Irish talents leave a lasting legacy at Everton

Ireland has a long-standing connection to Merseyside, with its people, culture and traditions shaping the economic and political history of the city.

The links have been further strengthened by sport – a point evidenced by the number of Irish players who made a massive impact in English football with Everton.

The club’s successful history of gambling on players from the Emerald Isle is a lesson that fans of casino games could potentially gain inspiration from.

With tons of online casinos offering free spins without making a deposit, taking a punt on an Irish-themed game could be the pathway to hitting the jackpot.

This casino-style mindset is one which Everton have adopted with Irish players, effectively using the mantra of ‘nothing ventured, nothing gained’ when assessing potential targets.

It is a strategy which has paid massive dividends, with the club’s history littered with examples of talented Irish stars. Here are some of the most noteworthy players. 

Tommy Eglington

Eglington’s time with Everton is interlinked with Peter Farrell, with the duo travelling together across the Irish Sea in 1946 to join the club’s post-World War II squad.

‘Flash Eggo’ lived up to his nickname for the Toffees, giving defenders a torrid time as he tore relentlessly up and down the left wing.

While success proved hard to come by for the club during this era, Eglington’s tally of 88 goals in 426 appearances highlighted his value to the team.

Peter Farrell

While Eglington was renowned for his dazzling wing-play, Farrell’s gritty style at wing-half provided the perfect counter-balance in a key area of the pitch.

Farrell was captain of the side when they were relegated in 1950/51, but he remained loyal to the club and vowed to lead them back into the First Division.

Although it took the Toffees three seasons to return to the top flight, Farrell played a key role during a memorable campaign for the club.

Kevin Sheedy

Everton had plenty of talented players in the squad during the 1980s, but Kevin Sheedy was unquestionably one of the picks of the bunch.

He joined the club from Liverpool in 1982 and subsequently helped them win two league titles an FA Cup and the European Cup Winners Cup.

Sheedy had a knack of weighing in with crucial goals, most notably when he scores the decisive third goal in the European final against Rapid Vienna.

Alex Stevenson

Stevenson was a standout performer for Everton on either side of the Second World War, netting 90 goals in 271 appearances for the club.

He initially forged a devastating partnership with Dixie Dean, before repeating the trick alongside Tommy Lawton. Stevenson was the perfect foil for both players.

Nicknamed ‘Mickey Mouse’ by the media due to his diminutive stature, Stevenson cemented his legendary status by helping the club win the league in 1938/39.

Seamus Coleman

In an age where transfer fees have spiralled wildly out of control, Everton’s £60,000 outlay to sign Coleman from Sligo Rovers is one of the biggest bargains of all-time.

Coleman has been a steadying influence throughout his time at Everton and history will recognise him as one of the club’s most respected captains.

The full-back does not do anything flashy, but his consistency and leadership cannot be underestimated during what has been a troubled time for the club.

Mick Meagan

If Meagan had been around during the modern era, he would have had top clubs in Europe clamouring to splash the cash on him.

The defender joined Everton as a teenager, before helping them win promotion back into the top flight. Meagan was subsequently an integral part of the team which won the league title in 1962/63.

He was hugely popular with the fans and many of them were disappointed when he left the club to join Huddersfield Town in 1964.

Lee Carsley

Carsley went under the radar a little at Everton, with several talented midfielders at other clubs often hogging the limelight during the early part of the century.

He joined the club from Coventry City in 2003, and became a key part of the club’s combative midfield under then-manager David Moyes.

Major honours eluded Carsley as a player, but he has since made his name as a coach by guiding England to European U21 Championship success last year.

Jimmy O’Neill

With long-serving goalkeeper Ted Sagar approaching the twilight of his career, Everton needed to find a replacement who could step into his shoes.

Their acquisition of Irish schoolboy international Jimmy O’Neill in 1949 proved to be an inspired decision as he helped the club win promotion from the Second Division five years later.

O’Neill eventually left the club in 1960 after failing to see eye-to-eye with manager Johnny Carey, and was an ever-present as Stoke City won the 1962/63 Second Division championship.

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