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MARCH
OF THE GLADIATORS - A VERY SPECIAL NIGHT AT THE ADELPHI
The Ticket
Bluenose
productions headed by the ex boxer Brian Snagg , fellow Evertonian Tommy
Birch and ex Everton player Roger Kenyon arranged for a reunion of the
great 66 team at a special night at the Adelphi. It was to celebrate
nearly forty years on that unforgettable day in May 66 forever branded
into Evertonians folklore and hearts.
Sadly the only person missing from the triumphant team for this celebration
night son was Alex ‘Chico’ Scott who has since left us. Alex was represented
by his son Davie who lives in Glasgow.
Left
to right: Scott, Wilson, West, Pickering, Trbeilcock, Labone, Temple,
Young, Gabriel, Harris, Harvey
The
Team
WEST
WRIGHT WILSON
GABRIEL LABONE HARRIS
SCOTT TREBILCOCK HARVEY TEMPLE YOUNG
GORDON
WEST
We bought Gordon from Blackpool later this year we would buy another
red haired fella from the same club for a record £110,000.
Gordon was Catterick’s first signing and a record £27000 for a
Keeper at the time. He won a Championship medal in his first full season
with Everton .A great character and an Everton institution
TOMMY
WRIGHT
Tommy started his career with Everton as a midfielder but he never shone
there but when moved to right back he shone .He was prone to knocks
but only missed 7 games from 1966 to1971 some record for a knobbly kneed
character . During the 66 final Tommy was struggling with chronic cramp
just as Everton went ahead and was fighting off wave after wave of Wednesday
attacks desperate to equalise ,.Tommy was on the floor aching in pain
his captain shouted for him to get up and dig deep .Tommy rose like
Lazarus and kept the Owls at bay. Substitutes were not used then for
any reason.
RAY
WILSON
Probable the best full back in British football since the war .A world
cup winner and another Catterick signing from Huddersfield for £35,000.While
at the Terriers he played with Denis Law ,who was later transferred
to Man Utd .Ray likened Rooney to Law at an early age. He says you could
just see they were special. Ray threw off a niggling back problem to
star in the final in 66 he was outstanding and cultured in his full
back position .Famously left football to start up as an undertaker.
Ray now lives in Halifax.
BRIAN
LABONE
The last of the Corinthians another Everton institution and the building
block that so many great teams were laid on .Labby was booked only twice
in his 550 game career, strange since he was such a crunching robust
tackler. A no prisoners taken central defender but fair. Labby succeeded
Tony Kay as captain and was the first Evertonian to be capped by England
since the war,quite a startling fact ! Famously quoted as saying one
Evertonian is worth twenty reds.
JIMMY GABRIEL
Another long term Everton stalwart. After his playing career returning
to Everton as a coach to Colin Harvey’s team, even standing in later
on as care taker manager in the 90’safter Howard’s reign. Jimmy was
bought by Johnny Carey for £30,000 from Dundee and partnered a
formidable barrier in central defence with Labby. Sometimes Jimmy would
act as a stand in centre forward .Pictures of his unconfined joy, gap
toothed grin and sweat soaked shirt evoked the atmosphere of that heart
stopping afternoon in 66. Jim now lives in Seattle USA.
BRIAN
HARRIS
A wicked practical joker ,comedian and team morale booster were only
part of this great player for Everton ..Brian came from Port Sunlight
to Goodison, he was known in those days as a wing half .He gave an influential
display at Wembley in 66 to calm down his team mates amongst all the
hype and pressure that afternoon.
ALEX
SCOTT
Alex ‘Chico’ Scott was a right winger we bought from Rangers in 1963
he took over Billy Bingham’s place and was a major factor in our 66
Cup winning run. Chico also won a championship medal in 63 with Everton.
He was known as ‘Chico’ because he had a Mexican look especially when
tanned .His team mates called him the head waiter because he ran with
one arm stiffly as if carrying a tray.
MIKE
TREBILCOCK
As mentioned before this Cornish man was the shock replacement for Fred
Pickering .Mike had played just 7 games that season we won the cup but
did also play in the semi final against Man Utd. He proved to be sent
down from heaven in this final like divine intervention his two goals
proved Catterick right to include him for the fans favourite Pickering
..Mike was bought for £20,000 on New Years eve that year .But
like a firework after bursting into flames in the final he petered away
from the top level with Everton just after .He later join Portsmouth
before emigrating but will never ever be forgotten because of that special
day .
COILIN
HARVEY
What more can you say about Colin that has not been already said ? Colin
came to Goodison after rejecting a trial with the reds to come to his
beloveded Blues. Made his debut in the fiery San Siro Stadium at 18.
Colin was never a great finisher but when he did score it counted as
when the ball bobbled past Harry Gregg in the semi final at Burden and
when he clinched the title in 1970 smashing two goals against WBA. Colin
was part of ‘The Holy Trinity ‘and when he retired playing became a
coach, then became Howard’s number two and later manager. Up until a
couple of years ago Colin was coaching the youngsters at Everton bringing
one special talent to the fore. A boy by the name of Rooney.
DEREK TEMPLE
The winning goal scorer of a historic unforgettable game back in 66
.How could you better it as an Evertonian at the time .Derek’s deed
that day will pursue him till his dying day, it was that important.
While at Everton Derek did two years National service in East Africa
.He was chased by the reds as a kid but choose the Blues .A fast flowing
inside winger who seemed to have a low level centre of gravity .He could
hit a ball with pace as proved in the final of 66. Derek moved on to
Preston. Now still working in the chemical industry and living in Ormskirk.
ALEX YOUNG
The ‘Golden vision’ one of the all time greats to wear the royal Blue
jersey. He was and still is idolised by Evertonians. Alex stroked the
ball rather than kick it, he could glided past opponents with the shimmy
of his hips with great awareness. He was not a traditional Everton powerhouse
centre forward like Lawton and Dean but was still great in the air,
he seemed to hover. Alex was signed for £40,00 from Hearts in
1960. In the championship of 63 he scored 23 goals and laid on plenty
for Roy Vernon. Alex suffered terribly from blisters to his feet. But
it never stopped him from being a joy to watch .He was more ghost than
greyhound in his eloquent majestic like movement .
FRED
PICKERING
Now I know he never played in the final but his goals with Temple brought
Everton to Wembley .He was however injured for the semi final and Trebilcock
played then as well but as already mentioned more than a few eye brows
were raised when he never got picked for the final.
So off to the Adelphi I went. I was asked to come to the VIP lounge
before the dinner to have an informal chat with the ex players but its
like getting in between that loveable red Cilla Black when ex team mates
set eyes on each other again after twenty or thirty years .I got a few
nice photos though and a chat with ex FA CEO Graham Kelly who lives
in Blackpool and currently working on his golf handicap ,a really nice
fella to talk too .I did tell him I wanted him as our new CEO a few
years back, the man knows his football and business in football.
Later on I did see Graham and Howard Kendall having a cosy chat. I wonder
if it went on the lines “ Howard why did you turn the England job down?"
Earlier on a call came from Tommy Wright’s brother Roy that Tommy was
ill and unfortunately could not come, pity that. It may be the last
time the full team except Chico could assemble. Sky was there to do
a report on the team’s home coming.
Trebilcock, Wilson, Pickering, Temple,
Young
The
call went up from the MC for the night Billy Butler to get the team
in the tunnel again to march out to the expectant crowd
Nearly
400 had gathered in tables of ten to pay homage to these modern day
Gladiators who refused to be beaten. It was a nice number in the room
for waitress’s to bring ale to and free movement of the fans around
tables ,in the past it has been like sardines in a tin .There was a
nice gift of a replica programme in full ,song sheet and two page brochure
for every diner. So after the dinners etc they got a battering for autographs.
A large screen was centred at the top of
the room were a DVD was played to repeat the game in full while we ate
a three course meal. Groans came as the Owls scored and went two ahead
then cheers as we made our come back ,fists punched the air as Temples
winning goal was scored .Non football fans would think were mad cheering
at a game on a screen played nearly 40 years ago .We are mad !
Bizarrely
I sat on the top table sitting next to Fred Pickering eating my dinner
watching the game. And what a nice fella Fred is. I asked Fred about
his omission from the team. He told me that on the Tuesday before the
game Catterick asked him how fit he felt ? About 75% Boss ,then Fred’s
fate was sealed .I said jokingly why not tell a fib ? Fred said he couldn’t
,it would have let his team mates down. You could see the disappointment
still in his eyes as he watched the game again on the big screen. I
asked him if the club got a winners medal struck for him ,sadly not
and Fred was there a full 12 months before he left to go to Birmingham
.Injury plagued Fred and he ended up going back home to Blackburn to
work in the mills .
I asked him about Bedford Town away and a giant killing possibility
.Fred said he remembered it was a nice setting ,neat ground ,about a
4,000 crowd a good pitch which helped make the gap of football more
apparent. Fred explained when it’s a hard frozen or muddy pitch you
are more likely to see upsets. Fred said we wanted to get the job over
with as quickly as possible and scored three quick goals .Fred at the
end of his Everton career knew his time had come when in the last few
games he was not played although fit .Catterick was canny he never wanted
Fred to bag a few goals then the crowd would not want to see Fred move
on .The Cat was not afraid to upset the players for his future plans
. Remember dropping Alex Young for a kid called Joe Royle?
On
the screen I noticed a couple of things I missed ,one was the band at
half time and the Owls playing in all white because of the colour clash.
Everton wore the Royle Blue top ,white shorts and white top blue socks
.
Chico’s
son Davie sat nearby and you could see the emotion as he watched his
Dad play .I asked Davie about the game and his Dad’s thoughts on that
day ?He told me that his Dad said it was not his best game in the cup
run he got a few bad tackles against him but accepted it as it was the
norm in those football days .Fred chipped in and said you can’t go near
a goalkeeper now .I think the last time I saw acceptance to shoulder
charge a goalie was when Andy Gray scored against Watford.
Then
came the auction of memorabilia in aid of three charities, Marie Curie,
Rocking Horse appeal and the David France collection . First to be auctioned
by Billy Butler was a signed Arteta shirt which went for £250
Then a signed Phil Neville shirt which Billy commented on that Phil
was the good looking brother and the shirt was endorsed by Roy Keane
,a reference to Roy’s latest outburst that most of his team mates were
crap ! Sold at £150 . Van der Mede’s shirt went for £175
and a signed 1966 shirt by all the team £500. A montage for £350.
Then came a replica signed leather ball in a glazed box, Billy said
he would even dubbin it ! Remember doing that to your balls and heading
a lacy? It went for £650 .There’s a nice story to the new home
of this great piece of memorabilia ,the people on the Croxteth table
who won the bid gave it to Mick Fitzsimmons who was assaulted by the
police at Wolves suffering severe facial injuries .Mick has never been
the same since and doesn’t go to the game now .It was a great gesture
by fellow Blues endorsing my extended family statement.
Mick Fitz & Paul Croft From The Croxteth
Blues
A
presentation then was made by Howard Kendal to all the players involved
in the FA Cup run present .First was Jimmy Gabriel then Gordon who Howard
said inspired our win.
Fred Pickering
Then great applause for Fred Pickering who as I said never got a medal
,Fred’s smile was as wide as the Mersey .
Special awards also went to Mike Trebilcock for scoring two invaluable
goals. Derek Temple for ’that’ goal and to Alex Scott’s son Davie in
memory of his Dad .I told Davie of the time we went up to Falkirk to
his Dad’s memorial game ,we visited his pub where on the wall is a signed
framed Pele Shirt ,Scotland shirt( worn by his Dad ) and programme of
the game played at Hampden .I said Davie I wished I had brought a screwdriver
mate ! Davie said it’s valued at over £1500 grand now .
Books ticket by coach to Falkirk with Philips screw driver !
Davie Scott
Howard said he was disappointed he never got a reward . He was at the
Final and remembered thinking I’d love o be amongst that Everton team
.He was next year and Howard told us he was brought in to replace Jimmy
Gabriel he felt uncomfortable about this but on his debut the first
telegram he got was from….Jimmy Gabriel .
Next
came a stint from comedian Leslie Gibson who stated off by telling us
he came from a small village called….Kirkby !
Leslie’s impressions of Alan Shearer ,Alan Hansen ,Kevin Webster off
Corrie were good .Leslie finished his act involving a joke with impressions
of Gene Pitney ,Barry Gibb, Johnny Mathis, Chris Eubank ,Stevie Wonder
and Tiger Woods .Set in a chip shop called the lobster .I couldn’t begin
to repeat the story involving all those characters in a chippy .
Billy
Butler hosted question and answer session.
First question was for Jimmy Gabriel “
My Dad said you were the best player on the Park and won Everton the
cup that day ,what ‘s your thoughts Jimmy ”?Jimmy replied that he never
thought he was the best that day ,we had great finishers in the team.
I was just part of the team and proud to bring the trophy home to Everton
.During the game we wanted that cup I was just one of the lucky players
on the pitch .
Questions for Brian Harris .You swore on
the pitch ! Brian responded ,Which pitch ? At Wembley ! Labby butted
in saying Brain swore on every pitch .Tommy Finney said you were the
best Brian have you still got the gold medal Sir John gave you ? Brian
opens up his shirt and shows a gold medal on a chin to rapturous applause
in the room .
Question to all. What happened to the gold
watches Sir John gave you all ? Labby said They weren’t gold only gilted
.The pawn shop told us that !
Question to Westy .Gordon what was going
through your mind at half time ?
Westy laughs .I can hardly remember it .I was going up the tunnel thinking
God lets get this over and done with . Gordon was renowned for feeling
nervous and sick before games . As I walked to the pitch from six foot
one I went to nine foot four ,then it was all over in a flash .
I do remember now that at 2-0 I wanted to go home at 2-1 God everyone
will blame me for the second goal if we get beat now, then at 2-2 Go
on lads ! The marvellous feeling on the open coach feeling so proud
for a Yorkshire lad
Question to all the team .What did you
do with your shirts ?Colin Harvey said he gave it to his mum and its
now framed in the hall .Derek Temple said his wife washed it and the
colour ran .He then donated it to the Rocking Horse appeal and it raised
£2300.Westy said that in the 62/63 season he played in a darned
shirt and that then shirts meant nothing .Now everybody wants signed
shirts .His son Steve told his Dad that a signed picture off him was
on EBay .How much was it Steve ? Err a pound up to now Dad !
Question
to Alex Young. Alex did you dive for the penalty appeal? Alex said “Never
,Springett pulled me down it was deffo a pen ”.
Question for Labby. Did Princess Margaret
ask you where was Everton and you replied in Liverpool .She was supposed
to have responded Oh we had your first team here last year ?Labby shouted
“Rubbish that’s a load of garbage”! “But I tell you what Princess Margaret
at 35 was a bit of a doll .
To
Billy Butler. Billy is that a wig ? Billy batted back “ Is that a face
mask ”?
Question to the whole team .At 2-0 down did you think hand on heart
you’d still win ?
Mike Trebilcock responded “ No ! And I never ran away with the Beverly
sisters . I’ve travelled 12,000 miles to be here tonight from Darwin.
When I went down to Wembley I really thought I was only there to help
out carrying things .On the Friday I was told that the boss wanted to
see me .When I went into the room Sandy Brown was there with Tommy Wright
,Fred Pickering and Catterick . The Cat told Sandy was out and Tommy
was in then Fred was out and I was in .I fell off the stool . I was
going to play in front of 100,000 people at Wembley. I only played 8
games in total. Catterick just told us to go out and play .At half time
one nil down he told us the same .At 2-0 down I thought I wonder if
Catterick’s had a bet on us ? God why am I here? Then two goals later
God said, that’s why Trebs”!
Question
for Derek Temple .Derek when the ball hit Gerry Young’s heel , the Owl’s
defender , and the ball was in front of you with a clear path to goal
what did you think in that split second ? Derek “ Well if I was Alex
Young I would have ran through with the ball and run around Springett
three times with the ball then slotted it . But I just ran and hit it
.It went in and that was all that mattered”.
Jimmy Gabriel Answers Questions
Question
for Jimmy Gabriel . Jimmy how much would Alex Young have fetched in
today’s market ?Jimmy responded by saying “ How can you put a price
on Alex ,he was at the time priceless .But so was every team mate at
the time ,we did our thing and we wanted to win because of the fans
,not the manager or the trainer ,the fans .They worked hard through
the week to see us we wanted to repay them”. God I wish those days were
back .
After the question and answering session had finished there was a raffle
then Billy Butler asked for an orderly queue to be formed for an autographer’s
dream .The 66 winning team patiently signed programmes papers of the
final win etc .I said to Alex when I gave him a hundred programmes to
autograph sorry about this .He just said no problem you’re the paying
fans its my job .I think after what Jimmy Gabriel saying about winning
for the fans I want to go back to the sixties players ideals.
Temple, Young & Trebilcock Sign Autographs
The
atmosphere for the night was not rowdy as has been in the past with
the Hall of Fames etc but I think it was older audience in awe of their
heroes .Players that ran through a brick wall for the shirt not just
heir bank manager .There was no agents then just James Bond .But they
did have a bond with the fans though far greater than seen today .These
players lived in houses near you, not in palaces. Their wages were not
a hundred times greater than the average worker and yet had skills with
a ball most present day players would refuse too kick never mind head
!
It was a privilege to be amongst so many heroes of the day and so humble
in their accomplishments.
Ian Macdonald EISA
