Everton honour 1906 cup hero Sandy Young

Lyndon, did he remain in Australia when he died, or make his final journey back home ?

I just hope that the modern players realise how lucky they are, in that many of the greats in the early years, were playing professionally for the equivalent of 2, 3 or 4 times the average tradesman's wages which wasn't a lot by comparison to the film star's wages of today.

Sorry for the typo too ' remember ' my keyboard inexplicably misses letters every now and again.

Efc Heritage Society
Chairman

I live in Liverpool now, but grew up in Scotland, near Dundee and supported Dundee United. Like most Scottish football loving kids, we all pretty much, had an English team too, which we looked out for. I must admit that most of my contemporaries were either Man Utd. Liverpool, Spurs or Arsenal.

One reason for this being that in the early (black and white) Match of the Day's they featured the English teams, with a small cameo reserved for Celtic or Rangers,(very rarely, if at all Dundee United) it was whilst watching that show my love for Everton began.

I can't recall the exact match but it was Everton, and looking for any Scottish connections (unbiassedly of course) I remember seeing them play like Brazil on the day, and the Star of that Game was 'Alex Young'.

At last I had my Scottish connection in him, and I have remained married to the blues after all this time, never contemplated divorce, (but have had suicidal tendancies after some performances) and doubt whether that will ever happen.

I later, through being in the Royal Navy happened to visit Liverpool, aboard HMS Eagle, and subsequently met, who is now my ex-wife, but all her family were Evertonians (coincidence or what?) I used to have a season ticket for years, but as I am retired now, limited finances do not permit me to go that often, but I watch every game I can, by hook or by crook, and check on them everyday.

Strange as it sometimes, the way these things work, but again, the connection Scottish (Alex Young, but not related) in this article, triggered those memories, and I just felt I should share them with whoever was prepared to listen.

Derek that was a smashin’ post young man!

Ferguson often couldn't be bothered, and it showed. Read what his early manager had to say about him, before he moved to Rangers. Read what Joe Royle had to say about him in his book, and even our former manager, who I never had much time for, but he is a knowledgable football man and deserved respect as the Everton manager, had to say about him.

The theme running through all their impressions, is of a man with great talent and ability, who didn't have a passion for the game, and played when he felt like it – even in a game against Liverpool, which Joe Royle writes about.

Joe Royle says he asked Ferguson at half-time in one match if he would do something in the second half that he had never done in the first. Ferguson asked, "What's that, Boss?" Royle replied, "Sweat."

I hope Ferguson does well in his present job for Everton. That is all I am concerned about: what is best for Everton. By all accounts, he is doing a good job. But never, never, an Everton, or footballing hero. A true hero is someone with the attitude and playing style of Dave Hickson. His football philosophy summed up by the most famous quote from him: "For every team I played for, I was prepared to break my bones... but for Everton, I was prepared to die."

That scene put substance on stories I heard from old timers when I used to do holiday work as a student in the local pub in Bootle.

How fitting that that the Golden Vision himself, the greatest footballer ever to pull on a royal blue jersey, attended that ceremony.

The incredible life story of "Sandy" is in itself a script for another Ken Loach film.

Well done Paul Wharton and the EFC Heritage Society.

Pure Everton.

Joseph Clarke, #7, I read what you said about Duncan with interest. I was thinking of Dave Hickson before you mentioned him. Never seen him play, but by all accounts he was the most blue of blues. COYB!