20 Facts About Fred Geary

Fred Geary was an English professional footballer who played at centre forward for Everton in the 1890s, and made two appearances for England, scoring a hat-trick on his debut.

Fred Geary was "the first Everton centre-forward to capture the imagination of their supporters" and "in his era he was as important to Everton as Dixie Dean was some years later".

Fred Geary played youth football for local side Balmoral before joining Notts Rangers.

Everton had tried to sign him earlier, and eventually persuaded Fred Geary to move to Liverpool in 1889.

Fred Geary had first been spotted at Grimsby Town, but had moved back to Notts Rangers before he was persuaded to join Everton.

Fred Geary was described as "small and powerful", standing at barely and weighing.

Fred Geary relied on his pace and acceleration to get away from defenders and, according to the Liverpool Echo, "his team-mates complained that he was sometimes too quick, leaving the ball or his strike partners behind with his turbo-charged bursts".

Fred Geary soon began to form a prolific scoring partnership with Latta, well supported by Edgar Chadwick and Alf Milward, and later in the season by Alexander Brady.

Fred Geary ended the season with 21 league goals in 18 matches, as Everton finished runners-up, two points behind Preston North End.

On 15 March 1890, Fred Geary was called up by the England selectors to play against Ireland in the 1890 British Home Championship.

Fred Geary had been ever-present, and was the club's top goal-scorer with 21 goals.

Fred Geary earned his second England cap for the match against Scotland on 6 April 1891.

Fred Geary was able to return for the last five games of the season, scoring twice more as Everton ended the season in fifth place.

Fred Geary scored the first goal at the new stadium in a friendly against Bolton Wanderers to celebrate the opening.

Fred Geary ended the league season as the club's top scorer with 19 goals from 24 league appearances, as Everton finished third in the league table.

Fred Geary played in the first three matches of the FA Cup run, scoring four goals before a leg injury resulted in him missing the semi-final against Preston North End.

Fred Geary retained his place for the next two matches, before Southworth returned to the side.

Fred Geary completed the season having played only nine matches, scoring eight goals.

Fred Geary made a further twelve appearances over the next two seasons, before his last appearance for Liverpool on 17 September 1898.

Fred Geary died on 8 January 1955, a fortnight short of his 87th birthday.