Author: Bradley Cates

Everton’s First Overseas Match

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On 30th April 1905, Everton played their first ever overseas match in Budapest. It was the first of seven matches of a tour of Austria-Hungary. In January the same year, the club agreed to do a European tour, visiting Budapest, Vienna and Prague. There was originally a plan for a European tour in 1903 but nothing went any further. The first match of the tour was against a combined XI of two Hungarian clubs – Budapesti Torna Club and Magyar Atletikai Club.

Football was relatively new in Hungary at the time and several English teams visited the nation before Everton. However, results suggested that the Hungarians were far, far behind the English. When Oxford University visited in 1902, they won all four of their games against Hungarian opposition with a combined score of 58-0. Southampton played two matches in Budapest the following year and won both with a combined score of 29-0.

Hungarian teams’ results against English opposition weren’t all that bad but as a country fairly new to the sport, the tours were a learning curve for them, and Everton were their first major test. They were the first Football League club Hungarians played against. The Hungarian press was expecting another heavy annihilation when the combined Budapesti TC and Magyar AC team face the Blues but was nevertheless anticipating a club of Everton’s ability playing in their country.

The match took place at what is now known as the Millenaris Sporttelep, which was Magyar AC’s home ground, in front of around 7,000 fans. The opposition included a few Hungarian internationals, such as Gaspar Borbas, Ferenc Blaszek and Arpad Kisfaludy. Details of the match weren’t reported by the English press apart from the scoreline, however after discovering a Hungarian newspaper archive and attempting to translate reports to the best of my ability with a little help from Google Translate, here is how events unfolded in a historic match for Everton.

Everton kicked off and already dominated the match in the opening minutes before Tommy McDermott broke the deadlock after 7 minutes. Everton doubled their lead on the 11th minute through McDermott again and Jimmy Settle made it 3-0 six minutes later. The gulf between the sides became more and more evident as the match went on. Everton made it 4-0 after 21 minutes through Sandy Young. The combined team managed to avoid conceding another until 19 minutes later with Young scoring again. At the half-time whistle, Everton led by 5 goals to nil.

Three minutes after the restart, there was another goal – but this time, it was for the Hungarians. At the start of the second half, Sandy Young and Billy Scott switched positions – Young in goal and Scott in the forward line – due to Young suffering a knock and Gaspar Borbas took advantage. Sandy Young became complacent and gave the ball away to Ferenc Blaszek, who then crossed the ball to Borbas and he slotted it past Young. The crowd went into raptures, even though the Hungarians were still losing by 4 goals. Following the goal and because Everton were starting to struggle to score, Young and Scott switched back to their normal positions.

Everton regained their 5-goal lead near the hour mark through Jack Taylor. A few minutes later, Sandy Young showed that his knock wouldn’t affect him that much by completing his hat-trick and making it 7-1. Tommy McDermott then completed a hat-trick of his own and added his fourth and Everton’s ninth immediately afterwards, and then Jimmy Settle made it double figures for the Blues. The Hungarians redeemed themselves a bit by making it 10-2 five minutes from time through Ferenc Blaszek. In a role reversal of their first goal, Gaspar Borbas passed the ball and Billy Scott failed to deal with it, allowing Blaszek to shoot into an empty net, causing more celebrations from the crowd. But just before the final whistle, Jack Taylor scored Everton’s 11th goal of the game.

When the final whistle was blown, despite the heavy defeat, the Hungarian crowd cheered their footballing compatriots. Even though they conceded 11 goals, the Hungarian press praised the combined team for scoring 2 goals and said those were the only important goals of the game because they were against a team of great stature.

Full time: Budapesti TC & Magyar AC Combined XI 2-11 Everton

Everton Odd One Out Quiz

Bradley Cates Quizzes
Players who made their Everton debut when they were 16-years-old.


Managers who won their first competitive game in charge of Everton.


Players who played in the 1995 FA Cup final.


Players who made only one competitive appearance for Everton.


Teams Everton lost to in the 1984/85 season.


Opposition players who scored more than one own goal in Everton's favour in the Premier League.


Players who scored their first Everton goal in a Merseyside derby.


Players who scored at least 100 league goals for Everton.


Teams Dixie Dean scored against in the 1927/28 season.


Everton's title-winning club captains.








The Bradford Blizzard

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In the 1904/05 season, Everton were cruelly denied the First Division title by one point. “Cruelly” being the operative word here as in November 1904, Everton were leading 3-1 against Arsenal at the Manor Ground but the match was abandoned 15 minutes before full-time due to fog. In the rematch the following April, Arsenal won 2-1. If the original match had continued right to the end, Everton could have been champions. Luck was against Everton that season but in 1915, it made up for it.

On 13th February 1915, Everton started the day just 2 points behind league leaders Oldham. But it wasn’t just between Everton and Oldham where it was close – only 7 points separated the top 10. Everton, however, had a disadvantage of playing more games than anyone else in the top 10. Their opponents that day were top-flight debutants Bradford Park Avenue, who themselves were 10th at the start of the day, becoming an underdog in the title race.

The line-ups were:

Everton – Tom Fern, Bob Thompson, Bobby Simpson, Tom Fleetwood, Jimmy Galt, Alan Grenyer, Sam Chedgzoy, Billy Kirsopp, Bobby Parker, Joe Clennell, James Roberts

Bradford Park Avenue – Ernest Scattergood, Sandy Watson, Sam Blackham, Joe Crozier, David Howie, Jack Scott, Jock Stirling, Tommy Little, Fred Kirby, Jimmy Bauchop, Jack McCandless

The weather was horrendous – a combination of a storm of rain and sleet, strong wind and bitter cold should have made the match unplayable. The game, however, still went ahead, and it was played in front of around 6,000 fans who spectacularly braved the weather to watch their beloved teams. Everton lost the toss and had the misfortune of playing the first half against not only Bradford Park Avenue but also the torrential weather.

The weather at Park Avenue, this afternoon, for the meeting of Bradford and Everton was about as wretched as it could be. Rain and sleet fell heavily for some time before the time advertised for the commencement, and when the teams turned out, the ground was in such a state that it promised to be little better than a quagmire before the finish.

Yorkshire Evening Post

The Blues tried to threaten the Bradford Park Avenue goal early on in spite of the conditions but they were fruitless. Bradford Park Avenue had a great chance to break the deadlock by simply shooting into an empty goal but Jack McCandless missed. Jimmy Bauchop made amends by scoring after 11 minutes. The same player doubled their lead on the 22nd minute after a wind-assisted kick by Ernest Scattergood put Tom Fern in trouble. Following Scattergood’s clearance, Bob Thompson made an unsuccessful attempt to head the ball. That prompted Fern to leap to try and grab the ball but missed it completely and as a consequence, he hit the ground and injured himself. Bauchop then took advantage. It was reported that Fern didn’t hit the ground that hard – the severity of the injury was likely to have been down to Fern’s numbness from the cold. The fall resulted in him being carried off while semi-conscious. As there were no substitutes then, Bob Thompson took Fern’s place in goal and Everton were forced to play with 10 men. Immediately afterwards, the referee discussed with his linesmen about possibly abandoning the game, but they decided to let it continue.

Bradford Park Avenue made it 3-0 after 29 minutes thanks to a goal by Fred Kirby. As bad as things looked for Everton, their situation quickly became even worse. A few of their players were really struggling with the cold, particularly Alan Grenyer who eventually collapsed to the ground and was carried off. Two men down and three goals with another few players struggling with the conditions meant that Everton were in complete disarray. It looked like they were heading towards a disaster. Thankfully, their turmoil was over on the 37th minute – the referee acknowledged the seriousness of the conditions and abandoned the game.

The curious sight of a game being started with not a single spectator taking up a position behind the goals was the result of a blinding snowstorm at Bradford. Once when the ball was put behind the goal, there was no-one to scale the rails and give the ball to Fern until a fellow at the programme’s number board came down from his lofty position and punted it to the goalkeeper.

All told, four Everton players were seriously affected. First Fern became exhausted, next Grenyer. Finally, Galt and Roberts, through being “stone cold,” had to be revived. The referee, W. Chadwick, was unable to put the whistle to his mouth, and had to signal with his hands.

Liverpool Echo

The referee who eventually abandoned the game was Walter Chadwick, who was the younger brother of Everton legend Edgar Chadwick. He was also reported to be on Everton’s books at some point in the 1890s before becoming a Football League referee in 1902.

The rematch took place on 14th April 1915. Everton started that day 3 points behind Oldham. Both teams had 3 games remaining. The Blues had a second chance of grabbing an invaluable win that could prove crucial in the title race. This time, according to the Liverpool Evening Express, the conditions were “quite summer-like.”

Everton had 4 changes to the line-up of their original meeting while Bradford Park Avenue had only one, with goalscorer Fred Kirby missing the game having left the club.

The line-ups were:

Everton – Tom Fern, Bob Thompson, Louis Weller, Tom Fleetwood, Jimmy Galt, Bill Wareing, Sam Chedgzoy, Billy Kirsopp, Tommy Nuttall, Alan Grenyer, George Harrison

Bradford Park Avenue – Ernest Scattergood, Sandy Watson, Sam Blackham, Joe Crozier, David Howie, Jack Scott, Jock Stirling, Tommy Little, Jimmy Smith, Jimmy Bauchop, Jack McCandless

Everton may have had a second chance but they had a terrible start after Bradford Park Avenue were awarded a penalty after 10 minutes. Bob Thompson tripped Jimmy Bauchop, and Tom Campbell, instead of Walter Chadwick, was the referee who gave Bradford Park Avenue an opportunity to score from the penalty spot. Bauchop, who had up to that point scored 26 league goals that season (obviously not including his brace in the abandoned game), was the man to take it. Bob Thompson’s blushes were spared though as Bauchop struck it wide. Relief for Everton and at the 19th minute, they took the lead through Billy Kirsopp and a goalkeeping error. Ernest Scattergood tried to punch the ball clear but failed and like Jack McCandless in the abandoned meeting, Kirsopp had an open goal but unlike McCandless, he made the most of his chance.

In the first half, luck was on Everton’s side. However just before half-time, Bradford Park Avenue equalised after Joe Crozier headed in a Tommy Little cross. Everton still kept their cool and on the 62nd minute, they regained their lead. Sam Chedgzoy kicked the ball into the path of Alan Grenyer and he shot past Ernest Scattergood to score his first Everton goal, exactly 4 years to the day since he made his debut for the Blues. Grenyer’s goal turned out to be the winner. An important goal in not just the match but the entire season.

Everton beat Manchester City 1-0 in their next game and had to wait until Oldham completed their season so they can finish theirs against Chelsea. Oldham drew to Aston Villa, which meant that both Everton and Oldham were level on points with Everton playing a game more. However, Oldham then suffered home defeats to Burnley and Liverpool. They remained level on points but Everton had a superior goal average – they would need to lose to Chelsea by around 14 goals for Oldham to win the title. Everton drew 2-2 against Chelsea and they became champions for the second time, helped by a defeat in adverse conditions that turned into a victory.

Brawling Blues

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The start of the 1990/91 season was as bad as it could get for Everton. Star players requesting moves, no points and bottom of the league. Everton lost each of their first three games of the season and were the only team in the First Division without a point. Colin Harvey decided to take the players out for a meal, hoping that uniting everyone will help kick-start their season. But it all went horribly wrong.

On the evening of 4th September 1990, Colin Harvey took the team to Southport for a meal at a Chinese restaurant. Having a meal to boost team morale was a method commonly used by his predecessor Howard Kendall. Once the meal was finished, Colin Harvey left the restaurant and warned the players not to get into any trouble. The players then left the restaurant and a couple of them decided to go to the Red Rum Bar at the Carlton Hotel – Kevin Sheedy and Martin Keown.

Kevin Sheedy had a frustrating start to the season. Following Republic of Ireland’s heroics in Italia 90, Sheedy talked about his desire to play European football. He was linked with a move to Real Sociedad, who were about to play in that season’s UEFA Cup. He formally submitted a transfer request in August and was put on the transfer list. However, despite his wishes, he remained an Everton player and the lack of effort by the club to transfer him made him disgruntled.

When Kevin Sheedy and Martin Keown made their way to the bar, Sheedy himself said in an interview 24 years after the incident that he noticed when they got there, his voice became very slurred. He claimed that his drinks were “being tinkered with.” While at the bar, both Sheedy and Keown became embroiled in a heated argument and Sheedy purportedly said something which offended Keown, prompting the defender to push him over and kick him in the face. As a consequence, Sheedy had a split eye and required some stitches.

Colin Harvey fined both players and the money was donated to the Alder Hey Children’s Hospital. Harvey and Sheedy spoke to the media about the incident, saying the brawl was caused by a disagreement about football. Harvey said:

They have apologised for the incident. It was a discussion about football which got overheated. It should not have happened, it will not happen again and the matter is now closed.

Sheedy said after the brawl:

It was a petty disagreement between Martin Keown and myself about football. We have both apologised to each other and to the boss. We are sorry for any embarrassment caused to Everton Football Club. There is no falling out in the camp.

Neville Southall, said in his autobiography that Kevin Sheedy was goading and mocking Keown, which he didn’t react to. But then he said something about his brother – who was with them on the night – which resulted in Keown seeing red.

Sheedy then added while on international duty that his frustration with Everton inflamed him:

It shouldn’t have happened and I could hardly believe that I allowed such a situation to develop after 15 years as a professional footballer. But then I’ve been very frustrated at Everton since the World Cup and that had a lot to do with what happened.

A combination of alcohol (spiked or not spiked) and transfer frustration sparked an awful night for Everton – for the players and the club overall. Considering their poor start to the season, unrest and fights were the last thing the team needed. Kevin Sheedy and Martin Keown were subsequently dropped from the first team and Keown didn’t play until Everton’s match against Crystal Palace in mid-October while Sheedy didn’t play until their match against Sheffield United three weeks after Keown’s return..

It was difficult for Everton to avoid the ramifications of the punch-up. According to Kevin Sheedy, the press arrived at Bellefield training ground en masse as he was about to leave, wanting to know everything about the fracas. But he managed to avoid them with a little help from the club’s assistant manager Terry Darracott. Darracott drove Sheedy out of Bellefield but to make sure the press didn’t know the Irish international was in the vehicle, Darracott put him in the boot and Sheedy got away from the journalists inconspicuously.

Everton General Knowledge Quiz #4

Bradley Cates Quizzes
Who did Steven Naismith replace before he scored his hat-trick against Chelsea in September 2015?


Who did Everton beat 11-2 in the FA Cup in 1890 - the club's biggest ever victory?


What was the name of the preseason tournament Everton took part in that was held at Goodison Park in 1997?


How much did Everton sign Dixie Dean for?


Richarlison became the first Everton player to play for Brazil in September 2018 after making his international debut against which team?


Who were Everton's opponents when Howard Kendall famously opened the dressing room window to, in his words, "let the singing lift the lads" in January 1984?


Which Everton player got sent off in David Moyes' first match in charge of the Blues?


How many goals did Daniel Amokachi score for Everton before his famous FA Cup brace against Tottenham?


In which year was Goodison Park chosen as a host stadium for the 1966 World Cup?


Who scored the most goals for Everton without any of them being a penalty?








Colin Harvey On VAR… In 1990

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Whenever VAR has been used, it has always been the hot topic, usually for the wrong reasons. While VAR is supposed to help referees by rectifying “clear and obvious” errors, clamping down on diving and avoiding another Kieran Gibbs-Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain fiasco, it has been producing more and more controversy instead of reducing it. It has been criticised for slowing the game down and raising more questions. Everyone has a view on it. And here’s another one from Everton legend Colin Harvey – but in 1990.

Nearly three decades ago, long before the introduction of and the furore over VAR, Everton’s then-manager Colin Harvey said football should introduce video-assisted refereeing to lessen controversy and criticism of referees.

In an article from the Liverpool Echo in March 1990, during the 1989/90 season, referees had been in the limelight for their contentious decision-making. In Everton’s case, there were a couple of incidents that season that were mentioned in the article that arguably unfairly went against the Blues that proved to be crucial in the outcome of the game.

In a League Cup tie against Nottingham Forest in November 1989, Neville Southall was penalised for time-wasting with seven minutes remaining. Everton players vehemently protested the decision but it fell on deaf ears and referee George Tyson awarded the free-kick and booked the goalkeeper. With the score at 0-0 and the free-kick placed in a dangerous position, Nigel Clough hit the ball to Lee Chapman in the six-yard box and Chapman converted, eventually knocking Everton out of the League Cup.

In the first of three FA Cup meetings between Everton and Oldham that season, Neville Southall was at the centre of controversy again. Everton were 2-0 up and near the hour mark, referee Tony Ward awarded a penalty to Oldham after Southall was adjudged to have fouled Roger Palmer. However, Neville Southall had his eye on Nick Henry, who had the ball, and as he dove to try and get the ball, his legs clattered into Palmer and the Oldham forward fell over. Oldham scored the penalty to make it 2-1 and then Palmer equalised. Oldham subsequently won the second replay 2-1 after extra time with Palmer scoring Oldham’s first goal.

Colin Harvey thought referees should be able to check an incident that could be pivotal to the outcome of the game by watching a replay of it on a monitor on the touchline, like in American football. He believed that a pause in the game would be worth the wait because the video would let the referee check whether he got it right or wrong or if they are unsure and it can allay referees’ fears of more condemnation.

He also said that referees had become more and more pressurised to make every decision the right one because of the rise of televised football, which allowed fans and pundits to voice their critical opinions of the referee by using the televised footage as evidence, such as replays of the incidents at different angles, while all referees had were their own eyes and very little time to make a decision.

I know that American football is all stop and start while our game tends to flow more, but if you are talking about something as vital as a penalty, then surely it’s worth a couple of moments’ delay to ensure that a referee’s decision is the right one. It would certainly help the official and end trial by television. As it is, refs give honest decisions based on what they see, only to find themselves pilloried later on.

Before the days of action replays, everyone tended to accept decisions without too much debate. It was one man’s view and it wasn’t open to public scrutiny. Now, all the First Division goals are usually seen on the box each week and we have regular “live” action on TV. It’s becoming increasingly important that every single decision a referee makes is the right one.

The Liverpool Echo reported that Harvey had accepted that if his idea was to happen, it would be the referee’s decision to check and they don’t have to if they don’t want to. So it would be difficult for the referee to escape criticism as there would be a good chance that they would be wrong not to check when they should have done.

While Colin Harvey empathised with the referees and believed VAR can ease pressure on their decision-making, Liverpudlian Football League referee Colin Trussell said it could ruin the flow of the game and diminish referees’ importance, credibility and relationship with players.

Our game doesn’t lend itself to that situation. Colin’s right when he says American football is all stop and start. It’s also very TV-orientated. English soccer is about continual flow. If a ref chose to consult the video evidence at a key moment, it might stop the flow of the game. And who would decide when to use it?

When a referee gives a decision, he believes it to be right at that moment in time. It’s unlikely any match official would want to reverse a decision because that might undermine his credibility. When he subsequently makes another decision in a game, the players might not trust his judgement. Loss of credibility inevitably leads to loss of control.

Trussell added the criticism of referees was unnecessary, particularly from television pundits, saying that the people who should judge the referees’ decisions should be referees.

We are experienced enough at the highest level to take into account the cameras and not be troubled by them. After 30 seconds, you have forgotten they are even there. It’s Reds vs Blues, or whatever. Teams don’t even come into it. But what gets us is that we are often castigated later on by so-called TV specialists.

When you listen to them, it’s clear that they haven’t got a clue about the laws. If they want to analyse a specific incident, why don’t they invite a referee on? Referees are part and parcel of the game. They make decisions honestly in a split second, but often find themselves cruelly criticised in front of millions of viewers by people who should know better.

Colin Harvey’s idea has become a reality. A lot of incorrect decisions have been corrected. But some VAR decisions were due to nitpicking. The recently updated handball rule hasn’t helped. But it looks like it’s something we have to get used to.

When Everton Fans And Watford Fans Were Friends

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Everton and Watford’s relationship has turned quite sour since the Blues pursued the Hornet’s manager Marco Silva in November 2017 and then appointing him as their manager in May 2018. A couple of months after the appointment, Watford submitted a complaint to the Premier League, claiming Everton made an illegal approach for Silva. Watford also stopped playing Z Cars in the last few weeks of the 2018/19 season and replaced it with I’m Still Standing by Elton John. (The theme was then brought back in the first game of the 2019/20 season against Brighton.) Everton subsequently paid Watford compensation of £4m. The Watford fans showed their disapproval of Marco Silva by bringing rubber snakes to the clubs’ first meeting since Silva’s appointment as Everton manager the following December.

The relationship between the clubs is in tatters, and there is a bit of acrimony between the fan bases as well. However, there was a time when Everton fans and Watford fans had a fraternal friendship.

The friendship between Everton fans and Watford fans started in the 1970s when Watford fans travelled to Merseyside to watch their beloved Hornets play Tranmere at Prenton Park in the old Fourth Division. Both fan bases struck a bond so strong that they arranged a charity match between them on the day of the 1975 FA Cup final. Everton supporters subsequently won that match 7-2. Playing for the Watford team was Elton John, who was a director at the club at the time. Playing for the Everton team was club legend Wally Fielding, who was a coach at Watford. At the end of the game, the Everton supporters team won a penalty and Fielding was elected to take it. His penalty was, however, saved. Wanting Fielding to score a goal, the referee ordered a retake, claiming the goalkeeper moved too soon. But Fielding missed the penalty again, kicking the ball over the bar.

Watford rose through the divisions and were promoted to the First Division in 1982. Their first ever top-flight opponents were Everton. The love between the clubs was still there as the Everton Supporters Club presented Watford with a plaque to commemorate the occasion.

The Everton Supporters Club chairman Jimmy King said:

It’s a very down-to-earth, family club, and we think it’s great that these people who used to come here years ago in the Third Division are now playing for the first time in the First Division. This is why we wanted to make a special presentation to show how pleased we are that we are their first opponents.

Both teams walked out of the tunnel to the Z Cars theme together for the first time. Watford purportedly had the Z Cars theme not because of Everton but because Bill McGarry – who was Watford’s manager in the 1960s – was a fan of the television programme and decided to adopt it as their theme. It was a day to remember for Watford as they ended up beating Everton 2-0 with goals from Gerry Armstrong and Pat Rice (Rice’s goal against Everton was his only ever goal for Watford).

In 1984, Everton and Watford met each other in the FA Cup final. Ahead of the game, Everton fans and Watford fans mingled outside Wembley, had drinks together and took some pictures together as well. The Everton players’ wives were also warmly greeted by the Watford fans when they ventured into Watford. One Watford fan even kissed Derek Mountfield’s fiancée as a somewhat wish of good luck. Right before kick-off, Elton John shook Everton players’ hands and wished them good luck, as well as applauding the Everton crowd.

Everton beat Watford 2-0 thanks to goals from Graeme Sharp and Andy Gray, ending their 14-year trophy drought. After the final whistle, the Watford players were cheered off by the Everton supporters. The Everton Shareholders Association then sent a letter to Elton John saying:

Everyone felt the warmth and friendliness of your supporters. You yourself were a great ambassador of the true sportsmanship when you greeted the Everton fans at their end of the ground. Watford and their supporters will remain very special to Everton FC.

There was a lot of fraternity between Everton and Watford in the 1970s and 1980s. No bad blood, no bitterness – just friendship and camaraderie.

Cyril Webster – The Courteous Clerk

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It is extremely rare for players to spend a decade at the same club and not make a single first-team appearance. Before the Second World War, Everton had a player who did exactly that – Cyril Roscoe Webster.

Cyril Webster was born in Bootle on 8th February 1908. His football career didn’t begin until he was a student at Liverpool Collegiate School – a grammar school in Everton – at the age of 13. Before studying there, he attended Aintree High School, where, according to Webster, “they didn’t know what football was.” He was initially a goalkeeper for the Gordon House second XI and remained between the posts for a year before becoming an inside right after the Gordon House first XI was a player short. He made the most of his outfield debut, scoring 2 goals in a 3-1 win. From that game to the rest of his football career, inside right became Webster’s main position.

After leaving school, he joined West Derby Union, where he honed his skills. During his time at WDU, he played at Goodison Park for a Lancashire XI in a match against a Cumberland XI. He left the club to join Middlesex Amateurs but never had the chance to play for them. But soon, Everton came calling. In April 1928, Thomas H McIntosh phoned Webster and asked him to play for Everton’s ‘A’ team in a friendly against Wavertree. Webster accepted the offer, played in the match but unfortunately didn’t score. Despite that, the club saw something good in him and asked him to sign for them as an amateur. Webster, however, didn’t make a decision due to other commitments. The day after the Wavertree game, Liverpool were also in pursuit. Representatives of Liverpool watched his performance against Wavertree and liked what they saw. Liverpool invited Webster to see them play against Leicester. He attended the 1-1 draw and had tea at Anfield afterwards. But in spite of Liverpool’s efforts, Webster’s heart belonged to Everton.

Webster joined Everton in June 1928. For a short time, there was a bit of anxiety for Webster because he hadn’t heard from the club for quite some time after he hadn’t made his decision and he had an injury at the end of the season. But Dan Kirkwood hadn’t forgotten about him and snatched him up. At the start of the 1928/29 season, he featured several times for the ‘A’ team before making his reserves debut on September 22nd against Manchester City Reserves. Webster had a debut to remember as Everton Reserves thrashed the Citizens 7-0. Harry Ritchie, who scored two goals in the game, credited Webster for his contribution. Webster’s influence had since become a pivotal part of the club throughout his time there.

Cyril Webster signed professional forms on 4th May 1929. In the following nine years and the previous year, he didn’t play a single game for the first team, featuring fairly prominently for the reserves and the ‘A’ team. He had played over 100 games for the reserves, scoring 43 goals. The closest he came to first-team football was being the club’s “diver” (at the time, another name for the reserve in case any players pull out at the last minute) nine times. Even though he never played for the first team, the club refused to let him go and persistently put him on the retained list year after year. Everton were willing to keep him presumably because of how much influence he had on the team.

Webster could have had first-team football elsewhere. Despite that, he didn’t seem to care; he was happy to be part of the club and was willing to contribute when he can. Throughout his Everton career, there was nothing but praise for him. Towards the end of his time at the club, the official Everton programme described Webster as:

Always the perfect servant: ungrumbling, ungrudging, civil, courteous – he is of the type that assists in giving to the present-day professional, a more generous verdict from a sport-loving public. His influence in dressing room and on field is for good.

Webster had a life outside of football. When he joined Everton, he was a clerk in the out-relief department for the Central Relief Committee and despite becoming a professional, he was still working as a clerk. While he was balancing his football and working lives, he was also a student at the University of Liverpool. In the summer of 1936, Webster graduated with a Bachelor of Laws degree. At the time of his graduation, he was reported to be the only law graduate at a Football League club.

Following his graduation, Bee from the Liverpool Echo said:

I congratulate him upon his success, and know it will make no difference to his outlook on sport or life – he has always been one of the most likeable of many likeable professional footballers.

Towards the end of his Everton career, he was a clerk for the Public Assistance Committee. But that didn’t stop Cyril Webster from contributing to the club. While working for the PAC, he was still playing for the ‘A’ team alongside future Everton player and manager Harry Catterick as well as coaching the new ‘B’ team after he called time on his playing career in 1938. The club’s chairman at the time, Ernest Green, praised his “special influence” for giving the youth players “the correct impression of the Everton requirements.”

His coaching career was short-lived following the outbreak of the Second World War but Webster still coped well in the outside world. His CV included an area officer for the Civil Service and a deputy regional licensing officer for the Ministry of Works. In 1953, he became the manager of a company aimed to develop the North West region called North Western Industrial Estates after a four-year spell as assistant manager. At one point, he lived in Ramsbottom until he returned to Liverpool where he stayed until his death on 21st January 1989.

Cyril Webster is still a bit of a mystery. There is a lot more to be known about him. Nothing is known about what the players exactly thought about him. But from what was already said, they seemed to have thought highly of him.

Phil Jagielka Quiz

Bradley Cates Quizzes ,

The day this quiz was posted was also Phil Jagielka’s last day as an Everton player. How much do you know about Philip Nikodem Jagielka during his Everton career?

 

What was Jagielka's first shirt number at Everton?


Who did Jagielka replace as Everton's number 6 - the shirt number he has kept for the rest of his Everton career?


Which team did Jagielka make his competitive Everton debut against?


Jagielka made his competitive Everton debut as a substitute. Who did he replace?


Jagielka scored 19 goals in all competitions for Everton - the first was in the 2007/08 UEFA Cup against which team?


Conversely, Jagielka scored 4 own goals for Everton's opponents - half of them were for which team?


Jagielka's most famous goal for Everton was his last-minute equaliser against Liverpool in 2014. Which Liverpool player "assisted" Jagielka when he headed the ball out of the box to him?


Jagielka's highest goalscoring tally in a single Premier League season for Everton was 4 in the 2014/15 season. Which team did he score against in both league meetings that season?


Jagielka has been sent off only twice in his entire Everton career - against Wolves and who else?


On 12th October 2015, Jagielka became the first Everton player to captain England from the start of the match. Who were England's opponents?