Source: Liverpool_Echo
Everton FC in Australia: When Blues went down under for the first time
Everton's Sandy Brown and Roy Vernon after arriving in Australia in 1964 460[LNB]IF EVERTON go walkabout in Australia this summer it won't be the first time the Blues have ventured Down Under on tour.[LNB]Harry Catterick's side embarked on the club's first ever trip to the Southern Hemisphere 46 years ago in 1964, for a month-long tour consisting of eight matches; two in Sydney, two in Melbourne and in Adelaide, Perth, Brisbane and Newcastle.[LNB]The eventful pre-season warm-up made headlines on both sides of the world, and featured a team with future legends such as Colin Harvey, Brian Labone and Johnny Morrissey.[LNB]Everton had just finished third in the League Championship, which was won by Liverpool, - suggesting the Toffees needed no excuse to get as far from Merseyside as possible.[LNB]A photograph in the Liverpool Echo, on Monday, April 27, 1964, headlined 'Bring me Back A Koala Bear' showed Sandy Brown and Alec Scott smiling for the camera with their children at Liverpool airport before jetting off.[LNB]Earlier that day the Liverpool Daily Post printed photographs of the players' wives and girlfriends lining up to wave goodbye to their partners.[LNB]The paper also quoted Director Mr A Holland Hughes, who said: 'We hope to come home undefeated.[LNB]'We are the team who beat West Ham on Saturday - except for Pickering, who flies to America with the England team at the end of the week, and seven other players.'[LNB]Asked if he thought a heavy summer tour after a tough season was too much he replied: 'I don't think so.[LNB]'We will be back on June 1, which gives the boys time for a good rest before the new season begins.'
