GOODALL BROTHERS WERE THE FIRST TO PLAY FOR EVERTON

 

 

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 4th, 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), Finlay, Goodall, Whittle, McGill, Mike Higgins, Jones.

He got a mention in a tiny match report in the evening edition of the Bolton Daily Chronicle: ‘Everton (assisted by J. Goodall) were defeated by seven goals to nil.’  He was the only guest in the Everton side, two of whom went on to represent the club in the Football League. 

Charles Joliffe made four appearances in the first season. Mike Higgins, a Liverpool Cup winner on three occasions, made his only league appearance in September 1888 against Aston Villa during which he conducted a running battle with Albert Brown in a violent match that ended in controversial circumstances when David Waugh’s shot between the posts was overruled as the referee had sounded his whistle at the very moment had struck the ball. Everton lost 2-1. 





The Bolton side was as follows:- Hay, Parkinson, McKernon, Dobson, Keenan, Strachan, Davenport, Struthers, Hewitson, Dewhurst, Vaughan

Dewhurst was a Preston player and Keenan and Strachan were from Burnley. They were played in order to overcome residential qualifications in order to play for Bolton in the forthcoming Lancashire cup tie.



Archie was to make 16 appearances for Everton in the 1886-87 and 1887-88 season and score 8 times. His debut match was away to Astley Bridge on Saturday December 11th, 1886 in a 2-1 win before a crowd of 300.

Tom Costley had debuted for Everton on August 25th, 1886 as Everton beat Stanley 3-1 whilst his brother Jimmy ,who had previously played for Blackburn Olympic in a 3-0 win at Anfield on April 6th, 1885. first played for the club when he took his spot in a 7-0 success on January 22nd, 1887  against Rawtenstall at Anfield.

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