DUNDEE HIBS SIGN TWO PLAYERS
Dundee Evening Telegraph -Thursday 3 June 1909
Hannan and Docherty-
Two very well known players in J. Hannah and J. Docherty have been secured by Dundee Hibs by Mr. P. Reilly, secretary. The former, who plays at full back, has seen service with Celtic and Everton, while laterly he has been assisting 'St Johnstone. Perth footballers will be sorry to hear that this clever player will not seen on the Recreation Ground next season-he is concerned one of the finest backs in the North. Docherty, who played for Forfar Athletic at forward, either inside rightor left is above the average.

LEIGH CRICKETER’S BENEFIT   
Leigh Chronicle and Weekly District Advertiser - Friday 04 June 1909
Richard Williams Career
No member of the Leigh Cricket Club is popular among players and spectators than Richard Williams, who takes his benefit tomorrow, when Leigh meet Earlestown on the Beech Walk Ground.  This is Williams’ 14th season with Leigh, and his first season as an amateur.  He still constitutes one of the greatest assets in the team, for he possesses all the attributes that to make up the ideal cricketer.  He is a splendid all round man, for not only is he a fine batsman, but a fair change bowler; whilst in point of fielding he is second to none, and is regarded to be one of the best catches in club cricket.  How often have batsman been tempted to strike out at Turner’s lobs, only to be caught on the deep square leg boundary by Williams?  When the ball is seen going towards him the batsmen make up their minds that their presence will soon be required in the pavilion.  Williams is indeed an ideal catch.  He judges the ball to a nicely; allows his hands like a vice.  Standing half-an-inch over six feet he possesses great advantages over short batsmen, for he has a very long reach and can send good length balls to the boundary.  He seems to hit with no apparent effort.  The secret of his big hits is that he times the ball splendidly and uses his weight judiciously.  When he gets set he scores wonderfully fast, and the bowlers have to pitch the ball short and bump them to prevent them being knocked all over the field.  The on-drive is his favourite stroke, but he can also cut well.  He first became associated with Leigh cricket club in 1896.  He headed the battin averages in 1896, 1897, 1898, 1902, 1903, 1905; was third in 1899 and second in 1900, 1901, 1906, 1907, and 1908.  He headed the bowling averages in 1897, 1898, 1901, 1902, and 1903; was second in 1896, 1900, 1908, 1907, and 1908; third in 1899 and fourth in 1904.  Altogether, whilst playing with Leigh from 1896 to the end of last season he has scored 5,747 runs and taken 437 wickets, giving him a batting average of 24.6 and a bowling average of 12.6 runs per wicket.  He has on three occasions attained the century for Leigh.  He got 100 in 1897, 149 against St. Helens in 1902, at St Helens, and 114 in 1905 against Worsley at Leigh, this being the record individual first team score on Leigh ground.  He also scored 119 when playing for Stanley (Liverpool) against Birkenhead Victoria; and he had the pleasure in company with Mayall, of scoring 132 for the first wicket against Wigan in 1905; this is the highest record first wicket stand for the first team.  In 1897 he had the satisfaction of gaining the “Sunday Chronicle” guinea prize for taking six wickets for 12 runs against Tyldesley, at Tyldesley.  Formerly he bowled fast-medium, but in the last few seasons he has slowed down a lot, and now bowls from slow to medium pace, with a slight break from the off.  By birth he is a Cheshire man, for he was born at Bromborough Pool in 1863.  In his early years he developed strong proclivities for cricket and football and soon earned the reputation of being one of the best cricketers and footballers in the district.  After a season with the Mersey C.C., he became a professional for Stanley and remained with the club three years.  His cricketing abilities have for the last 13 years been at the service of Leigh.  He has also had a fine career as an Association football player.  He first learned the game with Bromborough Pool, and at the outset played full-back, but soon discovered that his best place was in goal.  During the year he was identified with Bromborough Pool he obtained three Wirral and district league medals, and his fame eventually reached Everton, and he was induced to throw in his lot with that famous organization.  Whilst with Everton he secured two Liverpool and district medals, a Lancashire Cup Final medal, and three other medals, and he had the honour of keeping goal for Everton against the Wolverhampton Wanderers at Fallowfield in the final for the English Cup, when the “Wolves” unexpectedly won by a goal to nil.  Williams, after leaving Everton joined Luton, and played with them three seasons, helping them to win the Kettering Cup and the United League championship medals.  Later he played for Glossop and it was not a little due to his good goalkeeping that the club won its way into the first division of the English League.  Altogether he has about fifteen football medals.  Of late years Williams has not played football.  He has now been settled here for some years, and it is hoped he will be able to assist Leigh for many years to come.  His many friends hope that he will have a bumping benefit tomorrow. 

EVERTON’S PREPARATIONS.
Athletic News - Monday 07 June 1909
Having got their annual meeting over the Everton directors foregathered on Wednesday last and completed their arrangements for next season.  The position of chairman was allocated to Mr. D. Kirkwood, while Dr. Whitford was appointed vice-chairman.  Jack Sharp was again chosen as captain of the first team, with harry Makepeace as his lieutenant, and the respective positions in the reserve team were given to W. Stevenson and H. Mountford.  The directors showed their appreciation of the services rendered to the club by the secretary, Mr. W.C. Cuff, by augmenting his salary to the extent of 50 per annual, and there can be no doubt that this proceeding was fully justified.  Visitors to the Everton enclosure next season will find the Goodison ground vastly improved and the extensive alterations now in progress are well advanced.  The emendations are the result of the practical experience gained from other League grounds, and Everton will be able to show some substantial results for their outlay of over 12,000.  They have experienced no difficulty in signing on all their players for next season, and the club will start the new campaign under the most favourable auspices.