An alternative 'Team of the Century' – Part 2

What a contrast Dean is to the stars, and not so stars, of today who are set for life after just a few years.

The Maine Road match was my first away match, at the age of 11,
If I recall correctly, it was a midweek evening game.

On the way home the Crown Coachways driver pulled into the Greyhound pub, at Leigh, on the East Lancs. He'd already had far too much to drink and actually lost the coach keys and we all did a search of the car park, to no avail. They were eventually found in the gents.

Despite being well cut he clambered into the driver's seat and we continued on our way home! Another sign of the times; I think, today, the adults would have taken the keys off him. Then it was regarded as being quite funny.

Bill, I was at the Man City game when Bobby Collins made his debut (I was 12). My memory has it as a Saturday, I think Collins signed on the Friday and travelled directly to Maine Rd to join the team and play a 'blinder' on his debut.

And as John says, it was the start of taking the club by the scruff of the neck and giving it back its pride. The culmination of the process was the 1963 championship winning side. Perhaps a first example of having patience in team building; sadly, in my view, we didn't learn any lessons from that period.

It must have been an exciting day for you, and as you say, the driver wouldn't get away with it today.

Hi Steve [2], every decade or so, seems to have its outstanding performer. I believe that 'Babe' Ruth the baseball player, was a contemporary of Dixie Dean, I'm not sure of Don Bradman, he may have been a little later.

You will have noticed a little foul language in the Dixie Dean tribute, I posted the tribute exactly as it was at source, a capital F and three asterisk's, the editor/moderator posted the words in full.

I have no intention of making an issue of it unless my integrity is called into question, and then I would expect the editor/moderator to confirm my claim.

Hi Tony [3] I have always felt that Johnny Carey was treated badly. but John Moores would point to the fact that the change of manager justified his decision.

It was wonderful to watch Collins weld this Everton team together and become a match for any club in the land. Sadly, he never got his just desserts, being transferred just before we won the championship.

A really great player whose name will come up in any conversation about "Everton Greats".

I attended William Ralph's testimonial match as an 8-year-old boy. The teams for the night were listed as follows:

England: Rankin, Byrne, Moran: Harris, Labone, Kay: Callaghan, Stevens, Pickering, Temple, Morrisey.

Scotland: Lawrence, Brown, Thompson: Gabriel, Yeats, Stevenson: Scott, St. John, Young, Vernon, Wallace.

I'm not sure how Royston made the cut as a Scot! I also think some changes were made to the line-ups on the evening, but those are two pretty useful teams.

Together with my brother Charlie, and our pal Terry White of this parish and his brother's Dave and Mike, we have become friends with William Ralph's daughter Barbara over recent years. The White lad's dad, Dick, used to tell a wonderful story of how he just managed to get into that final game of the 1927-28 season to witness the famous hat-trick with which Dean reached his 60th goal, and Barbara and her daughter Melanie were delighted to be regaled with it a few years ago.

Barbara has been trying to put together a movie based on William Ralph's life, focussing not just on his career but his family life, and some of the mental challenges he faced. I read earlier this year that it was due to go into production around now, but I have not heard recently of progress.

Hi Dave [8], I place Bobby Collins above Alan Ball, because of his attitude and application. you may remember that in my article. 'Favourites aren't always the best' Bobby was included, being my favourite inside forward and in my opinion. the best.

I too, attended the Bradford City FA Cup game, and as you point out Bobby Collins was reported as saying "Too many players were only interested in getting home in time to spend the evening in the 'Royal Tiger'!

My mate in the army was a Glasgow lad, and a Celtic supporter, and when we signed Bobby from Celtic he was distraught. I know that when we look back we tend to do so through 'Blue-tinted glasses', but, no matter how lavish you are in praise of Bobby Collins, you can never do him justice.

Vernon would have played because the Scotland team were a man down, likewise the England team may also have been short, because if my memory serves me right Jimmy Hill played for them, Dave Abrahams might be able to help us out on that one.

These players were total class acts, and the spirit and humility of these times, is a reminder to us all of us, in the digital age, that old values and manners, count.

Cheers John.

To be honest, I don't even remember Tony Kay playing in that game.

A minor point, John, and I do so enjoy reading your articles, Cheers.

I stand corrected on the 1-3 Man City game.

Alan; #15 I think you're spot on that Collins was a former Everton junior.

Bill (16), in my mind that debut by Collins was on a Wednesday night. I know I'm wrong but I still think it was on that day, don't know why.

Bobby, in a challenge against ' Rowdy' Yeats, at the Park End, left the 6'2" centre-half sitting on the backside, I always refer to Bobby Collins as the 5'-3" giant.

Hi Alan [15] I believe you are absolutely correct in stating that Bobby Collins was at Everton, but returned to Scotland because of homesickness in 1948. However I don't think he was sent home, I think it was his decision. Best wishes John.

Hi Dave [17] I know exactly how you feel, because although I was at the Liverpool vs Manchester City FA Cup replay in 1956, having gone straight to the match at the end of my 6 to 2 shift.

For years I had it in my head that Billy Liddell's disallowed goal was at the Anfield Road end, it took photographic evidence to convince me that I was wrong. I could have lost a lot of money if I had chosen to put a bet on the incident.

Liddell was doubly unfortunate in that Cup round, because he had a goal disallowed in the original game, due to Alan A'Court standing in an offside position.

He lived modestly in a street right by Goodison Park. I have many happy memories of him in those dreary Everton days.

My abiding memory of Cyril was the goal he scored against Preston North End at the Park End, when Everton returned to the First Division, this goal put Everton in top place in the League, with 6 points, following victory's against Sheffield United (away) Arsenal, and Preston (home); I was fortunate enough to have attended all three games.

You will appreciate that I gather my information from reference books and I can provide the tribute to Cyril from the, "Who's Who of Everton":

"Cyril Lello began his serious football career with Shrewsbury in the Birmingham and District League. After moving to Goodison Park, he bided his time in the Reserves, before making his League debut at inside left, three days before his 30th birthday, against Wolves in February 1948.

During the second half of the following season, he established himself at left half, holding his place for 18 months; however, he didn't get a first team call at all in the 1950-51 season, as Peter Farrell and Jackie Grant bedded themselves in the side.

However, he remained loyal to the club and regained his place in the side in 1952, going on to amass over 250 appearances before departing. Lello could kill a ball dead, he placed his passes with precision and was a terrier for work."

Better late than never, David!

Those two games versus Arsenal (Wednesday night) and Preston NE on the Saturday were played in front of over 69,000 and 76,000 fans. We were top of the league after those three victories which started with the 5-2 win at Sheffield Utd – obviously too good to last.

The following season he played 37 League games and scored 2 goals, with 4 FA Cup games. It would appear that he suffered the injury you refer to in a 1-0- home win against Burnley, a Tommy Jones penalty, on Monday 3 September 1956 – that was his last game for Everton.

I was just beginning my army service at that time, and the only two games I saw were home games against Blackpool 2-3 and Bolton Wanderers 2-2.
It just proves that you don't need a good memory if you've got one two books.

So, the Lello - Everton connection lasted around 30-odd years.

Off the field, he was a thorough gentleman. As you say, he lived in the street behind the Park End and never refused a young kid like me an autograph, however many times you went there. I remember his autograph stood out from the rest because of his perfect handwriting.

Although Tommy lived in Goodison Avenue, he is reported as saying that he never watched football or entered Goodison Park on retiring, not even the World Cup games that were staged at Goodison in 1966.

Hi Paul [25] Cyril could often be seen on match days, and while I didn't expect younger supporters to recognise him, you'd be surprised at the number of older fans who expressed surprise when I asked them, "Do you know who that is?" and then revealed his identity.

The start of that record sequence was against Bury on 13 December 1952, a 5-0 home victory, and ended on 10 March 1956, a 2-1 home loss to Sunderland.

I'm afraid that this was completely under my radar, I could pretend that I was aware of it, but the only person in the world that you can't lie to is yourself. I am indebted to you for bringing to my attention.

Dave @23s mention of the window cleaner took me back to a childhood visit to my uncle Hugheys when he used a stopwatch to prove he had the fastest window cleaner in all of England.

From placing his ladder against the wall to do the upstairs window plus one on the ground floor and knocking for his payment it was 30 seconds. I kid you not.

You also had to protect your clientele from competitors.