BBC News
Saying goodbye to Goodison Park is “going to be like losing a little bit of my mum”, the daughter of Everton’s first official toffee lady has said.
The tradition of handing toffees out at Everton’s stadium dates back to the 1890s when Old Ma Bushell, who ran the nearby Ye Ancient Everton Toffee House, dressed her granddaughter in her finest clothes and sent her with a basket of Everton toffees to throw into the crowd.
Lifelong Evertonian Mary Morgan (nee Gorry) was the Blues’ toffee lady from 1953 until 1956.
Speaking ahead of the final men’s fixture at Goodison Park before their move to Bramley-Moore Dock this summer, Patricia Smith said: “It’ll be a sad day – there’s going to be a lot of tears.”
She said her mum’s role as the toffee lady “started off as a joke” when she customised a bridesmaid dress, handstitched “Everton Supporters Federation” on a white pinny, and teamed it with a bonnet.
It was a nod to the traditional attire worn more than 60 years previously, when Jemima Bushell handed out Everton toffees to fans as Ye Ancient Everton Toffee House battled to outdo Everton mints creator Mother Noblett, whose shop was situated closer to Goodison.
And so the enduring link between Everton and toffee was born.
While toffees are no longer hurled into the stands due to health and safety concerns, the matchday tradition endures with the sweets being handed out instead.
Everton said the role will be filled on Sunday by Jazz Barnes-Reen, sister of the stadium tour manager Elle Barnes-Reen.
Patricia told BBC News: “The club told mum they liked the idea and asked her if she would like to be the mascot and throw Everton toffees out at games.
“She jumped at the chance! She absolutely loved it and travelled all over to the games.”
The teacher said her mum Mary, who was born in 1925 and lived on Liverpool’s Scotland Road, had so many happy memories from her time as the toffee lady.
“She was exceptionally proud of her role – the whole family is.”
The toffee lady almost came unstuck at one game, however, when police tried to throw her out of an Everton fixture at Sheffield Wednesday’s Hillsborough stadium.
Already a much-loved figure within the club, Mary was reprieved thanks to an intervention from Everton captain Peter Farrell and another player Tommy Eglington.
Not only was she allowed to stay, but she was given a seat in the manager’s dugout during the game.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the dedicated Blue ended up meeting her husband, Eddie Morgan, at the football.
When they got married in 1956, she decided to hand over the toffee lady reigns – and her dress – to her friend Peggy Morley.
Nothing could keep Mary away from her beloved Goodison Park though, and she continued to watch Everton until her death in 2017.
Patricia said her mum loved to decorate their house when Everton won trophies, meaning the 1980s was a busy time.
After they lifted the FA Cup at Wembley in 1984, Patricia remembered her dad being ordered to repaint the whole house blue.
In addition to being the toffee lady, Mary helped set up Everton Supporters’ Club.
Patricia said her mum was “very proud” of her membership card which sported the number 0001
Sunday’s final game against Southampton will be a very “emotional” day, she said.
“It going to be like losing a little bit of my mum, like leaving her behind,” she said.
“It will be a sad day.”
As for the future, Patricia said it was a case of “onwards and upwards” as the men’s team prepares to move to its new 53,000-seater Bramley-Moore Dock stadium.
“I just hope it has the same special atmosphere.”
