Revealing interview with former Everton captian Don Hutchinson, did my head in him leaving at the time:
Did you see that Graham Poll finally admitted that he was wrong the other day for blowing up and disallowing your bizarre yet legitimate last-minute winner for Everton in the Merseyside derby at Goodison Park in April 2000?
Did he?? I’ve been chasing him for about ten years! I’m glad that he’s admitted it because even to this day I don’t know why he blew up. I’ve bumped into him a couple of times since then and each time he dodged the question, so it will be interesting to see what he’s said.
Who do you support in Merseyside derbies?
I know I’m sitting on the fence but I’m quite neutral. I’m a Newcastle supporter at heart. I just like to watch good football and the derby’s a fascinating game to play in and especially to watch, because they’re played at one hundred miles an hour. So I’ll sit on the fence on this one and say I’m neutral.
What’s your favourite derby memory?
When Everton went to Anfield and we beat Liverpool 1-0. I think Kevin Campbell scored the goal. We played really well on the day and I remember, the next morning, Walter Smith got everyone in their tracksuits and he took us for a walk into Liverpool town centre just so he could rub it in with the Liverpool fans! There were quite a lot of Evertonians buzzing and the Liverpool supporters were giving us a lot of stick. That was a good twenty-four hours.
Francis Jeffers - who’s now back training with Everton – put Campbell through for that goal with a great turn and pass, which was demonstrative of the understanding those two had up front. What do you think went wrong with Jeffers? He looked to have huge potential back then.
Yeah, he did. He got a big move to Arsenal for a lot of money. It’s hard to say where people go wrong. Franny’s a very talented boy and I definitely thought he was going to be one of the great players – he just had everything in the locker, very Ian Rush-like with his movement, his runs and his finishing. I haven’t spoken to Franny for a number of years so I don’t really know where it went wrong and it would be harsh of me to criticise or judge him, but it’s a difficult one because he certainly had all the talent.
Do you think the current Everton squad is top four material?
It’s always a difficult one. The top four’s such an elite group to try and break into that, for clubs like Everton, Aston Villa and Spurs, it’s so hard to get in there. Spurs did it last year, which was a phenomenal achievement for Harry Redknapp, but it’s such a hard thing to break into. But David Moyes has done an unbelievably good job at Everton and, although finishing in the top four might just be a stretch too far, I wouldn’t put it past David Moyes and I wouldn’t put it past Everton.
What did you think about Jamie Redknapp describing Fernando Torres’ performance against Birmingham last weekend as “diabolical”?
Well, I know pundits have got jobs to do – analyse the games and give their opinion – but, in all honesty, I thought it was a bit harsh. I don’t think you could ever call Torres “diabolical”. He’s obviously struggling for a little bit of form and fitness, so to call him “diabolical” was a bit strong. When he gets his form and fitness back, he’ll be one of the best centre-forwards in the world again.
Roy Hodgson said the other day that Liverpool can’t win the title under the current ownership. Is that a defeatist attitude or is he just being realistic?
I think it’s realistic. Liverpool will be punching above their weight this year if they finish in the top four. I think they’re miles behind at the minute and there’s a little bit of doom and gloom about the place. You watch Arsenal last night [beating Braga 6-0] and they play football like Liverpool used to back in the day. Unfortunately, Liverpool look a little bit lost and off the pace but I think Roy Hodgson is definitely the right man to bring it back. I think he’ll stabilise the club and he’s obviously a very intelligent man – every time I listen to him speak, I like what he
says and I like the way he manages as well.
I know a few of the Fulham players and they rave about Roy, and I think he’s got Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres on side. And he’s making good signings – Poulsen’s an ok player, very basic but very good at what he does, and I like the Portuguese boy Meireles and Joe Cole as well. So I think he’s made some terrific signings and he’s doing a very good job under the circumstances.
If you had a message for Gillett and Hicks, what would it be?
Do what all the fans want and just sell up. They said they had Liverpool at heart when they bought the club, so do what’s best for the club – the fans, the players, the staff and everyone around the place - and give them a chance to progress.
Finally, what happened at the end of your time with Everton? Did you fall out with Walter Smith?
No. It’s unfortunate, I never got a chance to explain what happened. I agreed a contract with Walter in pre-season when we were over in Italy and Walter told me how much all the players were on. He told me how much Kevin Campbell, Materazzi, John Collins and all that were on and, coming from Sheffield United, I was one of the lowest paid players. We sat down and he said to me, you know, we’re struggling for funds and you’re never going to be one of the top earners. I said, that’s not what I’m about, Walter, I don’t want to be a top earner, just give me what other players are on.
He told me exactly how much Nick Barmby was on and I shook hands with Walter and said, yep, that should do me, I’ll sign for as long as you want. We shook hands and had a glass of red wine but, when we came back, I sat down with Walter and Michael Dunford and they’d moved the goalposts an unbelievable amount. I had six months or a year left on my contract and it just wasn’t worth signing the new one. I felt sorry for the Everton fans because I never got a chance to explain why I left, but I was 29, captain and in probably the form of my career, but I was the lowest-paid player at the club. Michael Dunford and Walter let me down on that occasion.
It was a strange time for us because we had a good little squad then and everyone was quite settled. Walter made some fantastic signings and, you know, that’s the two sides of Walter Smith. He made me captain of Everton, which I’ll always be grateful to him for, and it was in unusual circumstances that he did make me captain. It’s the psychology of the man and how good of a manager he is. But just on that occasion I thought he could have been a little bit more honest and said, I know what I promised you in Italy but the club hasn’t got that kind of resources. That would have been better for me. But it’s done and dusted now and I’ll always be grateful to Walter for making me captain.
Did you see that Graham Poll finally admitted that he was wrong the other day for blowing up and disallowing your bizarre yet legitimate last-minute winner for Everton in the Merseyside derby at Goodison Park in April 2000?
Did he?? I’ve been chasing him for about ten years! I’m glad that he’s admitted it because even to this day I don’t know why he blew up. I’ve bumped into him a couple of times since then and each time he dodged the question, so it will be interesting to see what he’s said.
Who do you support in Merseyside derbies?
I know I’m sitting on the fence but I’m quite neutral. I’m a Newcastle supporter at heart. I just like to watch good football and the derby’s a fascinating game to play in and especially to watch, because they’re played at one hundred miles an hour. So I’ll sit on the fence on this one and say I’m neutral.
What’s your favourite derby memory?
When Everton went to Anfield and we beat Liverpool 1-0. I think Kevin Campbell scored the goal. We played really well on the day and I remember, the next morning, Walter Smith got everyone in their tracksuits and he took us for a walk into Liverpool town centre just so he could rub it in with the Liverpool fans! There were quite a lot of Evertonians buzzing and the Liverpool supporters were giving us a lot of stick. That was a good twenty-four hours.
Francis Jeffers - who’s now back training with Everton – put Campbell through for that goal with a great turn and pass, which was demonstrative of the understanding those two had up front. What do you think went wrong with Jeffers? He looked to have huge potential back then.
Yeah, he did. He got a big move to Arsenal for a lot of money. It’s hard to say where people go wrong. Franny’s a very talented boy and I definitely thought he was going to be one of the great players – he just had everything in the locker, very Ian Rush-like with his movement, his runs and his finishing. I haven’t spoken to Franny for a number of years so I don’t really know where it went wrong and it would be harsh of me to criticise or judge him, but it’s a difficult one because he certainly had all the talent.
Do you think the current Everton squad is top four material?
It’s always a difficult one. The top four’s such an elite group to try and break into that, for clubs like Everton, Aston Villa and Spurs, it’s so hard to get in there. Spurs did it last year, which was a phenomenal achievement for Harry Redknapp, but it’s such a hard thing to break into. But David Moyes has done an unbelievably good job at Everton and, although finishing in the top four might just be a stretch too far, I wouldn’t put it past David Moyes and I wouldn’t put it past Everton.
What did you think about Jamie Redknapp describing Fernando Torres’ performance against Birmingham last weekend as “diabolical”?
Well, I know pundits have got jobs to do – analyse the games and give their opinion – but, in all honesty, I thought it was a bit harsh. I don’t think you could ever call Torres “diabolical”. He’s obviously struggling for a little bit of form and fitness, so to call him “diabolical” was a bit strong. When he gets his form and fitness back, he’ll be one of the best centre-forwards in the world again.
Roy Hodgson said the other day that Liverpool can’t win the title under the current ownership. Is that a defeatist attitude or is he just being realistic?
I think it’s realistic. Liverpool will be punching above their weight this year if they finish in the top four. I think they’re miles behind at the minute and there’s a little bit of doom and gloom about the place. You watch Arsenal last night [beating Braga 6-0] and they play football like Liverpool used to back in the day. Unfortunately, Liverpool look a little bit lost and off the pace but I think Roy Hodgson is definitely the right man to bring it back. I think he’ll stabilise the club and he’s obviously a very intelligent man – every time I listen to him speak, I like what he
says and I like the way he manages as well.
I know a few of the Fulham players and they rave about Roy, and I think he’s got Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres on side. And he’s making good signings – Poulsen’s an ok player, very basic but very good at what he does, and I like the Portuguese boy Meireles and Joe Cole as well. So I think he’s made some terrific signings and he’s doing a very good job under the circumstances.
If you had a message for Gillett and Hicks, what would it be?
Do what all the fans want and just sell up. They said they had Liverpool at heart when they bought the club, so do what’s best for the club – the fans, the players, the staff and everyone around the place - and give them a chance to progress.
Finally, what happened at the end of your time with Everton? Did you fall out with Walter Smith?
No. It’s unfortunate, I never got a chance to explain what happened. I agreed a contract with Walter in pre-season when we were over in Italy and Walter told me how much all the players were on. He told me how much Kevin Campbell, Materazzi, John Collins and all that were on and, coming from Sheffield United, I was one of the lowest paid players. We sat down and he said to me, you know, we’re struggling for funds and you’re never going to be one of the top earners. I said, that’s not what I’m about, Walter, I don’t want to be a top earner, just give me what other players are on.
He told me exactly how much Nick Barmby was on and I shook hands with Walter and said, yep, that should do me, I’ll sign for as long as you want. We shook hands and had a glass of red wine but, when we came back, I sat down with Walter and Michael Dunford and they’d moved the goalposts an unbelievable amount. I had six months or a year left on my contract and it just wasn’t worth signing the new one. I felt sorry for the Everton fans because I never got a chance to explain why I left, but I was 29, captain and in probably the form of my career, but I was the lowest-paid player at the club. Michael Dunford and Walter let me down on that occasion.
It was a strange time for us because we had a good little squad then and everyone was quite settled. Walter made some fantastic signings and, you know, that’s the two sides of Walter Smith. He made me captain of Everton, which I’ll always be grateful to him for, and it was in unusual circumstances that he did make me captain. It’s the psychology of the man and how good of a manager he is. But just on that occasion I thought he could have been a little bit more honest and said, I know what I promised you in Italy but the club hasn’t got that kind of resources. That would have been better for me. But it’s done and dusted now and I’ll always be grateful to Walter for making me captain.
