Howard Kendall RIP

[Blues Harp]

In a way, i think the Sunderland game will be a completely different atmosphere to the Man u one..still emotional yes but in a wholly positive way from everyone who calls themselves an Evertonian..Tomeye mentioned the current players getting us..both they and us can be a force to be reckoned with not just on Sunday but for the rest of the season ..Cheers Howard .. raises glass

 

[marnie]

Rest in Heavenly Peace Mr Kendall.In many ways you have taken us all to heaven over the years.I love this club so much.
Watch and weep Ladies and Gents

 

[Toast]

In a way, i think the Sunderland game will be a completely different atmosphere to the Man u one..still emotional yes but in a wholly positive way from everyone who calls themselves an Evertonian..Tomeye mentioned the current players getting us..both they and us can be a force to be reckoned with not just on Sunday but for the rest of the season ..Cheers Howard .. raises glass

Oh, Sunderland get it served to them mate.

No danger.

 

[allezlesbleus]

This has been a fabulous thread from start to finish. What a brilliant but slightly bitter sweet story Howard's is. Youngest player in Cup final, goes on to move to Everton and is a brilliant player in a brilliant team one of THE most renowned in English football. Success as a player followed by his personal excellence as the team fell on hard times in early 70s, carrying lesser players throughout, leading by example to keep us up in 1972-3. Transferred without complaint to make way for a future fans favourite big Bob latch and he became very well thought of at Birmingham City, keeping them up and getting them to a FA semi which was a massive achievement for them at the time.
Has massive impact on another club, Blackburn Rovers before coming back to the sleeping giant he loved. After unbelievable trials and tribulations and a disgracefully personal campaign by a minority to have him sacked he sticks to his principles and gets the breaks he deserves. Out of very unpromising circumstances a truly wonderful TEAM emerges costing hardly anything melding old guys in latter years and young talent. An era when mangerial acumen meant more than money. That team reaches dizzying heights only to have its greatest hopes snatched from it by the injustice of the European ban caused by the behaviour of the fans of our greatest rivals that he was replacing at the top of the English game.
He moves away unexpectedly, (and the pain of that decision still hurts me) not to the top team his Cv merits but to a club with a proud tradition where he cannot possibly reach the top again even though he earns their respect. Back to England for a run of clubs including his beloved Everton twice where he found it impossible to recreate past glories and came within a late equaliser by a journeyman pro he had got from Villa reserves of having our relegation on his Cv. The trauma of the 1997-98 season when he was completely unsupported by the chairman and yet hung in there out of pure loyalty left its mark and a no mark Lpool fan owning our club was able to sack one of the true legends in the club's history. A disgraceful chapter in our history. Successful management was now a thing of the past as football moved on but what was left was more important than his onfielld success. His status as someone who really loved the club and felt for it in the same way everyone of us fans do develops over time as he becomes a sort of elder statesman, kept a bit at arms length by some it would seem, welcomed warmly by others.
And the final chapter is that he has died far too early. His achievements are right up there because he was a winner as a player and as a manager. More than anything else he embodied a rare spirit, a desire for and a commitment to excellence which was worthy of our club motto, and appreciation of our club that we value even if most people in the modern money bags Sky era have no idea what we are on about. It is true to say there will never be another Howard Kendall but I am certain of one thing. With every breath he had I am certain that he would disagree with those that say there will never be another Everton player or manager who will achieve what he achieved. He would say it will be hard but it can happen because we will make it happen.
Nil Satis Nisi Optimum.
We're on the march with Howard's army, we're all going to Wembley!! Sing it loud and proud.

 

[Minimeister]

Beautiful send off for a legend of a man. Thank you Howard.

 

[No8Bally]

From the Guardian:

 

[Woolly Blue]

Speeches from the funeral this afternoon can be heard on this link

https://audioboom.com/boos/3749608-howard-kendall-goodbye-to-a-legend

Just listened to these again.
If anyone's not heard 'em yet get yourself a hankie or two and settle down

 

[Woolly Blue]

Any one got a link of Duncan's speech

He did a reading rather than a speech mate and was struggling. Really felt for him, most of us hardly knew Howard, but Big Dunc's lost a good friend and probably a father figure too.

 

[GraemeS1980]

Howard's first game as manager

 

[The Esk]

Wonderful that Atletico Bilbao sent two representatives, lovely words in the article too.

http://www.deia.com/2015/10/29/athl...&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=deia_bizkaia

 

[Big Fat Sam]

Christ... Bill... not his biggest fan, but on days like today, who'd want anybody else representing Everton FC?

 

[Toast]

Wonderful that Atletico Bilbao sent two representatives, lovely words in the article too.

http://www.deia.com/2015/10/29/athl...&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=deia_bizkaia

How about a regular pre season game. The Howard Kendall cup. One year in Liverpool, next year in Spain ?

 

[roydo]

Christ... Bill... not his biggest fan, but on days like today, who'd want anybody else representing Everton FC?

He is superb as a club ambassador. I am sure even his harshest critics would concede that point.

 

[bflefc]

This has been a fabulous thread from start to finish. What a brilliant but slightly bitter sweet story Howard's is. Youngest player in Cup final, goes on to move to Everton and is a brilliant player in a brilliant team one of THE most renowned in English football. Success as a player followed by his personal excellence as the team fell on hard times in early 70s, carrying lesser players throughout, leading by example to keep us up in 1972-3. Transferred without complaint to make way for a future fans favourite big Bob latch and he became very well thought of at Birmingham City, keeping them up and getting them to a FA semi which was a massive achievement for them at the time.
Has massive impact on another club, Blackburn Rovers before coming back to the sleeping giant he loved. After unbelievable trials and tribulations and a disgracefully personal campaign by a minority to have him sacked he sticks to his principles and gets the breaks he deserves. Out of very unpromising circumstances a truly wonderful TEAM emerges costing hardly anything melding old guys in latter years and young talent. An era when mangerial acumen meant more than money. That team reaches dizzying heights only to have its greatest hopes snatched from it by the injustice of the European ban caused by the behaviour of the fans of our greatest rivals that he was replacing at the top of the English game.
He moves away unexpectedly, (and the pain of that decision still hurts me) not to the top team his Cv merits but to a club with a proud tradition where he cannot possibly reach the top again even though he earns their respect. Back to England for a run of clubs including his beloved Everton twice where he found it impossible to recreate past glories and came within a late equaliser by a journeyman pro he had got from Villa reserves of having our relegation on his Cv. The trauma of the 1997-98 season when he was completely unsupported by the chairman and yet hung in there out of pure loyalty left its mark and a no mark Lpool fan owning our club was able to sack one of the true legends in the club's history. A disgraceful chapter in our history. Successful management was now a thing of the past as football moved on but what was left was more important than his onfielld success. His status as someone who really loved the club and felt for it in the same way everyone of us fans do develops over time as he becomes a sort of elder statesman, kept a bit at arms length by some it would seem, welcomed warmly by others.
And the final chapter is that he has died far too early. His achievements are right up there because he was a winner as a player and as a manager. More than anything else he embodied a rare spirit, a desire for and a commitment to excellence which was worthy of our club motto, and appreciation of our club that we value even if most people in the modern money bags Sky era have no idea what we are on about. It is true to say there will never be another Howard Kendall but I am certain of one thing. With every breath he had I am certain that he would disagree with those that say there will never be another Everton player or manager who will achieve what he achieved. He would say it will be hard but it can happen because we will make it happen.
Nil Satis Nisi Optimum.
We're on the march with Howard's army, we're all going to Wembley!! Sing it loud and proud.

There I go again

 

[Bluetintedspecs]

Right, bear with me, I might waffle a bit...


Howard Kendall.

To me, he was all manner of things. As a 11 yr old kid, in 1981, he was one of my dad's idols, coming back to us. A legend coming back to fix us. We were awful back then. Really bad. You youngsters fuming today really have no idea!
Back then, dad took me everywhere. Home and aways (Except 'far ones' on a school night) I was there. I remember being outside the players entrance, pissed wet through, as the coach arrived. Dad offering words of encouragement to the lads, shaking Howards hand and wishing him luck. No matter how bad we were, my dad and his mates, and me, would be there.

One of dads mates worked at the club, nothing special just a normal job, and through him, dad became mates with Howard and the players. So as we gathered momentum and took all before us, I kind of got swept along. Name a big game from then, I was there. Dad's friendship with Howard grew too. So, as we conquered all, I felt more of a part of it because dad knew Howard, celebrated our successes with him, right there, right at the heart of it. Players lounge after games, me wandering amongst my heroes. My idols. It was a magical time for all of us. I will never forget a minute.

Then Howard left. Then he came back, left, and came back again. We know the history of those times. Howard never changed though, he was still Howard. He still had the same steely determination, the same desire and passion. It just wasn't to be. Howard though, well he just carried on being Howard.

He still enjoyed a drink, with the same lads, in the same bar. He still stopped to talk to everyone, he still had that warm smile and glint on his eye. He still remembered me, 30 yrs after I first met him, when I last spoke to him last year, he asked how dad was and smiled, a glint in his eye, "good times lad, good times" he said.

"The best of times Howard, the very best of times. Thank you"


RIP Gaffer. I will never forget the joy you gave me and my dad, and all of us.

Thank you.

Just when I thought I'd composed myself your post set me off again.

Sake!

That's a lovely, touching post.