BILLY BREMNER LEEDS UNITED AND SCOTLAND SKIPPER WAS TALKING TO STAN LIVERSEDGE
Liverpool Echo - Monday 02 March 1970
THE STRAIN IS TELLING ON EVERTON NOW
Everton are feeling the strain of their fight to take the title from Leeds, believes Billy Bremner.  “We’ve never suffered from the tension, at any stage of the season-yet,” he adds.  “We never set our sights on retaining the championship-after we had won the title last year, the European Cup became the big one, for us.  So in the League and the Cup, we have been playing really relaxed football.  “In fact, we haven’t been worrying about results-before the Swindon Cup-tie, the dressing room atmosphere was so relaxed you’d have thought we were going for a practice match.  “Of course, as we come up to the last four or five games, we shall fell the strain a bit them.  But at the moment it’s Everton who have to do the chasing –and it’s always difficult to catch someone when they forge ahead, as we have done.  “Not only that, but if you’re conscious of having to overhaul a team, the tension really shows.  At one time, Everton had an eight-point lead, on paper- but it wasn’t quite like that.  Everton realized this, though other people talked foolishly about it being a one-horse race.  “We are not consciously trying to catch Everton, but as things turned out, we edged into the lead.  Now Everton must be feeling that they get punished for every mistake they make.  But it isn’t all over, by a long chalk.  “In fact, if Chelsea hadn’t dropped a point in mid-week, I would have put them in a chance of the title.  And I STILL don’t rule them out.  “But the European Cup remains the big one for us, even though we know we have a chance of the treble.  And I reckon the one game which will see us feeling tense is Wednesday’s tie against Standard Liege in Belgium, I’m hoping for a draw, at least. 

BLUES MUST GO FOR GOALS, AS WELL AS POINTS
Liverpool Echo - Monday 02 March 1970
By Mike Charters
While Leeds seek to wrest at least a point from Liverpool next Saturday, in the sizzling Anfield arena. Everton embark on the second of three successive away matches. After Saturday's valuable draw at Nottingham Forest, Everton tackle Burnley at Turf Moor on Saturday, then travel to play Tottenham at White Hart Lane a week on Wednesday—the third time they have set nut to complete this vital fixture. And the emphasis must be on victory, each time—and goals. When Leeds beat Everton on December 27, at Elland Road, they had scored seven more goals than the Blues-54, against 47, and conceded the same number, 24. Today, the table shows that Leeds have rattled home 73 goals and conceded 32 ... while Everton have managed only to reach the 55 mark. Everton have remained strong in defence, for they have still conceded only 29 goals—three fewer than Leeds, since that December 27 encounter. But now the gap, in terms of goals scored, has shot up from seven to 18, in favour of Leeds. Over a long spell, Everton have notched 17 goals while Leeds have amassed 49—and Allan Clarke and Mick Jones now stand on the 23-goal mark apiece, while Everton's top marksman remains Joe Royle, with 19—all scored in the League. Without those Royle goals—and the five-goal contribution from Alan Whittle, who also won precious points—Everton would have been in dire distress. But the next two away matches—and the third game, a Goodison return against Spurs, can spur Everton. For their opponents are teams who do not possess iron curtain defences.  Burnley have conceded 49 goals, Tottenham 45. It would be no consolation to the Blues, were they to finish level on points, yet be pipped for the title on goal average. And this COULD happen ... if Everton don't get back on the goal standard.

EVERTON DISAPPOINT AS TITLE TOUCH IS MISSING
Liverpool Echo - Monday 02 March 1970
By Mike Charters
Having lost on their previous six visits to Nottingham Forest, Everton’s point from their 1-1 draw there on Saturday was an improvement. But that is just about the kindest thing one can say about the game, and Everton's performance, which was far removed from that expected by a championship chasing team.  Only in a 20 minute spell after halt-time did they play with the fire, determination and drive which would have crushed a poor Forest team had it been applied for 90 minutes, clearly, manager Harry Catterick had roused them with his half-time pep talk after a first half of such drab disorder.  In that time Ingram had given Forest a sketchy looking lead from what seemed an offside position.  Hill had saved superbly from Kendall. Forest defended defiantly if crudely. But once Royle had equalized two minutes after the interval—and he looked the most surprised man on the field that his back-header had gone over Chapman head and through Hill's arm.—Everton rallied
Disintegrated

And in this all-too-brief spell they made their superior skill count.  But Everton could not sustain their attacking momentum with none of the forwards able to crack a tough Forest defence in which Chapman an expert at passing back from 30 yards also showed himself an inspiring figure.Midway through the second half, Everton’s spurt had distintergated.  They had one moment when Harvey shot for the empty net as Hill lay out of action with his injured arm, but Chapman hurled his large frame in the way and diverted the ball.  Outside left Hilley wore the goalkeeper’s jersey for the last eight minutes-but Everton never tested him such was their lack of urgency and thrust.  It was Forest playing with spirit after they had realized that Everton’s revival was short-lived who came nearest to getting both points.  West saved well from Lyons and Hall superbly from Hindley’s header-and Everton could not have complained had they lost.  It was in the second half that the physical side of the game became dominant.  As Everton raised their game and pace.  Forest answered with determined tackling which brought several incidents.  Bell was spoken to three times and should regard himself fortunate he was not booked, although he was on the receiving end of much physical pressure.  And when Harvey was booked for a foul on Lyons, he was unfortunate as it was the only time he has stepped out of line.  He looked to be the victim of incidents which had raised tempers out of all proportion to intensity of the play.  Ball urged on his team mates with a verbal whipping which could be heard at the back of the stands.  But vocal encouragement was not enough.  Everton’s display was a disappointing as in their Cup defeat at Sheffield United.  The game was without pattern or rhythm, and with Forest no more than workmanlike, there was little entertainment for spectators.   I made Wright Everton best by a long way.  The others were never more than adequate and never revealed the touches of skill, intuitive and drive which made their football sparkle three months ago.


RESERVES SPOT
With most of the play Everton reserves again failed to snap up all their chances, and had to be content with a 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest Reserves at Goodison on Saturday.  Jones got the first goal while Melledew-whose heading ability is becoming noticeable-got the second.  Centre forward Lyons, who is using the ball increasingly well, needs only a little more accuracy to help himself to plenty of goals in the future.  Darcy playing at full back-though he seems to be happy playing in any position-virtually made the second goal. 

BURNLEY WON’T HAVE INFERORITY COMPLEX
Liverpool Echo - Wednesday 04 March 1970
By Stan Liversedge
Burnley's new manager, Jimmy Adamson, will see to it that his team don't go into Saturday's Turf Moor game against championship - chasing Everton with an inferiority complex. Adamson picked his first team for last Saturday's game against Sheffield Wednesday, at Hillsborough—and Burnley lost. "But that was because the breaks went against us." he says. “Everton are a good team—there isn't much to choose between them and Leeds." says the Burnley manager. "But we aren't going to worry about how Everton will play. We won't approach the game against them with any complex. That way, you can spread anxiety through your team. I know my players —and they will always give their best for Burnley.  You cannot ask for more.
Anxious
“Indeed, it may be Everton who will come to Turf Moor feeling just a bit anxious. They have had some disappointing results lately, and they are striving to catch Leeds United. “I don't underestimate Everton, though—they have four good men at the back, three good men in midfield, and three good 'uns up front. And their goalkeeper is not bad, either! "We aim to play positive football—attacking football, if possible. Though we won't go in for the pretty-pretty stuff. Everton's foundation away from home seems to be to play it tightly at the back—but with them, defence is the springboard for the quick break.

LOOK OUT BURNLEY IT’S FIGHTING TALK!
Liverpool Echo - Thursday 05 March 1970
By Stan Liversedge
Everton manager Harry Catterick to-day gave his players a clarion call, as they prepare for Saturday's vital game at Turf Moor. We've got to get back into form, if we're going to win the championship—and, obviously. I'm hoping that Burnley is where we will click." Everton have an impressive record at Turf Moor—and they will be hoping history repeats itself. For in the 1962-63 season. Everton won 3-1 at Burnley and finished up taking the title. Everton indeed, have done remarkably well at Burnley - they have lost only one of the last eight games they have played there. But Catterick dismissed any suggestions that Everton are Burnley's bogy team, when he said: “I have no illusions —I don't go along with talk of lucky grounds or bogy teams “It’s a question of the side you take with you and how they play on the day.  Bogy teams and grounds don't exist —that's only in the mind. “The fact is that we have got to find our real form. The lads are all keen to get back to their best. They realize they have not been in top form. Maybe they've been trying TOO hard.
Below their best
"In any team there are always one or two players who have an off-day but we've had so many players below their best as many as four or five, in one game. “It is a question of getting a higher percentage of players in top form again. There's no logical reason for the dip in form.  Burnley, under new management Jimmy Adamson took over the team reins from Harry Potts less than a fortnight ago- could present Everton with one poser. For they have made many changes, through the season. The Everton manager said: “We’ve had Burnley watched, of course—l’ve got two reports on them. In the past month.  But they have been making five or six changes a match. “Things have tended to settle down a bit now, but their side is vastly different front the team of three weeks or a month ago." Everton have no injury problems, so they will be able to field a full-strength line-up. And there is little doubt that Catterick will gear up his side with the kind of message which says: "This is a game were got to go out and WIN!”

BLIZZARD BLOTS OUT POOR JOE ROYLE
Liverpool Echo - Thursday 05 March 1970
ALBERT STUBBINS, THE EX-LIVERPOOL IDOL, REPORTS FOR THE ECHO
Everton centre- forward Joe Royle will long recall the England - Scotland Under-23 game at Sunderland last night—because he barely had time to take up position before the match was all over. It must surely have been a disappointment to the young Everton giant, who hat, come on as substitute for Peter Osgood in the middle of a sensational three goals in four minutes scoring burst. Royle, one of the players on the very cringe of Sir Alf Ramsey's Mexico squad, never got the chance to show his paces, because with the score 3-1 for England, the blizzard brought the game to an end, after 60 minutes. The 12,000-odd fans had seen players slipping, wraith-like, through the snow.  They had seen England in control.  But with England leading 3:1 referee C Thomas soon decided, after halting the game on the hour, that conditions were impossible for further play. So for Royle it was all over.  His Everton club-mate, Jimmy Husband, fared better because he played from the start. And he did some good thing, in spite of the fact that he was not over-supplied with the ball.  The game was as good as could be honestly be expected in the circumstances, even though the early stoppage prevented a complete assessment of the ability of several players.  However, by the half way stage it was obvious that two men who made a major impact were Osgood and Brian Kidd. 

WHITTLE COULD BE EVERTON’S TRUMP CARD
Liverpool Echo - Friday 06 March 1970
By Stan Liversedge
Burnley’s game against Everton at Turf Moor tomorrow is on…which leaves one big question to be answered.  Will Everton manager harry Catterick name an unchanged team for this vital match, or will he find room for Alan Whittle?  So far as the weather is concerned there is no danger of the match being called off, unless conditions chance dramatically.  Burnley team-manager Jimmy Adamson told me today; “There’s a cushion of snow on the pitch about two inches deep, and the ground beneath is in good shape.  “There’s no danger of the match being off- unless we have a foot of snow overnight!”  which brings us back to the Everton poser.  Will it be “Same again” when the team is named…or will Whittle step in?  West, Wright, Newton, Kendall, Labone, Harvey…these names can be reeled off, virtually, without hesitation.  And the roles of Alan Ball and John Hurst in the team assure them of places.  Which leaves Husband, Royle, Morrissey-and Whittle.  Everton need GOALS.  They need VICTORY. AND I BELIEVE Whittle will play.  I weight it up this way; Whittle has scored five goals which have brought Everton five points.  But for injury, he could well have been in against Coventry, when Alan Ball returned after suspension.  Ball was an automatic first-team choice-so someone would have had to make way for Whittle, who had stood in so well, first when Jimmy Husband was injured, then for Ball.  Everton didn’t sparkle at Nottingham Forest last week, but Royle scored a point-saving goal.  And he is the lone big un’ in attack.  So I think he will stay.  Husband received a pretty fair rating for his display in Wednesday’s Under-23 game at Sunderland, and he has scored goals at Burnley in the last two League games there.  But Husband like Morrissey, has been having a lean time, so far as goals are concerned.  Husband’s last goal for Everton was on November 15, at Chelsea, and it took his total for the season to six.  Morrissey scored at Southampton on January 17-his first goal since October- and he has totaled eight. 
Conditions
Harry Catterick will not name his team until shortly before kick-off time.  And a lot will depend upon ground conditions.  But I have a hunch that Everton will go boldly for goals and victory-and that Whittle will be in.  Everton badly need two points, after having taken only eight from seven games, but they can be spurred by the knowledge that Burnley’s unbeaten run in five League matches was ended by struggling Sheffield Wednesday.  Everton today named a party of 14 players –including Husband, Morrissey, and Whittle.  The squad; West, Wright, Newton, Kendall, Labone, Harvey, Husband, Ball, Royle, Hurst, Morrissey, Whittle, Brown, Kenyon.   Burnley stick to the side which lost away to Sheffield Wednesday- manager Adamson believes they played well but didn’t get the breaks.  So he gives a vote of confidence to the line-up.  Mellor, Angus, Thomson; O’Neill, Dobson, Todd; Casper, Coates, Bellamy, Thomas, Kindon, Merringto is substitute. 

THEY’RE THE MEN WITH THE TURF MOOR GOAL HABIT
Liverpool Echo - Friday 06 March 1970
IT’S A CASE OF WIN OR BUST…
By Stan Liversedge
Burnley will beware of two men, especially, when they meet Everton at Turf Moor to-morrow. For they have been the marksmen who have won Everton points, in previous encounters.  Everton manager Harry Catterick will also be thinking along these lines, too, no doubt, when he finally names the 11 men who will play in this key championship match. The Everton chief wants to see his team get back into that smooth flowing stride which brought goals in the early part of the season. And while Harry Catterick dismisses talk of lucky grounds, it is a fact that Everton have a remarkably good record at Turf Moor, over the last 10 years.  More than that—in recent seasons. Alan Ball and Jimmy Husband have won points there for Everton. Last season, Ball and Husband got the goals in a 2-1 victory. The season before, when Everton went down by the same margin, Husband scored for the Blues, and the previous season, it was Ball whose goal won a point in a 1-1 draw. Everton are clear of injuries, and manager Catterick can stick to the team which drew at Nottingham last Saturday-- or make room for Alan Whittle. Five goals from Whittle won five points for Everton, and they have good grateful to Whittle and Joe Royle, for their marksmanship this season. _ Tomorrow, the Everton manager must decide if Whittle will be the reinforcement needed, in the bid for outright victory. Apart from the need to close up on Leeds, Everton's record at Burnley should be an added spur to go out for both points. Everton, indeed, will be hoping for a repeat of the result in the 1962-63 season, when they won 3-1 at Turf Moor…and went on to take the First Division title In the last 10 years, Everton have won four times at Burnley, and drawn three of their games. Their heaviest defeat came 10 years ago, when Burnley won 5-2. The following season saw Everton avenge that licking, with a 3-1 victory, and while the 1961-62 season results went Burnley's way (a 2-1 League win and an F.A. Cup success of 3-1), the 1962- 63 title season swung the balance.  Everton's way, once more.   Everton will go merely for the draw—it's almost a case of win or bust. For in the last seven seasons, Everton have lost only once at Turf Moor. After their title success, Everton went back to Burnley the following season to win by the odd goal in five; then came a three-game string of 1-1 draws, and a no-score result in an F.A. Cup-tie ... with Everton winning the replay.
Season 1967-68 saw Everton make their one slip—they lost 2-I—but the Blues reversed this result last season. Tomorrow, Everton will be hoping that history repeats itself, and that a victory once more at Turf Moor will be the springboard for a final successful run-in to the -championship itself, don't think Everton will go merely for the draw- it’s almost a case of win or bust. 

BLUES CLOSE GAP
Liverpool Echo - Saturday 07 March 1970
TURF MOOR NO PLACE FOR FAINT HEARTS
By Stan Liversedge
BURNLEY 1, EVERTON 2
Line-up;- Burnely; Mellor; Angus, Thompson; O’Neill, Dobson, Todd; Casper, Coates, Bellamy, Thomas, Kindon, Sub Marrington.  Everton; West; Wright, Newton; Kendall, Labone, Harvey; Whittle, Ball, Royle, Hurst, Morrissey, Sub Brown.  Referee; Mr. K. Howley (Billington). 
EVERTON have narrowed the gap at the top of the First Division between themselves and Leeds to one point—and they still have a game in hand on their big rivals for the championship, though they trail on goal average. Now next Wednesday's twice-post postponed game against Tottenham at White Hart Lane gives Everton the chance to forge into the lead. For Leeds United are without a mid-week match.  In a game that had no room for faint hearts, Everton had to overcome skating rink conditions as well as a Burnley team battling with determination at turf Moor this afternoon. 

And it was to Everton's credit that after Burnley had wiped out a goal by Alan Ball they took command and forged a 2.1 lead. But it was hard graft. Jimmy Husband lost his right-wing place to Alan Whittle for the second time this season.  The first occasion was through injury -but against Burnley, Whittle got manager Harry Catterick's vote as Everton sought to inject more scoring punch into their attack. There was a cushion of snow on the pitch, which had been rolled, but the warm sun was thawing the snow along the touchlines. It was obvious that both teams would have trouble keeping their feet. A Burnley breakaway almost led to danger, but a back pass to West was collected safely and Everton set up an attack.

Fierce shot
Burnley hit back and a fierce shot from Coates was deflected for a corner, which was scrambled away after the situation had looked critical in the Everton goalmouth. Burnley continued to press on this skating rink of a pitch. Everton had everyone but Whittle back. Finally, Everton moved into Burnley's half and a shot from Morrissey was cleared by Dobson. This was a game in which fortune would favour the
Brave –and the lucky.  Everton came into the picture when a long throw by West found Wright, who passed to Kendall.  In a tussle for possession the ball went out of play and it was Everton’s throw. 
Ball got possession and passed to whittle who hammered in a high shot which Mellor caught. It was the first time Mellor had been tested.
Ball Scores
Everton came right in to the picture after 15 minutes in the first attacking move which really opened up the Burnley defence—and it brought a goal from Ball. Wright took the ball down, passed to Kendall, who raced forward and crossed and Ball was on the spot to slide the ball home. Within minutes Burnley were level through Kindon.  Caspar raced down the right wing and, despite the attention of Everton defenders, slid the ball across the face of goal and Kindon stabbed it into the net with West stranded. Two minutes later Kindon broke through and hammered the ball just over the bar. West and Labone were injured, but recovered after treatment. After another Burnley attack—the Clarets were certainly putting on the pressure—in which Kindon finally fired just over the bar, Everton came back and won a corner. Ball took the kick and Whittle just failed to get his head to the ball. A Burnley defender cleared, but Labone hammered the ball straight back and only a header by Angus, standing on the line, saved Burnley from going behind again.
Ahead again
With barely five minutes to go to the interval Everton went ahead again from a free kick.  Newton took the kick and Hurst, who had been having a good game both in defence and attack, was lurking to stab the ball home.  Half-time; Burnley 1, Everton 2
The second half began in the same style as the first with Burnley determined to have something to show for their efforts.  There were some bruising tackles.  Neither team hesitated to challenge for possession of the ball.  Yet there was some surprisingly good football under the conditions.  Coates was an inspiration to Burnley with his non-stop efforts.  Even as one Burnley player lay injured on the edge of the penalty area, his team mates were fighting to break through the Everton defence.  Ball was spoken to for the second time by referee Howley.  Earlier, the referee had given Whittle and Thomas a talking to.
Scything Tackle
Coates survived a scything tackle from Newton to cross the ball, but luckily for Everton it landed on top of the netting.  In 20 minutes of second half play most of the action had been in the Everton half with only Royle and Whittle upfield.  Burnley were pressing nonstop and West had to leap to fist out one dangerous cross.  In the next minute, Thomas was only just off-side as he raced through.  Suddenly the action swung to the Burnley end, and a cross by Morrissey was fisted clear by Mellor with Royle rushing in.  Royle cracked in a drive and the leaping Mellor was glad to see it whistle past the post.  In the last 15 minutes Everton came more into the picture, just as they had done in the first half.  But they certainly knew that they had bene in a game.  In the final action packed minutes Harvey kicked off the line from Thomas and West dived on the line to hold a header which looked like going home.
Final; Official attendance 21,114.  
EVERTON RES V HUDDERSFIELD RES
Jones (G) scored for Everton at 71 minutes.  Final Everton res 1, Huddersfield 0. 

BLUES KEEP TO NORMAL TRAINING
Liverpool Echo - Saturday 07 March 1970
As the final, vital weeks of the season loom, some clubs chasing honours-or trying to starve off relegation-take their players away for a break. But Everton won't be changing their normal training routine. Manager Harry Catterick says . “I have no plans to take the players away for a few days—l don't believe this really does anything for them." So Everton will go into the title stretch as they have gone through the rest of the season taking each game as it comes. 
Their big rivals, Leeds, will probably decide there's no place like home, too, after their travels around the Continent, in their quest for the European Cup.

BUT BRITISH
Liverpool Echo - Saturday 07 March 1970
THAT’S THE CRY OF THE CONTINENTALS TODAY..
Says Sandy Brown
MANAGERIAL casualties in English football since the war have reached astronomical proportions-I think the number of changes rung now tops the 800 mark.  But there is another side to this picture of managerial insecurity-and that is the way our top managers have become objects of admiration (and envy) in other quarters. Cast your mind back to 1953, when Hungary whipped England at Wembley, to the years when Real Madrid. Ben- Fica and Inter-Milan ruled the roost in the European Cup.  The big names of Europe were the men who steered these clubs to triumph after triumph.  But, almost overnight, the situation changed… from the time that Glasgow Celtic took the European Cup from Inter- Milan. Suddenly, it was Jock Stein whose name was on everyone's lips Helenio Hererra was the king who had been forced to abdicate Stein and Celtic proved something. too.
Their downfall
They went a goal down, against a team which boasted a cast iron defence.  Let Inter forge ahead, and you were doomed…that had been the cry.  But Celtic fought back, and showed attacking football could bring about the downfall of the Italians. After Celtic came Manctester United, and they, too, lifted the European Cup. Tottenham and West Ham took the European Cup Winners Cup, and Leeds followed up with the Fairs Cup. And today, the Continental attitude towards us has changed. Once we were the masters: then they began to patronise us, a little, and now we are the masters again.  So much so that European clubs are turning to Britain, in their search for people to guide their teams back to glory. Malcohn Allison was one man who was sought, and lately Benfica have been making overtures to men in English football. These days, European clubs want British sides in the European circuit -because these are the teams which pull in the biggest gates of all.  We are competing now on more than level terms . I believe a great deal the credit for this situation belongs to Britain's managers. At first, it was Stein and Busby, who pioneered the way to success.  
Snapped up
But now our top managers like Don Revie, our own boss. Harry Catterick, Liverpool's Bill Shankly, Dave Sexton, of Chelsea, Brian Clough, of Derby, could command fantastic salaries …if only they would allow themselves to be tempted abroad.  British club, have dominated the European tournaments, and England has won the World Cup.  Ronnie Allen is doing well in Bilbao, and now Tommy Docherty has been handed an outsize job at Porto.  Other British managers will be asked to go abroad, in the future, I base no doubt.  Wolves and Allen parted company so did Aston Villa and “The DOC.” But these managers were snapped up abroad. And Malcolm Allison could virtually have written his own contract In Italy.  How much would the Continentals give, to get their hands on men like Revie, Catterick, Shankly —men who have kept their teams consistently at the top for years?—A small fortune. I reckon.  Buy British—and Best.  That's the cry of the Europeans.  We’re backing Britain—that's the answer Iron, our top managers.  And a good Job for British football, too.

BLUES FIND THEMSELVES OUT PLAYED
Liverpool Echo - Saturday 07 March 1970
Everton Res;- Rankin; D’Arcy, Styles; Darracott, Kenyon, Jackson; Kenny, Johnson, Lyons, Bennett, Jones (G), Sub Turner.  Huddersfield Res- Lawson (D); Jones, Fisher; Parkes, Smith (A), Watson; Hoy, Barry, Smith (D), Scholfield, Chapman, Sub R Jordan.  Referee Mr. T Carter (Bunrley). 
Huddersfield adapted themselves much better to the conditions which in the main were not bad and completely overplayed Everton for the first 20 minutes. In fact, except for one Incident when Town stopped for an offside whistle. Everton never even tested Lawson. On this occasion Lyons with only the keeper to beat shot straight at him. At the other end Rankin was constantly on the go and four almost consecutive corners by Town produced two shots over the bar from Barry and D. Smith and a lovely drive from Parkes which the keeper had to go full length to stop. Town found their men much better while Everton were inclined to panic. Johnson got in Everton's first shot after 25 minutes but Lawson dealt with it quite capably and put the ball up field to Chapman. The Everton defence seemed to have no answer to the winger and only a bit of sharp covering in the centre stopped some of his moves producing goals. D'arcy - came up a couple of times to show his forwards what to do and only a suspect penalty decision and another foul stopped him from doing it. The Blues showed a little more shape towards the interval but could consider themselves fortunate not to be well behind. Half-time Everton 0. Huddersfield 0. 

THE SAFETY MARGIN
Liverpool Echo - Monday 09 March 1970
TOTTENHAM MATCHES GIVE EVERTON THE CHANCE TO PUT PRESSURE ON LEEDS
By Stan Liveredge
EVERTOR have won for themselves the chance of a safety margin—that's the significance of their victory at Turf Moor on Saturday, while Leeds were dropping a point at Anfield. But the safety margin is perilously small . . . and it means that Everton have to go for the jackpot every time out. VICTORY in every game is the one thing which will ensure that they finish up with the First Division title. Everton still trail Leeds by one point: but they play their game in hand at White Hart Lane on Wednesday night. It can be the key to success or failure. For victory against Tottenham will push them a point ahead of Leeds, with both teams level on games played. IF Everton can do to Tottenham what they did to Burnley, they will have 53 points, against the 52 of Leeds. And each club will have seven matches to play. Everton take on Tottenham again, at Goodison on Saturday; they also play Chelsea and West Brom there. Away, Everton have to tackle Liverpool, Stoke, Sheffield Wednesday and Sunderland. Leeds have to play Manchester United in the F.A. Cup semi-final at Hillsborough next Saturday—and if Everton pick up four points from the Spurs this week, that will really leave Leeds chasing the Blues. In the League, Leeds have to play promotion Southampton, Burnley, and Manchester City at Elland Road: Wolves, Derby, West Ham and Ipswich away. Leeds also have to meet Standard Liege, of Belgium, in their European Cup quarter-final return. They could be involved in an FA Cup semi-final replay, a final at Wembley, two European Cup semi-final matches, and a European Cup final. So Leeds have something on their plate, between now and the end of the season -more than Everton. who can pursue the title single-mindedly. But Everton's safety margin is slim —and it will not materialize, unless they WIN at White Hart Lane on Wednesday The breakthrough at Burnley—it was Everton first away win since mid-December—has come at a critical moment.  A week ago, it was Everton chasing Leeds, in three days' time, that situation can be reversed.  The Blues have it in their own power to forge ahead… or pay the price of failure with a tram like Leeds, who have lost only twice this season. You cannot look for gifts.  You can only press on and try to win your own games.  If Leeds should lose a League match, it will be a bonus for Everton—but one on which they must not rely.  Make or break. Everton have their fate in their hands.  And now that they are within reach of this safety margin, it’s up to them to prize it out of Tottenham at White Hart Lane on Wednesday. 

INJURY TO LABONE COULD MEAN A FITNESS BATTLE FOR WEDNESDAY
Liverpool Echo - Monday 09 March 1970
Everton didn't return unscathed, from their victory at Burnley. Two of their players -goalkeeper Gordon West and centre half Brian Labone -were injured during the game. I rate West as certain to be fit for the match at Tottenham on Wednesday night, but it could be a last-minute fight for fitness, so far as Labone is concerned. The Everton men were invoked in a shuddering collision, as they raced to cut out the danger, during a Burnley raid. Both players went down as if poleaxed. Play was held up for several minutes, and eventually West managed to get to his feet .., but it looked ominous for Everton as ambulance men came on to the field with a stretcher, and headed for the spot where Labone lay. However, before they got there, Labone was on his feet again, too- although holding his back, as if in pain. But he recovered to carry on and play through to the end. Labone is likely to need treatment for his back injury, but I reckon the odds are just in favour of him lining up at White Hart Lane -if the game goes on. Twice they have been to Tottenham, and returned disappointed. The first time, they drove to the ground through a blizzard, and did a smart about-turn when the match was called off.  The second time, they did kick-off, but the lights failed after half an hour's play. Now Everton are hoping they will be third time lucky on Wednesday.

HURST IS THE HERO, AS EVERTON FIGHT –AND WIN
Liverpool Echo - Monday 09 March 1970
By Stan Liversedge
Burnley must be sick of the sight of Alan Ball. For in Everton's last four League games at Turf Moor, his name has been on the scoresheet three times . . . and Everton have picked up five points. Yet Everton s latest victory—a 2.1 repeat of their triumph at Turf Moor last year was far from being a one-man show. Ball played his part—but so did every other player in the side.  The conditions made the result of the match something of a lotto, for the players slipped and fell on the snow-covered pitch—and sometimes they weren't even near the ball. Yet there were moments when the play was surprisingly good, as players on both sides collected passes and, almost in creditably, held the ball, turned, and set up slick short-passing moves.  Inevitably, almost always the moves fell down in the end, because the ball finally went astray or rocketed from an opposing defender.  And In the main, it was the hopeful long through ball or cross which tended to create most trouble, as players scrambled to meet or clear the ball. In the first 10 minutes, Everton looked the more uncertain team, with Burnley attacking in determined mood, and Everton's defenders struggling to keep their feet and their composure.  But it was Ball who shook Burnley when he slotted the ball put Mellor from close range, after Kendall had crossed. This goal really, felt, was against the run of play, and it was swift justice when Kindon rapped in all equalizer, inside a couple of minutes.  The turning point of the game came just before half-time, when Hurst made the score 2-1. Suddenly, Everton looked the team in command, the team most likely to win. Yet Burnley showed in a second half of tremendous endeavour that they were far from finished. They piled on the pressure in attacking forays that often enough had Everton defending with some desperation.   But if Everton had their backs to the wall they were also resilient, for not only did they survive all that Burnley threw at them, they launched some late attacking assaults which almost brought them a third goal. In this incident-packed game, when tackles were often hit-or-miss affairs, it would be churlish to be critical. For the conditions made footholds treacherous, and put the slick soccer at a premium. I felt that both sides deserved to be commended for their courage and their attempt to play the best possible football. In the circumstances. You could go right through the Everton team, and pick out players who came to the rescue, on occasions. West was decisive, when it came to flinging himself down and sliding yards to retrieve the ball, in awkward situations. He also made no mistakes, when he went up to punch the ball clear
FIGHTING DISPLAY
Wright often set up attacking moves, and Newton, after seeming uncertain early on, looked much more like his old self, the Ionger the game went. Kendall, Labone, Harvey, Ball and Whittle worked tirelessly . They were defenders and attackers rolled into one. And while Royle got few chances up front, he played a valiant defensive part on at least two occasions, in Burnley’s late bid for an equalizer.  Morrissey. making his 200th League appearance, came into the game much more in the second half, and towards the end was threatening to provide the third goal which would have “killed" Burnley completely. But for me, the man of the match was Hurst—a rugged, powerful bulwark in defence, an extra forward with thrust and power who earned the right to the goal which did win the game for Everton. AlI round, it was a fighting Everton display which should give them confidence to go look for victory at Tottenham on Wednesday.

BRIAN LABONE INJURY SHOCK
Liverpool Echo - Tuesday 10 March 1970
By Stan Liversedge
The most closely guarded soccer secret of the week leaked out to-day, with the news that Everton centre-half Brian Labone has been in hospital since the week-end ... and is a non-starter for to-morrow night's vital match at Tottenham. Labone injured his back on Saturday, in the game at Burnley, but courageously carried on playing until the end of the game. However, it was obvious that he was still in some pain, after receiving attention for several minutes, although later in the game he gave no indication of this. But I understand that Everton decided to take no risks, and sent him to hospital—where he has remained since the week- end. His chance of recovery in time to face Tottenham at White Hart Lane to-morrow is nil . . . and though he is due to be discharged to-morrow night there must also be a big question mark about his fitness for the Goodison return game on Saturday. 

HE’S IN HOSPITAL
Liverpool Echo - Tuesday 10 March 1970
By Stan Liversedge
KENYON COULD BE PLUNGED INTO BATTLE FOR POINTS AT WHITE HART LANE…
If Everton do win the First Division title, no one can say they won't have done it the hard way. First, Colin Harvey was out: then Alan Ball was suspended; and now it's Brian Labone. So, once again, manager Harry Catterick has to make a big decision. Last Saturday, he axed winger Jimmy Husband and brought in Alan Whittle.  To-morrow, with Labone missing, the Everton chief has to decide on his replacement.   As I see it, there are two alternatives open to him-he could switch left-back Keith Newton to centre-half, and bring in Sandy Brown to take over at No.3 Or he could give reserve centre-half Roger Kenyon the No 5 spot.  Newton can play at centre-half.  He is rugged, and swift into the tackle. And he has tremendous big-match experience with Everton and England.  Brown played at left back until Newton was signed from Blackburn in December, so he would slot easily into his old role.  And he, too, is a player who has packed in a great deal of experience in vital games.  Kenyon is regarded as the natural successor to Labone, when the Everton skipper hangs up his boots- but he has played only a handiful of first team games since he made his League debut in December, 1967.  But he has already been plunged into one big occasion-when John Hurst was a last-minute casualty in an F.A Cup semi-final against Leeds –and he has been in the first-team pool to travel this season.  Only Labone’s tremendous consistency has barred the way to Kenyon’s promotion…and now Labone is out.  The way I read it, manager Catterick will not want to start switching players more than necessary-and by moving Newton to centre half he would have to make a double switch.  Kenyon could not face a more testing occasion but I believe Harry Catterick will decide that he should take over the No 3 jersey. 
Precious points
This is a game which Everton must go out to win-just as they had to do at Burnley on Saturday.  Everton, indeed, cannot afford to worry about the problems Spurs will pose- rather do they have to concentrate on going flat out for victory themselves.  This is the game in which victory would enable Everton to steal a march on their title rivals, Leeds United.  Two points would see Everton get their noses in front, for the first time in weeks.  While a draw would be valuable, it would not really be enough- because Leeds have the superior goal average, and Everton have to forge ahead on points. So the Blues, once more, have to go for goals which will bring victory.  Two points from White Hart Lane would be precious…indeed, because then Leeds would be doing the chasing.  Everton’s manager also has to decide if he will keep Alan Whittle in the No 7 jersey, or recall Jimmy Husband.  Whittle didn’t outshine his forward team-mates at Turf Moor but he didn’t flop, either.  On a ground that was made for snow skis rather than football boots, he showed determination to fight for the ball and I think he will be given another chance at Tottenham.   Everton’s squad, which travelled this afternoon; West, Wright, Newton, Darcy, Brown, Kendall, Kenyon, Harvey, Husband, Whittle, Ball, Royle, Hurst, Morrissey. 

NEWTON WANTS CHEERS-NOT JEERS
Liverpool Echo - Tuesday 10 March 1970
EVERTON HOPE FOR THIRD TIME LUCKY
By Stan Liversedge
Keith Newton is back where he started, to-morrow. For Tottenham is the place where he came into Everton's team after having been signed for 180,000 from Blackburn. Newton a recruit alter Everton's 3-0 defeat by Liverpool in the Goodison Derby game last December made his debut for the Blue at White Hart lane—and came off after half an hour.  So did the other 21 players, because the lights at White Hart Lane had failed.  Tomorrow, Newton and Everton tackle Spurs again, in the key game which has twice been postponed (the first time was through a blizzard).   Newton s transfer to Everton split a town- Blackburn. Rovers fans claimed their team had lost its promotion chance with his departure.  And it is a fact that Rovers now are laggards in the race.  Newton's arrival at Goodison didn't suit every Everton supporter, either—he has taken time to settle, and has been criticized. Some fans were still voicing their doubts at Burnley on Saturday.  For my money he began shakily, but before the end he looked much more like the hard, aggressive, confident full back of Blackburn days- even on a snow-capped pitch which made conditions perilous.  And I think that now is the time for Everton fans to give him every encouragement as he seeks to help the Blues win the title and to earn himself a place in England', Mexico squad.  Manager Harry Catterick sums it up, when he says "Keith didn't play well in his first three or four games.  Since then he has steadily found his feet and got to know our style of play.”  I agree.  And I’m sure that cheers, not jeers, will be the best thing out for Newton. He is a good full back—and if he knows the fans are behind him, he’ll prove his value.  At this crucial stage, confidence can work wonders for individual players and for the team.  ALAN WHITTLE replaced Jimmy Husband at Burnley.  Will he stay in attack at White Hart Lane? Only when the team la named shall we know the answer to that one.

IT’S EVERTON BIG CHANCE
Liverpool Echo - Wednesday 11 March 1970
By STAN LIVERSEDGE
Everton have their chance to go back on top of the First Division table to-night at White Hart Lane—the place where they lost their top spot, on December 17. For while Leeds were beating West Ham that night, Everton's game against Tottenham was called off, after 30 minutes, because the lights had failed. To-night, too. Everton and Tottenham will be vastly changed compared with the teams which did battle for half an hour in December. And the forecast is that it will be heavy going—because the pitch is likely to be muddy. Everton go into this game almost certainly without centre half and who injured his back at Burnley. It seems sure that Roger Kenyon will come in at No. 5. victory In December, Everton were without Tommy Wright, Johnny Morrissey, Colin Harvey and Jimmy Husband. Tonight, Wright, Morrissey and Harvey are back— but the chances are that Alan Whittle will keep his right wing spot, which he won from Husband last Saturday.
Slump
Tottenham's team shows many changes from the side which played Everton in mid- December, for the Spurs have had a shake-up. In the game in which Keith Newton made his debut for Everton at right back (Sandy Brown wore the No. 3 jersey) Spurs chose their team from this squad: Jennings. Kinnear, Knowles, Mullery, Collins, Evans, Johnson, Greaves, Pearce, Bond, Jenkins, Pratt and Perryman... Then the axe fell -and established stars found themselves on the sidelines, as Spurs slumped in form.  Men 
Like Jimmy Greases, Alan Gilean, Cyril Knowles and Joe Kinnear were replaced. On February 28, when Spurs won 2-1 at Newcastle, this was their team: Jennings. Evans,) England, Beal, Want, Mullery, Pratt, Bond, Pearce, Chivers. Morgan. I don't expect manager Harry Catterick to name his-up until he has seen the pitch, and weighed up the conditions. But though this is a big test for Everton -and they have every incentive to go for victory- their manager still doesn't rate it THE match that will decide the title. Before Everton left for Tottenham, he told me: It was ridiculous to talk about a one-horse race, when we were eight points in front. It’s ridiculous now talking about the title. too. "Two victories for one side and one defeat for the other—whether it be Everton or  Leeds-and the whole thing can swing round again." Martin Chivers has recovered from a groin injury received at Newcastle 12 days ago, enabling Tottenham manager Billy Nicholson to field an unchanged team for the fifth consecutive match. TOTTENHAM: Jenning. Evans. Want: Mullery, England. Beal; Pearce, Pratt, Chivers, Bond, Morgan.

EVERTON LEAD THE WAY
Liverpool Echo - Wednesday 11 March 1970
By Stan Liversedge

Everton are already the champions -on points. The First Division title race has not t yet been won, of course...but Everton lead every other club with the total of number of points they have amassed over the years.  That total comes to 2,696-excluding the 51 they have picked up so far this season.  Everton’s record over the past 10 seasons has been remarkably consistent-only three times have they failed to gather in at least 50 points a term.  And in one of those three seasons, they won the F.A Cup.  This is their record over the last 10 seasons; 50 points in 1960-61; 51 points in season 1961-62; 61 points in 1962-63; (their championship season); 52 points in 1963-64; 49 points in 1964-65; 41 points in 1965-66 (they won the F.A Cup); 48 points in 1966-67; 52 points in 1967-68; 57 points in 1968-69.  This season they are heading for 60 points, with eight games left.  As three of those matches are at home, they stand to pick up six points there-and they should collect at least three more points from their remaining away games. To-night's game at Tottenham could be make or break, for it gives Everton the chance to edge Leeds out of the top spot, and forge a lead which could pave the way to the championship.  But even if they don’t win the First Division title, Everton will still finish the season overall points winners.  For this is the table reads, without the points gathered in the season; Everton 2,696; Aston Villa 2,669; Sunderland 2,572; Arsenal 2,316; Liverpool 2,280; Bolton 2,189; West Brom 2,060; Newcastle United 2,041; Manchester United 1,993; Manchester City 1,992; Sheffield Wednesday 1,971. 
Two of the teams in this 11-club “league” –Villa and Bolton –are now living precariously in the Second Division.  And Sunderland and Sheffield Wednesday may well be there next season.  Everton’s team has gone through several transitions, over the last 10 seasons, so their record of points gathering in this period emphasizes how consistently high the standard has been. 

EVERTON PAY THE PRICE –IN INJURIES
Liverpool Echo - Thursday 12 March 1970
By Stan Liversedge
Everton are back on top of the First Division—but they had to pay a price for their victory at White Hart Lane last night. For with centre-half and skipper Brian Labone already in hospital, Everton look like being without England international full-back Keith Newton for three or four games. Labone injured his back playing against Burnley last Saturday: Newton went off against Tottenham last night, with a pulled hamstring muscle. Both players look certain to miss Saturday's Goodison return match against the Spurs... and they could be missing from Everton's derby game line-up at Anfield, a week on Saturday. Manager Harry Catterick was delighted by Everton's display at White Hart Lane, but his delight must be tempered by the knowledge that these injury blows have struck Everton at a critical time. And while Everton have the chance to go three points ahead of Leeds on Saturday, Catterick’s only concession to the way the balance of power has tilted slightly was this: “I think we have a good chance of winning the title ... if we can win the next seven games." As at Burnley and White Hart Lane, Everton must play to win every time out. Only that way will they ensure that the title leaves Leeds for Goodison. And in the next few games, a tremendous responsibility could fall on the shoulders of full back Sandy Brown and centre half Roger Kenyon.
Encouragement
But Everton have the encouragement of knowing that both these players can fit into the team pattern, and they have already played their parts in Everton's bid to wrest the championship front Leeds. Against Burnley and Tottenham, Everton showed a return to the form which gave them a flying start in the early part of the season. They have snapped out of their uncertain spell: but the pressure remains, for they have to keep on going for victory. If they keep their nerve, and go for goals, they can do it. But it's going to be a close-run race.

BALL IS THE MASTER, AS EVERTON HIT TOP…

Liverpool Echo - Thursday 12 March 1970
By Horace Yates
Everton are on top of the football world again. Their 1-0 triumph over Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart last night hoisted them one point ahead of Leeds United, with seven games remaining. 
Successive victories at Burnley and Spurs within five days have transformed their outlook, and convented them into favourites for a championship that seemed to be slipping out of their grasp. Nobody could claim that the quagmire of a pitch was in Everton's favour, for these were just the conditions that supposedly would highlight their limitations. Instead, inspired by a magnificent display from acting skipper Alan Ball, who has seldom shown to greater advantage in any conditions, they were full value for the success clinched for them in 20 minutes by a goal from Alan Whittle. Yet this was victory at a price. Just after halftime. English International full-back Keith Newton pulled a hamstring and was substituted by Sandy Brown. Although manager Harry Catterick declined to forecast how long Newton would be out of action, he seems certain to miss three or four games, at least. As Brian Labone is being treated for rib injuries, he too is likely to miss Saturday's return with Spurs at Goodison Park. - Newton, who was playing one of his more commanding games, had an important part in the goal, for it was from his free kick for a foul by England on Royle that Whittle received his scoring chance. He is a remarkable youngster, for only a player with an ice-cool brain and lightning reaction would have converted this situation into a goal. He shaped to make a first time shot; saw the route to goal was blocked, and pulled the ball two or three -yards to his right, before driving it accurately through the opening he saw.  If, before the game it was doubtful whether he or Husband would be played, I don't think Everton can afford to leave him out now. The debate and conjecture are over, Whittle, I feel, has finally hammered home his claim.
Magnificent

Everton, too, have no need to be unduly perturbed if Labone is unable to make an immediate return, for from first kick to last, with the ball in the air or on the ground, the 0- years-old Roger Kenyon was magnificent. So effective was he it was hard to believe this was his first full League game of the season. He was given an admirable lead by John Hurst—together they blanketed the central approaches to goal. Yet the first combined slip by the pair of them might easily have cost Everton a vital last-minute point. 

Kenyon 's clearance struck Hurst, and left Jenkins clear , but as he shot past West, there Brown standing guard to kick clear. Maybe the Everton view was right that the shot would have passed wide anyway, but it was a nasty moment for every Evertonian, more especially that the only previous remote threats had been long distance shots from Pratt and Chivers. Harvey was nearer return to top form than I have seen him since his return from injury, with Kendall foraging and working unremittingly, they formed with Ball a familiar looking trio, for it was on their early success that much of Everton’s achievement was founded.  From Morrissey, at outside left, to West in goal, Everton showed no sign of weakness. They played like a side confident of their ability to win the title-and that is something that has not been in evidence for many anxious weeks.  I thought Tommy Wright’s display was worthy of a special word of praise.  Now, seemingly, Everton are back on the crest of the wave, just at the appropriate time to sweep home to a crowning triumph. 

LABONE MAY BE OUT FOR SEASON
Liverpool Echo - Friday 13 March 1970
By Stan Liveredge
EVERTON look like having to battle their way through the remaining seven matches of their championship run-in with out centre-half and captain Brian Labone.  Labone who has been in hospital since last Saturday, when he injured his back playing against Burnley seems sure to be ruled out of next Saturday’s derby game at Anfield…and I believe he may not play again before April, at the earliest. 
Everton have seven games left-and the last one is against Sunderland at Roker Park on Wednesday, April 8.  I feel Labone will be lucky if he makes it.  In the meantime, Everton must be prepared to do without him tomorrow, at Anfield-and, if they are unlucky, at home to Chelsea and West Brom, and away to Stoke and Sheffield Wednesday.  The injury to Labone has come as a jolt to Everton, for manager Harry Catterick had been hoping his skipper would be back for tomorrow’s return against Spurs…or, at least for the Anfield clash with Liverpool.  But now, it seems, Labone will do well if he plays again in Everton’s championsip campaign.  And if he doesn’t, it could be a fitness race for England, Mexico and the World Cup.  Labone was a certainty to go to Mexico: but England team manager Sir Alf Ramsey will surely be anxiously awaiting development.  England’s squad has to be chosen; the home internationals have to be played, as soon as the League season is over, and the England World Cup party leaves these shores in six weeks’ time.  Labone I believe will be fit for action before then.  But that doesn’t help Everton, in the meantime.  An injury to centre forward Martin Chivers means Spurs have to make at least one change in their new look team.  Four of the five players axed after the cup defeat by palace-Alan Gilzean, Joe Kinnear, Cyril Knowles, and Steven Perryman- are in tomorrow’s squad of 16.  Jimmy Greaves is the odd man out.  Everton named a party of thirteen for tomorrow.  EVERTON: West: Wright. Brown, Kendall, Kenyon, Harvey, Whittle, Ball, Royle, Hurst, Morrissey, Darcy, Husband,.  Tottenham; Jennings, from Evans, Want, Mullery, England, Beal, Pearce, Pratt, Gilsean, Bond, Morgan, Jenkins, Kinnear, Knowles, Collins (P), Perryman. 

EVERTON FACE PROSPECT OF SEVEN-GAME RUNIN TO THE TITLE WITHOUT HIM
Liverpool Echo - Friday 13 March 1970
IN TOMORROW-BUT KENYON FACES UP TO THE CHALLENGE FOR THE FUTURE
By Stan Liveredge
Roger Kenyon faces a double challenge in the coming weeks.  The player regarded as Brian Labone’s successor in the No.5 jersey at Everton will get the chance to prove his claim, as well as fight for championship glory.  Kenyon was impressive when he came into the team at Tottenham on Wednesday.  Tomorrow in the Goodison return, he knows he must give another commanding display…and keep on doing this, as the weeks go by.  Because he is playing for his future in top-class football, as well as helping Everton to lift the title.  The transfer deadline is at midnight on Monday.  Everton have money to spend-on the right players.  But I believe that one of the last things manager Harry Catterick would want is to have to plunge for the sake of a temporary expediency.  I expect Kenyon to get his big chance-and to grab it.  Brian Labone changed his mind, after he had announced his impending retirement and so Kenyon has had to wait a while longer to step into Labone’s first-team boots.  Now Labone’s bad luck is Kenyon’s good fortune.  Had Catterick doubted Kenyon would make it, I think he would have splashed big money before now, as an insurance policy against the day Labone does quit.  And that day is almost a season nearer…In his handful of first-team appearances-the F.A Cup semi-final against Leeds United, for example –Kenyon, has given reason for confidence.  But now he is really pitched into the deep end.  Tottenham twice, Liverpool, Chelsea, Stoke, and West Brom..these are teams of talent and claibre to test Kenyon’s assurance.  And relegation-haunted Sheffield Wednesday and Sunderland will be no easier.  Suddenly, it’s not only Liverpool who are banking boldly on youth.  Everton have Alan Whittle making his mark, and now Roger Kenyon is thrust into the thick of things…

SPURS WIEDED THE AXE BUT STILL FIELD FOUR TOP PRICED PLAYERS
Liverpool Echo - Friday 13 March 1970
STARS –AND YOUNGSTERS SEEK REVENGE
By Stan Liversedge
Tottenham may have stars like Jimmy Greases, Alan Gilzean, Cyril Knowles and Joe Kinnear —but they can still field four of the most expensive players in Britain. Top-priced player of the four is Martin Chivers, a £125.000 import from Southampton. He got off to a bad start, and had a long layoff through injury. Now he is bidding to regain his scoring touch . Roger Morgan is the £100,000 winger Spurs snapped up from Queen's Park Rangers. When the axe fell on Greaves and company, he was also in danger of losing his place. But he has survived. Mike England £ (95,000) and Alan Mullery (£72,000) are part of Spurs' midfield strength. Centre-half England was signed from Blackburn; Mullery arrived from Fulham. Tomorrow. The stars and the youngsters fighting to stay in Spurs' first team will be out to reverse that Wednesday night defeat.

BLUES MUST BEWARE
Liverpool Echo - Friday 13 March 1970
By Stan Liversedge
Everton manager Harry Catterick doesn't believe in bogy teams and bogy grounds. He told me so, about a week ago. But he knows that Everton will have to beware to-morrow . . . For when Tottenham visit Goodison, they will be encouraged by the knowledge that they have taken five points out of the last six there -and stopped Evert on even from scoring one goal.  The results of the last three seasons read. Everton 0, Spurs 0; Everton 0, Spurs 1; Everton 0, Spurs 1.  But before the most superstitious Evertonians start to groan and say, “Don't go on…” I'll put the whole thing in perspective. Because for five seasons before that, Tottenham had barely a look in. Everton reeled off victories like this 3-0. 1- 0, 1-0, 4-1, 3-1.
DETERMINATION
And that should make the home fans feel much better.  Yet, when you get down to brass tacks, what will count most of all tomorrow is Everton’s new- found determination to ride the roughest patches and still come away with the points The did it at Burnley, and they turned on their own brand of skill and power at White Hart Lane To-morrow, they are at home—and they can crack Tottenham again. I reckon the Spurs will come out fighting, because their new-look team formation has done well, in recent weeks, and that defeat on Wednesday will have made them intent on retrieving something from their encounters against Everton.   Everton have been hit by injuries this week Brian Labone was a nonstarter at White Hart Lane, and Keith Newton was a non-finisher there. 
Mr. Dependable
But before he did hobble off the Tottenham scene. Newton made a significant contribution to Everton's victory by steering the free-kick across which led to Whittle scoring Now Newton is out, and Sandy Brown is likely to be in. Everton's Mr. Dependable" will get the left-back berth, I feel sure. And Whittle must be a certainty to this remains keep the No. 7 jersey.  His goals this season have played a key part in enabling Everton to keep his in touch with Leeds' when things looked like can going too much awry for the Blues. Roger Kenyon played an impressive part in Wednesday's victory at Tottenham. He, too, seems sure to keep his place tomorrow.  So how does it all add up? In the past week, it has been said a dozen times, that Everton have the chance to build such a lead that Leeds won't catch them again.
In own hands
And this still remains the essence of the title race.  Everton have their fate their own hands. Harry Catterick and his men know that NO-ONE can catch them . . so long as they keep on whining. The simple fact of the matter is that Spurs are still a talented team, even if some of the glitter has become tarnished this season ... yet, no matter how well they may play to-morrow. Everton MUST do just that little bit better.  Goals are what win games: and Everton, having rediscovered their scoring touch, must keep on hammering the ball into the net. It doesn't matter who gets 'em so long as someone does. Whittle could keep up his scoring record: Morrissey and Royle could be due to hit the target. Ball could do the trick.  Or Hurst, or Harvey.   As Harry Reynoulds, the former chairman of Leeds United used to say; “you get nowt for being second.” I’m sure EVERTON realise this …and tomorrow they can become a very good first, at the top of Division One.  I think that is exactly what they will do. 

IT'S EVERTON AT THE DOUBLE
Liverpool Echo - Saturday 14 March 1970
EVERTON 3 TOTTENHAM 2
By Mike Charters

Line-up; Everton; West; Wright, Brown; Kendall, Kenyon, Harvey; Whittle, Ball, Royle, Hurst, Morrissey, Sub; Darcy.  Tottenham; Jennings; Evans, Want; Perryman, England, Beal; Pearce, Pratt, Gilzean, Bond, Morgan, Sub Collins.  Referee; Mr. D.J. Lyden (Birmingham). 
Determined to stretch their lead to three points, Everton turned it all on against Spurs at Goodison this afternoon. With a tremendous display of power and skill, they dominated play.  Whittle scored a brilliant goal, Ball another from a penalty, and then had another penalty attempt saved by Jennings. Everton had Kenyon and Brown replacing the injured Labone and Newton, while Spurs' England wing half Mullery, injured at White Hart Lane on Wednesday against Everton, failed a fitness test.  In a cautious start there was the sad sight for Everton of Ball having attention within a couple of minutes when hurt a knee stretching for the ball in a tackle with Pratt. But he was quickly back and looked to be in his brightest form. Everton, desperate for the win which would put them three points ahead of Leeds, produced a sparkling move down the right but Want hit the ball for a corner. From this Jennings made a splendid catch. Everton's determination to be first to the ball was matched by Spurs, firmness in the tackle.  Spurs were building up some good looking moves out of defence, but neither goalkeeper had been extended so far. But the Spurs defence did not look too secure when Everton put on a burst of pressure Everton now appeared to have taken control. Whittle made a sharp pass into the goalmouth, which Royle turned towards goal, but Jennings was quick to intercept. Spurs were being penalised with free kick after free kick. From one of them Whittle, darting down the left, made a magnificent cross under challenge, but there was no one there to take a gift chance. Everton's pressure had been so dominating for 10 minutes that it was inevitable that Spurs would crack.  And it came after 30 minutes, with a brilliantly taken goal by young Whittle.  From Wright's throw In England failed to clear as he tried to hold off Royle and Whittle moved in like lightning on to the loose ball and hit it into the roof of the net from a narrow angle.  A couple of minutes later Gilzean beat Kenyon and turned the ball across to the unmarked Pearce, who slow to shoot, was dispossessed by Hurst.  But from this Spurs earned a corner from which they equalized after 33 minutes. Morgan headed the ball into the goalmouth and Gilzean hit an unstoppable volley past West from six yards. With six minutes to go before halt-time Everton went ahead again through a penalty by Ball, awarded for a foul by England on Royle. England had been penalized several times for fouls on Royle.  This was a bruising battle at times, with the referee having plenty of exercise with his whistle. He missed a clear case of handling by Pearce but from the incident Morrissey broke away and from his centre Hurst had a wonderful chance of increasing the lead but volleyed well wide. It had been a first half which had started slowly but had fairly fizzed with excitement for 35 minutes.  Half-time.—Everton 2, Tottenham 1. From the restart Royle slipped past England, but as Jennings came out hit the ball against the legs of the goalkeeper. From the rebound Harvey crossed to the far post, where Ball got in a header but straight at Jennings. Pearce was booked for a foul on Brown, with the Everton back having to have attention. Hurst, a dominating figure at the back for Everton, took the ball through brilliantly, beating off a couple of tackles, before clipping a shot just wide. Some of the Spurs tackling incensed the crowd, but the referee missed very little. Whittle was so certain he had been fouled in the penalty area by Beal that he picked up the ball only to find that the referee penalised him for hands. After 57 minutes. Everton got another penalty for a foul by England on Royle -similar to their first-half award, Spurs again protested, but Ball stepped up, and Jennings made a brilliant full-length save. Although a linesman was flagging some infringement, the referee waved play on and Jennings completed the clearance. There hadn't been a weakness on the Everton side, with Kenyon doing quite well and Brown brilliantly.  But I made Hurst

Everton best and Morrissey the outstanding forward.  Spurs were still dangerous with their isolated breaks and Pearce went through cleverly, but Morgan finished weakly. In this fantastic game the third penalty award came after 73 minutes, this time to Spurs.  From a centre by Want, Kenyon pulled Gilzean back by the jersey and from the spot Bond scored.  But two minute, later Royle had the crowd on their feet cheering a great goal.   Ball chased down the middle and made contact with Brown’s cross to touch the ball inside to Royle. The centre forward, although covered, turned and hit a great low shot which, Jennings half saved but could not step rolling over the line.  Immediately after the goal Spurs substituted Collins for Bond. This had been one of the most exciting games at Goodison this season and the importance of it to Everton was made clear in every move they made. Official attendance 51,533. 

AN EVERTON STAR SUMS UP…THE DERBY AND HOW THE REDS VIEW THE GAME
Liverpool Echo - Saturday 14 March 1970
I’M NOT FORECASTING, BUT WE’LL BE ALL OUT FOR THAT REVENGE WIN
Says Tommy Wright
IF THERE were one victory which would give us the greatest satisfaction of the season, it would be in the game in which we meet Liverpool at Anfield next Saturday. You can take it front me that not one of the players at Everton has forgotten that defeat we suffered at the hands of Liverpool in the Goodison match, last December. Of course, every game is vital to us, as we go into the final stages of the First Division championship race: after all, points are points, when it comes to winning the title. But two points from Liverpool next Saturday would be the most welcome yet. We went for the points at Burnley and Tottenham, because we needed them. We've got to go for them again at Anfield. I can recall two derby matches against Liverpool which stand out in my mind. The first was absolutely tragic for Everton. Because we went down to defeat.  
Tragic defeat
It was bad enough losing, of course—but the 5-0 scorline in Liverpool's favour made it absolute anguish. I still wince when I think about that game. I have been an Evertonian, through and through, since my first recollections of football. I was born in Norris Green, and I supported the Blues from the terraces, long before I ever aspired to become an Everton player. No matter where you hail from, when you don the blue jersey you become an Evertonian -especially when you play against Liverpool. — But when you have been born and bred an Evertonian, as I was, there is that extra something, that spice which makes a derby game mean so much. You can lose your appetite, after a defeat -I know, because it's happened to me. You can be over the moon, as we say in the game, when you're beaten your derby opponents. And I know that feeling, too, because the second game which sticks in my mind is the one we won against Liverpool at Goodison ... it had a special flavor, that victory, because we knocked Liverpool out of the F.A. Cup. When you go out for a derby game, you to be confident you can achieve victory—although I doubt if there is a player among the 22 who doesn’t feel a bit nervous, at the start.  Next Saturday, the tension will be greater than usual. because of the unusual factors surrounding this game.  Our hopes—and those of Liverpool and Leeds are inextricably tangled up, and the result can make a tremendous impact upon the destination of the title, upon our own and Liverpool hopes of European football next season. I’m not going to try to forecast the outcome I’ll content myself with saying merely that Everton will have a darned good try to rub out the memory of our December defeat.  

It’s IRONIC-BUT VICTORY COULD BE A HANDICAP
Liverpool Echo - Saturday 14 March 1970
Ian St. Johns View
LIVERPOOL pride will come into the affair at Anfield next Saturday. The return derby game against Everton is as complicated -and as simple—as that. It’s ironic that a Liverpool victory could be a handicap, when you view the Reds' chances of getting into Europe next season. But make no mistake, Liverpool will be going out to win this 102nd derby. Believe me, money doesn't enter into it, when you get out on the park. You come face to face with a situation in which the better part of 54,000 people will be roaring you on to victory. Not just cheering, either: but WILLING you to win. So that price becomes a very tangible thing, because you know you cannot let those fans down. You have go give the lot, for 90 minutes.
If Blues Win . . .
It is fact that if Everton win the League title, they go into the European Cup ... and Liverpool's chances of entering the Fairs Cup become very much brighter. If Everton lose the title race, after all, the one city, one-club rule could deny Liverpool the right to Fairs Cup football: for Everton would then be the Merseyside contenders, assuming they finished higher than us.  So by beating Everton next Saturday at Anfield, Liverpool would be giving Leeds a leg up in the title battle ... and doing themselves no favours. Yet, as I have said, once the players get out on the park, it will become a very simple issue a case of trying their utmost to beat the old enemy, no matter what. We won the first encounter, and that day at Goodison we scored a triumph against all the odds. Everton have recovered their poise and purpose, it seems, in their last couple of games against Burnley and Tottenham. They HAD to go flat out for victory and I’ll give them credit for achieving the results they so urgently needed. This afternoon was another cliffhanger for Everton: but next Saturday is even tougher.  For once more, Everton will go out knowing that nothing less than victory will be really satisfactory. Liverpool: like Everton, have their tails up, for they, too have clinched victory twice in matches away from home. So this derby rivalry will be intensified next Saturday, and it should be a cracker of a game. 
Glad to play
Everton will be out for revenge, and title points Liverpool will be out for the double, and hang the European consequences.  I don't know if I'll be back for the derby game. I do know I was glad to be playing last night, even if it was in a reserve match. For I was glad to get a game. I don't know of an footballer who enjoys being 12th man. You can spend 90 minutes biting your nails, and remain completely out of the action. It’s one of the hardest Jobs in football, going through the motions of preparing to play in a game, getting into the team strip ... and then sitting on the sidelines I must say that Doug Livermore has taken his chance well. This lad always impressed me as good player, and he reads a game and uses the ball. This is the hallmark the good midfield player. Doug may still find that he needs to gain a bit of extra pace, but he should hold his own in First Division football.

STAN LIVERSEDGE TAKES A SEARCHING LOOK AT A PLAYER WHO HAS FLAIR…AND FIRE.

Liverpool Echo - Saturday 14 March 1970
ALAN BALL
DOES HE GET ENOUGH PROTECTION ON THE FIELD OF PLAY?
TWICE, since he returned from his five-week suspension, on February 21, Alan Ball has been lectured by referees. In the game against Nottingham Forest, and in the match of Burnley, last Saturday. IS Ball, of the flame-haired thatch and the temperament to match, going to fall foul of authority on the Soccer field again? Of will he—must he conform ? I make no apology for raising these questions. Because they are important to Ball, to Everton, and the supporters who pay their money as they flock through the Goodison turnstiles. Does he Ball began the season with a suspension, he missed vital matches during his enforced five-week lay-off. And there are people who will argue that his absences could have affected Everton 's chance of the title… and that any more suspensions might make him a luxury Everton could ill-afford.
Third side
On the other hand, there is the argument that Ball's total involvement with the game is a vital ingredient in the whole that makes him such a fine player. And there is the third side of the triangle. This involves referees. For it is being claimed that some referees do not give players like Ball sufficient protection. Managers and backroom officials of the clubs for whom Ball has played have repeatedly impressed upon him the necessity for keeping control of his feelings, during the moments of drama that the action of a football match brings. Ball himself is clearly conscious of his temperament, of the way he becomes involved in a game-and he knows, from bitter experience, the penalties that he can be made to pay. So…ARE` those people right, who urge Alan Ball not just to play it cool, but to steer clear of trouble? —Let Alan Ball give the answer. Alan Ball, senior .. . who knows his son better than any man in football. "Several years ago, he was sent off in an Under-23 game in Austria. I met him at the airport, when he arrived home, and took him into the country for a heart-to-heart talk. "He felt the situation acutely. So did I. He realised the image that was being projected. And he decided that he would have to try to conform. "He had a bad six weeks—his play suffered. He was no longer the Ball of fire. And in the end, he told me there was only one way he could play this game of football—if he wanted to succeed. "So he became the Alan Ball of old going in hard, but fair.  Playing to win, every time, all the time.  And that's how he will play so long as he is in the game. I think he is right. "This lad is a creator, not a destroyer. He's 10 stone 2lb. in weight—and, as Bill Shankly said to me, eight stone of that must he heart. “Alan is playing the way he should play-utterly involved, once a game gets under way.” I know that he has been criticized. But it is amazing how popular he becomes, when he is playing for England. THEN, people express their admiration for him, and say “What a fighter…Several years ago I said my boy would be at his peak when he was 25. And he will be 25 next season. He is still reaching maturity, as a player. The signs are there.  He isn't holding the ball as long as he used to do; he's releasing the killer pass which gets right through defences. "He could entertain, and beat three or four men… to the detriment of his own team. But he knows that this is not what the game is all about. “When he’s totally involved shouting at team mates-and, in a way, playing on his nerves-this is when he’s playing well.  He must be going all out to win, for 90 minutes- he’s not a player who can stand back and admire what he has done in the first half.”  Alan Ball senior accepts that his son will find himself suspended again, in the future.  And to those who argue that his absence from the team can be too costly, in the end, he answer that when Ball IS there, the team gets results.  In essence the over-all gain is greater than the temporary loss. " Big Alan " believes that a great player WILL get marching orders –because, finally, he will turn and retaliate, after taking a great deal of punishment which often goes unseen. I’m told that after one game, young Alan had stud marks across his chest: a studmark down his spine: and studmarks on his shins. In that game, he received a lecture from the referee. In another game, after he had beaten an opponent for the ball, he had to Jump two feet in the air—or he could have been seriously hurt. Everton manager Harry Catterick and Alan Ball's dad both believe that players of Ball's calibre need protection from referees. The names of Denis Law and Nobby Stiles spring to mind, in this respect. People point to Bobby Charlton as a model for other players—and he is a model. But Alan Ball senior points out that Bobby plays a different style of game from the Balls, the Laws, the Stileses. And this also is true. During one match, Ball felt he was getting the rough end of the stick from an opponent. He said to the referee: “What about giving me some protection?" The referee's answer: "He missed you, didn't he?” 
 It's Agony.
Suspension for Ball is agony. He cannot bear to be a spectator, when he is physically attuned for the action. But his father believes that his five- week absence from Soccer was a good thing, in one respect. It was a boon for EngIand—he came back to play a magnificent game against Belgium. And sometime within the next few weeks or months, he will go out and play a superlative game. "He will slaughter some opposition. It will be his match of matches—either for Everton or for England . I only hope that I'm there to see it "

DON’T BERATE BLUES-IT TAKES 42 GAMES TO DECIDE TITLE
Liverpool Echo - Saturday 14 March 1970
POST BAG
A LOT has been said and written about Everton losing their eight-point lead and they have also been considered by some to be also-rans for the championship race.  The facts are that in October, Everton had an eight point lead over 21 teams in the First Division. Four months later they have an eight points lead over 20 teams. The one that got away— Leeds have recently been described as "the best team in the world” The first half of the season belonged to the Blues because Leeds were drawing while Everton were winning. The second half up to now has belonged to Leeds. It is churlish to berate Everton's performance when the championship is decided over 42 matches and not the last 21 May be their recent performances have not matched their earlier brilliance but they are still in with a great chance.—J. F. McCarthy. 33 Marie Curie Avenue, Netherton, Bootle 10
COMPARISON
IN DEFENCE of the Everton attack, and Jimmy Husband in particular, I believe that the lack of goals and loss of points is made to look worse by comparison with their earlier results. The current failure stems largely from the inability of the midfield men to maintain any midfield dominance for a long spell and the loss of defensive understanding Despite Whittle's impressive goal tally, I do not think Husband should be dropped from a team which have been good enough to open up an eight points lead. Husband is one of the most exacting players in the game and all he lacks is a little luck and confidence in himself -S. Carse. 268 Townsend Avenue. Norris Green. Liverpool 11.
WEAKNESS EVERTON
need to strengthen their attack. The forward line has let them down week after week by not scoring consistently. There appears to be two weaknesses in the attack, namely at centre forward and outside left.  The team I would choose would be: West; Wright, Newton; Kendall, Labone, Harvey; Husband, Whittle, Hurst, Ball, Sandy Brown. Res: Gary Jones. Then I know we would see some more goals. – D. Thompson, 45 Prestbury Road. Liverpool.
SELFISH
IT PUZZLES me that the powers that be banned television transmissions from Goodison Park. To many thousands who like me live a long way away and cannot get to even• match. it seems a rather selfish attitude because it used to be an event to see our favourites on the screen. D. Taylor. 11 Slav Crescent. Ash, near Aldershot, Hants.
SUSPICIOUS
I HEAD in Wednesday Echo that Everton totalled 2.696 points the first division; -Liverpool's total was 2,280. Knowing that last season saw the 100th Derby between them I realized that this represented 50 seasons together in Division One.  Of those 50 seasons Liverpool have finished ahead of Everton on 29 occasions which made me suspicious of the two totals. Everton's total was achieved in 66 seasons while Liverpool's was gained in 54. This works out that Everton have averaged just over 40 points a season while Liverpool's average is just over 42. In these terms it means had Liverpool played 66 seasons in the First Division they would have an excess of 100 points more than Everton. —K. F. Nelson, 35 Juliet Street. Liverpool. 

NOW BALL AND WRIGHT FIGHT A FITNESS BATTLE
Liverpool Echo - Monday 16 March 1970
By Stan Liversedge
Everton's inside-forward dynamo, Alan Ball, will play in the Anfield derby game against Liverpool on Saturday -even if he's only standing on one leg. And I reckon that right-back Tommy Wright will line up in Evertors's defence, too. Ball and Wright both received knocks in the victory over Tottenham at Goodison on Saturday .. .but neither Wright nor Ball seems to be in real danger of missing the derby match which means so much to Everton and Liverpool alike. It would take a great deal for any Everton first- teamer to miss the match which is vital to the championship-chasing Blues. Two points from Anfield would avenge that December defeat at Goodison, AND help Everton to panel up the title. I have no doubt that Ball and Wright will be fighting to regain full fitness well before Saturday: even if Everton's team is not named until just before the kick-off. And despite the blows which have put centre half and skipper Brian Labone, and left back Keith Newton, out of action, the displays of deputies Roger Kenyon and Sandy Brown have given Everton good cause for confidence. Labone and Newton have had to withdraw from the Football League team to play the Scottish League at Coventry on Wednesday night. But Colin Harvey came through the match against Tottenham without injury. He should take his chance against the Scots to impress England team-manager Sir Alf Ramsey that he is a strong candidate for Mexico.
Cautious
But so far as Merseyside is concerned, the Liverpool-Everton derby game is the one that matters. And with a hat- trick of victories behind them. Everton go into Saturday's game conscious of the need to string together four successive wins. Everton manager Harry Catterick to-day was cautious as he said: "Any knocks are bad ones, at a time like this Ball and Wright are under treatment.”  Another blow to Everton is that forward Steve Melledew is to go into hospital for a cartilage operation and Terry Darracott has a muscle strain.

EVERTON CAN FOLLOW ‘REVIE’S RULE’ TO TAKE TITLE
Liverpool Echo - Monday 16 March 1970
By Mike Charters
There's a warm glow of reason confidence at Everton, as three successive victories over Burnley and Spurs (twice) have put them in with a great chance of winning their seventh League championship.   If the assessment of  Leeds United manager Don Revie is a true guide, Everton need a point a game to the end of the season to make pretty sure of the title.  Revie said some weeks ago he believe 61 points “could win the championship-62 should make certain.” With Everton having 55 points, and six matches to play, they need the reasonable return of factually more than a point a game, to set a task which even Leeds should fine beyond them.  The F.A Cup semi-final draw which sent Leeds into a replay battle with Manchester United a week today was the best possible result for Everton, the worst possible for the heavily-committed Leeds.  Everton’s 3-2 win over Spurs on Saturday not only gave them a three point lead, but put the pressure on champions Leeds.  The pendulum has swung in Everton’s favour now Leeds must do the chasing.  With Leeds' attention spread over the European Cup and the FA. Cup… as well, Everton are in a commanding position to consolidate their drive for the title. Their aim must be to pick up maximum points from their remaining home games against Chelsea and West Bromwich, and to go for draws in their four away fixtures at Anfield, Stoke, Sheffield Wednesday and Sunderland.
Record Total
This would give them eight more points, and a final total of 63 points, I doubt if Leeds could equal this.  Only twice in the history of the League has a team with 61 points failed to win the title.  This was Liverpool’s fate last year, when Leeds won with a record 67 and Leeds finished second four years ago, with 61 points, as Manchester United won the crown on goal average. 

THREE POINTS AHEAD AND LEEDS MUST DO THE CHASING
Liverpool Echo - Monday 16 March 1970
By Mike Charters
It's all going right for Everton now. Almost as important as their fine win over Spurs at Goodison on Saturday was the news that Leeds have to replay their F.A. Cup semi-final—the one result they didn't want and a definite help to Everton as they eased the pressure on themselves by going three points clear. With as determined and dedicated a display as they've given all season, Everton come through 3-2 to complete the double over Spurs. Now Leeds will have to do the chasing and I doubt whether they're capable of catching the Blues.  It was clear that Everton had geared themselves on Saturday to chase everything, to fight for every ball. They knew they had an outstanding chance of consolidating their title hopes... and they gave everything they had.  The result was a magnificent match before a 50-000 plus crowd, who can have no complaints over the quality of the entertainment, the spectacle, or the atmosphere. This new look Spurs side is quite the hardest-working and toughest, physically. I've seen in their colours for year. They may not have the skill of great Spurs' teams of the past decade but they are all-action and spirit.  In fact, they were guilty at times of a little too much spirit and England paid the penalty for his smothering tactic on Royle by conceding two spot-kicks. 
Valuable goal

Ball scored from the first, had his second saved by Jennings, and this miss looked like being costly when Spurs equalized for the second time through the third penalty award Bond making no mistake after Kenyon had fouled Gilzean.  It took a brilliant Royle goal -probably his most valuable of the season -to win the match for Everton. He turned smartly; on to a half chance and hit the ball with such force that even the masterly Jennings could only delay the shot's progress over the line.  This was the sort of shot which Royle can produce in practice, but doesn't often do in competition. Still, it was a match winner of immense value and he deserved it for the way he withstood the physical combat of the man-to-man marking he had to take from England. The game was full of cut-and-thrust quality football, with Everton always the more skillful, the more dedicated, the more eager for success. But Spurs never gave up and even when Whittle, with a superbly taken goal, had opened the scoring, Spurs were level within a couple of minutes through Gilzean's unstoppable volley.
No weakens
There wasn't a weakness in this Everton display. Kenyon did well against the clever Gilzean, one of the most experienced men in the business and a mighty difficult man to mark, but it was Brown deputizing for Newton who really took the eye.  He had a faultless game and let’s face it, even when Newton recovers from injury. Brown could not be replaced on this display. Hurst also played brilliantly, and with Kendall, Harvey and Ball covering acres of space in midfield, Everton always had the edge over a Spurs side which should make a mark for itself in the next season or so.  Whittle faced, without flinching, a young full back in Want who is as relentless a tackler as I've seen thus season.  He brought sharpness and zest to Everton’s attacks and with Morrissey giving one of those 100 per cent performances of craft and determination, there was a firmness right through the Everton side which always gave them the edge. Everton have “come good" at the right time as Leeds are getting so involved in cup competitions.   They may have shown more fluent rhythm in some of their earlier games this season, but they have not shown such fire and team spirit for months. It was the sort of display which puts them in with a favourite's chance now. 

LABONE MAKES GOOD PROGRESS-BUT IS BIG DERBY DOUBT
Liverpool Echo - Tuesday 17 March 1970
By Mike Charters
Everton skipper Brian Labone is making progress from the injured back which put him in a nursing home for a week's treatment. He is now at home but has been ordered to rest.  Manager Harry Catterick told me to-day that it was far too early to predict when Labone would be able to return.  “This type of injury takes time, rest and treatment,” he said.  ''l don’t think he will be able to play against Liverpool on Saturday -he must he rated very doubtful" This means that his 20- years-old deputy, Roger Kenyon, who played so well in the double win over Spurs last week, looks certain to keep his place to make his derby debut. The other Everton injured -Alan Ball, Tommy Wright and John Hurst -have had to restrict their training so far this week through knocks received in the game last Saturday.  But Mr. Catterick seemed confident they will be all right for the big day at Anfield. “Their restricted training is normal for these type of knocks,” he said.  But I hope they will be able to step up their training during the week.”  The position regarding Keith newton is more obscure.  He also had a few day’s in a nursing home after a hamstring muscle injury, but he is now having treatment at Bellefield and able to do some exercises.  Mr. Catterick said; “it is impossible to say when Keith will be right.  Sometimes these injuries clear up quickly; in the case of Jimmy Husband it took several weeks.  “But there is a chance he will come into the reckoning for Saturday “We’ll know more when he has been able to do some serious training.” 

ALAN, THE GOLDEN GOALSCORER SET FOR DERBY
Liverpool Echo - Tuesday 17 March 1970
By Mike Charters
When the story of the current League championship battle is being discussed, the golden goals of golden-haired Alan Whittle will stand out in the memory of Everton fans.  His seven goals in eleven games have been the rungs on the ladder up which Everton have climbed to the top until they stand poised for the title.  Whittle’s contribution to Everton’s challenge reads like a story book tale.  First brought in as deputy for the injured Jimmy Husband, then stand-in for the suspended Alan Ball, he has now won a place on merit earned by his scoring feats and general play, where he brings a zest and urgency vital to Everton’s attacking ideas.  Now he faces a derby game at Anfield.  He made his derby debut in December –his first League appearance of the season-when Liverpool rocked the Blues with the stunning 3-0 win at Goodison. 
Most Effective
On that day, when Everton lost for the only time at home this season, Whittle still contrived to be his side’s most effective forward.  His regular appearances have given him experience which should help him in the atmosphere and tension of an Anfield Derby, a game so critical to Everton’s chances of keeping clear of the challenge by Leeds.  Although only 19, Whittle has the confidence of a man who has played a century of League games.  His sharpness in the box, his eye for the half chance, makes critics recall the palmy days of Denis Law.  To be even compared with Law at his best shows how much progress Whittle has made in just eleven League appearances. 
Brown’s Chance
If the ever-dependable Sandy Brown keeps his place on Saturday, he will have a personal incident to avenge –that horrifying moment when he headed Liverpool into a two-goal lead at Goodison last December with as definite an own goal as one could see.  Brown’s chance of playing against Liverpool depends on manager Harry Catterick’s decision, and the progress Keith Newton makes after being injured at spurs last Wednesday.  But Brown’s display on Saturday was so good, and the defence generally looked so sound with his help, that Mr. Catterick must be considering keeping him there and giving Newton further time to recover from his hamstring muscle injury.  Brown of course, is an old hand in derby day duels.  He is used to the extra pressure which these matches place on players.  And if he wears that No 3 shirt on Saturday.  Everton fans will be confident he will play well enough to erase the memory of the Goodison own goal. 

STAN LIVERSEDGE LOOKS AT THE SEE-SAW CAREER OF TOMMY JACKSON
Liverpool Echo - Tuesday 17 March 1970
MAN WHO WAITS IN THE WINGS
FOOTBALL FORTUNE is fickle . . . and no one knows this better than a player called Tommy Jackson. In the space of mere weeks he has gone from First Division fare to almost total obscurity. Rightly, manager Harry Catterick says of Jackson: " He is still a member of my first team pool at Everton.”  But when your name isn't on the team sheet, people outside the game tend to have short memories. It is well worth remembering, then, that if  Everton DO win the First Division championship, they will have done so with considerable help from Tommy Jackson. This £15,000 acquisition from Irish League football has played a significant part in Everton's harvesting of title points, this season. If you doubt it, read on ... Jackson played in the first seven matches of this championship campaign—first, when Alan Ball was out through suspension, and then when Howard Kendall was out through injury. Everton collected 13 points from those seven matches—so Jackson's contribution to the overall team displays must have been pretty good. Then Everton lost Colin Harvey, through that mystery eye infection —and Jackson was back once more. For eight matches, including the F.A. Cup-tie against Sheffield United. Everton lost that one. But they lost only two of the seven League matches in which Jackson played. And when Harvey came back, Jackson's name was still there—as substitute. He went on for Harvey at Southampton. Before the Southampton game, Jackson had been substitute on 10 other occasions.  So that give him a record 14 League matches, F.A Cup-tie, and a considerable spell as the next in line to play.  The last time Jackson was substitute was at Southampton, on January 17. But since then, Sandy Brown and Alan Whittle have come into the limelight. Yet, if Jackson never plays again for Everton's first team this season, he will have earned the respect of his team-mates—and some cheers from the fans—if the championship comes to Goodison.   They also serve, who only stand and wait… and Jackson has served Everton well this season. Even if he is waiting in the wings once again.

KENYON PLUNGES IN AT THE DEEP END
Liverpool Echo - Wednesday 18 March 1970
By Mike Charters

Roger Kenyon, 20-years-old deputy for injured Everton Brian Labone, is taking part in a repeat of club history which could have a vital bearing on whether Everton win the League championship. Seven years ago when Everton last won the title, they had to make a defensive change near the end of a hard and grueling race -again through injury. It was goalkeeper Gordon West who was involved. After being an ever-present in 38 League games, West hurt a shoulder against Arsenal at Goodison Park. He was out for the rest of the season, and Everton were only one point ahead of Spurs with four games left to play. “In stepped Albert Dunlop for those critical closing fixtures -and he played an outstanding part as the team won all four matches with a goal tally of 11-2. They finished six points ahead of Spurs. Now Kenyon, who has waited on the sidelines for his first team chance for two years now, has been called up for the tension and pressures of the final run-in to the title, just as Dunlop was seven years ago.
Tremendous
And as there is a chance Labone may not be able to play again this season, Kenyon faces a tremendous challenge. But in his two games against Spurs last week, he has shown himself able to carry the burden and slot into the defensive pattern. Manager Harry Catterick told me: I remember the West- Dunlop situation very well indeed. Of course, it must be remembered that Dunlop was a very experienced player and able to step in during this emergency. “Kenyon is only 20, with a handful of first team appearances behind him. That is why I was pleased with his display against Spurs.  He has done all right.” 
Kenyon is confident about Saturday's result as well. "I think we'll win this all right," he said. “There’s a different atmosphere in the week before a derby game. Even I've noticed this although this will be the first derby game I've played in, but I've been substitute in a couple of them. “The lads seem more keyed up than ever. There's a feeling of 'we can't let Liverpool beat us.' "I've been concentrating on improving my heading. I've been going back to Bellefield two and three afternoons a week throughout the season for special heading practice. It's been a great help and I feel my heading has improved " " Mind you, playing in the first team defence is a different class from the reserves. It's great to have a player like John Hurst alongside you, knowing that if you make a mistake they're all there to correct it for you.

YEATS OUT FOR THE DOUBLE
Liverpool Echo - Thursday 19 March 1970
By Chris James
Joe Royle, Everton's leading marksman and an England Under-23 striker, has never scored against Liverpool in the four times he has faced them in derby games. And he won't break his duck on Saturday -at least, not if Ron Yeats has anything to do with it.  For the 6ft 2ins. Liverpool captain is determined that if Everton are top of the League, Liverpool are certainly not going to be underdogs. And to avoid that, he aims to lead his side to their second derby win of the season over Everton.
Hat-Trick Plan
As centre half he will be in direct conflict with Royle and halting his goal menace-he has scored 20 goals in the League this season- is an integral part of the Yeat’s plan.  In fact, as well as stopping Royle scoring, Yeats has goal plans of his own.  It was he who Liverpool s goal at Arsenal on Saturday and he who clinched victory over Sheffield Wednesday on Monday with the second goal. Now he is planning an unusual hat-trick by scoring against Everton. But halting Role is Yeats main aim and he has the edge, particularly as far as experience goes. While Royle may still be young enough to suffer from derby game nerves, 17 derby games have steeled Yeats to them. Those, plus the many other vital games Liverpool have faced during his reign as captain, mean that a derby game doesn't hold quite the same terror any more. On Saturday he must again inspire Liverpool by his example as captain and an effective job of preventing Royle scoring, is one of the examples he intends to set. His other aim is to prove that Liverpool are as much a force as ever and a formidable 'obstacle, even for League leaders to tackle. When the time and opposition are right, the best is brought out of Liverpool. That was proved in the last derby and when Leeds visited Liverpool a fortnight ago. Now Yeats intends to prove it again and land a derby double.

HLIVERPOOL ENLIST A CANDID CAMERA TO HELP DERBY CHANCES
Liverpool Echo - Thursday 19 March 1970
A 90-minute film show is a vital part of Liverpool’s plan to complete the season’s double over Everton in the derby at Anfield on Saturday.  Liverpool have obtained a film of December’s derby at Goodison- which they won 3-0- and have been analyzing it in a bid to pick up even more information about their opponents that might help them to a repeat performance on Saturday.  Liverpool’s dossier is almost complete and they are making their final plans today.  They have had Everton watched in their last four matches and have left no stone unturned in their bid for only their second derby double since the war. 
Shadow Role
Alan Ball, Everton’s dynamo is almost certain to be picked out for special attention.  In the last derby game, Ian Ross was given the role of shadowing Ball and he did it so successfully that Ball was never able to shine.  After that success, Liverpool seem likely to use a repeat formula, shadow Ball remains to be seen.  That will be a trump card that Liverpool manager Bill Shankly is unlikely to reveal until the game gets under way. 

THE PRESSURE WILL BE MORE ON THE REDS
Liverpool Echo - Thursday 19 March 1970
By Mike Charters
Everton winger John Morrissey, one of the most experienced derby players on both sides, has a theory about his club's chances of winning the League. He told me. “If we can win two of our away games, and both our home matches, I reckon that will be enough to keep us ahead of Leeds.”  And he feels that one of those away wins could come at Anfield on Saturday. He went on "We want to avenge the defeat at Goodison this season. Although every game is like a Cup tie to us at the moment, this one is still something special. It's more on you” mind during this week as we prepare for the game. ““What makes me confident about Saturday is the way the boys are feeling at the moment. A few weeks ago I might have felt a bit different because we had lost some of our form.  
Full of confidence
"But we have regained our touch, as we showed in our two away wins at Spurs and Burnley. All the boys feel this. We're full of confidence ... and that’s what the game is all about.  “Liverpool are playing at home and they’ll have to come out against us before their own fans.  I think the pressure is on them, more than on us.”  With a League Championship medal already in his collection from seven years ago, Morrissey’s immediate ambition is to win another one this season.  He brings experience and high skill to his task of playing against a fellow-townee in Liverpool’s Chris Lawler, plus the personal determination to make up for that crushing loss at Goodison, Everton’s only home defeat of the season. 

EVERTON TRIO BACK IN FULL TRAINING
Liverpool Echo - Thursday 19 March 1970
Everton manager Harry Cattertck had good news for supporters to-day-48 hours before the derby game at Antacid (writes Mike Charters). The three players who have been has having treatment for knocks this week —Alan Ball, Tommy Wright and John Hurst have all recovered and are bark in full training. In addition, Brian Labone and Keith Newton, who have both had spells in a nursing home for rest after injury, have also resumed training.  But a decision on their fitness will depend on medical reports tomorrow after the club doctor has had a chance of checking on them after they have had a couple of days' light training and exercises.
Harvey check
At this stage, it looks as though England men Labone and Newton will miss the derby game.  If so, the team would be unchanged from that which beat Spurs last Saturday, but Mr. Cattcrick will wait until to-morrow before naming a party. Colin Harvey, who played in the inter-League match at Coventry last night; apparently came through without injury but he will have a check at Bellefield tomorrow. 

SSH! THE BIG TWO PLAY IT COOL ON EVE OF GAME
Liverpool Echo - Friday 20 March 1970
By Mike Charters and Chris Evans
The final tactical plan of derby week emerged to-day as both managers refused to reveal their final hand and decided to keep their teams secret until kick-off time to-morrow (writes Chris James). Both Bill Shankly and Harry Catterick played it close to the chest as they named squads of players, but the situation seems clearer at Everton than at Liverpool. Despite naming a squad of players, it seems as though Everton will be unchanged. In Fact, it would be a big shock if Mr. Catterick decided to change a winning side that has just begun to find its early-season form.
Key role
Over at Anfield, Mr. Shankly named 13 players and announced that both injury doubts, Geoff Strong (knee) and Peter Thompson (side) were fit. The two men added to the team that played on Monday against Sheffield Wednesday were Strong and Ian St. John.  And I think St. John, out of the side since that disastrous Cup defeat at Watford, could be recalled for what could be his last derby game. Apart from the return of Strong for Roy Evans, I  expect the defence to be unchanged, but it is in attack that the questions arise. Mr. Shankly is a great believer in horses for courses. Ever since he scored three goals against Everton on his Liverpool debut, St. John has revelled in derby games. As such, he could be the man to inspire Liverpool to victory to-morrow. And he could get a key-role as shadow to Alan Ball. That tactic worked so well at Goodison, when Ian Ross shut the England star out of the game, that it is almost certain to be repeated to-morrow. It is a question of which of the three midfield men will get the job. It would seem a waste of Emlyn Hughes' energy and drive to give him a totally destructive role and it would seem a toss-up between Livermore and St. John as to who shadows Ball. Mr. Shankly has told me he would like to see Ian Callaghan playing further up front instead of spending so much time in midfield as he has been doing. If Callaghan is thus instructed, he would be likely to join Bobby Graham and Peter Thompson as the three front runners leaving Alun Evans as the odd man out.  If this reasoning is correct, then Alun Evans would have a right to feel disappointed, but Mr. Shankly has already hinted that even players who have been performing well might have to give way in special circumstances -and this is one of those circumstances. I think he will be substitute tomorrow, with St. John returning. LIVERPOOL: Clemenre; (from), Lawler, Strong, Evans (R.); Smith, Yeats, Hughes, Callaghan, Livermore, Evans (A), St. John. Graham, Thompson. Although Everton skipper Brian Labone has been able to resume light training this week after his back strain, he is not in the party of 14 named by Mr. Catterick to -day. But fellow England man Keith Newton, injured at Spurs ten days ago, is in the squad although I doubt if the Everton chief will risk him in this vital game (writes Mike Charters). But he has obviously improved greatly in training this week. Newton, Jimmy Husband and Frank D'Arcy are added to the side which beat Spurs last Saturday, but it looks as though Everton will be unchanged.  This means a derby debut for 20- years-old Roger Kenyon as deputy for Labone, and another appearance for versatile Sandy Brown, who has already carved himself a slice of derby history. When he headed the ball past Gordon West in the game at Goodison in December, he became the first man to score an own goal in a derby game since the first one in 1894.  At Goodison that day, Everton won 3-0 and one of their goals came from an own goal scored by one of the Liverpool backs, Hannah and McLean. Records from that match do not identify the scorer . And Brown has another claim to fame…he is the only man in the 101 derby games to have scored for both sides.  He scored when Everton won 3-1 at Goodison in 1966. EVERTON: West (from) Wright, Brown, Newton, D'Arcy: Kendall, Kenyon, Harvey; Whittle, Husband, Ball, Royle, Hurst. Morrissey.

TENSION CORNER
Liverpool Echo - Friday 20 March 1970
BILL SHANKLY; ‘WE’RE THE UNDERBODS-THE WAY I LIKE IT’
Everton are so near, yet so far from the title that the pressure in tomorrow's derby is definitely on them.
That's how Liverpool manager Bill Shankly sees the derby on the eve of the match. And thats what he believes can help Liverpool to a derby double for he, agues, while Everton are League leaders and have the incentive of the title to spur them, Liverpool are the underdogs-and that’s how they like it. 
Dossier
It was as underdogs that they went to Goodison in December and won 3-0.  Now Liverpool aim for a repeat and no effort has been spared in a bid for this.  “Our plan of campaign is to win” said Shankly, completely sinking ideas that victory at the possible cost of Europe next season would be something Liverpool could not afford. "We have had Everton watched in each of their last four matches and we have got a complete dossier on them. We have also studied film of the game at Goodison, stopping the film at certain incidents and analyzing them. "We played to our capacity, particularly in the second half at Goodison. Our Three front runners, Ian Callaghan, Peter Thompson and Bobby Graham, created havoc. These three are dangerous men, they're very fast and quick."
And Shankly warned: “Anfield will be no place for faint hearts tomorrow." That is a clear indication that Liverpool don't intend to give Everton any quarter and are intent on a repeat of their showing at Goodison.  “The pressure is on Everton. They are so near yet so far from the title that they know they must get a result against us.  We haven't got that pressure and that suits us,” he said.  –Chris Games
‘THERE’S NO SUCH THING AS FORM IN DERBIES’- HARRY CATTERICK
Everton chief Harry Catterick, happier now that his players have shown clear signs in the past fortnight of a return to somewhere close to their best, has prepared for tomorrow's derby with the same meticulous care as for every game—no more and no less.
He will not accept that the game is decisive to his hopes of winning the League Championship for the second time in his Everton career. The emphasis for weeks—and will continue to be to the end of the season -has been on taking each game as it comes strictly on its merits and with due regard for the quality of the opposition Then they went out on to a Bellefield pitch to put set moves into operation, tried over and over again to perfect them. He says: “if we win to-morrow, and then lose the next two or three matches, what good will that do us?" But Mr. Catterick, always cautious in his approach to the big occasion, has said in recent weeks that his players are finding their flair and rhythm again. He must be confident after three successive wins, two of them away, that the team will not slump in form as they did in the game at Goodison in December. Although he has had Colin Harvey missing from training this week because his inter- League appearance, plus Brian Labone and Keith Newton only starting light training yesterday, the Everton boss has been able to drill the others in the tactical design he has drawn up for tomorrow. 
Yesterday the players spent much of the morning in a detailed discussion of LiverpooI's strengths and weaknesses. Mr. Catterick adds: "Derby games are not like any others. There is no such thing as form." But he will be demanding extra effort from his players—and will get it as they have shown in the winning sequence which has shot them into a three-point lead over Leeds United.  He knows from experience, as player and manager, just what strain the additional tension and atmosphere places on derby game teams. Only Roger Kenyon of his squad has yet to experience this. But he made it obvious to me this week that he has every confidence in 20- years-old Kenyon being able to do a competent lob in an Everton defence which looked very sound, against Spurs last week.  Mr. Catterick is not the type to make predictions. Yet I'll be surprised if he does not anticipate his team getting at least a draw to-morrow. Mike Charters. 

REDS CHASE TITLE IN MINI-DERBY
Liverpool Echo - Friday 20 March 1970 
By Chris James
Liverpool Reserves could clinch the Central League championship tomorrow for the second successive year if they beat Everton Reserves in the mini-day at Goodison Park. Today Liverpool have a 13 point lead at the top of the Central league with five more matches, including tomorrow’s to play.  They need four points to be certain champions- and they could bridge that gap tomorrow if nearest challengers West Bromwich lose while they are winning.  Albion with eight games to play can total only 65 points if they won all their games.  Liverpool already have 62 –and a far superior goal average and have only been beaten once this season, 23 games ago on October 4, 2-1 at West Brom.  Tomorrow West Brom are at home to Huddersfield Reserves and victory for Albion would mean Liverpool having to wait another week.  Everton, too, have had a good season in Central League, currently fourth and with a chance of finishing runner-up if they can win most of their remaining seven games.  Liverpool Res; Lawrence; Fagan, Wall;  Ross, Lloyd, McLoughlin, Marshall, Peplow, McKenna, Lindsay, Hall.  Everton Reserves; Clarke (from) Turner, Westburgh, Kenny, Brindle, Bennett, Seargreant, Jackson, Johnson, Jones (G), Humphreys, Lyons, Wilson. 

MIKE CHARTERS V CHRIS JAMES

Liverpool Echo - Friday 20 March 1970
BLUES WILL NOT LOSE THIS VITAL GAINTS’ CLASH
In all the speculation on whether Everton will maintain their lead over Leeds United In the race for the championship, there seems to be the assumption -automatic in some quarters—that Leeds will win all along the line in the closing stages of the season. I don't agree. I’m sure Leeds will drop points, quite a few, in fact, and they could start in their tough game at Wolves to-morrow. So Everton, with their three-point lead, can afford to play it tight and with caution in their four away games to come …and still keep clear of the Leeds challenge. I think that's how it will go in the 102nd derby at Anfield tomorrow, I visualize Everton playing the same sort of game as Leeds did when they were at Liverpool a fortnight ago when Leeds were very happy with their point from a goalless match.
Pace and Drive
Everton must not lose.  That will be their aim at Anfield, and to achieve this a safety first approach will be adopted.  I imagine they will pace their game so that they can contain Liverpool and rely on the speed and drive of Alan Whittle, so much in the scoring groove at present, to be their main attacking weapon. If they find that they can hold Liverpool's attacks, gain possession in midfield, and then open up the Reds with quick breaks, then they stand a great chance of reversing that shock three - goal defeat at Goodison last December. I ignore the red herring that if Liverpool win—and thus indirectly help Leeds in the title race—they will be damaging their own prospects of European football next season. That sort of pre-match thinking will be ignored in the built-up to this derby day. Local pride is so dominant, with the prestige of success so important, that for both sides this is one match they want to win above all others. Indecision
While Liverpool reshape their side with fresh faces, there must be times when they suffer from some indecision in the ranks.  That has to be expected while the team is settling down again.  By contrast Everton are playing with such determination and effort that they are a tremendously difficult side to beat. That is why I don't believe Liverpool can bring off a derby double. With Roger Kenyon making his derby debut in place of the injured Brian Labone… the occasion will be a strain for him.  But he is an assured young player, happy with the talented men around him to help, and I’m sure he will play his part as he did in the two wins over Spurs last week. The others are all used to the tension of these games. Even Whittle, at 19, had his first taste of these unique occasions this season and here again he has the confidence of a much more experienced performer.
Midfield
I think Everton will get a grip in midfield through Alan ball, Howard Kendall, and Colin Harvey.  Ball must be prepared to face some stern personal marking and to cope without letting the strain disturb his game- as it did at Goodison in December.  The midfield trio may have to curb some of their attacking flair in the general interests of a tactical plan designed to avoid defeat first and pick up what constructive crumbs there may be available.  Form, of course, is to be disregarded on derby day.  Liverpool are having their poorest home run for years, Everton have the finest away record in the division, but does this mean anything when they get to grips before the fanatical demands of their supporters?  As I see it, Everton will be dedicated to keeping the point with which they start.  They won’t give that up easily. 
…AND THE MAN IN THE MIDDLE
Derby day referee is Keith Walker, of Maidstone, handling one of our big matches for the first time in his career.  Mr. Walker has won fame this season as the official who makes them play for 90 minutes. His meticulous time-keeping, adding on minutes for stoppages, first hit the headlines when he refereed the West Brom-Liverpool game in September. He added on some five or six minutes ... and Liverpool equalized in the 93rd minute. Then he was in charge of Everton's game at Wolves in October when he booked Alan Ball and John Hunt, and sent off Wolves Derek Dungan. He was also the referee for Liverpool's Boxing Day game at Burnley.
SHACKLE BALL AND LIVERPOOL COULD EARN A GREAT MERSEYSIDE DOUBLE
At £764 per lb. Alan Ball represents one of the most costly human forms in soccer existence.  And he will be worth every last penny to Everton if he can inspire them to victory to-morrow. For Ball, often an on-the-field tyrant when his explosive temperament is detonated is the player who, at his best, can drive Everton to victory or, off form, can be the man who indirectly can keep them from this objective. Ball, the 10st. 41b. £100,000 red-haired soccer dynamo, is the man who is the central figure in the planning in both camps on their derby campaigns. At Everton Ball's midfield genius will be exploited to integrate the flair and skills of Colin Harvey and Howard Kendall so that the three of them weld together into one of the most dangerous combinations in the country. At Anfield, apart from planning to use the speed and skills of their front runners Peter Thompson, Bobby Graham and Ian Callaghan. Liverpool are also plotting the blot out Ball. He is the man who makes Everton tick. In one he is creator and destroyer and he comes close to defying the old statement that one man doesn't make a team. Bail is the difference between a good Everton side and a great Everton side and when he had an ineffective game against Liverpool in the first derby this season, the result was a Liverpool victory.  That was a tactical triumph for Liverpool. They included Ian Ross with instructions to devote himself exclusively to preventing Ball making his normal contribution. With Ball out of the game Everton had no one with quite the same brilliance to take command in the way Ball does. If they can reduce to a minimum Ball's threat, Liverpool will be on the way to a repeat triumph for when their nippy forwards hit form they are a difficult combination to stop and Liverpool can never be written off.  Once Ian Ross had taken Ball out of the game in the Goodison derby, midfield belonged to Liverpool. Who would be delegated the role of shadower to-morrow remains to be seen but in that individual battle in the middle of the field. Lies, I believe, the crux of the match. There are, of course, side issues which will have a big bearing on the game. Inexperience is there in both sides although Liverpool looks likely to suffer more than Everton in this department. They will have two men, goalkeeper Ray Clemence and midfield player Doug Livermore, having their taste of the tense derby atmosphere Everton will have only one, Roger Kenyon, the young centre half who has to be shoulder the formidable burden of replacing England player and club captain, Brian Labone. The question of incentive arises although in this match, particularly, the prestige at stake is sufficient to make the spur as keen for both sides.  But on top of that, for Everton the League title is at stake . Defeat to-morrow could give Leeds a significant advantage. Victory or even a draw would keep the balance of power in Everton's favour. For Liverpool, the beating of Everton is the only spur. Victory would damage their chances of entering Europe for the seventh successive season next year, while defeat would be as big a humiliation as their earlier victory was exultation.
Liverpool, however, go into the match knowing that the only Anfield League victory they can boast since November was Monday's in over relegation threatened Sheffield Wednesday.  That win may have given Liverpool the confidence to end once and for all this long run of home disappointments, but they will find Everton a far tougher force than were Wednesday. And Everton have one of the best away records in the League to prove it.  But like all derbies, form means little or nothing but with the title as their incentive. Everton can gain a revenge win to-morrow, although it will be mighty close. 

REDS RARELY AT THEIR BEST AT ANFIELD
Liverpool Echo - Saturday 21 March 1970
BALL IS THE MAN THEY MUST SHACKLE
By Chris James
Liverpool have ground advantage; have already beaten Everton this season; and apart from their lapse at Arsenal last week, have been in good form recently.  All these facts help to make them favourites for today’s Anfield derby.  Yet for all this, I think that today will belong to Everton that they will record their second victory at Anfield since Liverpool returned to the First Division; that they will maintain, or possibly increase their advantage over Leeds at the top of the table to inch further towards the title.  The reasons for this prediction are numerous but basically it stems from the fact that at Anfield, Liverpool have rarely been able to produce their best football and have found great difficulty in getting past defences which have been, at best, well organized.  Leeds, Derby, Newcastle, Arsenal, Wolves and Spurs have all prevented Liverpool scoring at Anfield this season and Everton’s record proves that their defence is second only to Newcastle in the First Division. 
Easier Playing Away
When they beat Sheffield Wednesday 3-0 on Monday it was Liverpool’s first win at Anfield since November but although that may have been the end of the bogey, it might equally, only be a brief respite from their poor return at Anfield.  Liverpool have found, this season, that playing away is a lot easier than doing so at home.  Greater method can be put into their play.  A greater variety of tactics can be employed.  At home there is only one thing a team can do-attack.  And in doing so they often expose themselves at the back and Liverpool have many tales to tell of goals against them in quick breakaways.  Half a dozen teams have showed this season that a Liverpool blitz can be repulsed without too much effort.  Liverpool will be out on attack today-they must be- bit I take Everton’s defence, even without Brian Labone and Keith Newton, to hold them.  There have been indications in the last 10 days that Everton are returning to something like the form they showed when they opened up an eight point lead earlier in the season.  If they are, then their fluid open style with Ball at the heart of it, could well be the telling factor which helps them to victory.  Liverpool’s main gambit is likely to be to keep Ball in such a tight rein that he is able to make little contribution to Everton’s cause.  It was this that paved the way for Liverpool’s win at Goodison in December.  While Ball is the key man in the Everton set-up, the same can be said of Liverpool’s Emlyn Hughes.  But despite his vigour and youth, Hughes may be finding the pace of the season catching up on him shortly.  There is also the question of experience to be considered and Everton have the edge here.  Kenyon will be their only debutante while Liverpool have Ray Clemence and Doug Livermore for whom the atmosphere and the tensions of a derby will be new.  If Ball is completely shackled then the case for Everton today is a lot weaker.  If he escapes then, for me, it is Everton to gain revenge for the Goodison defeat in December. 

REDS BEWARE AS BLUE SEEK REVENGE
Liverpool Echo - Saturday 21 March 1970
EVERTON’S PLAN WILL PUT SAFELY FIRST
IT’S A DRAW BANKER-AND GOALLESS AS WELL
By Mike Charters
This afternoon’s derby at Anfield, the 102nd in the series which is always the highlight of the Merseyside season irrespective of the teams’ position in the League, looks like a draw banker to me.  And I think it will be goalless as well.  Everton’s approach is clear….THEY MUST NOT LOSE.  So this means a safely first attitude above all.  A point would be a good result for Everton and to achieve this, I believe they will set out their tactical stall to contain Liverpool defensively, with the midfield trio of Alan Ball, Howard Kendall and Colin Harvey prepared to be cautious rather than adventurous.  This is how they will pace their game from the start, bit if they find that the Reds are open to the quick counter-attack they will use the pace and zip of Alan Whittle as their chief attacking weapon.  With memories of how Liverpool played with such experienced authority in that 3-0 win at Goodison in December, Everton will tighten their game and should not be as exposed in defence as they were in that second half when Liverpool picked up the goals which stunned all Evertonians. 
Remodeling
Liverpudlians tell me that their team are not playing convincingly enough to make them optimistic that they can make it a double triumph.  Naturally while manager Bill Shankly is remodeling his side it must be expected that there will be indecision and error as the new-look Reds settle into their stride.  But the normal tension and atmosphere of a derby game makes form meaningless.  The most recent example of how Liverpool, clearly the under-dogs at that time, won at Goodison proves that.  Liverpool’s home record is their poorest for many years- Everton have the best away record in the First Division.  Yet I believe it is more a matter of the teams’ approach on the day which matters most.  I disregard completely the red herring that if Liverpool win- and thus indirectly help Leeds United in the title race-they will be damaging their own prospects of European football next season.  The pattern of today’s game could fellow that of the Leeds match at Anfield a fortnight ago, Leeds were prepared for a defensive struggle and to hold on to the point with which they started …Everton, I feel, will be content to do the same. 

EVERTON THE RICHEST CLUB IN THE LAND
Liverpool Echo - Saturday 21 March 1970
By Mike Charters
Everton Shareholders Association have made provisional plans for a celebration dinner . . . if the team clinches the championship. This was announced during the association's annual dinner this week, at which chairman Donald McPhail paid tribute to the work of the club directors. He referred to "The hundreds of thousands of pounds invested, the money available for new players, when needed, a training ground second to none in Europe and the finest club ground in the country at Goodison." In so doing, Mr. McPhail touched indirectly on the fact that Everton must be just about the wealthiest club in England, which was he said. "The result planning and hard work by the directors.”  I reckon Everton's financial resources are in the healthiest state in the history of the club. Only Glasgow Rangers, who, I understand, have about £1,000,000 invested- have more cash behind them, among British clubs.  Apart from the money which pours in through the turnstiles, with average gates nearing 50.000, I estimate Everton make a profit of more than £100,000 a year from fund-raising schemes. Naturally, the club will not disclose figures, but Mr. David Exalt, the promotions manager, tells me – “I have been astounded at the response of supporters to our ticket schemes. “We have not had to hard-sell ... the supporters have responded as agents and ticket buyers “In charge of the schemes, under Mr. Exall, is former Derby County goalkeeper Bill Townsend, who once managed Burton Albion.  Mr. Exall tells me the money from the tickets is earmarked towards the cost of the new Goodison Road stand. This will cost £500,000-plus but it looks as if five years of ticket revenue will pay for it. Manchester United are reckoned to have one of the most lucrative fundraising set-ups, but as they close during the summer, and Everton run theirs throughout the year, I imagine Everton make more than they do.  The shareholders' dinner was a happy social occasion. Club chairman Mr. Jack Sharp and his wife were there, and other members of the board who attended, with their wives, were Mr. George Watts, Mr. Cyril Ralmforth and Mr. Jim Hacking, while director Mr. Bill Scott was also present. Liverpool were represented by former chairman Mr. Harold Cartwright, with his wife, while Mr.  Sony Isenwater, chairman of Liverpool Shareholders' Association, was another guest.

EVERTON’S REVENGE!
Liverpool Echo - Saturday 21 March 1970
JOE ROYLE RISES TO THE BIG OCCASION
LIVERPOOL 0, EVERTON 2
By Chris James

Liverpool; Clemence; Lawler, Strong; Smith, Yeats, Hughes; Thompson, Livermore, St. John, Callaghan, Graham, Sub; Evans (A).  Everton; West; Wright, Brown; Kendall, Kenyon, Harvey; Whittle, Ball, Royle, Hurst, Morrissey, Sub; Darcy.  Referee; Mr. K. Walker (Maidstone). 
A brilliant display, by Everton, in which they out-classed and outplayed Liverpool in the derby at Anfield today, put them well in front with goals by Royle and Whittle.  Everton dominated the game in midfield where Ball was brilliant and in attack Royle frequently beat the tall Liverpool defence in the air, something that brought the first goal and helped make the second.  Liverpool had Strong fit again and at No.3 in place of Roy Evans, and Alun Evans was replaced at centre forward by St. John.  Everton had Sandy brown and Roger Kenyon in for the injured Keith newton and Brian Labone.  There was almost a sensational start, with Yeats nearly heading into his own goal after three minutes.  Smith fouled Harvey midway inside the Liverpool half and from Brown’s chip into the goalmouth Yeats and Royle rose, with Yeats winning but misheading the ball towards the top corner of the net.  It needed a spectacular leap by Clemence to clutch the ball just under the bar. 
Ticking off

A rugged-looking tackle by Brown on Callaghan brought the full back a ticking off from the referee, and the tenseness of the occasion was showing. Everton took the Iead their title hopes so badly needed after 10 minutes with a fine header by Joe Royle . His first goal in derby games.  Kendall, Ball and Harvey combined in midfield to set up the chance, giving Morrissey the opportunity to make for a long cross from far out on the left. Then a fine leap by the young Everton centre forward saw him beat Clemence and send a dipping header just under the bar.  Everton came close to a second a couple of minutes later when again Royle rose magnificently,  this time to nod down a cross from Brown to Hurst, who slipped before he could get in a shot.  Royle was having a fine game against Yeats, and from a long kick upheld by West he neatly controlled the ball, beat the centre half and hit a low cross hard into the Liverpool penalty area.  But there was no one up in support.  Everton were playing some fine football and were well in control.  Liverpool's most dangerous effort so far came when Livermore and Thompson sent Graham racing to the line and Hurst had to turn the ball for a corner with St. John rushing in.  Some of the tackling, particularly by Liverpool, was very strong and when Ball went crashing to the ground. Strong was spoken to be the referee.  Tommy Wright needed the trainer s attention after he had got in the way of a Hughes' thunderbolt but Liverpool's attempts to fight back were being foiled by a good Everton defence in which Kenyon was doing very well on his first derby. Only a fine fingertip save by Clemence prevented Liverpool going two behind as once again the defence was beaten in the air, this time by Hurst.  Twice within a minute on the half hour, Liverpool went close to an equalizer First; Callaghan slipped before he could reach a quickly-taken free kick by St. John, and then West went full-length to parry a shot from Callaghan, after St John had dummied over Graham's cross. 
It became very dark with heavy cloud overhead 10 minutes from half-time, and the referee called for the lights to be put on.  If Liverpool had gambled on St John marking Alan'Ball out of the game, the gamble had failed because Ball was popping up here, there and everywhere, prompting Everton's fluid movement.  As Liverpool tried to raise their game just before the interval, the Everton defence was put under real pressure for the first time, but Hurst and Kenyon in particular were outstanding.
Strong Booked. Some of Liverpool’s tought tackling culminated in Strong being booked almost on the stroke of half-time after he had sent Whittle crashing to the ground. 
Half-time: Liverpool 0. Everton I.

Everton went in and came out at half-time to chants of "champions” from their fans, and this was as fair a way as any of describing their first half display. Liverpool started the second half on the attack and a powerful burst by Smith, perhaps their best player so far, looked dangerous, but Hurst intercepted.  After 48 minutes, Everton got a second goal, this time from Whittle, and again it stemmed from a Brown free kick.   Royle again won the ball in the air as the free kick came over, and Harvey collected it on the edge of the penalty area. He tried a shot through the packed bodies in the penalty area, and the ball ricocheted to Whittle, who lifted it into the roof of the net.  Smith was the next player to get a lecture from the referee after he had held Ball as the Everton star tried to burst through.  Everton's revenge for that earlier 3-0 defeat by Liverpool was almost complete and as they swept downfield in fluent exciting moves always likely to get another.  Liverpool rarely looked dangerous, having very little grip in midfield.  Hughes was the next player in trouble with the referee, getting a talking to after a tackle on Kendall.  So strong was Everton grip on this game that Liverpool, despite the efforts of Smith and Thompson, could hardly muster a fight back.  Liverpool's best chance of this half came after 63 minutes when Graham beat Brown and Kendall and sent a fine cross to the far side of goal to Hughes. He gave Thompson a chance, but his shot was deflected for a corner. From the corner, a shot from Yeats was charged down by Morrissey. After 70 minutes. Liverpool brought on Alun Evans for Peter Thompson, who had touchline attention to his side the stars of this Everton performance were many, but perhaps Ball and Royle must be picked out. For Liverpool it had been a disappointing display.  Official attendance 54,496. 

BALL GIVES LIVERPOOL THE BLUES
Liverpool Echo - Saturday 21 March 1970
MIKE CHARTERS GIVES HIS VIEW ON THE 102ND DERBY
Everton gained revenge for that Goodison defeat in December, by beating derby rivals Liverpool at Anfield this afternoon. And this victory for the Blues means that they have stepped up the challenge to Leeds. To-days results mean that Leeds, the current League champions, are still doing the chasing . . . and with time running out, they must go some to catch Everton.
Joe Royle's first derby goal—and his 21, of the season—put Everton ahead deservedly at Anfield this afternoon. With Liverpool taking time to get in their stride it was Everton who were much more impressive in the first half —and playing into the Kop goal at that. Only some brilliant work by derby debutant Clemency in the Liverpool goal prevented Everton from increasing their lead and West at the other end, only had one save to make from Callaghan. With Everton showing superior speed and ideas in midfield, mainly thanks to the generalship of Ball it was the Blues who played the more progressive and penetrative football.

Two chances
The Liverpool defence was often beaten in the air in the first half-hour and Royle had two more chances to add to his goal tally. First he headed just wide and then put a weak shot into Clemence's hands as he tried to lift the ball over the goalkeeper's head. Clemence's best save came from a misplaced header by Yeats, but there was almost as much quality in the way he punched away from a header from Hurst. Everton, with their midfield pace, were winning the duel in the centre of the field as Kendall and Harvey backed up Ball. Liverpool's best move came when Thompson and Graham broke clear down the right but from Graham's centre Hurst headed away for a corner. Little was seen of Liver. more and St. John and it was Everton who always threatened to add to their lead. In this tension packed game the tackling was always hard but there was nothing out of the ordinary until Strong brought down Whittle and was promptly booked referee Walker. Everton's pace and more accurate passing give them a clear edge in the first half of play. The first half belonged to Everton—and particularly to Ball playing an inspired game Everton's superior was clinched by Whittle's goal three minutes after half time. This was the youngster's eighth score in 12 games this season and the way he nipped in to take a quarter chance after a shot from Harvey had been deflected, was typical of his pace.
Fight back
But, Liverpool came back with great spirit although their attacking play did not have the pattern of Everton's. Their best chance came from fine work by Graham down the right but Hughes and Thompson between them failed to get in an effective strike. Royle, who had dominated the air, headed just wide but Everton seemed content now to rely on their lead and fall back on effective defence Wright and Hurst were outstanding in an Everton defence which placed with composure and confidence. Smith, forging through from his defensive beat drove Liverpool on but with Ball stills the dominating midfield figure. Everton held all the aces.

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE BIG DEADLINE SPENDING SPREE?
Liverpool Echo - Saturday 21 March 1970
Say Tommy Wright
So it’s happened, at last—the first £200,000 transfer. Even if it wasn't exactly that sum of cash which changed hands. Now Jimmy Greaves is a West Ham player, and the “old firm” of Moore, Hurst and Peters has finally split up. Martin Peters, one of West Ham's World Cup stars, has joined Tottenham.   After we had beaten Tottenham at White Hart Line, the Spurs squad which came up to Goodison for the return match included Alan Gllzean, Joe Kinnear and Cyril Knowles.  But when I saw that Jimmy Greaves wasn't listed as a possible for the return game, I thought then that he might be on the move before the deadline.  Now he has gone and, clearly the Hammers he will be hoping he will score goals for them, just as he did for Tottenham, up to a few weeks ago.
New zest
They say a change is as good as a rest, and sometimes, in football, a change can give a player new zest for the game. This could happen with Greaves. I for one, certainly never did think that the flow of goals might have dried up completely. Jimmy may have gone through a lean patch, this season, but I'm sure he will find the net regularly again, before long. He's far from finished, believe me.  The £200,000  transfer has been threatening to materialize for quite a while, now—and I have little doubt that some club will pay that much in hard cash for a star player, before very long. But I think the significant thing about last Monday was that the Greaves-Peters deal was the only big splash in the transfer pool.  What has happened to the frantic hustle to beat the deadline that we used to see? Don't tell me that every club is satisfied with its first team. That just isn't true, of course. It never has been that way, and it never will be for weeks, right up to thy deadline, various clubs have been doing their best to sign players.  But the deadline came and went with only one big deal. Two things have contributed to this state of affairs. The first: clubs with good players just won't let ‘em go. The second—and, perhaps even more vital: the money isn't there like it used to be. Transfer fees have gone up, season by season. It costs £140.000 to £50.000 nowadays for a good club player. For a star, the asking price almost astronomical. But even a player given a free transfer costs the club signing him £500. And there are many of the smaller clubs today who have to weigh up whether or not they can afford this kind of gamble, in addition to committing themselves to wages. And the banks have become much tighter about lending cash, as we all know.  A club wishing to sign a player costing. say. £50,000 might be able to raise £30,000 straight away—but it will be lucky if the bank agrees to advance the other £20.000. And the selling club wants hard cash, rather than payment by instalments, because it has commitments to meet, even if it doesn't need to venture into the transfer market itself. Most of the League clubs in England rely upon development funds and so on, to keep their heads above water. There are but a handful of clubs who can splash £100,000 into the transfer market.  The clubs in the smaller divisions are finding the credit squeeze has hit them several.  And clubs in the First and Second Divisions are far from happy about finances, in many cases.  As some clubs fine found this season, the best way is to get a player on loan.

CATTERICK CHECKS ON TAYLOR
Liverpool Echo - Saturday 21 March 1970
Everton manager Harry Catterick made a personal check this week at Southport on the England youth-team captain, 18-years-old Orient centre-half Tommy Taylor.  This is the brilliant young player, who has been watched regularly by Everton’s London scout as well as many other senior clubs.  Taylor did not have a particularly good game against the in-form Southport boys, who beat the then Third Division leaders to steer themselves well away from the relegation zone. But Taylor has earned such rave notices for his form this season that Everton's interest is likely to be maintained.

DEMOLITION MEN WILL START WORK DURING CUP FINAL WEEK
Liverpool Echo - Saturday 21 March 1970
By Mike Charters
The big demolition jobs at Anfield and Goodison Park will start in Cup-final week.  Contractors are due to move in at Goodison on Monday, April 6 for the summer-long project of completing the Goodison Road stand; four days later, work on rebuilding the main stand at Anfield will get under way.  The last match at Goodison will be the Central League fixture against Sheffield Wednesday, on Saturday, April 4.  Three days earlier the last home League game will be played with West Bromwich.  There will be a longer close season than ever before, to enable completion of the stand for the opening of next season, on August 15.  Everton secretary Bill Dickinson says “We now have all our dates fixed.  All being well all seats will be available in the main tier for next season, and we have geared our season-ticket arrangements for that.  We also hope to have the bulk of the top tier ready.  “The club room for the 500 Club should also be completed by next August, but we anticipate some delay in completing the 300 Club arrangements.”  Initial reaction to these clubs has been extremely good.  Mr. Dicksinson says “We are very pleased with the way applications have come in. “The stand will set new standards of spectating on Merseyside and the cost is likely to be more than the 500,000 originally estimated. 

EVERTON CASH IN!
Liverpool Echo - Saturday 21 March 1970
INVESTIMENT MAKE THE BLUES ABOUT ENGLAND’S WEALTHIEST CLUB
By Mike Charters
Everton Shareholders Association have made provisional plans for a celebration dinner . . . if the team clinches the championship. This was announced during the association's annual dinner this week, at which chairman Donald McPhail paid tribute to the work of the club directors. He referred to "The hundreds of thousands of pounds invested, the money available for new players, when needed, a training ground second to none in Europe and the finest club ground in the country at Goodison." In so doing, Mr. McPhail touched indirectly on the fact that Everton must be just about the wealthiest club in England, which was he said. "The result planning and hard work by the directors.”  I reckon Everton's financial resources are in the healthiest state in the history of the club. Only Glasgow Rangers, who, I understand, have about £1,000,000 invested- have more cash behind them, among British clubs.  Apart from the money which pours in through the turnstiles, with average gates nearing 50.000, I estimate Everton make a profit of more than £100,000 a year from fund-raising schemes. Naturally, the club will not disclose figures, but Mr. David Exalt, the promotions manager, tells me – “I have been astounded at the response of supporters to our ticket schemes. “We have not had to hard-sell ... the supporters have responded as agents and ticket buyers “In charge of the schemes, under Mr. Exall, is former Derby County goalkeeper Bill Townsend, who once managed Burton Albion.  Mr. Exall tells me the money from the tickets is earmarked towards the cost of the new Goodison Road stand. This will cost £500,000-plus but it looks as if five years of ticket revenue will pay for it. Manchester United are reckoned to have one of the most lucrative fundraising set-ups, but as they close during the summer, and Everton run theirs throughout the year, I imagine Everton make more than they do.  The shareholders' dinner was a happy social occasion. Club chairman Mr. Jack Sharp and his wife were there, and other members of the board who attended, with their wives, were Mr. George Watts, Mr. Cyril Ralmforth and Mr. Jim Hacking, while director Mr. Bill Scott was also present. Liverpool were represented by former chairman Mr. Harold Cartwright, with his wife, while Mr.  Sony Isenwater, chairman of Liverpool Shareholders' Association, was another guest.

THE MINI DERBY
Liverpool Echo - Saturday 21 March 1970
Everton Res; Clarke; Turner, Westburgh, Brindle, Seargreant, Jackson, Kenny, Wilson, Lyons, Bennett, Jones (G).  Liverpool Res; Lawrence; Fagan, Watt; Ross, Lloyd, McLaughlin, Marshall, Peplow, McKenna, Lindsay, Hall, Referee; Mr. Wade.  Liverpool found it hard work, Everton were quicker in the tackle and many Reds moves fell down in the penalty area.  Lindsay was getting little change out of Sergeant, but at the other end Jones had the beating of Fagan most of the time.  In the first 20 minutes neither side had a goal worthy shot.  Marshall got in a shot but Clarke had little trouble with it and the ball was soon back in midfield.  Petty fouls were numerous.  At 35 minutes Everton got the ball into the net but the move was disallowed for offside.  Everton started to put on the pressure as the interval approached and Jones produced a nice header from a Kenny centre which went just over the bar.  Half-time-Everton Res nil, Liverpool Res nil. 

NOW FOR THE EASTER PARADE !

Liverpool Echo - Monday 23 March 1970
By Stan Liversedge
THE EASTER Soccer parade gives Everton a chance to nail down the title, and make the task of Leeds United almost impossible. But a six-point haul from three games in five days must be Everton's target. Everton, of course, will be like Leeds -taking each match as it comes. And the next one will be as tough as any –Chelsea, at Goodison next Saturday. Then Everton play at Stoke on Monday, and West Brom at Goodison on the Wednesday. Meanwhile. Leeds -heavily committed with tonight's FA. Cup semi-final replay, and European Cup semi-final games against Glasgow Celtic a week on Wednesday, and on April 15—have a League task no easier than Everton's.
On Saturday, they play Southampton at Elland Road—and this should mean two points for them. But while Everton are at Stoke, Leeds will be trying to tame Derby—at the Baseball Ground. This was where Everton lost their first game of the season—and, since the acquisition of £100,000 Terry Hennessey, Derby have become even more of a menace to opponents. Three points against Southampton and Derby would give Leeds 57; and if Everton raked in six points from their three matches, they would be SIX ahead of Leeds ... who would have two games in hand. It's still anyone's title: but If Everton keep on winning; the Easter parade could be merely the prelude to the final triumph—the League-championship trophy.

By Mike Charters
Everton manager Harry Catterick, though delighted with his team's display on Saturday at Anfield, refused to accept that they have a three-point lead, as they enter the run-in for the championship. "In my book, it's one point, - he says. Leeds have a game in hand -and the way they're playing, that means two points for them." But his pleasure at the way his team had played in beating Liverpool came bubbling through, as he told me: " I was particularly pleased with the kids— Royle, Whittle and Kenyon. They're only 20. "But we showed real skill in combination. We've got our old mobility and sharpness back, although we didn't play as well as we did at Spurs. Our performance that night was tremendous. “I began to see our return to form about three weeks ago.  We started to play as we did in the first three months of the season.  "People have talked about us fading out in the middle of the season. But we have won 25 games in the League -more than anyone else. You can't call that a fade-out. "Leeds are having a phenomenally good run. Their win at Wolves was particularly fine, but they are the only team to have caught us -they had matches in hand. "Now we play Chelsea next Saturday. That is going to be a hard one…but our last two matches are against Sheffield Wednesday and Sunderland away. They're fighting against relegation, so they’re going to be just as hard."

LABONE IN LINE FOR RESERVES
Liverpool Echo - Monday 23 March 1970
Everton's injury position is clearing—and manager Harry Catterick could have a full-strength squad available soon (writes Mike Charters). And the best news concerns skipper Brian Labone, whose back injury initially was such that he was regarded as doubtful for the rest of the season. Mr. Catterick told me he hopes Labone will be playing again this weekend, probably in the reserves, to give him a gentle return to the game. He said; "Brian has done a real hard training stint to-day. The bruising has cleared from his back, where he took a blow in the lower ribs – “It looks as though he will be able to train hard for the rest of the week and he should be able to play again at the end of it. Keith Newton is also able to do some training, but you can never tell with these hamstring injuries. He can reach a point in training where he looks right, and then it can break down again. "We'll have to see what progress he makes this week." But even if Newton is fit, Mr. Catterick must feel that Sandy Brown is in such fine form that he cannot disturb a defence which has played a vital part in the team's run of victories. Reserve forward Steve Melledew had a cartilage operation yesterday and is progressing well.

JOE NEVER TOUCHED IT , I ONLY WISH HE HAD-RON YEATS
Liverpool Echo - Monday 23 March 1970
Liverpool captain Ron Yeats was in no doubt about that first goal. "I headed it, Joe Royle never touched it. I only wish he had," he said. And he was backed up by Ian St. John. Said the Scottish star, recalled for his first game for a month: "They scored two scrappy goals. The first was headed into his own net by Ron Yeats and the second hit Alan Whittle on the knee and bounced into the net. When you're at the top things go for you, you get the breaks. We created a lot of chances but we didn't take them. “We created enough chances, in fact, to have won the match, but you can't win if you don't take them. I thought we created more chances than they did." A derby game was a new experience for young Doug Livermore. His reaction: “I didn't feel particularly nervous but I'm sick at the result. We didn't get a grip on the game at all.”  Liverpool chairman. Eric Roberts, added: “I think it was a game far above the average for a derby, and it was a fair result."

NO DOUBT ABOUT IT, THE FIRST GOAL WAS MINE-JOE ROYLE
Liverpool Echo - Monday 23 March 1970
 On the "who scored!" controversy over Everton's first goal, Joe Royle was in no doubt. "I headed the ball first-I wasn’t aware of anyone behind me when I went for John Morrissey's centre.  Anyway, I’m claiming it and it couldn’t have been more delighted with the timing of my first derby goal.” 
Gordon West; I don’t think there was any comparison between the two derby games. The result at Goodison was a fluke ... Liverpool were well beaten on Saturday. “It was the first time I’ve been on the winning side at Anfield, I missed the game when we won 4-0 there a few years ago.”
Alan Whittle, whose goal was also his first in derby games; “I didn’t see where the ball came from because there were so many players in the box.  But, I dashed in as it bounced, caught the ball with my knee, and in it went.”
Alan Ball, an inspiring Everton captain; “We  played well, and we’re going to beat Chelsea next Saturday as well.  We scored at the right time for a derby game- it knocked Liverpool out of their stride.” 

DREAMS OF DOUBLE CRASHED
Liverpool Echo - Monday 23 March 1970
By Chris James
Liverpool dreams that they might complete a magnificent double over high-riding title favourites Everton came crashing down on Saturday. From start to finish of the derby at Anfieid, Liverpool never looked as if they could match the speed and skill with which Everton skated to their 2-0 victory. Liverpool will look back on it as a game in which they had too many people off form together, a game in which they were slow to settle and in which they were never allowed to slot into any sort of rhythm. Everton dominated the game from beginning to end. Liverpool were out-thought, outplayed and, at times, outclassed as Everton produced some of the football that has made them favourites to oust Leeds from the champion's throne. The most significant thing in Liverpool's defeat, I thought, was the ease with which they were beaten in the air. Despite almost their entire defence being six feet or over, Royle's height, supplemented by John Hurst when he moved up from the back, caused consternation every time—and it was often—that Everton pumped high balls into the goalmouth. Yeats was the most troubled as Royle beat him almost every time to head the first goal after 10 minutes and help lay on the second three minutes into the second half, when he back headed a cross out to Harvey whose shot ricocheted to give Whittle his scoring chance. It is rare indeed that the Liverpool defence surrenders aerial mastery but it was the key point in their defeat on Saturday. The second failure was to keep a check on Alan Ball. If Alan Ball failed at Goodison he didn't on Saturday, popping up everywhere to mastermind Everton's victory. St. John, Livermore and Hughes never achieved the same authority in this sphere as did Ball with his co-stars Harvey and Kendall, and it was here that the game was both won and the only really impressive performers for Liverpool were Ray Clemence and Tommy Smith. Clemence did a lot of valuable work and made one particularly fine save to finger-tip away a header from Hurst. Smith was the one man who looked likely to lift Liverpool's performance above the mediocre as he surged forward repeatedly in a hid to lend some weight and authority in midfield. For the only time that Liverpool were in the game as a significant force was the last 20 minutes when Everton were happy to hold on to their two goal advantage.
MINI DEBRY
Gary Jones was by far the best player on the field in this dour no-score mini-derby at Goodison between Everton and Liverpool Reserves sides. He constantly beat full-back Fagan but, with the exception of centre forward Lyons, had no support in the middle for his efforts. Centre half Lloyd kept a tight hold on the Everton forwards, Lindsay showed little of his normal Central League form. Seargreant at centre half played efficiently and kept him quiet. 

THE DAY EVERTON’S YOUNGSTERS REALLY BLOSSOMED
Liverpool Echo - Monday 23 March 1970
By Mike Charters
No doubt about this cracking derby game. Everton won deservedly, gained ample revenge for their only home defeat this season, and their 2-0 Anfleld triumph was gained with just as much authority as Liverpool had showed at Goodison last December.  I was particularly impressed with the sheer professionalism of their performance.  It confirmed their great improvement of the last few weeks and it was the day when three of their youngsters, Whittle, Kenyon and Royle, really blossomed in the frenzied atmosphere of derby day.  Manager Harry Catterick paid due tribute to them.  There wasn’t a weak link in the Everton ranks from back to front.  Royle, brilliant in the air, was unlucky not to get another couple to add to his 10th minute header which set his team off on the victory path.  Whittle took his goal chance with the sharpness which stamps him as developing into one of the great opportunists in the game.  Kenyon, despite a few sliced clearances, kept a firm grip in the middle with steady and experienced aid from Hurst, Wright and Brown.    But in the final analysis it was in midfield where Everton took a grip and maintained their mastery.  Ball, with a superb display which completely “Lost” his shadow, St. John, spread his passes around with accurate initiative on a very heavy pitch.  Kendall gave his best display of the season in my book, with Harvey little behind him in work rate and effectiveness.  The three of them picked up most of the loose balls in midfield, moved more quickly and competently into the tackle, put Liverpool right out of their stride. Everton's fluent attacking style in the first half was the outstanding feature of the game. They moved the ball around crisply, intelligently and with great penetration in a dominating display which gave them that championship look. No wonder their fans chanted "champions" at them. It was all there . . . the authority, skill, pace and composure of players moving in a fine team groove, enriched with outstanding individual play. And it was not only the youngsters' day to shine. The oldest men in the team, Brown and Morrissey, lent their essential touches of experience to the blend—Brown rock-line in defence. Morrissey inch perfect in his centres.

SO SHOUT UP! LET’S HEAR FROM YOU
Liverpool Echo - Tuesday 24 March 1970
CATTERICK TELLS FANS; KEEP ON CHEERING
By Mike Charters
Everton manager Harry Catterick is seeking "Kop - like" support from his teams fans as avital aid to their championship ambition. He says: “I was particularly pleased with the way our fans cheered us on, at Anfield, last Saturday. Everyone knows how important the Kop support is for Liverpool—and the Everton fans outshone them at the derby game. “I would like to hear more of it at Goodison …it means so much to the players.  We get great support always from the Gwladys Street end, and I think people in the stands could take their cue from them.  “We need their cheering.  There have been times, this season. When I’ve thought the support has not been all it might be, and I know the players think the same. “Our fans were terrific at Antield and I hope they keep it up to the end of the season. It looks like being a full house at Goodison for the game against Chelsea, so the fans will be able to play their part in boosting Everton's title hopes. Mr. Catterick rates Chelsea a great side.  “It’s going to be a real test for us, but we’ve got back our sharpness and rhythm,” he says.  “I’m not thinking about a possible points total to aim for; I think it is essential just to take each game as it comes.”

SIR AALF NAMES 40 TOMORROW
Liverpool Echo - Tuesday 24 March 1970
By Mike Charters
The first shots in England's bid to retain the World Cup will be fired to-morrow with Sir Alf Ramsey naming a 40-strong party from which his World Cup squad of 22 will be selected. And I expect to find nine players from Everton and Liverpool included. Everton should provide six—Alan Ball (37 caps). Brian Labone (19), Keith Newton (16), Tommy Wright (seven), Colin Harvey and John Hurst. The Anfield contingent could be Peter Thompson (13), Emlyn Hughes (three) and Tommy Smith. Labone's expected return to fitness has come just at the right time for him to join the squad. He must have been worried about his Mexico chances when he had to spend a week in a nursing home recently with his back strain, but happily it has cleared up. Next month the England manager will reduce the 40 to 28 who will travel to Mexico in the first week of May to get acclimatized. Six more will have to be axed within the following fortnight before the opening game on May 31. I believe Ball, Wright, Labone and Hughes to be certainties for the final selection. The chances of the other five must depend on whether they get an opportunity during the home international championship from April 18 to 25 to show that they are in form and worth their place for World Cup honours.
Big impression
Harvey, who made such a big impression on last summer's tour of Mexico and South America, has confirmed his return to fitness and form since that troublesome eye infection cleared after putting him out of action for two months. Hurst, former Under 23 captain, has always been highly regarded by Sir Alf, and must come into the reckoning. He is playing better than ever. Sir Alf knows all about Newton's value, although the former Blackburn player has not settled into the Everton pattern as well as might have been expected for a player of his International experience and background. Thompson has so often been a member of England's training squads without getting into the team that he deserves this chance of making the party. If the England manager is seeking a winger of skill, Thompson must rate highly. Like Hurst, Smith has boomed back into his best form after being below his usual high standard following an operation on a knee to remove a piece of bone. He has yet to play in the full national side, but it has always been his great ambition to go to Mexico.  He faces tremendous opposition, however, in his defensive wing half position from Bobby Moore and Norman Hunter. 

HUSBAND IN EVERTON RESERVES
Liverpool Echo - Tuesday 24 March 1970
Everton forward Jimmy Husband, who has lost his first team place to Alan Whittle, plays for the reserves at Goodison Park to-night (7.0) against Bury (writes Mike Charter). This will be his first competitive game this month and gives him a chance of match practice to renew his challenge to regain his senior spot. Everton Reserves have been climbing the climbing the Central League table steadily in the past two months. If they win tonight they will move into third place, which is probably the highest they ran reach this season with Liverpool and West Bromwich battling it out fort top spot. Everton reserves : Clarke: Turner, Westburgh: Darcy, Seargeant, Jackson: Husband, Wilson, Lyons, Bellett, Humphreys.

EVERTON’S 300 CLUB
Liverpool Echo - Wednesday 25 March 1970
Everton's luxury 300 Club, which will open in the new stand next season, has a “full house” within a month of the invitations being sent to season ticket holders. Applications for membership exceed 300. But not all the seats in the 500 Club have been taken yet. Invitations to join went originally to £12 and £11 season ticket holders. Now they have been extended to £10 season ticket holders. Club secretary Bill Dickinson states that letters will be sent to these People within the next few days. They should wait for the forms before applying.

LABONE BACK ON MONDAY?
Liverpool Echo - Wednesday 25 March 1970
Everton's international full back Keith Newton is unlikely to have recovered sufficiently from his hamstring muscle strain to come into the reckoning for Saturday's game against Chelsea at Goodison (writes Mike Charters). A comment from manager Harry Catterick gives the clue. He told me, "Newton's return to fitness is much slower than in Brian Labone's case. Labone has been able to train harder each day this week and I am delighted with his progress. "But Newton is nothing like as advanced in his training." So all the signs indicate that Everton will be unchanged for the third successive match when they face Chelsea. And Labone, after a run-out on Saturday, should be ready to return for the game at Stoke on Easter Monday.

HE’S THE ODD MAN OUT
Liverpool Echo - Wednesday 25 March 1970
SAYS SEXTON; ‘WE’VE A CHANCE OF CATCHING LEEDS AND EVERTON’
By Mike Charters
Chelsea manager Dave Sexton is the odd man out in football’, biggest talking point at the moment—" Will Everton or Leeds win the championship ? “When I asked him for his view, he replied: "I still think we've got a chance of beating both of them. “At the moment, we're 10 points behind Everton, seven behind Leeds. But we've two games in hand of Everton, one over Leeds. “We’ve brought forward our home game against Sheffield Wednesday, scheduled for Good Friday, to to-night. If we win, and then beat Everton at Goodison on Saturday, we'll be only six points behind them with a game in hand. "In effect, that means we're only four points behind, and if Everton or Leeds slip, we'll be all out to catch both of them.” We're going to play a very big part in the destiny of the championship. We're not out of it yet, by a long way, and our immediate aim is to pick up four points from Sheffield Wednesday and Everton this week. “If we can do that, we can be in there with a real chance." It looks a very slim chance, so far as I'm concerned. If Chelsea won their last seven games, their total would be 61 points. Everton need five points from their last five games to total 62, so despite Mr. Sexton's optimism, I think he is clutching at straws. The Chelsea chief told me that they will push to one side their Cup Final appearance, as the, aim for maximum League points. He said: "'That's not until April 11 and it's the League we're interested in, at the moment."
Brilliant
I believe Everton will put a stop to Chelsea's ambitions by making no mistake at Goodison on Saturday in a match which is building up to one of the great games of the season, with a capacity attendance looking certain. Granted that Chelsea are playing brilliantly just now, they're doing no better than Everton, who have won their last four games in championship style. I still regard it as a straight duel between Everton and Leeds, with the odds in the Blues' favour, because of their storming form at the moment, and Leeds' complexity of fixtures in the last few weeks of the season. Everton now have Chelsea and West Bromwich to play at home. Stoke, Sheffield Wednesday and Sunderland away. It will be hard going, but the points are there to be picked up from this sequence. I think Chelsea's challenge for top place will have fizzled out by the time Everton beat them on Saturday.

WE REALLY ARE THE CHAMPIONS!
Liverpool Echo - Thursday 26 March 1970
…AND THE NORTH CAN PROVE IT
By Stan Liversedge
ONE OF the significant things about England's World Cup squad is that 18— yes, EIGHTEEN—of the 28 players who will be going to Mexico come from three northern Soccer centres. Merseyside, Manchester and Leeds. Which proves, once and for all, which clubs have the greatest players in the game to-day. For the verdict has been confirmed by a man who played for Tottenham and Southampton, and managed Ipswich, Sir Alf Ramsey. Everton supply Ball, Labone, Newton, Wright; Liverpool supply Hughes and Thompson; Leeds contribute Jack Charlton, Clarke, Cooper, Hunter, Reaney: Manchester United have Bobby Charlton, Kidd, Sadler, Stepney, Stiles; and Manchester City throw in Bell and Lee. Burnley can point to Coates ... so that makes 19 from the north. And of the 12 " fringe” players. Harvey and Royle are from Everton. Jones is from Leeds, and Oakes and Summerbee are from Manchester City. Stand up and take a bow, Harry Catterick. Bill Shankly, Don Retie, Will McGuinness and Joe Mercer. The dominance of Merseyside, Manchester and Leeds over the south is complete—at club AND international level. Everton's Alan Ball, I know, will be delighted that Nobby Stiles is going. For these two men—so similar in character—are great buddies. Off the field, they are social companions: on the field they ask no quarter, give no quarter. They are the type of fighters Ramsey knows he will need in Mexico.
A certainty
Ball was a certainty; Stiles told me last week he rated his chances slim, after a season in which he has been plagued be injury. But Sir Alf has come out boldly with the statement that Stiles is good for England. And it would not surprise me, if the little fellow the call “Happy " at Old Trafford found himself pitched into the World Cup battles again, just like 1966. Colin Harvey and Joe Royle may feel a twinge of disappointment at being on the outside, looking in ... but I believe they can start to look to the World Cup of 1974. For almost certainly, barring accidents, the will be in the full England squad then. In the meantime, the north reigns supreme. And looks like doin so for a long, long time.

KENYON-V-OSGOOD DUEL COULD BE CRUCIAL
Liverpool Echo - Thursday 26 March 1970
By Mike Charters
Everton centre half Roger Kenyon, stand-in for Brian Labone and likely to be called on again while Labone has a run with the reserves on his way back to fitness, faces the most difficult test of his young career against Chelsea on Saturday. His personal task -to control one of the greatest centre forwards in the game, Chelsea and England star, Peter Osgood. Kenyon coped splendidly with the craft and experience of Spurs' Alan Gilzean a fortnight ago. Now he comes up against the more mobile Osgood, who adds the dribbling skill of a winger to the finishing ability confirmed by his 27 League and Cup goals this season. The outcome of this Kenyon-Osgood duel could play a major part in what should be a classic match at Goodison between the leaders and the third place club, whose manager, Dave Sexton, believes they still have the chance to come through with a title challenge. I believe Everton will be unchanged although manager Harry Catterick will maintain his habit of selecting from 14 players. I expect him to add Labone, Jimmy Husband and Frank D'Arcy to the team which beat Liverpool—Newton is not ready yet for consideration. Husband scored in the reserves' 3-0 victory over Bury in mid-week, but although he proved his fitness, I can't see Mr. Catterick being able to find a place for him after the impressive authority of that Anfield victory. Alan Whittle now commands a first team place by the quality of his play and goal-scoring feats—Husband must wait a little longer to fight his way back. Whittle has scored eight goals in 11 League appearances; Husband six in 29. The figures speak for themselves. Everton fans will be hoping Whittle can maintain his scoring sequence. He has scored in each of the last three games, and will need all his sharpness and eye for a chance against this brilliant Chelsea team, which adds defensive power to their highly skilled attack. But with Everton in such commanding form now, and determined not to slip in the championship race, I believe they will get their two points on Saturday, good though Chelsea are. Everton;- West: (from) Wright. Brown; Kendall, Kenyon, Harvey: Whittle, Ball, Royle, Hurst, Morrissey, Labone, Husband, D'Arcy. Everton secretary Bill Dickinson appeals to supporters to arrive early at Goodison Park to avoid delay in getting into the ground. Entrances to the terraces will open at 1 p.m. The club offices will close to-morrow at noon, but will be open on Easter Monday.

THIS ONE COULD BE A SOCCER SHOWPIECE
Liverpool Echo - Thursday 26 March 1970
By Mike Charters
Biggest gate at Goodison this season was the 57,026 for the Liverpool game in December. I expect Saturday's attendance for the Chelsea match in what has built up into one of the greatest occasions of the season to be very near that figure . . . all stand tickets were sold ten days ago. And what a game it should be: Third-place Chelsea, the Cup Finalists, and a side packed with personalities and class, face the top-form Everton going all out for the championship. I don't think the near capacity crowd will be disappointed with the quality of the play. The drawn game at Stamford Bridge between them was one of the best of the season this could be THE best. Chelsea have improved since they met Everton in November; Everton are playing at their peak now. It has all the makings of a classic. Skipper Ron Harris, the defensive wing half, now wears the No. 3 shirt with Marvin Hinton completing the back four line. Hinton, normally a centre half, has had so much experience that the Chelsea defence is not weakened in any way.
Skill and thrust
But it is up front where Chelsea capture the imagination with a forward line of high skill and thrust. Led by the twin spearhead of Peter Osgood and Ian Hutchinson (46 goals between them this season) they have a flair and finesse which makes them one of the most attractive sides in the League. Charlie Cooke brings great dribbling skill to Chelsea's right wing, Peter Houseman directness and power on the left. At No. 8 they have one of the discoveries of the year in 18-years-old Alan Hudson, who plays a similar role to Howard Kendall or Colin Harvey. It is an impressive lineup, but I don't believe Chelsea are as sound in defence as they might be. This is why I believe Everton will confirm their top place by creating sufficient scoring chances, and taking them to win. I bank on Everton, who will probably be unchanged, because their overall team performances in the last three weeks have been so sound and determined. They have taken a very tight hold on their opponents and never relaxed that grip, with outstanding performances from John Hurst, Tommy Wright, and Sandy Brown in defence, classic midfield play from Alan Ball, Kendall and Harvey, skilled and penetrative running by Alan Whittle, Joe Royle and John Morrissey. Now they look again, like the team which blasted off at the start of the season like a Cape Kennedy rocket. As manager Harry Catterick says: “We’ve regained all our sharpness and rhythm." A repeat of their display against Liverpool should be sufficient to beat Chelsea. Confident though manager Dave Sexton is that they can win at Goodison. Everton are just as confident that nothing, hut nothing, can stop them cruising on to take the title. Chelsea may be the toughest hurdle along that route Everton can take it in their stride.

CHELSEA’S CHALLENGE!
Liverpool Echo - Saturday 28 March 1970
THEY HAVE FALIR, TALENT AND FINESSE, BUT TITLE WIN LOOKS BEYOND THEM
By Stan Liversedge
CHELSEA will be going flat out to beat Everton at Goodison this afternoon=because their manager, Dave Sexton believes his team can still pip the Blues and Leeds United tor the League championship. I BELIEVE he is pursuing a forlorn hope. Chelsea have been going great guns in the League; they have reached the final of the F.A. Cup. BUT . . . they are too far behind in the title race. Yet they present a real challenge to Everton this afternoon. And no one will appreciate this more than Everton manager Harry Catterick who has already stated his conviction that Chelsea have just about the greatest all-round strength in the country. Chelsea are a team of flair, of individual talent. They have finesse. They can play exciting football. And they can be rugged in defence when the need arises. The League table shows they are third on merit—only Leeds and Everton have scored more goals than Chelsea in this championship campaign. And only four teams have conceded fewer goals. Leeds and Everton, again, are two of these four teams. Sexton concedes there is a gulf between Chelsea and Leeds and Everton when you measure the points which separate the teams. He points out that Chelsea have a match in hand or. Everton—and that victory this afternoon would be the equivalent of four points pulled back, in Chelsea's favour.
No favours…
If Everton or Leeds slips," he says,” we'll be all out to catch both of them. - So Chelsea will be doing Everton no favours this afternoon. And the Blues will have to beware the swift break that can produce a stunning killer goal. Everton have chalked up four impressive victories: and they will be seeking a fifth on the trot, against Chelsea. There should be some sizzling football—and moments of anxiety. But if the Blues are to strengthen their grasp on the title, they must stave off Chelsea's challenge. I think they will do just that. And leave Sexton and his men to concentrate on the Cup.

MIKE CHARTERS LOOKS AT THE MEN EVERTON MUST MASTER AT GOODISON PARK TO-DAY
Liverpool Echo - Saturday 28 March 1970
FORMER STANFORD BRIDGE JUNIORS WHO ARE HITTING THE HIGH SPOT
FIVE-STAR ATATCK TO WATCH
What a forward line—Cooke, Hudson, Osgood, Hutchinson, Houseman! There's skill, pace, power and scoring ability blended there in an attack of the highest quality which will test Everton to the utmost at Goodison Park this afternoon. Between them, they've scored 62 League and Cup goals this season and sent Chelsea not only to the Cup Final on April 11 and third place in the League, but also given them the reputation of being one of the best sides in Europe and clearly points to them being a major force in English football for years to come. Everton manager Harry Catterick calls them “a great side ". He has frequently ref erred to Chelsea's strength in depth with a first team pool of some 16 players which he regards as the best in the country. And this five-star attack is the top department of a team which may lack the same high standards at the back. Outside-right Charlie Cooke, who came from Dundee for £72,000, is the only big money man in the front line. He has changed his image this season… is a better player for it, and Chelsea are a better team because of it. He is rated one of the finest ball players in the business, a brilliant dribbler who used to revel in individual artistry. He liked to beat a team himself but under the guidance of manager Dave Sexton has now submerged some of that individualism to play his part in the team pattern. They used to call him “selfish ", that he tried to do too much himself. Now he is just as clever but much more effective. He has five League and Cup goals this season. Partnering him on the right flank, but playing in midfield, is one of the sensational young players of the day-18-years-old Alan Hudson, of whom Sir Alf Ramsey has said: “There is no limit to what this lad can achieve." Hudson, of the long hair and appetite for work, has only scored three times this season but his value to Chelsea is like that of Colin Harvey for Everton. He never stops going, chases everything and is gaining in experience all the time. He joined Chelsea as an associate schoolboy at 12 years of age, having been turned down by Fulham. Before he was 17, he received a knee injury which kept him out for a whole season. But it didn't prevent him rocketing to the top since he came into the League team early in the season against Spurs at White Hart Lane. Chelsea were hit by the worst spate of injuries for years. It gave Hudson his chance and he's taken it with both feet. He says: “Things have been made a lot easier for me by the great players I have around me. For example, John Hollins has given me a lot of encouragement. He's always there when I need him and it’s helped a lot to know I have such good support. The other lads, too, have been great." England chief Sir Alf Ramsey confirmed his opinion of Hudson by choosing him for the Under 23 side against Scotland at Roker Park earlier this month. Hudson said: “Before I was selected, I tried not to think about international honours, even though a lot of people were kindly saying I was good enough. What really matters to me is Chelsea. That's what I think about most." Leading the line is another controversial character, Peter Osgood. The man Liverpool have wanted for so long. It looked as though he would never win full international honours when he wrote that he didn't think Sir Alf would pick him because he didn't work hard enough. But the genius of his play has made up for that unfortunate comment and he is a certainty for Mexico. Osgood is not only a brilliant constructive player but also a top scorer. His 27 goals makes him the League's leading scorer and he has had a foursome and two hat-tricks. He is one of the great personalities in the game, one of the few who attract spectators just to see him.
Long-throw expert
The tall, willowy Osgood is another who has come through the Chelsea junior ranks and looks as though he will challenge George Best eventually on the business side. Already he probably doubles his soccer income from sources outside the playing side. Inside left is another tall young man, Ian Hutchinson, famous for his long throw-in but more valuable for his work with his feet. He has totted up 19 goals so far as he links with Osgood as the twin spearhead. Hutchinson, who has also been sought by Liverpool, came out of non-League soccer with Southern League champions Cambridge United. Chelsea paid only £3,000 for him—he is worth at least £100,000 to-day. He must be on the fringe of England recognition as a forward with all the attributes of being able to work the ball, plus making and taking the chances. He switches positions with Osgood to such an extent that he is more often leading the line, and is a class performer in everything he does. Possibly the one forward who lacks the genius of the others,  but makes up for it with his consistency, is left winger Peter Houseman, another ex-junior. He has scored eight goals so far. A reasonable tally when itis remembered that Chelsea rely on the Osgood-Hutchinson partnership for most of their goals. Houseman is a very effective winger, strong on the ball and not easily knocked off it. He fits perfectly into the attacking pattern which makes Chelsea such an attractive side to watch.

CHAMPION, BLUES, CHAMPION
Mike charters reports on Everton’s Big Test
Liverpool Echo - Saturday 28 March 1970
EVERTON 5, CHELSEA 2

Line-Up; - Everton; West; Wright, Brown; Kendall, Kenyon, Harvey; Whittle, Ball, Royle, Hurst, Morrissey, Sub Darcy.  Chelsea; Hughes; Webb, Mulligan; Hollins, Dempsey, Hinton, Cooke, Hudson, Osgood, Hutchinson, Houseman, Sub;- Tambling.  Referee; Mr. G.W. Hill (Leicester). 
A blistering performance by Everton, including two goals in the first three minutes, paralyzed Chelsea at Goodison Park this afternoon. Although Chelsea tried to get back into the game they were no match for the pace and skill of Everton who championship style performance, with the whole team moving like clockwork.  Chelsea's England goalkeeper, Bonetti, was unfit and Hughes came in for his third League game. Paddy Mulligan, the former Shamrock player who nearly signed for Everton earlier this year, replaced the injured Harris at left back. What a start to this top of the table battle! Everton took the lead with the quickest goal I've seen scored at Goodison—less than 30 seconds from the kick-off. From the start the ball went back to Brown, whose long centre was headed out by Dempsey. It was picked up 40 yards out by Harvey, who passed to Kendall. He then fought off three tackles and put a perfect shot into the net off the upright. And there was even more to follow. After three minutes Ball had put Everton two up, thanks to great work by Whittle and Morrissey. Kendall cleared a Chelsea corner, the ball coming out to Whittle who held it cleverly before sending Morrissey streaking away. Morrissey moved to the edge of the penalty area and placed his centre perfectly for Ball to head a simple goal.

Long throws
There was plenty of excitement for the big crown undeterred by the rain. West made a brilliant full-length save from Houseman hurled his famous long throw into the goalmouth, with West having to punch the last one away for a corner. Kendall almost got another with a brilliant burst down the middle and a shot from the edge of the area which hit the crossbar and went over. Everton's pace on the heavy ground was remarkable. Chelsea were playing like a team determined to cut back their two-goal deficit. From Hollins' free kick West came out but missed his punch and Hutchinson headed towards the empty net only for Kenyon to head the ball over the bar. Everton did not bring on their substitute immediately and when Ball dropped back to help out in defence he almost but through his own goal. It needed a desperate dive by West to save his back pass. Playing against 10 men Chelsea were now having much more of the attacking play. The neat touches of Osgood and the directness of Hutchinson led their rally. At times Everton had every player back . Still with only 10 men, Everton increased their lead after 39 minutes. It came from a corner which Ball swung into the goalmouth and Royle, going up in front of Hughes and Dempsey, nodded the ball over the line. Hughes looked far from happy in the Chelsea goal and could be faulted with two of the Everton goals, but Everton's performance was brilliant. Royle was doing magnificent work in defence. He went back for Chelsea corners and invariably it was his head which turned the ball away to safety. Whittle had a glorious chance but he headed over the bar from the perfect opening created by Ball. Despite being short-handed. Everton's performance could only be described as championship calibre. Half-time.--Everton 3. Chelsea nil.
Hurst back
Hurst returned after the interval with a strapping on his head like a rugby forward's cap. His injury was a severe cut to the side of his head, although the sign when he was injured indicated that he had taken a blow to the chest. There was some dispute about Everton's third goal and whether Royle had indeed scored it. The ball may well have been deflected by Dempsey for an own goal, but there was no dispute about Royle's effort two minutes after half time for Everton's fourth goal. A long centre by Morrissey was collected by Ball, who turned it inside to Kendall. He quickly moved it into the middle to Royle, who turned and hammered a shot past Hughes. A couple of minutes later Hughes made a magnificent save from a Royle power drive. Brown had had another magnificent game, and Ball, given a lot of freedom in midfield, was a dominating figure. Brown was receiving roars of applause for his work, none greater than when he burst through and shot inches wide from the edge of the area. Everton were playing text-book soccer easily their best of the season, and overwhelming Chelsea by its brilliance. Whittle picked up his ninth goal in 12 games when he turned the ball over the line in the 59th minute, after Ball and Morrissey had cut the Chelsea defence to ribbons. After 65 minutes Chelsea got a goal. It came from a long free kick by Webb, which Dempsey headed down. West seemed to slip in the mud as he went for it and the ball went just inside the post. A good deal of the earlier fire and pace had gone out of the game understandably now, but Hughes continued to miss simple catches and the Chelsea defence was always in trouble when Everton attacked.  The attendance of 57.828 as the biggest of the season, and they had certainly had their money's worth with this scintillating display from Everton. Everton were taking it very easily now, and rightly so in view of their game with Stoke on Monday.  The only other defeat of comparable size Chelsea have suffered this season was at home to Leeds. With two minutes to go. Osgood scored for Chelsea after West had knocked down a shot by Houseman. Everton 5, Chelsea 2
BURNLEY RES V EVERTON RES
(continued from back page)
James (61 minutes) scored for Burnley.  Final –Burnley Res 3, Everton res 0.

APRIL 8 COULD SPELL DOUBLE CELEBRATION FOR JOE ROYLE ON HIS 21ST
Liverpool Echo - Saturday 28 March 1970
By Mike Charters
If EVERTON clinch the League championship in their last game of the season at Sunderland on April 8—and it could settle everything—centre forward Joe Royle will have a double celebration. He will be 21 that day. In fact, it won't be far short of a triple celebration because Joe will be getting married in June. He and his financee already have a house in Aughton and have been working hard in recent months getting it ready for the big day. Joe said: "It would be great if I could get a goal at Sunderland that night which, perhaps, would win us the title. What a birthday present that would be "I can't remember having scored on my birthday before so this will be the perfect time to change that." So what an occasion that Roker Park visit is going to be for Everton's top scorer, the England Under-23, striker, and yet another Liverpool-born player who must be near his first full cap. In 118 League games before to-day, Royle has scored could 62 goals, plus 11 in the F.A. Cup and League Cup. It is a record which puts him, at 20, among the top rank of goal-getters. It's all happening for Joe this season. He has reached the stage in his career where he has written a book, he has established himself as one of young personalities in the game and is developing all the winner time into yet another in the great line of Everton centre forwards. To average a goal in every two League games is exceptionally good in contemporary football. This Roker' record is likely to improve as he gathers experience along the way.

CHARITY SHIELD POSER IF…
Liverpool Echo - Saturday 28 March 1970
IF EVERTON win the League, the Charity Shield match between the champions and the Cup-winners, which traditionally starts the next season, is unlikely to be at Goodison Park. Everton have a crash close season programme of work on their new stand. The remainder of the old stand is to be demolished and work started on putting up the rest of the new stand. Work is due to start at Goodison as soon as the last home game against West Bromwich ends on April 1. All services such as gas, electricity and water will be cut off immediately and demolition is due to start on April 6. So tight is the work schedule that Everton are unlikely to want to fit in games at GoodIson before the big kick-off on August 15. That means that if they win the League and Qualify for the Charity Shield they would be likely to agree to play away.  Normally the clubs involved toss for who gets the game. 

IN LINE FOR THE WORLD CUP –AND IT FEELS GREAT
Liverpool Echo - Saturday 28 March 1970 
Say Tommy Wright
The names of 40 players have been revealed by England team manager Sir Alf Ramsey -and I'm delighted to be one of those in line for the World Cup in Mexico. Of course neither I nor any of the Merseyside men chosen for the player-pool will consider himself an automatic choice for the final 22. For the players who land in Mexico, eventually, it will have been a hectic season, indeed -and especially for those from Everton. We have been playing what amounts to an F.A. Cup final almost every game, in our battle against Leeds for the title.
Spartan life
Mexico will be no holiday, even if the sun is shining out there. From what I've heard of the preparations for the last World Cup, the England men led a Spartan existence, as they trained during the build-up to the tournament. Yet, as skipper Bobby Moore has said, victory in the World Cup last time was worth every moment of the toil, sweat and near-tears. And if England retain the World Cup in Mexico, it will all be worthwhile again. No one is under any illusions, as to what awaits England out there and every player in the 28-man squad knows he is still playing for a place in the final line-un. Sir Alf Ramsey may have settled in his own mind most of the personnel who will travel to Mexico -but I won't be resting on my laurels, and neither will anyone else. After all, there's many a slip. Yet I am confident about one thing -that England will put up a good show. And I really do believe England can retain the Jules Rimet Trophy. The task WILL be difficult, because conditions will be far removed from those which existed in 1966. Then, we were on home ground, and used to the weather. In Mexico, England will be very much on their own, for comparatively few fans will be able to afford the trip. . And the heat and altitude will be added burdens to the European teams. Yet, when you consider what England had to do. To win the World Cup last time out, I think it makes sense to say the task is far from impossible, this time.
Leg-weary
The first game, against Uruguay, was tough -Uruguay went out simply determined not to lose. They drew -and England had to make this good, against France and Mexico. Eventually, England tackled top-scoring Portugal, in the semifinals. Again, England triumphed. As for the final, England won that once -then had to start all over again when they were leg-weary and disheartened by that last-gasp equalizer from the West Germans. Yet again, England rose to the occasion, and won through in extra time, to take the trophy. So will it really be all that much more difficult, in Mexico? Time will tell . . . but I know every one of the players in line for the World Cup is prepared to give everything. To go to Mexico and to bring back the Jules Rimet trophy.

ROY VERNON PONDERS THE YEARS BETWEEN, AS THE TITLE LOOMS AGIN

Liverpool Echo - Saturday 28 March 1970
By Stan Liversedge
AS EVERTON press on, regardless, in their bid to wrest the First Division championship from Leeds United, several people in different parts of the country must be reflecting what changes there have been in a few years—and in their own fortunes. The members of Everton's 1962-63 title-winning side, for instance. Everton's manager, Harry Catterick, is still there; and so are players like Gordon West, Brian Labone and Johnny Morrissey. But the others?— They have left, one by one. Albert Dunlop, who kept goal in the final four games of that last championship campaign, is now "the boss" at New -Brighton. Alex Parker, right-back in 1962.63, is at Southport, helping player-manager Arthur Peat steer his team to Third Division safety. Ex-Everton winger Billy Bingham, who became manager at Southport and left for Plymouth, has just been fired, after a row over his other job, as Northern Ireland team manager. Jimmy Gabriel is with Southampton, Derek Temple is at Preston, Brian Harris is at Cardiff…and one shining light In the 1962.63 season of glory is virtually an unemployed footballer these days although still with a First Division club.
Memories. . .
For Roy Vernon, skipper of Everton's last title-winning team, this season's bid for glory by -- the Blues has evoked memories ... and made him ponder on the years - between. Vernon signed for Stoke City, almost on the stroke of the midnight deadline for a £35.000 fee. At that time, five years ago, Stoke were still seeking recognition as a First Division force. To-day, they are bidding for a place in Europe. But Vernon, who won a reputation as a razor-sharp striker and a skillful, quick-thinking player, is out of Stoke's first team. He has not even played for the put couple of weeks. While Everton have been hitting the headlines weekly, this season, Vernon, indeed, has been spending most of his time in the Soccer shadows. At the start of the season he moved house to Blackburn -he married a local girl and found himself in a dispute with his club. Stoke suspended him, without pay, for a lengthy spell. Eventually, the one-time Welsh international and his club patched up the quarrel, with Vernon agreeing to travel down to the Potteries and stay there during the week, for training, returning home at the week-ends. But be didn't regain his first-team place. Stockport were interested in him; he was tipped for the player-manager's job at Wigan Athletic: and finally he went on a month's trial with Halifax, not so many weeks ago. Now he is back at Stoke and travelling down there from Blackburn for training. But with his contract due to expire at the end of the season, he may well find himself being given a free transfer ... Vernon recalls "five great years at Everton." and the 4-1 title-clincher against Fulham at Goodison - when he scored three of the Blues' four goals. "I remember the crowds all through that season - they were marvelous," he says. "And I have never forgotten that we were one of the first teams to take the title, by winning a tactical battle, as well. “We tightened up tremendously in defence, when we were playing away from home, and we won a lot of games by the only goal. "I've seen Everton on television this season and they're a tremendously skilful side. Our half-back line of Gabriel Labone and Kay had more devil ... but the Kendall-Labone-Harvey line compensates with its midfield skill. "Sometimes, I think about some of the youngsters I knew players like Colin Harvey and Jimmy Husband who have made the grade, and I wonder what would have happened if I'd stayed ...
No regrets
 "If I'd stayed, and fought for my place, would it have been any different? “But you make decisions and I can't really say I've any regrets. I'm 32, and I reckon I've two more years of League football left in me. "But if I do go out of the game this summer, I'll go into business, and I reckon I'll be pretty secure. Financially, for the rest of my life." So speaks Vernon, one-time skipper of Everton ... the club with whom he won a championship medal: the club which is heading for another title. Only this time, without him
THE LAST TIME . . . REMEMBER
TIMES change and so does the personnel of a football team. On your left. Roy Vernon in action the man who skippered Everton to their last championship triumph, in season 1962- On your right, the "golden vision - of Goodison, Alex Young, another member of that title-winning team. Can you remember the men who brought the trophy to Goodison? These were the players in Everton s squad, last time out: West. Dunlop, Parker. Meagan. Thomson. Gabriel. Labone, Kay, Harris, Scott, Bingham, Stephens, Young. Vernon, Morrissey, Temple.

CHAMPIONS OR NOT, PRAISE MR. CATTERICK
Liverpool Echo - Saturday 28 March 1970
POST BAG
ONCE again Harry Catterick's policy of banking on home-grown talent is paying off. The latest product, Roger Kenyon, is already showing his fine potential and the case of Alan Whittle has proved him right as did Harvey, Hurst and Temple. Whittle has run the gauntlet of the know-it-all brigade who jeered him. It speaks volumes for his courage and his manager's belief in him that he has made the grade. Mr. Catterick deserves all the support that he can get as he has adopted the Ramsey attitude of "Let's wait and see" before making wild predictions. Whether or not Everton win the title, Mr. Catterick merits the highest praise possible. P. Cummings, Heathfield, Kirkby.
REFLEXES FOR SEVERAL
For several years Evertonians have had to suffer the jeers of Liverpool fans after derby games. First there was Billy Liddell and then Roger Hunt wrecking the Everton defence. No I feel the crowing days of the Kop are over for quite some time as' the present Everton team must surely improve and Alan Whittle is destined to play a big part as I think he has the reflexes of a vintage Denis Law.- Len Jones. 12 Mond Road, Liverpool.
UNFAIR
I THINK it was unfair to say in the article comparing Everton and Liverpool's records in their 1,000 games since the war, that Liverpool are tops. You need to take the League record jointly with their performances in the Cup to get a true picture. Everton have a lot better Cup record than Liverpool, and teams like that, because they are playing more matches in a season, do not usually do so well in the League. It was quoted Everton had a black mark because they occupied the lowest position ever by either side in the Second Division. Surely Liverpool's five seasons more than Everton in the Second Division is worse than that. In fact, those five extra years benefited Liverpool's points total. If one of the teams is tops, surely it is Everton and their superior record over Liverpool in derby games helps prove it.—J. S. P. Woodward, 2 Bickerton Road, Birkdale. Southport.

TROUBLE AT THE DOUBLE
Liverpool Echo - Saturday 28 March 1970
Burnley Res; - Jones; Smith, Cliff; Welch, Wigley, Latcham; Ternant, James, Blant, Collins, Kinsella, Sub Gillespie.  Everton Res; Clarke; Turner, Westburgh; Brindle, Labone, Jackson, Kenny, Wilson, Lyons, Bennett, Humphreys, Sub styles. Referee Mr. J B Coggins (Manchester). 
In his first outing for three weeks following a back injury, Brian Labone was in commanding form against Burnley.  Positioning himself well, and having no trouble in the air, Labone figured prominently in repulsing early Burnley raids.  Twice in two minutes, the Everton defence was caught wide open on the flanks, and Burnley got two goals.  Kinsella headed the first after 20 minutes, and two minutes later Ternaant headed the other.  Everton piled on pressure just before the interval, and twice came within a whisker of scoring.  Jones made a superb save to push a full blooded effort from Jackson for a corner and then Cliff headed off the line from Bennett.  Half-time; Burnley Res 2, Everton res 0. 

TITLE WON ON MERIT
Liverpool Echo - Tuesday 31 March 1970
EVERTON CAN EQUAL LEEDS’ POINTS RECORD
By Mike Charters
There will be many people outside the hard core of Everton supporters ready to sneer at Everton's Championship , to say that they will win it because the defending champions, Leeds United, have put their F.A. Cup and European Cup ambitions before the League. The inference is that Leeds have "conceded" the title to Everton, with the clear indication that if Leeds had not been involved in Cup competitions then they would not have allowed Everton to go seven points clear. What nonsense! Everton's record make a mockery of such an assertion. To clinch the title, Everton hate won six successive games—four of them away . They have already equalled Leeds' performance last season in winning 27 games. They could equal Leeds record total of 67 points if they win their last three games against West Bromwich to-morrow and away to Sheffield Wednesday and Sunderland.
SPURS HOLD RECORD WITH 31 VICTORIES
Spurs hold the all-time record with 31 wins ‘then they took the championship in 60-61. Everton could total 30 victories. These statistics hardly hear out the contention that Everton have the title in the bag because Leeds were too busy elsewhere. Everton have done it on merit—and no one can take that away from them. One can sympathize with Leeds over their fixture problems. It has been forced on them by the F.A. and League decision to shorten the season to help England's World Cup preparations. But it has happened before that top clubs have failed because of attempting too much in too short a time. It could happen to Everton next year. It is the fault of the system, rather than the clubs. Now Leeds must wait to see what action the League takes over their playing six reserves against Southampton on Saturday, and 11 reserves at Derby yesterday. Everton were fined £2,000 for fielding reserves in a League match at Leeds a week before their F A.  Cup semi-final in 1966. Everton provided medical certificates at the League hearing into the case. Of Leeds' decision to play a full reserve team at Derby, Everton manager Harry Catterick said: "That's their business, not ours." Everton's win at Stoke yesterday was not one of their best from the football point of view. Stoke supporters were far from convinced that this was championship style. Stoke manager Tons Waddington said: “From the point of view of entertainment and football quality, this was one of the worst, if not the worst game we've seen on our ground this season. “We were at fault in not taking our chances to win. I know Everton have won the title now, but you could hardly call this championship form." Need two points to make sure Mr. Catterick said: "We are favourites now, but whatever way you look at it, we still need two points to make sure of the title. “It was a very hard game, and some of the tackling! But this is one of the worst playing surfaces I have ever seen. I feel sorry for the Stoke players who have to play in conditions like these." Now the stage is set for a champions greeting finish to the Goodison season to-morrow night. If Everton beat West Bromwich, the race is over . . and I expect to see scenes of crowd reaction similar to those when Everton beat Fulham seven years ago to win their last championship.

GETTING AWAY FROM ALL THE TENSION
Liverpool Echo - Tuesday 31 March 1970
LEAGUE WAIT TO HEAR FROM LEEDS
Everton manager Harry Catteriek has taken his players away from the unsettling influence of the pre-match build-up to tomorrow's game against West Bromwich at Goodison, which should settle the championship issue (writes Mike Charters). He started his getting- away-from-it” move last week when the players were taken to a country hotel on Friday before their game against Chelsea.  Then, on Sunday, they returned to their retreat to prepare for their match at stoke yesterday, returning there after the game and staying tonight.  They will not reach Goodison until an hour before tomorrow’s kick-off.  Mr. Catterick has added extra players to the team which played yesterday, including skipper Brian Labone, who played in the reserve at Burnley on Saturday.  He has now missed five League games, and apparently still felt some back strain after his Central league appearance.  The reserves’ team which played at West Bromwich today included a number of youngsters as Mr. Catterick has stripped to have players standing by in case they may be needed for the vital home match tomorrow.  He told me after the Stoke game, that Howard Kendall and John Morrissey would be having treatment for leg injuries.  But they should recover, and the team should be unchanged tomorrow. 
THAT MAGIC MILLION MARK
Everton will top the million mark in home League attendances for the first time since they won the title in 1963.  Total gates for the 20 League matches this season are now 980,408 for an average of 49,020.  There should be another capacity crowd of around 57,000 for the last home game of the season against West Bromwich tomorrow night, ready to greet their team as champions if they win.  But attendance figures will not overtake the 1962-63 aggregate.  It was than 1,080,895 (average 51-471), and this will stay the best since the boom years of the immediate post-war period. 

CHEERS! YES IT’S ALL OVER BAR THE CHAMPERS!
Liverpool Echo - Tuesday 31 March 1970
WHITTLE’S WINNER MAKES THE TITLE A FORMALITY
By Mike Charters
Break out the champagne! Everton have sewn up the championship, formalities permitting, with a magnificent run of six successive wins and although they hardly covered themselves with glory at Stoke City yesterday, that golden goal-getter Alan Whittle came up with the only goal to put them seven points clear. Leeds United have abdicated the crown. Pressure of fixtures and Cup ambitions, plus the un-nerving sight of seeing Everton roll off this sequence of victories, have put Leeds out of the race by their own design. Who can blame them ? Everton could have the same problems in a year's time. So. while 11 Leeds reserves were getting an automatic hammering at Derby yesterday, an unchanged Everton team went to Stoke with a different tactical set-up than they had shown in that scintillating 5-2 win over Chelsea on Saturday. This was the dedicated Everton, determined to play it safe and cautiously. They got the early goal (eight minutes) they wanted for this plan to succeed when Whittle scored from Wright's hard-hit low centre, connecting twice as he slid the ball over the line past Banks.

Astute pass
The goal was made by Harvey s astute pass which wrong-footed the Stoke defence and allowed Wright the freedom of the right flank to make his run and cross. This was Whittle's tenth goal in 13 League games -what an average and what a scoring revelation this boy has proved in these last few weeks' He had a chance to make the game safe shortly after half-time but shot wide from close range after Royle hid made the opening. In a hard, gruelling and, at times, over tough, match, it had been Stoke who had created the better and more frequent chances. And Everton had to do a lot more defending than they did attacking -so different to the Chelsea game. In fact this was rather like stale beer after the fizz of the champagne soccer Everton had displayed against Chelsea. But the two victories, gained in such contrasting styles, ended the faint Leeds challenge. Everton had West to thank for the fact that Stoke did not go off at half-time with a two-goal lead. He saved bravely and brilliantly from Greenhoff (twice), Conroy and Doblng. Everton's defence did not look so happy at this stage as Stoke created middle, but Kenyon tightened his game and played excellently, with the usual 100 per cent cover from Hurst. West made a couple of good saves in a second half which degenerated into an untidy shambles, with Everton quite content to hang onto their lead.  Banks only had one difficult save to make, a great effort from Ball, and Stoke must be kicking themselves that they did not take even a proportion of the chances they created.  Royle had had an opportunity to score an even quicker goal than Kendall's 16-second effort on Saturday. He shot just wide after Smith had failed to intercept Brown's long pass down the middle.

Inspiration
And Ritchie, the Stoke centre-forward repeated the move in the second half when he moved clear of Kenyon and from the these breaks down the  edge of the area, steered the ball just past the post. Everton's football was not suited by the mud, which slowed up their passing, but for one man the conditions did not mean a thing. This was Kendall, who inspired the midfield work with his best display of the season.  Hurst and Morrissey also played well, and the whole defence looked sound apart from the indecision in the first hall which gave Stoke their openings. Ball and the hard-tackling Bernard had a personal duel in the first half which ended with Bernard being booked and Ball being booed after a foul on Eastham. There were too many fouls, too much niggling, but with so much at stake this was all effort and go, even if it wasn't great football. So now for to-morrow, and the win over Albion which will clinch the title for the second time in seven years.