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Player Valuation: £70m
It is with great sadness that Everton former players foundation make known that former Goalkeeper Gordon West has passed away aged 69.
Gordon’s funeral will take place at 12 noon Monday 18th June at Liverpool’s Anglican Cathedral
All are welcome
Gordon who joined Everton from Blackpool for £27, 500 a record fee for a goalkeeper at the time in March 1962 and made his debut at Goodison against Wolverhampton Wanderers keeping a clean sheet in a 4-0 win and went onto play another 401 games for Everton
He was part of the 1963 and 1970 League Division one winning sides and also the 1966 F.A. Cup winning side adding an F.A. Cup runners up medal to his collection in 1968.
After three years out of the game he returned briefly to play for Tranmere Rovers playing 17 times for the Wirral club
He was an England International making 3 appearances against Bulgaria, Wales and Mexico.
Gordon’s career stats and games played in can be viewed by clicking the link HERE
The family have asked for any donations to be made to the Everton former players foundation
Thoughts of all the Everton former players foundation are with his sons Steven and Mark and his partner Linda and all those who knew him.
Former teammate Howard Kendall and fellow 1970 championship winner said the following: ‘ Westy was a fantastic person, one of the greatest goalkeepers the game has ever known. When he and Brian Labone were in the dressing room there was always a fantastic atmosphere.’
Another teammate who went onto Captain the club Mike Lyons paid this tribute: ‘When I think of Westy I think of someone who made so many people happy.’
Joe Royle who was part of the 1970 title winning side with Gordon said this: ‘Will miss you Gordy. A great man, a great goalkeeper. Legend of the Championship in 1970 along with another great man Labby. The side was filled with many comedians but was a great side with a great goalkeeper. You won 2 Leagues and an F.A. Cup and played for three different sides. Goodison will not be the same without you.’
Jimmy Husband who played alongside Gordon in the 1968 Cup Final side and in the 1970 title winning side paid him this tribute: ‘Gordon was a great great goalkeeper. Unfortunately he had another great Gordon Banks in front of him for the England team otherwise he would have won 60 or 70 caps for his country. He had a great sense of humour with his very various witty comments. He and Labby were like Morecambe and Wise when they got together. He was great fun and like all goalkeepers was mad and you never got in his way when he charged round playing outfield in training. In one away game we won the match but he got stick for letting a goal in and after the game he went home by train on his one while we went home on the coach. He was a giant, a great goalkeeper and a great man.’
Alan Whittle another teammate from the 1970 title winning side also paid tribute: ‘He was a very special person to me and my wife Jeanne a larger than life man in more ways than one. We loved the bones of him. All goalkeepers are mad but he was the maddest, in training he played in the outfield during 5 a side and he thought he was Joe Royle, Alex Young and Dixie Dean all rolled into one. He was the yellow jersey man to me and the lads (yellow jersey was given to the player who played the worst during training) and he always seemed to give it to Sandy Brown or Tommy Jackson. Loved the man and he will be sadly missed.’
Rest In Peace Westy!!!!
Gordon’s funeral will take place at 12 noon Monday 18th June at Liverpool’s Anglican Cathedral
All are welcome
Gordon who joined Everton from Blackpool for £27, 500 a record fee for a goalkeeper at the time in March 1962 and made his debut at Goodison against Wolverhampton Wanderers keeping a clean sheet in a 4-0 win and went onto play another 401 games for Everton
He was part of the 1963 and 1970 League Division one winning sides and also the 1966 F.A. Cup winning side adding an F.A. Cup runners up medal to his collection in 1968.
After three years out of the game he returned briefly to play for Tranmere Rovers playing 17 times for the Wirral club
He was an England International making 3 appearances against Bulgaria, Wales and Mexico.
Gordon’s career stats and games played in can be viewed by clicking the link HERE
The family have asked for any donations to be made to the Everton former players foundation
Thoughts of all the Everton former players foundation are with his sons Steven and Mark and his partner Linda and all those who knew him.
Former teammate Howard Kendall and fellow 1970 championship winner said the following: ‘ Westy was a fantastic person, one of the greatest goalkeepers the game has ever known. When he and Brian Labone were in the dressing room there was always a fantastic atmosphere.’
Another teammate who went onto Captain the club Mike Lyons paid this tribute: ‘When I think of Westy I think of someone who made so many people happy.’
Joe Royle who was part of the 1970 title winning side with Gordon said this: ‘Will miss you Gordy. A great man, a great goalkeeper. Legend of the Championship in 1970 along with another great man Labby. The side was filled with many comedians but was a great side with a great goalkeeper. You won 2 Leagues and an F.A. Cup and played for three different sides. Goodison will not be the same without you.’
Jimmy Husband who played alongside Gordon in the 1968 Cup Final side and in the 1970 title winning side paid him this tribute: ‘Gordon was a great great goalkeeper. Unfortunately he had another great Gordon Banks in front of him for the England team otherwise he would have won 60 or 70 caps for his country. He had a great sense of humour with his very various witty comments. He and Labby were like Morecambe and Wise when they got together. He was great fun and like all goalkeepers was mad and you never got in his way when he charged round playing outfield in training. In one away game we won the match but he got stick for letting a goal in and after the game he went home by train on his one while we went home on the coach. He was a giant, a great goalkeeper and a great man.’
Alan Whittle another teammate from the 1970 title winning side also paid tribute: ‘He was a very special person to me and my wife Jeanne a larger than life man in more ways than one. We loved the bones of him. All goalkeepers are mad but he was the maddest, in training he played in the outfield during 5 a side and he thought he was Joe Royle, Alex Young and Dixie Dean all rolled into one. He was the yellow jersey man to me and the lads (yellow jersey was given to the player who played the worst during training) and he always seemed to give it to Sandy Brown or Tommy Jackson. Loved the man and he will be sadly missed.’
Rest In Peace Westy!!!!
