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[ToffeeMan]

In the days before Manchester City & Cheslea had billionaire owners able to purchase immediate success...Everton was a giant of the English game (only United, Liverpool & Arsenal have won more titles). In fact, Liverpool is far & away the greatest footballing city in England. One of the men that made Everton so great passed Saturday morning just 3 hours before the kickoff of Everton vs Manchester United...and it was with HEAVY hearts that the Boys in Blue marched onto the hallowed turf at Goodison Park to play that morning.

Howard Kendall was twice an Everton legend. As a player, he was part of the Holy Trinity, Everton's greatest midfield trio comprising Kendall, Coliin Harvey & the magical little red-haired terrier/ wizard Alan Ball (who was the 1st player to wear white boots in England & this is also the reason my Little Man Otto- who also has red hair & I hope will be a MF terrier/ wizard- will always wear white boots). After being adored & worshipped from the terraces, Kendall went on to manage the Toffeemen in the 80s which was a magical time in Liverpool as EFC & the Team in Red ruled the 1st Division (pre-Premier League mind you) sweeping all aside in a trail of mediocrity. Kendall led the Boys in Blue to the title in 85 & 87 while also winning the Cup Winners Cup (no longer in existence) after trouncing Bayern Munich in a home & away Semi Final. Throw in 1 FA Cup title & 2 FA Cup Runners Up medals & you see a different force than today. When the Good Guys didn't win the title, the Team in Red did, so Merseyside was the center of the footballing universe.

The true measure of Howard Kendall is the number of Liverpool players coming out to eulogize him not as a rival competitor but as the Gentleman he was. As a minor historian of the game, I try to share these little bits of Life Before the Premier League. RIP Howard Kendall...say hello to Alan Ball and all the other Greats that have preceded you!