tell me something about Labone

[davids]

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.

He was dominant in the air,which sadly neither of them are.He had the coolness of Stones,but knew when to look for row Z. Ball,Harvey and Kendall were given their license to create because of the way he marshalled the defence.Best Captain the club has ever had.

 

[bizzaro]

educate me a bit here.

how boss he actually was?

He had the words Everton Football Club tattooed to the bone Finners.

 

[TyphooToffee]

Was the tour guide Gordon Watson, an old great player who played in the 30's with Dixie Dean? He was also a coach and trainer. Dave Hickson took over the tours after Gordon passed away. I was on a tour with Gordon at end of 85. Got my hands on the Charity Shield, league trophy and Euro Cup Winners Cup.

Every time I saw Brian Labone play he was solid at the back. A very cultured player, cool, calm and collected.

I don't know his name I'm afraid

 

[Joey66]

Only booked once, did he score once?
The most cultured centre half I have seen for the blues - my late father loved him, but his hero was Tommy G Jones, as he was in his opinion the very first cultured centre half he had ever seen,
Labby the great man was around for a decade should have had more England caps, turned down England in 1966 to get married, as pointed out in the late 1960's he and John Hurst were so special at the back - Bally used to go mad asking the to kick opponents, they just played it from the back , and let Moggsy do that sort of thing, and he was classy as well, but in an era of hard men Moggsy was needed and Bally could look after himself also!
Those pitches were mud heaps down the middle also!

 

[SailorBlue]

I don't know his name I'm afraid

Elderly gent. Geordie accent. Really nice bloke. God bless him.

 

[Dario Terracotta]

Without going all RS mawkish,hopefully the great man will look down and coax our back four through the game tomorrow.

 

[Blues Harp]

Without going all RS mawkish,hopefully the great man will look down and coax our back four through the game tomorrow.

Him and Howard could come down and do the team talk before the game.....If only. Was privileged to see him at his best in my formative years as a Blue. he and his defence provided the rock which allowed the holy trinity to express themselves Class personified as a player, fan, and gentleman.

 

[TyphooToffee]

Elderly gent. Geordie accent. Really nice bloke. God bless him.

Yes, that's him.I remember he had a Geordie accent. He was a really nice bloke too because he took us in after finishing a tour and was about to go home, rest his soul.

 

[degsy]

Even the RS's didn't have a bad word to say about him.

Had a patch of bad form around 67-ish, so bad he more or less announced his intention to retire, as soon as he said that the pressure dropped off and he went from strength to strength.

 

[SailorBlue]

Yes, that's him.I remember he had a Geordie accent. He was a really nice bloke too because he took us in after finishing a tour and was about to go home, rest his soul.

He's on the 1956/57 team photo next to Harry Cooke the trainer (on the Everton Collection website). Gordon was assistant trainer

 

[BigBlueConk]

We wouldn't be in the defensive mire we are now if we had somebody of half his quality.

 

[TyphooToffee]

Even the RS's didn't have a bad word to say about him.

Had a patch of bad form around 67-ish, so bad he more or less announced his intention to retire, as soon as he said that the pressure dropped off and he went from strength to strength.

I remember running home after the '66 Cup Final (from my Wednesday-supporting school friend's house) and getting in just in time to see Labby being presented with the Cup. Happy days

 

[Caolam]

A mate of mine was over at Everton for a trial, he was there for about a month, when he was finally told he wasn't good enough he helped himself to as much gear as he could. He brought home a No. 5 shirt which he said was Brian Labone's. I wore that shirt until it disintegrated.

 

[Tennessee Blue Mike]

Cool as a cucumber. Played with his feet and very commanding in the box. A rock for club and country. Labby was a calming influence for Harry Catterick.

 

[peteblue]

Even the RS's didn't have a bad word to say about him.

Had a patch of bad form around 67-ish, so bad he more or less announced his intention to retire, as soon as he said that the pressure dropped off and he went from strength to strength.

You'd have a patch of bad form at that age too.........