William Whitford was, along with James Baxter, one of two
medical men prominent as directors of Everton Football Club in its early years.
Born in Armagh in 1846, after qualifying at Queen University, Belfast he came
to set up practice at 37 Shaw Street L6 (now demolished). After his marriage in
1885 to Salome Bithiah Barratt he set up house at 47 Shaw Street L6. He later
moved to Sandymount Drive, Wallasey.
Whitford was one of the many prominent Everton board members
linked to the Liberal Party and especially its support for Irish Home Rule. He
was a passionate temperance campaigner and the press of the time noted that whilst
Everton’s new ground at Goodison Park would boast a “cocoa room” there would be
no facilities for the sale of alcohol. Whitford gave financial support to the
club to facilitate the club’s move from Anfield.
He died on 15th June 1930 and was buried at
Anfield Cemetery. His memorial also includes reference to his son, RSM Herbert
D Whitford, of the Manchester Regiment, who served at Gallipoli, Ypres and
Passchendaele and died in 1979.
