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BBC News
02-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'Never take the ball off him in training' - is this Everton's hardest player?
Throughout Wednesday, BBC Sport's Phil McNulty has ranked the hardest men to play for in top MorrisseyMorrissey was signed by Everton from Liverpool in 1962 for £10,000. It was a deal done without Reds manager Bill Shankly's knowledge, and he was so enraged that he vowed never to let such an incident happen Shankly's admiration for this tough, but very talented, winger was confirmed in a decade at Everton in which he played in two title-winning figured in 1962-63, but more memorably and prominently when he stood out - even among the greats of Alan Ball, Colin Harvey and Howard Kendall - in the 1969-70 triumph, his crosses a rich source of supply for the young Joe was beloved among Everton fans, who worshipped both his great ability and his attitude. He still cut a sprightly figure at Goodison Park, at 85, when he was part of the parade of former players at the final men's game at the stadium in the wider game, Morrissey had a reputation as a hard-as-nails character who was not to be trifled with at any time - a winger happy to give any full-back taking liberties a taste of their own famous 'Anfield Iron' Tommy Smith admitted even he was wary of Morrissey, while former colleague Kendall said Ball's advice to him on his first day at Everton was: "Never take the ball off Johnny Morrissey in training."Leeds United were the template for the hard teams of that era, but Morrissey used to send a shudder through that battle-hardened Elland Road dressing room, his running battles with Jack Charlton the stuff of Giles, no shrinking violet in the physical exchanges, wrote in his book how he could look after himself "like Peter Osgood did, like Mike Summerbee did, like Johnny Morrissey did - well OK, maybe not quite like Johnny".Scroll down to 14:53 BST for Duncan Ferguson and Peter Reid in second and third, and 08:33 for Kevin Ratcliffe and Pat van den Hauwe in fourth and it's over to you. Do you agree with Phil's selections? Tell us who should be on the list
BBC News
02-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'The anti-hero who struck terror into defenders'
Every club has had a hard man - often adored by fans - but who is the ultimate tough operator in Everton's history? Chief football writer Phil McNulty is going through his top five on this page on second spot (scroll down to the post below for third place, and to 08:33 BST for fourth and fifth)...Duncan Ferguson'Big Dunc', the idol of Goodison Park, was the anti-hero Everton fans needed and loved when he arrived, initially on loan, from Rangers in late had the ability to strike terror into defenders, with then manager Joe Royle recalling his first match in charge being illuminated by the Scot, who was fired up after a foul by Liverpool's Neil Ruddock. He subsequently terrorised Liverpool's defence, something he made a habit of throughout his Everton career, by scoring his first goal for the club in a 2-0 took any liberties with Ferguson, with even some of the game's hardest figures making it their business not to cross him. Paul Ince, then Liverpool captain, was virtually picked up and thrown to the floor in another Merseyside derby at Anfield, "The Guv'nor" responding by gently ruffling Ferguson's hair in a friendly approach often edged into ill-discipline, with eight red cards in the Premier League - but there was also great ability to go with the fierce physical of course, Ferguson's reputation spread off the field. He served time in the notorious Barlinnie jail, and has told the story of how two burglars made the error of breaking into his house in the early hours while he was there with his family – and how they came off will top McNulty's list? Come back later on Wednesday to find out and have your say.
BBC News
20-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'The architect of it all was Royle' - 30 years on from FA Cup success
Under Joe Royle, Everton had slowly but surely got themselves out of trouble in the league with some high-octane victories against teams who were much higher in the table. He'd brought in a style of play that suited the players he had in his squad. Barry Horne, Joe Parkinson and John Ebrell were key figures in a midfield "Dogs of War". Everton had become very difficult to beat, but that incredible 4-1 victory against Tottenham in the semi-final was evidence that they were capable of so much the Wembley final Sir Alex Ferguson's team were the 4/7 favourites with the bookmakers and Royle's men were given little chance, seemingly by everyone except their own fans and key moment of the match came on the half-hour. Barry Horne intercepted a Paul Ince through ball on the edge of his own penalty area. Pacy winger Anders Limpar latched on to his clearance and raced forward at the speed of lightening with the ball at his feet, before slipping the ball into the path of advancing right-back Matt Jackson. He ran into the penalty area and checked back to leave Gary Pallister trailing in his wake before slipping the ball towards the onrushing Graham Stuart, who thumped a right-foot shot goalwards. It cannoned of the underside of the crossbar and Paul Rideout reacted quickest to leap and head the ball into the back of the net from close the occasions when United looked dangerous, Everton's goalkeeper Neville Southall was in inspired form, making a series of top drawer saves. The Blues' young centre-back David Unsworth gave a 'coming of age' display and hardly allowed Mark Hughes a kick of the ball. The performance that day was the epitome of the sort of teamwork Royle had introduced. Every individual worked together for the greater good of the whole team. That squad had also become full to the brim with real leaders and much of that stemmed from one of the club's most important post-war signings - Dave Watson. He was an excellent, no nonsense central defender, with a fabulous understanding of the had been signed by Howard Kendall nine years earlier and had been part of some wonderful Everton teams. He'd also played in some very ordinary ones and I'm convinced that Everton would have been relegated without him. When he walked up those famous 39 nine steps to lift the FA Cup, the Blues fans were in raptures. A season that at one point had almost promised relegation, had ended with not only Premier League safety, but also with a major were plenty of heroes that day but the architect of it all was Royle. A man who knew Everton, who understood Everton and who'd transformed the team into something that the fans had not thought was possible. So after one of the most momentous occasions that Goodison has ever witnessed on Sunday, with the most fabulous and fondest farewell, the supporters can remember what happened 30 years ago with much hope that from this day onwards they not going to have to wait that long to see their team lift silverware to Total Sport Merseyside from 18:00 on weeknights and find details here of live Everton match commentaries on BBC Radio MerseysideExplore Everton content on BBC Sounds
BBC News
20-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
A 30-year wait but Blues feel optimism again
Everton fans won't be celebrating the 30th anniversary of their FA cup final success against Manchester United, because in some respects its become a source of disappointment. Not the day itself of course, and more on that shortly, but it's because it's also the last piece of silverware that the team won. Since then there have been some near misses along the truth hurts sometimes and that's always the case in football, when the metrics of success are taken to their most basic level. What did you win and when ?As much as they'd like to, Blues supporters can't alter those harsh, realistic facts. Nevertheless what has happened to the club in the last few months points to a new era of positivity is on the way. New owners The Friedkin Group know what's required to make things happen in a sporting sense. The decision to sack Sean Dyche probably wasn't a difficult one to make. Appointing David Moyes as his successor has proved to be an absolute masterstroke. He knows Everton, he understands Everton and in the space of four months he's transformed the team into something even the most ardent Evertonians would not have thought possible in such a short space of time. He deserves a lot of praise for you look back and reflect on the events of cup final day in 1995, it's worth remembering that the Everton manager Joe Royle's first match in charge was exactly six months earlier. He took over a team that were cast adrift at the foot of the Premier League table. That season under Mike Walker they'd won one game in the previous 16 and had eight points from 14 matches. Yet somehow he'd managed to construct a new look team, that had determination, discipline and defiance at it's very today when Blues fans think back to Wembley stadium on 20th May 1995, they'll be more optimistic than they've been for a long, long time that maybe they can get back there and win some of the games glittering prizes back for part two of Mike's account of the 1995 FA Cup final at 13:00Explore Everton content on BBC Sounds
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
From 'needing snookers' to FA Cup glory - Everton 30 years on
Everton's 1995 FA Cup Final win over Manchester United at Wembley remains the club's last major trophy - but the manner in which it capped a remarkable transformation under manager Joe Royle remains fresh in the memory of all who witnessed it 30 years ago. Royle left Oldham Athletic to return to his beloved Goodison Park in November 1994 with Everton rooted to the bottom of the Premier and, in his words, "needing snookers" to survive. Everton, under his guidance, did not just get the snookers required, they then cleared the table to not only stay in the top flight but crown Royle's stunning renaissance with the most glamorous prize in domestic football. This was the year of Everton's famous "Dogs Of War", a throwaway phrase Royle used to describe a combative, fiercely competitive style led by the midfield pair of Barry Horne and Joe Parkinson. It was instantly adopted by Everton supporters, who wore T-shirts bearing the phrase in their thousands, but was also turned back on Royle by those who chose to diminish the dramatic turnaround. To suggest Everton were one dimensional that season can be dismissed, as the team contained the mercurial talents of the brilliant Swede Anders Limpar as well as the subtle forward play of Graham Stuart and Paul Rideout. Duncan Ferguson was the great talisman, scoring his first Everton goal in Royle's opening game in the Merseyside derby against Liverpool, but he was actually sidelined for the latter part of the run to Wembley, missing the semi-final and only appearing as a substitute in the final. Everton's 4-1 win in the semi-final against Tottenham Hotspur at Elland Road was their finest performance in years and remained so long afterwards, fuelled by two goals from second-half substitute Daniel Amokachi, who entered the pitch by accident as a replacement for Rideout, mistakenly thinking he had been waved on. Royle later called it: "The greatest substitution I never made." Everton's demolition of a Spurs side containing Jurgen Klinsmann and Teddy Sheringham wrecked what many regarded as the so-called "dream final" with Manchester United, Royle literally spelling out the colourful phrase he used in the direction of those disappointed at the planned party being spoiled. And so to Wembley on 20 May 1995, and a meeting with hot favourites United, Sir Alex Ferguson's side without the inspirational Eric Cantona, serving an eight-month suspension for a kung fu kick at a Crystal Palace supporter in January 1995. United had lost the Premier League to Blackburn Rovers on the final day of the season the previous week, but this was not an Everton side given to sympathy. They gave no quarter to an opposition midfield containing Paul Ince and Roy Keane, but also utilised the skills of Limpar, an enigmatic figure Royle had boosted before the final by comparing his natural gifts with French great Michel Platini. Everton held sway in the first half, going ahead after 30 minutes. Man-of-the-match and Everton captain Dave Watson won a crunching duel with Ince deep in his own half. Limpar broke clear at pace before passing to Matthew Jackson, who fed Stuart. He looked certain to score but hit the bar, Rideout reacting first to head home the rebound. United pushed in the second half but the great Everton keeper Neville Southall, now 36, rolled back the years with a magnificent display, especially with a double save from Paul Scholes and then from Gary Pallister's header. The FA Cup, lifted by Watson, went to Goodison Park and remains Everton last success. Not an Everton fan? Find and follow your team on BBC Sport
