I was at that game and he is the only thing I remember about it. Even at my tender age I knew we had someone who was going to
be special.
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I was at that game and he is the only thing I remember about it. Even at my tender age I knew we had someone who was going to
be special.
1966efc
Player Valuation: £20m
Think it was to get married. West refused the 1970 World Cup because his wife was doing some sort of musical tour, I think.
Ever seen the full game esk?Tommy Wright was the best player on the pitch IMHO
Rivellino didn't get much of a kick in that game. Wright had a blinder.
Never seen the full game, should see if i can download it and watch it on one of my trips
Didn't he replace Keith Newton?
No. Newton was a left back - replaced Sandy Brown who had, in turn, replaced Ray Wilson as an emergency measure if I remember correctly.
Labone had a lot going for him, including modesty. As someone has said, his injury at the 1971 semi v. them cost us the game. Has to be said that the unsung hero, John Hurst, extended his career by about 18 months. Seem to recall Labone describing Hurst as his "legs".
Think Labone was one of the top two Evertonians of my time, the other being, of course, Bally.
bizzaro
LOVE GOT JUST THE WAY IT IS #ALWNV
He had 'Everton' written in him like a stick of rock
royalblue66
Player Valuation: £70m
Someone on here asked which player Labby replaced in the 1970 W/C
Was it Jack Charlton ?
Was it Jack Charlton ?
1966efc
Player Valuation: £20m
Yes. Not because Charlton was finished (he went on for some time afterwards) but because Labone was superior.
Jamo Martinez
Player Valuation: £70m
Educational for me too. Never seen him play unfortunately. The idea I have of him is that he combined the best attributes of Stones and Jagielka.
In the sense that he had the timing and elegance of Stones and would put his body on the line like Jagielka. But in a package that was greater than the sum of its parts.
In the sense that he had the timing and elegance of Stones and would put his body on the line like Jagielka. But in a package that was greater than the sum of its parts.
From the 1970 Brazil V England game player ratings.
Brian Labone: 7 - Barely put a foot wrong did the Everton hero. One of only three players to have played for England before Sir Alf Ramsey took charge, Labone forged a solid centre back partnership with one of the others in Moore.
1 BRIAN LABONE (Central defender)
A legend on the blue side of Liverpool, a one-club footballer and reliable defender. Played 26 times for England. He won the title twice, once as captain, and skippered Everton to one FA Cup triumph.
Though largely one-footed, he was a rugged tackler and excellent in the air. Remarkably, Labone withdrew from the 1966 squad because of his impending marriage but played in three of the four 1970 fixtures.
Died outside his home in 2006 after returning from a fans' awards dinner".
"And their attitude was summed up by Everton skipper Brian Labone, who had such a fine game for England that Brazil took off Tostao near the end.”
"Yet there was a myth about Labone, perpetuated by his calm, almost tranquil character and his polished, unflappable style of play. The contention among some critics was that he was devoid of "devil", - simply too easy-going for a role which demanded a more ruthless approach; that both he and Everton would have achieved more if he had been tougher. The theory was seriously flawed on two counts. First, "Labby" had to be true to his own nature, which precluded random violence or unnecessary harshness. Secondly, although he played the game with impeccable fairness, he was a hard footballer, imbued with every ounce of steel needed to survive and prosper at the top club level for almost a decade and a half, and to earn 26 caps for his country.
Had he been anything approaching a soft touch then he would never have progressed beyond the junior football in which he excelled during his education at Liverpool Collegiate School in the early 1950s.
In fact, although he was always enthusiastic about sport, the thoughtful, intelligent youngster might never have signed on at Everton anyway, even after joining the club as an amateur in 1955. He was sorely tempted to go to university and deliberated coolly before accepting the offer of professional terms at Goodison as a 17-year-old in 1957, spurning local rivals Liverpool in the process.
Having taken that momentous decision, Labone made meteoric progress, first riveting the attention of hard-boiled Everton insiders with his masterful shackling of the rumbustious centre- forward Dave Hickson in a public trial game. So impressive was the newcomer that he leapfrogged the Toffees' three junior teams to claim a place in the reserves.
Seven months later he made his first-team entrance following an injury to Tommy E. Jones, but it was not until his next senior outing, at home to Tottenham Hotspur in April 1957, that he discovered the cruel reality of top-flight football when he was subjected to an embarrassing runaround by Bobby Smith. Now the rookie proved he was made of the right stuff, returning to the "stiffs" to hone his craft, then earning a regular place in the First Division line-up in 1959/60 and winning England under-23 recognition in 1961.
Slim and rather more elegant than most stoppers, but formidably powerful in the air, Labone was fearless in his tackles and an astute anticipator of the unfolding action, enabling him to specialise in timely interceptions. On the ball he was accomplished and often constructive when using his right foot, invariably employing his left only for emergency clearances".
"Barely put a foot wrong" summed up Labone. Most of the time you never knew he was there as he read the game brilliantly, cutting out passes with ease, heading clear or putting in a tackle. And playing it out from the back with such ease that it got us on the front foot. Lead by example and was always encouraging and applauding his team mates.
Brian Labone: 7 - Barely put a foot wrong did the Everton hero. One of only three players to have played for England before Sir Alf Ramsey took charge, Labone forged a solid centre back partnership with one of the others in Moore.
1 BRIAN LABONE (Central defender)
A legend on the blue side of Liverpool, a one-club footballer and reliable defender. Played 26 times for England. He won the title twice, once as captain, and skippered Everton to one FA Cup triumph.
Though largely one-footed, he was a rugged tackler and excellent in the air. Remarkably, Labone withdrew from the 1966 squad because of his impending marriage but played in three of the four 1970 fixtures.
Died outside his home in 2006 after returning from a fans' awards dinner".
"And their attitude was summed up by Everton skipper Brian Labone, who had such a fine game for England that Brazil took off Tostao near the end.”
"Yet there was a myth about Labone, perpetuated by his calm, almost tranquil character and his polished, unflappable style of play. The contention among some critics was that he was devoid of "devil", - simply too easy-going for a role which demanded a more ruthless approach; that both he and Everton would have achieved more if he had been tougher. The theory was seriously flawed on two counts. First, "Labby" had to be true to his own nature, which precluded random violence or unnecessary harshness. Secondly, although he played the game with impeccable fairness, he was a hard footballer, imbued with every ounce of steel needed to survive and prosper at the top club level for almost a decade and a half, and to earn 26 caps for his country.
Had he been anything approaching a soft touch then he would never have progressed beyond the junior football in which he excelled during his education at Liverpool Collegiate School in the early 1950s.
In fact, although he was always enthusiastic about sport, the thoughtful, intelligent youngster might never have signed on at Everton anyway, even after joining the club as an amateur in 1955. He was sorely tempted to go to university and deliberated coolly before accepting the offer of professional terms at Goodison as a 17-year-old in 1957, spurning local rivals Liverpool in the process.
Having taken that momentous decision, Labone made meteoric progress, first riveting the attention of hard-boiled Everton insiders with his masterful shackling of the rumbustious centre- forward Dave Hickson in a public trial game. So impressive was the newcomer that he leapfrogged the Toffees' three junior teams to claim a place in the reserves.
Seven months later he made his first-team entrance following an injury to Tommy E. Jones, but it was not until his next senior outing, at home to Tottenham Hotspur in April 1957, that he discovered the cruel reality of top-flight football when he was subjected to an embarrassing runaround by Bobby Smith. Now the rookie proved he was made of the right stuff, returning to the "stiffs" to hone his craft, then earning a regular place in the First Division line-up in 1959/60 and winning England under-23 recognition in 1961.
Slim and rather more elegant than most stoppers, but formidably powerful in the air, Labone was fearless in his tackles and an astute anticipator of the unfolding action, enabling him to specialise in timely interceptions. On the ball he was accomplished and often constructive when using his right foot, invariably employing his left only for emergency clearances".
"Barely put a foot wrong" summed up Labone. Most of the time you never knew he was there as he read the game brilliantly, cutting out passes with ease, heading clear or putting in a tackle. And playing it out from the back with such ease that it got us on the front foot. Lead by example and was always encouraging and applauding his team mates.
peteblue
Welcome back Wayne
He was the captain in the true sense of the word. He was a classy player but he just exuded control and calmness and he seemed to spread reassurance throughout the team, and to the fans. Only time we ever saw him 'lose it', if you can even call it that, was when he disagreed with the ref and threw the ball down and got booked. We were shocked. He was the greatest club captain we, or indeed any other set of supporters, will ever see............
peteblue
Welcome back Wayne
He was getting married I seem to remember........
Bluebonic
Player Valuation: £40m
I was in Alder Hey over Christmas when I was a kid of about six, and the Everton team visited. I was made up when I found out they were coming and gave the little red noses loads of stick! When they arrived, one little turd shouted out "they're not footballers"
I was gutted and Labby leaned over and said (loud enough for the red-nose to hear)"don't worry lad, they think all footballers are ugly hunchbacks like their lot. We have the Most handsome players and the most handsome fans"! From that moment on he took over from Big Joe as my Everton hero!
I was gutted and Labby leaned over and said (loud enough for the red-nose to hear)"don't worry lad, they think all footballers are ugly hunchbacks like their lot. We have the Most handsome players and the most handsome fans"! From that moment on he took over from Big Joe as my Everton hero!
1966efc
Player Valuation: £20m
Can still remember my shock when a bloke called Ron Davies (Southampton at the time) beat him in the air a couple of times. Almost unheard of.
Only if they were in his class - Stones grant you has potential - but Labby or Captain Labone was something so special it was a pleasure fortunately see him to be around to pick two Championships in 7 years with two different formation of teams speaks for his record - his style of play was so great even Jack Charlton could not believe his luck when he got the 1966 England world cup call as he was a typical stopper of a centre half -
Labby had one rough patch through injury , and ironically nearly retired mid career, fortunately persuaded to say his partnership with John Hurst was unbelievable to see, Hurst { put it this way if Stones is half as good as him we will be blessed !}
Labone was Mr Everton no one else can ever claim that even on retirement he was a fan to the end!
Jamo Martinez
Player Valuation: £70m
I was thinking more of his playing style as a defender. To get an idea of the type of defender he was. Not trying to compare them ability wise.
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