The Golden Vision

History and music of Liverpool
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hamilton_square
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The Golden Vision

Post by hamilton_square »

While one could hardly ever accuse Liverpool of being a selfish city. Nevertheless, inhabitants frequently seem to have ended up with two of most things. Two religions, two cathedrals, two theatres, two competing 1960s popular music venues and even two ways of getting over and under the River Mersey. But, by far the most important of these duopolies for everyday Liverpool folk is the ongoing fate of the city’s two football (soccer) clubs, Everton and Liverpool FCs. Separated by the mere expanse of Stanley Park and 100 years of communal rivalry. In terms of loyalty and devotion, support for the blue of Everton and the red of Liverpool often borders on the religious in some quarters.
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While results of the past couple of seasons suggest that neither club can claim clear superiority over its neighbour, such was not always the case. Following the end of World War II, and into the mid-1960s, Everton FC was by far the more successful of the two clubs.

At about the same time the Beatles were spearheading the albeit brief Merseybeat popular music charge, Everton FC had its own god-like figure to bow down to. Known throughout the football following fraternity of Liverpool and beyond as ‘The Golden Vision’. Scottish born Alex Young was a blonde haired, slightly built attacking player who rather than seem to run just appeared to glide across the top of the Goodison Park turf. There were times when Alex Young did indeed appear like a vision to those worshippers watching him from the Everton terraces.

So much was his popularity and fame at the time that BBC TV, under the banner of The Wednesday Play series, commissioned an hour long play about the social effect and impact that Alex Young was having on the blue parts of Liverpool.

Directed by acclaimed British TV filmmaker Ken Loach, The Golden Vision first aired on BBC TV Wednesday, 17 April 1968. Shot in black and white, the 72-minute film takes the form of a semi-documentary that relies heavily on the verbal humour of the authentic Liverpool characters portrayed.

Centred on a pair of Everton supporting adult brothers – the older John Coyne (played by wonderfully deadpan Bill Dean) and the younger Vince Coyne (played by Liverpool playwright Neville Smith) - and their close friend, Joe Horrigan (played by comic actor Ken Jones). The story follows their day-to-day social lives and of their families and friends, as it illustrates an often fanatical relationship with an English inner-city football club.

While obviously now dated, it does nevertheless, accurately portray the Liverpool of the mid-1960s I remember. Indeed, on a Saturday afternoon, I was one of the faithful who regularly made the blue pilgrimage to Goodison Park, home of Everton FC, to watch the Golden Vision weave his magic ...

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