Jimmy Gabriel has died at the age of 80

Mike Lyons told me that, growing up, Jimmy was his favourite Everton player.

He’d left the club long before I started going to games.

The club have released a statement.

Not a great day

RIP Jimmy

Condolences to his friends and family. RIP Jimmy.

I second that. Jimmy was a player who gave his all for the Blues, after coming down from Dundee as a 19-year-old for a record fee for a Scottish player at that time. He played many great games for Everton as a very combative wing-half and played a few games as a centre-forward, scoring a few goals in that position.

I think he left Everton not long after Howard Kendall joined the club.

RIP, Jimmy – always a pleasure watching you play for The Blues.

Last time I saw him was in The Crosby pub in the mid to late nineties. He was with his wife and another couple. He always spoke highly of Everton even when he was employed by other clubs. On his first return to Goodison as a player with Southampton in 1967 he received the loudest applause of the afternoon from our supporters.

Didn't he step up as caretaker manager... or did I dream that?

One of the ‘unsung’ heroes of that long run in after the Big Freeze in 1963. A real slog for weeks, catching up on a backlog, when they really had to dig in.

Gabriel Kay And Stevens dragged us over the line a few times, on mudheap pitches.

A real soldier, hard as nails, and plenty of skill too.

Spent some time with him, early 90s, in the company of Tommy E Jones. Both real gents!

He did so twice. The first time was between Colin and HK2 when we beat QPR 3-0. The second time was in 93-94 before Mike Walker arrived.

The Angel Gabriel at the pearly gates saying "Welcome, Brother"

Sad day for Blues of a certain vintage.

Gabriel in charge

And you, Barry.

Try and catch any video of it... Magic memory 👌

Jimmy was also on the bench with the other staff during the 1995 FA Cup Final.

Can you imagine putting some of today's divers and screamers in a game against the real men? They wouldn't last 2 minutes, ha-ha.

They wouldn't even get out of the dressing room if they had have behaved like that in those days, in fact, they probably wouldn't have lasted 5 minutes in a trial match and would have been sent packing and advised to join the theatre or seek employment with a traveling circus.

What a footballer. As a boy I was always drawn to his blond hair out on the Goodison pitch. He was very skilful, a grafter, a passer, and a goal scorer. And his act of taking the ball to the corner flag towards the end of the match on 14 May 1966 put him into Everton folklore.

Rest in peace, the Archangel Gabriel.

I remember him signing, really makes me feel old… he was born 4 days after me. Feel old… I am old.

Seen most of his games at Goodison and in them times went to a number of away games including that FA Cup Final in 1966.

Can't imagine then, remember my sister got me a ticket for the final, I think it was less than a pound. When I went to the next one against West Brom, I paid £8 for a ticket off a West Brom supporter who didn't want it as his mate never had one and it was raining.

Never witnessed him, so I can't comment, but it says a lot about the standard of the time. League title & FA Cup winner but replaced as we apparently saw better in Howard Kendall.

Like I say, before my time, but I knew the name so respect to a person and footballer who's name and exploits I grew up on and gave me the hope that we would succeed again. And we did. We will again.

Thank you, and enjoy looking on from the Top Balcony in Heaven.

All prayers and deepest thoughts and sympathies to the Gabriel Family.

Backbone, guts, and balls.

The minimum...

R.I.P Jimmy.

If somebody more techno than me could put up the clip of his Wembley last minute run up the line to the corner flag, it would show those who only know of the name what a player he was.

I've got an actual tear in my eye. A great servant of the Club and he'll be sadly missed.

One day but better times are due and will happen.

When he first returned to Goodison with Southampton the crowd for at least 20 minutes just chanted his name. As the chanting broke the ball went out for a throw in and Jimmy came over to take it and as the ball was thrown to him from out of the crowd a voice boomed out, "Alright, Jimmy, still working the clubs,mate?". Gabby just nodded and flashed a knowing smile.

A great character and Evertonian, and one of my heroes, RIP.

How lucky we were to see him in a team of other great players and a great team. He was a real heroic figure of a man and has so may have said, to see him win a tackle in our half then set off up the field like a galleon in full sail. He set the ould pulses racing as you just knew we were going to give some defence a very hard time.

He gave every match that I ever saw him in, his all. How lucky we were to have him so long; and how lucky to see him among so many great players.

The Angel Gabriel, still true now.

https://www.google.ToffeeWeb.com/season/13-14/comment/fan/27198.html

We had a great night remembering oor Jimmy and his Dad stated that he was still a blue - so was Jimmy... RIP Angel - remembered with fondness

Gabby Corner Flag

A most astute signing by Catterick, only 23 when he was an integral part of the ‘62-63 Championship team and fondly remembered for his time saving antics in the last minute of the ‘66 Cup Final.

He would be only 27 when Howard Kendall
arrived and looking back it seems incredible that Catterick quickly sold him to Southampton were he had another outstanding career.

A truly great Evertonian.

He made his debut in 1960 at West Ham 2-2.
Jimmy gave a strong tackle, the Referee called
him over, "what"s your name number 4 " James
Gabriel sir. "Well don"t do that again James Gabriel."

He gave his all on the pitch, remembering winning
the league 1963 and the FA Cup.One stand out a
header in the Gladwys St. against Leeds in the FA
Cup,a night game, we won 2-0, think he played at
Centre Forward.

In a game at Fulham 1962/3 me and my mate went
to Craven Cottage (Tony Kelly a tribute for him on
ToffeeWeb 3 years ago) a great Evertonian.

After the game, we tried to get on the bus, the
conducter said bus full, we have to get to Euston
to get for 6-15 pm train. Just then 2 policemen
come on get the next bus.

Just then we heard a shout and Jimmy Gabriel, was
on the steps of the Everton coach,we got on.
They were going to Euston as well.

Roy Vernon and Alex Young were sitting together,
we were on paradise. Gabby shouted hey, wait until
I get that bastard Maurice Cook when he comes to
Goodison.

He got is revenge on the Fulham"s forward into the
month may.
What an atmosphere. Champions1963.

RIP Gabby

Hope you are doing okay Ray, nice memories you’ve got going to watch The Blues all those years ago and making friends that stayed friends forever.

As for Jimmy Gabriel, from Dundee, but definitely one of us after he came to Everton and still one of us no matter where he went for the rest of his life, down to Earth and sound as a pound, and you can’t get any better tribute than that.

RIP GABBY

I was only young when he played but those memories will stay with me forever.

I knew his sister Sheila quite well and she told me about how he hated Catterick and his sergeant major attitude but he always gave 100%..

Condolences to all the family.

RIP Jimmy.

He always gave 100% and would go through a brick wall to win the ball. I recall him having a stint at centre-forward and there was a game against Man City during the Summerbee - Bell era. I was at the front of the Paddock and the ball was played up the line on the left to where Gabby was being closely marked by Tony Book who came straight through the back of Jimmy to knock the ball forward. No foul given (well, not in those days!). Jimmy though glanced over to see if the ref was looking then turned to Book and planted a cracking "header" right onto Books generous nose. The crowd roared with laughter.

What a character, RIP Gabby.

A versatile player, Jimmy was used in defence, midfield and attack by former manager Ted Bates, who valued his adaptability and ability to read the game.

He was similarly rated by his teammates. Terry Paine MBE described him as “an absolute class act – an outstanding footballer… a very intelligent player [who] loved to play… but, more, he wanted to win.”

Southampton’s record goalscorer, Mick Channon, was similarly enthusiastic, declaring Jimmy “everything I love about a footballer – a stubborn devil [who] wanted to be the best.”

In total, he racked up 224 appearances in five years as a Saint, scoring 27 goals.

The thoughts of everybody at Southampton FC are with Jimmy's family and loved ones.

I remember when he was replaced by Howard, it took quite a while for the crowd to accept the new No 4 instead of Gabby.

Not sure about stock situation

For many years, I had a photo of the Everton team of the early 60s (free from Ty-Phoo Tea) on my bedroom wall, and Jimmy was one of the best of the bunch. That picture was still on my wall when I left home to join the RAF in 1970, but mysteriously disappeared when my dad redecorated the room soon afterwards.

I came home on leave to find a lot of my youthful memorabilia lost forever. I did of course have serious words with my dad, who as an ex-army RSM had a habit of winning most arguments.

RIP, Jimmy, a real hero of mine. Condolences to his friends and family.