I simply love these stories Becky, there is a wonderful innocence about them. Ann West's re-collection of the 'minutiae' incidents during those heady years simply adds to the wonderful memories she has.

Sad to hear her and Gordon split up after just 12 years, they seemed very much in love at the time.

Merseyside in the 60's was a much different place then, no social media and all the toxicity it brings with it. The black and white pictures of the girls 'dressed up' is charming as they set off for Wembley.

Hilarious story about them having a party back in Ann's hotel bedroom but being told by the reception staff 'no more alcohol' please.

Wonderful wonderful story.

Gordon was our keeper when dad took me to my first game when I was only 6 and for a while after. My memory is that he was a gentleman and a bloody good keeper too.

Fascinating read Becky. Thank you for taking the time.

Two interesting things I took (amongst others). Firstly the nerves. Every player (and I was by no means gracing the grass the great Gordon did) has to have nerves. It's how they channel them that matters. Adrenalin is necessary but how it is channeled determines whether a player uses it positively and is "up for it" but without losing their head. It's a fine balance. As this is a goalkeeping story, Jordan Pickford could take note. It's good to be pumped up and nervous but controlled aggression is more conducive.

The separation piece is close to my heart and one I don't think footballers get enough credit for. Not sympathy as clearly they get many benefits, especially financial ones in the modern game. But don't underestimate the personal sacrifice they make in giving up the normal things in life that many take for granted. They give up control of their own life and belong to something else.

I spent 18 months of my son's first 2 years away out of the country. I continuously spent periods of 6 months at a time away from the family in foreign climes because I was owned by an establishment; one I volunteered for so I new the terms, but owned. No choice. I wouldn't change a thing, but I agree with Ann and the author, being away from family for long periods is difficult; more so for the family who are left behind to cope with it.

Fantastic read. Really enjoyed that.

Great observation, Danny. Whether by decision or circumstance, lengthy family separations are always painful and can have long-term effects. Millions of families around the world, including mine, have learned that during the pandemic.

Great read, Becky!

What strikes you about these stories is how ordinary their lives were; living in semis amongst everyone else albeit probably on a bit more money. At that time, Liverpool had three club houses, opposite us in West Derby, one of which was in a terrace of four! (Kevin Lewis lived in that one).

You'd often bump into the players, or their wives, in the Co-op or the paper shop etc. I had the great pleasure of meeting Gordon a few years before he died and we had a long chat about those days.

I asked him if he was envious of the huge amounts present day footballers earned (and this was 15 years ago) and he said he wasn't. He was just glad to be earning relatively good money at Everton rather than working down the pit back home in Barnsley.

I love coming here and reading the comments - thanks guys.

The reason this piece has made comeback (so to speak) is because I was speaking to Ann before Christmas and she told me Steve (her son) had died.

She had gone and spent some time in Australia with her sister while she digested the news.

Steve was a good Evertonian and a stalwart in spite of living in London.

God bless - stay safe

Up the Toffees 💙

Brilliant stuff, Becky. Saw Gordon play for the Football League against the Irish League on a rainy night many years ago. I was behind his goal in the second half and it was just wonderful to see a legend close up.

Becky, you have just shaken me to my roots with the news that Steve West had died.

I've mentioned it before but my family also had family in Blackpool and we were some how related to Elsie (who Ann mentions in the article) and her husband Ronnie.

Knowing I was a mad Evertonian Elsie arranged it for me to meet Gordon during the summer hols when visiting Blackpool.

He was a very handsome fellah was Gordon. A real Adonis. Playful, charming and very generous. He would get me and me da tickets to Goodison some times and somewhere I've got a great press photo of him off the ground in a backward arching dive that he gave me with a personal message and autograph.

Really shaken to read about Stephen's passing. He was a good 5-8 years younger than me, I'm sure. Deep condolences to Ann.

Becky, you have just shaken me to my roots with the news that Steve West had died.

I've mentioned it before but my family also had family in Blackpool and we were some how related to Elsie (who Ann mentions in the article) and her husband Ronnie.

Knowing I was a mad Evertonian Elsie arranged it for me to meet Gordon during the summer hols when visiting Blackpool.

He was a very handsome fellah was Gordon. A real Adonis. Playful, charming and very generous. He would get me and me da tickets to Goodison some times and somewhere I've got a great press photo of him off the ground in a backward arching dive that he gave me with a personal message and autograph.

Really shaken to read about Stephen's passing. He was a good 5-8 years younger than me, I'm sure. Deep condolences to Ann.

Becky, you have just shaken me to my roots with the news that Steve West had died.

I've mentioned it before but my family also had family in Blackpool and we were some how related to Elsie (who Ann mentions in the article) and her husband Ronnie.

Knowing I was a mad Evertonian Elsie arranged it for me to meet Gordon during the summer hols when visiting Blackpool.

He was a very handsome fellah was Gordon. A real Adonis. Playful, charming and very generous. He would get me and me da tickets to Goodison some times and somewhere I've got a great press photo of him off the ground in a backward arching dive that he gave me with a personal message and autograph.

Really shaken to read about Stephen's passing. He was a good 5-8 years younger than me, I'm sure. Deep condolences to Ann.