[lfc-news] Countdown to the big derby: Part 3 - Echo

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Liverpool Echo, 8 Dec 2004
# After wartime famine, Scouse fans gorge on return of rivalry

"ANY spares?" will be the words heard all over Merseyside in the build-up
to Saturday's 200th Merseyside derby.

But in the days before all-ticket derbies, it was a case of first come,
first served.

And on September 18, 1948, an astonishing 78,299 supporters managed to cram
into Goodison Park before the "house full" signs were posted.

The nation was rediscovering competitive football again after a wartime
diet of friend-lies and regional clashes, and the first clash of the 1948-9
season saw an attendance which is unlikely ever to be topped on Merseyside.

Goodison's previous ground record was 74,721 - set in a match that did not
feature Everton!

With Manchester United's Old Trafford ground closed because of bomb damage
sustained during the War, United's fourth round FA Cup tie the previous
season had been played at Goodison Park.

But even that astonishing mark was eclipsed for the showdown of the Mersey
giants in 1948.

"Each section of the ground looked to be well and truly packed and there
were many thousands outside.

"There were many casualties and some swaying in parts of the paddock,"
reported that night's Football ECHO.

The match itself ended all square.

With TG Jones forced to the touchline to receive treatment, Liverpool took
advantage of the gap in the Everton rearguard to snatch a late lead through
Joe Fagan.

But with Liverpool seemingly set for victory, Shepherd handled a Wally
Boyes shot.

Jones was the ordained penalty taker but, still carrying his injury,
declined the responsibility.

Instead, Ephraim 'Jock' Dodds stepped up and drove the ball past Sidlow.

The match ended 1-1, but the most memorable statistic was a gate of 78,599
- later amended officially to 78,299, and still a record on Merseyside.

Goodison derbies topped the 70,000 mark on a further three occasions - in
August 1949, September 1950 and finally in September 1962, the last
occasion a league fixture attracted a crowd of more than 70,000 in this
country.


# How Reds great Liddell made most of rare derby

WITH Everton and Liverpool swopping places in the top-flight in the 1950s,
Merseyside derbies were rare occasions to be relished when they came along.

One, in particular, which always stood out in Billy Liddell's mind.

Speaking before his death a couple of years ago, he recalled vividly: "Of
all the derby games I played in, one stands out - when Liverpool, then in
the Second Division, went to Goodison in the Cup in 1955 and won 4-0.

"I scored the first goal and the thrill of winning so convincingly was even
more than that of the 1950 semi-final when we beat Everton 2-0 at Maine Road.

"Although the papers and radio used to build up the derby so much, I never
found it a great deal harder than any other. I didn't seem to suffer from
any nerves.

"There has always been tension surrounding the fixture. That's one of the
troubles - no-one wants to get beaten in this particular match.

"Even so, there has always been a close link between the players of both clubs.

"I used to see Peter Farrell quite a lot - speaking at youth clubs together
- but friendship had to be put aside at least twice a year.

"Maybe I'm prejudiced, but I have always said that the Mersey derby is the
best in the country.

"There often seems to be trouble in Manchester and, of course, a different
type of fervour causes problems in the Rangers-Celtic match.

"Anfield is a little better than Goodison for atmosphere - maybe it is
because the ground is more compact compared with the high stands at Everton.

"But the supporters seem more mature than at most other grounds. "Though
there are younger supporters, the average age seems higher than in most
places - and, above all, everyone seems to appreciate good football."


# D-Day looms for the Gang of Four
Paddy Shennan talks to the four men who help stage the Merseyside derbies

IT takes more than two sets of players and fans to make a Merseyside derby.

The games wouldn't be able to take place at all if it wasn't for the work
put in by those responsible for ensuring the safety of fans, and keeping
order both inside and around the ground and in the city centre afterwards.

As the city prepares for the 200th Merseyside derby, the ECHO brought
together a very important Gang of Four - the Merseyside police football
liaison officers for Everton and Liverpool and the clubs' safety officers -
for a special pre-match meeting at Goodison Park.

Not that they're strangers. Inspector Lindsay Veitch (in the Blue corner)
and Inspector Bernie Swift (in the Red corner) work together day in, day
out, while Goodison ground safety officer Norman Whibley and Ged Poynton,
Anfield's stadium manager and safety certificate holder, meet regularly.

And Ged obviously has the greatest respect for his friend across the park,
because he turned up at Goodison in blue jacket, blue shirt and blue tie!

But how friendly - or otherwise - are Everton--Liverpool games these days?

And how different are they to other high-profile Premiership games on
Merseyside, involving matches against clubs from, say, Manchester, London
or the Midlands?

"I don't think we can bury our heads in the sand and say all fans from both
clubs arrive at the games hand in hand," says Inspector Bernie Swift, who's
been on the Anfield beat since 1996.

"I think it's great that there is such a passionate atmosphere at the
games, but there can be unpleasant incidents. One thing which has certainly
increased in recent years, for example, is the number of complaints being
made by fans about the behaviour of players on the pitch, regarding alleged
incitement and provocation."

Although, he adds, the police have to be cautious about such complaints,
and what may motivate them: "I've never known of an incident in which a fan
wants to complain about the behaviour of one of his or her own players."

That's tribal loyalty for you, I suppose.

Inspector Lindsay Veitch took over from the retiring Inspector Tom King in
the summer, but has many years of derby experience in other police roles.
And he says: "While there is an element that may look for confrontation,
the vast majority of fans are decent people."


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