Volume 27
Number 3
ESCLA MAIL
Dear ESCLA,
Reading Helen Knowles'
account of American sporting excellence reminded me of a visit I paid to the
New York Yankees not so long ago. At the time, I recall thinking how different
this was from attending Goodison Park and watching the Blue Boys and here I
will share the experience, disproving, perhaps, the theory we have much to
learn from the Yanks.
It was May 2000 and I
was stateside with a good friend of mine visiting his family who were on a 6
month stay in Connecticutt. We took in the historic and
charming sights of New England, went to Boston and did the touristy stuff
like visiting the Cheers Bar, which was disappointingly different to what you
see on TV, imagined Ally McBeal wandering along in a dream, went to Yale
and took a look round the most stupendous Library ( yes, I said Library! ), but
the highlight was to be visiting New York at the end of our stay. New York was
truly everything it's cracked up to be, with the view from the top of the now
destroyed World Trade Center as staggering as the deprivation just a few miles
up the road in Harlem. We both agreed to cram in as much as possible, so we
took in Miss Saigon on Broadway, stuffed our faces in the Diners, spent all
night in a Club, ate in Little Italy, went to Madison Square Garden, went to
Mickey Mantle's bar for lunch, took the Staten Island Ferry, walked
through Central Park, visited John Lennon's address and loads more. Both
being big Sports fans (Joe's also a Sports journalist) we wanted some live
sport to view as well and it just so happened the Yankees were playing the
Boston Redsox that weekend.
Looking in the paper,
I saw that Boston headed the Eastern Conference by a small margin from New
York. Also, it was a Bank Holiday weekend and the two teams relatively
close proximity meant that there would be Away fans ( usually missing from
American sports fixtures) which would hopefully guarantee a good atmosphere.
So, Saturday lunchtime
found us on New York's delapidated subway heading out of Manhattan to the
Bronx and the Yankee Stadium. It was a bit like being on the Tube going to
Seven Sisters or Highbury & Islington with people wearing the
Team shirts and the visitors looking around somewhat nervously in case of
trouble. Still, this was America. There won't be any trouble, it's a family
affair here, been barbecuing in the car Park since dawn and
drinking Rootbeer haven't they we laughed. I was wearing an Everton
T-shirt which drew a few puzzled glances, but it's not their fault they haven't
been blessed!
For anybody unfamiliar
with New York, there are four main districts: Manhattan with all the famous
bits, shopping, skyscrapers, Sex And The City etc., Queens, over the East
River mainly middle class residential, Harlem which makes any run down inner
city in England look attractive, and highly dangerous especially at night,
and the Bronx which is better than Harlem, but not a lot. So as we stepped off
the subway we were soon glad it was 2pm and not 2am. We certainly didn't see
people holding barbecues, but there were a lot of families around and although
it was crowded outside the Stadium, the atmosphere seemed to be one of
anticipation as the 55,000 sell-out crowd made its way to their seats in
a Stadium constructed as recently as 1973.
Once inside, it was
noticeable how cramped all the concourses were, which seemed surprising in a
relatively modern structure. Signage was abysmal and we wound up on the
wrong side of the Stadium looking for our seats although that could have been
down to our stupidity too! As we finally approached the entrance
to our block of seats, we were caught in a huge crush. Luckily for me, I
was big enough and strong enough to stay on my feet, but the woman and her son
next to me weren't so fortunate and it was luck more than anything that they
weren't trampled before I pulled them up. I looked round for signs of
Police or Stewards, but the only Stadium employee I could see was a
teenager carrying a giant tray of Hot-dogs!
Anyway, eventually,
the crush sorted itself out and we made it out into the light and to our seats.
The view was excellent, we were high up in the Upper Tier, but the seats
were steep and we were looking right down onto the pitch, very much like
the Top Balcony at Goodison, but bigger and without the roof. One downside
was this steepness meant there was not a lot of leg
room, the significance of this becoming apparent later. I said
to Joe that Saturday afternoon, big crowd, top 2 teams, 'local' derby, this was
a bit like an Everton v Manchester United game in the 80's. I couldn't
wait for the match to begin.
Enter the two teams. From a trap door by
the pitchside, not a tunnel, they filed out to applause from the crowd. Not
a thunderous roar accompanied by Z-Cars and an Echo tickertape, but
pretty loud nevertheless. The game commenced with Boston racing into an early
3-0 lead. There
were quite a few Bostonian spectators, not in a segregated section,
but scattered everywhere. They seemed comfortable enough cheering, so this
seemed one difference from English football that we could learn from. One thing
where Everton are lacking is catering. You know the scene: unless you want to
miss some of the action, you queue up all half-time only to find all
that's left is crisps and bovril! There simply aren't enough outlets to feed a
21st Century 35,000 crowd. None of that nonsense here though! You didn't have
to leave your seat. A mere scratching of your nose was enough to bring a
teenage, food server scampering up the steps to your seat to purvey his wares.
Hot-dogs, hamburgers, pretzels, popcorn in boxes the size of a Family-sized
packet of cornflakes, Fanta, Coke, Budweiser, Nachos, French Fries,
it was all there. At first this was all rather good, but eventually with my
stomach full, I began to find all this squashing your legs up in your cramped
seats to let another meal go past a bit tiring. There seemed to be a
whole family around us who hadn't eaten for days. Their jaws got more exercise
than some of the Baseball players! The most amazing part really was that there
appeared to be no Stewards or anybody connected with crowd safety at all.
Anybody in a fluorecent bib was there to serve your appetite and nothing else.
Even when I paid the toilets a visit under the stand, I still saw virtually no
Stewards or Police. It made me realise that we've come a long way in that
department in England post Hillsbrough.
Back
on the pitch, things were hotting up with the Yankees spiritedly drawing level
at 3-3 and then taking the lead. Cue for hysteria in the crowd? No, not really,
but the man in front was getting irate about the lack of Ketchup in his
Hot-dog! This lack of real feeling in the crowd was a complete
contrast to Goodison. Sure, some people were getting excited, but the vast majority
were about as meaningful as cardboard cut-outs. There were 55,000 there in
body, but only about 10,000 in soul. I asked Joe why he thought most
people seemed like they in a food-fuelled trance and we came to the conclusion
that to many of them it was so much like being in front of the telly, with food
at your fingertips, and stats coming at you off the scoreboard that they had
forgotten what live sport is all about. To be fair, Baseball, to me at any
rate, was like cricket speeded up a bit. We were there for four hours and
I suppose you cannot keep up a level of excitement over that period like you
can in 90 minutes of football.
Four
hours means you can eat a lot of food, undoubtedly a major source of revenue
for the Clubs. It also means you can drink a lot, and should you be
drinking beer all afternoon you will probably be lashed by the end. Hence,
as New York took control and finished 11-3 victors, some alcohol induced
shenanigans broke out beween rival supporters. We're all familiar with our
often witty, sometimes overly abusive, but always passionate and vociferous
singing at matches in England. The Americans do not sing. Could just about
manage their National Anthem, but otherwise forget it. They can raise a chant
or two though, even if 'Redsox go' sounds like something from your Primary
School Sports Day! Anyway the trouble started as some Yankees thought it
would be just great to echo this chant with ' Redsox Suck'. In England
you'd be laughed off stage with such drivel, but here this was taken very
seriously. What a round of ' You're s*** and you know you are' or, ' We hate
Bill Shankly and we hate St John' would have done God only knows. All around us
Bostonians leapt up hurling abuse and before you knew it people were running up
and down steps fists and pretzels flying. Surprisingly, even there, no
Police, Stewards or anybody else intervened and eventually the fighting died
down. I looked at the girl sitting next to me. She was about 12 or 13 and had
been eating all through the game. She was asleep!
At
the end there were no raucous celebrations as the Yankees regained top spot,
just applause and a lot of sighing as people picked their heavy stomachs up to
go. We hung around to avoid any more crushes under the Stands. I have a photo
of me in my Everton shirt taken at this time and what you notice in the
backround is the incredible amount of rubbish generated by eating. It's
everywhere. I wouldn't mind betting that the Tickets are cheap ( mine had a
face value of only $7, although I paid 4 times that for it off a tout outside)
because people eat more than the admission fee while there. That simply isn't
feasible in England.
Outside,
we got back on the Subway heading back to the Hotel in Manhattan, there were
smiling faces, but was it or euphoria at winning or was it relief
after emptying their bowels?! Give me Goodison and even the current
average Everton team any day. A much more real experience. Perhaps, it's the
new concrete bowl Stadium that's the problem over there. Certainly, speaking to
New Yorkers and looking round Mickey Mantle's (a 50's baseball
legend) Bar, the Yankees are a legend. Along with the Brooklyn
Dodgers story they fill a space in every New Yorker's head, but something
has gone a bit wrong at the games themselves. They say what happens in
America eventually happens here. Well, there's lessons for Bill Kenwright
and Co. to learn from America concerning the Kings Dock Stadium and they
are as much about how not to do things as how to. I don't want to repeat
that experience by the Mersey with the man in front complaining about his Pizza
topping, oblivious, as we bang in the winner against Liverpool!
Still, maybe they'll up and leave to another city like the Brooklyn
Dodgers. Somehow, I doubt it!
KARL MASTERS
CONGRATULATIONS
To
ESCLA member Paul McMonnies and his fiancée who are expecting their first child
in the summer.
Who
He?
Name
the following Everton stars from the 70’s from these descriptions
1
Recovered from a broken leg sustained against Altrincham. Can play orthodox
left wing or in midfield. Secured from St Johnstone in March 1972 for £75,000.
Received Scottish honours at Under 23 and full level. Height 5ft 9 Wt 11.5.
2
First secured on apprentice forms and became a professional in August 1972.
Made his debut against Arsenal in 1973-74 season as a left-winger and also
played midfield. Ht 5ft 7. Wt 10.9
3
Merseyside product who was on the clubs books as an amateur before turning
professional in April 1974. Sent off against QPR in opening game of 1976-77
season. England Youth Cap. Ht 5ft 10 Wt 11.0
4
Born in Blackpool but apprenticed with Everton. Capable and commanding center
half. Everton substitute in the 1968 Cup Final.
5
Since getting his initial opportunity in the first team in 1967-68 he had to
wait for a long stretch of regular games until 1971-72. Defensive wing-half or
midfield. Turned professional in July 1968 after a period as apprentice. Ht 5
ft 9 Wt 11.9
6
This goalkeeper cost a fee of £80,000 when signed in June 1972 from
Huddersfield Town. Introduced into League football by Bradford after spells
with two other clubs. Became a professional in October 1967. Born Durham. Ht
6ft 0.75in Wt 11.0
7
Schools, youth and Under 23 international for England. Played mostly as a
defensive halfback. Became a professional in August 1965 after making his bow
previously against Sheffield Wednesday. Ht 5ft 10 Wt 12.4.
8
Versatile player, mainly defensive half back who can also play in attack.
Scored in debut in 1970-71. Turned professional in July 1969 after being on the
books as an apprentice. Won Under 23 caps for England.
Ht
6ft Wt 12.2.
Did
You Know?
Dixie
Dean scored 377 goals for EVERTON despite 13 interruptions to his career
through injury - all severe enough to require operations.
In
their first ten seasons of League Football (1888-1898) EVERTON scored 324
goals, bettered only by Aston Villa who recorded 326.
The
impressive grandstand at Goodison Park, built in 1970-71 at a cost of £1.1
million, contains 10,159 seats. The
first stand erected on the ground (1891-92) cost £550 and could
accommodate 4,000 fans. Two more
followed in quick succession, one to house 4,000 and another for 3,000; and the
cost of all three (when complete) - a mere £1,640 !!
•
The lowest attendance at Goodison Park is believed to be 2,500
•
Former stalwarts Harry Makepeace and Jack Sharp played football and cricket for
England.
*
Dean registered 37 hat-tricks for EVERTON including seven in season
1927-28. He netted five against
Manchester United at Goodison Park in October 1927 when EVERTON won 5-2.
*
Cyril Webster was an EVERTON professional for ten years (May 1929 .May 1939).
He never once played in a senior first team match.
* EVERTON, in the early days, played in pink
shirts and white shorts.
* In
the 1930's EVERTON had a sequence of home wins unparalleled in top-class
football. In successive matches October
1931 January 1932) they ran up scores of 9,8,7,9,5,5, and 4 for a total of 47
goals in just seven matches.
Quiz
Answers
1
John Connolly 2 George Telfer 3 David Jones 4 Roger Kenyon 5 Terry Darracott 6
David Lawson 7 John Hurst 8 Mike Lyons
EFC
Regional Supporters Clubs Conference
Everton
Football Club have recently appointed a Supporter Services Officer – Rex Nash,
one of whose roles is to develop a new working relationship with regional
supporters clubs. This includes meeting the needs of the club and offering real
benefit to joining a regional supporters club.
On
Saturday 2 February 2002 Eric Moonman and Ian Critchley will be representing
ESCLA at a “conference” at Goodison Park involving discussion of supporters
clubs interests, concerns etc, and to help facilitate this Rex sent a
questionnaire to Ian which we reproduce below.
Unfortunately
time does not permit Ian to be able to canvass all of our members opinions
prior to the conference but obviously discussions will be ongoing and Ian is
keen to find out which issues are most pertinent to you.
Please
send your views through to Ian at the following address:
16
Aplins Close
Harpenden
Herts
AL5 2QB
EVERTON FOOTBALL CLUB
QUESTIONNAIRE FOR REGIONAL SUPPORTERS CLUB MEMBERS
What do you think are the most important things that
Everton FC could change to make the relationship with regional supporters clubs
better and more beneficial to you? (tick as many as you like)
· Improve our administration
· Increase access to tickets (home and/or
away)
· Communicate better with regional supporters
clubs
· Provide more benefits to regional supporters
clubs
· Offer access to Everton FC for supporters
clubs' AGMs etc at reduced
rates
· Provide more information on the Internet
about supporters clubs
· Allow non-commercial use of official Everton
FC logos
Offer prizes for supporters clubs to
raffle etc
Generally, which of the following do you think should
be benefits of membership of a regional supporters club? (tick as many as you like)
· Access to tickets (home and away)
· Authorised non-commercial use of
official Everton FC logos
Use
of Goodison Park for supporters clubs' events
· Access to exclusive open days at Bellefield
· Discounts on stadium tours/meals on
match-day etc
· Discounts on merchandise/match-day
programme/Evertonian
· Opportunity to present a Player of the Year
award
· Annual draw to be a mascot (at home and away
games)
· Discounts on selected third-party products
Do you have any other suggestions that would help us
improve our relationship with regional supporters clubs?
The
Masters View
Ask
any football fan who can remember the 1970’s about the memorable moments and
chances arte that they will reminisce about the punch up between Francis Lee,
then of Derby County, and Norman Hunter of Leeds. The incident was captured on
Match of the Day. The players were sent off for fighting and resumed their
quarrel with fists as they left the pitch.
At
the time it provoked much outrage and prompted the great William Ralph Dean to
pen the following to the Sun Newspaper:
“I don’t believe that the FA commission
decision to fine Francis Lee £250 and ban him for four matches was rough
justice. I really think that Francis, who I admire as a player, was very lucky
to get away with such light punishment.
He says he had four stitches after the match.
In my career I had a total of 15 operations for all different kinds of
injuries. Yet I was spoken to by a referee only once. That was by Mr Lol Harper
of Stourbridge, who, in one match asked me if I would like a peppermint!
I’m afraid the players with all their big money
today are getting big headed. There’s not much love in the game now.”
Dixie Dean
Upton Nr Birkenhead
The Sun obviously changed the signature. Billy
Dean hated the nickname Dixie. It would be interesting to know what the great
man would have thought of the antics of messrs Wise, Viera, Woodgate, Bowyer,
Morris and Terry today!
Diving In The Box
Our
recent Cup tie at Stoke brought back memories of a trip to Stoke’s old ground
in the late seventies.
On
the train back to London my friends and I spotted Garry Stanley. Not our
beloved ESCLA stalwart but the central Everton midfielder at the time. Garry
invited us to sit with him and regaled us with interesting football anecdotes
including tales of the animosity between Emlyn Hughes and his Liverpool team
mates which Garry had witnessed.
He
also recounted how he and some team mates had been discussing a form of diving
on the training ground (and he wasn’t referring to football or swimming. If you
do mot understand what he was talking about do not worry, you are in good
company. Gordon Lee apparently didn’t have a clue what they were talking about
and had to have it all explained to him!
Paul
Williams recently presented me with an interesting poser. Who is the Everton
post-war player with the shortest surname? The answer is a current player – our
Israeli International Idan Tal. In fact there have been very few Everton
players with three letters in their surname and most of them played in the
nineteen century. The most well known however is Charlie Gee, a contemporary of
Dixie Dean who played over 200 times for the Blues. If you want to see a picture of him, pop across to the Ship pub
in Eversholt Street next to Euston Station, where his portrait proudly adorns a
wall!
One
Man One Team by Eric Moonman
We bemoan the lack of “a good team.” We have
come away from Goodison Park for years now – angry and frustrated and calling
for a new manager and a new team. I agree! But I have the view that often one
player, one outstanding player can ignite such excitement that the other ten
players not merely respond to him but consolidate on his energies, assets and
talent.
In recent years we have certainly not had such
a dynamo. Over the years, Alan Ball was exceptional, so was Nobby Fielding
after the war. Yes, we had much pleasure from Peter Beagrie, T.G. Jones, Tony
Kay, Alex Young. Tommy Lawton and Ted Sagar but the one man who could excite
the crowd even before he entered the pitch was Dixie Dean.
Much has been written about him yet little was
known about the man and despite his goal scoring triumphs he was poorly
rewarded, leave on one side his 60 goals in a season and take instead his a
five-year cycle – between 1928 and 1932.
Everton won the championship of Division One
twice (the premier division at that time) and Division Two once.
On each of these occasions Everton scored more
than 100 goals. In all its existence, no other season has the club exceeded the
century mark in goals scored.
Dean’s presence in these teams that achieved
such a fantastic success rate was massive.
The sum total of those three seasons league
goals was 339, with Dean contributing 144 from 114 appearances!
The honour of achieving football success was
paramount but the players were treated dreadfully. We know that Dixie got very
little at the end of his footballing life but he would argue then that it was
wrong for players not even to be given a cash bonus at the Cup Final – instead
they were given vouchers which could be used at “nominated traders”. Dixie was
presented with a bonus of thirty pounds worth of vouchers for winning the cup –
and was captain of the team.
Dixie made the team, created the mood and
enchanted the crowds. When needed will the next such personality emerge and
then how long will he stay?
Paul
Gascoigne on Everton
When
I met Mr Kenwright I was pleading for the chance to join them. I said I
wouldn’t let them down and, touch wood, I kept my word. They have been good to
me and I want to repay the faith they showed. I have a lot of affection for
this club. There is something about it I like, from the tea ladies throughout
the staff. It’s a family club and everyone looks after each other. The best
thing that ever happened to me is playing for Everton. They gave me an
incentive and I had worked with the gaffer before. Even when I came here with
other clubs, the fans have been good to me.”
Who
wants to be a Millionaire? By Eric Moonman
1 Do
you know who came to Everton in a storm of publicity in 1985/86 and ended the
season as the top goalscorer?
a.
Bob Latchford b. Mike Lyons
c.
Gary Lineker d. Graeme Sharp
You
have 15 seconds to answer this; if you don’t know you may call a friend
and if he/she does not know, you will receive a thousand Everton programmes
2
Who beat Everton in the 1968 Cup Final?
a.
Manchester City
b.
West Bromwich Albion
c.
Liverpool
d.
Chelsea
You
have ten seconds to answer this. You can’t ring a friend or anyone else for
that matter. You can ring Bill Walker and if he doesn’t know then you will
receive a pie made by Mrs. Walker from an old scouse recipe, now long missing
from the main Liverpool library.
Note from the quizmaster: If you have got this far, you stand to win an
unprecedented prize!
3 What was the last occasion Everton Youth won the FA Youth Cup?
a.
1984
b. 1998
c.
1987
d. 2000
You have 12 seconds. If you don’t know the answer, you may telephone any
pub in Aberdeen, Barrow or Margate. If you still don’t know, then you have
forfeited your chance to be a millionaire, to dine with Bill Kenwright, CBE on
the train journey to Goodison as well as tea at the Scottish Club with Walter
Smith and you will not be able to buy Everton FC a striker.
In addition, you must return the 1000 Everton programmes and the pie
from Bill Walker’s missus.
Quiz Answers C B B
Adrian Heaths Four Most Memorable Matches
EVERTON v LUTON, League Division
One - December 18th 1982
“One incident makes this game memorable for me.
Although I scored two goals in a tremendous 5-1 win, it was a rare
strike by former Goodison joker John Bailey which I remember most. He was
inside his own half when he let fly and then watched with delight as it bounced
over Jake Findlay’s head into the net. I ran over to him and asked: “You didn’t
mean that did you?” He looked at me for a second and lied through his back
teeth: “Course I did.”
Then as he trotted back to his left-back position, he added smugly: “Not
even Pele can score from inside his own half!
Not for the first time John Bailey cracked me up.”
EVERTON v SOUTHAMPTON FA Cup Semi Final April 14 1984
“The Memory of scoring the extra time winner still sends a shiver down
my spine. It was such a tense affair and, when I headed the ball past Peter
Shilton, the feeling of relief and sheer delight was immense.
The ball seemed to take an age to loop over the ‘keeper and under the
bar and I went absolutely berserk as it hit the net. And I wasn’t the only one.
It’s quite embarrassing thinking about my reaction and looking back at the
celebration pictures, but I think my delight was understandable.
The win meant so much to the fans – who made the journey home even more
memorable by escorting us back up the motorway blasting their car horns all the
way.”
EVERTON v LIVERPOOL, Milk Cup Final – March 24 1984
“This game was special for so many reasons.
It was my first Wembley appearance and, because we were playing against
Liverpool, it meant so much to everyone concerned. I’ll always remember
traveling to the game and seeing both sets of fans making their way in all
forms of transport. There was even a dustcart loaded down with people and
decked in red and blue!
ESCLA Meets Everton L-R Ian Ross (EFC Press Officer), Bill Walker, Ian
Critchley, Eric Moonman, and Michael Dunford (EFC Secretary)
Smart Mahosi
The young man you see pictured is Smart Mahosi a passionate Evertonian
from Zimbabwe. Smart would love to hear from any Evertonians, so if you would
like to contact him, his address is
1816 Nhengure Road
Tshovani
Chiredzi
Zimbabwe