In 1970 Everton were the champions of
England. Under the guidance of manager
Harry Catterick and inspired by the Holy
Trinity of Alan Ball, Colin Harvey and
Howard Kendall, they took advantage of
Leeds United's fixture congestion and
strode to the title. But if Everton fans
believe that 1970 was the start of a
glorious new era they were very much
mistaken. By 1973 Catterick had gone. By 1981
Billy Bingham and Gordon Lee had
followed him, neither man that had cause
to open the trophy cabinet. And so it was
the Chairman Phillip Carter turn back to
the Trinity for answers.
Howard Kendall, impressing his boss of
Blackburn Rovers, was thrust back into
the limelight at Goodison Park.
Immediately he set about revitalizing
the squad, signing lower-league talent in
the hope that it would flourish to
higher-level. Progress was slow. In the
first season
Adrian Heath and Neville Suthall were
plucked from Stoke and Bury
respectively, and Everton finished eighth.
The following season they were joined by
Peter Reid, Kevin Sheedy and Derek
Mountfield, but by October Everton and
plunged to 17th. They recovered to finish
seventh, but Goodison Park was restless. The
1983-84 season was very nearly Kendall's
last. Trevor Stephen and Andy Gray had
arrived but the team just couldn't click.
They didn't went back-to-back games until
late January, but by that point
Everton fans were voting with their feet.
Only 13,659 supporters turned up on
New Year's Eve to see their grim home draw
with Coventry. But Carter kept faith in
Kendall and results began to improve.
Another seventh-place finish was
delivered but far more importantly so was
an FA Cup, secured with victory over
Watford at Wembley. Kendall nearly added a
League Cup too, denied only after a replay
against Liverpool.
The 1984-85 season opened with
back-to-back defeats for Everton. It
ended with the league title, indeed Everton
were very nearly only the 5th to ever
win the double only losing their FA cup
to Manchester United in the final.
Compensation came in the form of the
European Cup Winners Cup lifted after
victory over Rapid Vienna in Rotterdam,
following an epic win over Bayern Munich
in the semifinals. But Kendall would
never have the opportunity to challenge
for the European Cup. The Heysel
disaster saw all English clubs banned
from Europe for five years with Liverpool
banned for 6.The following season
Everton was denied the double once
again, pipped for the title on the last day
of the season by Liverpool and then beaten
by the reds at Wembley in the FA cup
final too. Kendall would get his own back
the following season, winning the title
again in 1987 but that summer, frustrated
by European exile, he left to join
Athletic Bilbao. Everton haven't finished
in the top three since he left.
Kendall would have two more spells at
Goodison Park, returning in 1990 and
again in 1997, but it was never the same.
He died in October 2015 at the age of 69,
his place in Everton legend is certain.