Favourites aren't always the best, Part 9

But I am sure you are grateful that George Kirby, Jimmy Glazzard, Peter Harburn and Alan Shackleton did not make enough appearances to make your decision more difficult!

That we both saw him in his pomp is a thing nobody can take away, plenty who have only ever seen that game versus Man Utd only got a glimpse of the tailend of his career... and he looked pretty decent then.

It was a privilege to have seen Alex play, his performance at Goodison in the last game of the 66-67 season, a 4-1 win against Sunderland, when he and Alan Ball had a field day, lingers in my memory.

I was pretty young when Alex was playing, my recollection is that despite the adoration he received he could also be on the end of Goodison's ire quite frequently – I would be interested to hear from others whether I am correct on this?

Your forward line is taking shape well, John!

My dad and uncles, unfortunately never had the same affection I had as they were always Dixie Dean men and could never understand what all the fuss was about!

It always amazed me how it seemed Alex would jump for a ball before it left the players foot! The defender would go up with him, land back down and Alex would still be up there! He just seemed to hover.

I remember talking to Alex shortly after his son Jason made his debut for Hearts. I mentioned that he might go on to play for both Hearts and Everton. Alex said that no family could be that lucky twice.

We went up to Tynecastle for a preseason friendly when Martinez was here. Alex came out to greet the crowd to a standing ovation all around the park. Obviously he acknowledged the 3 sides of the ground where the Hearts supporters were but he made a special effort to acknowledge our end.

Definitely my hero and as you say we will never see his like again.

Skilful beyond any other player of his era, he wasn't fast, had no height or weight, but somehow he was brilliant . Young drifting in from the left, approaching a defender, a swivel and without real pace Young had left the defender in his slipstream.

There were games when Young disappeared, often derby games, but the games he lit up were frequent and memorable. My all time Everton favourite player, not the best, Collins, Harvey or Vernon can fight for that, but my all-time favourite.

I wondered, John, if you might go for Dave Hickson who was so dynamic and such an icon in the mid-fifties, but I'm glad you picked Young. He was a genius.

Many of us will have fond memories of special moments with regards to Alex but if I may indulge. I think the game was against Burnley when out on the left wing he caught a ball on his instep right on the touch line. The linesman flagged the ball had gone out but Alex still held the ball on his instep and lowered onto the touchline to show the linesman the ball in fact was still in play. One supporter said "if I got home tonight and caught Alex Young in bed with my wife – I would tuck him in!"

Peter Mills (3) with regards to your post, if an Everton fan says to me "Alex Young was one of the best players ever, on his day" I never had any problems with that because it was true.

He had too many off days for me, but to watch him "on his day" was a joy and an act of pure beauty, so I wouldn't argue too much about this choice.

This is for me the hardest to pick from, we have been lucky to have had so many iconic Centre Forwards. My Dad always said there will never be anyone who gets anywhere near Dixie, I was not old enough to see him play. But even speaking to my friends who are Liverpool supporters say their Dads say exactly the same Dixie was the best.

So picking my personal favourite in this position is impossible because I adored Davie and Alex in equal measure, so I cant choose between them. Both complete opposites Davie a swashbuckling centre forward and Alex the artist. I was lucky to meet both socially and though they were opposites on the pitch off it they were both gentlemen. I find this series fascinating John not sure what our younger supporters make of it all, but I am pretty sure that even though some never seen this generation of player they will have the same thoughts as my generation who never seen Dixie. Extremely proud that these great players are remembered so fondly.

Hi Terry [1], I understand that there is a hint of humour in your post, regarding the less-gifted centre-forwards Everton have had over the years, but although I did see George Kirby before I went into the army, and Alan Shackleton after I was demobbed, I didn't have the good fortune(?) to see Peter Harburn or Jimmy Glazzard in a blue shirt, I did however see Glazzard, when he played against us For Huddersfield Town, and I believe he was one of a number who scored 4 goals against us in a game.

Hi Derek [2], like Dixie Dean and, to a lesser extent, Tommy Lawton will always generate different opinions, and as the title of these articles suggests it's favourites as opposed to best. Imagine in a few years time if someone else took on a similar task, and the names of Joe Royle, Bob Latchford, Graeme Sharp, etc were debated, there would be just as much diverse opinion as there is now.

Hi Peter [3], you'll appreciate that none of us can recall every game we have attended over the years, and though I would without doubt have been at that game, I have had to go to what I call my research department to glean a little information. It turns out that Johnny Morrissey scored a hat-trick (including a penalty), the other goal coming from Colin Harvey.

Hi John [4], Alex was revered as much by Hearts fans as he was by Evertonians; there was a glowing tribute from their press officer, but it was quite lengthy, although I was tempted to include it in my article... maybe another time.

Hi Rick [5], I believe Danny Blanchflower gave the name to Alex in his weekly newspaper. Gordon Honeycombe may well have tweaked it a bit as you say, for artistic effect. I must confess that until, the play was televised, I never heard anyone refer to Alex as the 'Golden Vision,' likewise non of my mates or people around us in the Park end, called Dave Hickson the 'Cannonball Kid'. Dave did come under careful consideration, but in the end I put style before passion.

Hi Ian [6], I'm not sure which Burnley game you may be referring to, but I have a memory of Alex scoring 2 goals against his cousin Harry Thomson, the Burnley keeper.

Hi Stan [7], although you were quite young when you first saw Alex, you were in your formative years, and I'm sure you have one or two memories of him.

Hi Dave [8], I'm not surprised that Dave Hickson is your favourite, and I can tell you that I thought longer and harder over this one, than any of the others. I suppose because you and I are a little older than most of our fellow 'Webbers,' we've seen a few more players, which I suppose makes selection a wee bit harder. We'll have to get together for another cup of tea soon.

Hi Brian [9], you will have read the reply I gave to Derek [2] regarding Dixie Dean and Tommy Lawton; different generations will have their own hero's and their opinions will no doubt be just as diverse.

Hi Don [10], I suppose that the comments I have expressed to Derek [2] and Brian [9] are applicable to yourself, my uncles, who would be well over 100 years old now, were having the same discussions over Dean and Lawton all those years ago.

Does anyone remember if his omission was controversial or not?

Roger Kenyon was favoured as sub in the final, mainly as cover for John Hurst who was only recently recovered from illness.

Going back I have a number of personal connections with Alex. When he was at his peak the team I was playing for won won the CYMS league in 1961. Young and Gabriel came along to give out the medals. That really put a top hat on everything. They mixed in with the players and seemed to recognise just how much it meant to the ordinary Sunday league player

My wife is from Edinburgh and her cousin was a golfing buddy of Alex after he returned to Edinburgh where he owned a small bar. I then had the opportunity to meet up with my idol once again. Always humble long after his career had ended.

Today in my house I have a large framed picture of Young holding up the FA cup with Trebilcock in 1966. It is a signed by Alex and hangs proudly in my hallway. I have other photos of Young wishing me the best of luck.

I also have a photo of Alex when he was about 11 years old in the Lonehead junior team. In the same team they had four other young lads who went on to play professional football including Bert Slater who later played for Liverpool.

We live in Canada where we have raised two sons, John Everton and Andrew Goodison. My wife would not let me call our daughter Gwladys. We are all staunch Evertonians who watch every game.

With our new deadly right-wing partnership of Walcott and Coleman giving us cause for optimism, it could only be better if an Alex Young clone could play in front of them. I talk to my sons about Alex just like my dad did about Dixie Dean. Who would play centre-forward in Heaven's best ever team?

We will be back in Liverpool on April 7, hopefully to see the Toffees beat the RS. I just wish a young "Alex Young" could be up front. Then there would be no doubt. Your series gives all Evertonians great memories. But for Number 9, for me, there could only be one winner... Alex Young!.

Hi Peter [15] I can recall saying to my mate at the 1968 final, "They should bring Roger Kenyon on and push John Hurst up front."

I have two books, and for some reason they only indicate there being a number 12, if a substitution has been made. It would make it difficult to establish the identity of a Number 12, if no substitution takes place.

At first glance I thought I had imagined that Roger Kenyon had been on the bench, but in his career profile it confirmed that he was indeed sub that day.

In the final, Everton's team were all English-born players. I doubt if we will ever see that again... and I think that game was the first time a substitute was used in an FA Cup Final, Clarke of WBA.

As I have noted before, our favourites are usually decided upon very early in our supporting years and are then difficult to dislodge. Hence Hickson would be your first idol, and the same to many others, so it says a lot for Young that he has replaced Dave in your final selection.

Reading Ian's story (#6) – and John White was a wonderful player, wasn't he, taken much too soon, reminds me of the old question, "What would you do if Jesus came back to earth?". Answer: "Move Young to inside right".

When season 62-63 started, I was 16 and I was 16 when it finished. I'd followed Everton since 53-54 and had heroes before starting with Dave Hickson and then Bobby Collins and Alex Parker. But 62-63 was MY time and MY team.

If I could go back to the past, it would be Goodison in that season, me standing with various family members, most of them reds, on the Paddock and watching Young and Vernon in their heyday. They were mesmeric.

Vernon cold and calculating, receiving the ball pointing to the left and accelerating away to the right. Young climbing above a centre-half who was at least 6 inches taller than him and nodding the ball on for Vernon.

There's an age in these things that makes certain times special. Before 14, you're possibly not taking it all in; after the early twenties, a degree of critical scepticism enters the soul. So, although I can eulogise about the 69-70 team and the team of the mid eighties, when I lie in bed as an old man now and I think of Goodison Park, it's always 62-63 and Young and Vernon are leading the forward line.

West is swinging on the crossbar as a centre passes over and Parker is showing us all how to execute the perfect slide tackle. Labone is steady and Gabriel with his blond quiff is a non-stop bundle of power and skill. That is the time and that is my team.

The symbol and centre of that team is Alex Young. I am grateful to have been 16 at that time and I am grateful to Young and the rest for providing me with that bliss.

Unfortunately I didn't see him play live but based on everything I've ever read, and on the limited footage I've seen, no arguments from me.

Based on No 9s I've seen in the flesh then I have to go with Bob Latchford. Not the most skillful but a fantastic professional and what a goalscorer.

The most vivid memory I have of Young is that game against Man Utd at the start of the 67-68 season, and the elegant goal he scored. At the time, I considered George Best to be the best player I'd seen outside of Everton, and I recall both him and Young tracking back to help their defences, and tussling with each other for the ball.

Two truly great players having a right old battle. The thought of that game, with Young and Ball, Best and Charlton, and the other great players on that pitch, makes me feel privileged.

I think most Evertonians would endorse the "Golden Vision" choice but my Dad always maintained that Tommy Lawton was the best Number 9 we had even better than Dixie.

For me, though, against Sheffield Wednesday at Goodison Park, where he got the ball just over the halfway line, near the players tunnel, and shimmied sending a number of Wednesday players the wrong way and hit a blistering shot which Springett (I think) couldn't keep out. I think the final score was 4-1 but that goal could have been the goal of the century.

As a kid learning the game, I loved Alex young. I always wanted to be him when we were having a kick-about, trouble was, so did everyone else.

I loved Big Joe and "The Latch" although neither were "artists" like Young. My favourite would be Sharpie – again, nowhere near as graceful as Young (who was) but he was powerful, brave and scored goals.

His biggest attribute (for me at least) was his intelligence. Everyone who ever partnered him seemed to have the best spell of their career. We expected to win trophies when Sharpie was our Number 9.

The only thing I would say to them is, imagine a Messi type player, and Alex falls into that category] I'm not suggesting that Alex is better or even as good as Messi, I'm only trying to give them some idea of what he was like.

Hi Dave [18], I knew exactly what you meant regarding the substitute, I think his name was Dennis Clarke, some people used to confuse him with Clive Clark.

You are right to say he was the first substitute to be used in an FA Cup Final, but the first subs (unused) were Cliff Jones and Joe Kirkup in the 1967 final Tottenham Hotspur vs West Ham United.

Hi Terry [19], you will have heard the expression 'you cant kid a kidder' I know that sometimes words can be misconstrued, when you can't see the twinkle in the eye. I wish I had a pound for every time I've been accused of being sarcastic, when sarcasm wasn't intended.

The first time I saw the Jesus poster, was many years ago outside a MIssion Hall in Village Street Everton, and it read "What would you do if Jesus came to Everton?" and someone had written, "move Dave Hickson to inside left" I don't know where it originated, but I bet every club's fans will have used it.

Hi Rick [20], I was nearly 25 years old when we won the league in 1963, and what made it special was that it was the first championship, that anyone from our generation had enjoyed.

Yes you're right in stating that early experiences leave a lasting impression, but the love of a football club can be likened to a happy marriage, you may lose the passion but the love remains.

Hi Steve [21], Bob Latchford was a fine centre forward, and the understanding he had with Dave Thomas was similar to the one joe Royle had with Johnny Morrissey. There is a skill in putting the ball in the net, all the dribbling etc, is of no use if it doesn't result in a goal.

Hi Stan [23], anyone who watched football in the 1960s were indeed privileged, we had Ball Harvey, Kendall etc, Manchester United, Law, Best, and Charlton, Liverpool, Thompson, Hunt, and St John.

Most teams had a number of star players, and I believe it was a good time for music, but I had little interest in that, I predicted that after 18 months no-one would know who the Beatles were. [Best sticking to football eh?]

Made me well up a bit and wish that I was there for that season!

My choice for Number 9 will, I expect, cause you and many others apoplexy. It is Gary Lineker. Only one splendid season but it was the end of an era. In my view, the last big club signing we made.

Whatever one thinks of him as a pundit, he was a world class, proper goalscorer. Things around that era could have been so different.

However he played in the number 8 shirt for the entirety of his season with us. It's what we 'old timers' call inside right, in his 52 games in all competitions he 42 goals.

I trust that you understand why I didn't consider him, and even if I had, I'm afraid I couldn't have selected him ahead of Bobby Collins.

Andy #28. I don’t think Gary Lineker would get into my team as a “favourite”, but he was a superb striker who deserves greater respect. Mention of his name is always followed by “but we won nothing that season”. Very true, but it wasn’t his fault.

When I think back my enduring memory of Alex Young was his headed goal against Spurs at Goodison that season. I was directly behind him on the lower paddock. He hung in the air, time stood still for a moment, then when the ball hit the back of the net - pandemonium broke out. Oh the unbridled joy of it all.

I was 13 then and had two great mates who I used to travel to the game with from the Wirral. John Laing used to get the bus from the Woodchurch estate to meet me and my other mate Tony Loy in Ilchester Square. I lived on Beaufort Rd.

From there we used to get the train from Birkenhead North to James Street then queue up for the bus to Goodison Park. I think the entrance fee was a 3/-.

A special mention for John Laing. Apart from the fact that his dad was a Red that trip from Woodchurch to the North End was an epic for a boy of his age then. What an Evertonian he was.

I lost touch with them since I emigrated but they were great pals and even at that tender age great Evertonians.

Thanks for bringing back those memories John.

Up the Blues.

Regarding the comments of Everton not winning anything the season Gary Lineker played for us, I've heard the so-called pundits, ex-professional footballers saying of Lionel Messi, "He can't be classed as a great player unless he wins the World Cup with Argentina." What kind of nonsense is that?

From 'that' Spurs game were I was on the wall right behind the Gwladys Street goal where Alex popped in his 'soar like an eagle' header - to beating W Brom to win the League in 1970...with a few odd exceptions both personal and footballing, that was as good as it got.

The highs were never as high and the lows were never as devastating. As has been said before, fast forward 1 year to Panathaniakos Away and the rs Semi. Four days that ruined the club.

A brief resurgence in the mid 80s not with standing, those 4 days are pretty much why we are where we are now...and why Johns thread is such a magnet.

I find it almost unbearable to think of Young (and so many of his 60s fellows) given the disgrace we have become.

I was wondering do you remember Ken Rea, he wasn't a regular but he had red hair and had a tremendous shot. Although having said that I cant remember him scoring a goal. I think but I maybe wrong wasn't he a local lad.

He did play, later, for Bangor City in their three games against Napoli in a European Cup tie, T G Jones was the manager of Bangor for these games.

I hope you don't mind John, if I mention the Munich air
tragedy being sixty years gone. Great team,I saw them
play the Blues a few months before the crash.

It was a night match United were 3-1 up at half time,
Derek Temple scored two, ended 3-3. About 74,000
crowd to see a thrilling spectacle.

That was the only hat-trick that Alex scored for Everton, and sadly we've had such luminaries as Maurice Johnston and Paul Wilkinson, scoring against Liverpool, something Alex couldn't do.

Incidentally Fred Pickering scored the other two goals against Sheffield Wednesday, in front of 39,640.

Regarding the Munich disaster, I was walking between the tent lines in our camp when the news broke, and the first report indicated that there were no survivors. If the morons who in later years had seen those players in action (and had any decency), they wouldn't have sung their evil songs.

Ray that United team that crashed in the Munich air disaster was a fabulous side to watch and were just beginning their march to fame and fortune, what a very sad day for football fans all over the world.

Me and a couple of mates saw them on Boxing Day in around 1955/6 versus Charlton Ath at Okd Traffold, it's too long a story of how we got there to watch this game, but it was well worth the effort to see them outplay Charlton in a 5-1 victory with "snake hips " Eddie Coleman stealing the show with a mesmerising display, what a team and how many titles and honours they would have won in style you could only guess at but would have been into double figures. What a loss.

Yes your right I was thinking of Ken Birch not Ken Rea, another senior moment I think. Thanks for reminding me.

Shame that what these days is a relatively minor injury had such an effect on him – my recollection is that he just turned and collapsed in the centre circle during (I think) a derby game. Anyone remember that?

As John Mc has reminded us on many occasions, this series is about favourites and Fred was certainly one, if not the only one, of mine.

Regarding his injury it may have been in the derby game which Everton won 3-1, Alan Ball (2) and Sandy Brown scoring. Sandy actually coming on in place of Fred.

If you can remember, that victory came two weeks after Liverpool beat us 1-0 at Goodison in the Charity Shield. My standout memory of that game was a newspaper report that read "Liverpool resort to Scotland Road thuggery."

Alternatively, it could have been in the dramatic 5-4 win over West Bromwich Albion, John Hurst replacing him in that game. That fixture took place on 17 September 1966, and he was absent until 4 March 1967, a 2-2 draw with Leicester City at Filbert Street.

Fred and Sandy were desperately unlucky to miss out on a Wembley place in 1966, but for the rest of us it was, "All's well that ends well".

Fred could have sustained his injury in the game you've mentioned, because he only played in 6 of the last 11 league games, I recall him complaining that he couldn't prove his fitness, because the rest of the team weren't really trying, in the run up to the final.

This thread has been dormant for a day or two, but maybe someone will come on and help you out.