Everton 1919

Everton F.C. — 1919

Post-War Team Portrait

This striking team photograph shows Everton F.C. at The Hawthorns on 13 September 1919, at the very beginning of football’s return following the First World War.

The image captures a club — and a game — emerging from four years of disruption. League football had been suspended since 1915, and when it resumed in 1919, clubs faced shortages of equipment, materials and even players. These constraints are written plainly into this photograph. Although Everton had officially adopted plain royal blue shirts as early as 1901, the shirts worn here appear badly faded and uneven in tone, strongly suggesting an older pre-war set retained out of necessity rather than choice.

The white collars, later associated with Everton’s classic look, would not become a permanent feature until decades later. Here, the kit feels utilitarian rather than ceremonial — functional football clothing pressed back into service in austere conditions.

The setting is equally telling. The rigid, formal pose reflects Edwardian photographic convention, but the faces speak to something deeper: a squad shaped by war, loss and interruption. Several players had served in uniform, and the presence of officials and staff alongside the team reinforces the sense of football as a civic institution slowly re-assembling itself.

As a historical document, this image sits at a crucial crossroads. It is neither pre-war football nor fully modern football, but something transitional — a moment when the game resumed its place in public life while still bearing the visible scars of conflict.

Produced as a museum-grade colourisation, this print restores depth and realism while preserving the character of the original photograph. It offers not just a portrait of Everton, but a rare glimpse of English football finding its footing again in a changed world.

Product details:

• You will only pay shipping/postage for 1 item, no matter how many items you purchase.
• Discounts are given for multiple purchases.
• Size: A3, A4, A5
• Single Sided
• Paper: 400gsm premium art stock
• Print quality: Museum-grade, high-resolution
• Finish: Unframed
• Watermark shown in images does NOT appear on the final print
• Carefully packaged for safe delivery

A striking piece of football history — ideal for collectors, historians, and lovers of our national game.

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