Former Everton player and manager Colin Harvey at Goodison Park on November 22, 2024
Former Everton player and manager Colin Harvey at Goodison Park on November 22, 2024 (Image: Tony McArdle/Everton FC Official Photography Library/SmartFrame)
Colin Harvey, the man hailed last year by Dr David France as being “The greatest living Evertonian,” has been back at Goodison Park for the first time in the ground’s historic final season to view some banners created in his honour by Blues supporters.
Fazakerley-born Harvey made his senior debut for Everton as an 18-year-old in a European Cup tie away to Internazionale at the San Siro on September 25, 1963, and went on to make 388 appearances for the Blues, scoring 24 goals, and was part of the club’s most fabled midfield trio, alongside Alan Ball and Howard Kendall, later dubbed ‘The Holy Trinity,’ with their statues now standing next to St Luke’s Church in the shadow of the Main Stand.
Harvey also went on to serve Everton as a coach, manager and assistant manager, and was part of their backroom staff during the club’s most successful period in the mid-1980s before succeeding Kendall in the dugout. To mark Harvey’s 80th birthday this month, dedicated Blues produced a couple of special banners to celebrate his achievements.
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A larger one, created by Joe from the Gwladys Street 1938 group, who has also created artwork featuring Merseyside fan solidarity over Hillsborough; Dixie Dean for Remembrance Sunday; Everton’s great players of colour for Black History Month; Seamus Coleman; Cult Heroes; The Toffee Lady and the Beatles wearing a blue and white scarf, among others, took 60 hours to produce and shows Harvey as both an Everton player and manager.
Another one, created by The 1878s, shows him next to silhouettes of the League Championship he won in 1970 and FA Cup in 1966, while turning out in the Blues’ midfield and was proudly held up by one of his daughters and grandson as he admired it in the Gwladys Street.
Former Everton player and manager Colin Harvey walks in front of the Gwladys Street
Former Everton player and manager Colin Harvey walks in front of the Gwladys Street
2. Colin Harvey stands in front of the banner created by Joe from the Gwladys Street 1938 group
Colin Harvey stands in front of the banner created by Joe from the Gwladys Street 1938 group
3. Colin Harvey with his grandson and daughter as they hold up a banner for him created by The 1878s
Colin Harvey with his grandson and daughter as they hold up a banner for him created by The 1878s