WHEN FOOTBALL BEGAN

    GOODALL BROTHERS WERE THE FIRST TO PLAY FOR EVERTON Taken from John Goodall: England's Scotch Professor 1863 - 1942 by Mark Metcalf Set for release in September 2026. Hardback £25.  Tom and Jimmy Costley are recognised as the first brothers to play for Everton. However, thanks to research in the summer of 2026 by Richie Gillham, secretary of the Everton FC Heritage Society, we now know that it is not the case. John Goodall debuted for Everton in February 1885 and his brother Archie debuted for Everton in December 1886.   Tom Costley debuted for Everton in August 1886 and his brother Jimmy, scorer of the winning goal at the 1883 FA Cup Final, debuted for Everton in January 1887. On the afternoon of Wednesday February 4 th , 1885 Great Lever’s John Goodall is likely to have walked to Pikes Lane where he guested for Everton in a 7-0 defeat where he lined up in the following side:- Charles Joliffe, Morris, Pickering, Welsh, William  Parry (captain), ...

 

   “It was a terrific, really terrific event, really  well organised.” NEW HEADSTONE HONOURS SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY’S FIRST HILLSBOROUGH CAPTAIN On Sunday 14 June a magnificent headstone was unveiled in Burngreave Cemetery to honour Ambrose Langley, the first captain of Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough, which opened in 1899 and where he led the club to their first League title in 1902-03.      Langley (second from right) and his team mates at the opening match at Hillsborough on 03/09/1899                                                                                                    Edited footage lasting 30 minutes - Ambrose Langley - SWFC - Headstone Unveili...