Goodison Memories: A Lifetime of Football at Everton

By Steve Zocek

Goodison Park is one of British sport's most fabled venues: the home of Everton FC since 1892 and one of the last traditional football amphitheatres. It has witnessed highs and lows and been graced by the likes of Dixie Dean, Tommy Lawton, Alan Ball, Bob Latchford, Gary Lineker, Pele and Eusebio. As the Toffees prepare to move to the waterfront, Goodison Memories celebrates that legendary stadium with vivid recollections not from Evertonians, but from opposition players, managers, officials and sports journalists. The result is a collection of candid interviews that capture the essence of Goodison Park. Listen to their tales of the Everton players they remember with fondness, priceless anecdotes and memories of the atmosphere and features of the stadium. Have you ever wondered what it was like for the broadcasters to sit on the TV gantry, the press to work from the press box? What was it like for match officials to take charge of the game and handle the characters on the Goodison turf? Goodison Memories holds all the answers.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Independent Publishers Group
• Release date: Apr 11, 2022
• ISBN: 9781801502474

Book preview

Introduction

AS EVERTON plan to move to a new stadium at Bramley Moore Dock, Goodison should not and never will forgotten. It will always be a shrine to the Evertonians, who have paid their respects every other Saturday at what was their place of worship. But what about the players, managers, match officials, broadcasters and journalists who have found themselves on duty at Goodison? Have you ever wondered what their opinion was on this beautiful old stadium, surrounded by so much history and tradition? I have been in contact with many who were incredibly lucky to have sampled that experience.

The opinions of so many who have volunteered to make this book what it is will play a vitally important role in informing the next generation of Evertonians who would only know of Goodison via stories handed down to them by family members or friends. Each contributor to this book shares their own tale of what makes Goodison a fascinating stadium, and their thoughts on leaving this iconic place.

Speaking to so many players from my childhood has, I hope, made this a fascinating read, and provided a true insight into our beloved Goodison from people who were privileged to have played their role there in whatever capacity.

I have spoken to at least one representative from every club that has played in the top flight since 1960. To add a bit more flavour, I have also enrolled players who have played for their teams in cup competitions, including the FA Cup, League Cup, European Cup Winners’ Cup, Texaco Cup and even a testimonial.

Foreword by John Motson

MY FIRST commentary for the BBC was for radio at Goodison Park in December 1969 when Everton beat Derby County 1-0. Alan Ball was the scorer and Harry Catterick the manager. I travelled with Maurice Eddleston, a very experienced, famous commentator at the time. Two commentators were used by the BBC then. During his playing career, Maurice had played with Harry Catterick. In those days, getting into Goodison was difficult if you were a press official, but Maurice just banged on the door and Harry Catterick came out to see him. Maurice introduced me to Harry as a young commentator.

Two years later, I moved to Match of the Day and was a regular commentator at Goodison for the next 20 or 30 years. There are two commentary positions at Goodison: the big high one that they built in recent years, where you have to climb over lots of ladders and the roof of the Bullens Road stand, and there was a smaller one on a lower platform, which I think they still use for a camera position. In my day, I used the smaller platform closer to the pitch and I always remember thinking that it was as good an atmosphere commentating at Goodison as anywhere else. You were so close to the pitch that you almost felt part of the game and could identify the players very easily. So, it was a favourite ground of mine in that respect.

Joe Royle was a young player when I did my first games and I saw the Ball, Harvey, Kendall trio of course. My first big game with Everton was the FA Cup semi-final against Liverpool in 1977. Afterwards I interviewed Duncan McKenzie and for some reason, halfway through the interview, Duncan said to me, ‘Oh, that’s a surprising thing for you to say John, with you being an Evertonian.’ I wasn’t, but he was just cracking a joke, so I was called an Evertonian that day, but I did love going to Goodison.

I got to know Howard Kendall and commentated on three consecutive FA Cup finals involving Everton in 1984, 1985 and 1986. I always liked commentating on Everton, if for no other reason than they wore nice white numbers on their royal blue shirts. Clubs were wearing stripes and goodness knows what by then, but I knew with Everton it would be a nice straightforward commentary because the numbers were very clear.

I used to go up to do interviews for Football Focus, the lunchtime slot on Grandstand, at the training ground, Bellefield. I was there the day Bruce Rioch and Duncan McKenzie both signed. There was a little office upstairs where the manager used to sit, and my BBC television career then morphed into the David Moyes era. I remember in those days you could get closer to managers than you can now. I had David Moyes’s private number and would always call him on a Friday in strict confidence. He would always give me an idea what the team might be, which was very rare then, but those days have gone.

The last Everton commentary I did was at Leicester when Richarlison scored and I was at West Ham later that season, but as a spectator not commentating. That was the best Everton performance that I had seen for some time, certainly the best under Marco Silva.

The best Everton goal I ever commentated on was when Graeme Sharp scored that goal at Anfield in October 1984, with Mark Lawrenson and Alan Hansen looking on as the ball went into the back of the net. I also did the commentary at Villa Park when Luton Town looked as though they were going to beat Everton in the 1985 FA Cup semi-final. The game went to extra time, with Derek Mountfield heading home the winner after Kevin Sheedy had equalised from a free kick.

Everton was a club I really loved going to. In fact, during my last season for Match of the Day in 2017/18 I did my last game at Goodison against Crystal Palace and Everton presented me with framed programme covers from the first game I did back in 1969, and the last game I did against Palace. They treated me very well, and Sam Allardyce made the presentation in the press room after the game.

I have fond memories of Andy Gray and Gary Lineker because they were goalscorers. I remember seeing Andy Gray score a diving header in the FA Cup sixth round at Meadow Lane against Notts County. Gary Lineker had only one season with the club, but he scored 40 goals and I commentated on a lot of them. Of course, Gary then became a broadcasting colleague on Match of the Day.

Players

Aldershot:

Nigel Edwards

On 5 January 1980, Everton and the Shots met for the very first time in an FA Cup third round tie at Goodison Park, where no shock was produced as Everton sailed through to the fourth round with a 4-1 victory. In the Shots’ line-up that day was defender Nigel Edwards:

I was at Everton as a schoolboy and represented the Wales youth side, but I couldn’t settle there if I’m honest. I played a few A team games at Bellefield, which had one hell of a setup.

For a team like Aldershot, it was a good day out. We travelled the day before, staying in a hotel in Southport overnight and the first impression of Goodison upon our arrival was that everybody was so friendly. I had already been to Goodison years before as I witnessed a Merseyside derby, but this was the first time I’d played there in my career. No disrespect, but when you play at grounds like Hartlepool, then go to Goodison, it’s like going to a palace.

The thing I remember the most is that we were a Fourth Division side and it was a hard league. All the teams at that level had a team of hackers, but one of the reasons I joined Aldershot was because they had a manager, Tom McAnearney, who liked to play football and keep the ball on the ground. We didn’t go there that day to kick Everton off the park or park the bus, we went there to play football. We played our normal game, attacking football, and I think that was the reason the Evertonians took to us.

Everton on the day were what you’d expect, a different class. They scored four goals to our one, but it was in all honesty a really good game and we were applauded off at the end, which was a lovely gesture. I have to say I would describe Goodison as a ‘homely’ stadium.

At that time, two random players from each team were selected for a urine test. Myself and Nicky French were picked for Aldershot, and Andy King and John Gidman for Everton. As we walked off the pitch, we were taken away to a room. Andy King and I couldn’t pass water as we were dehydrated. We were told to go in the bar and have a couple of pints. I’d never ever met Andy before, and he invited me back to Luton, where he was staying that weekend, but I wasn’t allowed as I had to go back with my team-mates on the coach. We went back into the room, and still failed to urinate, so the two managers went in on our behalf and did it for us!

We then got on the team bus, and a quarter of a mile from Goodison, the coach had to stop to let me run down an alleyway to have a pee.

Regarding leaving Goodison, I think they must, to progress. It’s a shame, but you could say that about every team that moves to another stadium, as it’s the history that you are leaving behind, and Everton have more history than most.

Arsenal:

Bob Wilson

Bob Wilson won countless trophies during his career with Arsenal, including the Double of First Division and FA Cup in 1971. He went on to become a legendary face on Saturday afternoons as the anchorman for the BBC sports programme Grandstand. He also hosted many other sports-related shows:

This particular season, we were going to Goodison to face the Football League champions from the previous season. They won it by nine points and don’t forget, it was only two points for a win back then, so to win it by that margin was amazing really.

It was the opening day of the season, 15 August 1970, and Everton came out with all guns blazing, dominating the early stages. They came out as champions and played like champions. We were without Peter Simpson, our regular centre-half alongside captain Frank McLintock. Peter was still recovering from a cartilage operation from pre-season and John Roberts deputised at centre-half that day. I loved playing against Joe Royle, who I always thought was an honest player. Anyway, Joe scored in the first half hour, heading home from a cross by full-back Tommy Wright. I seem to remember Alan Whittle having a blinder that day. He had been very important in the run-in when Everton won the league the season before. We were lucky to be only one goal behind by half-time. Apart from me having a lot of work to do, I know Bob McNab cleared off the line. It was a case then of survival, with the home side looking for the second and decisive goal which would have killed us off completely.

Fortunately Charlie George, who then was only 20 years of age, grabbed us an equaliser. It was quite strange for me as I was a teacher before I was a professional footballer and Charlie was one of my pupils. I was on Manchester United’s books with Nobby Stiles at the time of the Munich disaster, but my father didn’t want me to be a footballer.

As the game drew to its latter stages, I turned a ball on to the bar and as it came down, Alan Ball was at the far post and knocked the ball to Johnny Morrissey to put the ball in with his hand to put Everton back in front. John Roberts then set George Graham up to slide the ball past Gordon West to give us a 2-2 draw. We got a very unexpected point, which we didn’t deserve.

One thing about Goodison was the little narrow players’ tunnel. It was a lot different to many of the grounds in the old First Division. In our day, we never came out together; we may have been in the tunnel together, but we ran out separately and I will always remember the Everton fans because they had extraordinary support, which is what you need as a club.

Arsenal:

Frank McLintock

Another part of that successful Double-winning team of 1970/71 was the captain, Frank McLintock, described as a great leader and skipper by his team-mate Bob Wilson:

It was always sad for Everton, especially in the 1970s, as their neighbours Liverpool were finding success under Bill Shankly and Bob Paisley, and Everton seemed to be in their shadow for such a long period.

Everton had success in the 1960s with Kendall, Harvey, Ball and big Joe Royle, and these are the guys I remember well. I always thought the Goodison crowd were terrific too. You always knew you were in for a hard game when you went to Everton Football Club. They were a terrific club, and I wouldn’t say it if I didn’t mean it.

Everton have a terrific fan base who are so loyal, and so desperate for their team to win trophies again. Everything always seems to go just past their fingertips, and they take a slide down the league again.

No matter when you played Everton, and no matter where either team were in the league, it was always a tough game. Everton were always up for it, and the fans were right behind their side, and it was always backs to the wall.

Being a Scot, I remember Alex Young going there from Hearts, and what a lovely player he was. I also remember the winger, Alex Scott. So, being down here, you’d try and keep in touch with each other as much as possible.

Goodison, I felt, was similar to Highbury in some ways. The stands at both stadiums were upright, which I felt gave out a great atmosphere, whereas today’s stadiums seem a bit laid back. The move from Goodison, I feel, won’t affect the club. The supporters at Everton are probably better than Liverpool, who I often wonder whether they would have seen so much success, had they had to suffer what the Evertonians have over the years. Everton still managed to get a full house and, if the roles had been reversed, would Liverpool still have the support now?

Arsenal:

Pat Rice

Pat Rice was another of that Double-winning team during a career that spanned more than 500 league appearances for Arsenal and Watford, and a total of 49 caps for Northern Ireland:

The first league game of our 1970/71 Double-winning campaign was against Everton. They had a great side with the formidable midfield of Ball, Harvey and Kendall and whenever we used to play against Everton, our coach Don Howe used to put Peter Storey, normally our right-back, into midfield. Peter was put there to pick up Alan Ball, and I would come in at right-back. The following game Peter would go back into midfield and I would either be sub or not involved at all. So, due to us playing against Everton in that first game, it was the start for me getting into the team regularly.

I would describe Goodison Park as very nostalgic; they’d had great players in their history who had the privilege of playing there. It can be an intimating place, no doubt about that, but that’s all part of the heritage. I’ve already mentioned the Holy Trinity, but I remember Joe Royle who could head a ball from the edge of the 18-yard box. It was like someone kicking it, but Everton were a really good side at that time.

I experienced the transition from Highbury to The Emirates, so when Everton move, you’re hoping that the new stadium will create the same atmosphere as Goodison Park. We were fortunate that we had a manager in Arsène Wenger, who put a team together that went through the season unbeaten.

When Arsenal switched to their new stadium, it was something that had to be done; the same applies to Everton now. The game has changed so much and is more of a business, so you have to go with it otherwise you will fall behind.

Arsenal:

Terry Mancini

Terry Mancini spent two years at Highbury having joined from Queens Park Rangers for a fee of £20,000 in 1974. Today, Terry has a business called Mancini Events, which stages a lot of golf tournaments:

My first recollections of Goodison are of course the atmosphere. A move to a new ground will take them into the 21st century as every club seems to be updating their image by building a new stadium. Everton are a very big club with a big name and don’t want to be left behind.

When I played at Goodison, I had many games where I marked Bob Latchford, who was a handful. They had a very good team in the mid-1970s, which came close to winning the First Division title I seem to recall. Everton were a team that was always difficult to beat and Goodison was always one of those grounds that you looked forward to playing at. You never got an easy game there; it was always extremely difficult. In all the times I may have played there, I think the best I came away with was a draw.

When Everton finally move to their new home, I’m sure they will embrace it brilliantly. It all of course depends on the team, doesn’t it? Who wouldn’t enjoy playing at a brand-new stadium? It’s like me or you selling up your home and buying a new one. It will be a wonderful new experience with all top-of-the-range facilities, which must be a bonus.

Arsenal:

Paul Merson

Gunning for the Gunners for a period of 12 years with 378 league appearances, 78 goals and the PFA Young Player of the Year award in 1988/89 was Paul Merson, who is now a regular pundit on Sky Sports:

I always thought Goodison was one of the hardest places to play at. If you came away from Everton with a win, that was a bonus. It didn’t matter where Everton were in the league, it was always a tough place. Even if they had lost five games on the trot, you would still be made up to come away undefeated.

They would close you down very quickly. As a player I liked time on the ball, but someone would always be hustling you, making things hard. They weren’t one of the better sides during my time going there as an opponent, but it was a difficult place to go. When I first got into the team, I scored there in 1989 when we went on to win the league. I always remember when the away end was very narrow and when the fences were still up. There looked like 10,000 fans in there when there was probably only 1,000. I can still see that away end now as I talk to you. I remember the goal I scored, I went through and hit a low ball past Neville Southall. On another occasion, I scored one of my favourite goals there, chipping Neville.

I also won there in the quarter-final of the FA Cup while I was at Aston Villa. I wasn’t playing too well and had a bit of a nightmare in the first half, but just before half-time I went down the left-hand side and cut in. As I shot, Southall parried it and Benito Carbone came in and tapped home from about a yard out to put us into the lead. Our manager, John Gregory, would sit in the stands for the first half, and always leave a minute before half-time to get into the dressing room at the same time as the team. When we got in, he started flaring up, going mad and started to pick on me. ‘You’d better liven up, or you’re off.’ I replied, ‘What for? We’Re 2-1 up.

‘What do you mean we’re 2-1 up? Its 1-1.’ I told him we were 2-1 up and I’d just set up a goal for Benito, but he still replaced me with Ian Taylor.

Looking back, I’ve had both good and bad memories there. The good ones have outweighed the bad and I’ve even had the good fortune to score a last-minute winner there for Aston Villa from about 45 yards out in November 2000. When you score a goal, especially in the last minute away from home, it’s always nice.

Goodison is one of my favourite grounds because it’s old and traditional. As a kid growing up and getting to understand football, Everton were one of the best teams, if not the best team, about. When I was just leaving school in 1984, Everton were definitely THE team to watch. I look back now and they were an unfortunate team who were denied the opportunity to play in the European Cup. I think they would have conquered Europe without a doubt. I also won the league with Arsenal and never got to play in Europe.

As a kid watching football on TV, for some reason I always loved the away end behind the goal at Goodison. I used to love watching goals being scored there, whether it was an opposing player or Andy Gray or Graeme Sharp.

Coming out on to the pitch underneath that massive stand to Z Cars used to make you shiver. It was like walking out into a gladiator arena. You were so closed in, it felt like everybody was on top of you, as if you were being suffocated. The pitch felt like a five-a-side pitch, it felt tight. Going to Merseyside was always different from playing anywhere else in the country. They had a feeling of togetherness on Merseyside and I always think it’s like another country in itself. I like Everton, it’s a good club.

If you’ve been to Chelsea years ago and then more recently, you’ve seen the difference in the changes without having to move, but if you hadn’t been years ago, you’d think Stamford Bridge was a newly built stadium. When you look at Everton, Goodison has never really changed that much over the years except for what was the away end and is now the Park End.

There are not too many top stadiums in the world where you can be sat behind a post or have a restricted view. If Everton want to play catch-up, they must move. If the club want to remain static and finish seventh, eighth, ninth in the league – stay at Goodison, but if they are going to move, they must make sure they are moving for the right reasons.

If you look at Arsenal, who moved to The Emirates, nothing changed. Arsenal haven’t won the league. At Highbury they were playing in front of 38,000 fans, and I could reel you off ten world-class players. They moved to a new stadium with an additional 22,000 fans. Now you name me ten world-class players in the current squad. That’s the problem; it’s all right moving grounds, but you have to move for the fans, not the club, the directors, the owners or the shareholders, you have to do it for the fans as the fans want to see Everton win something.

Aston Villa:

Tony Morley

Ormskirk-born Tony Morley played with flair at Aston Villa and has some fantastic highlights on his football CV, including a First Division championship, European Cup, European Super Cup and a Goal of the Season award – against Everton:

It all started for me when I was a kid. Both of my next-door neighbours were Evertonians and I remember being taken to Goodison with them on the train from Ormskirk to Kirkdale. There were dozens of Evertonians on the train swinging their rattles and chanting the names of the greats like Alex Young. There was an atmosphere all the way to the ground from the station and I always remember the hordes of people, police horses, terraced houses, and people with their doors open speaking to neighbours and passers-by. To me, it was just a carnival.

My first impression of it all was experienced in the Boys’ Pen. The big lads were always at the front, so you never really saw much of the game until the ball went into the box. That was irrelevant as the main attraction was the atmosphere.

As I got a bit older, I used to sneak in behind the goal. The blokes on the turnstiles would take money off one, then the other would sneak in underneath. The hot dog stalls and the kids who would mind the cars of fans are things that stick in my mind. Everything was simply magical. Goodison Park for me was like a colosseum. The night games were so memorable because of the huge floodlight pylons. It was just a magical place for me. When I graduated from the Boys’ Pen into the Street End, you walked down the tunnel into the terraces, and you would just see 11 gods on the pitch. I remember my first time going on the pitch when I was a fan at the end of the season. I told myself I was going to do it and I succeeded, despite getting chased off by the police. Just to even walk on the pitch was what I can only describe as a dream come true. It never occurred to me, that one day I would be playing on there.

Today’s stadiums are fantastic, but they lack the personal touch, with all the corporate hospitality, which is the biggest change. Everton as a club were always ahead of their time with the Bellefield training ground. They had the tradition of the Toffee ladies walking around before the game distributing the mints. I always loved the Z Cars theme tune too.

My heroes were always the players who scored goals: Alex Young, Derek Temple.