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Adrian 'Inchy' Heath

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I came across my first ever matchday programme from Goodison the other day. It was from 1984 when we played Chelsea in the league (we lost 4-3).

I started reminiscing and recalled that at that time Adrian Heath was my favourite player. And I thought... why was that?

I was wondering if any fellow ToffeeWebbers with memories that stretch that far can share any memories or opinions on Inchy. Was he a scrapper? A great passer? A scorer of wonder goals?

I am just curious as to why he was my favourite player back then... or maybe there is no logic behind it at all.

Sean Smythe, Cheshire Posted 22/05/2012 at 09:28:21

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Dave Wilson
922 Posted 22/05/2012 at 14:11:51

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He was brilliant until Marwood took half a yard from him.

I remember standing on the North Bank in the semi against Southampton praying for a winner when Inchy sparked scenes of mass hysteria by nodding in in the dying minutes. Halcyon days.

Perhaps he will be remembered more for what might have been.

It looked for all the world as if he`d got the winner against the shite in the Milk Cup Final, but that cheating bastard Hansen scooped it out with his hand. Unfortunately, the one person inside Wembely who didn't see it, was wearing a black kit.

Eugene Ruane
965 Posted 22/05/2012 at 16:17:03

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I seem to remember that score.

Some feller for Chelsea leathering four shots and they ALL flew in?

(or maybe three...definitely at least three).

At the end of the game, I remember coming out and thinking 'what the fuck happened there!?'

Inchy?

Great little busy player who could finish and he kept big hairy-arsed defenders sweating for 90 mins.

What may have been a 25 goal season (in 85) was cruelly halted by a dogs-arse no-mark.

Still from a history point of view, he'll always be the reason I, along with thousands of other blues, got to 'invade' Highbury - twice!

Peter Thistle
988 Posted 22/05/2012 at 17:10:40

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Was lucky enough to goto most of the home games back then when it was cheap to get in and we had a great side. Heath was a real poacher, knew where to be at the right time and never let us down. Similar to Tony Cottee in the way he played, little terrier in the box.

Kevin Sparke
008 Posted 22/05/2012 at 18:20:54

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If you get the chance to have a look at Everton's 5-0 demolition of Manchester United 84/85 - I've recently transferred a creaky old VHS tape onto DVD.

This will give you a flavour of Heath - he scored a goal in that game (header) and was everywhere. I've found this on YouTube but it doesn't do the lad justice.

/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08ojFNTG1oE

BTW - there were loads of Blues who were unconvinced by Heath in the first few games... they soon changed their minds.

Paul David
013 Posted 22/05/2012 at 18:32:21

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My dad's a Red and the only Everton player I've heard him say he hated was Heath... which, from an Evertonian's point of view, probably means he was good.

Brian Denton
018 Posted 22/05/2012 at 18:47:05

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What is sometimes forgotten - and is barely credible to write - is that we didn't lose another league game after that Chelsea match until the Title was long sewn up. Being an Everton fan (and naturally expecting the worst) I didn't think THAT would be the case as I trooped away from Goodison on a cold December Saturday evening...

His injury brought Andy Gray back into the team of course.

Peter Mills
034 Posted 22/05/2012 at 20:01:08

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I'm sure there was a spell during November/December of the 86-87 season when we had a run of home games in which Sheedy and Heath were unstoppable.

Ken Buckley
047 Posted 22/05/2012 at 20:32:54

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The thing I liked best about Heath was that he never hid. He could miss what looked like sitters, he could pick a wrong run and be out of position but whatever set back befell him he was back in the mix with the next attack scoring goals and a real threat to any defence. I was a big fan but I allways had the impression he was more revered when he stopped playing.

Paul Joy
051 Posted 22/05/2012 at 20:53:29

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Inchy was the type of player that opposition defenders hated to play against - he was a total pest, never still and never giving them any time on the ball, Great infectious enthusiasm and I agree with Ken that he never hid even on a bad day. Great days - great team

Dave Wilson
054 Posted 22/05/2012 at 21:08:35

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Going back to the tackle from which Inchy never FULLY recovered.

We didnt have many "nice guys" in that team.
Reidys retribution was so swift .
I was told later that when the abulance arrived for Inchy, Marwood was in it before he was.

Mark Browne
071 Posted 22/05/2012 at 22:10:32

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And he scored THAT goal versus Oxford United in 1983/84 season that kept Howard Kendall in a job, and the rest is history

Tom Bowers
076 Posted 22/05/2012 at 22:32:12

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Inchy was a great player but never really appreciated. Could have gone far with the great side of the mid-eighties but destiny held otherwise.

Paul Dewhurst
095 Posted 23/05/2012 at 00:12:44

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I can remember a diving header (might be the goal Kevin Spark has mention) Against united great header, but the move started by Heath breaking up play in our box 10 seconds later he scored. Great little player

Jason Lam
106 Posted 23/05/2012 at 02:15:47

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I admit Heath was my first Everton idol. I don't remember all the moments vividly but the semi-final goal in extra time(?) is my most memorable moment of him.

Kevin Sparke
141 Posted 23/05/2012 at 08:52:46

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Paul - yep that's the one (not the one he scored in the clip).

Some of us even had our hair permed the same as Heath (the shame)

A little story about Heath. Me and the lads would park up at The Queens on Queens Drive for the pre match refreshments. Quite often the Everton injured would meet up in the pub before going to watch the team. Inchy's great mate from Stoke was Lee Chapman and would come up if he was injured or Stoke weren't playing and watch Everton - there was even a rumour that he was going to sign for Everton at one stage - boy, he used to bring some nice looking women in the pub!

Anyway, one day Heath came into the Bar and saw the bunch of us sitting there (he used to always let on - had even bought the odd round of ale for us) and asked us if we all had tickets for the Semi-Final v Luton at Villa Park - we were one short and told him - he said 'I'll see what I can do'. About an hour later just as we were about to leave Lee Chapman came over, and said 'your mate said you needed a ticket - I cant go' It was for the directors box at Villa Park and he wouldn't take anything for it.

Great footballer - great lad

Thomas Lennon
157 Posted 23/05/2012 at 09:53:38

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Usually knackered by about 60min because he had completed a 100 yard sprint every 5 mins up till then. Good player, as someone said not instantly loved by many (neither was Sharp) unlike Cottee BUT Cottee was a bit of a disappointment in the end wasn't he? Never seemed to do what he did for West Ham?

Peter Barnes
163 Posted 23/05/2012 at 10:16:40

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Sorry to spoil this appreciation society but never really rated him.
Bought as a midfielder he was so useless there that Kendal had to take him out of the firing line and find a place somewhere else.
One poster on here mentioned his injury brought Andy Gray back to partner Sharp.
Heath was always second fiddle after that.Both to Gray and subsequently Linacre.
He did play as first choice in 87 of course after Linacre left.
An undoubted trier annd not a bad player but not a mainstay of that team IMO.

Andrew Ellams
166 Posted 23/05/2012 at 10:37:31

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The reason he never got his place back Peter is because the injury pretty much finished him as a top player.

If it had never happened he could have been as good as Keegan (I know he played for THEM, but you can't deny he was good)

Thomas Lennon
168 Posted 23/05/2012 at 10:47:03

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Linacre - another strange one for me - I never understood why we had to try to get him to score all our goals. No doubting he was a great player but we won far more without him when we played as a team and goals came from all departments.
If a team could stop Linacre then they could stop us scoring whereas before & after they had to try to stop any one of 6 scoring - with obvious results.

174 Posted 23/05/2012 at 10:40:53

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I do remember that he was part owner of Hairlucinations on County Road.......hmmm

Peter Barnes
184 Posted 23/05/2012 at 11:46:17

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Andrew I would concede that when he got that terrible injury he was certainly in the form of his life.It still brings a smile remembering Peter Reid exacting retribution on Marward for his disgracefull tackle with one of his own.I just felt that Gray and Sharp represented a more potent strike force.
And after that Linacre and Sharp.But having said all that you cant take away the fact the Heath got back into the side in 87 and we won the league and he undoubtedly played his part.

Graham McCann
207 Posted 23/05/2012 at 13:30:05

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Adrian Heath was a top footballer whose career was severely affected by that tackle. The lad scored some cracking goals for us during his spell at the club. My fondest memory of him is from about three or four years ago. Inchy is from round stoke on Trent , and is well known to a lot of the lads here. Anyway, he came into my pub one night for a couple of beers and to watch the Everton V Chelsea League Cup Semi Final. I introduced myself as a Blue Nose. Next thing I was talking to Peter Reid whilst he was doing the match commentary for Sky on Inchy's mobile. Top bloke.

Roberto Birquet
249 Posted 23/05/2012 at 16:00:49

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Yes, I was there. Missed loads of chances if I remember and were 4-1 down until we got two late goals - Think Chelsea scored with every shot including a hat-trick. But we were stung - and did not lose again in league, cup or Europe, until the League was won.

Happy Days!

Andrew Ellams
250 Posted 23/05/2012 at 16:09:00

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Gordon Davies was the Chelsea striker

Paul Ferry
291 Posted 23/05/2012 at 18:41:44

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Who's this Linacre fella people are talking about. We've never ever to my mind had a player called Linacre? Somewhat embarrassing when people can't even spell the name of the striker who has been one of our crown jewels in the last 25 years or so.

Inchy. Silly comments here about how poor he was. He was whaccked and crocked 86-88 and ought never to have become a 1st choice after LINEKER left.

But before that, however. He was the perfect foil for Sharpy (now sadly disgraced, but, back then, I would have licked his boots any day of the week). The 117th Highbury goal - my fave EFC goal ever - I still get a shiver up and down my spine when I think of it and the commentary - remember, 'Oh Everton don't lose your heads now' on Radio-M. Hand-ball, reidy chipped t in, Mounty got a nod-on, Inchy rising like the proverbial salmon (he did miss a sitter before that though and also had a shot cleared off the line by Micky Mills using his tash, I think) I left a shoe somewhere in the North Bank, but got a fist-full of turf. And, again, no-one ought to forget the Oxford goal in 1984- I was there, not many others around me and my mates.

Inchy, Loved him. Glad he's doing well now. Met him at one of our Americana games, had beers, all bought by him. He also bought me a few once at his wine-bar in Stoke -Heaths - a wine bar in Stoke!!!!

Peter Laing
315 Posted 23/05/2012 at 19:46:42

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Never the same player after the Marwood tackle, seem to recall that Marwood shit out and never played against Everton again after that, heard that Reid, Sharp and Van Den Hauwe had a contract out on him if he dared to play !

Steve Barr
362 Posted 23/05/2012 at 23:30:01

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Heath was a giant as far as I'm concerned, clearly not in physical stature but in his ability, bravery and consistent performances for Everton.

He now coaches a team called Orlando in the American USL Pro League, the league below the MLS.

My son is friends with one of Orlando's goalkeepers, who often comes to stay with us.

He waxes lyrical about Inchy, particularly how good he still is in training. The speed has obviously gone but what skill in demonstarting how things should be done.

Inchy is a legend for that semi final goal against Soton at Highbury alone! I was at that game and will always remember it.

COYBs

Derek Turnbull
412 Posted 24/05/2012 at 10:15:34

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Paul Ferry, Linacre replaced Grey and linked up with Sharpe. He played well with the great supply on the right from Trevor Stevens.

Matt Traynor
417 Posted 24/05/2012 at 10:52:59

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Derek #412 - quite the achievement, mis-spelling 3 players' names in one sentence! Followed by the fourth in the next.

Eugene Ruane
418 Posted 24/05/2012 at 10:44:07

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So Paul ferry (291) asks..

"Who's this Linacre fella people are talking about. We've never ever to my mind had a player called Linacre?"

Derek Turnbull (412) responds..

"Paul Ferry, Linacre replaced Grey and linked up with Sharpe. He played well with the great supply on the right from Trevor Stevens"

Need to know if I have missed something very clever in Derek's reply (or if Derek missed every day of school)

(ffs - it's not like his name is Gary Onomatopoeia).

Eugene Ruane
420 Posted 24/05/2012 at 10:58:51

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- AH GOT IT!

Thanks Matt

(that was deliberate..wasn't it Derek?)

Matt Traynor
422 Posted 24/05/2012 at 11:23:01

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Eugene, it's nothing. A few years ago he could've played alongside Graveson. Or today, with a midfield of Pinnear and Fellini.

Sadly that Bily fella left.

Derek Turnbull
423 Posted 24/05/2012 at 11:21:09

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I don't know what you mean?

Anyway, back to our faves as a kid Gary Stanley, Brian Burrows....

Tony McNulty
424 Posted 24/05/2012 at 11:31:29

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Sparked by the discussion of Marwood, I cannot remember who caused the injury to Kevin Ratcliffe. I recall he was out for a number of months, and similar to Heath, never seemed the same player again.

Can anyone remember?

Dennis Stevens
426 Posted 24/05/2012 at 11:46:09

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Paul, I was also at the Manor Ground & as I recall there was quite a crush getting into the away end. They also had to put a policeman on top of the turnstile kiosk to stop people just climbing over the top. To be honest, I didn't think we really deserved the draw on the night - it just goes to show, a turning point isn't always apparent at the time.

Guy Hastings
435 Posted 24/05/2012 at 12:32:41

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Mick Channon called him 'the boy Linacre' all the time.

Graham McCann
445 Posted 24/05/2012 at 13:36:50

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Derek, who could forget the midfield partnership of Peter Red and Paul Braclette? With Kevin Shed on the left and Kevin Richards as his left Wong understudy? They where all superbly managed by Howard Candle by the way......

Mike Connolly
449 Posted 24/05/2012 at 14:14:31

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Good player, top bloke. Mate had one of the houses in Goodison Rd. One night match, Inchy came in and got bladdered. As he staggered out of our house, a person from next door was waiting his arrival. Turned out he was in the wrong house. This is one sitter I didn?t mind him missing.

Colin Wainwright
491 Posted 24/05/2012 at 17:42:29

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Fuckin' crackin player before the injury. the only lad of recent times I could compare him to, is Solskear (dodgy spelling alert).

That semi aagainst Southhampton was the best day of my twelve year old life.

Chris Jones [Burton]
815 Posted 26/05/2012 at 01:36:15

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I remember going to see Everton at Home to Stoke in the 84/5 season and an RAF pal of my brother's (from Stoke) said if he were the opposition manager he'd have someone 'reduce' Inchy's movement, because he was just too much of a handful otherwise. Sadly Mr Marwood managed that a short time later.

I remember the Chelsea game (a Monday night match) in which we battered them but they seemingly scored each time they got in our half. I remember a certain Pat Nevin, playing on the right wing, made one or more of their goals. That twat Speedie had a good game as well.

Linaker gets some stick but I saw every home game the season he had with us and he was scoring for fun. He got a wonderful hat trick against Man Citeh at Goodison.

When saying we were a better side without him (I agree only as far as us being less rewarding to watch when we were always playing the early ball for him to chase, rather than wing play and crosses) people forget we came within an ace of doing the double the season he was with us.

After being desperately unlucky towards the end of the season when Big Nev broke & dislocated his ankle playing for Wales (costing us one or two dropped points in the league that he'd have saved us) we threw away the cup final against the Shite, having been a goal up and much the better side. And this came after we'd head our hearts broken on the last day of the league season by a Dalglish late winner at Chelsea - as we were thrashing Soton at home, 6:1 believing we were winning the league.

Had we had better luck it would have been WE who did the double in the 85/6 season, not the Shite, and Linaker would've rightly got much of the credit (as I recall he won either the PFA or Sport Writers' 'Player of the year ' awards that season as it was). Anyway, we were banned from Europe - for some reason that escapes me now - he had a great World Cup and the rest is history.

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