little curly alan ball
Player Valuation: £70m
The Sunday Sermon ; Mick Lyons
May the Good Lord be with you all ,
Good morning , and welcome to our little corner of the Sabbath .
The term , “ He would run through a brick wall to play for Everton “ , is oft applied to Everton players , but in the subject of today’s Sermon , it was wholly apt .
Indeed , Michael Lyons - Mick to his mates , said it himself . He meant it !!!
He was an Evertonian to the tip of his very longest ringlet in his very worst curly-perm .
Born in Liverpool , on December 8 , 1951 , he was an Blue from birth . A St End’er by preference ,he was a Evertonian , like Harvey and Labone , among his predecessors . He achieved , again like the other 2 , his life’s ambition when being signed to Professional terms with his boyhood idols in 1970 . Everton were Champions of England .
To best describe Mick Lyons physically , one may perhaps use the term , “ A Horse of a Man “ . He was massive . In truth , not the most gifted ball player , though not awful neither , predominantly a Centre Forward , his physique was his primary attribute . However , unfortunately for young Micheael , we had Joe Royle , 21 , Husband , 24 , Whittle , 25 , and David Johnson , - later horrible Kopite tawt ; the year above Lyons , had debuted in the League , Cup , European Cup AND the Derby - the winner ; with a goal in each . Thus , Mick was persuaded by Tommy Casey , then Manager of the “ A “ Team , to switch to Centre Half .
Despite that , Lyons made his first team debut the season after signing full time , in a 3-2 defeat at Nottingham Forest . Scoring , like Johnson , on his initial performance . Nevertheless , Casey was ultimately proven right , as with the retirement of The Last of the Corinthians , Labone , and John Hurst getting persistently injured meant places were becoming available to young Michael .
He broke into the side in 1973 , properly , and stayed there for another 9 years , perhaps with not the greatest skill in the world , but always the absolute MAXIMUM of effort and endeavour , and ALWAYS for the betterment of his beloved Everton Football Club . Indeed , Lyons played EVERY position for Everton Football Club , except Left Wing - he was predominantly right footed and 15 stone .
Actually , Mick Lyons could well be said to be the personification of Evertonians in the 1970’s - probably the most disappointing decade in our history . The Fifties were worse for League standing , but at least then , we KNEW we were garbage . In the ’70’s we began the decade as Champions and remained a legitimate member of the Big 5 . Thus , it was all the more hard to swallow that , as we nosedived , with John Connolly for John Morrissey , John McLaughlin for John Hurst , Joe Harper for Joe Royle ;
AND our Murdering Relations began their inexorable rise to media luvvy-dom .
As for our struggles against the Bealzebubs ; As far as Mick went ; To paraphrase the wonderful Rose Royce ; “ Luck did not live here anymore . “ We were nowhere in the League , - ‘74/75 aside , nor the Cups , barring ‘77 , and apart from the first one of the new decade at Goodison , we would go another 7 years in the wait for the next win against the Vermin .
My first memory of that period is , a 2 goal Emily ( Hughes ) , running from the Park End with his arms up , an’ me Da’s face like thunder . The following year , Alan Fukn Waddle !!! I know Kopites who go to the game who wouldn’t know Alan [Poor language removed] Waddle . Yet , I , and 50,000 Evertonians , know alright . A No-Mark Journeyman , pulled by Dwight D. Eisenhower from Halifax’s reserves . In 16 games for the Demons , he scored precisely 1 goal . I kid you not . .
That , 1 , was in the Gwladys Street , with aforementioned Lyons , just a second too late as ******** flicks the ball over Lawson . We go there ; Fairclough , the 11 O’Clock game . Last seconds , Nil’s each .
Then , carrot-top goes on one , beats 5 defenders an’ slots in the Rd End . The Big Lad even put the top hat on it , when , in 1979 , in the first , and one-time famous Anfield Fist Fight game - Stanley got sent off but it was Big Mick throwing the REAL Haymakers . He went on to beat our then Goalkeeper , George Wood , in the same game , with a 25 yard lob , perhaps the second best/worst own goal in Mersey Derby History .
However , so unlucky against that crowd was Lyons , that his piece de resistance , was , on 18 October 1978 , our injured Captain , stood on crutches next to our box - in those days , and watched his boss mate Andy King score a corker of a winner past Clemence .
Indeed , Mick’s premature celebrations at the final whistle , have become not only the stuff of Everton Legend ., but also that of the BBC and the makers of Goals and Gaffes DVD’s , as an over-officious Policeman , Flat Cap an’ pips an’all ,ushers them both OFF the playing area in NO uncertain terms .
Indeed , he never got to beat them in the League , but did do in the F.A. Cup - Varadi’s 1981 winner , and had actually done so in 1977 at Maine Road . I know , I was there . Thing was , Clive Thomas was a pedantic Welsh Tawt and despite being as wrong as wearing a red suit to get married , literally created an offence - he chose 3 separate one’s in the 20 years following ; and cruelly denied us another , wholly merited win .
His Liverpool thing aside , Lyons was an Everton Stalwart . If there are 5 Iconic Images of the 1970’s , for me at least , they would be Bally and Labby , with a Sheepy on , celebrating in the dressing room with the Championship Trophy in 1970 ; Big Bob and his 30th Celebration ; Kingy’s Arms raised in 1978 ; and I’d say , Mick Lyons diving header , despite Norman Hunter’s flying boot , in a superb game , 3-2 win over Leeds in 1975 , and another picture of Big Mick , atop the fence at Sheffield Wednesday after
equalising in the League Cup Final replay in 1977 . He was MR .Everton at that time, and we were no bad side at all .
For example , we went into Easter in 1974/75 as League Leaders and Favourites for the Title . 3 defeats in about 10 days , including the second of that season to soon to be relegated Carlisle , put paid to that , and we finished 3rd , after trailing off in our last 5/6 games . Also personally , the 77-79 years were among the most entertaining I’ve have ever enjoyed . Villa 4-1 , and 5-0 at home in 2 weeks , Bristol City 5-1 , Wimbledon 8-0 , Q.P.R. Away , ditto Coventry ,Latchford’s 30 goals , Kingy , the Dave Thomas / Latchford Telepathy thing , Martin Dobbo at the RS from 35 yards , Kingy at the High St Ken’ , Man Utd - League Cup , Bolton semi final , in short ; LOADS AN’ LOADS of BOSS days . Loads . We just didn’t win the League OR the European Cup , is all .
Just as a personal note , that Leeds game , I happened to be with me Nan and my Aunty Violet , in their seats . Our celebrations that day , despite over 25 years of a season ticket , resonated SO much with her that she spoke of it until her dying day . So , for that , nice one Michael .
His versatility was such that our tactic , for nearly a decade , was , last 15 , to throw Big Michael upfront .
Indeed , it became known as , “ Doing a Lyons . “ when manifested by later representatives of the shirt ; Mountfield , Watson , etc . Some believe that the versatility thing counted against him at the highest level , as despite Under - 23’s and B Caps , and 4 appearances as a substitute for the full side . He never got a Full Cap . He actually finished as top scorer in one season , ‘73/74 - Latchford was signed as a result ; with , albeit , 9 goals . He was always good for 7 or so though , especially when boots , fists , heads or whatever were flying .
He eventually played 434 games in all for Everton , scoring 59 goals , and no prouder man ever wore the shirt . See , that was the thing with Mick , I would suggest , that he was the last example of a kid looking at Everton’s Captain and thinking , “ That could be me . “ He was a proper Blue , was not OVERLY gifted as far as ability went , but made the most of what he had , but put it ALL in every week . He was one of us .
Once , I was on a Pre-Season tour abroad , I was 15 and looked 12 . We met Mick and the team as we were at the ground HOURS early . Anyway , he cops to our being there unaccompanied , bollocks us ,then gets us to carry all the kit bags and stuff into the dressing rooms and that , effectively gaining us entry and making sure we were sorted for getting our heads down . Proper Blue , btw , Michael .
Mick Lyons eventually lost his place to a by now , established , Billy Wright , and eventually left Everton to Sheff Wed in 1982 , then onto Grimsby Town as Player Manager in 1985 . He left FishTown , embittered , and Colin Harvey brought him back on the Everton coaching staff , but along with that regime , it was relatively short - lived , and Mick left to Manage Brunei from 1993-95 , whereupon he , ( obviously lost his marbles , and ) headed for the land of the Swag Bag , Australia , where he remains as Coach of the , initially , Canberra Cosmos and currently Stirling Lions .
Mick’s greatest achievement was to become the first Evertonian ever to lead a team out in a League Cup Final . He also Captained in 2 F.A. Cup Semi Finals , and the two resultant replays . I maintain , he was perhaps the unluckiest Evertonian , certainly Everton Captain to play for this great Club . He spanned BOTH Great era’s without actually playing in either and played in a side as unfortunate as any , save the Heysel Legacy team . Allied to his Derby nightmare , Clive [Poor language removed] Thomas , Terry Soft-Arse Darracott , and Carlisle United , etc , but I maintain that NOBODY , in the modern era , including Labby , AN’ Bally , have represented this fine Institution with a greater degree of PRIDE than Mick Lyons .
Moreover , that his goal at Hillsborough , specifically , is in my top 10 Everton moments of my life .
Little Known Fact Alert ; Let no-one ever tell you that Mick Lyons did not lift a trophy at Everton , btw .Because he did . Alas . It was not pertaining to football . It was the BBC Super-Teams Competition .Much the same as Super-Stars , falling off racers , swimming , the magnificent , squat-thrusts , that kinda deal .
Anyway , Mick , along with a similarly Permed-Up firm of determined Blues went down there with one intention ; of bringing the Silverware home . Which they duly did . Unfortunately , the RS won the League , the League Cup and the European Cup , so the focus in the Echo sorta passed us by . Sometimeslife just aint fair .
As an Epitaph to this Sermon , this is a quote from Big Mick , talking about a recent win at Chelsea , in 1978, I happened to be present . Kingy , 1-0 . The High Street Ken’ , game ;….
“ At Stamford Bridge it was VERY warm , but often , when conditions aren’t perfect , I always fancy us
against teams like Chelsea , because the word is , BATTLE !!!” - He Capitalised it , btw .
Enough said , for me .
Therefore , this Domingo , thank the Almighty for creating Michael Lyons ; Platinum Card Evertonian .
May the Good Lord be with you all .
Look after your peoples ,
Peace out .
The ( Catholic ) Reverend L.C.A.B.
May the Good Lord be with you all ,
Good morning , and welcome to our little corner of the Sabbath .
The term , “ He would run through a brick wall to play for Everton “ , is oft applied to Everton players , but in the subject of today’s Sermon , it was wholly apt .
Indeed , Michael Lyons - Mick to his mates , said it himself . He meant it !!!
He was an Evertonian to the tip of his very longest ringlet in his very worst curly-perm .
Born in Liverpool , on December 8 , 1951 , he was an Blue from birth . A St End’er by preference ,he was a Evertonian , like Harvey and Labone , among his predecessors . He achieved , again like the other 2 , his life’s ambition when being signed to Professional terms with his boyhood idols in 1970 . Everton were Champions of England .
To best describe Mick Lyons physically , one may perhaps use the term , “ A Horse of a Man “ . He was massive . In truth , not the most gifted ball player , though not awful neither , predominantly a Centre Forward , his physique was his primary attribute . However , unfortunately for young Micheael , we had Joe Royle , 21 , Husband , 24 , Whittle , 25 , and David Johnson , - later horrible Kopite tawt ; the year above Lyons , had debuted in the League , Cup , European Cup AND the Derby - the winner ; with a goal in each . Thus , Mick was persuaded by Tommy Casey , then Manager of the “ A “ Team , to switch to Centre Half .
Despite that , Lyons made his first team debut the season after signing full time , in a 3-2 defeat at Nottingham Forest . Scoring , like Johnson , on his initial performance . Nevertheless , Casey was ultimately proven right , as with the retirement of The Last of the Corinthians , Labone , and John Hurst getting persistently injured meant places were becoming available to young Michael .
He broke into the side in 1973 , properly , and stayed there for another 9 years , perhaps with not the greatest skill in the world , but always the absolute MAXIMUM of effort and endeavour , and ALWAYS for the betterment of his beloved Everton Football Club . Indeed , Lyons played EVERY position for Everton Football Club , except Left Wing - he was predominantly right footed and 15 stone .
Actually , Mick Lyons could well be said to be the personification of Evertonians in the 1970’s - probably the most disappointing decade in our history . The Fifties were worse for League standing , but at least then , we KNEW we were garbage . In the ’70’s we began the decade as Champions and remained a legitimate member of the Big 5 . Thus , it was all the more hard to swallow that , as we nosedived , with John Connolly for John Morrissey , John McLaughlin for John Hurst , Joe Harper for Joe Royle ;
AND our Murdering Relations began their inexorable rise to media luvvy-dom .
As for our struggles against the Bealzebubs ; As far as Mick went ; To paraphrase the wonderful Rose Royce ; “ Luck did not live here anymore . “ We were nowhere in the League , - ‘74/75 aside , nor the Cups , barring ‘77 , and apart from the first one of the new decade at Goodison , we would go another 7 years in the wait for the next win against the Vermin .
My first memory of that period is , a 2 goal Emily ( Hughes ) , running from the Park End with his arms up , an’ me Da’s face like thunder . The following year , Alan Fukn Waddle !!! I know Kopites who go to the game who wouldn’t know Alan [Poor language removed] Waddle . Yet , I , and 50,000 Evertonians , know alright . A No-Mark Journeyman , pulled by Dwight D. Eisenhower from Halifax’s reserves . In 16 games for the Demons , he scored precisely 1 goal . I kid you not . .
That , 1 , was in the Gwladys Street , with aforementioned Lyons , just a second too late as ******** flicks the ball over Lawson . We go there ; Fairclough , the 11 O’Clock game . Last seconds , Nil’s each .
Then , carrot-top goes on one , beats 5 defenders an’ slots in the Rd End . The Big Lad even put the top hat on it , when , in 1979 , in the first , and one-time famous Anfield Fist Fight game - Stanley got sent off but it was Big Mick throwing the REAL Haymakers . He went on to beat our then Goalkeeper , George Wood , in the same game , with a 25 yard lob , perhaps the second best/worst own goal in Mersey Derby History .
However , so unlucky against that crowd was Lyons , that his piece de resistance , was , on 18 October 1978 , our injured Captain , stood on crutches next to our box - in those days , and watched his boss mate Andy King score a corker of a winner past Clemence .
Indeed , Mick’s premature celebrations at the final whistle , have become not only the stuff of Everton Legend ., but also that of the BBC and the makers of Goals and Gaffes DVD’s , as an over-officious Policeman , Flat Cap an’ pips an’all ,ushers them both OFF the playing area in NO uncertain terms .
Indeed , he never got to beat them in the League , but did do in the F.A. Cup - Varadi’s 1981 winner , and had actually done so in 1977 at Maine Road . I know , I was there . Thing was , Clive Thomas was a pedantic Welsh Tawt and despite being as wrong as wearing a red suit to get married , literally created an offence - he chose 3 separate one’s in the 20 years following ; and cruelly denied us another , wholly merited win .
His Liverpool thing aside , Lyons was an Everton Stalwart . If there are 5 Iconic Images of the 1970’s , for me at least , they would be Bally and Labby , with a Sheepy on , celebrating in the dressing room with the Championship Trophy in 1970 ; Big Bob and his 30th Celebration ; Kingy’s Arms raised in 1978 ; and I’d say , Mick Lyons diving header , despite Norman Hunter’s flying boot , in a superb game , 3-2 win over Leeds in 1975 , and another picture of Big Mick , atop the fence at Sheffield Wednesday after
equalising in the League Cup Final replay in 1977 . He was MR .Everton at that time, and we were no bad side at all .
For example , we went into Easter in 1974/75 as League Leaders and Favourites for the Title . 3 defeats in about 10 days , including the second of that season to soon to be relegated Carlisle , put paid to that , and we finished 3rd , after trailing off in our last 5/6 games . Also personally , the 77-79 years were among the most entertaining I’ve have ever enjoyed . Villa 4-1 , and 5-0 at home in 2 weeks , Bristol City 5-1 , Wimbledon 8-0 , Q.P.R. Away , ditto Coventry ,Latchford’s 30 goals , Kingy , the Dave Thomas / Latchford Telepathy thing , Martin Dobbo at the RS from 35 yards , Kingy at the High St Ken’ , Man Utd - League Cup , Bolton semi final , in short ; LOADS AN’ LOADS of BOSS days . Loads . We just didn’t win the League OR the European Cup , is all .
Just as a personal note , that Leeds game , I happened to be with me Nan and my Aunty Violet , in their seats . Our celebrations that day , despite over 25 years of a season ticket , resonated SO much with her that she spoke of it until her dying day . So , for that , nice one Michael .
His versatility was such that our tactic , for nearly a decade , was , last 15 , to throw Big Michael upfront .
Indeed , it became known as , “ Doing a Lyons . “ when manifested by later representatives of the shirt ; Mountfield , Watson , etc . Some believe that the versatility thing counted against him at the highest level , as despite Under - 23’s and B Caps , and 4 appearances as a substitute for the full side . He never got a Full Cap . He actually finished as top scorer in one season , ‘73/74 - Latchford was signed as a result ; with , albeit , 9 goals . He was always good for 7 or so though , especially when boots , fists , heads or whatever were flying .
He eventually played 434 games in all for Everton , scoring 59 goals , and no prouder man ever wore the shirt . See , that was the thing with Mick , I would suggest , that he was the last example of a kid looking at Everton’s Captain and thinking , “ That could be me . “ He was a proper Blue , was not OVERLY gifted as far as ability went , but made the most of what he had , but put it ALL in every week . He was one of us .
Once , I was on a Pre-Season tour abroad , I was 15 and looked 12 . We met Mick and the team as we were at the ground HOURS early . Anyway , he cops to our being there unaccompanied , bollocks us ,then gets us to carry all the kit bags and stuff into the dressing rooms and that , effectively gaining us entry and making sure we were sorted for getting our heads down . Proper Blue , btw , Michael .
Mick Lyons eventually lost his place to a by now , established , Billy Wright , and eventually left Everton to Sheff Wed in 1982 , then onto Grimsby Town as Player Manager in 1985 . He left FishTown , embittered , and Colin Harvey brought him back on the Everton coaching staff , but along with that regime , it was relatively short - lived , and Mick left to Manage Brunei from 1993-95 , whereupon he , ( obviously lost his marbles , and ) headed for the land of the Swag Bag , Australia , where he remains as Coach of the , initially , Canberra Cosmos and currently Stirling Lions .
Mick’s greatest achievement was to become the first Evertonian ever to lead a team out in a League Cup Final . He also Captained in 2 F.A. Cup Semi Finals , and the two resultant replays . I maintain , he was perhaps the unluckiest Evertonian , certainly Everton Captain to play for this great Club . He spanned BOTH Great era’s without actually playing in either and played in a side as unfortunate as any , save the Heysel Legacy team . Allied to his Derby nightmare , Clive [Poor language removed] Thomas , Terry Soft-Arse Darracott , and Carlisle United , etc , but I maintain that NOBODY , in the modern era , including Labby , AN’ Bally , have represented this fine Institution with a greater degree of PRIDE than Mick Lyons .
Moreover , that his goal at Hillsborough , specifically , is in my top 10 Everton moments of my life .
Little Known Fact Alert ; Let no-one ever tell you that Mick Lyons did not lift a trophy at Everton , btw .Because he did . Alas . It was not pertaining to football . It was the BBC Super-Teams Competition .Much the same as Super-Stars , falling off racers , swimming , the magnificent , squat-thrusts , that kinda deal .
Anyway , Mick , along with a similarly Permed-Up firm of determined Blues went down there with one intention ; of bringing the Silverware home . Which they duly did . Unfortunately , the RS won the League , the League Cup and the European Cup , so the focus in the Echo sorta passed us by . Sometimeslife just aint fair .
As an Epitaph to this Sermon , this is a quote from Big Mick , talking about a recent win at Chelsea , in 1978, I happened to be present . Kingy , 1-0 . The High Street Ken’ , game ;….
“ At Stamford Bridge it was VERY warm , but often , when conditions aren’t perfect , I always fancy us
against teams like Chelsea , because the word is , BATTLE !!!” - He Capitalised it , btw .
Enough said , for me .
Therefore , this Domingo , thank the Almighty for creating Michael Lyons ; Platinum Card Evertonian .
May the Good Lord be with you all .
Look after your peoples ,
Peace out .
The ( Catholic ) Reverend L.C.A.B.
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