May 1, 1945
Permission has been granted for the Football League Championship No. 2 to continue until May 26. All matches arranged between League clubs as well as the North and County Cup semi-finals and finals will be allowed to count for the championship, in which Everton stand second and Liverpool fourth. No friendly matches will be permitted. This was announced by the Football League today.
The first important mid-week football matches of the season will be staged tomorrow night when a combined Everton-Liverpool team opposes an all-star Western Command eleven at Goodison Park in aid of the Command Welfare Funds, and South Liverpool officially re-open their ground at Holly Park, Garston, with a visit from Tranmere Rovers.
It is many years since the Blues and Reds fielded a combined side, and while many of the Services players cannot appear, Secretary Mr. Theo Kelly and Manager Mr. George Kay have chosen a well-balanced team, and, if one remembers that George Jackson has played brilliantly for both clubs during the war, each club is represented by 5½ players. Nothing could be fairer than that. Tommy Lawton, of course, is barred from playing because of his match with England on Saturday and trip to Italy on Sunday.
We have all the makings of thrill-packed encounter, for the Command have selected their team wisely, ensuring a nice blend and with “names” as well as ability. There will be three internationals, while the Merseyside team includes two internationals in George Jackson and Wally Boyes. The pleasing point about the “Liverton” side is that no fewer than eight of the eleven players have been found and developed by our own clubs.
The exceptions are Phil Taylor (transferred from Bristol Rovers), Wally Boyes (Everton secured him from West Bromwich Albion) and Jeff Gulliver (a Reading player brought out by Liverpool). All the others came from junior clubs to be groomed here, and no fewer than five were actually born in Liverpool or Bootle. Another Stan Bentham, was born only just outside the city, so whichever way you look at it this is a side really representative of the area and with that balance of youth which, I think, will offset the greater experience of the Command team. The kick-off is at 6.30 pm and I look to a fine game and a fine crowd.
Everton and Liverpool: George Burnett (Everton), George Jackson (Everton), Jeff Gulliver (Liverpool), Harry Kaye (Liverpool), Laurie Hughes (Liverpool), Gordon Watson (Everton), Jack Campbell (Liverpool), Stan Bentham (Everton), Cec Wyles (Everton), Phil Taylor (Liverpool), Wally Boyes (Everton).
Western Command: Jack Fairbrother (Preston North End), Bert Sproston (Manchester City and England), Arthur Jefferson (Queens Park Rangers), Billy Wright (Wolves), Ron Suart (Blackpool), Fred Harris (Birmingham and England), Johnny Hancocks (Walsall), Ronnie Dix (Tottenham Hotspur), Fred Durrant (Brentford), Gordon Bremner (Arsenal and Scotland), Frank White (Preston North End).
(Evening Express: May 1, 1945)
"Play Up, Liverpool" 