Alfred Riley Wade was a key figure in the history of Everton
Football Club from its very earliest days as a player in the St Domingo’s
church team until his death in 1936 by which time he had served as a club director
for over 30 years.
He was born in 1858, at 14 Great Nelson Street L3, the son
of Joseph Wade, a master coachbuilder with a thriving business in London Road. Joseph was a very prominent member of the
Methodist community and in his role as a trustee he laid the foundation stone of the new St Domingo’s chapel
on September 12th 1870. In later years Alfred would point out the
trowel that his father had used on the occasion and declare it his most
treasured possession. Joseph Wade died in 1874, aged 58, and Alfred and his brother carried on the family
business.
Wade was one of the very first young men to pay his
subscription and turn out for St Domingo’s and after the change of name to
Everton he played in their debut season. After his playing days were over he
became a committed spectator and when he retired from business in 1904 he began
his long association as an administrator when he was elected as a director.
Wade was thus a unique witness to the growth of a small church club into the
wealthiest club in the land. In his time on the board he saw the club win two
FA Cup finals and twice be crowned Football League Champions.
Wade also involved himself in a variety of charitable causes
and served as a life governor of Stanley Hospital.
His family moved from Great Nelson Street to 46 West Derby
Street L7. Both these homes have long since been demolished. After marriage he
and his wife Ellen lived at 16 Hampstead Street L6, near Newsham Park. They then moved to 48
Arkles Lane L4 from where he must have had a clear view of the nearby Anfield
stadium. He spent the last twenty-odd years of his life living on the Wirral
where he gained some fame as a talented tennis player.
