Initials T.G. — Researching Tommy Jones, The Prince of Centre-Halves

Another Everton side prevented from becoming a "Dynasty" by circumstances outside of our control. Good work and I hope it does as well as your book "Catterick".

As a young boy, It surprised me that he hardly played although he was still on the books, growing up you heard various rumours why he wasn't selected but never found out the truth.

I think T.G. was still there when we played the semi final versus Liverpool in 1950, he never played and neither did Jack Humphries or Maurice Lindley the two usual centre halves at the time, it was Ted Falder from Ellesmere Port who stepped in and saw us lose 2-0.

But back to T. G. It was my utmost pleasure and privilege to have seen a master footballer at work.

I've always been a bit confused between TG and TE Jones (being well before my time) but I kind of knew one of them was the original ball-playing centre-half who unfortunately didn't quite see as many games as he should so I appreciate the background to this.

Quite incredible that he was at Everton for so many years without reaching 200 games but I suppose that would be the war for you and the fall-out with management that you mentioned.

T.E. Jones was a very good centre-half as well. He was a long-serving player who was part of the team that won promotion in 1954. He scored one of the goals that clinched the win versus Oldham Athletic on a memorable night that took us back into the 1st Division and he played long after that.

He was a very good penalty taker, and played in the Corinthian style of Brian Labone – meaning he was hard but very fair, with the added bonus of being a Blue through and through.

I worked with TE when we were both at Littlewoods. He was a true gent who didn't like to talk too much about his career. A lovely, lovely man.

He used to visit his old pal Jimmy O'Neil when he wasn't so well. Got me his autograph in this book with a good write up of a lot of the players from that era. He took it with him when he visited Jimmy, just to show him.

I think T.E. Jones and Jimmy O'Neill made their debuts for Everton round about the same time.

Jimmy was another fine player and servant for the Blues, I used to see him watching the Toffees in the Main Stand when he was getting on a bit, another player who came from Eire as a young man but stayed in Liverpool until the end of his days.

I think he went to Stoke City after Everton for a couple of seasons.

It's always uplifting when grace and humility accompany serious talent. We've had more than our fair share of such players: Peter Farrell (my earliest hero), Hickson, Young, Harvey, Labone, Royle, Sheedy and in the present, Baines and Coleman. Gueye bodes well as does Schneiderlin.

Grace: a lovely word and one which I always think is crucial to our club, or to the club I want it to be.

I remember TE as a decent centre half but, other than my dads words of praise, I cannot recall anything about TG.

From my favourite speck behind the Gwladys Street goal, I remember the last few years of Ted Sagar and his replacement Jimmy O'Neil.

I just finished "Everton Crazy" and David France, the kindliest of gentlemen, can find nothing nice to say about Jones, whom he met several times before that Hall of Fame dinner. That's largely because Jones had nothing nice to say about Everton or his old mates, whom he variously described as snails, donkeys and cowards. And David describes him as still deeply embittered, 50 years on, about the failed transfer to Roma.

By the time Jones had vanished from the dinner with that ٟ,000 in his pocket, David had been disabused of his self-described naive assumption that "old footballers were sweet-natured."

One of them asked me who was in goal for Everton, and I said Jimmy O'Neill, and he said 'good lad'. I asked him a bit later why he'd said that and it turned out he was Jimmy's lad, Paul.

He was telling me how Jimmy would queue for the bus with the fans after the game, boots under his arm, and they'd be chatty and full of fun, but if they performed poorly, they'd completely ignore him.

He did go to Stoke, and when Jimmy had his funeral, the likes of Terry Conroy, Jackie Mudie and others all showed up, Paul was telling me.

Also in his later years, in ill health, Everton, sorted his house out with stair lifts and mobility aids and other support. Had nothing but praise for the club.

A nice man, Paul, and the image of his dad. Gave me a signed picture of the 1954 team too.

When I saw Jimmy in the stands, I always passed the time of day with him and let him know I knew who he was, which he seemed to appreciate. I never imposed myself on him but let him know he was as much appreciated by us fans for his time with Everton. He was a quiet man, same as Tommy Wright from the seventies, who I saw a few times in the Bullens Road stands as a supporter.

Fans are different today as to what they were from my youth and have a different outlook on the game and what it is about. Success seems to be demanded and a lot have less patience waiting for it (success) to come. One thing I have learned as an Evertonian is that success will come when it is ready... mind you, this last span since a bit of silver is getting on my fuckin' nerves to be honest.

Do we add a Lawton or a Latchford? Either way, will need wingers with Dean in the team personally think Sheedy and Steven would be just as good as any.

Almost there. Probably Ratcliffe alongside Jones? So is it 2 full backs or 3 at the back and add an extra midfielder?

I remember TE as a cultured centre half, positionally exceptional, good in the air, could teach young Stones a thing or two about bringing a ball out of defence, and never relied on cynical tackling to win a ball.

No substitutes in those days, most players were hard but fair 'cos they were all doing it for a living and I wouldn't think the insurance for injured players would have been up to much.

I know it isn't fashionable now, but I enjoyed the old WM formation. It gave the game great wingers who could dribble and cross a ball on a sixpence, centre-forwards who could head a ball and shoot with both feet, and wing halves and inside forwards who could thread a pass and weren't scared to shoot when the opportunity was there, and didn't know what a 40-yard back pass was. Ah, happy days!

TG, you're heralded with best of the best, in eternity.

The Best of Days... And now for the rejuvenation?

The class of TG was sacrificed for quasi political football reasons. There is no doubt whatsoever that TG Jones was an outstanding player and I have seen none better. My brothers and I were saddened when TG left the club in 1950 as were many other regular Goodison fans.