Star Exhibits
6. Season tickets incorporating Stanley Road, Priory Road and Goodison – as Everton became more powerful, there’s a noticeable change in the quality of teams played.
Of all the incredible artefacts, prized memorabilia and unique items in David France's Collection, one of his most treasured items is the earliest known Everton season ticket dating back to the Club's first ever season under the name of Everton at Stanley Park.
In the Club's formative years all Club members and even the first team players were required to pay annual subscriptions, made up of a one-time fee of 5/- (25p) plus a seasonal subscription of 7/6 (37.5p). The earliest known season ticket for 1881/82 allowed the member and an accompanying lady to attend all home games at Stanley Park. The ticket lists home fixtures against local sides such as St Peters and Bootle, and away trips to Chester and Northwich. Highlights of that season were the visit of Bolton Wanderers as well as a team named Liverpool who were based in Wavertree. Even though their exact identity remains a mystery, Everton defeated them 1-0 in November 1881.
The Collection also includes a consecutive run of 11 season tickets/members' cards from 1881 to 1892 and features 1883/84, the first season at Anfield, 1888/89 the inaugural League campaign and 1890/91, the first championship-winning season. The early season tickets list half a dozen patrons, a handful of Presidents/Vice Presidents and a sprinkling of dedicated committeemen as well as a secretary, treasurer and first-team captain.
When crowds steadily grew from a few touchline enthusiasts to gatherings in excess of 2,000, the Club members sought an enclosed ground where admission fees could be collected from the general public. As a result, they moved their goal posts to Priory Road in 1883 courtesy of the generous hospitality of the Pruitt family who offered the use of a field adjoining their house in exchange for a donation to Stanley Hospital.
Turnstiles were installed and the price of admission was fixed at 6d (2.5p). Children were charged half-price, as were men in uniform including soldiers, sailors, policemen and postmen. The Club grew by a dozen members per week. The 1883/84 season ticket in the Collection features details of fixtures against Southport and Preston North End, who were acknowledged as the best in the land.
The new landlord soon tired of his neighbours and the Club relocated to Walton Breck Road for the 1884/85 season. The ground included state of the art facilities and for an extra guinea (£1.05), members could shelter in the comfort of the grandstand. Interestingly, the colours of the member’s card reflect the choice of shirts selected for that season.
