A LIFELONG Everton F.C fan who was born two years after the start of The Great War got a surprise visit when he celebrated his centenary yesterday.

John reached his 100th birthday on May 5 and marked the milestone with members of his extended family and friends. A congratulatory message from Her Majesty the Queen arrived early, the first of many.

A superfan of his namesake football club, Mr. Everton first watched a match at Goodison Park in 1925 and was in the crowd on his 12th birthday (in 1928) when W.R. Dean hit a hat trick against Arsenal to create his record of 60 League goals in a season. Naturally, he nominates ‘Dixie’ as the finest player ever seen.

“It wasn’t a question of ‘Did Dean score?’; it was usually, ‘How many?’ ” he said.

John was delighted to receive a visit last week from former Everton and Scotland forward Graeme Sharp, together with an Everton TV camera crew.

John recalled ‘The Toffees’ glory days for the club’s broadcasters, even remembering the referee’s name on the day Dean attained his record. The club presented him with a present day shirt, with EVERTON 100 printed on the back.

John moved from his home city in 1948, via Wrexham to Sale eight years later, where he lived in Edale Grove for 57 years. He now lives in Hale Barns with his wife Dorothy, six years his junior. The couple have one son, three granddaughters and three great granddaughters, with a fourth due within days.

He qualified as a Methodist local preacher in 1952, serving as a Steward of the Sale Circuit in the mid-60s. John was appointed to the bench of Manchester City Magistrates Court in 1963, later serving as Deputy Chairman and Head of Training.

When questioned on the secret of his longevity, he recommends “always getting a job done straight away” and drinking apple juice.