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Player Valuation: £70m
Sermon Sub-section ; Inconography .
May the Good Lord be with you , ....
The subject for today's lesson as you will have noted , is NOT a person , an' given that it is a building , an' it IS NOT , Goodison Park , I feel it only apt , that today's Sermon is focused upon Prince Rupert's Tower , or Everton Jail .
The early days of settlement's within both the Town of Liverpool , and it's surrounding encampments of Wavertree and Everton , saw the need - given it IS us , after all ; for a Bridewell or holding jail , or lock up , due to locals increasing fancy for gettin' bladdered .
Step forward , the Stone Jug .
It was located , upon Everton Brow , between Everton Road , and Netherfield Road , an' would become a vital component of that contemporary society , either acting as a , " Sober Up " , lock - up , or , to detain more serious criminals , awaiting Court or even deportation .
It's nominal link arises from the construction's connection to Prince Rupert ( of the Rhine ) , during the War of the Roses . Your man , Rupert , came down from the Uplands , an' , with his eye upon the Garrison within the boundaries of the Old , Liverpool Town , used the topographical advantage of the Jail's location - in ( Higher ) or Ever - ton ( Town ) , prior to overwhelming the garrison , and carrying all before them ,(until some weeks after), the crucial ,Battle of Bosworth Field .
Thus , it's sobriquet was born .
An early print of the area , by the Liverpool artist , Herdman , shows the small , round house - with a conical roof , in the middle of a penfold - cattle enclosure - , it also went by the names , " Stewbum's Palace " , after the adjacent Stewbum Place / Street , and the Stone Jug .
The CURRENT Sandstone construction was established in 1787 .
The links to the modern day club , began with the ORIGINAL association with Toffee to Everton FC , the location of Ma' Bushell's Toffee Shop , Ye Ancient Everton Toffee House , in Village Street , close to the Queens Head , pub , the base for MUCH of the initial development of this great club . Ma' Bushell became the ORIGINAL Toffee Lady , AND invented the original Everton Toffees , and her produce became a favourite among the increasing hordes whom began to follow the team . However , remember , THIS was time when the club would take Mere Lane , Stanley Park , Anfield and , finally , Chez Goodison as it's home .
Poor old Ma Bushell , given that HER shop was now OUT of the club's immediate environs , was superceded by her great Toffee - Miester Rival Ma' Noblett , whose shop was located nearer to the Walton , rather than Everton Brow area . As a result , and seeing a gap in the market , Ma' Noblett would invent Everton Mints , colouring them Black and White , to immitate to the clubs early black and white shirts , an' would go on to become THE Toffee Lady .I digress .
Fast forward 50 years , Theo Kelly , our then Manager is sitting in Goodison Park . We have Dean AND Lawton , AND Mercer , an' WE ROCK !!!
Theo is sitting in his office , and , having been asked to create an image to adorn a Club Tie for an imminent , " Do " ,- Even THEN , Flag Days appear to have been the OTHER CROWD's Bag - , he stumbles upon the idea of the Stone Jug . Thus , the Legend was Born .
However , this was NOT to be an end to it . Given that his WAS the 1930's , AND the image IS of a JAIL , the Club's Burgher's WERE NOT BEST PLEASED , and despite both the dinner and the tie being a success , ordered Kelly to have a re-think , as regards the Club's Corporate (Future ) Identity . Fair play to Theo , he DID consider other options . He even made a shortlist .
I understand , that the candidates were , of course , the Original St. Domingo's Church - on Breckfield Road North - , Everton Library - St. Domingo Road - 50 yards from my home - , The Stone Jug , AND , little known fact alert - Isombard Kingdom Brunel's Aquaduct - known locally as the Water Tower. Theo , thankfully , stood his ground , an' a legend was born .
For our Foreign Bretheren , one of THE re-occuring themes of Everton and Evertonians , is , CLASS , STYLE , etc . Sartorially , as the BIGGER / BETTER man - Post Heysel , an' our association with Iconography is ANOTHER example . EVEN after establishing the Tower as our Club Badge , we DECLINED to use it on Club shirts , RIGHT THROUGH the School of Science , period , on the basis that , WE ARE EVERTON ; WE NEED NO BADGE .
An' , while I applaud the decision on one level , IT WOULD have been nice , to have REAL retro wear from Bally / Labby etc .
Post , 2nd best Boss Side , we staggered into the 70's , broken . However , an one upshot was , in 71/72 , the return of the Badge . NOT , at this stage , the Tower , but , a Cyrillic - Flourishing - E F C . This was followed in 76/77 with a Copper Plate E.F.C. All well and good , but NOT really Everton FC . Moreover , our fortune 76/77 aside , during the '70's , illustrated the Club was right to , " Bin ", the initials , an' return , Thank the Lord , to the ORIGINAL EMBLEM , of a Shield , bearing Everton Jail , with Laurel Wreaths Resplendent , above a Flourishing Scroll , bearing the Club Motto of ; Nil Satis Nisi Optimum - NOTHNG but THE BEST is enough , ( will suffice ) , was reinstated with the arrival of Kendall and the 1980's .
By 1983/84 , and Le Coq Sportif , the Badge would change once more . THIS time , the shield was lashed , and an E F C , positioned over the top of the Tower and Laurel Wreaths . THIS version was our MOST SUCCESSFUL ever , but , with the reinstatement of Umbro , as it manufacturers , it would be jettisoned with a return to the Traditional , Shield , option , which has been retained to this day .
As an aside , THIS was one my premier gripes , Re; Kirkby . IF , in 150 years , the Club was still going - having relocated THERE - would we have replaced the Tower with an image of the Shopping Centre , or Municipal Golf Course ???
Your badge is WHO YOU ARE . WE , ARE EVERTON F.C. , an' Prince Rupert's Tower , Everton Jail , The Stone Jug , or WHATEVER , Thank the Almighty , IS Everton F.C. , and I LOVE IT WITH ALL MY HEART .
Amen .
May the Good Lord be with you all .
Remember ; Jesus loves you 'cause you're a Blue .
Look after your Peoples .
Peace Out .
The ( Catholic ) Reverand L.C.A.B.
"..I know My Peoples hearin' me ...Hollerif y'al need me ... Word ..."
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