Howard Kendall RIP

[Ronnie lee]

Heartbroken...RIP HK you are a man amongst millions who we always will Love RIP Boss!!

 

[canuckblue]

I could understand it maybe from a distant foreign owner who really doesn't keep up to speed...but he must've known, it was front page news.

Or maybe he was even told directly, seeing as the twit is the No. 2 shareholder. Now if it had been a famous former Spurs player or manager.....

 

[evo1878]

Great post above Evo. I only met him once, about 2 years ago, but I'd grew up with him from the age of six as our manager. I was starstruck, but when I spoke to him, it was like I would a member of my family. He must have been used to it though. He was an absolute gentleman.

My dad and eldest brother seen him playing in the great title winning team, and both said he was a great player. I'll be forever grateful for the Everton he created as a manager, and so glad I watched them with my brothers, cousins, uncles etc and especially my dad who has also passed on.

RIP Howard.

Yes I think you summed it up Perfectly Phil

 

[The Esk]

For the past 24 hours or so I've struggled to put into words what Howard meant to me. So here goes with a personal tribute...

I was 5 years old when I went to my first Everton match in 1976 and 13 when I first saw us win a trophy - the FA Cup, under Howard Kendall - in 1984. I vividly remember watching the Wogan show the night before the final (?) with the team singing "here we go..." I was still on a high from the Highbury semi final, my first ever away trip, and I was going to Wembley the next day. By the following evening for the first time ever I was walking tall, a confident young man, and those miserable Monday mornings of the late 1970s and early 1980s in the school playground had suddenly been washed away forever. The years that followed as a member of the Everton family gave me some of the happiest moments in life. Howard became my hero and several happy teenage years of lung bursting singing of "we're on the march with Howie's army..." followed all over England and Europe.

Then many years later I met the great man for the first time in person. However he'd be the first to correct you that he wasn't great, simply he was privileged to be part of the Everton family just like you and me. I was amazed that my boyhood hero was also the nicest bloke I had ever met as an adult. We became friends and over the years I experienced countless occasions of Howard's unassuming generosity and spontaneous kindness to strangers and friends alike. I particularly remember how he made an unannounced visit to a hospital and sat and held the hand of a young Evertonian who was in a coma and whose life support machine was about to be switched off. Howard stayed to the end and the family were eternally grateful. Only Howard never mentioned this to a soul outside the hospital room that day and it was only through a chance meeting that the story ever emerged. And that was typical of Howard, the man who as an adult, became an inspiration for me and many others who met him for the many many countless acts of unassuming kindness, selflessness and generosity.

I was privileged to watch our beloved Blues with Howard many times over the years as an adult. I've witnessed just how tactically astute he was and how much everyone who ever worked for and with him (and even those who employed him) also respected him and greeted him with heartfelt warmth. And he was always equally welcoming back.

I hope if you were lucky enough to meet him, what I've written will make sense. If you didn't then from a humble fan, I hope it gives a perspective of the sense of personal loss that thousands of people must be feeling right now.

Truly, Howard you ARE Everton's finest son. I will miss you. But from the personal sadness of the past 24 hours I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your life and the joy, happiness and inspiration you brought to so many ordinary people, like me, over your lifetime. Your legacy will live on forever in the many lives you've enhanced.

Beautiful words mate, we spoke on the phone a few weeks ago if you remember and you were telling me what a wonderful person Howard was (obviously not knowing the terrible events which were about to occur). It was clear from our conversation that you held the man in the highest regard as a person and close friend, let alone him being your footballing hero.

He enriched all of our lives as Evertonians, Howard is no longer with us but we should all continue to march in his army.

 

[kithnou]

For the past 24 hours or so I've struggled to put into words what Howard meant to me. So here goes with a personal tribute...

I was 5 years old when I went to my first Everton match in 1976 and 13 when I first saw us win a trophy - the FA Cup, under Howard Kendall - in 1984. I vividly remember watching the Wogan show the night before the final (?) with the team singing "here we go..." I was still on a high from the Highbury semi final, my first ever away trip, and I was going to Wembley the next day. By the following evening for the first time ever I was walking tall, a confident young man, and those miserable Monday mornings of the late 1970s and early 1980s in the school playground had suddenly been washed away forever. The years that followed as a member of the Everton family gave me some of the happiest moments in life. Howard became my hero and several happy teenage years of lung bursting singing of "we're on the march with Howie's army..." followed all over England and Europe.

Then many years later I met the great man for the first time in person. However he'd be the first to correct you that he wasn't great, simply he was privileged to be part of the Everton family just like you and me. I was amazed that my boyhood hero was also the nicest bloke I had ever met as an adult. We became friends and over the years I experienced countless occasions of Howard's unassuming generosity and spontaneous kindness to strangers and friends alike. I particularly remember how he made an unannounced visit to a hospital and sat and held the hand of a young Evertonian who was in a coma and whose life support machine was about to be switched off. Howard stayed to the end and the family were eternally grateful. Only Howard never mentioned this to a soul outside the hospital room that day and it was only through a chance meeting that the story ever emerged. And that was typical of Howard, the man who as an adult, became an inspiration for me and many others who met him for the many many countless acts of unassuming kindness, selflessness and generosity.

I was privileged to watch our beloved Blues with Howard many times over the years as an adult. I've witnessed just how tactically astute he was and how much everyone who ever worked for and with him (and even those who employed him) also respected him and greeted him with heartfelt warmth. And he was always equally welcoming back.

I hope if you were lucky enough to meet him, what I've written will make sense. If you didn't then from a humble fan, I hope it gives a perspective of the sense of personal loss that thousands of people must be feeling right now.

Truly, Howard you ARE Everton's finest son. I will miss you. But from the personal sadness of the past 24 hours I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your life and the joy, happiness and inspiration you brought to so many ordinary people, like me, over your lifetime. Your legacy will live on forever in the many lives you've enhanced.

Great reading that

 

[Woolly Blue]

Some wonderful tributes here. And from the 2nd biggest shareholder of the club we get 'happy birthday Zac Efron'. Shameful.

Those who understand need no explanation. Those who don't understand, don't matter.

End of.

 

[peteblue]

There's been some nice things said about Howie in the press, and some nice things said by his ex players. It must be good when you can come into this world and do things that people love..... Howard, you brought joy to an awful lot of people, not just Evertonians, and your happy cheerful face is going to be missed.....I hope the club put a suitable set of statues, with Harry, Alex, Brian, Alan, yourself and Colin(while he's still with us), around the ground so that the spirit of what we once were is always on show......

 

[summerisle]

 

[dholliday]

Those who understand need no explanation. Those who don't understand, don't matter.

End of.

amen to that

 

[strummer]

Not only a great manager but obviously a great man as well. I must be 1 of the few Evertonians who have never met him but reading the stories about him on here has turned my tears into smiles. He comes across as warm.humble.genourous and a real man of the people. This thread has made brilliant reading and thanks to everyone who contributed

 

[Joey66]

Not only a great manager but obviously a great man as well. I must be 1 of the few Evertonians who have never met him but reading the stories about him on here has turned my tears into smiles. He comes across as warm.humble.genourous and a real man of the people. This thread has made brilliant reading and thanks to everyone who contributed

He was a great player too, came back to The Blues as player Manager, and played a few games, I seen him when the holy trinity had virtually ended, Bally miss sold , Harvey long term hip injury, we were 17th in the old Division one in a poor Bingham side - Howard single handedly put in MOTM performances to save us from relegation -He was pure class!
RIP

 

[maccavennie]

Not only a great manager but obviously a great man as well. I must be 1 of the few Evertonians who have never met him but reading the stories about him on here has turned my tears into smiles. He comes across as warm.humble.genourous and a real man of the people. This thread has made brilliant reading and thanks to everyone who contributed

I never met him too mate and I never really got seriously into Everton until I was about 8-9 years old so around about 86-87. Never seen the glory days but still educated myself enough to know who he was and what he achieved. Everton football Club has instilled in me more than I could ever mention in a post - humility, respect, love, community are a few that spring to mind. I can hand on heart say that Everton have played a massive part in teaching me those things in life, whether that be going to games to cheer us on, going to games to escape harsh reality of life through darker days or holding players up as heroes, it's been a constant in my life. Howard Kendall didn't just continue the history of our club, he enhanced it tenfold so kids like me grew up hearing stories of how he built title winning sides, a team that would have been feared in Europe if given a prolonged chance.

Just to prove he still had it, he kept up one of the absolute crappest sides in our history in 97/98.

Like you said mate, this thread is brilliant, one of the best and I've loved reading everyone's stories. I didn't know him or have any great stories to tell, but I felt like someone had took a sledgehammer to my balls yesterday and ripped the floor from under me.

Moments like these just reaffirm how much i love Everton and I sincerely mean that from the bottom of my heart.

 

[strummer]

I never met him too mate and I never really got seriously into Everton until I was about 8-9 years old so around about 86-87. Never seen the glory days but still educated myself enough to know who he was and what he achieved. Everton football Club has instilled in me more than I could ever mention in a post - humility, respect, love, community are a few that spring to mind. I can hand on heart say that Everton have played a massive part in teaching me those things in life, whether that be going to games to cheer us on, going to games to escape harsh reality of life through darker days or holding players up as heroes, it's been a constant in my life. Howard Kendall didn't just continue the history of our club, he enhanced it tenfold so kids like me grew up hearing stories of how he built title winning sides, a team that would have been feared in Europe if given a prolonged chance.

Just to prove he still had it, he kept up one of the absolute crappest sides in our history in 97/98.

Like you said mate, this thread is brilliant, one of the best and I've loved reading everyone's stories. I didn't know him or have any great stories to tell, but I felt like someone had took a sledgehammer to my balls yesterday and ripped the floor from under me.

Moments like these just reaffirm how much i love Everton and I sincerely mean that from the bottom of my heart.

I was lucky enough to be around for all his success and his shakey start. Even when things were looking grim he just had a serene everything is in hand.dont worry about it outlook. I can totally understand why the players revered him so much and were willing to spill blood for the cause. I was that upset yesterday that I honestly couldn't give a toss about the result

 

[maccavennie]

I was lucky enough to be around for all his success and his shakey start. Even when things were looking grim he just had a serene everything is in hand.dont worry about it outlook. I can totally understand why the players revered him so much and were willing to spill blood for the cause. I was that upset yesterday that I honestly couldn't give a toss about the result

I mentioned yesterday mate, it was my son's 7th birthday and not wanting to put a downer on his day I had to go in another room to sort myself out because I was crying for a good 20 minutes straight and struggling. The result/performance as you say was meaningless in the grand scheme of things. I would have loved us to have won 5-0 in his honour but then I'm not surprised we were so flat. Martinez mentioned the players found out whilst having their pre match meal. What a thing to be told, even if you don't know him you would be under no illusion what he meant to Everton and the enormity of his passing.

Starting with Arsenal away I'm hoping the players really come together with the staff and I know it's a cliché but really put the extra effort in for him this season.

 

[strummer]

I know what you mean mate cos it upset my little lad seeing his dad
in tears for the 1st time. I don't think there's any doubt what happened affected the players yesterday and all our fans no matter how old they are. I'm now coming round to the idea of celebrating his achievements instead of mourning and im gonna watch the semi final victories. They were probably my favourite memories as a teenager