THE modern-day Everton Football Club would not have existed if it were not for an Oswestry-born hot-shot called George Farmer, according to an amateur biographer.

The claim comes after the Everton Heritage Society (EHS) unveiled a headstone at the grave of Mr Farmer, considered the club’s first professional player in 1885, in Anfield Cemetery on Saturday, March 23.

Jamie Yates was at the unveiling with EHS members, ex-Everton stars Barry Horne and Ian Snodin, who represented the club, and descendants of both George’s family and the Holts, who supported his widow upon his death in 1905.

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He said that his Oswestry life had an impact on his career, giving him the start he needed but also played a role in his death.

“George’s basic story is that he was capped twice by Wales and was Everton’s joint-first professional with George Dobson,” said Jamie.

“But there’s far more to it.

“We think he was born close to Leg Street and Oswald Road, in Queen’s Head Yard – now the site of Twisted Taste and other shops – which is written on his birth certificate, so he’s from the town centre of Oswestry.

“His parents were born in Wales but I think his dad’s family had a lot to do with Oswestry.

“George played two games for Wales in 1885 – against England at Blackburn and Scotland in Wrexham.

“Two weeks after he joined Everton, the Football Association changed the rules and said you could only play for the country you were born in.

“He was selected as a non-playing reserve twice for England but I think if the FA didn’t change the rules then he would have received many more caps for Wales.

“George was 15 when his dad, who was a cabinet maker, died from tuberculosis.

“His family had moved to the Vine Cottages in Castlefields, which were built for workers during the Industrial Revolution.

Border Counties Advertizer: Annette Kerry and Richard Edwards, great grandchildren of George Farmer, unveil the new headstone. Annette Kerry and Richard Edwards, great grandchildren of George Farmer, unveil the new headstone. (Image: Rob Sawyer.)

“According to local historians, the estate was known as ‘the dismal swamp’ because it was damp and made people ill, and for young people who had rheumatic fever, it damaged your heart.

“He died in 1905, aged 42, from pericarditis but he was on borrowed time from when he was a child and it’s amazing he had a footballing career.”

Jamie believes that George was the catalyst for Everton becoming one of the 12 founding members of the Football League.

He added: “They were one of the last in and in George, it was a player who put skill first and didn’t just batter the goalie and passed the ball like the early Scottish players.

“And he was loved by a noisy crowd who cheered for him.

“He played for Oswestry Whitestar, which merged with Oswestry, and played the famous Scottish side Queen’s Park in the FA Cup.

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“They were probably the best in the world at the time and they battered Oswestry 7-1 but George stood out.

“And when he played for Wales against Scotland, he was the one player who took the game to them and that’s why Everton lured him to Anfield.

“In my view, it’s a sliding doors moment as George was the right man at the right time for Everton and to me, he is a hero.”