Colin Harvey

[roy vernon]

It was a pleasure to have watched Colin’s career. He was without doubt one of the top midfielders I have seen at Goodison, and, I was watching Everton before Colin’s debut. Right up there with Howard Kendall, Peter Reid and only a little way behind Alan Ball, Bally had the lot, but Colin and Howard were very very close to him in terms of ability and commitment.

 

[Groucho]

Deserved a trophy as manager.

 

[T LEAFE]

If the oldies could indulge us young uns how was Colin Harvey’s playstyle ?

He was a very skilful midfielder. Difficult to shrug off the ball once he had it. Great passer and scored some crackers especially 2nd goal when we beat WBA to win league in 1970. He had quite a habit of turning 360degrees with the ball before choosing to release ball and occasionally took some criticism for appearing slow but all he was doing was assesssing his options and he usually ended up picking the best pass.
He must have had umpteen assists to his credit for making goals for others. And of course had a telepathic relationship with Ball and Kendall.
He was an integral part of the best midfield I have ever seen.
Top bloke and a top Evertonian

 

[Joey66]

If the oldies could indulge us young uns how was Colin Harvey’s playstyle ?

We couldn't afford him nowadays like the white Pele in midfield alongside the other holy trinity who we could also have never kept at our club now they all were priceless the blend the role Harvey played was the speed the skill the passing in his locker, and the telepothy he had in the HolyTrinity a absolute joy to watch ......

 

[Dario Terracotta]

My first ever efc autograph too!!any honour this gentleman receives is richly deserved,congratulations our white Pele!!

 

[Bluebonic]

For those too young to have seen him consider any great midfield You have seen. There is always one player who (in comparison to the others) who looks the weaker player (regardless of how good they Might be in their own right). Colin Harvey played in the best club midfield I have ever seen and always shone! A marvellous player, legendary Blue and a lovely, humble man!

 

[catcherintherye]

He was a very skilful midfielder. Difficult to shrug off the ball once he had it. Great passer and scored some crackers especially 2nd goal when we beat WBA to win league in 1970. He had quite a habit of turning 360degrees with the ball before choosing to release ball and occasionally took some criticism for appearing slow but all he was doing was assesssing his options and he usually ended up picking the best pass.
He must have had umpteen assists to his credit for making goals for others. And of course had a telepathic relationship with Ball and Kendall.
He was an integral part of the best midfield I have ever seen.
Top bloke and a top Evertonian

Great read that mate. How would you compare and contrast him to Kendall? Was Kendall someone who played deeper?

 

[larbert toffee]

Went about his business in a quiet unassuming way, an asset to our club.

Well done, STS this sentence sums him up in a simple way, without Harvey as his side kick I don't believe Howard Kendal would have had such success in his first Goodison stint, without doubt Harvey as his trusted lieutenant was something of an unsung hero.

My outstanding memory of him was at Rotterdam for the CWCF rallying the troops on the pitch just before the kick off going around each one of them with last minute instructions.

Great servant to the club, fantastic player and coach and unlucky as a manager IMO, he's played a big part in the history of this club and deserves any accolade that's coming his way.

 

[brieverton]

Agreeing to return as Howard's assistant in 1990 after his managerial spell was a real demonstration of his love for the club.

Many others would have let their pride get in the way of that, but he put the club first as he always did and did what was best for it, that typified his attitude.

The success from 84-87 could not have been achieved without Harvey and Kendall together, each worked off the strengths of the other. Every bit as influential a pair as Clough and Taylor in that regard I think.

A giant in the clubs history, I hope he has many years ahead of him to enjoy his retirement.

 

[T LEAFE]

Great read that mate. How would you compare and contrast him to Kendall? Was Kendall someone who played deeper?

Howard tended to play more right and Colin more left. But they played as a triangle and interchanged. If Bally or Howard went forward Colin would be deeper. It was just such a fluent midfield. They just seemed to know where each other was.
I’m trying to think of a more recent player that was similar to Colin. I’m struggling but I guess Ray Wilkins was a similar sort of midfielder. The travesty was that Colin only got 1 England cap compared to Rays 83

 

[blue62]

My old mans favourite player after Alex Young, he said he'd never seen anyone more cultured on a football pitch. I understand he started to suffer with his vision and that heralded the end of his playing days, anyone know if that's true?

 

[Cameron Manning]

Colin was an excellent footballer, skilful and elegant on the ball, it didn't stop there, he was a great and strong in the tackle, brave, always in the thick of it, Ball Kendall and Harvey complimented each other, the terrific trio.

Not trying to start an argument but as good as Howard and Colin were as a management duo, I would say they came a distant second to Clough and Taylor, they did it longer, won more trophies and did it with two mid of the table clubs.

 

[T LEAFE]

Colin was an excellent footballer, skilful and elegant on the ball, it didn't stop there, he was a great and strong in the tackle, brave, always in the thick of it, Ball Kendall and Harvey complimented each other, the terrific trio.

Not trying to start an argument but as good as Howard and Colin were as a management duo, I would say they came a distant second to Clough and Taylor, they did it longer, won more trophies and did it with two mid of the table clubs.

But Howard and Colin were nicer people

 

[T LEAFE]

My old mans favourite player after Alex Young, he said he'd never seen anyone more cultured on a football pitch. I understand he started to suffer with his vision and that heralded the end of his playing days, anyone know if that's true?

Not sure about his eyesight but he certainly suffered from hip problems. Think at one stage there were concerns about his ability to walk. Not sure whether he had hip replacements?

 

[roy vernon]

My old mans favourite player after Alex Young, he said he'd never seen anyone more cultured on a football pitch. I understand he started to suffer with his vision and that heralded the end of his playing days, anyone know if that's true?

He had a detached retina at one stage of his career, I think wear and tear to his hips and his age brought about his retirement. He suffers with arthritis to this day, I beleive