He was a very good player, but never really did it for us. I remember him ripping us to pieces for Chelsea at Goodison just before Christmas 1984, in what I think was our last home defeat of the season. But he was injured in his early days for us, then I think he suffered a debilitating illness from which he took a long time to recover - at times, kicking the ball more than 5 yards looked an effort for him.

This will be worth a read.

Later on when Kendall had made it obvious he didn’t rate Pat, I saw him one cold miserable winters day, up and down the wing for Everton reserves doing the best he could, playing very well. I wrote him a letter a few days later, praising him but asking how he felt in giving his all in such very drab conditions for the reserves, when he should have, IMO, been in the first team.

A few weeks later, I’d forgot about writing to him, I received a letter, which still makes me smile, it was on what looked like an old green envelope, torn around the edges, and on it Pat said, thank you for taking the time to write to me and the main theme was “ No matter who I play for, first team or reserves I always try to do my best because I am still paid the same wages no matter what.

Like Peter(1), I will also endeavour to get this book, you never forget nice people and I think Pat Nevin is one, and always the same man, no side to him at all.

The memory is fading and I don't want to Google, but did he play for the Chelsea team at Goodison that had not long been promoted around 87-ish?

We frustratingly drew 2 - 2, Chelsea wore some some of green / turquoise strip and it was the match Pat van den Hauwe got away with totally flooring David Speedie off the ball.

Even though he was on crutches, he still wanted to watch his team mates from the stands.

He not only signed our match programmes, we were all 6th formers – and all forming our own musical tastes – he discussed it in depth with each of the four of us, listening, chatting and giving back the Scouse wit with interest.

The team coach (as in bus), eventually sent someone over to retrieve him, as the persistent horn blowing had no impact.

It was a shame Howard Kendall II didn't give him a chance, but throughout his career, Kendall made his mind up on players pretty quickly and seldom changed it.

I look forward to reading this. I heard him on Radio 5 this morning talking about it, and in typical fashion he was self-deprecating, talking about the forthcoming Euros instead. Your review, Rob, has convinced me it's worth getting – not that I ever doubted it would be an interesting read.

Even in his first stint, he quickly realised and made decisions on players, even his own signings.

You're correct: Everton drew 2-2, Colin Pates scored near the end, when they were down to 10 men, following the dismissal of McAllister. The games between Chelsea and Everton were quite feisty in those days, but at least Everton beat them at Stamford Bridge and we went on to win the league.

I don't know what colour the Chelsea strip is... Greyish Green?

Everton vs Chelsea 1986

What are the chances of travelling to an event and sitting two seats away from an Everton supporter?

EFC FA Cup

I returned home to discover our family had been hit by a disaster. I prefer not to go into the details, but would like to say that by a quirk of fate we subsequently befriended referee Neil Midgeley, who was very generous with his time helping a charity we established. He may have had shortcomings as a referee but he was a lovely guy. (I still gave him stick about the penalty whenever I met him!).

There was a shocking few years were Lawrenson was pulling players shirts, when we were wiping the floor with them, Hansen getting away with hand balls, and the diabolical disallowed Wayne Clarke header.

Throw in Don Hutchinsons disallowed goal at our place, and where does time go, and at least we got some better luck this season v the RS at Goodison.

Hopefully this weekend will pan out for Everton.

It would have seemed odd if he'd done otherwise and if this was us operating at that level and Carragher or Souness were reluctant to pay compliments, we'd be quick to jump on them.

He's just been honest and never been disrespectful towards us either as, when we do well, you can tell he gets a kick out of it.

As a player, he probably should have won more a little like his team mate Kerry Dixon.

One thing that always surprises me is that HK didn't like him. After coming in for his second managerial spell, HK was obsessed with a Spanish style with technical but diminutive players like Beardsley, Ward, Cottee, Beagrie, Warzycha, Ebbrell (we were linked with Hagi at the time as well!) but Nevin was sidelined?

In the days of the rigid 4-4-2, Kendall mostly preferred his "wide"players to be ones that could also play central, and would probably have preferred to play central, given the option. Like Sheedy for example, who definitely would have preferred centre mid. But in those days it was never going to happen. Sheedy did a bit of central in 86/87 when injuries kicked in. He was excellent.

As I understand it, Kendalls thinking was that you'd get the width but they'd also play wide narrow to keep it kind of compact so you'd not get strung out. They generally needed to have the legs to work up and down and preferably have a few goals in them. If the legs weren't on one side then they definitely had to be on the other. Like Trevor Steven, Mark Ward, or Kevin Richardson - who played central everywhere else as far as I know.

When Kendall sold Beardsley he spent the money on Graham Stuart and played him right mid. Hard working, up and down, few goals in him, play central at a push. Even fucking Preki preferred to play centre mid!!

When Kendall came back for the second time I knew Nevin and Beagrie may as well have packed their bags straight away. There was no way Kendall was going to have them. I thought both were a shocking waste of money anyway. I didn't rate Nevin. And Beagrie? Christ. Self-indulgent, greedy, unproductive. Played like he was in the school yard. In fact, apart from Keown and Hinchcliffe I'm not sure Colin had many successes in the market. Most were really poor and really expensive. Good God, I've just thought of Mike Milligan

Just listened to the Roger Armstrong interview; very good to listen.

I suspect Pat is something of a Marmite type of guy, but to me he comes across as dedicated and principled.

Well worth a read.