An' if, yer know, yer 'istory..............
The sixth Captain of Everton Football Cub was William 'Billy' Stewart.
Billy replaced Richard 'Dickie' Boyle as Captain.
Billy Stewart joined Everton from Preston North End where he had won three League Runners-Up medals, he made his debut on 2nd September 1893. It was the opening game of the season at Goodison and Everton lost 2-3 to Sheffield United (Latta & Milward) in front of 14,000 spectators.
Billy was a footballing innovator, he was renowned for his long throw-in. In fact he was so successful at launching guided missiles into the opposition box that his running and jumping technique (before releasing the ball) was eventually outlawed.
Billy formed one third of the famous half-back line of Stewart, Holt & Campbell and was Captain and Left-Half in the 1897 FA Cup Final where Everton lost 2-3 to Aston Villa. Stewart went off injured in the first half where Everton were leading 2-1. This was his last game for Everton.
A tale about Billy - Proving that high jinx amongst players is nothing new, Everton were training at Hoylake for a few days including an overnight stay. Whilst asleep, string was attached to the bedroom furniture and under the door where the rest of the team tugged as hard as they could to frighten poor Billy witless! He said he got the biggest fright of his life!!
William 'Billy' Stewart played 137 times for Everton scoring 6 goals.
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