March 29, 1902
So far as Liverpool was concerned, there was no attractive football fixture yesterday, the chief event being a friendly game, at Goodison Park between Everton and Liverpool, and a combination fixture between the reserves teams of the two clubs. It is rather suggestive of the interest taken in “friendlies” that even on a holiday not more than 5,000 people assembled at Goodison Park.
The kick off was fixed for two o’clock, and the weather beautifully fine, but the fact that Liverpool were playing only a very moderate team probably kept away many people who otherwise would have turned out to see a really good game.
The sides faced as follows:
Everton: George Kitchen, George Eccles, John Watson, Sam Wolstenholme, Joe Blythe, Harry Makepeace, Jack Sharp, Jack Taylor , Alex “Sandy” Young, William Roche.
Liverpool: Bill Perkins, Don McCallum, John Glover, Henry Rathbone, John T. Hunter, William White, Arthur Goddard, John “Sailor” Hunter, Tommy Green, Richard Morris, Tom Robertson.
Everton kicked off, and after Goddard had been conspicuous with a few good centres. Perkins at full length saved cleverly from Young. Following a corner, Everton pressed for some time, and Roche had hard lines with a shot, which just went the wrong side of the upright. Sharp shot into the hands of Perkins, and the Liverpool defence was troubled, though the home front line did not exert themselves too much.
A corner to Liverpool was badly utilised, and the Visitors were prominent without in any degree endanger in Kitchen’s charge. There was a good deal of holiday football about and even the spectators could work up little if any enthusiasm. Taylor banged the ball hard at Perkins, who brought off a good save.
Another corner fell to Everton without tangible result, and although Robertson and Liverpool new Welsh recruit Morris tried hard to make headway Wolstenholme did not allow them much latitude. Play was of an easy give and take description, and jucidents of any note were few and far between. When the interval arrived, neither side had scored.
On resuming Liverpool, attacked with a certain amount of vigour, but Kitchen had little difficulty in maintaining his charge intact. Then Everton took up the running and, an abortive corner only saved the downfall of the Liverpool goal.
A fine run, and centre by Goddard was quite an enlivening feature, and a prominent figure in repelling advances by Everton was McCallum, the visiting right back, who imparted considerable earnestness in his play.
For the main part of the game was contested in the most easy going style, and it was the absence of the seriousness associated with a League encounter which afforded some entertaining to the spectators. Green put in a long shot, which went just outside the post, and at the other end, some feeble attempts were made to score.
The game ended in a draw, neither side scored.
(Source: Liverpool Mercury: March 29, 1902)
XX
"Play Up, Liverpool" 