Everton Independent Research Data

 

PARKER, IMPROVING.
Liverpool Echo - Wednesday 04 July 1917
There is exclusive news for readers today regarding Robert Parker, the Everton forward, has been wounded in action.  Latest news received by cable on Friday last says;-
"Condition splendid; wounds healing."  The process of moving Parker from Port Said to Alexandria did him a little harm, but he is now showing much improvement and he would welcome a letter from his friends, who must, however, not expect a reply as he is unable to write.  His address is;- 28555, 1/4 Royal Scots Fusihers, 52nd Div., 15th General Hospital, Alexandria, Egypt. 

STUB MARKS
July 7, 1917. The Liverpool Football Echo
Archie Goodall
Archie Goodall learnt much of his football within a stone throw of Everton's present palatial enclosure –for a long with the late Harry Bradshaw of Liverpool fame, he spent such times and around the Stanley F.C ground, situate on City-road, adjoining the railway bridge and old time rope-walk. Goodall however was a budding centre forward of fierce John's imitative ideas, in those far off days. A cool seventeen-year-old dribbler who held on to the ball tenaciously and hard to shake off the ball even at the tender age. He lent Everton occasional valuable assistance at Anfield-road. After a brief stay with the Villa, Archie Goodall joined Derby County about 1889 –as did his brother John, where the young man developed wonderfully in muscle, thew, and stamina during a career of 13 seasons' duration in the ranks of the “Peakites.” He was not the sweetest tempered among men, although one might imagine that a personal sense of physical superiority would tend towards making him such.
David Storrier
Nearer home it is worthy of note that way back in the mid-nineties Everton had one of nature's ultra-strong men frequently on view either at centre-half or full back –this was that rotund man of Arbroath, David Storrier by name. Storrier was a bit of a mascot in his way. He left Everton in 1898 to win international fame for Scotland a year later against England, Ireland and Wales. But it was as a left back that superseding strangely enough one fancies another ex-Everton stalwart of even greater fame –Dan Doyle –in the glorious ranks of the Celtic F.C. Celtic were indeed, rich in left backs that year, for in addition to Doyle, and Storrier, Welford the big back of Aston Villa was with them. Celtic as a matter of fact had a perfect “Anglo” fever in that 1898-99 season for their ranks included in all the following from this side of the Border –Doyle (ex-Everton), Welford (ex-Villa), James Orr (ex-Darwen), Storrier (ex-Everton), Williams Orr (ex-Preston), Hugh Goldie (ex-Everton), John Campbell (ex-Villa), John Bell (ex-Everton), and Fisher (ex-Villa).
About this period Everton signed on an old fashioned (for his 25 years) centre half in William Owen, the captain of Wolverhampton Wanderers. Owen was however, pushed out to the wing by Holt, but one recalls that as a “Wolf” he was a pivot of very strenuous and strong order. On the other hand, there have been some beautiful centre-half performers who have not had to thank. Nature for any very generous treatment in the matter of either height or weight. For example what has the game shown us to surpass the craftsmanship of John Holt, who first delighted thousands out Bootle way, and later joined Everton to subsequently gain international honours with Scotland for five successive seasons. Holt despite a bagatelle stature of 5ft 4 ½ in, proved himself the cleverest man of his day among pivots, a man of great persistence and tact. Quick in judgment and action and a rare feeder of his advance fires was he.

GEORGE BARLOW
Star Green 'un - Saturday 07 July 1917
George Barlow, the little Preston North End amateur outside left, is now getting into then veteran stage, for first joined the club as a Wigan Grammar School Old Boy in 1906, but he never played better football than last season, had three seasons with Everton, which he got three caps against Holland, Wales and Denmark, but returned to Deepdale in 1912. He is one of the best little sportsmen playing the game.

NOTES AND NOTIONS
July 14 1917. The Liverpool Football Echo
By “Vin”
A city friend tells me that several Liverpool players and Clennell, Thompson, Jefferis, and Mitchell, of Everton, have all got temporary exemptions. Readers will be very sorry to hear that Bob Thompson, Everton's highly-popular back, lost his mother recently. S. Challinor is passed for general service and is due to join up at Caterham next Monday –the “home” of footballers. Chedgzoy, Kirsopp, and Harrison (Scots Guards) have recently been North on draft leave.
• James Conlin's death at the front comes as a shock to thousands of football enthusiasts, Played for Bradford City and later Manchester City. He was capped on April 7 1906, at Hampden Park, against Scotland, Harry Makepeace, also gained his first cap of four in that match.

KIRSOPP A RUNNING CHMPION
July 26, 1917. The Liverpool Echo
Sam Kirsopp the Everton footballer, had a field day at the Scots Guard sports yesterday. We didn't think he was a runner, but the results given below show we have been entertaining a runner unawares. Kirsopp earned of both the sprint events and the long jump but these three successes did not gain him the championship cup, for three wins were also recorded by Corporal Robertson in the distance events. No fewer than 56 officers competed in the 100 yards race, which as run of in one heat. The best race was the relay, Kirsopp getting up in the last furlong to gain a narrow victory for Q Company, who easily annexed the company challenge shield.
100 yards –Pte Kirsopp1, Pte Blythe 2, Pte Harrison (Everton's outside left) 3.
Long Jump –Pte Kirsopp 17 th 5ins, Cpl McEwan 17 th 1 ½ in, 2; Pte Hughes 16ft 13ins, 3.
220 yards –Pte Kirsopp 1; Pte Harrison 2, Pte Blythe 3. Relay; (2) at 220, 400 and 880 yards –Q Co –Harrison, Blythe, Whitley, Kirsopp 1; P Co Cop Dukin, Pte Walsh, Price Rennie 2; S Co 3
Individual Championship; -Cpl Robertson and Pte Kirsopp dead-heat (21 points); Pte Pitt 3, Pte Blythe 4.

CALDWELL
Arbroath Herald and Advertiser for the Montrose Burghs - Friday 27 July 1917
Bobby Archibald, the crack-footballer who played for Aberdeen against Arbroath in their last game at Gayfield, sends an interesting account of an inter-regimental football match played behind the firing line.  He says the opposing goalkeeper was Caldwell, late of Tottenham, Everton and East Stirlingshire, and who previous to the war was working in an Arbroath engineering shop.  Caldwell and Archibald are both in the Gordons.  There was a large crowd of spectators, and music was played by the battalion Pipe Band, led by Drum-Major Renny, V.C. 

FROM “TIM COLEMAN
July 28, 1917. The Liverpool Echo
Bee's Notes
I have a cheery letter from the ever-cheery “Tim” Coleman, who is policing one part of France. It reads:-
I see J. Mercer is a prisoner, I was delighted when I saw it as they could get no trace of him. I heard that Joe took his platoon through one of the heaviest barrages that have been known, ad before they went over he told our lads he wanted a Prussian Guard under each arm! I am sure Joe will still do his bit for his country, if he is in anything like the form he was when we stayed together at Nottingham. The lads are having rather a quiet time lately to what they have been used. They played the Canadians and beat them by 6 goals to love. I suppose the Yanks will issue a challenge now they have landed. I should like to see the Association remove those suspensions on soldier footballers. Things are a bit quite now but I can hear the guns in the distance sending over the “iron rations” and the “bees” aero planes buzzing over out hotel, and I think we shall have some good news before very long.

July 1917