FAN ARTICLES
Everton History Part I: John Houlding
Comments (10) : This has led me to follow up Mr Houlding's history. Part I of your short history says that Mr H, him of Sandon Hotel fame, was "Mayor of Liverpool during this period"; the period referred to being 1882-1885, more or less.
Here's the problem: There was a Thomas Holder, Mayor 1883-4. Sounds like Houlding in some perorations, but I don't think it is him. There was a John Houlding, Mayor in 1897-8, but that is quite a way from 'the period...".
Further, what is often mentioned ? elsewhere ? as specific to Mr Graves may have become threads, plucked from the weave of Mr Houlding's story and, rewoven, became a metaphorical cloak draped on the shoulders of the latter which has become a 'part of history'. Or, then again, maybe not. My search continues.
As a matter of interest: can I make it known that a small group of us, from the town of Drogheda, used to travel over on the boat from Dublin in the late 50s to watch Everton. No! We didn't stay then. That came later. Lord, wasn't there style to their game then. Those were the days...
All the best to everyone in Liverpool.
Reader Comments (10)
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2 Posted 17/12/2010 at 17:00:24
Did you bring any Irish flavour with you to the atmosphere at Goodison?
3 Posted 17/12/2010 at 21:29:20
In the Gwladys St stand would be hundreds of priests sipping on little flasks of 'holy water' and making signs of the cross when Everton scored. Some of their ribald shouts would put father Ted to shame. All that was part of a wonderful vibrant and knowlegable crowd.
Supporters in those days had a sense of humour and accepted with a laugh or at worst a shrug foibles or faults of players. That does not mean fans were any less disappointed when things went against us.
The general atmosphere was vastly different to the angst-ridden often abusive crowds of today.
4 Posted 17/12/2010 at 23:02:56
I would also be interested to hear more about the atmosphere at Goodison pre the Premier League.
5 Posted 17/12/2010 at 23:11:52
6 Posted 18/12/2010 at 01:06:09
" For many years the family of Graves were very much part and parcel of the business scene of New Ross. For over one hundred and seventy five years, 1811 - 1986 they had a thriving Builders Providers and Sawmills on New Ross Quays. For some part of that time especially before and after the famine they were renowned as a firm of ship builders and shipping agents. Robert Samuel Graves left his home in Rosbercon Castle and headed to Liverpool about the year 1860. He took on the running of the Graves shipping company in that city and did a fine job too. His popularity soared and he was elected mayor of Liverpool as well as a Member of Parliament for the area in 1865, and he held the seat until his death in 1873. In his capacity as mayor, it was he who put through a proposal to develop grounds on the outskirts of the city for a Football Club. These grounds ran directly behind the family business. Robert then sanctioned a proposal to build a roadway up to the new grounds, and duly named it Anfield Lane, after the one beside his ancestral home in Rosbercon.. "
I hope this helps.
7 Posted 18/12/2010 at 01:20:29
8 Posted 18/12/2010 at 03:26:43
9 Posted 19/12/2010 at 14:52:54
The founding Fathers Of Merseyside Football have been immortalised in oils and Houlding is one of them. King John was another name he was known by.
November 2009 we held an evening in honour of these six men and had people giving a small talk on each of them, Peter Lupson gave a talk on Houlding and has information on him.
If you contact me I will give you Peter's email paulwhartonefc@btinternet.com
10 Posted 19/12/2010 at 18:21:01
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1 Posted 17/12/2010 at 16:46:17
I don't have the source material Hans used, but I do have a number of books that cover portions of this key episode in the History of Everton Football Club. I'll try to look at them over the weekend and see if I can find any reference to this.
Cheers