Everton legend Peter Reid will be reunited with Huyton Boys team-mates for the first time in 55 years on Saturday during the Women's Super League Merseyside Derby at Goodison Park
Everton legend Peter Reid is to be reunited with his Huyton Boys team-mates for the first time in 55 years at Goodison Park this Saturday.
Reid won two League Championships, an FA Cup and the European Cup-Winners’ Cup while at Everton and was described by the club’s most successful manager Howard Kendall as the Blues’ most-important signing since the Second World War, recovered from two broken legs, torn knee ligaments and a cartilage operation before making his big move to Goodison Park in December 1982. However, before he turned professional, back in April 1971, the Huyton Boys under-15s side took to the Goodison Park pitch to complete a 5-1 aggregate victory in the English Schoolboys Final and make history by becoming the first ever non-city side to lift the trophy.
The players will travel the length and breadth of the country to come together and step, once again, onto Goodison’s hallowed turf and reflect on their amazing achievement at half-time of the Women’s Super League Merseyside Derby fixture (kick-off 12 noon). Reid, who will be joined by his former Huyton Boys team-mates for the first time in 55 years, will make a pitchside appearance in addition to the regular Hit The Bar game.
Recalling his first appearance at the ground in conversation with this correspondent in an episode of Goodison Park: My Home last year, Reid told the ECHO: “I was fortunate enough to get in the Huyton Boys side and we got to the final of the English schools’ trophy. Alan Bleasdale (the playwright who created Boys from the Blackstuff) was our coach, ECHO readers and everyone in Liverpool knows Alan, he’s still a big friend of mine.
“We played the semi-final at our ground and at 14 years of age, I played in the final. I think we’d beaten them 4-1 away from home so there was no pressure.
“It was one of them, go and enjoy it, your family were there. I think there were 10,000 or so watching.
“Your mam and dad are there. I think a lad called Pat Phillips got the winner and it was my first game at Goodison Park and I got a result as the Grand Old Lady was shining on us.
“As well documented, I’ve had a decent career, but when you’re a schoolboy, you don’t know you’re going to do that. You’re full of dreams and ambition and hope but at 14 going into school and your mates say: ‘You played at Goodison!’
“I thought I’d done it all. In fact, that could have done me, I could have finished then and been happy, it was a dream.”
Ahead of the action, there will be a host of family activities for supporters to enjoy, including a timely visit from the Easter Bunny, who will be hopping between concourses, handing out free chocolate eggs to young Blues.
Additionally, there will be entertainment across all concourses from 10.30am, with live music, face painters, balloon twisters and an Easter arts and crafts table. Giveaways will include the latest baseball-style player cards and Barclays Women’s Super League sticker books.
Before kick-off, there will be a colourful flag and banner display in the Gwladys Street Stand, thanks to volunteers from the Everton Women Official Supporters’ Club.
Tickets are priced at £12 for adults and £6 for juniors (under-18s), while a family ticket for two adults and two juniors is available for £20. Fans can book their tickets online today or alternatively, can call 0151 556 1878 or visit the South Stand Ticket Office at Hill Dickinson Stadium.