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F004 - Edition 1,100
Tranmere
They continued their climb up football’s ladder in the Liverpool & District League, the Lancashire Combination and the Liverpool, Wirral and District League. Their thirst for improvement was fuelled by an 1887 Liverpool Challenge Cup tie against Everton, at their old Anfield ground.
Though they lost 1-9 in front of over 2,000 fans, Rover’s share of the “gate” did at least allow the ambitious committee, headed by secretary Alf Mayor, to finance the move to Ravenshaw’s Field.
Between 1884 and 1889, Rovers played in blue shirts, white shorts and blue stockings, apparently with the intention of “dazzling” their opponents, only reverting to the blue and white in 1904.
By 1897, they had joined “The Combination”, a much stronger league which included Everton Reserves. Some of the players became semi-professional, getting paid whilst still having other jobs.
Having successfully negotiated a crisis in 1900, when the club was split down the middle over a proposed ground move and player defections, Rover’s first taste of silverware, beyond local cup competitions, came in 1908 when they won the championship of The Combination.
With that, they decided to move onwards and upwards and, two years later, they joined the Lancashire Combination, Second Division.
Their rise continued when they were promoted to the First Division 18 months after that. Their arrival in the Lancashire Combination was swiftly followed by the move to the present Prenton Park site and conversion into a limited company.
Some favorite players from the past include Bunny Bell in the 1930’s and John Aldridge - both scored 40 goals in a season and share the club record .
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