Everton Independent Research Data
FORTY YEARS BEHIND THE SCENES IN FOOTBALL
Sunday Post- Saturday, June 1, 1924
DAN DOYLE
By William Maley
Dan Doyle! That great, big, wonderful fellow! Dan of the raven, curly locks, tremendous stature, possessor of the most resolute kick I have ever seen displayed by a full back; Dan, the super-enthusiast, the man whose voice could be heard ringing all over the field, the man who was rugged in character and speech, but fearless and honest, with a heart of gold, and alas, Dan, the great Celtic captain of years gone by, whose end came so tragically not so long ago. Let me tell you my story of this great personality, the fellow with whom I myself played, and of whom I never lost sight after he discarded his jersey, even to the last day of his much deplored illness. In the second year of the Celtic Club’s existence we heard a lot of talk about Doyle, the strapping young fellow, who, in keeping with the easy methods of transference appertaining to those days, played for East Stirlingshire, Broxburn, the Hibernians, and several other clubs. Dan was approached by one of our officials, but he preferred to go to England, and indeed fixed up with Grimsby Town, where, beside Lundie, the old Hibs captain, he delighted the fisher folk. But Dan’s career was nearly marred whilst he played on the Humberside. He was involved in an accident on the field. A player with whom he came in contact died. The incident occurred in a match against Staveley. Doyle was up against an outside right named Cropper, a tall, strapping speedy chap. The match had been started only three minutes when the first act of what was to end in a lamentable tragedy occurred. Play was in midfield. The ball came swinging across to the wing. Cropper dashed along with an effort to reach it first. Dan went to meet the ball just as Cropper came in.
DOYLE’S DISTRESS AT ACCIDENT
There was a clash, and Cropper went down. Play was stopped, but as showing that the occurrence was purely accidental, there was no free kick awarded. The injured player recovered sufficiently to be able to walk off the field, but he did not return and at the close of the match Dan hurried to the dressing-room. Doyle was much upset when he found the Englishman lying in great pain. “Dan” moaned Cropper, “I’m finished; I’m done for; I’m dying, but remember this, you are in no way to blame. Don’t forget what I say; keep your mind easy; it was an accident.” Dan felt a little relieved, especially when Cropper revived somewhat and was able to be moved, but next morning the bad news came. The Staveley forward had passed away. It was a sad Sunday for Dan Doyle. He remarked sadly to a friend;- “This ends my career; I could not play after this accident although it undoubtedly was.” His mind was made up to give up the game, return home, and resume work in the pits. But Doyle was counselled to do otherwise and return to the Grimsby team. There was a Court inquiry regarding the deplorable accident, but Doyle was completely exonerated, as the medical evidence proved that the player who had received the injury in the stomach had partaken of a heavy meal before the game, and that fact had accentuated the gravity of the injury. Dan was much sought after by various clubs. During one summer, whilst in Scotland, he made a definite promise to play for Celtic, but the extraordinary thing was that, unknown to us, he had also promised to play for Bolton Wanderers and Everton. Indeed, Dan had actually signed forms for both of these clubs. He was, you see, a very obliging sort of fellow. How difficult it is to please everybody. Dan found that our later in his chequered career. Well, Dan eventually decided to go to Everton, and partnered the old Rentonian, Andrew Hannah. They made a pair of almost invulnerable backs, their team winning the English League championship.
THE ”TROTTERS” CHAGRIN.
Of course, Bolton Wanderers were very sore about losing Doyle. At the time the late Mr. J.J. Bentley was secretary of the Bolton club, and that gentleman was rather severe on what he described as Doyle’s lack of good faith. Indeed, Mr. Bentley wrote strongly in the press about the matter. The sequel was that Doyle developed a bitterness of feeling towards Mr. Bentley, as he considered his critic had overstepped the line of fairness. Dear me, it was quite a feud. Listen to this- a story never before told outside our circles;-
After Doyle returned to Scotland and joined us at Parkhead we had occasion to visit Manchester, where we played a charity match. Following the game we dined at one of the hotels. One of our guests was Mr. Bentley. When the team trooped into the room I saw that Doyle was not pleased. He stepped across to me and said-
“Look here, Willie, I’m not sitting in the same room as Mr. Bentley.”
“Oh, come away, Dan, it’s all right. Forget difference of opinion,” I answered.
“Not a bit of it!” exclaimed Dan, his anger rising a little.
“Dan, my boy,” I appealed, “don’t worry. Just sit down and take your meal. It’s very awkward, you know.”
“Not me!” repeated Dan, and I could see that Doyle was very determined.
How awkward and embarrassing was the situation! Our conversation was near the door, and the party had not yet taken their seats, but soon they would.
“All right, Dan!” I said. “Have it your own way. Come this way, and you can take your dinner in a room alone.”
“Not me!” said Doyle.
“Well, then, Dan,” I said impatiently, “what can I do for you.”
“I ‘ll have my pal, Johnny Madden, wi’ me!”
Madden, the ex-Dumbarton, Dundee centre, was with us at that time, and so I called him across to us. I led them into the corridor, summoned the manager, informed him that for certain reasons I wished these two players to dine in a separate room, and that they were to have a special waiter who would attend to all their requirements. Dan was quite pleased that I had obliged him, and the two players were shown into a small room further along the corridor. I returned to the main room, and incidentally mentioned to our chairman (Mr. McLaughlin) what had happened. We took dinner, there were several speeches, and the evening began to wear on. For a time I had forgotten the absent ones, and, suddenly wondering how they were getting on, I thought it wise to take a walk along to their room. Now Dan was a real wag. Hence the comedy which was being enacted on my appearance. That silly old waiter had been chaffed, encouraged, and I regret to say, primed with the best of wine until he actually imagined that he was a light star comedian. There he was prancing up and down before Doyle and Madden as if he were George Lashwood himself.
THE BIBULOUS WAITER
With silk hat at the back of his head, swinging a cane, and coat thrown over his shoulder, he was doing the stage “patrol” and actually singing the latest songs. The players were sitting back in their seats applauding to such an extent that the waiter chap was now quite certain that he had missed his vocation. I thought it discreet to pilot the good fellow to the quarters on the ground floor, where some of his staff friends took charge of him after I had explained what had happened, and that my boys were to blame. Returning to our room again I noticed Doyle and Madden around in the corridor, so I again mentioned the feud business to our chairman. The outcome was that he set out to bring Mr. Bentley and Dan Doyle together. The result was most satisfactory, for from that evening the friendship was renewed, and right to the end of his days Doyle had no more staunch admirer than the one and only J.J.B. the feeling was duly reciprocated. J.J.B. never bore any ill-will. It was really Doyle’s dour nature which had caused him to misjudge Mr. Bentley, and I know that J.J.B respected Dan for his strong opinions. Doyle, who played at first as an amateur for Celtic, soon established himself as the greatest left back in Scottish football. He did not possess great speed, but his wonderful judgment in tackling resulted in his outwitting even the fastest of players. He captained the Celtic team with great acceptance. At all times his enthusiasm was wonderful. His voice could be heard ringing all over the field as he urged us onto greater efforts, and his methods of expressing himself was in keeping with his great strength. Dan often chaffed me about my liking for pastry. Well, one day at Cathkin we were playing a Charity tie against the Rangers, and in the course of the game I made a great dash after Johnnie Cowan, the Rangers’ outside left, with the result that I sprung a muscle in my thigh. I was taken to the side of the field for attention, and whilst lying there Doyle came over, looked at me sternly, and in his best voice said- “Ugh, that’s what that -pastry has done for you.” Doyle’s form in international game was always of the very highest, but to my mind his greatest game were in the Scottish finals with Queen’s Park in 1891-92 and 1892-93. In these contests he was magnificent in both and generalship. In the last named year and in the last twenty minutes, when all seemed lost, he went centre forward, and although he did not pulled off the forlorn hope, his great-heartedness and wonderful effort for a man of his limited speed was inspiring to all of us. Another great game of his was in a Glasgow final at Cathkin Park in November, 1894 where we beat Rangers by 2 to 0. We had a strong wind first half, and eld by 2 to 0, but on the form shown by the Rangers it looked as if our two goal lead would not be sufficient to carry home the silver plate. To add to our handicap McMahon had his knee injured, and I myself sprung a muscle of the thigh, making me almost dead lame. Facing the increased breeze in the second half it looked as if we were in for bad trouble, but here it was that Doyle’s greatness as a captain was displayed. He struck me in the centre of the pitch about twelve yards from goal, bringing back a forward to take up my real position, and I got in structions just to act as a sort of barrier to the Rangers’ rushes. I got some knocks that day, I can tell you. I was bowled over time and again, but acting as a sort of buffer at many times broke the wave, so to speak. Our three forwards were told when they got the ball to carry on as far as possible, and then to find touch, which always meant time. Behind our half-back line Doyle stood like a veritable giant, heading and kicking out every ball he could, and stemming the rushes of the Rangers. In goal stood the last line of defence in Dan McArthur, the best club goalkeeper who ever played, in my opinion. Time and again Doyle’s strategy stalled off the Rangers’ rushes just in time to gibe McArthur that valuable second to clutch and clear out great rivals’ desperate efforts. Our defence that day, to my mind was the greatest in our club’s history, and well worthy the Cup they so nobly won.
GENEROUS-HEARTED DAN.
With all his roughness, however, Doyle was one of the best of fellows, kind-hearted to a degree, and generous to a fault. He was an all-round sportsman, a magnificent billiard player, a splendid curler, and a delightful bowler, winning many prizes on the green. To his great loss, I am afraid, he was very fond of the trotting game, and in his heyday spent many happy days at various meetings. He played seven years for us before retiring with all the honours of the game, and when he left our rear division we felt that we had lost a magnificent mainstay. As I have indicated, Dan was very outspoken. He was once ordered off the field for kicking Johnson, of Third Lanark. He appeared before the Scottish Association and explained in very frank terms that Johnson had repeatedly fouled him, and, although he had directed the attention of the referee to his opponent’s methods, Johnson still persisted in his illegal tactics. Then, Dan declared, he addressed both the referee and the Third Lanark man, telling them that if he didn’t get protection he would end matters, which he eventually did by ignominiously laying Johnson out flat. Doyle’s open, candid, and apparently truthful statement gained for him much sympathy amongst his judges, although they punished him, as admittedly they were bound to do. But how refreshing was Doyle’s candour! Contract it to-day with some of the lame stories one hears! Dan used to encourage the young lads. If a boy showed promise the first thing Doyle did on coming off the field was to give him mead of praise. Doyle was an adept with cards. Many happy nights we spent during our journeys back to Glasgow, and whilst on various occasions Dan would clean us out, he would invariably make certain, in his own quiet way, that the winnings found their way back amongst the crowd.
TRAGIC DAYS
Poor Dan’s later days were not so bright as we could have wished. Business misfortune dogged his steps, and finally he was forced to sell out. He became a labourer, a job being obtained for him, strange to say, by one with whom he did not always agree, the late Mr. Tom Robertson, the referee. Finally Doyle was stricken with illness, and was taken by myself to the Royal Cancer Hospital, Hill Street, Glasgow, where the kindly sisters did their best to alleviate his suffering. Frequently I visited poor Dan, and it cheered him to talk of the days when we were on the field together, and to review some of the memorable fights. Near the close, when his body had wasted to a mere shadow, I was with him, and he pathetically pointed to his legs, smilingly recalling the fact that they had done a little for the Celtic history. And not many bours afterwards Dan Doyle had passed from our vision. Dan was one of my heroes. His memory will be with me till the end of my life.
JACK COCK
The Era - Wednesday 04 June 1924
"Here He Is Again" and He Played the wedding March" at the Pavillion, Gorleston. Jack Cock, the Everton Club's famous footballer, is doing wonderfully well with "Plain Jane of the Family," in the muscial show. "Unemployed." This great number is also a big success with "Glamour" company as sung by Miss Arnett. These great numbers bid fair to be at their Zeith in a few short weeks.
EVERTON FOOTBALL FINANCE
The Liverpool Echo- Thursday, June 5, 1924
Bee’s Notes
Everton F.C., voted one of the most interesting sides in the football land last season, have issued their balance-sheet, which shows the biggest balance to profit and loss account the club has ever recorded. As suggested in our columns on Saturday, there is a profit of over £6,000 and the gate receipts of nearly £42,000, show what an extremely loyal following the club has had, and it further demonstrates the desire of the public to see good, clean football, by an attractive side. The annual meeting is due on June 13, at 14, Cook-street. A dividend of 5 per cent., free of income tax, is recommended. The retiring directors, Messrs, A. Coffey, W.C. Cuff, and J. Sharp offer themselves for re-election, and there are no other nominations. Some striking figures are given below, notably nearly £9,000 in entertainment tax, an income of £4,000 from matches played away, compared to which there is a sum of £6,000 to visiting teams at Goodison Park. Players’ wages and transfer fees total to the altogether abnormally small figure of £11,603. It is necessary to remind readers that the item “share transfer fees 15s” does not refer to a football bargain, but to shares in the company. Here follows the full balance sheet;-
BALANCE SHEETS
June 6, 1924. The Liverpool Daily Post and Mercury.
A record profit of £6,518 is announced in the annual report of the Everton football club, to be submitted at the annual meeting on the 13 TH , when a dividend of 5 per cent free of income tax will be recommenced. The gate receipts mounted to £41,724, while away matches yielded $4,120, wages and transfer fees accounted for £11,603 and £6,042 went from the gate receipts to the visiting teams. Entertainment tax amounted to £8,961.
EVERTON’S WEALTH
Athletic News- Monday, June 9, 1924
The Everton Football Club have during the past year not only given great delight to the followers of football, but they have amassed a favourable balance of £6,518. Probably the bright entertainment is the cause of the handsome profit. The gross gate receipts have been £45,844 and the entire revenue £46,657. The wages, bonuses, and transfer fees for players have entailed an expenditure of £11,603, and the visitors have taken £6,042 as their share of gates, while Entertainment Tax has swallowed up £8,961. Travelling expenses amounted to £2,482, ground expenses to £2,576 and rent, rates, taxes, and such to £3,263. The fabulous dividend that this vast “commercial” concern distributes is £97 7s 6d, free of tax. The opponents of professional football will of course, note this amount, especially as there are unclaimed dividends of £107. The Everton club is worth £39,037-and their property does not consist mainly of grand-stands. Nor is there a penny piece reckoned for the value of a player. This great club is evidently well managed.
NEWS OF CHEDGZOY
The Liverpool Echo- Monday, June 9, 1924
Sam Chedgzoy writes from Montreal;- You will note that I have landed on this side of the world; in fact, I have been here exactly a month. I had a very enjoyable trip out here, and if everyone were like me, I’m afraid the fishes would have to starve. We had two days of snow on the way over, and as we sailed along the Province of Quebec the hills had quite a good covering. As you will now, this is the first time I have undertaken the duties of coach. However, I find it most interesting, and I have got a real nice crowd of boys to work with, who are only too willing to take whatever advice I may be able to give them. The team I am with (Grenadier Guards) have up to now played three league matches, winning them all by the following scores;- 2-1, 4-0, and 8-1. Last evening we played our second-round tie of the Connaught Cup, beating a team called Windsor 8-1. We received a bye in the first round. The Connaught Cup in the principal competition out here, and is played for by teams from the whole of Canada; in fact, teams from right out Vancouver way take part in it, and Vancouver is supposed to be about 3,000 miles from here. There are, I think four States, and the trams of each State play amongst themselves until only one team is left. Then the Province of Quebec (which is ours) winners meet a team from Toronto, and the winner of that match play a team from out West in the final. The winning team are entitled to be called champions of Canada. In our next round we meet what are considered to be the stiffest team in this province. Last Saturday was a red-letter day in Montreal, for a team selected from the Montreal teams met an American team from New York. I was appointed manager of the Montreal team, and also acted as linesman. Harold Brittain, ex-Chelsea, was with the Yankee team; also a Fryer (who used to be with Barnsley). Brittain is considered to be the highest-paid player in America. However, we beat the American team 5-1, which was quite a surprise for everybody, for the Americans were supposed to have a real good team. The Montreal team played very good football. Five of them were Grenadier Guards’ players. There are two Liverpool boys in the Guards’ team Cecile Brown, of Liverpool schoolboys fame (1914, I think), is our goalkeeper, and Willie Cochrane, who was on Everton’s books, is the left half. Our right half is one Dunlop who played with an Irish league team. A recent addition is a player named Ross, an inside left, of Alloa Athletic last season. Just between ourselves, I would like to bring off a double event with Grenadier Guards in the Connaught Club and the old club at home in the English Cup next season. I will let you know how we get along out here.
Kindest regards-Sincerely yours, Sam Chedgzoy.
LIVERPOOL COUNTY COMB
The Liverpool Echo- Thursday, June 12, 1924
The annual meeting of the above was held at 6, Lord-street, on June 4. The clubs were so satisfied with the management that all were re-elected en bloc with the exception of the president, Mr. W.R. Clayton, who had resigned earlier in the season. Mr. Thomas Edwards, of “Brookdale,” Bickerstaffe, was unanimously, elected to fill that position, and Mr. Cartwright, of the Liverpool F.C., was elected vice-president, along with Mr. Tom McIntosh, of the Everton F.C. The Combination is still open for one or two good clubs. The fixture meeting is to be held on Saturday next, June 14, at the beautiful residence of the president, and, if fine, another red letter day will be added to the records of the Combination.
NORTH END S NEW FORWARD.
Lancashire Evening Post - Friday 13 June 1924
A PRESTONIAN FROM EVERTON SIGNED.
North End have signed Harry J. Miller, a young inside forward, who has spent two seasons in Everton’s service. Miller, who is a Prestonian was secured by the Goodison Park Club from Leyland, but was unable to get a regular place in their first team owing to the brilliance Chadwick, who last season was the leading marksman in the First Division. Miller, who can fill either the inside left inside right positions, stands 5ft. 8ins. and weighs 11st. He had a free transfer from Everton.
ANNUAL MEETING.
June 14, 1924. The Liverpool Daily Post and Mercury.
The annual meeting of the Everton football club was held in the Law Association rooms, Cook-street last night, Mr. W.C.Cuff the chairman in moving the adoption of the accounts. Which have appeared in the ‘'Daily Post'' pointed out that, with one exception the accounts on the expenditure side were blow those of the corresponding period last year. The item referred to was under the heading''players wages, transfer fees etc, that item comprised not only transfer fees and players wages, but also benefits to players, during the past season they had expended £2,100 on benefits. The reduced the amount in question to £9,900. Which was £1,100 below the amount expended last year. He thought the shareholders were to be congratulated on the club having gone through another very successful season. They have wound up with a balance something over £6,500. They had the honour throughout the entire season, of giving the finest exposition of the game of football (hear hear). He hoped that credit would attach to them for many seasons. They hoped to maintain that hugh standed of play throughout the coming season, and also to attach themselves to one or other of the trophies by that standard of play, they had been exceedingly well served by their players, who had given an exposition of football for which they had received praise from all over the country.
With regard to the incoming season, they have made such a selection from the old staff of players as they hoped would carry than through to victory, and they had made one or two additions, while they were still on the look-out for players who would strenghem the teams. Gate receipts were down as compared that to the fact that they were dismissed at a somewhat early stage from the cup-ties and that trade in Liverpool has not been so good as to previous years. They were also down, but not withstanding the diminution of income they had turned a loss in 1923 of £730 into profit of £6,518 (applause). The chairman referred to the absence from the meeting of Mr. Jack Sharp one of their directors, who was engaged at Manchester in county cricket, and he extended to him the congratulations of the Everton football club on the achievement of such a fine victory against Yorkshire (applause) At the last annual meeting of the shareholders had given their approval to a project, which the board had in view of demolishing the shareholders stand on Bullen-road and putting up a more ornate and substantial one. The directors had given the matter serious consideration and had decided that owing to the price of materials etc, they would postpone the erection of the new stand, they then had a credit balance of £6,518 and he would take it, that in passing the accounts the directors still had their approval of the project should they see fit to go on what after the coming season, the report and accounts were adopted and a dividend of 5 per cent, was declared on the motion of Mr. W.J. Sawyer. The retiring directors, messes a Coffey, W.C Cuff, and j. sharp were unanimously re-elected.
The players signed on for the coming season are: -
Goalkeepers, Harland, Kendall, backs, Raitt, Livingstone, McDonald, Kerr, Glover (New Brighton), Caddick, half-backs, Brown, McBain, Hart, Peacock, Reid, Virr, McGrea, Rooney, forwards, Chedgzoy, Irvine, Cock, Chadwick, Troup, Parry, Wall, Williams, Forbes, Hargreaves (Oldham Athletic), Houghton (S), Barton, terms had been offered to Grenyer, who had not yet re-signed.
STUD MARKS
The Liverpool Echo- Saturday June 14, 1924
By Louis T. Kelly
NEW GOALKEEPER FOR PORT VALE
Staffordshire Sentinel - Wednesday 25 June 1924
FERN, OF EVERTON, SIGNED ON
Port Vale have to-day signed on Thomas Edward Fern, the former Everton goalkeeper, who has been with the Goodison Park club for ten years. He is 5ft 9in, in height and 12st 8lbs in weight.
TOM FERN TO PORT VALE
June 26, 1924. The Liverpool Daily Post and Mercury.
Fern the Everton goalkeeper yesterday signed for Port Vale, he had many tempting offers, but did not wish to leave his Liverpool residence, and port vale have recommoduced him in this respect. Fern came to Everton from Lincoln City in 1913, and played regularly for the blues up to New Year day. This year he gain a league in 1914-15 and in the same year, when Everton reached the semi-final of the football association cup-had the misfortune to break his finger in a league match just prior to the cup-tie in which he couldn't play. Fern is a secretary of the Fazackerley cricket club, and wishes to inform other clubs secretary that his new address is Aintree house Aintree village, Liverpool.
EVERTON GOALKEEPER FOR PORT VALE
The Liverpool Echo, Thursday, June 26, 1924
Bee’s Notes
FERN IN THE VALE
Port Vale have done a good stroke of business in signing on Tommy Fern, who since 1913 has done excellent service for Everton, and before that for Lincoln City. Fern is one of the best men in the game, both on and off the field, and there are years of good goalkeeping in him yet. He was the Blues when they won the League in 1914-15, and might have come in for a Cup medal the same season but for an unfortunate accident which broke a finger for him in a League match just before the semi-final. He played for Everton right up to the beginning of this year. Fern is a cricketer in summer, and is secretary of the Fazackerley Club. He will remain resident in Liverpool, in which respect the Vale have accommodated him, and in all probability will still train with Everton. Fern has moved,by the way, and his new address is Aintree House, Aintree Village. He is going to follow the useful occupation of poultry farming, for which his new place is admirably suited.
FERN LEAVES EVERTON FOR PORT VALE
Lancashire Evening Post- Thursday, June 26, 1924
Port Vale have obtained the transfer of Thomas Fern, goalkeeper, who went to Everton from Lincoln City 10 years ago.
EVERTON’S NEW LEADER
The Liverpool Echo, Monday, June 30, 1924
DAVID BAIN OF MANCHESTER UNITED, SIGNED
Everton to-day signed on David Bain, of Manchester United. Bain is a centre-forward, and is only 23 years of age. He stands 5ft 9in, in height and weights 11 stone. He is regarded as a player of fair promise, who will develop on right lines.
June 1924