NUGGETS
Cricket and Football Field - Saturday 04 July 1908

• Makepeace has apparently emerged from his period of ill-luck.  His scores of 25 and 41 not out at Aigburth were very pleasing to his local admirers, who, by the way, wished the innings had been prolonged until he had notched 50.  Harry last season by the way, was similarly unfortunate, scoring 99 not out against Warwickshire when the Lancashire innings was closed.
• Lewis caught Makepeace bowled Sharp has quite an Everton football flavor about it.
• When Sharp was batting at Aigburth the way he quilted the ball to the boundary was reminiscent of Frank Sugg.  The latter can still wield the willow to some effect in local cricket and during last week in six innings he totaled over 400 runs.

FOOTBALL BRIEFLETS
Cricket and Football Field - Saturday 04 July 1908

• Everton are seeking permission to get up a testimonial to H.P. Hardman.
• The appointment of Jack Sharp as Everton’s captain for 1908-9 is a most popular one.  This does not look as though sharp intended retiring from the game; indeed, what is to prevent him going on and qualifying for a second benefit at football, seeing he joined Everton in 1898? He would be a remarkable and unparalled feat if Sharp was to have both a football and a cricket benefit match in the same year.  He will be the next Lancashire cricketer to quality for a benefit.

HAROLD HARDMAN
Cricket and Football Field - Saturday 11 July 1908
One was rather surprised to learn that the F.A authorities had refused to sanction the testimonial fund movement which the Everton club and supporters were desirous of building up on behalf of Harold Hardman, one of the most popular, genuine and plucky amateurs who ever kicked a ball, and a man who has fought valiantly both for club and country.  The grounds for refusal are that Hardman is not yet giving up football entirely, and that he will probably be seen out next season with a Manchester Club occasionally.  These grounds for refusal do not strike one as being altogether reasonable or fair.  Hardman has won golden opinions, if not golden coins, by the caliber of his play; and surely in this the eye of his Everton career, he has fairly earned the right to some tangible mark of appreciation for services rendered to the Everton Club, irrespective of whether he kicks another ball, either for Everton or any other club.  But one’s chief desire in seeing the testimonial floated without unnecessary delays is that the British public have such short memories and there is no time like the present if the Hardman testimonial finds is to assume those dimensions we should like to see it take and which it deserves to take. 

A SNUB FOR HAROLD HARDMAN
Cricket and Football Field - Saturday 11 July 1908
There is always a suspicious side to testimonials for amateur athletics.  Some of us fail to see the difference between presenting a player with a testimonial-which may be anything from a house down to a piece of silver plate – and paying a man so much a week in hard cash.  Tales are plentiful about amateurs (so-called) receiving more remuneration in the shape of liberal expenses than the professionals’ maximum wage.  I heard one of these stories at Old Trafford the other day, when in my ignorance I ventured on the remark that I could not understand how so-and-so could afford to play cricket as an amateur, as everybody knew he was about as poor as a church mouse.  I was told that the bills of some of these amateurs are appalling, and they would open the eyes of the public if the details were printed in the balance-sheets.  And is it not true that pure amateur in any kind of sport nowadays is about as rare as the Dodo?  Why, I was told of a famous player who is quite a god in the eyes of the football enthusiasts who has been known to play in as many as three matches in the provinces within a week, and he was allowed full expenses from the Metropolis to each of the three towns.  This may be amateurism, but it is hardly honest.  Harold Hardman has always enjoyed the reputation of a bona-fida amateur and a keen lover of the game, and when the Everton F.C., showed their appreciation of his splendid services by prompting a testimonial the scheme immediately met with universal approval.  Hardman has always bene a favourite at Goodison Park, and if it had been pushed forward the testimonial must have been a big success.  But in their wisdom the F.A, have refused their sanction, and we may be sure there will be keen dissatisfaction.  Why the refusal, is a knotty question.  It is said to be because Hardman is likely to assist a certain Manchester club instead of Everton in the future.  Some of us may think this unjust – it is certainly a snub both for Everton and their late player, and one would like to learn the exact grounds on which the refusal is based.  Other players who have received testimonials, if I am not mistaken, have continued to play as amateurs.  I feel sorry for Hardman, who has been an invaluable servant for the Everton F.C., and I am sure there will be a genuine feeling of sympathy for one of the best fellows who ever chased the leather. 

EVERTON F.C. MEMBERS’ RIGHTS
Cricket and Football Field - Saturday 11 July 1908
Sub Division of the Stand
A question affecting the rights of members of the Everton club was raised on Monday in the Lancashire Chancery Court, sitting in Liverpool.  An application was made by the Club to alter a clause in the memorandum enabling the directors to vary the specific rights of members as to season tickets and to subdivide the grand-stand.  Mr. R.B. Lawrence (instructed by Messrs., North, Kirk, and Co) explained that the substitution of the clause was sought to get over a difficulty in the memorandum as originally constituted as a club without registration.  They passed a resolution that the Football Club should be formed into a Limited liability company, and that the members should have certained specified rights of season tickets.  That had become very inconvenient, because they wanted to divide the stand, and generally to give themselves a free hand as to the rights that members should have – His Honour; the effect of this alteration may be to deprive some of the members of the privileges they have enjoyed?  Mr. Lawrence; We have safeguarded that in this way –that any member who likes can insists upon his original rights, -His Honours; Won’t your alteration interfere with the original rights?  Mr. Lawrence; To this extent, that while the memorandum is unaltered, the alteration in the stand could not be made even with the consent of the members,-His Honour; When you have altered the stands, won’t the members insist upon their rights?  Mr. Lawrence; The alteration of the stand is only by way of sub-division.  I suppose those who insist upon their rights can go all over the stand.  The way we propose to do it is simply to cancel that paragraph, and put in a new paragraph.  There is absolutely no opposition.  Everything is unanimous.  We have not had any single dissentient voice.  One of the clauses is that you may cancel anything that enables you to abandon one of the objects.  We want to abandon these specific objects-His Honour granted the petition. 

GOODISON GLEANINGS
Cricket and Football Field - Saturday 18 July 1908
By Richard Samuel.
At Everton’s home, cold comfort was forth-coming as one read “Mr. W.C. Cuff –out” at the foot of the office steps.  I wondered if he had also been clean bowled, and if so, how many runs he had made before he was out? But an urgent inquiry elicted the information that said intelligence had reference to the fact that Everton’s secretary –the turmoil of altered articles of association, etc., over-had hide himself off to some secret secluded spot in Wales, so secluded, indeed, that even his best friends would experience much difficulty in discovering him –in fact, it was a case of a Toffee turned Taffy.  Mr. Cuff, being away, matters discursive were nipped in the bud.  However, a short ramble around the enclosure soon showed one that there was life and vitality about the place, although in the shape of alteration Goodison Park stands where it did a year ago.  The painters, however, are busy at work.  Mr. Cuff returns home on August 1st, and from that date onwards active preparation will be the order. 
Everton’s Loss.
I don’t suppose there will be many constitutional changes in the next Everton team compared with the closing week’s elevens of last season.  And yet one cannot but regret that the familiar forms and faces of Settle, Abbott, Booth and Hardman will not again be found fighting an Everton cause, unless it is that Hardman’s invaluable services can occasionally be enlisted, as I hope they will be.  Apart from a playing standard, those teams always attract most which possess a pronounced personnel; Everton I admit will lose on the score of personality.  They will lose something of the “inimitable” in football by the absence of artists such as Settle, Hardman, and Abbott.  These three had a good deal that was exclusive, and particularly their own, when on the field of play, and hence they repeatedly focused the separate attention of the onlooker apart from the game itself and apart from what the general trend of things happened to be, or however the score sheet may have stood.  Settle, the bantam, with his feints and dribbles and cool shots into the goal space; Hardman the hustler, who never allowed the grass to grow beneath his feet; and Abbott, whose’ “headwork” in a dual sense was so good, and whose thunderbolt shots for goals were always so keenly relished –truly, the boots of this trio will take an immensity of filling.
The Cases of Woods and Jones.
Other prospective Everton changes are those on the score of captains.  The well-tried John Taylor, a most remarkable player and an able leader, has been relieved of the reins of office, but this does not mean that he will be any the less an Everton fighting force in the days to come.  Naturally he can scarcely be expected to toe the line in every engagement –although so recently as last season he participated in 30 strenuous matches.  I would have readers remember –and it is fitting that his successor should be John Sharp.  Twelve months or so ago Sharp was not sure as to whether he would retire from the game.  Now it is pleasing to find that not only is he continuing but he is also to act as captain.  That he may lead Everton along to many triumphs is the writer’s wish.  Taylor and W. Balmer are Everton’s two long service men, and the last-named will hand over the sub-captaincy to the quiet, unassuming yet humorously inclined Harry Makepeace.  It is rather coincidental that the 1908-9 captain and his mate should be the two Lancashire cricketers. 
The Placings For 1908-9
In the way of constitution I suppose Adamson will take Abbott’s place again, and that Macconnachie will figure at left-back with either of the Balmers on his right.  Taylor will take a deal of ousting from centre half, either by Borthwick, Harris, or any other man, and Sharp, Coleman, and Young are certainties for the front line.  The doubtful wing will be the left, where Settle and Hardman’s places will probably prove hard to fill.  Harris is so resourceful that he may be given an early trial in one of the berths, and Donnachie would make a rattling outside man were he to always throw his “Good-Friday-v.-Liverpool determination”  into his work.  I am sorry to hear that Len Woods has not yet quite recovered from the severe mauling he received at St. Helens last season.  In that match his knee was badly damaged, and knee injuries are usually a footballer’s betenoir.  Fit and well Woods was a promising man at outside left.  Another player who sadly disappointed us last season was the Prescott youth Tom Jones, at centre forward, but the fact is Jones was really not fit to play in any of the five or six League-team trials, his ankle being in a very weak state, a mishap which still slightly troubles him –indeed both Jones and Woods are shortly to undergo an examination by a specialist, to determine how far they are fitted to resume active training at the close of the current season.

NUGGETS
Cricket and Football Field - Saturday 18 July 1908

• People are already wondering about the constitution of next season’s Everton team.  Taking everything into consideration, the following players will no doubt open the season; Scott; R. Balmer, and Macconnachie; Makepeace, Taylor, and Adamson; Sharp, Coleman, Freeman, Young, and Val Harris.
• After Makepeace’s fine work v. Essex and Somerset he must be adjudged unlucky in not keeping his place for recent games in the Lancashire team.
• Jack Taylor has still five or six years’ good football in him, but not at centre half.  Everton have not too many full backs on their list, and many Evertonians think that if the old Dumbarton man was allowed to play himself in as a back along with Macconnachie, the Everton club would be gainers.
• Jack Taylor was most unluckily run out in the Kent match after batting well and being apparently nicely set.
• Nothing has up to the present been heard of the great players Everton were going to sign on.  The treatment of good players in the past is said to be the reason of their fighting shy of Goodison.
• Harris played so well in Jack Sharp’s place that Everton people think he will fit the outside left position as capably as the little amateur has done hitherto.  There are also Lacey, Dawson, Crews, and Donnachie to pick from.

NUGGETS
Cricket and Football Field - Saturday 25 July 1908

• Val Harris is surely certain of a place in the Everton team in the coming campaign.
• Why was Wattie White not amongst the footballers at Eagley? He was a success at Derby Lever for stonewalling.

JACK SHARP
Cricket and Football Field - Saturday 25 July 1908
Tyldesley returned to Lancashire service just in time to witness Jack Sharp reach his thousand runs first for his county.  This is usually the distinction held by Tyldesley himself, but he was thoroughly sportsmanlike enough to cordially congratulate the footballer upon his success.  Sharp’s honour has been well won, for he has batted with rare consistency, ability, and spirit, throughout the season.  Last year Sharp scored in all 1,257 runs in 50 innings, but he is practically certain to leave this aggregate well in arrears for 1908.  By the way, it is worth noting that both he and A.H. Hornby, the “runs stealers” of the Lancashire team, were each run out in the Sussex match.