In My Blue Life 2

Great article Fran. Agree with you totally on Mick Lyons & Ron Yeats.
I was one of many kids who had the pleasure of turning out for Malpas - the Sunday League team Mick Lyons ran - and named, as I recall, after the road he lived in on the Croxteth estate. A truly great bloke who gave up hours of his own time to encourage us. West Derby & District Football League played their games at Barnfield drive, and familiar faces on the touchline at games included Dave Jones and (hiss!) Phil Thompson who Mick roped in to hand out prizes at the end-of-season awards.
Several years later, as a student working in the Fruit Market, came across Ron Yeats. As I recall Ron was running a cafe in Old Swan and came into the market buy his ingredients. Although by this stage his career was long over he looked in great condition - and had time for everyone and was a generous tipper to the porters who delivered to his van. Also happy to engage in the red v blue banter.
2 top blokes who plainly deserve the respect they are held in.

I could understand onfield rivalry between players from both camps yet I thought it rather odd to be carried over into their personal lives.
I lived in Maghull as did a fair number of Reds and Blues in club houses.
You would never see players from one club mixing with those of the other. Each lot stayed with fellow club members even in after pub kick abouts during the summer on the old Meadows field.
when sides were sorted they always turned out to be Blues vs Reds.
The pros on both sides were careful, one could say gentle when tackling the ordinary Joe Blows but it was a different story against opposite pros.
Tackles would be flying in and tempers were occasionally at breaking point.
It was noted in the paper that Yeats sported a mysterious shiner in a Derby match.
What wasnt reported was that it resulted from a bit of fisticuffs with Fred Pickering in a Maghull betting shop just a few days earlier.
I don't know what started the argy bargy but both lots of players were 'up for it'.
Fortunately there was enough level heads on both sides to break it up and calm things down.

I remember when Mick played for us quite often he would call into the Bulldog pub and chat to a neighbour who incidentally was a red. So I used to chat to Mick quite often, he told me a funny thing about Bob Latchford apparantly Latchford hated playing with the orange balls that they used mainly in the winter. Mick never said why Bob didnt like orange balls but used to moan he could never score when we played with an orange ball, another superstition I suppose. I would also say to him before a derby " Mick don't say anything to the press" as the headline in the press on matchday usually had a quote from Mick saying we would win, which happened very rarely in those days. He reckons he never spoke to press guys before the derby but they would print something about him predicting an Everton win anyway.

On another point a friend and I were lucky enough to get tickets for the Everton players banquet to be held at the Lancaster hotel in London on the night of the final against Watford. Well it was either going to be a very quiet night or a great celebration thankfully it was the latter. We got there about 10 minutes before the players arrived and I was ordering a drink at the bar when in walked John Bailey and Derek Mountfield, John was still wearing that tall hat that he ran round Wembley with. Bailey refused to let me pay for the drinks. Then Kevin Ratcliffe came in with the FA Cup, well we had Known Kevins father Brian so he arranged to have a photo taken with Kevin holding the cup. We then took our seats for the meal and I was lucky enough to be on Peter Reids table with his family, during the meal Peter asked me had I seen his winners medal, I said no so he says to his Dad to let me see his medal. I obviously handled it with great care but Peter insisted that I get it out of its case and hold it, what a feeling me holding the Cup winners medal that had been presented only a couple of hours earlier fantastic!!!. Later on in the evening John Bailey told me that after the game Howard Kendall said to the players look I know you will be taking the cup to your banquet but leave me the plinth to take along to the directors venue that was being held at a different hotel from the players. But Bailey had different ideas and put the plinth into a carrier bag, so we had the cup and the plinth not sure how that went down with Howard and the directors.

Many moons ago, I went with my (late) pater to buy paint on Scotland Rd

("Shhhcottie lid?" Does 15 minutes of hilarious Billy Butler-style anecdotes on nits).

Anyway we get in there and the feller in charge goes out the back, returns and tells us "Be about 5 minutes mate, he's just sortin' your order out"

Rain was hammering down outside so we just waited.

Ting!

The door opens and in walks Tommy 'you'd go mad if one moved in next door' Smith.

He hands the feller a piece of paper and immediately the feller becomes the most obsequious suck-hole you've ever seen.

"Yeah remember this Tommy, won't be a minute Tommy, it's all ready to go Tommy..."

The feller then goes into the back.

When Tommy looks in our direction, we say fuck all but are both trying to come up with a facial expression that will convey "I fucking hate you"

The feller comes back with a box of tins of paint.

"Sorry for the wait Tommy, it's all there Tommy, good luck Tommy..."

Me and my 'oul feller are both thinking "you arse-licking red cun..."

But we were wrong.

The SECOND 'Tommy' is out the door, the feller REALLY lets rip.

"Fucking fat poc-marked dirty horrible red twat" he says VERY angrily

He then catches himself on and looks at us.

"Sorry" he says.

My dad (now laughing) says "Don't apologise, we agree with every word.

The feller says "Bet you thought I was right up his arse"

We said "Well..."

He says "Hey business is business..but he'll be painting my golly on his walls the fat cun.t)

Eugene - golly in the paint. That's the reason I never upset air stewards (no, meals not paint).

I remember being at a function, at which Harry Catterick spoke, in the late 60's.

One of the players mentioned was Alan Whittle who I'd seen only once, or maybe twice, in the reserves, and who hadn't impressed me at all. He (Catterick) was asked who, among the up-and-coming young Blues was going to be "the next big thing". "Make no mistake," said Catterick, "this lad Whittle will one day be the idol of Goodison."

To be honest, I dismissed the thought; sure he was a striker, and was very fair-haired (shades of 'the Golden Vision') - but I thought "No, chance". However for those few weeks in April/May of 1970 nobody, but nobody, has ever deserved the title "idol" more.

I was in the Punch Bowl in Sefton last week, it brought to mind that it was once Mick's watering hole. The story goes that one day he was in there on his own, literally crying into his beer. A concerned customer approached him and asked what the matter was. "They've sold me to Sheffield Wednesday". "Thank fuck for that" came the reply.

Great stuff, Fran. I'm in the same school year as you but lived in Halewood so we played in the Huyton competitions at that time... I played at Barnham Drive a few times... bloody freezing — the place had it's own eco system .

Dave Johnson lived on the Mackets Lane estate in Halewood so why he went to Gateacre Comprehensive, I don't know...

On the subject of waiting for superstars to turn up, I attended Sefton Park Junior in Wavertee before we moved to Halewood. In November 1960, I was selected as 12th man for the 4th year team. I was 2 years younger than my teammates. It was an experience thing... a bit like taking Theo Walcott to the World Cup. Come the Saturday morning, we're one man short. Our centre forward was still in bed. "Shit," I thought, "I'm going to get a game." No chance. The teacher sent a couple of kids round his house to get him up and 20 minutes later he sheepishly appears. His name: Alan Whittle.

I've hated him ever since. My brother met him a few years ago and told him this story and both had a good laugh at my expense.

To complement Peter Mills' story. Just after Mick Lyons made his debut for England U23s (I think), one of the Sunday papers ran a story linking him with a move – to Coventry I recall.

Mick arrived for the U12s match looking ashen faced. I do remember him saying that he had no plans to leave and didn't want to play for anyone else. All the kids (and dads) in attendance could sense the sincerity. Once a real Blue always a real Blue – top man.

Mike. I doubt there has ever been a player as whole-hearted for the Everton cause as Mick. He played as we would all want to play. Unfortunately he also sometimes played as we all would play!

Mick was synonymous with an era of almost. I think he even missed the Andy King derby in 1978, his own goal at Anfield still wakes me up in a cold sweat, and the sight of him moving up front for the last 10 minutes was as desperate as it gets. He is probably the only player or ex-player who might tap into ToffeeWeb occasionally, if so, all the best Mick, you put far better footballers to shame with your attitude.

Around about 1970 my soon to be wife and myself played badminton at Huyton Hey School in the evenings, a sort of night school thing. There were us two, a young girl of about 17 and... Emlyn Hughes. He was as nice a bloke as you could meet, friendly, funny and certainly not a Big Time Charlie and he'd talk footie all night, with no side to his comments. God only knows what happened in the interim period to turn him into the "Everton are tragic" twat who sang that crap from the steps of St Georges Hall.

I was also playing at Rhyl when Ron Yeats and Tony Hately became Manager and Trainer for a while. Yeats was a gentleman, nothing like I'd expected, although Hately was a bit distant. He also brought his son, Mark, to train with us.The training, though, was superb.

"Tony Hately, not worth a ha'penny!" - possibly the first Everton chant I can remember (the pre-decimal currency reference certainly dates it)

We used to joke 'He took a penalty once and used his fuckin' head' - the inference being he was just a big plant-pot who could do no more than occasionally get his head on Peter Thompson's crosses.

(we possibly used the same hilarious gag re Toshack although in fairness, I think the Welshman had a bit more to his game).

I know what you mean Fran about really listening.

I took my arl fella to an Everton do for his 70th birthday last week and we were sat on the table with Derek Temple. What a genuinely interesting and polite fella he was. Couldn't do enough when asked questions and opinions. He is 75 and looked in great shape, still training everyday apart from running.

Best part of the night though was meeting Gordan Banks, shaking hands with a World Cup winner.

Here’s some thoughts that this article and comments have reminded me of:

Anyone remember the “alleged” Holly Lodge incident, Messrs Johnson and Whittle were shipped out by The Cat pretty soon after that story broke. They went within a month or so of each other. Johnson to Ipswich and Whittle to Crystal Palace. By my geography that’s a long way from Liverpool particularly in the early 70’s. It may just have been coincidence.....

The part-exchange deal for Johnson heralded the second worst centre forward I’ve had the misfortune of seeing play for Everton.

The manager of the schoolboy team I played in during the early 70’s ran a furniture shop in London Road with Alan Whittle.

Big Mick deserved better with Everton.
I remember he scored a perfectly good goal in the derby at Goodison that was ruled out for some spurious reason (the start of things to come). I think it was the Alan Waddle derby. He deserved to score against them.......at the right end.

Dave. With Rod Belfitt being second worst, does that mean you have Bernie Wright in top spot?

Blimey this brings back memories.

Mick may not have been one of the best footballers to ever play for Everton ability wise but he was and probably still is one of greatest Evertonians to wear the royal blue jersey. I imagine that if this site had been going at that time he'd have had as much stick as Ossie and Naismith put together.

Mick will always be loved by Evertonians of that time and era. Does anyone know what he's doing these days?

Might I suggest that from this point on, the unintentional multiple TW post is known as 'doing a Lyons'.

Bill. As far as I'm aware Mick Lyons is still living in Australia. In recent years he coached a couple of Aussie clubs. He parted company with the last one about a year ago and I'm not aware if he's coaching anyone else at present.

One thing is for sure though, he'll be watching all our games... and, I'd like to think, mentally putting himself upfront for the last 10 mins.

(Mick – if you are reading this, post an update.)

Mike 927,

Unfortunately so.

There are 2 versions of the Bernie Wright transfer saga.

One that The Cat was finally losing his marbles the other that they simply bought the wrong player.

From the cup-tie against Walsall The Cat had identified Alan Buckley as the transfer target and somehow they ended up buying Bernie the bolt.

You can guess I prefer the latter explanation.

Fran, lovely stuff.

Your comment on Cardinal Heenan School reminds me that in the days when it was called Cardinal Allen, the head boy was one Colin Harvey, who even as a 15 year old was playing for Everton B.

A good honest straight forward lad with no airs and graces, he was universally popular. I went on a school trip to Germany and so did he, and we played against a gang of German lads and we beat them – I even scored, a very rare occurrence – but even on a shite pitch with coats for goalposts he was magnificent.

A few years later, when he was an Everton regular, he came to our sports day to give out the prizes. My team had got through to the final and he refereed it. We won and he gave out the prizes to us. Fantastic for a young Blue.

He was exactly the same nice, down to earth lad he'd always been with time for a chat with a scruffy little scouse lad with no arse in his kecks. My mum and dad were there (he was a blue too) and he was beaming all day long.

The great Blues have all been nice in my experience over the years.

Many great posts about players of yesteryear from the posh end of the city as I used to believe it was, being an Everton boy myself attending Breckfield Secondary Modern in the shadows of (ugh!) Anfield.

I've had a couple of brief encounters with the aforementioned.

Once in the early 1980s at Hillsborough I met Mick Lyons in the changing rooms when he'd moved to Sheff Wed, who weren't a bank holiday then!

Then a brief but embarrassing encounter with Colin Harvey prior to the 2009 FA Cup Final when I assured him that he'd won the league for us as manager. He equally assured me and two generations of my family that he hadn't but a great bloke who had time for us.

One of my school mates and a good mate as well was Archie Styles. (I still maintain that I gave him his name as he was always known as Arthur befeorehand.) He played 23 games for us prior to being the makeweight with Howard Kendall in the Bob Latchford transfer.

Interestingly, he played in our school team in goal and went for a trial with Liverpool school boys fo that position but was converted into a left back and was shortly to play at Wembley for England schoolboys against Scotland when he was 15.

The other issue of note from that era that I recall was playing for my primary school team, St Georges, against the renowned Billy Liddell's twin boys. The great man was on the touchline but never said a word, just observing the great football on offer!