A trip down memory lane: This ‘Ring’ a bell?
Abbeyleix will be well represented in Goodison Park this weekend. Among tens of thousands of diehard ‘Toffees’ this Saturday will be a sizeable contingent from the Ring family. The Rings will be there to watch their beloved Everton battle with Manchester City. They will be present to continue with their homage to the Merseyside club that began way back in 1960. That year their own Tommy signed for the English giants.
Publisher Andy Ring brilliantly fills in the background to the move of his second cousin to Everton on his stunning website www.irishheritagetowns.com. “Ring was transferred to Everton in 1960 for £12,000. He spent only a short time with Everton, but the impression he made was deep and lasting. From the first moments of his debut against Nottingham Forest in January 1960, it was evident to all connoisseurs of quality football – and there has never been a shortage of those at Goodison Park – that a performer of pure quality was parading his wares. Ring is still considered one of their best players hence many headlines were written concerning him such as “Blues could just ‘Ring” for service”.
One of the highlights of Ring’s playing career with Everton were his first goals in the colours. Tommy didn’t need much time to find his feet in the English top flight as he netted a brace of goals against visitors Chelsea in early March 1960. “Tommy Ring scored the first goals of his Everton career as he netted twice. The other goals were scored by Bobby Collins, Jimmy Harris, Micky Lill and Roy Vernon.A crowd of 50,963 were at Goodison to witness the Blues thrashing the Londoners.” (Courtesy of Everton Football Club)
Less certain is whether Tommy, home on leave, togged out for Abbeyleix’s Junior Footballers.