The man who made first-class football possible in the city of Liverpool

Saturday, March 22 – 1902
The demise of Ald. John Houlding, the ex-Lord Mayor of Liverpool, will be a serious loss to Merseyside football, and particularly by the present holders of the League trophy. Without his help that club would have been a practical impossibility. It is all very well to say that the men who refused to go with “rebelling” Evertonians would have had a club whether Mr. John Houlding had ever been with them or not, but the point is whether they would ever have been able to secure the team which first took them to the  head of the Lancashire League – which at that time, ten years ago, was a veritable power – and then thrust them into the First Division from the lower chamber.

I know something of the circumstances, and have no hesitation in saying the golden help which came from Mr. Houlding alone enabled them to get their men, and keep their ground, and “face the racket” until they had finally established themselves. It might also be ventured that there have been moments since when only the same willingness to help has enabled the now famous Reds to tide over the recurring tides of ill-fortune which has come upon them. We may not all agree as to certain of Mr. Houlding’s methods.

We may differ in principle from what some have alleged was “behind the friendship,” but when he gets his due he stands forth as the man who made first-class football possible in the city of shipping years earlier than would otherwise have been the case.

One of the issues raised during the quarrel which led to the separation of Everton footballers has since been settled on lines which at that time did not seem probable, but which have made for the strengthening and betterment of the game. I refer to the connection of clubs with public-houses.

Time was when licensed premises were the only resort – or practically the only resort of our big clubs. Teams dressed in public-houses, committees met there, players foregathered there for instructions and during training.

Now the clubs keep as far away from this sort of thing as they can, and the change is in the best interest of everybody concerned. The Association and the League have had much to do with the change. Clubs must now have dressing rooms on the ground.

This was one of the points at issue in Liverpool ten years ago; and the decision in this respect has done much to raise the tone of the game and lessen the temptations which environ it to the young.
(Cricket and Football Field, 22-03-1902)