Everton 1 Tottenham Hotspur 0
STORIES OF THE BLUES
24 YEARS OF HURT
GAME OF THE SEASON 20/04/1963
Everton 1 Young 17
Tottenham Hotspur 0 Blues make decisive move in title race Third met second at a packed Goodison as the title race racheted up another notch. Bill Nicholson's Spurs, Double winners two seasons before, included household international names like Dave Mackay, Cliff Jones and Jimmy Greaves in their starting XI... However, the Blues deservedly moved into pole position thanks to Alex Young's towering first-half header - it was a position they were not to relinquish...
Despite only managaing a one-goal margin in victory, the Daily Mirror's Ken Jones noted how Spurs were 'torn apart', and how their attack 'crumpled once the heat was put on by Everton's fiery wing-halves Jimmy Gabriel and Tony Kay.' Spurs were also by far the division's top scorers that campaign, but were blunted for only the third time – by Bolton and Everton, who had also earned a 0-0 away draw in December.
STORY OF THE SEASON
Goodison fortress paves the way to glory
A 15-man Everton squad shot, taken pre-season 1962. Omissions include substitute goalkeeper Albert Dunlop, winger Johnny Morrissey and midfielder Tony Kay – the latter players signed from Liverpool and Sheffield Wednesday respectively
ROY VERNON Position: Centre-forward Deemed too small following a trial with the club, north Wales-born Vernon first made his name at Blackburn, helping the club reach the top flight and playing for Wales at the 1958 World Cup. A falling out led to his departure, and Johnny Carey had no hesitation in bringing him to Goodison for £27,000, with winger Eddie Thomas also heading in the opposite direction. He proved a shrewd acquisition, finishing as top scorer in his first four full seasons at the club, and leading from the front to end the club's title drought, top-scoring with 24 league goals from 41 games (he was dropped at Manchester City following the Blues' exit from the Inter-Cities Fairs' Cup) as Everton secured their first league title since 1939. A run
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of eight goals in the club's last seven unbeaten games in the title run-in helped land the championship, with a Vernon hat-trick coming on the final day as Fulham were swept aside at Goodison. It was a season in which Vernon also struck eight from eight from the penalty spot, his method of power rather than precision confirming his tag as one of Everton's greatest penalty takers. Vernon actually enjoyed his greatest scoring success the season before – plundering a careerbest 28 in all competitions. Also known for his penchant for a cigarette pre-match and at half-time, in all he made 200 appearances for the club, scoring 111 goals – jointsixth on the Blues' all-time goalscorers' list – before leaving for Stoke City in 1965.
EVERTON SQUAD 1962/63 (Back row, left to right): Jimmy Gabriel, Alex Parker, Frank Wignall, Gordon West, Brian Labone, George Heslop, Mick Meagan, Colin Green. (Front row, left to right): Ray Veall, Billy Bingham, Alex Young, Roy Vernon, Dennis Stevens, George Thomson, Brian Harris. GORDON WEST Having paid a British record fee for a goalkeeper, Harry Catterick's faith in the former Blackpool No. 1 was repaid in his first full season. Playing 38 of the Blues' 42 games, West helped improve the side's defensive record considerably from previous seasons – Everton had conceded 78, 69 and 54 goals in their three previous campaigns. West also kept 15 clean sheets and helped forge a fruitful understanding with Brian Labone that would help keep the club challenging for honours for many seasons to come.
DENNIS STEVENS While the influence of the likes of Jimmy Gabriel, Tony Kay, Billy Bingham – in his farewell campaign – and Johnny Morrissey – in his debut season – are worth noting, midfielder Stevens enjoyed something of a memorable swansong to a career that had flourished for nearly a decade at Bolton before his move to Goodison in his late 20s during the previous season. Stevens played every game in league, cup and in Europe during 1962/63, scoring nine times, including the club's first-ever goal in European competition.
ALEX YOUNG The Golden Vision – like Stevens – played in every game and enjoyed his greatest season for the club in scoring 22 times before injuries began to take hold in subsequent campaigns. A brace in a 3-1 victory over Manchester United in the Blues' first home game set the tone, with further two-goal hauls coming against Blackpool, champions Ipswich Town and at West Brom in the final week of the league campaign, a 4-0 win that all but sealed the title. By then Young had also created arguably 'the' memorable moment of the title run-in, his towering headed match-winner seeing off title rivals Tottenham Hotspur.
The only unbeaten home league campaign in Everton history, 1962/63 delivered a first league success for 24 years, providing chairman John Moores with full validation for providing manager Harry Catterick with the resources to recruit top-class talent. Indeed, the mid-season purchase of half-back Tony Kay from his former club, Sheffield Wednesday, proved a key component as the title challenge waned during one of
the worst winters on record. A preChristmas 2-2 draw at Hillsborough was our last league game until mid-February, by which time the league leadership had been lost. However, a 12-match unbeaten run-in proved key, the 4-1 final-day defeat of Fulham the icing on the cake. FA Cup defeat came at West Ham in round five while the Blues' European debut ended at the first hurdle, beaten 2-1 on aggregate by Jock Stein's Dunfermline Athletic.
FINAL LEAGUE STANDINGS (1962/63) EVERTON 42 25 11 6 84 42 +42 61 Tottenham Hotspur 42 23 9 10 111 62 +49 55 Burnley 42 22 10 10 78 57 +21 54 Leicester City 42 20 12 10 79 53 +26 52 Wolverhampton Wanderers 42 20 10 12 93 65 +28 50 Sheffield Wednesday 42 19 10 13 77 63 +14 48 Arsenal 42 18 10 14 86 77 +9 46 Liverpool 42 17 10 15 71 59 +12 44 Nottingham Forest 42 17 10 15 67 69 -2 44 Sheffield United 42 16 12 14 58 60 -2 44 Blackburn Rovers 42 15 12 15 79 71 +8 42 West Ham United 42 14 12 16 73 69 +4 40 Blackpool 42 13 14 15 58 64 -6 40 West Bromwich Albion 42 16 7 19 71 79 -8 39 Aston Villa 42 15 8 19 62 68 -6 38 Fulham 42 14 10 18 50 71 -21 38 Ipswich Town 42 12 11 19 59 78 -19 35 Bolton Wanderers 42 15 5 22 55 75 -20 35 Manchester United 42 12 10 20 67 81 -14 34 Birmingham City 42 10 13 19 63 90 -27 33 Manchester City 42 10 11 21 58 102 -44 31 Leyton Orient 42 6 9 27 37 81 -44 21
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24 YEARS OF HURT
GAME OF THE SEASON 20/04/1963
Everton 1 Young 17
Tottenham Hotspur 0 Blues make decisive move in title race Third met second at a packed Goodison as the title race racheted up another notch. Bill Nicholson's Spurs, Double winners two seasons before, included household international names like Dave Mackay, Cliff Jones and Jimmy Greaves in their starting XI... However, the Blues deservedly moved into pole position thanks to Alex Young's towering first-half header - it was a position they were not to relinquish...
Despite only managaing a one-goal margin in victory, the Daily Mirror's Ken Jones noted how Spurs were 'torn apart', and how their attack 'crumpled once the heat was put on by Everton's fiery wing-halves Jimmy Gabriel and Tony Kay.' Spurs were also by far the division's top scorers that campaign, but were blunted for only the third time – by Bolton and Everton, who had also earned a 0-0 away draw in December.
STORY OF THE SEASON
Goodison fortress paves the way to glory
A 15-man Everton squad shot, taken pre-season 1962. Omissions include substitute goalkeeper Albert Dunlop, winger Johnny Morrissey and midfielder Tony Kay – the latter players signed from Liverpool and Sheffield Wednesday respectively
ROY VERNON Position: Centre-forward Deemed too small following a trial with the club, north Wales-born Vernon first made his name at Blackburn, helping the club reach the top flight and playing for Wales at the 1958 World Cup. A falling out led to his departure, and Johnny Carey had no hesitation in bringing him to Goodison for £27,000, with winger Eddie Thomas also heading in the opposite direction. He proved a shrewd acquisition, finishing as top scorer in his first four full seasons at the club, and leading from the front to end the club's title drought, top-scoring with 24 league goals from 41 games (he was dropped at Manchester City following the Blues' exit from the Inter-Cities Fairs' Cup) as Everton secured their first league title since 1939. A run
48
of eight goals in the club's last seven unbeaten games in the title run-in helped land the championship, with a Vernon hat-trick coming on the final day as Fulham were swept aside at Goodison. It was a season in which Vernon also struck eight from eight from the penalty spot, his method of power rather than precision confirming his tag as one of Everton's greatest penalty takers. Vernon actually enjoyed his greatest scoring success the season before – plundering a careerbest 28 in all competitions. Also known for his penchant for a cigarette pre-match and at half-time, in all he made 200 appearances for the club, scoring 111 goals – jointsixth on the Blues' all-time goalscorers' list – before leaving for Stoke City in 1965.
EVERTON SQUAD 1962/63 (Back row, left to right): Jimmy Gabriel, Alex Parker, Frank Wignall, Gordon West, Brian Labone, George Heslop, Mick Meagan, Colin Green. (Front row, left to right): Ray Veall, Billy Bingham, Alex Young, Roy Vernon, Dennis Stevens, George Thomson, Brian Harris. GORDON WEST Having paid a British record fee for a goalkeeper, Harry Catterick's faith in the former Blackpool No. 1 was repaid in his first full season. Playing 38 of the Blues' 42 games, West helped improve the side's defensive record considerably from previous seasons – Everton had conceded 78, 69 and 54 goals in their three previous campaigns. West also kept 15 clean sheets and helped forge a fruitful understanding with Brian Labone that would help keep the club challenging for honours for many seasons to come.
DENNIS STEVENS While the influence of the likes of Jimmy Gabriel, Tony Kay, Billy Bingham – in his farewell campaign – and Johnny Morrissey – in his debut season – are worth noting, midfielder Stevens enjoyed something of a memorable swansong to a career that had flourished for nearly a decade at Bolton before his move to Goodison in his late 20s during the previous season. Stevens played every game in league, cup and in Europe during 1962/63, scoring nine times, including the club's first-ever goal in European competition.
ALEX YOUNG The Golden Vision – like Stevens – played in every game and enjoyed his greatest season for the club in scoring 22 times before injuries began to take hold in subsequent campaigns. A brace in a 3-1 victory over Manchester United in the Blues' first home game set the tone, with further two-goal hauls coming against Blackpool, champions Ipswich Town and at West Brom in the final week of the league campaign, a 4-0 win that all but sealed the title. By then Young had also created arguably 'the' memorable moment of the title run-in, his towering headed match-winner seeing off title rivals Tottenham Hotspur.
The only unbeaten home league campaign in Everton history, 1962/63 delivered a first league success for 24 years, providing chairman John Moores with full validation for providing manager Harry Catterick with the resources to recruit top-class talent. Indeed, the mid-season purchase of half-back Tony Kay from his former club, Sheffield Wednesday, proved a key component as the title challenge waned during one of
the worst winters on record. A preChristmas 2-2 draw at Hillsborough was our last league game until mid-February, by which time the league leadership had been lost. However, a 12-match unbeaten run-in proved key, the 4-1 final-day defeat of Fulham the icing on the cake. FA Cup defeat came at West Ham in round five while the Blues' European debut ended at the first hurdle, beaten 2-1 on aggregate by Jock Stein's Dunfermline Athletic.
FINAL LEAGUE STANDINGS (1962/63) EVERTON 42 25 11 6 84 42 +42 61 Tottenham Hotspur 42 23 9 10 111 62 +49 55 Burnley 42 22 10 10 78 57 +21 54 Leicester City 42 20 12 10 79 53 +26 52 Wolverhampton Wanderers 42 20 10 12 93 65 +28 50 Sheffield Wednesday 42 19 10 13 77 63 +14 48 Arsenal 42 18 10 14 86 77 +9 46 Liverpool 42 17 10 15 71 59 +12 44 Nottingham Forest 42 17 10 15 67 69 -2 44 Sheffield United 42 16 12 14 58 60 -2 44 Blackburn Rovers 42 15 12 15 79 71 +8 42 West Ham United 42 14 12 16 73 69 +4 40 Blackpool 42 13 14 15 58 64 -6 40 West Bromwich Albion 42 16 7 19 71 79 -8 39 Aston Villa 42 15 8 19 62 68 -6 38 Fulham 42 14 10 18 50 71 -21 38 Ipswich Town 42 12 11 19 59 78 -19 35 Bolton Wanderers 42 15 5 22 55 75 -20 35 Manchester United 42 12 10 20 67 81 -14 34 Birmingham City 42 10 13 19 63 90 -27 33 Manchester City 42 10 11 21 58 102 -44 31 Leyton Orient 42 6 9 27 37 81 -44 21
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