alan ball
Player Valuation: £70m
As most of you know I have been working on a book which thankfully is almost done interviewing ex Everton players. I will be bringing out volumes 2,3 and 4 to follow. From the sales of the books I will be making a donation to the former players foundation.
Last year I had the pleasure to speak with Andy king and this interview will be going in the second volume.
I thought it might be a good idea for you readers and fans to share this moment I had with Kingy and read it now giving you an idea at what I have been working on.
At this moment in time I have spoken to around 140 ex players who have given me some great stories.
Ladies and gentlemen, I bring you Andy King.
BLUE ECHO INTERVIEWS ANDY KING
Andy King will always be remembered and loved for his wonderful strike in the Merseyside Derby in October 1978. Andy has never hidden his feelings for his love for Everton to the point he says he is an adopted Scouser.
Andy took time out from his work as the number two at Northampton Town to chat with me over his career. "OH ANDY IS OUR KING"
Q1/ HOW DID YOU JOIN EVERTON FC?
A1/ They signed me. It wasn't my choice, they wanted me and Luton wanted to sell me. They must have had me watched; I was only a kid so I joined Everton.
Q2/ WAS HARRY HASLAM (LUTON MANAGER)IN FAVOUR OF YOUR MOVE?
A2/ Yeah, the club needed £100,000 or they were going out of business. They sold me along with another player but as to whether Harry was agreeable to it; I suppose he had no option.
It was better for the Club and it was better for me. Luton had been relegated the season before. I had no choice in the matter.
I think Cardiff City came in as well but they weren't that big, so Everton really wasn't a difficult decision. As a London kid I knew who Everton were but really didn't know much about Cardiff.
Q3/ WHAT DO YOU REMEMBER OF YOUR EVERTON DEBUT?
A3/ My first game for Everton in fact was in the reserves away at Coventry City and we lost 6-5.
I remember Eric Harrison was in charge.
I also remember a guy called Mick Buckley who got injured. I only played one reserve game then got put in the team in place of Mick Buckley.
We used to have a practice game at Bellefield on a Thursday and Billy Bingham came over to me and said "Did that scare you?"
I said "No, I enjoyed it"
Bingham said "Great, well you're playing on Saturday".
My full debut was against Middlesbrough at Goodison; we won 2-0 then we played at Derby County away on the Wednesday and I scored two.
Q4/ WHO WAS YOUR BOYHOOD TEAM?
A4/ The nearest Town club to me was Luton, but I liked Tottenham. I used to watch Luton Town now and again but I was at Tottenham at the age of 10 until 15.
There was a guy who lived in our village who was a member of the Tottenham double side called Ron Henry. His son (Stephen) was a mate of mine so his dad took us down to Spurs.
Q5/ WHO WAS YOUR BOYHOOD HERO?
A5/ Jimmy Greaves
Q6/ WERE YOU SURPRISED AS TO HOW QUICKLY YOU SETTLED INTO THE TOP FLIGHT WITH EVERTON?
A6/ You don't think about things like that as a footballer you know. You just do what you do naturally. Whether it was Luton or Everton, it was a pitch with 11 players a side.
I was in love so much with football. The game has changed and is so much different now. When we were kids we used to put our coats down as goalposts and play 40 a side. You talk to this lot now and they haven't got a clue.
We used to go to Butlin's as a kid. The under 21 players today have helicopters to fly them home. In our day it was different;, all we wanted to do was play football.
Football was all I knew.
Q7/ WHAT WAS YOUR FAVOURITE STADIUM?
A7/ To play in? Goodison without doubt. The best games I ever had were at the same place. I loved Goodison.
Q8/ WHO WAS YOUR TOUGHEST OPPONENT?
A8/ A difficult one; but in all fairness, and I hope you don't mind me talking about it, but it was the Liverpool midfield Souness and co - especially in the early days. A very tough opponent and a very good player. You must remember that they (Liverpool) were dominating Europe let alone English football.
I used to love playing against Hoddle at Spurs and Brady at Arsenal
Q9/ WHO WAS THE BEST PLAYER THAT YOU PLAYED WITH?
A9/ That's a difficult one because people talk about teams of success normally. The best two players that I ever played with that suited my game were; Dave Thomas, who was probably the best crosser of the ball at that time in the game which suited me; and the second one was a player that I created as much for him a s he did for me, not that he would admit it, Bob Latchford.
I would like to get up and score goals from midfield and the other was playing off the target man to score goals.
Then there was my second time at Everton where the team would go down in the annals of history with Peter Reid and Sheedy.
But for me personally my first spell was the best and unfortunately the second wasn't quite as memorable as the first one.
So for me, it would have to be Thomas and Latchford. But you know what, I loved Colin Todd.
I thought Toddy was one of the best centre half's that ever played the game. He was like a Bobby Moore but he wasn't quite as successful at Everton as he had been at Derby County.
Q10/ WHICH MANAGER THROUGHOUT YOUR CAREER HELPED YOU THE MOST?
A10/ My first was Billy Bingham because he 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.
Gordon Lee; I think I played my best football under him. I do believe that my first spell was the best I ever played and was most respected, but as a manager and a player it was Howard Kendall; I must put him in there.
Although I had injuries and problems and missing out on all the finals was a killer for me, especially (Watford in 84). That was heartbreaking for me not to play in those finals.
Out of respect for Everton and Howard as a manager, Howard has to be up there with anyone you know.
The other one that must get a mention that was the most humble of them all; I never played under him but was coached by him - Colin Harvey.
Q11/ WHAT WAS YOUR MOST MEMORABLE GAME AND GOAL?
A11/ The most memorable goal for the fans will be the that I scored in the Derby game. It will be nice to think that when I've gone, it'll be nice to be remembered. But I'd like to think that I was remembered for trying my best and giving my all at being a player for Everton.
I scored a goal at Derby County once and it was the best goal that I ever scored. I always tell the red noses that the goal against THEM was a mis-hit to wind them up a bit. But the one I scored at Derby County; I had 2 defenders running at me, I got between them both, spun, chipped the ball and volleyed it passed the keeper, so that would have to be the best goal I ever scored.
Q12 WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST REGRET IN FOOTBALL?
A12/ Not being a one club man and staying at Everton for 12 years; also not being part of the successful Everton side.
Q13/ WHO WAS YOUR BEST FRIEND IN FOOTBALL?
A13/ A goods question that. About 15 minutes ago I had a phone call from a very drunken man in Australia. I couldn't understand a frigging word he said and was on the phone for 25 minutes and it was Mick Lyons.
Q14/ WHAT WAS YOUR FUNNIEST MOMENT IN FOOTBALL?
A14/ The game against Liverpool when the copper pushed me off the pitch.
Q15/ WHAT DID YOU THINK WHEN A MEMBER OF THE CONSTABULARY TOLD YOU TO LEAVE THE PITCH?
A15/ I never thought anything of it, It's just one of those things that happened and you just get on with it. That shot went on the tele for eight years after so that's all part of it.
It was a magic moment because it all adds up with the goal. If you forget the goal people say that "you were the fella that got pushed off the pitch"
Q16/ WHAT WAS YOUR BEST PRE SEASON TOUR?
A16/ The one that I remember was when I was getting off a coach somewhere and the lads made me feel like I was a hero returning from a war!
It was incredible, the lads carried me off the coach. It was my second spell at Everton, you have to be made to feel welcome and that's what I love about Everton; they wanted me to play for them.
I felt loved and wanted, and that's why I wanted to play for them.
I once won a trophy in Holland, I think it was 1978 in Rotterdam, and I got player of the tournament. It was a four team tournament involving Ajax and somebody else I can't recall. There was a lot of good players on show and that was an honour to have won that trophy.
Q17/ WHO WAS THE MOST DEDICATED CAPTAIN YOU EVER PLAYED UNDER?
A17/ That's easy, all of them!. Kevin Ratcliffe would have to be in there but the one that meant more to me than any other was Lyonsy.
Gordon Lee used to make comments that If you cut Lyonsy in half he would bleed blue blood and when you look back, he did. Anyone that you speak to will tell you that any criticism you had of Mick Lyons was that he always gave 100% and loved Everton Football Club. He has to stand out for his qualities and he never was on the winning side in a Merseyside Derby.
Ratters who captained a great side also had the glory with it.
Q18/ WHAT DID YOU ENJOY THE MOST, PLAYING OR MANAGING?
A18/ I class myself as an Evertonian and I preferred what I did the most. I'm a lucky man and glad I tried them both, that's for sure. Different feelings in the two. When you played it was a team game, you may have played well and the team may have lost .
When you are a manager they are all your problem. The finances; if the milk's gone sour; what the secretaries are doing; the whole place is all down to you.
This day and age it's a multi million pound business but in my sense it's all you and it's all on a lower level. The 7 subs, the kids that come through, everything is through your desk and through your chair.
I'd love to have my life again and not make the same mistakes. I wouldn't change my life, I've been a very lucky man at 50 odd years of age, I've been involved in football all my life and couldn't get any luckier than that.
Q19/ WHY ARE EVERTONIAN'S SO SPECIAL?
A19/ I don't know. If you asked everyone that played for Everton the same question and you'd get the same answer as me.
If you asked Colin Todd he would probably give you a different answer because the Derby County fans idolised him.
I was lucky because I had a bit of success in my early career at Everton, scoring goals. I think I was a better player in my second period at Everton. The fans responded to me with "Andy Is Our King"
That made me feel special, so everyone used to say to me going out onto the pitch and being nervous; I was the opposite I never wanted to go home. If there was a chance where we could have played all 42 games at home, I would have took that. I loved being out there.
In them days it was different, I knew all of the public. The biggest compliment is that I'm going to move back there either next year or the year after and will eventually live in Liverpool.
Q20/ WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE PRE MATCH MEAL?
A20/ Ain't really got one. I guess just beans and egg on toast. I liked something simple.
Q21/ YOU SUFFERED A HEART ATTACK IN 2009. ARE YOU FULLY RECOVERED FROM THAT?
A21/ I don't know, if you have 4 more questions I might die then! Yeah, I think so, how do you fully recover?
I'm doing everything - I'm living, and working, and training in the gym everyday. Obviously I'm not doing everything that I used to do. So if you ever fully recover I don't know what that is. I still remember it and don't want to go through it again, put it that way.
Last year I had the pleasure to speak with Andy king and this interview will be going in the second volume.
I thought it might be a good idea for you readers and fans to share this moment I had with Kingy and read it now giving you an idea at what I have been working on.
At this moment in time I have spoken to around 140 ex players who have given me some great stories.
Ladies and gentlemen, I bring you Andy King.
BLUE ECHO INTERVIEWS ANDY KING
Andy King will always be remembered and loved for his wonderful strike in the Merseyside Derby in October 1978. Andy has never hidden his feelings for his love for Everton to the point he says he is an adopted Scouser.
Andy took time out from his work as the number two at Northampton Town to chat with me over his career. "OH ANDY IS OUR KING"
Q1/ HOW DID YOU JOIN EVERTON FC?
A1/ They signed me. It wasn't my choice, they wanted me and Luton wanted to sell me. They must have had me watched; I was only a kid so I joined Everton.
Q2/ WAS HARRY HASLAM (LUTON MANAGER)IN FAVOUR OF YOUR MOVE?
A2/ Yeah, the club needed £100,000 or they were going out of business. They sold me along with another player but as to whether Harry was agreeable to it; I suppose he had no option.
It was better for the Club and it was better for me. Luton had been relegated the season before. I had no choice in the matter.
I think Cardiff City came in as well but they weren't that big, so Everton really wasn't a difficult decision. As a London kid I knew who Everton were but really didn't know much about Cardiff.
Q3/ WHAT DO YOU REMEMBER OF YOUR EVERTON DEBUT?
A3/ My first game for Everton in fact was in the reserves away at Coventry City and we lost 6-5.
I remember Eric Harrison was in charge.
I also remember a guy called Mick Buckley who got injured. I only played one reserve game then got put in the team in place of Mick Buckley.
We used to have a practice game at Bellefield on a Thursday and Billy Bingham came over to me and said "Did that scare you?"
I said "No, I enjoyed it"
Bingham said "Great, well you're playing on Saturday".
My full debut was against Middlesbrough at Goodison; we won 2-0 then we played at Derby County away on the Wednesday and I scored two.
Q4/ WHO WAS YOUR BOYHOOD TEAM?
A4/ The nearest Town club to me was Luton, but I liked Tottenham. I used to watch Luton Town now and again but I was at Tottenham at the age of 10 until 15.
There was a guy who lived in our village who was a member of the Tottenham double side called Ron Henry. His son (Stephen) was a mate of mine so his dad took us down to Spurs.
Q5/ WHO WAS YOUR BOYHOOD HERO?
A5/ Jimmy Greaves
Q6/ WERE YOU SURPRISED AS TO HOW QUICKLY YOU SETTLED INTO THE TOP FLIGHT WITH EVERTON?
A6/ You don't think about things like that as a footballer you know. You just do what you do naturally. Whether it was Luton or Everton, it was a pitch with 11 players a side.
I was in love so much with football. The game has changed and is so much different now. When we were kids we used to put our coats down as goalposts and play 40 a side. You talk to this lot now and they haven't got a clue.
We used to go to Butlin's as a kid. The under 21 players today have helicopters to fly them home. In our day it was different;, all we wanted to do was play football.
Football was all I knew.
Q7/ WHAT WAS YOUR FAVOURITE STADIUM?
A7/ To play in? Goodison without doubt. The best games I ever had were at the same place. I loved Goodison.
Q8/ WHO WAS YOUR TOUGHEST OPPONENT?
A8/ A difficult one; but in all fairness, and I hope you don't mind me talking about it, but it was the Liverpool midfield Souness and co - especially in the early days. A very tough opponent and a very good player. You must remember that they (Liverpool) were dominating Europe let alone English football.
I used to love playing against Hoddle at Spurs and Brady at Arsenal
Q9/ WHO WAS THE BEST PLAYER THAT YOU PLAYED WITH?
A9/ That's a difficult one because people talk about teams of success normally. The best two players that I ever played with that suited my game were; Dave Thomas, who was probably the best crosser of the ball at that time in the game which suited me; and the second one was a player that I created as much for him a s he did for me, not that he would admit it, Bob Latchford.
I would like to get up and score goals from midfield and the other was playing off the target man to score goals.
Then there was my second time at Everton where the team would go down in the annals of history with Peter Reid and Sheedy.
But for me personally my first spell was the best and unfortunately the second wasn't quite as memorable as the first one.
So for me, it would have to be Thomas and Latchford. But you know what, I loved Colin Todd.
I thought Toddy was one of the best centre half's that ever played the game. He was like a Bobby Moore but he wasn't quite as successful at Everton as he had been at Derby County.
Q10/ WHICH MANAGER THROUGHOUT YOUR CAREER HELPED YOU THE MOST?
A10/ My first was Billy Bingham because he 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.
Gordon Lee; I think I played my best football under him. I do believe that my first spell was the best I ever played and was most respected, but as a manager and a player it was Howard Kendall; I must put him in there.
Although I had injuries and problems and missing out on all the finals was a killer for me, especially (Watford in 84). That was heartbreaking for me not to play in those finals.
Out of respect for Everton and Howard as a manager, Howard has to be up there with anyone you know.
The other one that must get a mention that was the most humble of them all; I never played under him but was coached by him - Colin Harvey.
Q11/ WHAT WAS YOUR MOST MEMORABLE GAME AND GOAL?
A11/ The most memorable goal for the fans will be the that I scored in the Derby game. It will be nice to think that when I've gone, it'll be nice to be remembered. But I'd like to think that I was remembered for trying my best and giving my all at being a player for Everton.
I scored a goal at Derby County once and it was the best goal that I ever scored. I always tell the red noses that the goal against THEM was a mis-hit to wind them up a bit. But the one I scored at Derby County; I had 2 defenders running at me, I got between them both, spun, chipped the ball and volleyed it passed the keeper, so that would have to be the best goal I ever scored.
Q12 WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST REGRET IN FOOTBALL?
A12/ Not being a one club man and staying at Everton for 12 years; also not being part of the successful Everton side.
Q13/ WHO WAS YOUR BEST FRIEND IN FOOTBALL?
A13/ A goods question that. About 15 minutes ago I had a phone call from a very drunken man in Australia. I couldn't understand a frigging word he said and was on the phone for 25 minutes and it was Mick Lyons.
Q14/ WHAT WAS YOUR FUNNIEST MOMENT IN FOOTBALL?
A14/ The game against Liverpool when the copper pushed me off the pitch.
Q15/ WHAT DID YOU THINK WHEN A MEMBER OF THE CONSTABULARY TOLD YOU TO LEAVE THE PITCH?
A15/ I never thought anything of it, It's just one of those things that happened and you just get on with it. That shot went on the tele for eight years after so that's all part of it.
It was a magic moment because it all adds up with the goal. If you forget the goal people say that "you were the fella that got pushed off the pitch"
Q16/ WHAT WAS YOUR BEST PRE SEASON TOUR?
A16/ The one that I remember was when I was getting off a coach somewhere and the lads made me feel like I was a hero returning from a war!
It was incredible, the lads carried me off the coach. It was my second spell at Everton, you have to be made to feel welcome and that's what I love about Everton; they wanted me to play for them.
I felt loved and wanted, and that's why I wanted to play for them.
I once won a trophy in Holland, I think it was 1978 in Rotterdam, and I got player of the tournament. It was a four team tournament involving Ajax and somebody else I can't recall. There was a lot of good players on show and that was an honour to have won that trophy.
Q17/ WHO WAS THE MOST DEDICATED CAPTAIN YOU EVER PLAYED UNDER?
A17/ That's easy, all of them!. Kevin Ratcliffe would have to be in there but the one that meant more to me than any other was Lyonsy.
Gordon Lee used to make comments that If you cut Lyonsy in half he would bleed blue blood and when you look back, he did. Anyone that you speak to will tell you that any criticism you had of Mick Lyons was that he always gave 100% and loved Everton Football Club. He has to stand out for his qualities and he never was on the winning side in a Merseyside Derby.
Ratters who captained a great side also had the glory with it.
Q18/ WHAT DID YOU ENJOY THE MOST, PLAYING OR MANAGING?
A18/ I class myself as an Evertonian and I preferred what I did the most. I'm a lucky man and glad I tried them both, that's for sure. Different feelings in the two. When you played it was a team game, you may have played well and the team may have lost .
When you are a manager they are all your problem. The finances; if the milk's gone sour; what the secretaries are doing; the whole place is all down to you.
This day and age it's a multi million pound business but in my sense it's all you and it's all on a lower level. The 7 subs, the kids that come through, everything is through your desk and through your chair.
I'd love to have my life again and not make the same mistakes. I wouldn't change my life, I've been a very lucky man at 50 odd years of age, I've been involved in football all my life and couldn't get any luckier than that.
Q19/ WHY ARE EVERTONIAN'S SO SPECIAL?
A19/ I don't know. If you asked everyone that played for Everton the same question and you'd get the same answer as me.
If you asked Colin Todd he would probably give you a different answer because the Derby County fans idolised him.
I was lucky because I had a bit of success in my early career at Everton, scoring goals. I think I was a better player in my second period at Everton. The fans responded to me with "Andy Is Our King"
That made me feel special, so everyone used to say to me going out onto the pitch and being nervous; I was the opposite I never wanted to go home. If there was a chance where we could have played all 42 games at home, I would have took that. I loved being out there.
In them days it was different, I knew all of the public. The biggest compliment is that I'm going to move back there either next year or the year after and will eventually live in Liverpool.
Q20/ WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE PRE MATCH MEAL?
A20/ Ain't really got one. I guess just beans and egg on toast. I liked something simple.
Q21/ YOU SUFFERED A HEART ATTACK IN 2009. ARE YOU FULLY RECOVERED FROM THAT?
A21/ I don't know, if you have 4 more questions I might die then! Yeah, I think so, how do you fully recover?
I'm doing everything - I'm living, and working, and training in the gym everyday. Obviously I'm not doing everything that I used to do. So if you ever fully recover I don't know what that is. I still remember it and don't want to go through it again, put it that way.
