On 28th September 1899, Goodison Park history was made as a team from the Orange Free State (which is now part of South Africa) became the first all-Black team to play at Everton’s former home. Although, rather than the first team, they played against the Blues’ reserve team.
(The Orange Free State Bantu team – photograph c/o Chris Bolsmann.)
The Orange Free State Bantu team (at the time reported as the Kaffirs, which is now an ethnic slur) embarked on a tour of Britain (plus one match in France) in 1899, and became the first team from Southern Africa to tour overseas. The team comprised of 16 black players, led by captain Joseph Twayi, and 4 white officials: M. D. “Toffy” Roberts (who, in an interview with Nottingham-based newspaper the Football News, claimed to have previously played for a club in Liverpool), Lionel Nathan, Percy Day and Arthur Moss. In another interview with the Football News, Joseph Twayi said the aim of the tour was to make football more popular in his homeland.
It is not a speculative tour. We think that it will do an immense amount of good to the Kaffirs, and assist in making the game more popular in our own land. Already we have learned a great deal from your English and Scotch players. I ought to say that the sport is being developed in South Africa, and in about five years’ time, we hope to bring a first-class team over to England which will be able to hold its own.
Prior to their meeting with Everton Reserves, they played against the likes of Newcastle United (their first game of the tour), Sunderland and Celtic. They had played 11 games prior to the Goodison clash and unfortunately lost all 11. However, according the Liverpool Daily Post, that did not seem to matter to the players or the team’s officials.
As a display of football, the skill was all on one side, the visitors making vrey little show other than defence—it was a case, in fact, of Tutor versus Pupil, and as a consequence, the latter had to do all the work and fagging. This, however, we understand, is what the aborigins of South Africa have come here for: they want to discover the art of British athleticism, as probably others on the continent from which they come will soon solve the secret of another kind of British proficiency.
Everton Reserves: George Kitchen, George Eccles, Jack Crelley, Bert Sharp, Hugh Gordon, MJ Murphy, Pritchard Marquis, William Roche, John Proudfoot, Walter Abbott, Ellis Gee
Orange Free State Bantu: Adolph Thomas, Sam Broffit, Augustus Daniels, Thomas Brown, Solomon Kennie, Africa Appollis, James Stephens, George Davids, Abel Botlhoko, David Lakey, S. Kortie
(NB: Due to a lack of verified information on the Bantu players, some of these players’ names may be misspelt or incorrect.)
Around 4,000 fans were at Goodison Park to watch the historic occasion. Everton’s second team quickly overwhelmed the Bantu team by taking a four-goal lead courtesy of MJ Murphy, Ellis Gee, Walter Abbott and William Roche. John Proudfoot then made it 5-0 and at that point, the Blues decided to take their foot of the pedal. As a result, Bantu got a goal back thanks to a player reportedly known as “Abel” (possibly Abel, or Abli, Botlhoko).
Half-time: Everton Reserves 5-1 Orange Free State Bantu
Following the resumption, Ellis Gee and John Proudfoot made it 7-1 but Bantu got another goal back through “Stephen” (possibly James Stephens). After Bantu’s second goal, goalkeeper George Kitchen and outside left John Proudfoot swapped positions, and Proudfoot was defeated by David Lakey to make the scoreline 7-3. Any hope of an incredible comeback was quashed as Everton Reserves extended their lead through Walter Abbott and goalkeeper-turned-outfielder George Kitchen. In-between the Abbott and Kitchen goals, Bantu had two chances to score from the penalty spot but missed both times.
Full-time: Everton Reserves 9-3 Orange Free State Bantu
Orange Free State Bantu eventually played a total of 49 matches in their tour which, in spite of losing nearly every game, included a couple of noteworthy results: a 6-6 draw against Derby County Reserves and a 3-1 win over French side SC Tourcoing.