Goodison War Memorial Unveiled

Club remembers war heroes with wonderful new plaque.

Goodison Park is the home to a fabulous brand new memorial.

Lifelong Evertonian Dr David France and his wife Elizabeth were joined by members of the Everton Shareholders’ Association in commissioning a stone memorial for the seven players of Everton and CD Everton (Chile) who lost their lives during the First and Second World Wars.

A wonderful black marble plaque now sits proudly on the wall at the Park End side of the stadium, close to the Dixie Dean statue, and Dr France, who funded the project with his wife, is delighted with the finished article.

“It’s a special monument to some very special people,” he declared.

Elizabeth France was just as please at seeing her efforts rewarded with such a magnificent stone.

“It’s something that is very close to my heart and I am really pleased that it will allow Everton supporters, and those from other clubs, to pay their respects,” she said.

A committee scrutinized the available military archives for two years to identify the men who played for either one of the English and the Chilean Everton teams and, as a consequence, the following names are inscribed – Brian Atkins, Frank Boundy, Malcolm Fraser, Thomas Gracie, Leigh Richmond Roose, William Sumner and Wilfred Toman.

“Whilst we owe a debt to these fallen heroes that we can never repay, we can honour their sacrifice,” added Dr France.

A similar plaque inscribed with the same names has been commissioned in the Spanish language and will be shipped across to Chile for a permanent display location at the Estadio Sausalito, the home of CD Everton.

Malcolm Fraser and Frank Boundy, although both born in the UK, were among the founder members of the Chilean Everton in 1909.