ECHO Everton reporter Chris Beesley spoke to Howard Kendall's son Simon in the USA a decade on from his father's death
Everton manager Howard Kendall in the changing rooms at the club's Bellefield training ground on November 15, 1984
Everton manager Howard Kendall in the changing rooms at the club's Bellefield training ground on November 15, 1984
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Howard Kendall’s son Simon has explained which one of his Everton triumphs he felt meant the most to his late father. Today marks a decade since the death at the age of 69 of Kendall, who as well as having three separate spells in charge at Goodison Park following his stint as a player, remains the club’s most successful manager.
Born in Ryton, County Durham, on May 22, 1946, Kendall was part of ‘The Holy Trinity,’ the most fabled midfield trio in Everton’s history alongside Colin Harvey and Alan Ball and together they won the League Championship in 1970.
Returning as Blues boss in 1981, Kendall’s first period in charge brought a further two League Championships, an FA Cup and European Cup-Winners’ Cup, ensuring he became the first man to win major honours at Everton as both a player and manager – a feat that has only been matched by his former team-mate Joe Royle.
When speaking on a special edition of the Royal Blue podcast ahead of the first Premier League Summer Series game in July, recorded in New Jersey where he now lives, Simon was asked which of the successes he thought meant the most to his father. He told the ECHO: “I think the first league title as a manager was a big one for him. I always think that he took each success as a springboard for what would come next and didn’t just rest on that, but certainly, I think the first league title was a special one.
“For the second one, so many big names were out at the start of the season as well. Just coming off the back of the disappointment of what could have been a potential double-winning season, only to finish runners-up to Liverpool in both.
“I remember that season, I was a ball boy at Goodison with a load of my team-mates for some kind of schoolboy game on the same night that we played down at Oxford and lost. Afterwards, I was sat in the car of a friend of ours which was full of Liverpool fans, getting a ride home, I just wanted the ground to swallow me up as you knew we were in trouble then.
“But to come back from that in the next season, with all the injuries, and with Gary Lineker having moved on having contributed so much the year before, I think it was probably a better achievement in terms of what the team were able to do, winning the league again, but maybe not in his eyes. In terms of personal importance, maybe not as much, but it was probably a bigger achievement.”
Although he would later return for two subsequent spells as Everton manager between 1990-93 and 1997-98, Kendall quit the Blues to go to Bilbao and join Athletic Club just a month after lifting their second title in 1987.
While his time in La Liga only lasted two-and-a-half years, almost four decades on Kendall is still revered in the Basque Country as demonstrated when cinemagoers queued around the block last week to watch 2019 documentary Everton: Howard’s Way followed by a series of speeches from his former colleagues in Bilbao.
While the switch raised various logistical issues for the family, Simon explained the affection that they all felt for the region. He said: “It was a big change. We were a little bit up in the air as to what we were going to do as a family.
Simon Kendall (left) next to the Holy Trinity statue outside Goodison Park and (right) with his father Howard and his trophy collection of European Cup-Winners' Cup, Manager of the Year, Canon League and Charity Shield in 1985
Simon Kendall (left) next to the Holy Trinity statue outside Goodison Park and (right) with his father Howard and his trophy collection of European Cup-Winners' Cup, Manager of the Year, Canon League and Charity Shield in 1985
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“At one point, we were all going over with dad and then there were some concerns over what schooling might look like for us. Then at another point, I think I was staying behind with friends and my sisters were going over with mum and dad.
“In the end, dad went on his own. He had a room in the training ground and lived there for the whole time that he was there.
“We stayed behind in Formby and travelled out to Spain on numerous occasions. I loved the place, Bilbao was incredible and the people there were very warm and very welcoming.
“Dad loved it. He talked so fondly of his time there, made some great friends, loved the club.
“It was just a great experience for all of us. Of course, it was disappointing that the time at Everton had to come to an end.
“I think not being able to play in Europe was a big factor on the back of Heysel. He wanted to challenge himself in Europe, not just European football but I think the opportunity to manage a team in a European league was a big factor.
“Also, being able to focus on coaching because Athletic Club had a very strict policy in terms of who they could bring into the club as they had to be of Basque origin. That limited transfer market activity but meant he could focus on his coaching, and he loved it.”
The Goodison 3.1 watch by Christopher Ward, Everton’s global timing partner
The Goodison 3.1 watch by Christopher Ward, Everton’s global timing partner
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Kendall is also responsible for what is widely regarded as Goodison Park’s greatest night, steering his side to the 3-1 comeback victory over Bayern Munich on April 24, 1985, and to honour that unforgettable moment, Everton’s global timing partner, Christopher Ward, has created The Goodison 3.1 Automatic – a limited edition watch inspired by the triumph that defined a generation. Only 1,985 pieces will be made, each capturing the spirit of that electric night under the lights.
Everyone who pre-orders before midnight, Saturday, October 18, will be entered into a draw to win tickets to an exclusive evening with the legends who made it happen. A total of 50 lucky winners plus their guests will join the club in March to relive that iconic night with members of the 1985 team and backroom staff.
To listen to Simon Kendall's episode of the Royal Blue podcast in full click on here for Apple or here for Spotify.