Match by Match Reports

1^st December 1980

2^nd Round – Home to Nottingham Forest

Won 1-0

Scorer – John McMahon

 

Match preview from The Liverpool Echo

 

A DREAM COME TRUE FOR BLUES KEEPER

1^st DECEMBER 1980

BY CHARLES LAMBERT

David Fealey, a 15 year-old schoolboy from Formby, will have his dream come true to-night when he keeps goal for an Everton team at Goodison Park, writes Charles Lambert.

David, who is with Everton on schoolboy form, is catapulted into the limelight for to-night’s FA Youth Cup second round match with Nottingham Forest at Goodison (7 p.m.) because of injuries to two other ‘keepers.

Paul Garner, who would probably have been Everton’s first choice, is out with an elbow injury and his deputy, Simon Steel, injured a leg in training last week.

Said youth development officer Ray Minshull “David has had a couple of games in our ‘A’ team which have been valuable experience for him. He is a good goalkeeper and we have confidence in him.”

To-night’s match gives Evertonians the chance to weigh up the Goodison talent of the future. Included in the squad of 15 are Mark Ward, who won the Player of the Tournament award at a youth tournament in Holland last summer, and both John McMahon, brother of first team discovery Steve McMahon.

Admission prices to-night are: main stand 80p, enclosure 60p, juveniles enclosure 30p.

EVERTON (from) Fealey, P. Ratcliffe, Goulding, K. Ash, O’Shea, Ward, Tierney, Richardson, Stevens, Kelly, R. Ash, Evans, J. McMahon, Jefferson, Teale.

 

Match report from The Liverpool Echo

 

THE YOUNG ONES STRIKE TOP NOTE

2^nd DECEMBER 1980

BY CHARLES LAMBERT

Everton have high hopes of a good run in the F.A. Youth Cup following their 1-0 victory against Nottingham Forest in the second round at Goodison last night.

The scoreline did little justice the Everton’s superiority over a disappointing Forest side. The young Blues hit the woodwork three times and had a goalbound effort cleared off the line before finally clinching victory with an 83^rd minute goal from substitute John McMahon.

And afterwards youth development officer Ray Minshull said: “This team compares favourably with any youth side we have had since I have been here.”

In recent years Everton have reached the final, the semi-final and the quarter-final of the competition, and clearly Mr. Minshull anticipates another realistic challenge.

“When you consider that this was the first time the boys have played together as a team, they did very well.” he said. “The players are usually split between the reserves, the ‘A’ team and the ‘B’ team.

Everton’s only fright came in the second minute, when a defensive slip enabled Forest striker Steve Fraser to get in a shot. But 15-year-old goalkeeper David Fealey was well positioned.

From then on Everton were in control, thanks to impressive performances by Kevin Richardson in midfield and Dean Kelly who started in midfield but switched to attack when striker Robert Evans limped off.

Richardson, who is to sign professional forms on Thursday, his 18^th birthday, provided the highlight of the first half with a coolly taken shot which hit the crossbar.

In the second half, Everton put on the heat and the Forest ‘keeper pulled off vital saves.

A header by Robby Ash was kicked off the line, McMahon flashed a header against the post and then Kelly drove a shot against the other post.

It looked like one of those games when nothing would bring a goal, but seven minutes from time, McMahon, brother of first team regular Steve, did the trick.

With Richardson making an intelligent run to draw a defender out of position, McMahon raced to the edge of the box and clouted a fierce left-foot shot past goalkeeper Ron Sinclair.

 

19^th January 1981

3^rd Round – Away at Stoke City

Won 3-1

Scorers – Gary Stevens, Kevin Richardson, Mark Ward

 

Match report from The Liverpool Echo

 

EVERTON YOUTH BOOK LAST 16 PLACE

20^th JANUARY 1981

Everton sank Stoke 3-1 in last night’s F.A. Youth Cup match at the Victoria Ground.

The Goodison Park outfit struck all their goals in the final quarter of the match as they eventually made the most of their superiority. And their reward for victory is a place in the last 16 and a home game against Watford.

Everton were always the better side but had struggled during the first half to put their game together in front of goal where it counts.

The best chance of the opening half fell to Ward, but his delicate chip struck the post and rebounded into the arms of City ‘keeper Pritchard.

Stoke should have taken the lead just before half time when they were awarded a penalty but full-back Steve Kirk’s kick was brilliantly saved by Everton ‘keeper Steele.

After half-time Everton really extended their grip on the game and finally broke the deadlock in the 65^th minute when Stevens scored.

Richardson made it 2-0 10 minutes later and Ward put the matter beyond doubt in the 79^th minute when he side footed No. 3.

Just before the end Stoke’s midfielder Painter grabbed a late consolation but by that time the match was settled.

 

2^nd February 1981

4^th Round – Home to Watford

Won 3-1

Scorers – Keith Tierney (2), John McMahon

 

Match preview from The Liverpool Echo

 

EVERTON’S CUP BOOST

2^nd FEBRUARY 1981

Everton’s youth side should have a good chance of beating Watford to-night in the F.A. Youth Cup after the performances of four of the younger players on Saturday, when the reserves beat Derby Reserves 3-2.

Two of the goals came from John Gidman and Gary Megson, both of whom scored from 25 yards, while Mark Ward scored from the spot, and produced two other goal worthy efforts in an outstanding display.

Derby’s goals, from Bowers and Clayton, in the last five minutes, came from defensive slackness.

 

Match report from The Liverpool Echo

 

3RD FEBRUARY 1981

Meanwhile Everton continue to make progress in the F.A. Youth Cup, and the officials were delighted with the turn-out of over 1,500 for last night’s 3-1 win over Watford (report inside).

“It was the best attendance we have had for quite a while in the Youth Cup.” said Mr. Greenwood.

There was a boost for the Everton youngsters from manager Gordon Lee , who praised their performance and stressed the importance to the club of a flourishing youth policy.

“Its always better to produce your own players and bring them up in the Everton tradition.” he said.

“I believe that football should try to get back to the way it was when I was a player, when 80% of the players in a team would be local men.

STABILITY

“These are the players who give you stability and loyalty but over the years that has gone adrift.

“There is a tendency for people to think more highly of a player who cost a large transfer fee than of someone who cost nothing, and that is ridiculous.”

Eight of last night’s successful youth team were Merseyside-born, and six of Everton’s first team at Nottingham Forest on Saturday were locals.

Last night’s win puts Everton into the quarter-finals of the Youth Cup. The draw will be made next Monday.

 

24^th February 1981

5^th Round – Home to Manchester United

Lost 1-3

Scorer – Derek Goulding

 

Match preview from The Liverpool Echo

 

BLUES STARLETS IN CUP CRUNCH

24^th FEBRUARY 1981

Everton fans have another chance to enjoy the fruits of their club’s successful youth policy tonight (7:30) when Manchester United visit Goodison in the quarter-finals of the F.A. Youth Cup, writes Ian Hargraves.

And all the signs are that there are several highly promising youngsters only too ready to follow in the footsteps of players like Steve McMahon, Joe McBride and Kevin Ratcliffe who have already shown they have what it takes this season.

Indeed Steve McMahon’s brother, John who plays in the same position on the right side of midfield, is the youngest member of the side whom youth development officer Ray Minshull believes should provide plenty of entertainment.

One of the team Keith Tierney of Skelmersdale, is a former schoolboy international, and two others, centre forward Mark Ward and midfield man Kevin Richardson are full time professionals.

Several of the others may also be signed full time when they are old enough, but this is a comparatively young and inexperienced team who have done remarkable well to beat Nottingham Forest, Stoke City and Watford.

United of course have always set tremendous store by their youth team, and have used it to develop a host of world famous players like Duncan Edwards, Eddie Coleman and Bobby Charlton.

At one time they used to monopolise the Youth Cup, and even though those days have long gone, they invariably put up a good performance.

Tonight, for example, they will field at least six full time professionals, and one of them, Scott McGarvey, was good enough to come on as a substitutefor the first team last Saturday.

EVERTON: Simon Steele; Phil Ratcliffe, Derek Goulding, Kevin Ash, John O’Shea; John McMahon, Keith Tierney, Kevin Richardson, Gary Stevens; Mark Ward, Robert Ash. Sub: Robert Evans.

 

Match report from The Liverpool Echo

 

RED DEVILS TURN ON POWER AS … BLUES CRASH OUT OF YOUTH CUP

25TH FEBRUARY 1981

BY IAN HARGRAVES

Everton’s youngsters need not be too disheartened by their elimination from the FA Youth Cup By Manchester Utd at Goodison last night.

For much of the first half they more than held their own, and if Utd’s superior power proved too much in the end at least Everton never stopped trying.

One of the fascinations of watching Youth Cup ties is that one never really knows who is going to make the grade over the next few years. Some of the cleverest players never develop the necessary strength and stamina; some of the most physically advanced find themselves overtaken by the late developers.

Thus it must remain a matter to speculation whether the tall Belfast youngster Norman Whiteside, still barely 16, will justify Utd’s extravagance in flying him over from Ireland for every game, or whether Everton’s Skelmersdale-born schemer Keith Tierney will be able to reproduce his many clever touches at a higher level.

Of all those on view last night United’s Scott McGarvey has undoubtedly achieved most, with a first division appearance or two, and he showed why against Everton with some lovely control where it counted most, under pressure.

It was McGarvey whose accurate pass out of defence caught Everton hopelessly committed upfield in the 36^th minute and enabled Reynolds to firle home the equaliser after the home side had gone in front in the fifth minute through a Goulding header.

That goal dented Everton’s mounted confidence and when Keough headed home an accurate cross from Reynolds in the 57^th minute their composure disappeared completely.

Derek Goulding generally a commanding figure and centre back, became the first of three bookings for a foul on Hughes and in the closing stages, the Blues lost many of the good marks previously earned.

Gary Stevens, a strong left winger, never quite achieved as much as he promised, while little Mark Ward, though entertaining, tended to waste opportunities by over elaboration. In contrast the bigger, stronger United team played more directly and economically and once in front could well have added more than one extra goal through Mark Hughes.

Hughes twice showed touches of real class in front of goal, where Everton lacked penetration, and left winger Andy Reynolds demonstrated an ability to centre unusually accurately.

Nobody could question the spirit and commitment shown by both sides but it was a pity those qualities were not accompanied by a greater degree of self-discipline.