Colin Harvey

Manager: 1987-1990
Colin Harvey's loyalty to Everton has always been beyond question and when the calling came to take over the managerial reigns in 1987, following Howard Kendall's departure, he readily accepted - even though the move lifted him into a spotlight that he'd never been truly comfortable in.

He got off to a decent start - claiming the Charity Shield with a 1-0 win over FA Cup holders Coventry City - but it was Harvey's misfortune that he assumed command just as Liverpool found some consistent form.

A finishing position of fourth represented a fine first season as manager, but the fact that the highlight was a Goodison derby win, that prevented Liverpool establishing an unbeaten record, summed it up.

The following summer saw Everton invest heavily in the transfer market. Harvey paid a Club record fee for Tony Cottee and he also tempted Pat Nevin, Stuart McCall and Neil McDonald to Goodison.

A Cottee hat-trick on the opening day offered much promise, but the team couldn't mount a realistic title challenge and although the Blues reached the FA Cup Final again, the season wasn't considered to be a success.

The following campaign provided a good, solid finishing position of sixth, but Harvey's reign was ultimately judged in comparison to the glorious era that preceded him. Everton were by no means strugglers, but after the heady heights of the mid-80s, top-half of the table consolidation was perceived as under-achievement.

Harvey was relieved of his duties after an awful start to the 1990-91 season and the Club turned to Howard Kendall for a second time. Uniquely, Kendall's first job was to appoint Harvey as his number two and it spoke volumes for the softly-spoken Scouser that his appointment was greeted with wild enthusiasm by the fans.