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Tony Hill
1 Posted 05/10/2017 at 22:10:31
One of my favourite players. A great Blue, rock solid and a gentleman.
Tony Dove
2 Posted 05/10/2017 at 22:14:40
What a wonderful period that was in so many ways. I just hope the younger generation can appreciate it for what it was and find something in this horrible money orientated football world to replace it.
Neil Lawson
3 Posted 05/10/2017 at 22:49:10
What a fascinating and uplifting article. It should be compulsory reading for every current (pampered) footballer.

Memories of a wonderful era of our great club, of a true and outstanding professional and of the excitement I enjoyed in my teenage years spent in M12 Bullens Rd Upper.
Len Hawkins
4 Posted 05/10/2017 at 22:55:49
Can just picture him gliding down the pitch on a break from defence and smashing a screamer past the goalie. A very underrated player cool as a cucumber and hard as nails.
Jack Convery
5 Posted 05/10/2017 at 23:03:30
A footballer's footballer and a bloody good one at that. Chose the right wife too - so it's not just a football brain he's got. What would Koeman give to have him in his pomp right now. Very underrated but not by us blues.
Neil Lawson
6 Posted 05/10/2017 at 23:13:13
Len (4). I have a clear recollection of a game played on a horribly frozen Goodison pitch, where the players could barely keep their feet, and John striding forward exactly as you describe, and sending a screamer into the corner. It finished 1-0. I don't recall who the opposition were. Strange how , after so many years, odd seconds of your life are never forgotten.

He wasn't wearing gloves !!

And it was at the Gwladys St end !!
Clive Mitchell
8 Posted 06/10/2017 at 00:31:10
One of my all time favourite players, but that's by the by. His wife's extraordinarily dignified and moving account of their life together and apart tells you everything you need to know about what has changed in the last fifty years.
Don Alexander
9 Posted 06/10/2017 at 01:03:21
It took a guy as good as Bobby Moore to deny John the England caps his talent deserved. Hurst partnering Keane would be ideal now.
Brian Murray
10 Posted 06/10/2017 at 06:07:33
For a big lad, he didn't impose himself as he should.

I vividly remember two-nil up in 71 ar Anfield then John has a Gary Stevens moment, sold himself with wild tackle that Heighway skips past – then the usual Everton Collaspe.

Great in title year though.
Alan Brown
11 Posted 06/10/2017 at 09:17:26
We called him Garth, named after a cartoon strip in a paper. A real he man with muscles bulging. In reality John wasn't massive but he was like a rock. So difficult to get past. A very underated player.
David Graves
12 Posted 06/10/2017 at 09:53:46
I was fortunate to spend time with John a few years ago and he is great company and a very modest man.
I needed my Dad to tell me just how good he was as a player and how he should have played more times for England!
Alan J Thompson
13 Posted 06/10/2017 at 10:21:21
I almost met John one afternoon in one of those concrete almost windowless betting shops, in Prescott, I think. This bloke was dressed in what looked like mechanic's oily overalls but he looked familiar. It was only when stood next to each other and he lit a cigarette that I realized who it was and I was somewhat surprised that an Everton player would smoke.

I believe, some time later, he gave up an Everton scouting job and took up stocking supermarket shelves. I'm almost sure that John almost set a record for England U-23 appearances and , as has been said, would have seen greater times except for Bobby Moore.

Great people in what we would think of as great times.

Lest we forget.

David Graves
14 Posted 06/10/2017 at 10:39:34
Not sure about the shelf stacking Alan.
When I knew him he was doing a sports qualification having retired from owning a sports shop. He had also worked as a senior scout for Joe Royle at City and Ipswich so I think you do him a disservice!
Peter Mills
15 Posted 06/10/2017 at 10:42:55
First game of the season, John scored the only goal of the game for us to win away at Arsenal, 3 days later he scored in a 2-0 win at Old Trafford. We won the League.

Just imagine that.

Alan J Thompson
16 Posted 06/10/2017 at 10:43:17
Perhaps so, David(14), but no disrespect intended.
Alan McGuffog
17 Posted 06/10/2017 at 10:49:50
Wonderful player fantastic partnership with Brian Labone. Dear me I remember that magnetic footy game. Always ended with a fight using the sticks. Lol
Ken Buckley
18 Posted 06/10/2017 at 10:59:23
John was our first number 10 and one of the best. Not in the position you might think.
Unlike today John's number 10 signified the second centre half
Len Hawkins
19 Posted 06/10/2017 at 12:28:14
As an aside, just think of the other players from that time along with John Hurst (Johnny Morrissey Howard Kendall Colin Harvey) who couldn't get a sniff at the England team they should have been in every squad.
Dave Abrahams
20 Posted 06/10/2017 at 12:32:49
Go along with all those who remember the much under rated player, seldom brilliant but consistently very good, did John score one of the goals in the youth cup final versus Arsenal, I remember him scoring the winner at Stoke City on Easter Monday the year we won the league. A quiet man, dignified, last time I saw him was at Andy Kings funeral, standing quietly with a friend before going into the church.

Finally, Rosemary, if you were a footballers wife today, with all the wealth involved, I don't think you could, in any way, be happier than you were in the life you lived, money doesn't buy happiness nor the wonderful memories you, John and your family made.

Liam Reilly
22 Posted 06/10/2017 at 15:50:31
Top read - really enjoyed it.

Such a down to earth family and an insight to see how the club itself has evolved where it looks after players and ex players these days as it was very different in Rosemary and John's time.

There's a lot of flak thrown at BK, but he should get the kudos for the way the club behaves to former staff and the community.

Will Mabon
23 Posted 06/10/2017 at 17:01:02
A strong, steady player as I remember him, effortless defender. He seemed to be around for ever into the seventies when I was a kid.


Link

Will Mabon
24 Posted 06/10/2017 at 17:05:25
Mark Daley
25 Posted 06/10/2017 at 18:35:32
Mrs Hurst, lovely to read and beautifully written. We've lost a lot in 50 years of progress.
Gavin McGarvey
26 Posted 06/10/2017 at 20:08:58
A great read. A fascinating glimpse into a bygone era, and has been said before, wonderfully written. Different times, but not worse times I think.
Gerry Morrison
28 Posted 07/10/2017 at 02:47:24
What a wonderful read. It brought back exquisite childhood memories, and made my day. Thanks.
Eddie Dunn
29 Posted 07/10/2017 at 08:44:21
Another wonderful insight into the past. How times have changed.
Martin Nicholls
30 Posted 07/10/2017 at 09:22:13
Will - an interesting link! I'm of the same vintage as the Hurst's but whilst I can remember having a magnetic table football game,don't recall the name Soccerette. One thing's for sure, at £5 8s, the family version didn't come cheap!

My recollections of John are similar to many others – a wonderful, strong and reliable player. Maybe not "the last of the Corinthians" but close to him! I vividly remember the story about him having hepatitis in the lead up to the 1968 semi and somewhat bizarrely, was more worried about his absence than Bally's!

Anyway, I went to that semi and cometh the hour, cometh the man – Mogsy saw us through! That side was the beginnings of a great team that went on to be champions in 1970 although, like some others, I felt it produced it's best football in 1968-69!

Sorry to ramble, lads, but as with others, this article stirred some great memories!

Ashley Roberts
31 Posted 07/10/2017 at 16:23:24
Thank you for bringing back a flood of wonderful memories for a wonderful Everton football era, a wonderful team and a wonderful player. There was not an inch of my bedroom wall that was not decked with a picture of the late 60s early 70s team that I had not taken out of my weekly Shoot or Goal magazines. If only we had a team of die hard Evertonians today that would walk through a wall for the team as they did in those days.

I know after 50 years of supporting the team mostly from afar, I am probably old and jaded but I just wish half the current squad had half of the passion and commitment Hurst and the rest of that team had. Today there is very little loyalty in the game as it is driven purely by financial rewards for the players.

I know we cannot turn the clock back but how many of the players today would have the sentiment of "dying for the club" as indicated in Samantha's viewpoint of John. Thank you for the memories and I long for the day that we can repeat them again!!!
Malcolm Dixon
32 Posted 07/10/2017 at 20:55:19
Thanks, Becky, another great read. The accounts you present (though the words & perspective of the women involved) of how it was, always resurrect the period so authentically. You should think of spinning all the tales into an interlinked drama. It would make for a fascinating and revealing TV drama. I'd watch, for sure.
Rick Tarleton
33 Posted 07/10/2017 at 21:36:46
I remember him having a shop on Kensington opposite the Library. He was of the generation when footballers were richer than the average working-class man or woman, but not supremely rewarded as ther are now.

He came to us as a centre-forward who's been outstanding for Blackpool schoolboys and England schoolboys and at first he played upfront, but became a superb second centre half alongside Brian Labone. There can have rarely been two such wonderful central defenders who were so sporting and very rarely fouled their opponents.

Another great Evertonian.

Rob Hooton
34 Posted 08/10/2017 at 09:45:31
This was well before I was born so I throughly enjoyed reading that, thank you Rebecca!
Habib Erkan Jr
35 Posted 08/10/2017 at 14:03:20
What a lovely read. Thank you so much for sharing.
Dave Brierley
36 Posted 08/10/2017 at 14:28:50
Great read Becky. Always admired John as a player, God could we do with him and Labone right now.

I was for a short while the Assistant Manager at the Astoria Cinema on Walton Road and John had a relative working there,can't remember who, so he came in occasionally to see a film. A really nice guy as I recall. Happy days.

John McFarlane
37 Posted 08/10/2017 at 22:36:36
Ken Buckley [Number18], I'm not sure what you mean when you state that John Hurst was Everton's first number 10. As far as I'm aware that honour belongs to Tommy Johnson who played at inside left in the 1933 F.A. Cup Final. Shirt numbering became compulsory at the beginning of the 1939/40 season which was abandoned after three games, and for these three fixtures Alex Stevenson wore the number 10 shirt.

On the resumption of League football Wally Fielding wore the shirt for the first three games, and in total he wore it 24 times, Alex Stevenson wearing it the remaining 18 times. Other wearers of the shirt before John Hurst are, Eddie Wainwright Cyril Lello, Peter Farrell. Aubrey Powell, Jimmy McIntosh, Alan Hampson, Harry Potts, John Willie Parker, Ted Buckle, George Cummins, Alec Farrall, Gwynfor Lewis, Jimmy Glazzard, Willie Haughey, Eddie Thomas, Jackie Keeley, George Kirby, Derek Temple, Alec Ashworth, Bobby Collins, Roy Vernon, Alex Young, Frank Wignall, Jimmy Hill, Colin Harvey, Jimmy Husband, and Dennis Stevens.

I hope you don't consider me pedantic Ken, [I've seen too many pints lost over incorrect information] and although John Hurst wasn't the first number 10, he was the first Everton substitute to feature in a league game, coming off the bench against Stoke City at the Victoria Ground in a 1-1 draw [August 28th 1965].

Now in my 80th year I must confess that although I was attending Goodison in 1948 I have no clear memories of Alex Stevenson or Aubrey Powell, and my army service prevented me from seeing Jimmy Glazzard, Willie Haughey and Jackie Keeley, but I was quite familiar with the others. Once again I must apologise if I come across as a clever clogs [it was never my intention] it's just that I'm a stickler for facts.
David Ellis
38 Posted 09/10/2017 at 08:05:39
John - capow. That response is so over detailed it's hilarious and could have come straight out of Monty Python or Ripping Yarns. I spilt my coffee . Hilarious and informative, take a bow
John McFarlane
39 Posted 09/10/2017 at 11:51:40
David [38] compliment or put down [ I can handle it either way ] the truth is I've seen so many pints of beer won or lost on incorrect statements, and I am greatly influenced by the song " If you know your history." I appreciate that I may have gone over the top a bit, but I did apologise to Ken, I hope that if Ken has seen my contribution he will accept my apology, and humour me in my dotage. I must confess that I am as concerned as any other Everton supporter regarding our current predicament, but I find solace in reliving our glorious past, rather than ranting at the Board of Directors and Manager. I learned years ago that there is little I can do to change things [other than withdrawing my support by cancelling my Park End season ticket,] and like any addict I find it an impossible course of action. Therefore I'm afraid that I may continue to post, and like Robin Hood and others I will seek to right a wrong.
Dave Abrahams
40 Posted 09/10/2017 at 12:37:29
John (39), I think David was mainly complimenting you on a very detailed list.

I saw all those players andsomeof them surprised me at playing in a No. 10 shirt,mainly Ted Buckle, usually a No. 7 or 1,Eddie Wainwtight mostly a No.8 until converted into a winger and wore No.7, : I remember Cyril Lello scoring a hat trick in a No.10 shirt versus Vasco de Gama and Peter Farrell scoring in the first minute at Anfield in a No.10, I think a lot of the others only played once or twice in that number shirt, John did Albert Julliesson wear the No.10 or was it a No.9? Albert was the infamous player we signed not long after the war, didn't last long he suffered from varicose veins and his transfer was cancelled, maybe you recall the details better than me.

Dave Abrahams
41 Posted 09/10/2017 at 12:40:20
Sorry, in the above post Ted Buckle should have read 'Played in a No7 or No11.
John McFarlane
42 Posted 09/10/2017 at 14:41:36
Dave [40] you are absolutely correct in thinking that Albert Juliessen mainly played in the number 9 shirt, 8 of his 10 appearances in 1948/49 were in the centre forward slot, the two in the number 10 shirt were in games against Huddersfield [home 2-0] and Manchester United [away 0-2] I meant to place him on the list of players I had no clear recollection of [as I was only 10 years old at the time.] I do recall that he was signed from Portsmouth, when medicals were not what they are today, our friends across the park had a similar experience with the welsh player Des Palmer.You will no doubt appreciate that I am getting appearance records from Everton publications. Ted Buckle as you also rightly say, mainly wore the number 7 shirt occasionally wearing number 11. In the 1951/52 season he was switched to inside left for 10 games to accommodate Tony McNamara, in this period he scored 8 goals. I can recall a central league game when he missed a thrice taken penalty, the keeper moved twice before the kicks were taken, and also saved the third effort. I think the referee just got fed up and decided to call a halt to the pantomime. I too was at the Vasco De Gama game I think it ended up 6-3 to Everton, my abiding memory of that game was a thunderous drive from Kenny Birch rattling the crossbar at the Gwladys Street end. As I hinted in my previous post I'm a bit of a dinosaur when it comes to football, but as a youngster it was all I lived for, and although I still go with my Grandson I'm afraid the passion has waned somewhat.
Dave Abrahams
43 Posted 09/10/2017 at 15:37:34
John (42), yes the Vasco De Gama game finished 6-3, I watched it from The Stanley Park End, which was unusual for me, I nearly always went in Glwladys Street End.

I started going at the end of the 1948-49 season so I'm not sure if I saw Albert Juliessen, but do remember the story of his transfer.

Kenny Birch later played for Bangor City under the late great T G Jones, I think he played for them in the three games versus Napoli in The European Cup.

As you say the passion is dying from a lot of supporters, not just Evertonians, and the game is not th same but still we go hoping for better days, in my case it would be nice to see a good flowing entertaining game at Goodison, maybe soon.

Ken Farrington
44 Posted 19/10/2017 at 18:41:56
Fascinating article detailing a great period in Everton's history. If there is a better told story from a footballer's wife, I would pay a lot of money for it. Brilliantly written with interest in every line.
Geoff Evans
45 Posted 22/10/2017 at 11:54:39
One of the most under rated players in football,
Dave Kelly
46 Posted 24/10/2017 at 20:35:12
I actually sat next to John at the Anfield Derby when that irritating ginger kid David Fairclough scored that last minute winner. John had been a gent throughout the game, giving sound opinions on the players but, like myself, he exploded when the ball found the net. Frustrating day but it had been good to talk to the great man.

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