Memories of a player from days gone by

Laurie Hartley 16/07/2007 3comments | Jump to last

Although I can't get to matches these days (due to travelling time from Oz), I watch our beloved blues whenever they are on the tele here, and of course I spend a lot of time on the internet reading as much as I can about the club we love.

I am very interested to see how a lot of fans rubbish James McFadden. I think this lad has huge potential. The last-minute goal he scored against Charlton last year deserved "the goal of the season award". Yes I think it was even better than Essien's goal.

I remember a young fella coming back from National Service in the army in the early 60s. Harry Catterick played him on the left wing and he was absolutely terrible for about 6 or 7 games. He used to get the ball, dribble then run into someone and lose possession ? and he kept doing it. We (the fans) just couldn't understand how he could get into the team. We wanted him to do well but it just didn't look on the cards - (Catterick new better).

Then, one fine Saturday afternoon, he went past about three players like they weren't there and scored an absolute screamer. He never looked back after that and went on to score the winning goal in the 1966 Cup Final. His name was Derek Temple ? one of my favourite footballers of all time. The way James McFadden plays reminds me of him. I think McFadden is a future star of EFC.

Which leads me to my main rant which is this - if we believe the manager and players we have care about the club as much as we do, we have to get behind them and support them. This WILL make a difference. This is what football is all about ? the fans lifting the players and then the players lifting the fans. When that happens it doesn't matter whether your players cost you £20M or 2s/6d.

I have confession to make ? I have seen this happen when Bill Shankly (pity he wasn't an Evertonian) took a gang of very average footballers who played in one of the worst stadiums in what was then the first division and built the foundation of (I can't say it). At that time, we were the "Merseyside Millionaires" and had money coming out of our ears. We used to buy an international a week in those days. It's a big wheel...

My dad (God rest his soul) told me "we will be great again". I believe him. Come on the blues!

Reader Comments

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Graham Lloyd
1 Posted 16/07/2007 at 20:03:04

A good article from Laurie regarding McFadden,I,would agree with him over his(Faddy) ability there have been many players who have played for the Blues over the years who flattered to deceive,but,with the right guidance and advice Faddy could turn it round.He has the skill but needs to apply himself in the right way. i.e.to make the decision to release or carry the ball further.Lets hope that he can fulfil all his potential at Everton

Matt Bone
2 Posted 16/07/2007 at 22:02:59

This lad called temple, does he still own a pair of boots???? seriously though, you say after 6 or 7 games he turned into a great player. Dont you think Faddy has had long enough? I agree he has looked good in flashes but players need to perform consistently. Maybe its the same situation (and i dont think i is) with beattie where the system we play doesnt suit his style.

Sticky Toffee
3 Posted 17/07/2007 at 09:22:06

I thought Faddy had great potential when he came. He may still have but at my age I can’t afford to wait another few years for him to come good.

I liked Derek Temple. If my memory serves me right, Shirley had played in just about every position for England youth teams. He could dribble alright and possessed a great shot. He scored a tremendous goal against Spuds in the 63-64 season and yes his goal in that ’66Final was tremendous too. He even managed a re-run against Wednesday the following season.
He was good but not one of my favourites. He couldn’t tackle and would disappear out of a game for long periods. He was nowhere to be seen at away matches when the going got tough.

His goal in that ’66 Final was awesome but when I looked back I tried to think what else he had done in that match. I came up with the view that he had done virtually nothing and that when he ran through onto that through ball he was as fresh as when he came on.

Having said that I do think that the main thrust of the article is right and that it is more important to have players that play well well together backed by the fans than it is to have a team of prima donnas. I think Greeces victory over Portugal in the Final a few years ago showed that.