EVERTON SELECTION
Liverpool Echo – Wednesday 22 September 1915
Everton have stiff opposition.  Southport Central have ever managed to stretch a point when meeting our clubs, and they have given us some stern matches.  Now that the Shrimps have got their old players with them, they are well balanced and capable.  All eyes will on tho Everton result, because it is recognised that Southport will be steep question for Fern and his men to answer. Fern is booked for return to the goal. He told me on Saturday that he imagined a week’s rest would put his injured wrist right.  Maconnachie comes to the team again, and Grenyer’s name, it will noted, in the half-back selections. Everton (v. Southport, Central), Southport, on Saturday : Fern;  Thompson and Maconnachie ; Fleetwood, Wareing, and Grenyer; Chedgzoy, Kirsopp, Nuttall, Clennell, and Donnachie. Reserves: Stewart, Brown, and Jefferis.  Against Everton, Southport Central will rely on the same team that was defeated at Oldham last week. Team: Drabble; Dorwood and Holbem: Holdsvorth. Fay, and Abrams; Rigby, Caufield, Lightfoot, Damier, and Sample.

SOUTHPORT CENTRAL 2 EVERTON 1

September 27 1915. The Liverpool Courier.

SETBACK FOR EVERTON.

FEEBLE FORWARDS.

Lancashire section principal tournament

The Everton team were fully cognisant of the fact that they had stern opponents in Southport Central, who have got together a side powerful in defence, if not quite up to standard in the forward department. The Blues were beaten by the odd goal in three, and though they dominated the play during the greater portion, they could not exact the necessary quarter to entitle them even to a diversion of the spoils. Their failure was due to lack of enterprise on the part of the forwards, who though never short of effort, failed to control the ball as is their wont and the haphazard methods they adopted were never likely to materialise against the powerful half-back line that was arrayed against them. It may truly be stated that the only Everton forward that approximated his usual standard was Clennell, who, however, was unfortunately out of luck. Of the rest there was rarely any indication that they would be able to keep the hitherto successful record of the club unbroken. It has not been the custom of the Everton forwards to afford opponents latitude to such an extent as to allow practically free kicks to defenders when they-reached the danger zone, but this was often the case on Saturday, and to lack of enterprise must be attributed their first defeat of the season. As indicated, the Central have got together a powerful set of defenders, in front of whom even a moderate performer must at least turn some of their fine work to account, and when a line has been secured approximating the efficiency of those behind them, then the Southport combination will be able to hold their own against the best clubs in the series.

SUCCESSFUL HALVES.

The scoring was opened by garner after 13 minutes play, and Clennell levelled up matters ten minutes later, while Lightfoot put his side ahead again just prior to the interval, these points being the only goals recorded during the game. The home players were fully out to win, and stopped at nothing during the second portion to hold their lead, despite the absence of Garner, who had twisted his ankle in the first half. They were mainly on the defence during the second portion, but enthusiasm carried them through, much to the delight of the 6,000 spectators –a record attendance for the ground. Of the Everton players Fern kept a good goal, and could not be held responsible for the points recorded against him, and Macconnachie played with all his old resource and finish. At half-back Wareing got through a tremendous amount of really brilliant work, his placing and general display comparing well with anything seen during the course of the game. Fleetwood and Grenyer too, were hard grafters, but their efforts met with little support from the forwards, who rarely extended themselves in order to exact quarter from the home defenders. On the other side Holbem played a strong defensive game and harassed the Everton right to some purpose, and at one period there looked like being an ugly passage with Fleetwood, but fortunately the extreme was avoided, Fay as the pivot of the Central team played a great game, as also did Houldsworth, and the half-back line as a whole was the soundest portion of the team. The home left was the more resourceful wing, and it was unfortunate that Garner, who had been one of the shinning lights in the first half, was not able to assist his side in the second portion. Semple, too, played a useful game, and, though the line did nothing of a brilliant nature, they were nevertheless plied with such persistency as to keep the Everton defenders fully occupied. On the whole it was an interesting game, contested at a brisk pace, and the Central were entitled to the honours that came their way. Teams: – Southport Central: – Drabble, goal, Darword, and Holbem, backs, Houldsworth, Fay, and Abrams, half-backs, Rigby, Caulfield, Lightfoot, Gardner, and Semple, forwards. Everton: – Fern, goal, Thompson, and Macconnachie, backs, Fleetwood (Captain), Wareing, and Grenyer, half-backs, Chedgzoy, Kirsopp, Nuttall, Clennell, and Roberts, forwards.

FRESH SHRIMPS

Liverpool Echo – Monday 27 September 1915

Donnachie has decided to return to Oldham. It is said Maconnachie going to sea, and will not often be available. There was a double on Saturday in connection with our local clubs: Everton lost their first game—Southport was recognised severe opposition. 
Southport must have been in lively mood to beat Everton.  For some time Garner was missing from the victorious side, and, therefore, the Central’s victory was all the more creditable. “F. E. H.,” who was present, comments as follows: Everton’s visit to Southport on Saturday was quite an event, and the residents of that salubrious resort turned out in their thousands—at least the number six—to witness what proved to be an exceedingly interesting game. It was not, perhaps, exposition of the higher form of class foot ball, but it proved a thoroughly good substitute. There was scarcely dull moment in the whole ninety minutes. Which embraced many exhilarating and exciting episodes, and gave us oocasional glimpses of really neat and artistic footwork. Keenness and vigour were the keynotes of the oontest, which was fought throughout with unremitting zeal, and it was the dour stubbornness of the Snr.mpers that gained for them the day. Without making any pretension to the niceties of the game, they defeated the Evertonians by sheer dash and vira, and, let it frankly admitted, they thoroughly deserved their victory. The visitors were obviously nonplussed the ground, which does not quite present that billiard-table-like smoothness to which they are accustomed, but this cannot in any way be urged in extenuation of their defeat. The Southport team, short, proved themselves worthy of anybody’s steel, and they are be congratulated upon achieving a highly meritorious victory.  The Everton forwards were rather disappointing, inasmuch as they failed to adaptthemselves to circumstances, though at the same time they found themselves pitted against an exceptionally virile and watchful trio of halves The right wing pair, though busy enough, frequently wasted their efforts, and Clennell was the most prominent of the quintet. Roberts, when got a chance, thoroughly justified his inclusion in the team. Curiously enough, the Everton half backs rather overshadowed by those of Southport. The backs also displayed occasionally a disposition to underrate the thrustfulnes* of the attack, and Fern was frequently calHd upon to deal with ticklish shots. BEE.
Note-James Galt played for Fulham against Arsenal, winning 4-0.