Everton Independent Research Data

 

LANES OF LIVERPOOL
Liverpool Echo - Friday 04 July 1930
A FASCINATING SERIES
NO.26 –MIDDLE LANE-WHEN NETHERFIELD ROAD RAN BENEATH TREES
By Michael O’Mahony
When Netherfield-road was a narrow stiled path under towering trees, and the lark sang above the crags and bracken of Beacon Hill, Middle-lane, which ambled its way from the foot of Rupert Hill to what was then called Hillside, was a place of consequence.  It might be described as an accommodation road which, if not born to greatness thrust upon it, in that it wound its way past the gateways of the fine mansions which, rising on the escarpment above it, once dominated the landscape, and the memory of which recalls that of those who were grandiloquently called “The Everton nobles.”
OLD STONE HOUSES
The splendid old stone houses rising one above the other, as on the sea front at Genova, were surrounded by ample gardens and approached from their gates by winding terraces picturesquely cut in the rocky foundation.  The Higginsons, Hopes, Parkes, and Roaches built their mansions here, Mr. George Roach’s handsome place being erected on land for which he paid the price, unprecedented at the time, of thirteen shillings per square yard.  About 1770 William Clarke, the famous Liverpool banker, built his house on the highest ridge above the lane.  It was his son, another William Clarke, who was the devoted friend of Roscoe, Young Clarke was a man of taste and education, and during travels in Italy collected valuable manuscripts relating to Medicis which, very probably, proved very useful to Roscoe in his celebrated works on Lorenzo and Leo. 
SOCIETY OF FRIENDS
During 1806 this home of the Clarkes became the property of Nicholas Waterhouse, an eminent member of the Society of Friends, who enlarged and decorated the place.  A passage which ran under the trees, between the mansion wall and kitchen gardens, was called Waterhouse-lane- and in this very house, in after years, lived Mr. Michael James Whitty, the versatile Wexford man who founded the “Liverpool Daily Post.”  Not only was this enclave of superb villadom regarded as a local health resort, which daily enjoyed the untainted air of ocean, but a situation from whose gates and terraces one daily looked out on as fine and varied a prospect as could be found on the western rim of England. 
FIELD AND MEADOW.
From the base of its craggy slope, and beyond the line of trees sheltering the path, which is now Netherfield-road, rolled down meadow an corn field towards the hedgerows which marked the way to Kirkdale Village.  Miles away to the west rose the blue wall of Welsh mountains, and out beyond the estuary spread the illimitable sea.  Dawn saw many a noble ship stately crossing the Bar and bearing grandly homeward and, with evening, came sunsets as magnificent as were ever depicted by Turner. 
THOMAS DE QUINCEY.
Literary distinction might be claimed by the lane, since, during his stay in Liverpool, that restless spirit, Thomas De Quincey, lived there.  He had some connection with the firm of Merritt and Wright, booksellers, Castle-street, who in 1769 published a book entitled “Liverpool Testimonial to the Genius of Roberts Burns, the Scottish Bard.” A lit of subscribers includes such well-known names as William Roscoe, John Gladstone, William Rathbone, William Shepherd, Willis Earle, Dr. Solomon and Dr. McCartney.  De Quincy, whose dwelling was a neat little yellow-limed one-story house approached by a green wicket gate and two stone steps, did not live long in Liverpool.  He didn’t live long anywhere, but it would be interesting today to have something more than merely a picture of the place in which he stayed, but we live in a city where sentimental interests in old landmarks has not been a permanent weakness of the authorities. 
NOW EVERTON-TERRACE
In 1817 Middle-lane altered its name to Everton-terrace, but the devastating change which swept away fine old mansions, shaded lawns and fragrant gardens to replace them by Abbey-street, Hibbert-street, Stonewall-street, and several others, did not come for several years afterwards.  The lane of terrace today, in its winding rise and fall from Rupert-lane to what is no longer Hillside, but St. George’s Hill, is for the most part a street of well-kept and comfortable dwelling-houses, to whose western windows is still vouchsafed the smoke-veiled glory of many a gorgeous sunset.
THE AMERCIAN CIVIL WAR.
To me, at least, Everton-terrace is always a reminder of the undeviating sympathy of Liverpool with the Southern cause during the Civil War in America, a sympathy which was shared at the time by many a sterling soul in two hemispheres.  It may be said, of course, that Liverpool’s interest was a selfish one; history will recall the escape of the notorious Alabama from the Mersey under the title of “No. 290,” but I find it difficult to forget an instance of civic generosity at the time which should moderate any readiness to making sweeping charges of selfishness.  The restricted supply of cotton threw thousands out of work, and naturally caused great distress in the factory towns in Lancashire.  Fine efforts were made to remedy, this, but no other centre gave a lead like Liverpool. 
£15,645 in One Hour
On August 1, 1862, the Major, Robert Hutchinson, called a meeting to consider means to help the fund, and in less than an hour £15,645was subscribed in the room! Intimate association of the Terrace with the war is recalled by the fact that in one of the pretty hillsides villas, previous to its destruction, lived Captain William Wilson.  Wilson, when in command of the Emile St. Pierre, endeavoured to run the blockade into Charleston, South Carolina, but was intercepted and captured by the Federal war steamer James Adger.  A prize crew were put on board to carry the vessel to Philadelphia, Captain Wilson, with his cook and steward, being alone retained. 
AN AMAZING EXPLOIT
By an amazing combination of stratagem and daring, as heroic as anything of the kind in fiction, the whole crew were made prisoners and put in irons by Wilson and his two assistants who, unaided, navigated the ships across the Athletic into the Mersey, where she arrived with colours flying on the morning of April 21, 1862.  Needless to add that Wilson and his mates, who were richly rewarded, received a memorable ovation.  Coming down by one of the flights of steps which descend into Netherfield-road, I found myself in front of a public-house not inappropriately called the “Emile St. Pierre,” Next week; Poole-lane.

SPECIAL FOR EVERTON?
Liverpool Echo - Saturday 05 July 1930
Plymouth Argyle F.C’s new stand will be completed for the opening match against Everton on August 30.

STUD MARKS
Liverpool Echo - Saturday 05 July 1930
By Louis T. Kelly

CHARLIE GEE SIGNED
July 8 th 1930. The Post and Mercury
Everton's capture.
Everton have made a striking capture in securing the transfer from Stockport County of Charlie Gee, who was one of the most promising centre-halves in the Northern section last season. Gee, is a born footballer and his promotion has been rapid. He started last season in the County “A” team in the Manchester League, but was quickly transferred to the central League team. By the end of October he had justified his inclusion in Stockport County's first team, and kept his position with marked consistency. He is a sturdy, wellbuilt player, 5ft 10 and half inches, in height, and 12st in weight. Although only twenty-one years of age he stood the strain of Northern Section football remarkably well and at the same time completed his apprenticeship as a joiner. While with the Stockport team Gee has excelled as an attacking centre-half, though he has also defended well. He learned his football at the North Reddish Council School, of which he was captain, and he secured a place in the Stockport schoolboys team. On leaving school he joined the Reddish Green Wesleyan F.C. and played in the local Sunday League, for whom he was selected as a representative in a number of inter-league matches. Gee, I am told can also play in either of the wing half-back positions, and Everton believe they have secured one of the most promising young players seen out for some time. He greatly impressed the critics last season and ordinary luck he should have a great future.

GEE, EVERTON
Liverpool Echo - Tuesday 08 July 1930
Blackstaff’s Notes
Charlie Gee, who attracted considerable notice at centre half with Stockport County last season, has been signed by Everton.  He can also play right or left half-back.  He started last season in the County A team in the Manchester League, but was quickly transferred to the Central League team.  By the end of October he had justified his inclusion in Stockport County’s first team, and kept his position with marked consistency.  He is a sturdy, well-built player, 5ft, 10 ½ ins, in height and 12st in weight.  Although only twenty-one years of age he stood the strain of Northern Section football remarkably well, and at the same time completed his apprenticeship as a joiner.  While with the Stockport team Gee has excelled as an attacking centre-half, though he has also defended well.  He learned his football at the North Reddish Council School, of which he was captain, and he secured a place in the Stockport schoolboys’ team.  On leaving school he joined the Reddish Green Wesleyan F.C., and played in the local Sunday School League, or whom he was selected as a representative in a number of inter-league matches. 

LANES OF LIVERPOOL
Liverpool Echo - Friday 11 July 1930
A FASCINATING SERIES
NO.27 –POOLE-LANE, WHICH BECAME SOUTH CASTLE-STREET; AND THE PRESS GANG
By Michael O’Mahony
For very many years the southern limit of Liverpool was the castle; no roof rose beyond it.  From its southern gate a sandy track curved down to the edge of the pool, beyond which the waters of the great highway flowed down past the towers and wind-mills of the little medieval town.  It seems pretty certain that from the end of this track, which came to be called Poole-lane, there was from time immemorial a wooden bridge to an opposite point across the stream, say from the end of the present South John-street to Liver-street, and thus the bridge knitting Liver-street to Poole-lane lent impressment to our historic name.  Even after the formation of that cradle of Liverpool commence, the Old Dock, which was not only Liverpool’s first dock but then the largest area of enclosed water of any port in the Kingdom, the neighbourhood remained rather a quiet and secluded one till on to the end of the seventeenth century.  About that time one or two alleys of cottage, like the still surviving Ogwen Weint were seen.  Mr. James Benn, who was Mayor in 1697, a built a house on the west side, which was surrounded by a large garden; the name still lives in Benn’s Gardens.  
BULL-BAITING
As neighbours came the Crosbies, Rigbys, and others, who built fine houses down the lane, and from the windows of which the best families commanded not infrequently a satisfactory view of the “sports” of bull-baiting.  By this time the storied old castle, battlement, tower, and bastion had been laid low and on its site had arisen St. George’s Church, the architect of which was the Dutchman, Thomas Steers, who  was the engineer of the Old Dock.  To give access to the dock the lane was widened in 1786 and with its open market, pillory and stocks became a place of brisk incident, but when –a colossal blunder-the old dock was filled in, in 1828, the thoroughfare as a business centre lost prestige, shops for the supply of shipping migrated elsewhere, the stocks, like the market stalls, were swept away, and for a time the district declined.  Not that Poole-lane was at any time a place of the dull ditch order.  If it had its quiet days it had its lurid ones, and as the local storm centre of the “press gang” period deserves a series of articles all to itself.
THE PRESS GANG
In those days sailors in the merchant service had to run the gauntlet from one end of the world to the other. A ship of war falling in with a merchantman in any part of the globe would take from her the best seamen, leaving her just hands enough to bring her home.  As she drew near the English shore cruisers would board her and take the remainder.  But the chief terror of the bluejacket was the press gang; many men returning home would take to the boats before crossing the bar, and make for the recesses of Cheshire, leaving the vessel to be brought home by riggers and carpenters sent on board by the owners.  As an other riverside streets, there was a “rendezvous” in Poole-lane, and from this periodically issued a rakish and villainous-looking gang as ready to cut throats as strike a flint.  Men scowled, women openly scoffed, children screamed as they passed, while from mouth to mouth ran the cry, “The Hawks are out; “to give some poor sailor time to hie back to his place of concealment.  Woe betide him of no warning reached him, he was torn from his family like a felon and thrust on board the tender.  When the floating prison was full off she sailed to an outport, where the captives were divided among the ships wanting men, most of them never to see home or kindred again. 
JACK THE NABBER
Whenever the sailors showed fight they could always rely on the mob to join them, and then the press gang generally got the worst of it.  Some-times a carpenter would be seized, and then, to the booming of the bells in the shipyards, scorers would muster to rescue their companion.  Some of the worst of the gangsters were more than once tarred and feathered.  In his “Recollections,” Rev. James Aspinall recalls a stroll down Poole-lane towards the old docks, in the middle of which lay a craft of ill-omen waiting for captured men.  Suddenly from a fierce shout behind him he realized that the game was up and the hounds in full cry, as “Jack the Nabber,” as piratical-looking scoundrel rom the “Rendezvous,” dashed past him, with a yelling, howling threatening crowd close behind him.  From the street to street rushed out groups to intercept him, porters and carters tried to close with him as he reached the dock edge, but without hesitation the terrified wretch took the water, dived , and like Rob Roy baffled his pursuers.  The mob were for boarding the bulk and taking him off, but it was decided that though he was a “hawk” he was game and would give them more sport another time. 
 A STREET OF LETTERS
Notwithstanding the memorable depression of Picton whenever he alluded to the architectural gloom and heaviness-of the new Custom House raised on the site of the Old Dock, no highway having a classical dome at one end and a Gothic spire at the other could quite divest itself of dignity, and from the thirties of last century, when the old name was changed for the new, we find South Castle-street yearly increasing in importance as a commercial centre.  Literary distinction and even the grace of scholarship has never been altogether absent from it as old lane or new street.  It may be said that when “John Fell, mariner, of Poole-lane, left 30 pounds for the provision of edifying books for the people’s reading” be founded the first free library in Liverpool.  Many fine editions of the Pheims Bible were printed there, and in Poole-Lane, Egerton Smith, of estimable memory, founded the “Liverpool Mercury.”  Indeed, from those days to ours has the tradition of letters been continuous in South Castle-street, for it the atmosphere of most of the shops- nautical instrument makers and the like –is of the seas salty, is it not true that two of our leading booksellers have been associated with if for generations? 
ST. GEORGE’S CHURCH
The history of St. George’s Church is an absorbing chapter in the story of the borough.  Many memorable services have been held there, usually none more so then on the morning when Rev. John Newton, the converted captain of a slave ship, stood up to preach to a congregation of slave-ship owners. As a fashionable place of worship it was for many years the church of churches, it was the church of the Corporation, every member of which had a pew there.  The flashing past of the carriages down Lord-Street after service was irreverently called the “Sunday races,” but its popularity suddenly came to an end, and all in one morning.  Most of my readers will remember the incumbency of the Rev James |Kelly, the last clergyman associated with St. George’s and to whose extra-ordinary outlook on life St. George’s may be said to owe its decline.  Holding aloof from his clerical brethren, he lived the life of a recluse in the precints of the building, was like that sincere evangelist and contemporary Edward Sumner, reversed for his kindness of heart by the cabmen of the district yet never more in his element than when plunged in litigation, ever his own advocate, and, to the annoyance of the judges, carrying even his domestic troubles into the law courts. 
UPS AND DOWNS
An Irishman-from the teeth outwards –his lack of patriotism was only equaled by intense intolerance.  When the Corporation elected as Mayor Mr. Mozley, a Hebrew gentleman of fine public spirit, Mr. Kelly preached with violence against the Jews, and this sermon settled the fate of the church.  On the following Sunday he awaited the coming of the civic procession, which he saw leave the Town Hall, for what had been for a century the Corporation church.  The picturesque cortege with its fine regalia advanced in stately order, but, with eyes left, sternly turned the corner and, moving down Lord-street, entered St. Peter’s.  From that morning the story of St. George’s Church is one of declension.  South Castle-street, like its neighbours has had its ups and downs.  It is today a fine street and an interesting one, but I like to think of it as the old lane to the bridge on which looked down the towers and battlements of the Castle before they disappeared for ever. 

TOMMY BROWELL.
Hull Daily Mail-Monday 14 July 1930
FORMER HULL CITY PLAYER TAKES MANAGER'S POST.
Tommy Browell, who went to Blackpool from Manchester City on September 1926, at a transfer fee of £1,000, is to be player-manager next season for Lytham, a Lancashire Combination club. The club was reorganised some months ago, and will serve rapidly-growing district. Browell was prominent on a number of occasions with Blackpool last season, notably in the F.A. Cup-ties. He played against his old club, Hull City, the Fourth Round. That game was only the second time he had figured in the Blackpool team since the beginning of the season. Browell began his senior football career with Hull City after figuring in the Shildon team in the North-Eastern League and the Newburn club in the Northern Alliance League. He was the youngest of three brothers playing with the Anlaby-road club, and earned the title of Boy Browell.
HIS EYERTON DEBUT.
He was still in his teens when he was transferred to Everton, making his first appearance against Manchester United and Bcoring two goals. He was wonderful goalscorer when with the Goodison Park team- He continued his good form with Manchester City, and in company with Horace Barnes made their forward line one of the most dangerous of their time.
TRANSFER OF THREE PLAYERS RECALLED.
He came to the Hull City club in eeason 1910-11. On October 22nd, 1910, he scored three goals against Stockport and repeated the performance fortnight later against Barnsley. He was transferred to Everton, the fee being £1,650. The following season Andy Browell and Joe Smith were also transferred to the Merseyside club for .£3,100 for the three players, figure which was claimed record for that period.

EVERTON –IF HUDDERSIELD
Liverpool Echo - Tuesday 15 July 1930
Blackstaff’s Notes
Here’s a nice question that came in just after I had received first news about Hudersfield having paid up.  “I have heard it said,” says, “Roskilde,” that Huddersfield F.C will be suspended automatically and that by this means Everton F.C will be retained as members of the First Division next season, being better able to afford another season of first-class football than Burnley F.C (who finished above them in the League table), thereby escaping relegation.  Is there anything in this, and if so, what are your views?” 
A midsummer night’s dream is as much as I can see in it.  Neither the League nor the F.A settles its puzzles with quite such facility as “Ropskilde’s” informant.  What Burnley give way to Everton! Gown wi’ tha!  

W.J EYTON
Liverpool Echo - Wednesday 16 July 1930
Mr. W.J Eyton, of 26, Clovelly-road Anfield, has lost two medals, one a heavy gold centre football medal, which he won at Llangollen Easter matches, 1882 whilst with Everton team, the other a massive eight-pointed bicycle one mile medal won in 1884 at Kensington Fields athletic grounds.

MILLINGTON JOINS CREWE
Liverpool Echo - Wednesday 16 July 1930
Blackstaff’s Notes
Crewe Alexandra yesterday signed on T. Millington, a professional, who last season played for Oswestry Town at outside right.  Aged twenty-four, Millington is 5ft 8 ½ in, in height, and weighs 11st 10lbs.  Before joining Oswestry, he was with Gillingham, and formerly with Everton for three seasons.  “We intend to make things hum in the Third Division next season,” a director of the club stated yesterday. 
DAVIES FEES
“Fairplay” writes; Among the many “kinks,” in human nature one of the oddest is that which makes us want to deny greatness in any one we know.  Let the prophet come from any other part of the globe and we join in the chorus of adulation, but- if he be from our own community, deny him! How true this is, may be taken by the Everton directorate’s attitude in placing such a ridiculous fee on the head of Davies, their goalkeeper, and eventually reducing it to 500 pounds, a fact which I noticed particularly that no paper not athletic notes has many any comments upon, or even stated for the benefit of others.  Everton asked for trouble by keeping erratic full backs, also juggling with the half-back line, and not signing hefty inside forwards in the early part of the season, as even with the 20,000 pound spent for the last match of the season, and playing the halves to assist as full backs, they failed absolutely. 

STUD MARKS
Liverpool Echo - Saturday 19 July 1930
By Louis T. Kelly

 

THE CALL OF THE BALL
Liverpool Echo - Monday 21 July 1930
Bee’s Notes
Ready, aye, ready-but not, perhaps, anxious-for the tray.  Let us rid ourselves of notifications that have come thick and fast.  They spread around the country.  Ontario, per “Evertonian,” sends a card wishing a rise.  Many are wondering whether Everton will rise at one leap, or will they be in the wilderness for a period, a fate suffered by Spurs and others.   It is in the lap of the gods whether the side that has never done well in Cup-ties against Third and Second Division sides will accommodate itself to new conditions.  Time alone will show us, and we must leave the topic at that unsettling stage.  I would that I could call back the years that have rolled by and bring to the ground the spirit of the old warriors.  This comes to my mind when I recall the fitness and freshness of John Southworth, one-time Everton player, whom I met on top of the Orme, still showing the present-day sportsman that to succeed there must be constant practice, alone if needs be.  Parading around this heavenly spot, over eighteen holes of the most varied golf, I tried hard to forget football.  Test matches, and the like.  But how can one escape it when a ‘phone message comes from three clubs, each asking me to sign or recommend a player?  And then a white-coated man made his trek to the Orme companionship and joined up with Messrs. Mitchell, Large, and Company.  It was Syd King, manager of the West Ham team, who had tried to escape any football talkies without success.  When he left I settled down to the peace and plenty of the remaining days only to find Mr. Brown, the York City F.C, chairman, at my side, together with a Middleborough fan whose lady was even more enthusiastic about football lore than her hubby!  A lady who had beaten Miss Wethered the week before was the cynosure of all eyes- also the envy.  So we went on and on, willing slaves to the call of the ball in a real workaday holiday hundreds of feet above the sea, with mountains air and this freedom from inertia that arises through a slothful holiday.  Incidentally, I think one can find object lessons from visitors to this golf course; I glory in the sight of a man who has lost a peg playing round with a vim and vigour that astonishes and surprises.  The balance is there spite of all the handicap, and we who theories about the golf “treads” cast away our rulebooks when we see a sportsman keeping the straight line and getting good distances, although he has but one leg upon which to balance himself and his stroke.  His father-in-law, aged eighty, was a regular player, as was also the masterly old man, Thomas McDonald, aged eight-three.  Golf keeps the old men young.  Their hobby prevents them rusting out.  And they do not potter about the course; their game is remarkably good and consistent.  Oddly enough the visitors from Wallasey included Kenny Campbell and Dr. Paul, also a posh player from London, who declared he had “come back in 35 and played ‘tripe’ all the way.”  He promptly got his challenge and his conge. 
Now, let us hark back a little to the letter-bag.  Walter Rooney, of Wrexham, has a fee reduced to 150 pounds.  I want “Duke” Hamilton to ‘phone me.  Jerry Kelly, of Everton has had his fee further reduced to 5000 pounds.  He was named in an unfortunate press telegram as being on the free list.  That was never the case.  Now he is at Hall-side, Glasgow, awaiting the call of a club.  David Pratt, of Yeovil, was one of the candidates for the job at Bradford City; he may sign Joe McGrae, ex-Everton. 

NEW ZEALAND
Liverpool Echo - Tuesday 22 July 1930
Bee’s Notes
New Zealand sends greetings per Mr. J. B. Robinson, who I remember as a gymnastic instructor in the north-end of our city.  Mr. Robinson’s boy played for Everton through my instigation.  However, read for yourselves-
Will you kindly convey my kind regards to “Bee,” and tell him I have now been in New Zealand seven years, during which time I have been very successful in not only obtaining secretary of a large N.Z, dairy company, but also been a borough councilor for the last six years, being chairman of Works Committee, also serving on committees for Reserves, General and Finance.  Since coming out here I have taken up the rink game of bowls interference to British crown green game, and have been successful in obtaining representative honours for our province and on two occasions won the Waimate Bowling Club championship.  I am also secretary for my club, I shall be very pleased to hear from him at any time. 

JACK COX, “OF EVERTON.”
Liverpool Echo - Wednesday 23 July 1930
Bee’s Notes
Days ago (years ago, in fact), when the earliest of the offside merchants, got busy-I refer not to Mr. Billy McCracken, but to Mr. Howard Spencer, of the Aston Villa club, there was some laughter” in court” at the thought that Master Howard, as he was then, talked in a newspaper of players who were not in his ken, he having been born too late in life!  The remembrance of this ghosting business comes back to me when I read Mr. Spencer reviewing the old days and talking of playing against Edgar Chadwick and Jack Cox, of Everton.  Of course, Cox never played for Everton and many people are not in the knowledge that Edgar Chadwick played for Liverpool as well as Everton.  I saw him and remember it very plainly.  He was inside forward and though he was then in the aged-class, he was still a wonderful ball-controller, a natural dribbler, and a bonny shot.  This weather would put the average holiday maker in a home for rest! Yet it has led some of the breezier sportsmen to realise that there is no time like the present.  Hence the appearance, long before the announced date, of Jim Smith, the Liverpool centre-forward, and Bobbie Done, of Runcorn.  It is plain that when a professional footballer turns up before the end of July, when his papers tell him to be present on August 1, that keenness is one of his good points.  It is suggested that we should put these two players into the racing category, thus “The Above Have Arrived!” Liverpool F.C who are asking for amateur players, have already begun to sell their season tickets.  Everton I believe go to Llandudno and doubtless will take their sticks with tem and test the Orme hills, dales and perfect greens.  Would that I could be there to show them round!
“Buzz” sends this from Germany;-
Two American dames were going to see the Passion Play.  I said; “Hannen Swaffer didn’t like it!”
“I don’t care,” said one of the women,” I’m not going to take HER opinion of it, anyway!” A German in the restaurant I went to tells me that Haden, the Austrian player signed by Arsenal, is a good, but Hoffmann is better.   “It is a pity about Everton,” he said, “they played such good football.”  Which shows that the Everton type of football brings fame, if it does not help to keep ‘em in Division 1.
The inveterate joker, Mr. Tom Crompton, of Liverpool F.C., has kicked off early with a football skit.  He says it is curious that both Liverpool and Everton should be playing “at home” the first day of the football season.  Everton go to Plymouth; whose ground is known as Holme!

A FORMER EVERTON FORWARD SIGNED
July 25, 1930. Lancashire Evening Post
Team building for next season, Great Harwood F.C., through their manager (Mr. J. Campbell) has signed George W. Jones an outside right. He has played with Everton, Wigan, Middlesbrough, Southport, and Yeovil and Potters. He stands 5ft 8in., and weights 1 sst 6lb.

STUD MARKS
Liverpool Echo - Saturday 26 July 1930
By Louis T. Kelly

EX-COUNCILLOR’S END
Liverpool Echo - Wednesday 30 July 1930
FATHER OF TWO WELL-KNOWN FOOTBALLERS
Mr. William Wadsworth, aged seventy-five, who resided at “Greenville,” Green-lane, Egremont, has suddenly collapsed and died.  He was an ex-member of the Bootle Town Council, and in later years was prominently associated with the Wallasey Liberal Association.  He was the father of two well-known footballers-Harold Wadsworth, formerly of Tranmere and Everton and now of Millwall, and Walter, who for thirteen years played for Liverpool and who is now one of the New Brighton team. 

THE DESIRE O EVERTON
Liverpool Echo - Thursday 31 July 1930
A SIGNING IN THE OFFERING
Bee’s Notes
The cricket pitches being watered, let us have a talk about football, which is racing on to us with a speed unequalled by the Preston Speedway men.  The main topic from the people I meet around the country is “Well, how will Everton fare in the Second Division?” How can one tell? Undoubtedly the difficulties of the Second Division are severe.  History tells us that a club rarely gets back in a single season- unlike Liverpool’s historical rise and subsequently championship victory.  There are differing ideas about the standard of play; players who have been through the mill of First, Second, and Third say that the Second Division is not nearly the kick and rush method that many suggest is the Second’s special forte.  It is pointed out that with about three or four of the First Division members put into Division 2, you would simply have a duplication of Division 1.  It is the fact that sixteen of the Second Division sides have seen service in the higher school, and that in the course of time the Second Division may be composed entirely of ex-First Divisions clubs.  Many are anxious to know what style of game Everton will play, because they feel that a method of play such as Everton failed with in Division 1, may be utterly useless in Division 2.  In short, that the skilled stylish idea will be ruthlessly cut into by the Second Division defences.  Yet against that we have the Manchester City rise to the First Division; also the Middlesbrough rise by similar methods- certainly not the dash and dot and hope-for-the-beat kind of football.  It will be interesting to know that Everton are on the point of making another signing, and not a Scottish one, but a fellow from down South, a young man who may not come through a business call- sensible fellow! I cannot say more at the moment, except that the deal is done, if the business-call falls through and that the young player is a forward of youth and ability coming from a club that has already provided Everton with an admitted star performer.  I have an interesting letter from my namesake, Ernie Edwards, the Swansea trainer, who is remembered here for his ‘Varsity work, as well as his breakage of legs.  He says;-
I went down to Plymouth, where it may interest you to know there are many improvements taking place.  Everton are due there for the opening match.  Do go; you will sure have a good time.  Being a native, I can speak with knowledge of their hospitality.  I note by our list we are due to visit you early in September.  I must come to see you if it’s convenient. 
Ben Williams the Everton full-back, who was lucklessly knocked-out in March, has been to see me.  He looks well.  I have been treating his foot, and from what I could locate he should be fit to play early on.  There is a thickening of one of the metatarsal bones, which usually occurs after a fracture or a split bone, which amounts to the same thing.  I have advised him to place it in the sea water as much as possible; there is nothing finer for fractures than sea water.  Having my leg broken twice, I can speak from experience!  All good wishes to Everton and yourself.  May you have the best season ever. 

July 1930