How Did it Happen?

That Burnley goalkeeper was Adam Blackwell (?) and he was indeed Alex Young's cousin.

And I know exactly what your "something alcoholic" will be.

Great recollection mate. No disrespect to your Mum but a few may disagree about “more important things than football” including our rivals earstwhile manager. Anyway, an enjoyable and relatable read. I enjoyed it just as I did Jonathan Oppenheimers and those from John McFarlane before. I’m from a different era but the elements of conversion remain the same. Thanks for sharing mate.

From such little acorns eh?

As I've often said, mine was simple, I've never knew different. I just was from as young an age as I can remember. No debate. No discussion.

I'm always pleased that people from around the country and around the globe attach to Everton and become as passionate as all of us that were born into it. We're all equals.

My ex-Army mate from Warwick who had no interest in Everton but became a passionate Evertonian at the age of 18 and has indoctrinated his son and daughter. My brother's friend who is as passionate as me and Ive attended matches with. Dave, a native of my now local area in west London who I bumped into walking his Spaniel and is an Evertonian. He fixed my roof. Even my neighbour, who follows Arsenal always asks me about Everton.

The people I've stood and sat next to from various parts of the country at matches.

I have to give a special mention to Andy Crooks, Mark Murphy, Martin and Derek. Not natives of the city but as big an Evertonian as any of us.

Everton family no matter where you come from. That isn't important. The passion of following Everton is.

I’ll take Danny’s cue and tell my story with trepidation!

I’m a “wool”, as you lot would have it, from a Rugby League family in St Helens. In 1968 I was being gently “groomed” by my uncle to support Man United and attended a couple of their games when they were the current European Champions. I met Georgie Best when my dad, the site manager for Laing, took me to the opening of his first boutique that he had with Mike Summerbee. So I saw Dennis law score a beauty v Burnley with Charlton, Best, Morgan Kidd et al on the pitch BUT, didn’t really “get it”, as I recall.

At the time I was playing under 11s football (I was a left half back) and the team was run by my best mates (Cliffy) dad, John Cliffe. He organised for the team to attend Goodison for a league cup tie v Derby County in October 1968. We were all sat in the back of the upper Bullens and from the moment I got to the top of the steps and saw the misty, vibrant green pitch in the floodlights I was absolutely smitten. I still remember it - it was more powerful than any love at first sight feeling I’ve had for any woman and it turned my stomach. In November that year my grandmother took me to Falmouth for a weeks holiday in the first anniversary of my Grandads death. On my return my dad had decorated my bedroom with a giant cut out picture of Georgie Best on my cupboard. It took weeks to tell him I was now a blue.

It’s pretty ironic now as, when the scousers hear my accent at away games I’m often asked why not man yoo, or in one case recently by a pisshead and his funny little monkey, told to fcuk off and support man United. It’s never even crossed my mind, despite their dominance up to recently.

I’m a blue and as blue as any scouser, except maybe Danny - he’s fcuking barmy!

Thanks again John.

I worked for over 20 years for St Helens education authority, with many lovely people. I always had the feeling that the culture of the town, allowing for egg chasing, leant towards Liverpool.

Then again, there are the Yickers

I remember on of your first posts on here, it might have been your first post where you introduced yourself and told us your were a ‘ wool’.

You took the piss out of yourself unmercifully and I told you that no matter where you were from you were definitely one of us because you never took yourself seriously, glad to say you’ve stayed that way.

I now officially name you “ Mark the St. Helens Scouser”with apologies to Alan @ (11)!!

Both sides of the family are from Liverpool but moved to Winsford during the overspill.

Never been a fan of the word and would have rather been born in Liverpool.

Such is life. But it doesn't stop the blood from running blue.

Bombay Saphirre and prosecco was your choice, if I recall. Hope you can still partake

Dave, perhaps it was - I honestly can't remember that much (i was nearly 10) except I think it was the "best" 0-0 ive ever attended and we lost the replay.
My next game was Leeds home when we won the title with my koppite Uncle Eddie, RIP. After that it was every home game with Mtr Cliffe and hios son, the two of us standing on stools made by my dad so we could see over the Bullens wall (where the HT scorecards were. My favourite memory was being thrown into the air by a total stranger when Alan Ball scored against Colchester.

And thanks (I think..) for the "honour" but i'm just not scouse. I don't mind scousers at all, theyre all right in general, but Ive never wished to be one, nor pretended that I am one, nor wished I'd been born in Liverpool (except maybe during the Beatles heyday and on the odd occasion I was greeted by scallies at Lime Street under that massive big fcuk off clock asking me what time is it lah??)
UTFT

That was the first of, to date, 1,268 competitive games I have seen at Goodison and the end will leave me in pieces.

I wondered if anyone knew anything about Alan Shackleton, he should be one of my Goodison heroes but I know nothing about him. Dave A, John Snr?

Alan Shackleton joined Everton from Leeds United in September 1959 and made his debut against Nottingham Forest. I was demobbed from the Army in August, and you and I, both saw him for the first time.

He played 27 times for Everton scoring 10 goals and if memory serves me right, one of his goals, a header, was described as worthy of comparison to any Dixie Dean effort.

Yes. Alan Shackleton, we signed him from Burnley, he was of slight build for a striker but he was used as a left winger as well, I don't think he stayed very long at Everton.

Your dad like me might have took a dislike to Alan because if I'm not mistaken not long after he came Dave Hickson was sold to Liverpool, Davie was also my idol from a young age and many of us were sad to see him leave Everton especially for Liverpool.

Oh and on Alan Shackleton he was married to a beauty queen but it didn't make him a better player. I remember him scoring now and again but would rate him as an average footballer, not sure where he went after Everton.

The rest of my post is okay.

That is going to be a very tough day, whether we get in the ground or not. I don't think the supporters will leave. Or they will stay for a very long time in and outside the Grand Old Lady.

I've been in Gloucester all day and have a train ride home. I will try and avoid emotional Goodison posts. Too soon.

Joining Leeds United for £8,000 October 1958. Everton September 1959, Nelson May 1960, Oldham Athletic (£1,200) August 1961, and retired through injury, June 1962.
A tidy marksman throughout his career, Alan Shackleton's League return was a good one, 51 goals in 97 games.

Never a regular with any of his clubs, his best figures came at Turf Moor (18 strikes in 31 starts) He played alongside Don Revie in the Leeds forward-line, and scored seven times in ten outings for Oldham, including a hat-trick against Hartlepool in August 1961.

He made his debut for Everton against Nottingham Forest in September 1959 and was first choice until February 1960, when changes were made to the front-line, Roy Vernon coming in at inside-left to partner Jimmy Harris.

Thanks for that. Like I said, he didn't last long at Everton, three months then left for non league Nelson before going to Oldham where I presume he finished his career.

Dom is currently on 4 from 22… Accrington Stanley beckons??

Occasionally, a bloke that worked with him at Leyland Motors used to come. His name was Pilkington and his brother played for Burnley. I think it was Brian Pilkington and I couldn't weigh up why someone from East Lancs whose brother played for his local 1st Division club came to Everton?

But as I got to know him, he was dead keen and I remember him coming with us to Villa Park for the FA Cup Semi Final against West Ham. If my memory is still working, wasn't it Lampard that scored to send us home sulking?

Len, Lampard's dad scored the winner in the replay at Elland Road after Latchford had sent us into raptures with the equaliser not long before West Ham snatched the winner.

I was at Elland Road that night v West Ham. If I recall, a tall skinny lad called Alan Devonshire tore us to shreds that night playing for West Ham.

Am I right?

You're not wrong. I think Alan Devonshire tore many teams to shreds in his time playing from midfield, an excellent footballer and team player.

I don't mind Scouser. It's historical.

What I do dislike and politely correct people on is when they call me a Liverpudlian.

No. Just absolutely no.

I'm a scouser and Evertonian.

I believe the more suitable term is Liverpolitan.

Just do never call me a Liverpudlian. Ever.

We scored at the Park End and the only way we knew was the roar from that end and then Chinese whispers along the terraces of Bullens Road and Goodison Road – no big signage then.

Such was the crowd that I lost my mates. With a few minutes left, I decided to leave as had to get the football bus and another bus back to Huyton. Got home and my dad said "Good win then, 4-1!" – Charlton scored in the last minute!!!! Extra time and we won. Never left a match early since.

Ian – Alex Young still my hero. Best player I've ever seen for Everton. Just brilliant – he never ran, just glided over the turf.

My first match was at Anfield about 1954. A Liverton team v Lancashire 11 – think Bert Trautman in goal I think. Came away and only saw blue from then.

I started going the boys pen when I was 11 or so, after meeting some lads in secondary school who were Blues like me. We graduated from the Pen and I can remember paying 2/- to get in. I went with those lads for decades!, including the '66 Final (got a Final ticket 3/4 days before the game and we went down on the overnight train from Lime St.) Magic memories, with some of the greatest football I'd ever seen played until Howard's mid 80/'s team came along.

As for that Burnley match, I remember Alex that game as well. He was a true artist with the ball our Alex. He nearly always stood near the front post for corners and flick the ball over is head to the back of the goal. That game he stood in his usual place, and his cousin knew what was coming so he come out to the rear of his goal in anticipation.

Only Alex saw him and just flicked the ball into the empty net! That was the only time time I heard more laughs than cheers round me!

PS! Frank! I totally agree. What a privilege to see Alex in his prime. The best player I've ever seen in a Blue shirt...an Artist.

That game you saw at Anfield in 1954 would have been a benefit game for Eddie Spicer, the Liverpool left-back, who broke his leg in a game v Man Utd and never played again.

I was at that game and I think Stanley Mathews was supposed to play in the game but not sure if he turned up or he only played in the first half.

I too was at that benefit game for Eddie Spicer, Stanley Matthews didn't play, and if my memory is correct I think that Liverpool's Roy Saunders replaced him.

Best wishes to you both.

I read about it a few years ago and I think more turned out for this game than they did for Billy Liddell’s benefit match a few years later which surprised me, thinking of the way Liddell was idolised by Liverpool fans.

I was at this game as well when Liddell turned out for the opposition and Johnnie Morrissey played for the Reds.