May 4, 1907
Liverpool retain the local cup.
Another football season, with all its cares, worries and anxieties, has come and gone, and so far as this particular district is concerned there is not within us a feeling of genuine satisfaction in reviewing the returns of our two senior clubs.
The glamour attaching to Everton and Liverpool this time last year has gone. Those blushes of pride we then all felt at housing both the FA and The League Cups have worn off. Instead of thriving on the fare provided, we have grown jaded, and gladly shut down the book containing the story of season 1906-7 – a disappointing sequel, truly, to its predecessor of 1905-6, although given us by the same authors.
Yet Everton at least deserve a hearty handshake for making a bold effort to appropriate the two big plums of the season. It was only when nearing home that the Goodison men failed, just as other good men have failed aforetime.
But, before passing on to the review proper of Everton and Liverpool, let me just deal in brief with the ringing down of the curtain at Anfield on Monday evening, when the Anfielders – for the third year in succession – appropriated the handsome Liverpool Senior Cup by inflicting a 3-0 defeat upon their neighbours.
Everton were minus such as William Balmer, Jack Taylor, Walter Abbott, and Jack Sharp, for whom William Stevenson, Tom Booth, Thomas Chadwick, and Joe Donnachie appeared as substitutes. This was Stevenson’s first turn with the seniors. It seems but as yesterday since I saw his father occupying a similar position in the Accrington team in the League’s early days.
Liverpool had Billy Dunlop, Maurice Parry, Alex Raisbeck, Robert Robinson, and Jack Parkinson in the team again, whilst James Hughes appeared at left-half vice Bradley. The match provided a heated argument, and it was well we had such a capital little referee as Mr. Tom Kirkham in attendance. It was obvious that Liverpool were in fine trim and also that they were the fresher team.
The Reds infused any amount of dash into their play. Parkinson at times was simply irrepressible, whilst Raisbeck showed up in quite his old form. There was no score at the interval, but William Scott had been rather more severely tested than Hardy, both men, however, doing excellent service.
In the second stage Liverpool were all over their great rivals, who could do nothing with the home defenders. That rare grafter, Robinson, soon led the way with a goal; and then Parkinson literally ploughed his way through for a second. Ere the finish the lively Parkinson was again in evidence with a thunderbolt shot, which a back received in the “bread basket,” and held it there, Raisbeck notching goal No. 3 from the penalty.
If only Liverpool had served up such football in the season’s earlier days! So mused their supporters. The Everton supporters were simply awe-struck at the Reds’ superiority; but then it was perhaps scarcely a fair test, for on the one hand we had a tired team and on the other a rejuvenated one.
Scott kept a fine goal for the losers, and Bob Balmer’s well-time kicking was a feature. Stevenson was in no sense disgraced; but the halves couldn’t gold the home forwards. Percy Saul and Sam Hardy were very good, whilst James Hughes proved a really excellent substitute for James Bradley. Donnachie and Hugh Bolton could make nothing of him. He also fed his wing well, and stood out strongly as a most aggressive half-back.
It was “Raisbeck resplendent” again, and this gave general delight. He held up Sandy Young as Young had seldom been held up before, and certainly paid off his outstanding score to Everton’s pivot. Forward, Parkinson was insatiable, and his enthusiasm seemed infectious.
(Cricket and Football Field: May 4, 1907)
"Play Up, Liverpool" 