Football: Back in the Days: Rivals off to a flyer with top trebles; 1988 Cottee and Aldo make their mark.

Byline: DAVID PRENTICE

AUGUST 27, 1988 was the opening day of a new football season - and it was a remarkable start for two Merseyside strikers.

Tony Cottee hit a hat-trick on his Everton debut, claiming his first goal in 34 seconds, while not to be outgunned, Liverpool's John Aldridge also opened up with a hat-trick in a 3-0 triumph at Charlton.

Not since Jimmy Dunn opened with a treble against Birmingham in 1931 had an Everton player scored a first day hat-trick.

And never had both Mersey clubs had hattrick heroes on day one.

It was the perfect start for Cottee, following his British record pounds 2.2m transfer from West Ham.

The only downside for Cottee was that it was a Bank Holiday weekend - so there was no Monday night ECHO to analyse his achievement against newly-promoted Newcastle (modern readers don't know how lucky they are!) But the Football ECHO revelled in his achievement.

"To describe Cottee's input as remarkable would be an understatement," reported Ken Rogers. "He struck after just 34 seconds, pouncing after tremendous work by Neil McDonald and Graeme Sharp.

"Colin Harvey got striker Cottee for his explosive pace and he used it after 31 minutes to secure his second goal. Reid was the creator sending a through ball towards the right hand side of the box.

"Stepping up a gear to leave his marker for dead, Cottee sent a low-angled shot which found the net just inside the right hand post.

"Goodison erupted after 61 minutes when Cottee secured a well deserved hat-trick.

"Nevin played the ball into the box and Cottee was on it like a flash, moving wide of Beasant before slotting home an angled shot that brought rapturous applause from the delighted supporters at the Gwladys Street end."

In London, Aldridge was under pressure following the return to Anfield of Ian Rush - and he reacted superbly.

"A brilliant hat-trick by John Aldridge, who finished the game playing alongside Ian Rush, gave Liverpool the perfect start to the new season with an emphatic victory over unfortunate Charlton," reported Ian Hargraves.

"Aldridge's three goals represented splendid opportunism and gave the perfect answer to those who wondered how he would react to the challenge of Ian Rush's arrival."

Two days later, Everton were involved in something called the Centenary Trophy quarter-final at Old Trafford against Manchester United.

They lost 1-0 to a Gordon Strachan goal - and even on a Bank Holiday Monday - Old Trafford contained just 16,439 fans.

Was anyone there? And do they remember a tournament which had even less appeal than the Screen Sport Super Cup (more than 30,000 watched Everton play United at Old Trafford in 1985).

Write and let us know. ON THE STAGE . .

. Be Bop A Lula, the tribute to Gene Vincent and Eddie Cochran, was playing its final week at The Playhouse - tickets costing pounds 1, while Saturday's on Brownlow Hill was advertised as "Liverpool's No.1 Discotheque."

AT THE PICTURES . . . Rambo III, Shag - It's The Name of the Dance! - and Beetlejuice.

ON THE BOX . . . Wonder Womanstarring Linda Carter, Tarby's Frame Game with Jimmy Tarbuck and Summertime Special from Bournemouth, hosted by Brian Conley

TOP OF THE CHARTS . . . The Only Way Is Up - Yazz and the Plastic Population

1931

THE 1931-32 season saw a trio of Everton players celebrate hat-tricks in the opening weeks of the season.

After Jimmy Dunn had celebrated a treble

against Birmingham on the opening day, Tommy White followed up with a hat-trick at Portsmouth four days later.

Remarkably, it took Dixie Dean until midSeptember to claim his first treble of the season - in the Anfield derby

1914

EVERTON'S celebrated pre-war strikerJoe Clennell specialised in first day trebles.

He got Everton's title winning 1914-15 campaign off to a flier with a hattrick at Spurs on the opening day - then in three of the next four war campaigns he opened up with a hat-trick!

On the opening day of the Lancashire Section Principal Tourna

ment in 1915 he scored two against Bury. The

following season Bury were the first-day opposition again, and Clennell responded with a hat-trick in a 3-0 win.

He repeated the feat against Southport on

the first day of the 1917-18 campaign, then in the final season of wartime football -1918-19 - hit four on the opening day at Burnley

1954

BEFORE John Aldridge, Welsh

international Tony Rowley was Liverpool's last hat-trick marksman on the opening day - on his league debut in 1954.

Born Antonio Camilio - he was of Italian extraction - he thrilled 49,741 Anfield supporters with a debut hat

trick - goals two and three coming in the 86th and 89th minutes to secure a 3-2 win over Doncaster.

He failed to maintain that bright start and was sold to Tranmere where he proved a prolific marksman

CAPTION(S):

FANS FAVOURITE: John Aldridge is mobbed; FAST STARTER: Striker Tony Cottee in action for Everton back in 1988; HERO: Anfield striker Tony Rowley hit a hat-trick on his league debut for the Reds