Everton and technical partner hummel are proud to collaborate to present My Everton, a weekly series of first-hand accounts describing the most-treasured memories of fans, players, and staff both past and present.
Got an entry? We'd love to hear it – and there are exclusive prizes for the best fan submissions, including VIP tickets to First Team matches, invitations to watch training at Finch Farm, signed merchandise and discount on hummel.net. Submit via email to content@evertonfc.com.
I was born and lived at number 1 Goodison Avenue, the first house on the left, and lived there until I married at 29, when I went to live on Winslow Street.
I have so many good memories of it.
When I was a little girl, Jimmy Dunn lived at 10 and Dixie Dean was at 12.
Once, I had measles and I couldn’t go to young Billy Dean’s (Dixie’s son) birthday. Then there was a knock at the door – it was Dixie’s wife with a little bracelet for me.
You could play out on the street as everyone knew each other and looked out for one another.
Once, I slipped down a coal store manhole outside a house and hurt my foot. Tommy White was cycling down the road, coming home from work, and he carried me in to see my mum.
I wouldn't go to hospital, so she ran to the ground in a panic, knocked on the door at the players’ entrance, near The Winslow, and asked the Everton trainer, Harry Cooke, to take a look.
He put me on the treatment table and strapped my foot up for me – not many people can say that happened to them!
I was christened and married at St Luke’s church, next to the stadium.
I went to Gwladys Street School first, then Priory Road School, at the end of Anfield Cemetery – it has been pulled down now.
My dad, Robert, had two Everton shares and two seats to go with them in the Bullens Road stand, so he took me. He sold his two shares to John Moores for £80 and he thought he was rich!
Goodison Avenue in 1963, with Vera pictured pushing a pram
I’ve been in every place in the ground - except for the old Boys’ Pen! Girls weren’t seen alone often at matches in those days, but when I got to 14, I started standing in the Lower Bullens (Paddock) with my friend, Rose.
I just loved football. The three players I especially loved watching were Nobby Fielding, Wally Boyes and Alex Stevenson. And I remember Jock Dodds, TG Jones and Dave Hickson getting his head ‘repaired’ in a match.
When the World Cup was on in 1966, I took my two young daughters to watch the international players boarding the team buses.
My last season ticket was in the Gwladys Street end, when I was in my 60s.
I married a Red but I am Blue, all the way through! Nothing could ever change that.
By Vera Hickey (née Lobley), Evertonian
