Everton’s FA WPL title-winning side of 1997/98 will be the special guests at next week’s Barclays Women’s Super League Merseyside derby at Goodison Park.
This season marks the 25th anniversary of Everton Ladies’ table-topping achievement, which saw them win the revamped title in only their seventh season.
The club, working alongside the Everton Heritage Society, has tracked down and invited the full squad and management as guests of honour for one of Everton Women’s highest profile fixtures of the season.
Billy Jackson’s side, who will be introduced to the Goodison Park crowd on the night, finished the 1997/98 season three points ahead of Arsenal with an enviable record of 13 wins and just one defeat in 18 league games.
Everton Women CEO Alan McTavish said: “We could think of no better occasion to mark the 25th anniversary of Everton’s title-winning achievement than at a Goodison Merseyside derby, in front of what will be our biggest ever home crowd.
“The squad that won the league 25 years ago still set the benchmark and are an inspiration for what can be achieved. We walk in their footsteps today and it is their drive, desire, successes and achievements in the game that helped women’s football grow and develop into what we have today.
“As well as the 1997/98 team being our guests of honour, I know some our fans are looking forward to meeting members of the squad around the stadium in our fanzone and, most importantly, giving them a great reception when they are introduced on the pitch.
“Sporting achievements like this should always be cherished and I would like to thank the Everton Heritage Society for their continued support. It really will be a special moment to see the squad re-united again.”
The 1997/98 squad, managed by Billy Jackson and assisted by Keith Marley, comprised of Mo Marley – who went on to manage Everton and is now a key part of the England set-up working on developing Lionesses of the future – Karen Burke (Everton’s top scorer that season), Cathy Gore (voted players’ and manager’s player of the year), Becky Easton, Kerry Halfpenny, Andrea McGrady, Jackie Greatorex (nee Bertie) Louise Jackson (nee Thomas), Louise Ryde, Joy McQuiggan, Tracie Wing (nee Johnson), Jeanette Cunliffe (nee Hill), Tammy Burgess (nee Byrne), Annie Wright, Tina Mason, Jo Fletcher and Emma Wright – who is related to Everton Giant Tommy Wright and Billy Wright, who between them made nearly 500 appearances for the club.
An invitation has also been extended to June Gordon, who, along with Billy Jackson, formed Hoylake WFC which later became Leasowe Pacific – the forerunner to Everton Ladies.
Gordon was also the Club Chair, whose influence led to the club becoming known as Everton Ladies in 1995.
Tickets for the Merseyside derby, which includes the opportunity of recognising the achievements of Everton Ladies’ 97/98 title winning season, are on general sale now. Tickets are priced at £8 for adults, £4 for under-18s and over-65s. For full details, please click here.
