Andy King a Blue to the end

, 1 June, 14comments | Jump to most recent

The funeral of Goodison hero Andy King will take place next to the ground he graced as a player with a service scheduled at St Luke's Church for 2:30pm on Thursday.

The former Blues midfielder, whose Merseyside derby goal in 1978 wrote his name indelibly into Everton folklore, died at just 58 last week from a heart attack.

He once told Bluekipper of how he was never the same once Everton had touched him:

“Billy Bingham signed me and I will probably love the club for the rest of my life. I love Everton and I want to be known as an Evertonian because I love them, so simple.”

Hundreds of Evertonians are expected to attend the service to pay their respects to Andy.

Reader Comments (14)

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Colin Glassar
1 Posted 01/06/2015 at 18:08:08

I will be there in spirit if not in body. RIP, Andy.

Steve Woods
2 Posted 01/06/2015 at 18:23:48

Taken way too young but at least you get to meet up with Dixie and the rest of the lads. RIP Andy.

Tom Edwards
3 Posted 01/06/2015 at 18:39:36

I will be at work here in York and unable to get away. I will have a quiet moment around 2:30 and bid another fine Evertonian farewell.

Peter Murray
4 Posted 01/06/2015 at 17:45:11

Andy never really got the credit he deserved. That superb goal against RS in 1978, our first win against against them in 7 years, is an iconic part of EvertonÂ’s history.

But he did so much than that from the moment he arrived in 1976. His control, skill and awareness stood out. He won two Under-21 caps but, surprisingly, never achieved a full international.

Ironic that his death coincides with that of Tony McNamara, another unsung hero.I watched him whilst standing on a stool, my nose just above the old Goodison Road wall, flanked by my father and several uncles. I always wanted to be him in the footy games I played with the other kids in Bootle.

Doug Harris
5 Posted 01/06/2015 at 22:44:41

St Luke's Â– a place befitting A King.

Happy memories of a wonderful, wholehearted player that gave his all for the Blue shirt.

God bless, Andy...

Pete Cross
6 Posted 01/06/2015 at 23:03:28

RIP Andy

St Luke's really is part of our history; IÂ’m warming to the idea of staying at Goodison.

Dave Abrahams
7 Posted 02/06/2015 at 00:42:24

I will make my way to St LukeÂ’s on Thursday, but I donÂ’t expect to get in. It is a relatively small church and I KNOW there will be quite a lot of blue noses there.

I hope Andy gets clapped out of the church at the end of the service and if I get in I will join in the singing of "Andy is our King" at the end of the mass as well, itÂ’s what he deserved and what he would have appreciated too.

Johnny Rainford
8 Posted 02/06/2015 at 11:59:28

Just booked the afternoon off to be there. Kingy is the reason why this 46-year-old became a Blue all those years ago and this has left me absolutely gutted.

Thanks and God Bless Kingy. Legend doesnÂ’t even begin the tributes.

Born not manufactured.

Tom Hughes
9 Posted 02/06/2015 at 16:54:34

Wish I could be there.... stuck at sea till next week. Perhaps IÂ’ll hear the roar of: "Andy is our King" come riding on the breeze. ...... RIP Andy King

Robbie Shields
10 Posted 04/06/2015 at 12:07:13

Andy King gave me the first true high of being an Evertonian. I was a little 8-year-old boy experiencing my first ever Derby in the family area (Lower Bullens at the time) with my Dad and Grandad. It was the day I fell in love with Everton and Evertonians, my life has never the same since. A day and memory I will never ever forget.

Thank you Andy King.

RIP

Dave Abrahams
11 Posted 04/06/2015 at 17:30:56

I went to AndyÂ’s funeral at St. LukeÂ’s, got there early, saw loads of former players come out of the club and walk along to the church including Ratcliffe, Sharp, Snodin, Ward, Kendall, Plil Thompson walked just ahead of them. About 500 to 600 were outside the church as the hearse arrived and the crowd clapped for a good five minutes,

Peter Reid and Mick Hartford were two of the coffin bearers. I managed to get into the church foyer to hear various speeches by family and friends of Andy.

We were asked to leave just before the end of the service to make way for the mourners and coffin to come out.

Andy was carried out in complete silence and after about 20 minutes the hearse was driven slowly away to prolonged clapping from the host of Evertonians who had made their way to St LukeÂ’s to witness AndyÂ’s final journey.

George McKane
12 Posted 04/06/2015 at 18:14:15

I was on City Talk 105.9 FM on Tuesday morning - I do a regular spot on the news items each week Â– I always get a mention of Everton in and on Tuesday during a debate I just sang "Oh Andy is our King" Â– I just had to.

Johnny Rainford
13 Posted 04/06/2015 at 18:56:28

Dave, I was there with my eldest, we just managed to get in. Sounds like we were in the same part of the church at the rear.

Magnificent, mate. For a such a great turnout on a Thursday afternoon at short notice... nothing short of magnificent.

Well done Blues.

Mike Galley
14 Posted 05/06/2015 at 00:07:21

I was there today as well. ItÂ’s hit me little harder than I thought something like this might. IÂ’ve been in a quiet, reflective all day thinking about ex-players, games, friend I go, or used to go the game with.

IÂ’m 45 now, and to quote Robbie Shields @10, Andy gave me my first true high as an Evertonian. Rest in peace Andy King......

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