Photo by Alex Dodd - CameraSport via Getty Images
Photo by Alex Dodd - CameraSport via Getty Images
Former Everton player of the 1990s, Billy Kenny, has opened up on his poor treatment by Everton in his upcoming new book The Goodison Gazza.
Kenny was a product of Everton’s youth academy and made his debut for the club in 1992 at Goodison Park against Coventry City.
As he was breaking through, there were exceptionally high hopes for Kenny, who was seen as one of the brightest young English talents in the country.
But sadly, Kenny didn’t realise his potential and ended up retiring from the game at the age of just 21, after cocaine and alcohol use and battles with depression.
Now, Kenny has shed light on his time at the club in his revealing new book.
Romelu Lukaku of Everton celebrates his goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Hull City and Everton
Credit: Getty Images/Alex Dodd – CameraSport/Alex Livesey/Jan Kruger.
Billy Kenny says Everton didn’t look after him during turmoil
Kenny had chosen Everton over the likes of Manchester United and Liverpool, after Alex Ferguson and Kenny Dalglish had both shown interest in him.
He started really promisingly at Everton and was a tough, dynamic, robust and also creative midfielder and his performance against Liverpool at Goodison Park in December 1992, which saw him named Man of the Match, was a particular highlight.
This great start earned him the nickname ‘The Goodison Gazza’ from teammate Peter Beardsley, and it looked like he could become a superstar.
But the morning after that wonderful display against Liverpool, Kenny discovered cocaine. It would become a habit for Kenny and play a big part in limiting him to just 23 games for Everton in the end. He also had a spell in prison.
Kenny is 15 years sober now, and says Everton didn’t look after him.
He said (quoted by The Guardian): “I’m angry with Everton for not looking after me. Listen, I’m no angel. I’ve played my part, but there are other people who played their part in the demise of Billy Kenny. So I’m still bitter and frustrated today, at the age of 53. It was an absolute waste of talent.”
“I ended up being a product of Howard Kendall’s environment. For years and years I carried all the blame, but there was no help at all.”
“I spoke to Michael (Branch) last year and he said at Finch Farm there are 17 people you can speak to about mental health – whether it’s problems with drink, drugs, your family, your girlfriend. There was no one for me.”
He went on to say that had he had the support players get today, he ‘wouldn’t be talking about misery’ and instead would be reminiscing about ‘glory days’. He also suggests the fans were ‘robbed’ of him.
Kenny recounts going to the pub and becoming embroiled in drinking culture within the teams, saying that if his idols were drinking, then he was going to drink. There would even be crates of lager on the team coach for away trips.
Kenny eventually spiralled, with drink and drugs causing him to miss training sessions.
Everton terminated his contract in 1994, but not before the club sent him to the Priory in Cheshire for two months. But Kenny said he couldn’t relate to any of it, being 19 and surrounded by much older people.
Kenny has no regrets choosing Everton
Kenny also touches on whether he should have signed for Manchester United or Liverpool.
But that was never an option. He said: “I think about this all the time. As much as I loved the Liverpool staff and the way they treated me, it was out of the question. I’m a born Evertonian. But Man United? I went to United for six weeks in the summer holidays and I saw how Fergie got rid of Kevin Moran, Paul McGrath, Norman Whiteside, Bryan Robson and, later, Lee Sharpe. He wouldn’t stand for any drinking or lack of discipline.
“I’d have been perfect for Fergie. He loved me and I loved it at United. But I’ve given my life to Everton and if I had to do it again, I’d probably still go to Everton because I loved the fans. I’m one of them.”
Kenny also stated that ex-players are ‘manufactured Evertonians’. He says he went to a game against Chelsea last season and it was ‘the same faces, doing the same thing’. He stated this is why the club isn’t moving forward now and urged it to get rid of ‘dead wood’. He insisted, ‘the only legends are the fans. I absolutely love Evertonians’.