Comment: A Blast from the past

Last updated : 02 January 2003 By Matty McGrath

After the completion of the 1963-64 league season Everton football club toured Australia for a two game series against the Australian national team. These matches were played in Sydney and Melbourne. The Toffees Champions of the 1962-63 league campaign, had finished third in the league this time around and made a fifth round exit at the hands of Sunderland in the F.A.Cup. The two tour matches were played on the 10th and 16th of May 1964. Local interest in the tour was apparent with 32,453 attending the match at Melbourne’s Olympic park (A ground which is swollen with 15,000 patrons) and a further 40,000 attending the Sydney showground match (Another ground that safely holds 15-20,000 patrons). This is an interesting feat, as Football in these times was commonly regarded to be played by Sheilas, Pooftas, & wogs. A stereotype the game in this country to this very day is still trying to overcome.

The squad Everton sent down under for this particular series contained what were then and still today household names for Evertonians. Brian Labone, Colin Harvey & Johnny Morrisey were but a few immortals among the touring party.

The opening match of the series at Olympic park saw the home team receive a thrashing at the hands of their English counterparts. Everton went on to defeat the Australians by 8 goals to 2. Hat tricks to Jimmy Gabriel and Roy Vernon combined with a Derek temple double completed the day’s scoresheet.

The second match of the tour once again saw the local national team suffer a heavy defeat. A double from Johnny Morrisey and single strikes to Jimmy Gabriel, Colin Harvey and Alex Scott gave the blues a resounding 5 goals to 1 victory at the Sydney showgrounds.

Played: May 10 1964

Venue: Olympic Park, Melbourne, Australia

Australia
Ron Lord, Edwards, Salisbury, Peter Hrncir, Mita Stojanovic, Karl Jaros, Mike Jurecki, Graham Barnett, Les Scheinflug, Herbert Ninaus, Jim Adam
Goals: Ninaus 65, 80

Everton
Andy Rankin, Mick Meagen, Sandy Brown, Jim Gabriel, Brian Labone, Brian Harris, Alex Scott, Dennis Stevens, Derek Temple, Roy Vernon, John Morissey
Goals: Gabriel 14, 63, 84, Vernon 29, 43, 89, Temple 35, 87

Referee: Tony Boskovic (NSW)
Attendance: 32,453

Played: May 16 1964

Venue: Sydney Showground, Australia

Australia
Audato Iglesias, Edwards, Salisbury, Frank Micic, Woods, Les Scheinflug, Kaz Kowalec, Mike Jurecki, Leo Baumgartner, Herbert Ninaus, Vic Reynolds
Goal: Ninaus

Everton
Andy Rankin, Sandy Brown, Mick Meagan, Dennis Stevens, Brian Labone, Brian Harris, Alex Scott, Colin Harvey, Jimmy Gabriel, Roy Vernon, John Morissey
Goals: Morissey x2, Gabriel, Scott, Harvey

Referee: R Lamb (Victoria)
Linesmen: F Woolman (NSW) and K Lockrey (NSW)
Attendance: 40,000

Everton Tour Squad

Gordon West, Jimmy Gabriel (Scotland international), Dennis Stevens, Mick Meagan (Republic of Ireland international), Brian Labone (English international), Derek Temple, Roy Vernon (Welsh international), Brian Harris, Alex Scott (Scotland international), Johnny Morissey, Andy Rankin, George Heslop, Colin Harvey, Jimmy Hill, Jerry Humphreys, Johnny Hurst.

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