65 Years Ago!

Exactly sixty-five years today (16 September, 1961) my Dad took me to my first game as a Blue. We got the old No.10 corporation bus from Longview to Old Swan, then round the corner to get the football bus! The reason he chose the game versus Ipswich Town was because my mother was from Ipswich!

This was the first Town Goodison visit in the first division with Alf Ramsey as manager! Ipswich were tipped for an instant return to the second division and that was reinforced with a 5-2 defeat to the Toffees!

Strange how we remember these events. My Dad bought a bag of Everton Mints and off we went into the Paddock near the halfway line. Each time, he unwrapped a sweet, he would fold the wrapper it into a neat little missile, point at someone further down the terrace and flick it with almost unerring accuracy.

65 years on and Ipswich will be at Hill Dickinson this Saturday coming. A repeat result would be very welcome!

If history repeats itself, Town will go on to win the league and their manager will go on to win the World Cup for England!