It's difficult to convey the impact of Everton in that decade on a then youngster like me, who from ages 7 to 16 saw truly great Everton teams. For me, the 68-69 season was the pinnacle in terms of sheer quality of football, whilst the 69-70 season was the pinnacle in terms of achievement. The chasm between the expectations we had for Everton at the end of the 60s, and the reality during the 70s, is massive. Of course, the mid-80s brought a too-temporary return as top dog, but did not match the 60s for quality.

That team that won the 69-70 title could (should?) easily have been the England team in Mexico. Our midfield battling with Brazil's would have been something to behold.

In my lifetime I've seen 8 trophies, and I hope young Evertonians will soon see many more than that. Although we haven't won as many trophies as some other sides, the quality of how we played in the 60s is unforgettable. That is surely the goal of the current regime under Moshiri, to return us to top status, with trophies won in style that represents how football should be played.

The Kay betting scandal and the alleged drug taking were the two highest profile investigations conducted by The People newspaper but there was always a feeling the national press were intent on undermining the club in whatever way they could. Most certainly they missed no opportunity to publish anything negative including the coverage of fan behaviour. Understandably perhaps Catterick in turn treated most of the press with disdain.

In some ways the considerable financial advantage we enjoyed over our rivals in the early sixties came at the wrong time. It came before clubs were permitted to sign foreign players, making it difficult to compete with the big European clubs. Reading in the book about John Moores’ wish to sign Ferenc Puskas makes one think about what might have been.

Very well written, with many well chosen quotes from all the key characters and some excellent photos.

PS, A common misspelling of George's name, Rick. Thomson, not Thompson who played for the other lot at that time and was a good winger

As for Tony Kay, both he and us were unlucky in that it was one game when he was at Sheffield Wednesday that he and a couple of teammates put a bet on them to lose, which was a foregone conclusion apparently, and he was banned for life.

Surely Ferenc Albert not Ferenc Puskas?

Florian Albert and Ferenc Puskas. Oh, and Ferenc Bene as well.

Just brought back the memory of being at one of those football dinner events in Waterloo some 20 years ago. Somone asked something about the Alan Ball sale/leaving and Labone like grease lightening shot back... very tersely: "I'll tell you something about that little shit" and the moment was lost and never picked up as the evening continued. Was there issues there within the camp that we've never learnt that may have influenced Catterick's decision???