Paul Bracewell, the Everton great, discusses the prospect of creating new European memories at Hill Dickinson Stadium in an exclusive interview with Chris Beesley
Manager David Moyes talks to assistant Paul Bracewell prior to the match between Sunderland and Liverpool at the Stadium of Light on January 2, 2017
Manager David Moyes talks to assistant Paul Bracewell prior to the match between Sunderland and Liverpool at the Stadium of Light on January 2, 2017
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(Image: Stu Forster/Getty Images)
After rekindling thoughts of Goodison Park’s greatest night, Everton legend Paul Bracewell now wants his former club to start creating new memories on the European stage at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Along with his Everton team-mates from the 1984/85 season, who defeated Bayern Munich 3-1 in the European Cup-Winners’ Cup semi-final second leg, ahead of beating Rapid Vienna in the final and lifting the League Championship, Bracewell was invited to the Blues’ new home on Wednesday to receive a special limited-edition Christopher Ward timepiece – The Goodison 3.1 – created to commemorate that famous night.
When David Moyes, who guided Everton to nine top-eight finishes, including a highest-ever Premier League placing of fourth in 2004/05, during his first spell in charge, returned at the midway point of last season, the Blues were just one point above the drop zone with less than 50% of the points they took in 2022/23, which was the lowest equivalent total in their history as they avoided a first relegation in 72 years by a single goal on the final day.
However, after steering the team to safety with five matches to spare in Goodison Park’s final campaign, the Glaswegian gaffer has now got Everton sitting eighth in the table and just three points off a Champions League qualification place with seven games remaining of their inaugural season at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Bracewell has experienced a couple of high-profile stadium moves himself at close hand during his career, but he thinks the Blues could be onto something special by the Mersey waterfront.
He told the ECHO: “The stadium is fantastic. The performance against Chelsea last Saturday was the sort of display and atmosphere that the Evertonians have been looking forward to.
“We’ve been celebrating our great European night, let’s look forward to the next one!
“It’s always a big decision when you move grounds. I’ve been involved with Reidy (Peter Reid) when Sunderland went from Roker Park to the Stadium of Light and Tottenham Hotspur too (he was elite development coach at the academy).
“You need to build a fortress. If Everton can do that and emulate what they did at Goodison Park, then it will be fantastic for both the supporters and the club.
“I was speaking to Reidy, Inchy (Adrian Heath) and the lads who were here and they felt that the win over Chelsea was the first time that they’ve taken the roof off at the new stadium. We all know what this place could be and if they could get into Europe, looking forward to those European nights would be fantastic.
“I worked as assistant manager to David Moyes at Sunderland and then he went to West Ham and won a European trophy. It’s a big ask, but like I say, it would be great come and watch a European night here, and he knows what it takes.”
Bracewell’s form in the back end of the 1984/85 season earned him an England call-up and after making his international debut in a 3-0 win over West Germany at Mexico City’s Azteca Stadium on June 12, 1985, in a World Cup warm-up tournament, he would be capped twice more that year against the USA in a 5-0 romp for Bobby Robson’s side at Los Angeles’ Memorial Coliseum and a goalless draw with Northern Ireland in a World Cup qualifier at Wembley.
Born in Heswall, the 63-year-old was full of praise for another Wirral midfielder James Garner who has been called up for the first time by Thomas Tuchel for England’s friendly against Uruguay at Wembley tonight.
Bracewell said: “I’ve watched a few games, and I’ve been impressed with James. I’m delighted that he’s been picked and in the squad with a World Cup coming up, I’m sure he’ll now be determined to try and get on that plane.”