. Stevenson was not afraid to move from his chosen spot, and his transit to the outside right area ended when he pass to Geldard became a dead ball through the winger slicing a dead ball through the winger slicing his centre. Sagar saved from Lythgoe’s first shot, which was not of special merit except in its direction.
Rugger Goals.
Stevenson was outstanding so far, and it was his unexpected pass to the right when facing the left that led Cunliffe to a tip-top shot just outside the right goalpost. Geldard and Cunliffe interchanged places in nice manner and Dean concluded this effort with a boot high over the bar to the roof of the stand behind the posts. Lythgoe got a harsh offside decision when clean through, and Cunliffe made a rugger gaol out of another Everton raid. Turner punched against Dean’s head when the captain went up to head a Geldard centre. Luke burst through and Sagar went out and down, and the centre from the wing was cleared. Right away went Everton, in their white jerseys, Dean making the ball travel right for Gillick who closed in a little and then shot across the goal, and in it this should have been a goal. Everton tried offside tactics and Luke caught them out in this stage. Richardson shot in to what had been an empty goal, but Jones saved his goalkeeper by kicking off the line, an escape. Cunliffe returned this package by making a through pass for Gee, who looked set for goal, but was covered out, Jones also volleyed the ball perfectly, Stevenson’s grand shot soaring just over the crossbar. Stevenson made another grand drive Turner catching the ball, and Mercer passing accurately and well. Chester escaped a foul, and went on to make play on the right during a period when Everton were on top of their rivals.
Chester Score.
Thomson prevented a goal to Luke by sheer daring and determination, Lythgoe had hard luck when he put the ball round the post from a pass by Luke. Chester scored in 34 minutes. He got the ball from Lythgoe. The winger went forward and appeared to dribbled too far beyond Sagar, but the home man was able to toe-end the ball into the empty net from a acute angle –a cleverly finished goal. Lythgoe went off hurt, and Stevenson made the best shot of the day, hitting the cross-bar, once more. Gillick now showed his host, and the corner he made led to Dean heading and making Turner make a catch of merit. Lythgoe returned to the field and went to the outside position, Huddersfield missed the sitter near the interval. Lythgoe started the second half at centre. He had a shoulder injury. Stevenson was once again the mainspring of the attack. A long punt by Jones was too strong for Gillick to catch, Everton now had the help of the wind. The game was full of thrills considering the slippery state of the pitch.
HUDDERSFILED TOWN 2 EVERTON 1 (Game 1543 over-all)-(Div 1 1503)
January 30, 1936. Liverpool Daily Post
Everton Out Of Luck
Points Slip Away Late On.
Changed Side Plays Well
By “Bee.”
There was a ring of confidence about the Everton side which visited Huddersfield for a League game yesterday. Sagar was back in his goal, and that meant much to the rest of the side battling bravely against relegation problems, but at the end of the day the result was one more away defeat by the odd goal of three. Excuses would be silly, in such circumstances, because excuses will not help to mend Everton’s position, but at least in the game it can be said Everton played extremely well, played the superior football, got level after an uncommonly made goal, to Chester, the left winger, and at the equaliser made by one of Gillick’s now renowned headers from a free kick –Everton had Huddersfield penned and they were kicking the ball anywhere for safely. If looked a draw or a win for Everton when late on a break through attack by Huddersfield ended with Lythgoe swerving to the right. By all the ordinary canons of the game he should have net his chance by this move, but though he became angled he was never smoothed out of a view of the goal, and this quick-footed little centre forward slammed home a winning goal.
Earned A Draw.
Everton were down-hearted at the result because they had earned a draw and had a victory in sight. It seems that whatever the players do some streak of fortune will arise to make them bow the head t the finish of the game. Here no one could question, the superiority of the losers, and no excuses for defeat would be made if one had not seen the persistent shooting of Stevenson, who three times had the goalkeeper beaten when the ball scared just over the bar. Turner being helpless to save. The shooting was confused to Stevenson, but though this was a fault. Huddersfield attackers had more graveness faults, because they had very few shots and Sagar was not really busy. Cook never kicked more confidently as ruggedly and Jones gave a grand display of fine judged full length deliveries of the ball. Thomson brought back to wing half-back hard a hard first half, but was useful in defence, and in the second half was in grand force.
Gee’s “Forward “Game.
White was unable to play so Gee took his place, and played his natural forward game forsaking third back priceless. Gee did well when he concept rated upon his task and forgot his proceed like that are not suited to football, sacrificing free kicks at a very vital stage of play, which turned the course of the game from end to end. Cunliffe joined him in this late on, and at times the game became harsh and unwise, and the referee was not strong in acting at the first sign of the displeasure. Mercer the other half-back, was in his best place, at right half-back, and his first half showed him in a new light –as a sound passer of the ball. In the forward line Stevenson stood out boldly with fine initiation and final shots of sting. Dean had to play against an England pivot in Young, and never ceased his endeavour, but the right wing pair did much labour without getting full marks for effect, and each in turn missed simple chances. It is not too much to say that Cunliffe should have scored two late on and made the game an away victory. The position of the club lies heavily upon the players, and they often try to do too much, Gillick showed up in better vein than for some matches, and yet he, too was faulted with a simple chance. Huddersfield Town do not look the big side they used to be; the absence of Malam is still felt. Richardson was their outstanding forward, a clever schemer and controller, but the manner of accidents through a very heavy and “bad” ball ended when the ball was put through a window and was not risked any more. Chester, Lythgoe and Jones were damaged and other suffered a “K.O” when trying to head the leaden ball.
Excellent Play.
It was excellent football first half, with honours even and a goal to Chester, who rounded the goalkeeper with a dribble, fell, and was able to edge the ball through an acute angle. The other goals I have described, but no description can adequately tell those other than the 3,000 spectators present how near Huddersfield were to defeat and how well Everton played while not sacrificing their football desire for the sake of neat and good football. Continuation of the football will not bring them further defeats. - Everton: - Sagar, goal; Cook and Jones, backs; Mercer, Gee and Thomson, half-backs; Geldard, Cunliffe, Dean (captain), Stevenson and Gillick, forwards. Huddersfield Town: - Turner, goal; Craig and Mountford, backs; Willingham, Young (captain), and Brown, half-backs; Luke, Richardson, Lythgoe, Butt and Chester, forwards. Referee Mr. E. V. Gough (stoke).
NO LUCK FOR EVERTON
JANUARY 30, 1936. Liverpool Daily Post.
By John Peel.
It is usual when a team is fighting against adversity that fortune fails to take a helping hand. Everton certainly deserved a better fate than defeat at Huddersfield yesterday, for they played well enough to earn a point, and indeed there seemed a chance a one time of victory, but fate decided otherwise and Everton are still in a desperate position. Derby County improved their position by n unexpected victory at Middlesbough where the home team were unfortunate in having two players injured.
EVERTON MAKE ONE TEAM CHANCE.
January 30, 1936. Evening Express.
White Return To Centre Half.
Blues’ Missed Chances At Leeds-Road.
By The Pilot.
Tom White, Everton’s international half-back, will return to the side on Saturday, when Everton engage in a vital football League match against Middlesbough t Goodison Park. While travelled to Huddersfield yesterday where Everton were unluckily beaten 2-1, but an hour before the kick-off he had to cry off owing to an injured ankle. Gee deputised, but White will be fit for Saturday. This constitutes the only team change. Thomson continuing at left half-back and Mercer on the opposite flank. If Everton play as well against the Borough as they did at Huddersfield they will win and so ease a position which has become disturbing. Yet victory can be secured only if the goal-scoring opportunities which arise are accepted. The reason why the Blues went down in a hard, often vigorous game at Leeds-road was because chances were lost. Cunliffe, Gillick, and Geldard missed opportunities, while Stevenson, easily the best forward on the field, had bad luck with some grand shooting. His shots often had Turner beaten yet either swerved inches over or outside. It was not that Everton did not reveal the willingness to shoot. They did, but ill-luck cost than dearly.
Midfield Equality.
The sides were evenly matched in midfield, yet Everton enjoyed more of the attacking Huddersfield, throughout the entire game, had not Everton’s dangerous look, and Sagar had only three shots to stop. On this form Everton certainly will escape relegation. They developed quickly and cleverly, had abundant ideas, and easy cohesive art. But they must learn to take their chances. With ordinary shooting and more coolness in the Huddersfield goalmouth Everton win would have been convincing. Stevenson set a splendid example. He crashed in drive after drive. Others must do the same. Dean was always looking for the half-chance, too, but the others lacked precision in the final thrust. Gillick was clean through in the first half, yet got the ball on his “wrong foot” and it sailed outside. Geldard dribbled through and placed wide. Cunliffe had an open goal and blazed outside the net, and shortly afterwards lost another opportunity. I liked the approach work of the Blues and Stevenson was the inspiring force. His dribbling and passing was delightful. Gillick took time to settle down but then played well and he scored a beautiful goal from Mercer’s choice free kick to level an early goal by Chester. Dean generally out-headed Young and led the line with through and ability, and Cunliffe and Geldard contributed some neat touches in approach. Gee gave a vigorous, but effective display t centre-half and Thomson after a shaky opening, used the ball well and was strong in defence. Mercer seemed happier on the right and was the best of the intermediates. Cook and Jones were magnificent, backs who never put a foot wrong, while Sagar got through a comfortable afternoon well. Lythgoe scored the winning goal ten minutes from time after Everton had dominated the proceedings in the second half. It was an unlucky day for the Blues, but their football provides ample ground for optimism. The team against Middlesbrough will be:- Sagar; Cook, Jones; Mercer, White, Thomson; Geldard, Cunliffe, Dean, Stevenson, Gillick.
• League Match At Goodison Park, Saturday Feb 1st Everton v. Middlesbrough. Kick-off 3.p.m. Admission 1/- Boys 4d, Stands extra including tax, Booked seats Sharp’s Whitechapel.
THIS TEAM WILL NOT LANGUISH AT THE FOOT.
January 30, 1936. Liverpool Echo
Saturday’s Proof In Game v. Middlesbrough
Everton Really Unlucky At Huddersfield.
Bee’s Notes.
Everton will play the following team at Goodison Park v. Middlesbrough on Saturday; Sagar; Cook, Jones; Mercer, White, Thomson; Geldard, Cunliffe, Dean, Stevenson, and Gillick. That may sound a little strange in view of the result from Huddersfield, but I am confident the side picked to play here will not languish at the second rung of the ladder (face downwards) if they show any more of the form they put up at Huddersfield. It was really good football and excuses in defeat would never help the club’s cause unless they were justified to the hilt. Here they were a draw, to put the case mildly. And a win was in their grasp till a breakthrough in the closing minutes. They had played virile football, had been better together than for some weeks, and had carried a point if not two. I am confident a continuation of such form in the game v. Middlesbrough will be the starting point of a revival in the Everton camp. Including shareholders of Everton and a few faithful followers, the gate at Huddersfield brought about 3,000 people (£182). The first half was worth the money, after which period a good referee (on law points) began to pass off certain tactics that should never be associated with the name of Everton and Huddersfield, and one butting case was wholly unwarranted. It was a bad ball and was taken off duty when it was plunged through a window by a harassed Huddersfield defender. Huddersfield were more than harassed they could not harness the wind or Everton’s quick raids and good football moves. There was a confident tone in the Everton side, due in a large measure to the return of Sagar, but this luckless fellow had not a great deal to do. It was Everton who did most shooting, most of the attacking, and produced the best collected scheming for making a goal. Then having equalled Chester’s goal by one of Gillick’s best directed headers, all seemed plan sailing; a win was more than a possibility to the visiting side. Huddersfield had been put out of gear Everton were in top gear. The simple chances missed near goal caused Everton to lose the chance of a well earned victory, and they must pay for such misses –that is not unfortunate, but bad play in its easy stage –but to crown it all Lythgoe took a fine goal after making “one more dribble towards the right.” By all the know cannons of the game (including “letting the ball do the work.”) Lythgoe had lost his chance was angled and should be covered out. Instead the little fellow with the quick steps and faster shot drove in an angled shot taking all points from Everton.
Defensive Strength.
It was a blow to the excellent side that had stood for Everton, and one more sample of how a team in the dumps can get nothing right. Gee deputised for White and adopted the attacking role suited to his play, but at root the strength of the two backs. Cook and Jones made a victory to the visitors possible in addition to the endeavour of Thomson and the untiring effort of Mercer, who is a right flanker, not a left. Mercer had been tainted with bad use of the ball when he was on the left wing, now he piled his partners with accurate passes, till late on his enthusiasm caused him to lapse in this very important direction. Only Richardson and Luke of the home side could make headway, bout Lythgoe had an old injury to his shoulder re-damaged Everton had the foot of their rivals and if the Everton right flank missed chances to score, they were boundless in their endeavour to make ground losing only through effect being cast away where unnecessary endeavour prevailed. Dean was up against the great pivot. Young, who carried Huddersfield’s day, and Stevenson was without superior as an artist and shooter the wee man’s had luck in shooting was the feature of this hard math. The return to form warrants me predicting a home win against Middlesbrough, and if this is accomplished there will be more to follow. Everton have played so well for weeks (cup-tie not included) that their settled team and confident done must bear good fruit in the next month.
EVERTON’S VITAL MATCH WITH THE BORO’
January 31, 1936. Evening Express.
Great Bid Needed To Escape Bottom Positions
First Victory In 1936 Tomorrow?
By the Pilot.
Everton are still searching for their first victory in 1936 –a victory which, coming at the moment, would do much to ease the position of the club. The Blues have played four games this year, including a Cup-tie, and have drawn two of them. Further, Everton have won only two of the last 12 League matches –against Grimsby Town and Sheffield Wednesday! The club is21st in the League table being above Aston Villa only by virtue of superior goal average. Every subsequent engagement assumes the importance of a cup-tie. Tomorrow, at Goodison Park, Everton oppose one of the cleverest football combinations in the country –Middlesbrough –and if Everton are to escape the bottom position in the table they must win. The failure to secure home points will assuredly lead to another spell in the Second Division. The Blues cannot afford to lose odd points in the present circumstances. On the point of constructive football there is little wrong with Everton. As Mr. Brook Hirst, chairman of Huddersfield, said to me on Wednesday, Everton are far too good a football team to be struggling against relegation.
“Punch” Lacking.
Yes, the football is there all right, but there is not sufficient punch in attack and too many reasonable chances are being wasted. In recent seasons Everton have not fared well against Middlesbrough, in fact, the last three matches played between the clubs at Goodison Park have ended in draws. Yet I have a fancy that Everton will win tomorrow. Since the return of Dean and Stevenson to the forward line there has been better cohesion and more scoring chances are occurring. Middlesbrough, who were beaten at home 3-0 by Derby County on Wednesday, are not fee from worry. They have six of their leading players on the injured list, and it is certain that experiments will have to be made. The Borough have obtained 24 points from 26 matches, and in away games have won twice and drawn once. They began the season in brilliant style, but lately have fallen away. On the other hand, Everton have been improving steadily, and their defeat at Huddersfield was the first in League since December 21, when they lost at Birmingham. Everton are making only one change from Wednesday’s team. White returns to centre half following injury in place of Gee. Mercer continues at right half and Thomson at left half. Everton; Sagar; Cook, Jones; Mercer, White, Thomson; Geldard, Cunliffe, Dean, Stevenson, Gillick.
• Advertisement in Evening Express. League Match at Goodison Park Tomorrow (Saturday) Everton v. Middlesbrough, Kick-off 3 p.m Admission 1/- Boys 4d, extra including tax. Booked seats, Sharp’s Whitechapel.
EVERTON’S BRIGHT RAY AGAINST MIDDLESBROUGH.
January 31, 1936. Liverpool Echo
Bee’s Notes
At Goodison Park the turn of the tide is signalled by the way the side has been fighting against Bolton and Huddersfield. Middlesbrough gave Everton a hiding at the first meeting, when Camsell and Birkett were outstanding members. Even the rocklike Baxter was not equalled by the two forwards named in commanding this game Middlesbrough opened the season in a matter almost foreign to their style, there was neatness about their play not usually associated with their ranks. Birkett had fashioned and framed the through straight pass to make goals, and the Borough were sweeping everything before them. Since which the club has slumped a good ideal. Everton cannot afford any more home draws; they have to win all along the line to be safe and not depend upon Blackburn’s last three away games or Brentford and other clubs near at hand. Tomorrow should be a fitting start to the revivalist campaign. The form shown against Bolton and Huddersfield will be good enough to in tomorrow, and what is more, it will make an attractive day’s pleasure for spectators to Goodison Park, because there is flightiness and free method on the right flank, and at centre Dean has recaptured his heading successive. On the left, Stevenson can be reproducing his shot, and hi measured step in dribble, make a great step towards success, while Gillick can revive the games he showed at his earliest efforts here. But to win, Everton must realise the necessity of the practical footwork near goal, and recall the joy of those devil-may-care shots delivered against Bolton Wanderers a week or so ago. White is chosen to play, this being the only change from midweek, so that the home side has an old-time bearing with Sagar, Cook, White, and Thomson in the last lines of defence. The forward line will get the goals, and the confidence born of Sagar’s reappearance will or should keep the defence figures right. Team; Sagar; Cook, Jones; Mercer, White, Thomson; Geldard, Cunliffe, Dean, Stevenson, Gillick.
January 1936