little curly alan ball
Player Valuation: £70m
May the Good Lord be with you all .
Welcome everyone , to our little corner of the Sabbath .
“ I came here first whilst still at School . It was impressive even then . “
Some Evertonians are born into it . Some marry it . Some get it from family or friends . Some just like the name , or the badge , the colour of the shirt , or even a particular player . Reasons are not so important . What counts is that you “ Get It “ . However , in “ Getting It “ , understanding what it takes to be a long-term blue , one must grasp the quintessentially Everton mix of sublime ecstasy tempered with heart wrenching agony , and with a healthy portion of shooting one’s self in the foot , thrown in for good measure . It is , alas , how we roll , historically .
The subject of today’s Sermon , without question , encapsulates all three of these factors . An Everton Legend in the very essence of the word , he remains to this day , the match-day face , replete with magnificent quiff and broad smile , of Everton Football Club .
His Azzuri qualities run through him like letters in a stick of rock .
His status is such , that he can be legitimately mentioned in the same breath as Dean , Young , Ball , and his great mate , Brian Labone .
Ladies and Gentlemen of the Congregation , may I introduce , Mr. Davie Hickson .
Born on 30 October , 1930 - like a predecessor at Goodison , Joe Mercer ; in Ellsemere Port .
He grew up in War-Time , though was able nevertheless to give reign to his considerable talent with a football . By the time he was 16 he was playing for his local Amateur side , Ellesemere Port Town . He also turned out for the Cheshire Army Cadets , which was fortunate , as in doing so he was exposed to the tuition of one , William Ralph Dean , whom had been proffering his services thereupon .
Dixie was impressed with the lad , and whether he put in a good word or not - officially , is irrespective , as Hickson was beginning to catch the eye of local Scouts etc , the then Everton Manager , Cliff Britton , among them . Seeing the need for haste , Britton took a chance and approached the youngster with an offer of a Professional contract with his boyhood idols .
Job’s a good’un , you may imagine .
Alas , this being Everton , things rarely go so smoothly .
In view of the club languishing in the Second Division for only the second time in our History , and bereft of the stars that lifted the Championship , the young Davie would have been just what the Doctor ordered . Unfortunately , National Service - 3 years via which the Army , in his case , Navy or Air-Force would claim you as their own , irrespective of who you were ; intervened ,
( I wonder what the current imcumbants of the England Team would make of that ??? ).
As a result , Evertonians were forced to wait three more seasons , whilst Hickson busied himself playing for - by now ; the actual Army Team , where once more , he crossed paths with Dixie .
“ ( I first met him at ,..) the Army Cadets , and Dixie was doing some coaching for the side . Actually being able to talk to him and learn was just invaluable . He was an amazing character , and if you couldn’t pick up hints and ideas from him , then you had no chance .”
With Everton , as I said , finding itself in the second division , having been relegated in the first year of the new decade , while we still had T.G. Jones - his move to Roma having fell through, instead , others were sacrificed , Lawton wanted to go and be near his Mother in London , ( despite her being from Lancashire ) , Mercer left in the first season after resumption , Stevenson was still awesome but ageing , and Sagar , ditto . Thus , an influx of new blood was needed . Farrell and Eglington had joined immediately Post-War , and along with Hickson would be the bedrock on which we would build our revival .
Davie Hickson , - finally , breezed into Goodison Park , in the summer of 1951 ; like a breath of fresh air . With all behind the scenes knowing what we had for some years now , he turned up sporting a quiff of supreme stature - Rock and Roll having crossed the Atlantic , and the Teddy-Boy style having been adopted by many Evertonians - my arl fella among them .
He didn’t just look the part , once they saw him play , they KNEW he rocked , and he was soon taken to the hearts of the Goodison faithful .
It was a good job too , as after being relegated , the side struggled to adapt to Bury , and , poignantly , Brentford , instead of Old Trafford and Highbury . By the Autumn they found themselves in 19th position - the lowest League position of any Everton side in history .
Davie made his debut for Everton , at Elland Road , Leeds , replacing another player you might have heard of , Harry Catterick ; the last time we won a league game there .
Fortunately , the ever more fruitful partnership between young Hickson and - on a personal note ; good friend of both my Grandfather and my Dad ; John Willie Parker , saw us climb the table to at least a respectable position . More than that , he gave an under-funded , once great club a hero . His style was physical - to put it mildly . Where Lawton had replaced Dixie as an opposite , a ball-player , Hickson was a throw back to Billy Dean . Indeed , many who saw both commented upon Billy’s brushwork upon the youngster .
He spilt blood as a matter of course , and ran into confrontation with opponents and officials nearly as often . He was the Target Man of the duo , and while his heading , like his hero and predecessor , Dean , was his forte , he was no slouch on the carpet , neither , with a formidable shot , earning him the sobriquet , “ The Cannonball Kid “ . He played 31 games in his initial year as a Professional , scoring 13 goals . However , it was in his second season that his reputation was truly established .
“ Finally getting a chance of first team football was just fantastic for me , even though we were in the second division back then .it didn’t matter . I was just happy to be following in the footsteps of “ Dixie “ and Tommy Lawton . What a tradition to follow ? “
Still not maintaining anything like consistency in the League , the potential of the embryonic side manifested itself in that year’s F.A. Cup . Having despatched Ipswich Town and Nottingham Forest at home in the early rounds , they were drawn against Manchester United , again at Goodison , on Valentine‘s Day , 1953 - with many expecting a massacre . The gate was 77, 920 .
United took the lead , Eglington having equalised late in the first half , whereupon Davie launched himself - head first , into a flurry of boots ., collecting a gash to his forehead in payment . As a result , he was forced to leave the pitch , to an enormous round of applause .
If they thought that was loud , the cruscendo which accompanied his return for the second half was positively ear-splitting.
So loud , in the days of 70 odd thousand , as to be remembered .
He scored what proved to be the winner early on , and later collided with the post , thus opening up the ten stitches he’d had applied at half-time . Ignoring pleas from the Referee , our Captain , and Man United’s Captain , he stayed on . His hair now red , his shirt the same colour as the opposition’s . They reckon the ovation he received at the final whistle was as good , if not better than any heard at Goodison , before or since .
Praise indeed .
He also scored the winner in the quarter final against Aston Villa , a typical thunderbolt . Thus , the side were drawn against Bolton Wanderers in the Semi-Final . However , our luck ran out in the first half , conceding 4 goals , and Hickson again suffering a head injury . However , he did score one in a second half comeback of 3 goals , but was forced to retire with 15 minutes remaining - it must have been bad .
The upshot was , the team lost out in being part of the famous Matthews’ Final , and Davie his nearest chance of playing at Wembley for Everton .
Season 1953-54 saw , finally , a marked improvement in the league . Both Parker and Hickson prospered . Davie bagging 25 league goals as the blues were promoted as runners-up , playing some wonderful football .
His form , unfortunately did not immediately transfer to the step up in divisions . The side did not settle , and while he didn’t flop , Hickson’s 13 goals in 25 appearances did not live up to the previous seasons portents . However , in a desperate throw of the dice by Cliff Britton , and , yet another example of Everton shooting itself in the foot , the club , to howls of derision from the terraces , decided to sell Davie to Aston Villa for £17,500 , for no logical reason whatsoever . He was still at the top of his powers , had not adapted as hoped in fairness , but it was , after all in his first attempt at the pinnacle of league football , and he did receive rather particular attention . Nevertheless , he left .
However , he was never really happy away from Merseyside , and despite respecting the club , he departed the second city having played only 12 games for them , and scoring but once , relocating northward to Huddersfield Town , with their side experiencing difficult times having only recently being promoted back to the top tier .
He gave this is better go , scoring 28 goals in 54 games , and linking up with both , Bill Shankly - the then Huddersfield Assistant Manager , and a young Denis Law - Lawman having been told to study the established player as a lesson in how to be a centre forward in the first division . Fortunately , for Evertonians , Britton had been replaced as by Ian Buchan - though never officially as Manager , and he saw our former hero as the man to build his revolution around . Shankly , by now Manager of Huddersfield Town proper , surprisingly accepted an offer of only £7,500 , and Davie Hickson was Homeward-Bound .
He was greeted like the returning hero he was . Unfortunately , as with most things in life , it wasn’t quite as good second time around . Buchan was working his way through Britton’s squad , deciding who to retain and whom not to . The side was in transition and the best that could be said of them was , “ Middle of the Road “ .
Davie , with a number of partners , even including 5ft 4” Bobby Collins , maintained his record of roughly , a goal every other game - which he also achieved over his career in general . From 1957-1959 , he played a further 86 games , netting 32 times , and he remained , “ King of Goodison Park “ .
Yet , Buchan , was himself replaced by Johnny Carey whom was tinkering with the side , seriously under-estimated the feeling amongst Evertonians , and within the man himself , when he did the unthinkable on November 6 , 1959 , and sold Dave Hickson to Liverpool FC , for £12,000 - he had played his last game for Everton in a Floodlight Cup game at Anfield , the previous Wednesday .
The move precipitated the largest outpouring of dissent ever witnessed at Goodison Park . With this being a Holy Place , I am loathe to state - the truth , incidentally , that there were reputedly hundreds of Blues who actually transferred their allegiances to follow their erstwhile idol , and never came back .
Insane on just about every level . I trust you concur .
On a personal note , my Mother likes to tell a story at Xmas and stuff , that on the day Bally was sold - her birthday , as it goes , December 22 , 1971 ; I asked for two pence and went to the local public phone box whereupon I rang Everton Football Club intending to complain to Harry Catterick . I actually spoke to his Secretary . I was 8 years old . The thing was , I was pissed . In fact , pissed didn’t even begin to say it . Devastated , dumbfounded , shattered , bereft of reason to get up in the morning ,.. These perhaps at least approach the gravity of my feeling .
Well , upon the sale of Dave Hickson to Liverpool , another young Evertonian , this time 7 years old , wrote a letter of complaint to the then Chairman . He too , was all the things I described in myself 20 years later , and like me , wished to vent his spleen as a Blue . The kid was Bill Kenwright - finally , we have something in common .
My point , however , was the effect Dave Hickson had among Toffees .
He was worshipped . Honest to God , worshipped .
Granted , it was a time when our great club saw hard times . Some of our hardest ever . Moreover , he never won a trophy , nor played in a final whilst at Everton . He couldn’t even terrorise Liverpool as they were mostly in a different division . Nor did he represent his Country , but many feel his National Service , allied to our general standing at the time , in addition to the abundance of boss centre forwards of the day , Mortensen , Lofthouse , saw him have real hard lines . Nevertheless , his swashbuckling style and his utter and glaringly obvious love for anything Goodison-linked , allied to his formidable scoring record , all topped off with that quiff and the rock and roll thing , meant Dave Hickson was perhaps unique in the affections of Evertonians . Revered simply upon reputation , with no silverware as context .
His feelings for our club were described thus on the move itself ;
“ I didn‘t want to leave Everton again but if you‘re not wanted , what can you do ? However , I made it plain that if I have to leave Everton to carry on playing then I‘d have to do that ,…but I did not want to leave the City of Liverpool . So , I ended up crossing Stanley Park and going to Anfield ,
( L.C.A.B. makes Sign of the Cross ,..) .
It was a bit strange but at least I was in the City I loved . “
The club , seeing the reaction , played up the fact that Liverpool were then a second division side . Indeed , in his two seasons at the RS , Davie never had to face Everton .
So , to re-cap , we were not only were robbed of 3 years of him at , or approaching his peak , we then proceeded to sell him . Twice !
Remember I mentioned the , shooting oneself in the foot , tendency ? …..
Thus , in no surprise to any Azzuri - except perhaps our Manager , Davie Hickson prospered for the Bealzebubs . He was 29 years old and STILL ROCKED , in every sense of the word .
He scored twice on his Anfield debut , in front of a crowd of 15,000 - ahem , higher than average for the season .
Bill Shankly , Liverpool boss days after Hickson‘s arrival , used him well .Alongside Roger Hunt , Davie netted 26 times in 21 games . Kopites loved him , too . However at the end of the following season , Dwight D Eisenhower decided to freshen-up the side , bringing in a young Scot , Ian St. John , as Hickson’s replacement . The Cannonball Kid left Lucifer’s Liverpool having scored 37 goals in 60 games .as , once more , inexplicably , he was transferred .
However , Davie Hickson , being Davie Hickson , and still only 31 , wasn’t finished yet .
In recent Sermon’s I have noted the uniqueness of the White Pele , in filling every role on both Professional and Managerial sides at Everton , and Waggy , in having played both for and against England . Well , in making the move from Liverpool , Hickson ended up , via spells at ( Amateur ) Cambridge City , and Bury , at Tranmere Rovers - in 1962 , and in so doing , became the only person to ever represent all 3 Merseyside clubs in league football . Legend as he was , even then , he maintained a supreme scoring record , nabbing 21 goals in 45 games , for the Rovers . As I said , legend .
He left Tranmere , in 1964 , to take up a ( player ) managerial role in Northern Ireland - at Ballymena
United , but left , in his own words , due to the increasing “ Troubles “ .
“ It suddenly became very dangerous ,..” .
Despite his hopes to the contrary , he was unable to find a career in management / coaching , and he eventually drifted out of football , obtaining a job with the Local Authority , and after a short spell with Northwich Victoria , turning out for his local side at the weekend . Indeed , he played in certain Charity games until in his 60’s .
However , with the Chairmanship of Everton passing to Bill Kenwright , ex-players , such as Dave Hickson , and his great mate , Brian Labone , were welcomed back into the club and given a role as Ambassadors on match days . Both men , as did others , loved it . Lapped it up , in fact . So much so , in Davie’s case , he took over the Goodison Tour Guide role on weekdays . Always an oasis of calm and patience in what can often be a cauldron of screaming kids and cob-on’s .
Unfortunately , Dave Hickson suffered a heart attack , before a home game to Sunderland in 2007 . Fair play to our Chairman , he forgave the match , a 7-1 win as it goes , and travelled in the ambulance with his hero .
Davie was asked by the nurses if he needed to get back in case he was playing ?
“ Only for the last ten minutes , love . “ He replied .
In October 2009 , he had entered Hospital again after two operations on his leg . He signed himself out on the 30th , in order to attend ah birthday dinner given by the club in his honour . Expecting 20/30 of his closest friends , the event was packed with 250 mad blues . He was presented with a commemorative plate bearing the inscription , “ The Cannonball Kid “ , and spent the evening signing autographs and taking pictures .
Dave Hickson is one of only 5 post-war Evertonians to score 100 goals for the club . Himself , Graeme Sharp , Alex Young , Bob Latchford , and Joe Royle . Exalted company indeed , playing in perhaps the worst side of any .
Those lucky enough to have seen him play for Everton , say that the turn around in character to jovial uncle is as great as any seen in the history of mankind . As a player he was nails . Always in some sort of trouble with both authorities and opposition players , there is record of one particular right hook on a Tottenham defender which left said Lilywhite snoozing on the cinder path beside the pitch at Goodison .- they reckon you could have put a feather on his nose and it would have went , up-and-down , like in the cartoons .
Hickson was prepared to spill blood , his own and others’ , in the cause of Everton victory .
He was a Lion .
So , the next time you see this gentle arl man , with a smile as wide as a goal , and the head of hair of a 55 year old , remember the picture of blood pouring down his face , with the stitches he’d had inserted , having burst , representing Everton Football Club .
Oh , and shake his hand .
So , Congregation , this Domingo , thank the Almighty for gracing us with Dave Hickson ; The Cannonball Kid , Evertonian Par Excellence .
Treasure him , as we will not see his like again .
“ I would have died for Everton . I would have broken every bone in my body for my other clubs - that’s how I look at it . If it was that much , I would have died for this club . “
Amen .
May the Good Lord be with you all .
Look after your peoples .
( Just in a small ecclesiastical digression , and a great mate of Dave Hickson , may we also wish Harry Ross , erstwhile Vicar of St. Luke’s , and Everton Chaplain , a long and happy retirement .
You’ve earned it , mate . )
Peace out .
The ( Catholic ) Reverend L.C.A.B.
Welcome everyone , to our little corner of the Sabbath .
“ I came here first whilst still at School . It was impressive even then . “
Some Evertonians are born into it . Some marry it . Some get it from family or friends . Some just like the name , or the badge , the colour of the shirt , or even a particular player . Reasons are not so important . What counts is that you “ Get It “ . However , in “ Getting It “ , understanding what it takes to be a long-term blue , one must grasp the quintessentially Everton mix of sublime ecstasy tempered with heart wrenching agony , and with a healthy portion of shooting one’s self in the foot , thrown in for good measure . It is , alas , how we roll , historically .
The subject of today’s Sermon , without question , encapsulates all three of these factors . An Everton Legend in the very essence of the word , he remains to this day , the match-day face , replete with magnificent quiff and broad smile , of Everton Football Club .
His Azzuri qualities run through him like letters in a stick of rock .
His status is such , that he can be legitimately mentioned in the same breath as Dean , Young , Ball , and his great mate , Brian Labone .
Ladies and Gentlemen of the Congregation , may I introduce , Mr. Davie Hickson .
Born on 30 October , 1930 - like a predecessor at Goodison , Joe Mercer ; in Ellsemere Port .
He grew up in War-Time , though was able nevertheless to give reign to his considerable talent with a football . By the time he was 16 he was playing for his local Amateur side , Ellesemere Port Town . He also turned out for the Cheshire Army Cadets , which was fortunate , as in doing so he was exposed to the tuition of one , William Ralph Dean , whom had been proffering his services thereupon .
Dixie was impressed with the lad , and whether he put in a good word or not - officially , is irrespective , as Hickson was beginning to catch the eye of local Scouts etc , the then Everton Manager , Cliff Britton , among them . Seeing the need for haste , Britton took a chance and approached the youngster with an offer of a Professional contract with his boyhood idols .
Job’s a good’un , you may imagine .
Alas , this being Everton , things rarely go so smoothly .
In view of the club languishing in the Second Division for only the second time in our History , and bereft of the stars that lifted the Championship , the young Davie would have been just what the Doctor ordered . Unfortunately , National Service - 3 years via which the Army , in his case , Navy or Air-Force would claim you as their own , irrespective of who you were ; intervened ,
( I wonder what the current imcumbants of the England Team would make of that ??? ).
As a result , Evertonians were forced to wait three more seasons , whilst Hickson busied himself playing for - by now ; the actual Army Team , where once more , he crossed paths with Dixie .
“ ( I first met him at ,..) the Army Cadets , and Dixie was doing some coaching for the side . Actually being able to talk to him and learn was just invaluable . He was an amazing character , and if you couldn’t pick up hints and ideas from him , then you had no chance .”
With Everton , as I said , finding itself in the second division , having been relegated in the first year of the new decade , while we still had T.G. Jones - his move to Roma having fell through, instead , others were sacrificed , Lawton wanted to go and be near his Mother in London , ( despite her being from Lancashire ) , Mercer left in the first season after resumption , Stevenson was still awesome but ageing , and Sagar , ditto . Thus , an influx of new blood was needed . Farrell and Eglington had joined immediately Post-War , and along with Hickson would be the bedrock on which we would build our revival .
Davie Hickson , - finally , breezed into Goodison Park , in the summer of 1951 ; like a breath of fresh air . With all behind the scenes knowing what we had for some years now , he turned up sporting a quiff of supreme stature - Rock and Roll having crossed the Atlantic , and the Teddy-Boy style having been adopted by many Evertonians - my arl fella among them .
He didn’t just look the part , once they saw him play , they KNEW he rocked , and he was soon taken to the hearts of the Goodison faithful .
It was a good job too , as after being relegated , the side struggled to adapt to Bury , and , poignantly , Brentford , instead of Old Trafford and Highbury . By the Autumn they found themselves in 19th position - the lowest League position of any Everton side in history .
Davie made his debut for Everton , at Elland Road , Leeds , replacing another player you might have heard of , Harry Catterick ; the last time we won a league game there .
Fortunately , the ever more fruitful partnership between young Hickson and - on a personal note ; good friend of both my Grandfather and my Dad ; John Willie Parker , saw us climb the table to at least a respectable position . More than that , he gave an under-funded , once great club a hero . His style was physical - to put it mildly . Where Lawton had replaced Dixie as an opposite , a ball-player , Hickson was a throw back to Billy Dean . Indeed , many who saw both commented upon Billy’s brushwork upon the youngster .
He spilt blood as a matter of course , and ran into confrontation with opponents and officials nearly as often . He was the Target Man of the duo , and while his heading , like his hero and predecessor , Dean , was his forte , he was no slouch on the carpet , neither , with a formidable shot , earning him the sobriquet , “ The Cannonball Kid “ . He played 31 games in his initial year as a Professional , scoring 13 goals . However , it was in his second season that his reputation was truly established .
“ Finally getting a chance of first team football was just fantastic for me , even though we were in the second division back then .it didn’t matter . I was just happy to be following in the footsteps of “ Dixie “ and Tommy Lawton . What a tradition to follow ? “
Still not maintaining anything like consistency in the League , the potential of the embryonic side manifested itself in that year’s F.A. Cup . Having despatched Ipswich Town and Nottingham Forest at home in the early rounds , they were drawn against Manchester United , again at Goodison , on Valentine‘s Day , 1953 - with many expecting a massacre . The gate was 77, 920 .
United took the lead , Eglington having equalised late in the first half , whereupon Davie launched himself - head first , into a flurry of boots ., collecting a gash to his forehead in payment . As a result , he was forced to leave the pitch , to an enormous round of applause .
If they thought that was loud , the cruscendo which accompanied his return for the second half was positively ear-splitting.
So loud , in the days of 70 odd thousand , as to be remembered .
He scored what proved to be the winner early on , and later collided with the post , thus opening up the ten stitches he’d had applied at half-time . Ignoring pleas from the Referee , our Captain , and Man United’s Captain , he stayed on . His hair now red , his shirt the same colour as the opposition’s . They reckon the ovation he received at the final whistle was as good , if not better than any heard at Goodison , before or since .
Praise indeed .
He also scored the winner in the quarter final against Aston Villa , a typical thunderbolt . Thus , the side were drawn against Bolton Wanderers in the Semi-Final . However , our luck ran out in the first half , conceding 4 goals , and Hickson again suffering a head injury . However , he did score one in a second half comeback of 3 goals , but was forced to retire with 15 minutes remaining - it must have been bad .
The upshot was , the team lost out in being part of the famous Matthews’ Final , and Davie his nearest chance of playing at Wembley for Everton .
Season 1953-54 saw , finally , a marked improvement in the league . Both Parker and Hickson prospered . Davie bagging 25 league goals as the blues were promoted as runners-up , playing some wonderful football .
His form , unfortunately did not immediately transfer to the step up in divisions . The side did not settle , and while he didn’t flop , Hickson’s 13 goals in 25 appearances did not live up to the previous seasons portents . However , in a desperate throw of the dice by Cliff Britton , and , yet another example of Everton shooting itself in the foot , the club , to howls of derision from the terraces , decided to sell Davie to Aston Villa for £17,500 , for no logical reason whatsoever . He was still at the top of his powers , had not adapted as hoped in fairness , but it was , after all in his first attempt at the pinnacle of league football , and he did receive rather particular attention . Nevertheless , he left .
However , he was never really happy away from Merseyside , and despite respecting the club , he departed the second city having played only 12 games for them , and scoring but once , relocating northward to Huddersfield Town , with their side experiencing difficult times having only recently being promoted back to the top tier .
He gave this is better go , scoring 28 goals in 54 games , and linking up with both , Bill Shankly - the then Huddersfield Assistant Manager , and a young Denis Law - Lawman having been told to study the established player as a lesson in how to be a centre forward in the first division . Fortunately , for Evertonians , Britton had been replaced as by Ian Buchan - though never officially as Manager , and he saw our former hero as the man to build his revolution around . Shankly , by now Manager of Huddersfield Town proper , surprisingly accepted an offer of only £7,500 , and Davie Hickson was Homeward-Bound .
He was greeted like the returning hero he was . Unfortunately , as with most things in life , it wasn’t quite as good second time around . Buchan was working his way through Britton’s squad , deciding who to retain and whom not to . The side was in transition and the best that could be said of them was , “ Middle of the Road “ .
Davie , with a number of partners , even including 5ft 4” Bobby Collins , maintained his record of roughly , a goal every other game - which he also achieved over his career in general . From 1957-1959 , he played a further 86 games , netting 32 times , and he remained , “ King of Goodison Park “ .
Yet , Buchan , was himself replaced by Johnny Carey whom was tinkering with the side , seriously under-estimated the feeling amongst Evertonians , and within the man himself , when he did the unthinkable on November 6 , 1959 , and sold Dave Hickson to Liverpool FC , for £12,000 - he had played his last game for Everton in a Floodlight Cup game at Anfield , the previous Wednesday .
The move precipitated the largest outpouring of dissent ever witnessed at Goodison Park . With this being a Holy Place , I am loathe to state - the truth , incidentally , that there were reputedly hundreds of Blues who actually transferred their allegiances to follow their erstwhile idol , and never came back .
Insane on just about every level . I trust you concur .
On a personal note , my Mother likes to tell a story at Xmas and stuff , that on the day Bally was sold - her birthday , as it goes , December 22 , 1971 ; I asked for two pence and went to the local public phone box whereupon I rang Everton Football Club intending to complain to Harry Catterick . I actually spoke to his Secretary . I was 8 years old . The thing was , I was pissed . In fact , pissed didn’t even begin to say it . Devastated , dumbfounded , shattered , bereft of reason to get up in the morning ,.. These perhaps at least approach the gravity of my feeling .
Well , upon the sale of Dave Hickson to Liverpool , another young Evertonian , this time 7 years old , wrote a letter of complaint to the then Chairman . He too , was all the things I described in myself 20 years later , and like me , wished to vent his spleen as a Blue . The kid was Bill Kenwright - finally , we have something in common .
My point , however , was the effect Dave Hickson had among Toffees .
He was worshipped . Honest to God , worshipped .
Granted , it was a time when our great club saw hard times . Some of our hardest ever . Moreover , he never won a trophy , nor played in a final whilst at Everton . He couldn’t even terrorise Liverpool as they were mostly in a different division . Nor did he represent his Country , but many feel his National Service , allied to our general standing at the time , in addition to the abundance of boss centre forwards of the day , Mortensen , Lofthouse , saw him have real hard lines . Nevertheless , his swashbuckling style and his utter and glaringly obvious love for anything Goodison-linked , allied to his formidable scoring record , all topped off with that quiff and the rock and roll thing , meant Dave Hickson was perhaps unique in the affections of Evertonians . Revered simply upon reputation , with no silverware as context .
His feelings for our club were described thus on the move itself ;
“ I didn‘t want to leave Everton again but if you‘re not wanted , what can you do ? However , I made it plain that if I have to leave Everton to carry on playing then I‘d have to do that ,…but I did not want to leave the City of Liverpool . So , I ended up crossing Stanley Park and going to Anfield ,
( L.C.A.B. makes Sign of the Cross ,..) .
It was a bit strange but at least I was in the City I loved . “
The club , seeing the reaction , played up the fact that Liverpool were then a second division side . Indeed , in his two seasons at the RS , Davie never had to face Everton .
So , to re-cap , we were not only were robbed of 3 years of him at , or approaching his peak , we then proceeded to sell him . Twice !
Remember I mentioned the , shooting oneself in the foot , tendency ? …..
Thus , in no surprise to any Azzuri - except perhaps our Manager , Davie Hickson prospered for the Bealzebubs . He was 29 years old and STILL ROCKED , in every sense of the word .
He scored twice on his Anfield debut , in front of a crowd of 15,000 - ahem , higher than average for the season .
Bill Shankly , Liverpool boss days after Hickson‘s arrival , used him well .Alongside Roger Hunt , Davie netted 26 times in 21 games . Kopites loved him , too . However at the end of the following season , Dwight D Eisenhower decided to freshen-up the side , bringing in a young Scot , Ian St. John , as Hickson’s replacement . The Cannonball Kid left Lucifer’s Liverpool having scored 37 goals in 60 games .as , once more , inexplicably , he was transferred .
However , Davie Hickson , being Davie Hickson , and still only 31 , wasn’t finished yet .
In recent Sermon’s I have noted the uniqueness of the White Pele , in filling every role on both Professional and Managerial sides at Everton , and Waggy , in having played both for and against England . Well , in making the move from Liverpool , Hickson ended up , via spells at ( Amateur ) Cambridge City , and Bury , at Tranmere Rovers - in 1962 , and in so doing , became the only person to ever represent all 3 Merseyside clubs in league football . Legend as he was , even then , he maintained a supreme scoring record , nabbing 21 goals in 45 games , for the Rovers . As I said , legend .
He left Tranmere , in 1964 , to take up a ( player ) managerial role in Northern Ireland - at Ballymena
United , but left , in his own words , due to the increasing “ Troubles “ .
“ It suddenly became very dangerous ,..” .
Despite his hopes to the contrary , he was unable to find a career in management / coaching , and he eventually drifted out of football , obtaining a job with the Local Authority , and after a short spell with Northwich Victoria , turning out for his local side at the weekend . Indeed , he played in certain Charity games until in his 60’s .
However , with the Chairmanship of Everton passing to Bill Kenwright , ex-players , such as Dave Hickson , and his great mate , Brian Labone , were welcomed back into the club and given a role as Ambassadors on match days . Both men , as did others , loved it . Lapped it up , in fact . So much so , in Davie’s case , he took over the Goodison Tour Guide role on weekdays . Always an oasis of calm and patience in what can often be a cauldron of screaming kids and cob-on’s .
Unfortunately , Dave Hickson suffered a heart attack , before a home game to Sunderland in 2007 . Fair play to our Chairman , he forgave the match , a 7-1 win as it goes , and travelled in the ambulance with his hero .
Davie was asked by the nurses if he needed to get back in case he was playing ?
“ Only for the last ten minutes , love . “ He replied .
In October 2009 , he had entered Hospital again after two operations on his leg . He signed himself out on the 30th , in order to attend ah birthday dinner given by the club in his honour . Expecting 20/30 of his closest friends , the event was packed with 250 mad blues . He was presented with a commemorative plate bearing the inscription , “ The Cannonball Kid “ , and spent the evening signing autographs and taking pictures .
Dave Hickson is one of only 5 post-war Evertonians to score 100 goals for the club . Himself , Graeme Sharp , Alex Young , Bob Latchford , and Joe Royle . Exalted company indeed , playing in perhaps the worst side of any .
Those lucky enough to have seen him play for Everton , say that the turn around in character to jovial uncle is as great as any seen in the history of mankind . As a player he was nails . Always in some sort of trouble with both authorities and opposition players , there is record of one particular right hook on a Tottenham defender which left said Lilywhite snoozing on the cinder path beside the pitch at Goodison .- they reckon you could have put a feather on his nose and it would have went , up-and-down , like in the cartoons .
Hickson was prepared to spill blood , his own and others’ , in the cause of Everton victory .
He was a Lion .
So , the next time you see this gentle arl man , with a smile as wide as a goal , and the head of hair of a 55 year old , remember the picture of blood pouring down his face , with the stitches he’d had inserted , having burst , representing Everton Football Club .
Oh , and shake his hand .
So , Congregation , this Domingo , thank the Almighty for gracing us with Dave Hickson ; The Cannonball Kid , Evertonian Par Excellence .
Treasure him , as we will not see his like again .
“ I would have died for Everton . I would have broken every bone in my body for my other clubs - that’s how I look at it . If it was that much , I would have died for this club . “
Amen .
May the Good Lord be with you all .
Look after your peoples .
( Just in a small ecclesiastical digression , and a great mate of Dave Hickson , may we also wish Harry Ross , erstwhile Vicar of St. Luke’s , and Everton Chaplain , a long and happy retirement .
You’ve earned it , mate . )
Peace out .
The ( Catholic ) Reverend L.C.A.B.
