Crossing the Park: The Men Who Dared to Play for Both Liverpool and Everton

Crossing the Park: The Men Who Dared to Play for Both Liverpool and Everton casts a spotlight on the players who have turned out for both clubs. Despite less than a mile separating the two teams, only 34 men have worn the colours of both and it's been more than 20 years since a direct transfer between the sides. Why have so few players crossed the park? What is the legacy of those who did? From Liverpool's 'Team of Macs' adorned in blue and white, three men had already played at Anfield but for its previous tenants - Everton. Since then, there has been more than 130 years of transfers and each player has a unique story to tell. The ever-changing face of the clubs' rivalry and friendship can be assessed by looking at the Anfield and Goodison careers of each man. In Conor Coady, we've seen perhaps the final player to cross the park as Everton look for a new home away from L4. The story of this unique rivalry is told through exclusive interviews with the men who dared to cross the divide.

About the Author :
Peter Kenny Jones is a football historian, writer and author who was born in Liverpool and has written several works on the history of both Liverpool and Everton. Studying at Liverpool Hope University, his dissertations focused on inter-war Merseyside football and then the comparison of Harry Catterick and Bill Shankly. His first book, Liddell at One Hundred, told the story of Billy Liddell and this second tome continues his extensive research.

Review :
A truly excellent portrayal of those who have been brave and indeed talented enough to have represented two of the most illustrious football clubs in the world, filled with in-depth details, wit and the beautiful game at the forefront. Despite our differences - often down to nothing more than our parents' allegiances - there can be no denying the shared history between the powerhouses of the English game and albeit often a fractious rivalry, our families, friends and lives remain intertwined and with that, so do many of our favourite footballing stories. Often referred to as the ‘friendly derby’ in years gone by, harrowing events such as the Hillsborough disaster have undoubtedly united the two clubs at the most pivotal of times, and its that unison, coupled with the in-view proximity that makes the passage from Liverpool to Everton or vice-versa all the more fascinating. This book offers a wonderful insight into the history and the journey of those who have been brave enough to cross Stanley Park to represent the ‘enemy’ in blue or red. From the first Scouser John Whitehead to do the short trip across the park, to a flamboyantly haired Mozambique-born Abel Xavier, this is a must-read for those wanting to discover more about what is a rivalry steeped in history and the players who have experienced both football clubs from within. Crossing the Park is a fascinating and comprehensive look at the men who have dared to play for both Everton and Liverpool. The book delightfully recounts the pithy stories of the good, the bad, and the ugly who have donned both blue and red, while also documenting the changes around the clubs and city. In addition to the stories of the players, the book also covers the history of both clubs, the changing rivalry between the teams, and the politics that have often been involved in the transfers. Crossing the Park is both absorbing and well researched. It is a must-read for any fan of either team and provides valuable insights into the fascinating history of both Everton and Liverpool. "Crossing The Park is a fantastic read for both Blues and Reds, detailing the history of those who dared to represent both sides of the city. As a fan of one of the two clubs, you will love this book. It brings vastly researched and brilliantly written tales of footballing people from Andrew Hannah to Conor Coady, Rafa Benitez and even Evertonian-turned-Liverpudlian Jamie Carragher. Even if you are a neutral, there will be something in this book for you. The intriguing backstories of these individuals will have you reading for hours, fascinated by the rivalry between the clubs that so few decided to cross, especially with the fantastic writing taking you through the journey. It’s a thoroughly enjoyable read and some interesting facts and figures, even including a “Legend” rating and “Traitor” rating for each player at both clubs as you go further through the years, brings an extremely interesting and entertaining look at the rivalry and those 34 men. A great book that is well worth sitting down with!" "Anyone familiar with Peter Kenny Jones’ prior book entry in football discourse will be intrinsically aware of the writer’s ability to expertly craft a story from vast swathes of history. Broadening the focus away from one player in the form of legendary Red Billy Liddell, Jones takes on the shared history of Liverpool and Everton – and a whopping 34 players in the process. If that wasn’t enough, the author added the challenge of dissecting the two clubs’ complex rivalry and love/hate relationship to his plate in a 300-page waltz through the history books. With a topic where it appears quite simple to get bogged down in the small details and miss the bigger picture, Jones has succeeded in marrying the two components in a book that both respects history and invites the reader to be introspective about where they stand in the divide between Anfield and Goodison Park." "A brilliant read for Evertonians and Liverpudlians alike. From Andrew Hannah to Conor Coady, every player who ‘crossed the park’ is detailed in enthralling, informative and entertaining fashion. Peter’s dedication and commitment to chasing down the best possible stories for each individual only makes this book better from the outset and Rafa Benitez’s part to play alone is worth the purchase. I highly recommend Crossing The Park for anyone who wants to delve deeper into the history of the unique relationship between two of the biggest clubs in English football" "I was interested in this book. Not just because of what I could find out about those who’ve played for both Merseyside clubs but to remind myself in a few cases of just how the mood of the city changed towards those who dared. Peter [has] researched [the book] meticulously... he covers everyone and covers the stories behind them. I won’t go into too much more detail but some of the stories about how players played for both sides, even though some moved elsewhere first, such as David Johnson and Steve McMahon." "Crossing The Park is very neatly scribed by Peter Kenny Jones, who knows how to write interestingly on ‘The Men Who Dared To Play For Both’... Crossing The Park is a history lesson, ferrying readers’ minds across the Mersey; at the conclusion of Jones’s book one feels one has learned many new facts and figures, so... result!" "Jones's writing style is engaging and accessible, and he has a knack for bringing each player's story to life with vivid detail and insightful analysis." "This book is not only a comprehensive history of the individuals to have graced both clubs, but a window into the past of both and a fantastic insight into their histories. The knowledge Peter has on the individuals and their lives is astounding and the detail he goes into on each, while still keeping it concise and readable, is intricate... I would strongly recommend this book to Evertonians interested in exploring the Club’s history in terms of those who have been bold, or crazy, enough to cross Stanley Park. I would strongly recommend this book." "Crossing the Park is an enjoyable look at those few individuals who have played or managed both of Liverpool's major teams. The profiles are short, sharp and interesting and together paint the picture of how rarely the park has been crossed but how fraught with risk it can be for those who attempt it. The profiles are short, sharp and interesting." "Peter Jones builds on this friendly rivalry and brings 'history alive' with painstaking research of each player alongside exclusive interviews with many."