ToffeeWeb - Season 2007-08

The Mail Bag

Looking for some Everton reading...

I'm a yank who fell in love with Everton and the EPL 2 years ago and have become a fervent supporter (as much as one can be on this side of the pond).

Thanks to ToffeeWeb, I have been able to gain a layman's understanding of where we stand today, but I'd like to know more about Everton. Can anyone recommend a book or two for me to read to better understand the richness of our club's history and culture?

I'd prefer a player biography if possible (tends to be a more engaging read), but if there is a 'history of the club' that is a must read, please let me know about that too. I'm looking for a good read that will help me dive deeper into the club. Any suggestions would be helpful.

I'm familiar with the names of some of the club's greats, but have no favorites (yet) and am hoping to find one or two through this process.

Thanks for your help. COYB!
Chris Brown, Richmond, VA USA Posted 19/02/2008 at 03:05:19

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Michael Kenrick

Chris, there are quite a lot of Everton Books to choose from, a number of whcih you can order online and get delivered to your American home. My recomndation would be James Corbett's School of Science, which is quite a tome, but now available in paperback, and very well written.

Looks like our books page is slippping behind a little... can anyone provide info on books from 2007 that are not listed? Thanks!

Steve Flanagan
1 Posted 19/02/2008 at 08:20:26

Like MIchael I would certainly suggest James Corbett’s book, but also a couple of others.

A good biography is Graeme Sharp’s called, unsurprisingly, "Sharpy" and Colin Harvey’s "Everton Secrets" book as well.

Another excellent historical book is "Everton Treasures" from David France and Dave Prentice which provides excellent narrative and pictures of the David France (now Everton) collection.

David Hall
2 Posted 19/02/2008 at 08:57:38

Have to agree that Corbett?s book is a must. For a more superficial look at the past together with some condensed facts and figures,dip into Mark Platt?s ?Essential history of Everton? (Headline 2000). Bios and Autobios are ten a penny although John Keith has done some good stuff with some of our players.

Ben Nichols
3 Posted 19/02/2008 at 09:16:29

I would recommend Colin Harvey?s book.

Its a great read from a man who has spent an age at Goodison as a player, Manager, Coach and the man who brought Shrek (Rooney) and others through our academy.

John Pickles
4 Posted 19/02/2008 at 09:11:47

Andy Gray?s autobiography is well worth a read, Kevin Ratcliffe?s is not.
?The Essential History of Everton? by Mark Platt (Headline) gives a pretty good account of our History in the last millenium.

Louis Huglin
5 Posted 19/02/2008 at 09:45:09

"Thank God For Football" by Peter Lupson is an interesting read, not about Everton in particular but rather about the historic links between Premiership clubs and religion.

There is a very well written chapter called ’Everton... and its offspring Liverpool’ which tells you everything about the early days of St. Domingo’s, the Nightwatchmen, and the move from Anfield to GP and thus the creation of the shite. Other chapters on oher clubs are also great to read, particularly Aston Villa, West Ham and City.

Garry Lloyd
6 Posted 19/02/2008 at 09:57:58

Although it is not a book the Everton History DVD available at the moment is a must to learn all about out history and I think it is availabale from the club online megastore for about £20.00 now...other than that Graeme Sharp’s book is virtually all about Everton. Try not to read Scally, thats the wrong kind of Everton history - but a great read!

David Johnson
7 Posted 19/02/2008 at 10:47:15

I would get James Corbetts book, School of Science. Contains everything you will ever need to know about Everton. Beutifully written. One of my favourite books of all time, and great to either read in one go, or refer back to over time. Must buy in my opinion.

Phil Bellis
8 Posted 19/02/2008 at 10:46:35

’Football on Merseyside’ by Percy M Young - 1963
’the definitive early history of Everton Football Club’
If yer know yer history
I actually referred this book to a 40+ year old kopite who was totally disbelieving when I told him EFC had won the League at Anfield. His lack of knowledge of ANYTHING pre-Shankly just stunned me. How can you be a member of a family and NOT know about your ancestors and origins? So bloody typical.

Sean Allinson
9 Posted 19/02/2008 at 10:55:10

Can?t help but agree with all of the above that ?The School of Science? is an excellent read, but for a players biography I would highly recommend ?Dixie Dean? by John Keith. It gives great insight into a great man, and makes you realise just why he is still so revered by anyone conected to football.

Arthur Jones
10 Posted 19/02/2008 at 11:01:03

A very good read is "My Father and other working class football heroes" by Gary Imlach, whose dad was Everton 1st team coach Stewart Imlach under Harry Catterick and Billy Bingham. It gives a great insight into the lives of players before the massive wages now enjoyed by our players. One thing I never knew was that Stewart Imlach won an FA cup winners medal with Nottingham Forest playing alongside Roy Dwight, Elton John?s uncle!

Sean Allinson
11 Posted 19/02/2008 at 11:02:12

Just remembered, no Everton reading list is complete without a mention of our very own Becky Tallentire. Becky regularly used to post on The People’s Forum (not so often nowadays) and her books ’Talking Blue’ and ’Still Talking Blue’ give a unique insight into the players of the sixties,seventies and eighties. She interviewed many of the Goodison Legends and in their own words recorded their memories of what it felt like to pull on the Royal Blue Jersey. Highly recommended.

Jay Harris
12 Posted 19/02/2008 at 11:24:54

Chris
all of the former are good recommends but my favourite is "Goodison Glory" - Evertons Millenium edition by Ken Rogers.
I have followed the blues since the late 1950?s and have been privileged to enjoy some of the finest moments in our history.I can tell you there is no feeling like winning a trophy.
You might try Amazon or Ebay for some of this stuff.
Good luck and welcome to the Everton family.
We have a saying that anyone can be a Liverpudlian but you are born to be an Evertonian.

Jay Harris
13 Posted 19/02/2008 at 11:38:46

I forgot to mention the book covers all of Everton?s history together with information on a lot of the players and has some fantastic photographs of key people and players in Evertons history.
A fantastic book.

Andy Callan
14 Posted 19/02/2008 at 11:48:27

Try reading the Liverpool Echo; it provides a fair in-depth protrayal of football in the city of Liverpool.

It has daily interviews with the stars and managers and also provides great insight in to the national game and how it affects our city.

I love it.

Steve Ashton
15 Posted 19/02/2008 at 13:39:46

If you want some indepth history of the clubs early years you need Everton 1878 -1946 by John Rowlands.

I think John Keith wrote the official centenary history which is available in paperback.

A quirky entertaining little book is Strange but Blue, can?t remember who wrote it.

James Bernard
16 Posted 19/02/2008 at 14:55:34

Andy Callan how much did the echo pay you for that :P. I want in too.

Chris Brown
17 Posted 19/02/2008 at 15:06:13

Thanks for all the great suggestions guys, I knew you would be able to help! Sounds like the nearly unanimous starting point is Corbett’s School of Science, so I’m off to Amazon...

Steve Flanagan
18 Posted 19/02/2008 at 15:10:32

Strange But Blue was written by Gavin Buckland.

Gerard Fox
19 Posted 19/02/2008 at 15:52:01

I am amazed anyone recommended Colin Harvey’s ’Everton Secrets’. I thought it was absolutely dire, both in style and content. If it wasn’t for the fact that I have a signed personalised copy it would definitely gone on E-Bay. :-)

Rob Jones
20 Posted 19/02/2008 at 17:42:24

I had the Andy Gray bio, Strange but Blue and The Dixie Dean Hidden Interview and they were all decent, but my favourite by far is a brilliant book written in the 80s. It goes right back to the start and has detailed info on pretty much everything up to 87, I?m not sure about hte name, I?ll check in a bit, It was written by a scouser, he?d written a Liverpool book as well so it?s not overly biased.

Paul ONeill
21 Posted 19/02/2008 at 18:48:39

I’d just like to welcome Chris into the fold as a new Evertonian. Great to see people all over the world can be sponateously drawn to the Blues!

John Taylor
22 Posted 19/02/2008 at 18:57:35

two new books just out are "Everton Football Clubs Scousers" giving an account of all the local boys to play for our beloved club, Price £3.99 + P&P from www.merseyshop.com & "The People’s Club" although I’m not sure where you’d pick this up possibly W H Smiths, Waterstones or woolworths own sites.

Nick May
23 Posted 19/02/2008 at 19:07:39

"My Father and Other Working Class Football Heroes" by Gary Imlach. Not just about Everton admittedly, but some fantastic stuff about the Blues in the 60s and early 70s when the author’s father was Everton coach. Just a great read for anyone that wants a background in the English game. Won sports book of the year in 2005.

Paul McCann
24 Posted 19/02/2008 at 19:35:32

I have to agree with Gerard Fox, I thought Colin Harvey’s book was dire. I could hardly get through it. The Gary Imlack book is an excellent read [although not all about EFC], and I would recommend it to anyone. Welcome aboard Chris!

Colin McPhail
25 Posted 19/02/2008 at 20:40:29

"The Everton Story" is a great read, by Derek Hodgson if I remember - the edition I had covered the formation of the club, right through to the late 1970?s (Bob latchfords 30 goals) - Although I believe it has been updated..

Also, two of my favourites from the 80?s "Everton Winter, Mexican Summer" by Peter Reid, and "Even Stevens" by tricky trev and Shaggy Gary... Avoid Scally - It?s horrible, and its author should be strung up !!!

Mike Gaynes
26 Posted 20/02/2008 at 18:44:59

Welcome to the US Everton Fan Club, Chris. I was a lukewarm West Ham supporter back in the early ’80s, mostly because I played with Jim Standen on a team out here in California, but Kevin Sheedy’s style converted me to the Toffees, and I’ve been blue ever since. I hope to make it to Goodison before it closes.

Rob Jones
27 Posted 20/02/2008 at 19:21:26

Hi Chris, the book I was saying about from the 80s is Forever Everton by Stephen F Kelly. Fantastic Book just a shame he hasn’t released a newer version

Paul Rigby
28 Posted 20/02/2008 at 19:31:17

Chris

The best one-shot website for second-hand books is not Amazon, but this one:

http://www.bookfinder.com/

Happy hunting.

Sean Condon
29 Posted 21/02/2008 at 07:09:09

You should defo get George Orr?s Everton in the 60s, 70s and 80s booklets. They?ll give you the flavor of match-by-match.... bit of a grind, tho?
There?s a souvenir booklet of the ?69-?70 season that has game by game summaries and stats and tons of great pics, Goodison with 50-60, 000 people. I always thought that book emitted the very smells and sounds of the place. You can probably get it from a programme dealer.... old newspapers, programmes.