Chelsea Hit for Six: Fifty-Six Years Ago

Fifty-six years to the day before our 12 March 2016 FA Cup tie with Chelsea, Everton took on the Londoners at Goodison Park in the First Division and thumped them for six.

Rob Sawyer 09/03/2016 58comments  |  Jump to last

Fifty-six years to the day before our 12 March 2016 FA Cup tie with Chelsea, Everton took on the Londoners at Goodison Park in the First Division. The John Moores revolution was in full swing and manager John Carey was assembling a stellar squad. Bobby Collins, who had arrived in the final days of the Ian Buchan regime, had been joined by Jimmy Gabriel, Roy Vernon and Tommy Ring. Chelsea were not without talent either and selected a young Jimmy Greaves and winger Peter Brabrook, whom Harry Catterick would try to sign for Everton two years later.

Lining up at 3pm before just shy of 60,000 Goodison spectators were:

Everton: Albert Dunlop, Alex Parker, John Bramwell, Jimmy Gabriel, Brian Labone, Mick Meagan, Mickey Lill, Bobby Collins, Jimmy Harris, Roy Vernon,  Tommy Ring

Chelsea: Matthews, Whittaker, Sillett, Anderton, Mortimore, Crowther, Brabrook, Brooks, Tindall, Greaves, Harrison

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Everton were quick out of the blocks and nearly forced Crowther into scoring an own goal in the first minute. After sustained pressure Everton took the lead on the 10th minute. Collins picked out Lill who fed Vernon to twist and shoot home via a deflection. The reporter, Horace Yates, purred over the performance of the recently acquired Welsh marksman who had hit his sixth goal in four appearances:

Not only was his service to others something at which to marvel, with far-flung passes reaching their targets with uncanny accuracy, but always he seemed to do the right thing at the right time. It was his split-second appreciation of the possibilities which gave the Chelsea defence such a threadbare look. Add to that the proved ability to snap up scoring trifles and his credentials could scarcely be more apparent.

Two minutes after Vernon’s strike, Jimmy Harris’ flying header converted Tommy Ring’s left-wing cross to put the Toffees two goals to the good. In the 25th minute Ring was fouled and from the resulting free kick Jimmy Harris crossed for Bobby Collins to flick the ball nonchalantly past Matthews.

Ten minutes before half-time Parker released Harris and his centre to Lill was smashed into the net, with aplomb, from twelve yards by the winger

The Echo reporter was moved to state: This was an Everton rounding off superbly quick and decisive attacks with goals, the likes of which had not been seen at Goodison for years.

With Lill off the field for treatment, Everton pressed on and Ring saw his shot cannon off two opponents before rolling into the net. Although credited as the winger’s first goal in English football many commentators adjudged it to be an own-goal.

Finally The Pensioners responded after Meagan conceded a free kick. Greaves nudged the ball for Sillett to rocket the ball home from twenty-five yards.  Almost straight from the kick-off, Ring rounded Matthews to put the Blues 6-1 up – there was no doubting that this was his goal.

Seconds later the half-time whistle blew and the team left the pitch to a deafening ovation. The Goodison faithful speculated on whether double figures could be achieved. Such optimism seemed well placed when Lill stung Matthew’s hands shortly after the resumption of play but, remarkably, there would be no further scoring.

Jimmy Harris, who would lose his place with the arrival of Alex Young at the end of the year, recalls: “We were brilliant that day; the first-half was as good as anything. At half-time I thought we’d get ten like Tottenham had done once against us but we let them off the hook You couldn’t get a better forward line than we had that day. I was centre-forward with Mickey Lill on the right wing, Tommy Ring on the left wing plus Vernon and Collins”

Horace Yates commented, poetically, on a future full of promise for Carey’s newly assembled team: This new Carey creation, in a few short weeks had already begun to roll back the dust-laden curtains which had fallen and lain so heavily to cloak a distinguished past.

Those fortunate enough to see the revitalised Everton at the start of the 1960s were treated to some of the most exhilarating, attacking football witnessed since the club’s formation back in 1878. However, with the thrills came spills and the very next week the Toffees crashed to a 6-2 defeat at The Hawthorns followed by a home loss to Newcastle. It was this inconsistency that saw Carey sacked in infamous circumstances a year later, to be replaced by the more pragmatic, but ultimately successful, Harry Catterick.

Credits:

Billy Smith (Blue Correspondent website)
Steve Johnson (Everton Results website)
Michael Charters (Liverpool Echo)
Horace Yates (Daily Post)

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Reader Comments (58)

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Dave Abrahams
1 Posted 09/03/2016 at 15:47:08
I was at that Chelsea game and it was great to watch.

The following week, I came out of Cammel Lairds, bought the half-time Echo, Everton were winning 2-0; "That will do me," I said to myself>

When I got home, we’d lost 6-2, I think Derek Kevin scored four or five for WBA in one of Jimmy Gabriel’s earlier games for the Blues.

Ray Atherton
2 Posted 09/03/2016 at 16:01:28
Rob
That was a mesmerising first half, absolutely
brilliant. I thought we were going to get
ten, what Spurs had done to us two
seasons previous.

Went to the Hawthorns the next week.We
were 2-0 up, Derek Kevan the burly
England centre forward scored five goals
for the Baggies,in a 6-2 defeat.

Tony Sullivan
3 Posted 09/03/2016 at 16:08:15
Dave Abrahams (#1)

I remember the Johnny Carey era, great football some great results, and I was shocked when he was sacked in the back of a taxi, very humiliating for a nice man and a good manager.

What did you do at Cammell Lairds, Dave? At about the same time I started my apprenticeship (wood machinist) at Cunard in Bootle. Optimistic days then, hopefully around the corner again.

Dave Abrahams
4 Posted 09/03/2016 at 16:33:57
I think a lot of people were shocked Tony, I think Everton had not long won at home with a big score, looking back John Moores did the right thing by bringing Harry Catterick in, but many fans loved Johnny Carey.

We were in the same game Tony, I was in the Joiners yard at Lairds, a big cruise liner was being built at the time, The Windsor Castle. I didn’t enjoy working at Lairds, but that’s another tale.

Chris Williams
5 Posted 09/03/2016 at 16:45:11
Those were great days to be a Blue. Completely free attacking football at the start of something that felt new and exciting. The other lot in the second division, which was their natural habitat with their crappy little ground.

We were the trailblazers with giant lighting pylons and under soil heating. We were the Mersey Millionaires, the School of Science.

I lived in Walton then and walked to the ground in a few minutes. If they were doing something on the pitch at night, the floodlights would light up my bedroom like daytime.

Bobby Collins was a class above anything I'd seen in a Blue shirt, until Roy Vernon who was a class above him and everyone else since for me.

Those names in the report, Parker, Gabriel, who used to pick players up after he'd flattened them, Tommy Ring, so unlucky (again against Chelsea) and so talented, Micky Lill, fast, direct and goal scorer , again unlucky with injuries. Labone, 20 years old and already impressive as a player and a man.

We always reckoned at the time Catterick won the league with Carey's team, probably unjustly, because Harry professionalised the whole set up.

But that team of Carey's in my minds eye was the most exciting I'd ever seen.

Bob McEvoy
6 Posted 09/03/2016 at 16:59:13
I was at that game but only 8 years old but then and now I thought Tommy Ring was the best winger ever. I cried when he broke his leg the following September at Stamford Bridge. I’ve disliked Chelsea ever since. Good stuff, Rob.
Phil Roberts
7 Posted 09/03/2016 at 18:57:44
And then there was the 1970 5-2. Chelsea were 3rd that year and won the cup. Kendall scored with a di Canio 30 years before he did and Bally got a 2nd after 3 mins. We had season tickets an one guy came in after 5 minutes and asked the score. It took him 30 mins before he believed us when we scored again and the Gladwys were chanting we want 4.

Same again Saturday. I wish.

Ian Burns
8 Posted 09/03/2016 at 19:16:15
Thanks for the article, Rob – but although I know how old I am, I was at that game and had to read time and again that it was 56 years ago. Bobby Collins was for me the catalyst who changed Everton from a lowly side to a side pushing for the top echelons of the old First Division.

I am a neighbour of a Burnley regular who won the league in 1960 and he rated Bobby Collins and Roy Vernon very highly indeed but he said it was frightening playing against Alex Young as "he could make a dick of you so sublime were his skills".

Frank Crewe
9 Posted 09/03/2016 at 19:31:00
So Barry was on the bench that day?
Rick Tarleton
10 Posted 09/03/2016 at 19:31:03
I too was at that game and would just like to agree with Ian Burns about Bobby Collins being the catalyst that began the change from the ageing team that came up from the Second Division and basically stagnated, until Collins signed for us from Celtic. In my 60-plus years of watching Everton, Collins was the signing who has had the greatest impact.

Vernon was magnificent, Young, magical , but it was Collins who began the process that led to the Championship in 1962-63 , though Catterick had mistakenly got rid of this great player and leader.

Dave Abrahams
11 Posted 09/03/2016 at 19:48:49
Rick (10) yes Rick, Bobby Collins was the signing that started Everton on the road to being a top club again.

Couldn’t believe it when we signed him. In my time up to then, we’d never signed a player as good as Bobby, so very good and so professional, he made the whole team play better and I bet they felt and played better just by having a player alongside them like Collins.

When they signed him, I don’t think they had won in their first six games; they did that night 3-1 at Man City.

Brian Denton
12 Posted 09/03/2016 at 20:37:09
We also stuck six past them in 1978, the Bob Latchford’s 30-goal season clincher.
Don Alexander
13 Posted 09/03/2016 at 20:54:29
Too young to have seen the Carey years, but why did The Cat allow Bobby Collins, midfield general, to go? He did the same to my favourite team in December 1971 when he flogged midfield general Bally to the Arse.

It was one of the headlines on the national news that morning, so amazing was it. To say I was gutted was an understatement.

Martin O'Hare
14 Posted 10/03/2016 at 02:32:48
My first ever game watching Everton. I was 10 and my dad took me there for the first time. I think I was behind the goal where all the goals were scored, the Bullens Road stand but my memory is fading a bit as I’m now 66.

At half-time, my Dad couldn’t believe the scoreline and said to me "I’m going to have to take you here more often."

I live in Sydney now but will love my Blues for ever.

John Atkins
15 Posted 10/03/2016 at 07:15:18
Would love to know if my Dad went to that game as would have been 18 then, I’m sure he would have been

Brian (#12) I was in the Paddock that day in 78 to see my hero Bob Latchford notch up his 30th goal.

Great memories.

Ray Roche
16 Posted 10/03/2016 at 08:51:08
Collins, great player, is just one of several who were sold before they should have been. Ball, Lineker and Collins... what we’d do to have those three playing now. And Tommy Ring would have been the oft used but rarely accurately "legend" but for injury.
Dave Abrahams
17 Posted 10/03/2016 at 09:03:00
Ray (16) right there over Tommy Ring, I’ve praised him many times on here, along with a few other Everton fans, fantastic player with marvellous dribbling skills.

Tommy only played 34 times for the Blues but will always remain fresh in my memories. £12,000 from Clyde a bigger steal than the great train robbery.

Chris Williams
18 Posted 10/03/2016 at 10:49:37
From memory (never too reliable) it was John Moores who was instrumental in selling Bobby Collins. A ruthless man, once he'd made his mind up about you that was that. Same with Carey.
Jim Lloyd
19 Posted 10/03/2016 at 10:54:17
My memory's suspect as well, Chris but I had it that Catterick was the man who wanted him out, as Collins was too much of a leader for the Cat. So off he went to Leeds and became Player of the Year!
Rick Tarleton
20 Posted 10/03/2016 at 10:55:14
You can add Roy Vernon to the list of players sold too soon. Catterick sold those who had a spark of individuality and who spoke out. Collins, Vernon and Ball were terrible and possibly vindictive decisions.
Bob McEvoy
21 Posted 10/03/2016 at 10:56:30
Chris, I’ve always sort of assumed that Collins and Catterick had a clash of personalities and then there was only one winner. Same thing happened with Vernon.
Chris Williams
22 Posted 10/03/2016 at 10:58:47
Jim, whoever it was, and your version sounds plausible, it was a daft thing to do. He was playing years later at the top level. Instrumental in putting together Revie's horrible Leeds team too. He always had a dark side to him – read Colin Harvey’s book for that.
Jim Lloyd
23 Posted 10/03/2016 at 11:10:48
Who's that Chris? Do you mean Catterick? If so, I could well believe it as my mate who worked in Otis (as did I come to think of it!) used to get a lift home off Jimmy Gabriel occasionally as his brother in law worked there. Some of the stories were eye openers.

As Rick has just said, he did seem to get rid of top players with a certain degree of haste. I could never take to Catterick really, even though he brought in Tony Kay. I just thought he was dour and introverted.

I just loved going to Goodison in the early Sixties, (a kid growing up on some wonderful football) I think for those few years it was absolutely magical. Rose tinted glasses maybe but it was brilliant. Collins, Vernon, Young, Gabriel, Parker, Ring, Brian and Jimmy Harris, Labby. great memories.

Brian Harrison
24 Posted 10/03/2016 at 11:21:32
I was at the game too, and can't for the life of me understood why Carey was sacked. Seeing Jimmy Harris name on the sheet brings back memories of getting on the number 14 bus and sitting upstairs was Jimmy Harris, he was courting Miss Great Britain she lived in Croxteth I think she was called Roberta something. Wonder when was the last time a professional footballer used a bus.

I think our generation were blessed to see an era were we had some great players and a great team. The youngsters now watching would die for what we watched, week-in and week-out.

I think the two things that upset and please me at the same time is the number of youngsters attending our games that pleases me and the fact that we are nowhere near the quality that I and fans of my age watched.

Chris Williams
25 Posted 10/03/2016 at 11:24:04
Jim I was meaning Bobby Collins. Revies representative on the pitch at Leeds. He was a great player but had a real nasty streak. Colin Harvey accused him of going over the top on him in a training match just as he was starting to break into the first team.

We used to have a few pints with Labone of a lunchtime in the centre of Liverpool in the few years before he died, and he told us about Harry's school reports after each game. These written reports about the performance of the team and each player. 'Alex Young, must try harder' and that sort of thing. He gave me a copy of one and I can't remember where I put it to keep it safe!

The pub was a Kopite pub, twinned with pubs in Norway, but they've got a picture of Brian on the wall in his Everton shirt now. What a gent. But he held Catterick in great respect, even if he was an arsehole,

Jim Lloyd
26 Posted 10/03/2016 at 11:37:39
Haha Brian, the 14 bus! Amazing isn’t it, you’re right, I don’ think too many of them would be getting the bus to Crocky (or anywhere else. I agree with your sentiments over Johnny Carey.Loved the players he brought in and the football they played.

I remember listening to an interview Merseyside had with Alex Young, Chris. He said that Bobby was a little General who wanted nothing less than all out effort on the pitch and woe betide you if you fell down on either effort or standard. I think we need someone like him, now.

A great little story about Brian Chris. What a great Captain of Everton and a true gentleman. We were indeed lucky.

Chris Williams
27 Posted 10/03/2016 at 12:58:55
You're right Jim, Collins, Kay , Ball and Harvey, along with Roy Vernon in the current team would not lack for leadership and lazy buggers would be in fear of their lives.

I used to work with Tommy Jones (TE) and he was a lovely man. Still stayed in touch with Jimmy O' Neil who was poorly. He used to get the bus home, and he said he used to stand in the queue with his boots under his arm. If they'd played well everyone would be chatting away to him. If they'd played badly they all used to turn their backs and ignore him.

I met Jimmys son a few years ago and he was saying Jimmy was well looked after when he was ill. They put a stairlift in and converted things to make life a bit easier for him. Jimmy apparently was a great fan of Carey but not of Harry. He went to Stoke where he had a good career. People like Terry Conroy went to his funeral alongside some of his old Everton teammates. Mainly the old Irish contingent.

Chris Williams
28 Posted 10/03/2016 at 13:58:46
Sorry, should have made it clear that the home improvements were arranged by Everton. Presumably through the Former Players charity.

Another reason to feel good about supporting this club despite the on field and Management issues.

Terry White
29 Posted 10/03/2016 at 14:42:33
I too was at the 6-1 game. I want to echo the comments made by so many people, what a delight it was to go to Goodison and see a free-flowing attacking team playing each week. Sounds a bit like today’s team, doesn’t it, except that we won most of the home games! Of course, we struggled to win away and I believe there was one season around this time when we did not win one of the 21 away games. The lack of consistency was the primary reason Catterick replaced Carey.

Some wonderful players mentioned. But in joining the praise for Bobby Collins I don’t think anyone should downplay the positive effect Dennis Stevens had on the team when he came from Bolton. Much more of a grafter and defender than Collins, he provided the balance that enabled Young and Vernon to flourish.

I went to school in Crosby with Johnny Carey’s son. My friend one day, gone the next!

Last year I had the pleasure of meeting Jimmy Harris along wih Derek Temple at the Dave Hickson book launch. A very pleasant man who feels, I think, that he sadly left the club just as greatness came upon the team. He did a fine job for the club at number 9 and number 7 through the late 50s and went on to Birmingham City where he won a Fair’s Cup winner’s medal, I believe.

Dave Abrahams
30 Posted 10/03/2016 at 15:23:46
Terry(29) Jimmy Harris sits near to me in the Upper Bullens, in his 80s now, I believe, doesn’t miss many games, sits with his grandson.

He along with many of his fellow players must regret being born 50 years too soon and seeing mediocre and average players become millionaires, although he never moans about it when I’ve mentioned it to him.

Jim Gore
31 Posted 10/03/2016 at 16:49:20
I too was at this game, in the boys pen, which in those days went down to the front. I loved that team with Tommy Ring on the left and Micky Lill on the right. Not every game was as good as that at the time though.

I remember going in the October to the Preston North end game, stood behind the goal in the Street End, poured down with rain the whole game, ended up 0-0. But those sort of games were the exception, in fact I think we went a couple of seasons unbeaten at home in the league, so strong was our team.

I couldn’t believe it when Johnny Carey got sacked, but Harry Catterick took us that step further.
Ray Atherton
32 Posted 10/03/2016 at 18:35:04
Dave (#11),

Bobby Collins debut at Maine Road, 3-1 to us, was an afternoon Saturday match. I think we had lost about six on the trot, nabbed him from Celtic on the Friday.

Yes, Catterick was a bit of a tyrant. On a pre season tour to the USA, he sent Roy Vernon home after breaking a curfew. I knew Roy, I was working on the building in Maghull and had a few pints with him. Roy lived there, as quite a few players did also.

Terry White
33 Posted 10/03/2016 at 21:50:31
Tommy Ring was as good, if not better, than people’s praise for him. Mickey Lill was a goalscoring winger, played either side, and he did score quite a few goals. Must have been doing something wrong as Bingham replaced him but perhaps there were some serious injury issues also. Roy Vernon – what a finisher!
Peter Lee
34 Posted 10/03/2016 at 21:51:52
Best goal I ever saw was scored by Jimmy Husband against Chelsea.

They took a corner which got headed in the air and was about to drop in the D, Alan Ball ran past us, we were standing at the front in the enclosure, screaming for the ball. John Hurst caught it on the volley and as its about to land on the half-way line in front of the dugout Bally volleys it with the outside of his foot. Jimmy Husband takes it on his chest as he moves into the area and volleys home as it drops.

The ball didn’t touch the ground from the corner kick until it hit the back of the net. Aaaaaah!!

Tony Hill
35 Posted 10/03/2016 at 21:57:41
Peter, I remember that goal. It was indeed one of the very best I've ever seen at Goodison.
Dave Abrahams
36 Posted 10/03/2016 at 22:05:45
Ray (32) you may be right regarding the City 3-1 game but I 've got it in my head it was a Wednesday night game.

I'llhave you a penny bet and you can have two to one on it.!!!!!!!!

Terry White
37 Posted 10/03/2016 at 22:15:16
Dave (36), sorry, it was a day game. I too was there. We played in our all white strip with blue and yellow thin hoops around the shirt.

Was I in on the bet too?

Ian Smitham
38 Posted 10/03/2016 at 23:14:08
Phil Roberts, #7, my Dad supported Liverpool, that year my Uncle Brian took me to a fair few games as my parents house hunted moving back up North. I was at said game, stood on my home made ladders, in Bullens Road, behind the things that were used to show the half time scores.

Was at the game you refer to which was character building and quite probably why I am and remain an Evertonian, and why, in turn, my boys are.

Jim Lloyd
39 Posted 10/03/2016 at 23:58:33
Ah! It is truly evocative when I read some of the brilliant posts, with memeories, stories, insights and observations about what to me was the most exciting time in all my years of watching the Blues.

My mate told me, not that I knew it, that Mr Moores kept two empty hangers and shirts in our dressing room. He told me that Moores had kept them, so that when we could sign foreign players, he was going to bring in Pushkas and Di Stefano.

Mind you, I was quite happy with Alex and Royston!

We have been so lucky two see two great, truly great, sides in the time that I've watched our equally great Football Club. I'd loved to have seen Dixie but me Dad told me about that great side, as he used to bike it down from Haydock to watch them.

I just hope, that this new shareholder of ours can bring about the step change we all want, so that the kids of today can grow up seeing a bit of what we've seen.

Roll on Saturday!

Tony Waring
40 Posted 11/03/2016 at 09:43:47
I don’t remember if it was the same season but I was at Stamford Bridge (I was working and living in London at the time) and I remember Tommy Ring breaking his leg.

My mate and I went to visit him in hospital in the Fulham Road. He was in a ward with other guys and glad to see a couple of friendly faces – not exactly what today’s players would endure!

I seem to recall another game against Chelsea, played in pouring rain, and I thought we scored 8 against them... or was that Southampton when Joe Royle & David Johnson grabbed a few?

Ian Burns
41 Posted 11/03/2016 at 12:50:17
I could sit here all day on TW reading of the late '50s and into the '60s. So many memories; so many stories. As many have said on here and on other such threads, it seemed to be a magical passage of time.

Completely off thread but part of the memory stick – I remember the Hungary vs Brazil at Goodison ’66, where Evertonians loved their number 9 and took to the Hungarian who played an absolute blinder with the crowd chanting his name, which escapes me at the moment.

Ah – where’s me gin?

Dave Abrahams
42 Posted 11/03/2016 at 12:55:03
Tony (#40),

Yes, it was Southampton, 8-0 – Royle and Johnson shared seven goals between them and Alan Ball scored the other which was the best goal of the game; it was played in snow.

On the same day, Bournemouth beat Margate in the cup and one of their players scored TEN!!! He later went to Manchester United, I think he had been on Liverpool's books at one time... Mac something or other.

Steve Barr
43 Posted 11/03/2016 at 13:02:16
It was Ted MacDougall and he actually scored nine goals in an 11–0 win against Margate.
Dave Abrahams
44 Posted 11/03/2016 at 13:08:22
Steve (43), thanks for that... my memory is definitely getting getting worse.
Steve Barr
45 Posted 11/03/2016 at 13:16:05
Dave,

I know what you mean. I’ve been trying to close the loop on what I recall was one of the best goals I ever saw at Goodison.

I seem to think it was v Newcastle. John Hurst brought the ball out of defence, pushed it out to Colin Harvey on his right who hit a lovely diagonal ball forward and Jimmy Husband let it float over his right shoulder before volleying it into the net.

I seem to think it was around 1971-ish but been through our stats books and can’t reconcile it.

Must have been another game!

Chris Williams
46 Posted 11/03/2016 at 13:17:56
Ian@41

Was it Florian Albert?

Ian Burns
47 Posted 11/03/2016 at 13:50:39
Chris (#46),

Yes that’s the guy – I have been sitting here trying to recall the name – I can recall the chanting, just couldn’t bring the name into focus. Thanks, Chris.

Bob McEvoy
48 Posted 11/03/2016 at 15:53:03
Chris (#46)
Played on a Friday night in pouring rain. Possibly the best game I’ve seen live. My biggest recall is the Farkas goal... hit it on the volley as the ball came over his shoulder.
Dave Abrahams
49 Posted 11/03/2016 at 16:07:23
Florian Albert, blond hair, moved like Alex Young graceful and floating through the match. The Everton crowd loved him from the first time they saw him move with the ball, he had a great game, applauded off the field along with the rest of the Hungarian team.

He didn’t play centre-forward that night though, he played wide on the right. Bene was the centre-forward and he was great as well, must have been to push Albert to the wing.

Dave Abrahams
50 Posted 11/03/2016 at 16:17:57
Steve (45) I can’t recall that goal versus Newcastle but it sounds like the goal scored against Chelsea in the first few minutes of the game the year we won the league in 1970.

One of the best goals I saw scored for the Blues was by the little known Welsh winger, Gerry Humphreys, versus Sheffield Wednesday, a great shot on the run from the angle of the penalty area, caught it perfectly and the ball flew in, would have beat any Goallie in the world.

Gerry was the step son of Jack Humphreys a Welsh international centre-half who played for Everton in the forties and fifties. I think young Gerry went to Crewe after leaving Everton.

Ray Atherton
51 Posted 11/03/2016 at 16:53:06
Dave (#36)

I went with my Uncle to that Man City match.

When we were in the ground before KO, he pointed to the base of the floodlight pylon, "That s were I was sitting at half-time against Bolton in the semi-final, losing 4-0 in 1953.

Dave, where shall we meet to get that tuppence?

Dave Abrahams
52 Posted 11/03/2016 at 17:17:49
Ray (51) your uncle might have been near me at that semi-final, first away game with mate Mick, I was 12 he was 10. 4-0 at half time, Tommy Clinton missed a penalty just before the interval, we got back to 4-3 but couldn’t get the equaliser.

If I’m not mistaken (again!!) Alf Bond refereed that game and the final, Bolton v Blackpool, Bond was the famous one-armed referee.

Where to meet for this tuppence? I’ll have to stay in this weekend to help pay for it. I’m in the Upper Bullens for every home game but not tomorrow, in the Upper Gwladys. You’ll have to catch me to get it and I can’ t half run, especially when I owe money.

Steve Barr
53 Posted 11/03/2016 at 18:41:01
Dave #50, you may have finally given me the missing link and helped me close the loop!

Just checked some old stats and it may well have been the Chelsea game on 16 January 1971. We beat Chelsea 3-0, with Jimmy Husband scoring first early on. Henry Newton and Joe Royle bagged the others.

As you say, we also beat Chelsea at home in the 1970 fixture. That was a 5-2 win. Husband didn’t play so I’ll settle for the 1971 game as it seems to meet most of my recollections.

By the way, some great players at Chelsea then but clearly no match for our brilliant team at that time.

Thanks for the input, I can now relax!

Patrick Murphy
54 Posted 11/03/2016 at 21:20:34
Sixty years ago, another FA Cup tie, albeit in the fifth round, was held at Goodison against Chelsea and like their modern day counterparts arrived as the reigning champions the game was played in February 1956. It was the first time that Everton had entertained Chelsea at Goodison, in the FA Cup.
The Daily Post reported the following:

By Leslie Edwards – a tight squeeze but Everton are still there. The goal which took them into the last eight (and to the successfully of reaching the semi-finals for the third time since the war) came at fifteen minutes.

On a pitch so sanded that this might almost termed the battle of Seaforth sands, Brain Harris, in brightest mood, jinked and lived towards the centre of the pitch were Wainwright seem waiting like Mr. Micawber for something to turn up.

Something did turn up – a short internal pass by Harris, Wainwright had only time to pivot on a grain of sand. Then with admirable quick-thinking he tapped the ball a few feet for on-running Farrell.

Farrell hit his shot low and true. Some Chelsea foot stretch out to the ball, but only deflected it. It scarcely altered course as it zipped over the line to the consternation of a Chelsea who had fought five times against Burnley and now found themselves on the collar again. That goal was never rubbed out. In a good match – remembering how treacherous the over sanded portions of the pitch were – it stood good to an end as bitter for Chelsea as it was a triumphant for Everton.

But the final ten minutes in which Farrell issued the order ’All hands to defence’ were carried and Chelsea piling on all the laboured pressure they could had the Everton defence at full stretch and sometimes dithering.

Many left the ground long before the end – possibly because the suspense was more than they could bear.


To See and Hear


The bulk of the great crowd stayed to hear Liverpool final which cheered many and to witness an after-the-match scene which looked and sounded ugly. The trouble arose when hundreds of excited youngsters dashed on to the pitch, whooping with joy and ready to mob Everton in general and Farrell in particular. Usually police disperse these dancing dervishes with no trouble, now one enthusiast wanted to escape a lawful arm and the manner of his checking was such that tens of thousands became incensed.

Abuse was not the only missile to fall about the heads of constables who stood facing terraces and irate men who would not go home until they said their say (with many a wagging fore-finger) and had heard news from Manchester. The trouble is that anyone is allowed on the pitch.

Farrell barely survived his mobbing and must have been glad to reach the dressing room and the well done handsake from his chief Manager Cliff Britton whose comment was ’We won deservedly. But we should have made more of our well-made openings’.

Mr. Britton confirmed my view when he said he had never seen Cyril Lello play better. It may have been that all Everton were shod in rubbers (Chelsea’s foot-wear was a mixture of rubber and leather) but I have never seen Lello bound so high, nor cover so much ground so usefully.

This saying a great deal when one recalls what a fine club man he is.


I’m not sure we could stomach such a game tomorrow any better than the fans at the time, but if the end result is the same I’m sure we’d all take it.

Match report from Everton Independent research Data The Blue Correspondent.

Everton v Chelsea, FA Cup 1956

Tony Hill
55 Posted 11/03/2016 at 22:33:29
Bloody hell, this is the Alzheimer’s thread for the old and bewildered and no mistake. I feel very much at home. Steve (#53), the goal you’re talking about is the one mentioned by Peter Lee @34.
Steve Barr
56 Posted 12/03/2016 at 02:20:33
Tony (#55), I think you’ve summed it up nicely there!

Thanks to you, Dave Abrahams and Peter Lee for helping me finally nail my fading recollections of that great goal. I’m now convinced that was the goal I remember with such awe.

As a young lad I was absolutely mesmerised watching that great move develop so quickly and the quality of the finish was just inevitable. It’s always stuck in my memory.

At that moment, I honestly believe I must have felt much the same as Alan Ball did when he described his feeling for Everton after scoring against Liverpool... "I just love this place – I want this place forever."

How could anyone support any other team!

Mark Dolphy
57 Posted 12/03/2016 at 08:28:57
I was at the game where we beat Chelsea 6-0 and Bob Latchford got his 30th league goal in the last game of the season.

Just a win will do me today.

Tony Hill
58 Posted 12/03/2016 at 09:10:10
Beautifully put, Steve. That is exactly how it feels and in the end it's all that matters.

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