Jack Angus was a deft and aggressive footballer for Everton. He was signed in December 1888 and played for the club in two separate spells.
League & Everton Debut
Everton had been unable to find a regular outside-left in season 1888-1889. By 15 December 1888 they had already tried five different players and the most any of them had played in the outside-left position was three. As the trip to Deepdale, Preston approached Everton made it six players at outside-left as recently signed Jack Angus was selected to replace out-of-favour, James Costley. The match was played on 22 December 1888 and Preston North End were the opponents. Known as "The Invincibles" they were unbeaten and went on to win the first ever League Championship. 800 Everton fans greeted Jack Angus, and his teammates, at Deepdale. Preston won the toss, chose ends so Everton played into the wind and within five minutes Everton were one-down. Preston maintained the pressure but Everton did break-away as the first-half moved on and brought Preston goalkeeper Jimmy Trainer into action. As the play became end-to-end, Jack Angus had a chance to score but he shot wide. 1-0 at half-time to the home team. Very early in the second-half Preston made it 2-0. Everton, now with the wind behind them attacked and Angus had a shot saved by Trainer and shot just wide. Everton were playing well and pressed Preston into their own half as they sought that goal to get them back in the match. However, Preston, although pressed, were dangerous on the break and, from one of those breaks they scored a third. Final score - Preston North End 3-0 Everton. A score-line that reflected Preston' superior skill.
Playing Record
Angus retained his spot for the trip to Accrington which Everton lost. For his home debut against Stoke he was moved to centre-forward, replacing William Brown, and he enjoyed his first win. He reverted to outside-left for the visit of Preston North End, replacing Alf Milward. His final game of 1888-1889 was for the trip to Dudley Road, Wolverhampton. He played five times for Everton, four times at outside-left and once at centre-forward. He assisted them to finish eighth in the League only scoring 35 goals, the second lowest tally of goals scored in 1888-1889. Angus left Everton in February 1889 and had a short stay at King's Park, a club based in Stirling, Scotland. Very quickly he left Scotland and returned to English football with Sunderland Albion, a rival club to Sunderland. Sunderland Albion turned Angus into a goalkeeper and, in that role, as goalkeeper, Angus returned to Everton in August 1890. He played in Everton' great League Championship winning side of 1890-1891. Tragically, he caught typhoid in 1891 and became too ill to play.
