📚 EOTK Insider: The two-time gold medalist who is the only man to sign for Liverpool and Everton on two separate occasions
Ahead of the release of 'Crossing the Park: The Men Who Dared to Play for Both Liverpool and Everton', the story of one man who had a Merseyside career like nobody else - has been revealed
It’s such a rarity in the modern age for one player to play for both Liverpool and Everton, that there’s only been one man in the past 16 years (Conor Coady) and the last direct transfer (Abel Xavier) was over 22 years ago.
Not since David Johnson in 1982 have we seen one man have more than one spell at either club but in Arthur Berry we have a tale of a a gold medal-winning footballer that is truly unique - that is likely never to be repeated again.
Thanks to quotes from 'Crossing the Park: The Men Who Dared to Play for Both Liverpool and Everton', that is released on 24th of April, his story can be shared with a modern audience.
Berry already holds the unique honour of being the first man who has represented both Merseyside clubs, whose career began at Anfield. The Liverpool-born all-rounder had a privileged childhood that saw him go on to be educated at Oxford University, where his sporting prowess was honed.
Leaving university saw his first step into Merseyside football, as he returned home to his family. He was of prestigious stock, including Edwin Berry - his father and then Liverpool chairman.
The Scouser spent three years at Anfield but struggled to make an impact on the first-team, Berry thrived though in the rules of the time that allowed him to freely move between clubs: ‘representing Wrexham in no fewer than six separate stints, playing for the aptly named Northern Nomads and even remaining to live in Merseyside but commuting to play for Fulham. It was clear that the forward had talent but he seemed to prefer to keep his fingers in several pies, rather than focusing on what could have been a rather successful Scouse pie at home’.
As Berry refused to sign professional contracts, he remained an ameteur and so could not only move freely between clubs but also participate for the Great British Olympic football team: ‘In London 1908 and Stockholm 1912, Berry helped secure a gold medal for his nation and scored in both competitions – including the fourth in a 4-2 final win against Denmark in 1912. Only he and Vivian Woodward represented their nation in both tournaments and this was a real testament to the clear talent the West Derby-born forward had’.
Following Olympic success and a growing distaste for the weekly commute to Fulham, Everton saw a chance to secure the services of the gold medal winner. What followed though, was the first recorded incident of growing animosity between the two Merseyside teams: ‘Everton’s minute books noted that ‘Mr. A. Berry had decided not to proceed with his application fearing that his action might create ill feeling between the two clubs’.’
Because his father was part of the Liverpool hierarchy, Berry didn’t want to make things harder for his Dad, nor start a war between clubs. Although this calmed initial interest in the Scouser, the Blues came back in for him. In 1909, he became the first man to cross Stanley Park from Anfield to Goodison.
Despite a renewed commitment to play for a team in his home city, the nomadic nature of amateur football clearly suited Berry better than being tied to one club: ‘In August 1911 the forward submitted a letter [to Everton] ‘expressing the fear that he would be unable to play for us this season as he seriously considered giving up the game’. It’s certainly not something that people will feel too sorry about but as an Oxford graduate with wealthy and successful parents, Berry’s sporting ambitions were never ones that he made for financial gain’.
What made less sense about this fear of being able to perform by Berry, was that it coincided with a transfer offer from Liverpool, that was accepted by both Everton and the player:
‘His return to Anfield in 1912 was certainly not spectacular, as Berry again looked to concentrate on his ability to change fields as often as possible and he made a solitary first-team appearance in the six months he spent back with Liverpool. The Dundee Courier reported when the 24-year-old re-signed for the club that ‘Berry is reading for the Bar, and expects to be called shortly’. Another interest that was set to take over his life. October 1912 and a 4-1 loss to Sheffield United was the end of Berry’s Liverpool story but he still had time for one more return to Everton.
‘The man with more clubs than Tiger Woods was unable to break back into the Everton team in 1912, after transferring from Liverpool. Berry refused to represent the Blues at any level other than first-team though, and despite the club offering to ‘play him in the League team whenever possible’, he never did make another league appearance for either Merseyside club’.
For a man who made a combined 33 first-team appearances for both Liverpool and Everton, Arthur Berry packed a lot into these games. Although it was probably more interesting what happened away from the pitch, compared to what occured on it, the Scouser lived the life of an amateur footballer in a way that is simply not possible today.
Wealthy parents, itchy feet and considerable interests away from football, all combined to see a footballing talent not fully utilised but a life and career that is truly like no other, when it comes to the Merseyside rivalry.
There’s much more to learn about Arthur Berry’s remarkable life, which is available in 'Crossing the Park: The Men Who Dared to Play for Both Liverpool and Everton', that is released on 24th of April.
All quotes obtained first hand by the author. You can purchase ‘Crossing the Park’ via Amazon and the author’s website, as well as tickets to the book launch via Skiddle.
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