Alan Ball MBE Centre Midfield

A World Cup hero with Alf Ramsey's men in 1966, Alan Ball found his way to Everton from Blackpool for a fee of £110,000 shortly after the famous Wembley victory, the fee the costliest in British football at the time.

Ball was part of the trumpeted midfield trio, with Howard Kendall and Colin Harvey, that helped Everton to the league championship in 1969/70. He had a fiery temperament and was constantly at odds with authority but ever popular among the fans.

Ball combined courage, confidence, and a burning desire to win, with a fine touch on the ball and the ability to find the back of the net at crucial times.

It was a surprise when only two years after the success of the championship-winning season manager Harry Catterick sold him to Arsenal for £220,000. Only nine months earlier Catterick had said that he valued Ball at £1million, but insisted he wouldn't sell him. Yet he left Goodison Park for Highbury never to return.

Brian LaboneCentre Back

Brian Labone, footballer, gentleman, Evertonian. The Goodison legend was booked only twice in a career spanning over 500 games for the Blues, and was successful for both club and country.

An Everton fan through and through, Labone rose through the ranks to lead his side to victory at Wembley in the 1966 FA Cup final.

His height at the centre of defence shored up the back line for many years and he was unlikely to be seen wandering forward like many of his contemporaries. Indeed he scored just twice in his time at Everton.

Labone's Goodison progress was widely recognised and he won 26 England caps, playing a key role in the England World Cup squad of 1970, just a year before he was forced to quit the game after injuring an Achilles tendon in a reserve match.

Dubbed 'The Last of the Corinthians' by Harry Catterick, Labone claimed two league championships and an FA Cup winner's medal, and when he retired at the age of 31, he was just 12 appearances short of Ted Sagar's club record.

Brian passed away suddenly on 24th April 2006. His death was a massive shock to everyone connected with the football club and the subsequent outpouring of grief showed just how well-loved he was as both a player and a person.

William Ralph 'Dixie' DeanStriker

Known, much to his annoyance, as 'Dixie' throughout his playing career, Dean holds claim to being the greatest player ever to wear the shirt of Everton.

There has never been a better goalscorer in the club's history than Dean, who netted over 60 times in one season, a record never likely to be broken.

Dean was a member of two First Division championship-winning sides in 1927/28 and 1931/32. It was in this first season that Dean scored his record 60 league goals, hitting a hat-trick in the final match of the campaign at home to Arsenal.

Dean scored in 12 successive games in 1930/31 as Everton, relegated the year before, climbed back into Division One. The following season Everton won the First Division with Dean, as captain, enjoying another prolific campaign with 45 goals.

With the introduction of shirt numbers in 1933 he became the first Everton number nine, setting the standard for generations to come.

By the time Dean left for Notts County in 1938, he had long been established as the club's leading scorer. In his Everton career he found the net 377 times and scored a remarkable 37 hat-tricks, as well as putting 19 goals past Liverpool in Merseyside derby matches.

For a man whose veins coursed with Blue blood it was perhaps fitting that he died at Goodison Park in March 1980, only minutes after the end of a derby.

Gary StevensLeft Back

Gary Stevens rose through the ranks of the Goodison youth development programme to make his senior debut as an 18 year old.

He claimed the right-back berth in preference to Brian Borrows in 1982 and went on to make nearly 300 appearances for the club in the 1980s.

The reliable defender played an important part in Everton's rise from their turn-of-the-decade doldrums to nearly clinching an unprecedented treble in 1985, and featured in two league championship successes, four Wembley finals and a European triumph.

Stevens epitomised the modern full-back - a superb athlete equipped with blazing pace and crisp tackles. He liked to make overlapping forays in support of his forwards and was at his best when raiding deep into enemy territory.

The Everton defender also frustrated opponents with his deceptive speed of recovery and was rarely stranded upfield. Although goalscoring was not his strength, he did weigh in with some important and memorable goals during his time at Goodison.

The England full-back represented his country in the 1986 World Cup finals in Mexico and in total gained 26 international caps, following his first appearance against Italy in 1985.

When still in his prime, Stevens was sold to Glasgow Rangers for £1.25 million in 1988. Six years later he returned to Merseyside ladened with Scottish silverware and provided stalwart service to Tranmere Rovers.

Graeme Sharp Striker

Signed as an unknown from Dumbarton for a fee of £120,000 in April 1980 there were few Evertonians who would have expected Graeme Sharp to become a mainstay on the Everton scene for over a decade, let alone the club's leading post-war goalscorer.

Seen by the management team as an investment for the future, Sharp had a good eye for an opening combined with a powerful header to make him a potent force in front of goal.

Sharp hit top form with the arrival of Andy Gray in November 1983. Under the tutelage of his fellow Scot, Sharp was able to mature into a key player in Howard Kendall's side.

In the 1984 FA Cup final against Watford he left the Hornets' fans singing the Blues by netting the first goal in a 2-0 win and the next season there was no stopping him as he put his name on the scoresheet 30 times in 54 games.

His rise at Everton was recognised by Scotland manager Jock Stein who gave him his international debut in a World Cup qualifier against Iceland in 1985.

Despite the attentions of clubs in Italy, Sharp stayed at Goodison and formed a successful partnership with Gary Lineker in the 'nearly' season of 1985/86, registering 30 goals.

His goalscoring record was from the top drawer throughout his Everton career, bringing 150 goals during 11 glorious seasons with the Toffees, which ended with a move to Oldham in 1991.

Kevin RatcliffeCentre Back

Brian Labone, footballer, gentleman, Evertonian. The Goodison legend was booked only twice in a career spanning over 500 games for the Blues, and was successful for both club and country.

An Everton fan through and through, Labone rose through the ranks to lead his side to victory at Wembley in the 1966 FA Cup final.

His height at the centre of defence shored up the back line for many years and he was unlikely to be seen wandering forward like many of his contemporaries. Indeed he scored just twice in his time at Everton.

Labone's Goodison progress was widely recognised and he won 26 England caps, playing a key role in the England World Cup squad of 1970, just a year before he was forced to quit the game after injuring an Achilles tendon in a reserve match.

Dubbed 'The Last of the Corinthians' by Harry Catterick, Labone claimed two league championships and an FA Cup winner's medal, and when he retired at the age of 31, he was just 12 appearances short of Ted Sagar's club record.

Brian passed away suddenly on 24th April 2006. His death was a massive shock to everyone connected with the football club and the subsequent outpouring of grief showed just how well-loved he was as both a player and a person.

Kevin SheedyLeft Wing

When Kevin Sheedy made the short journey across Stanley Park in June 1982, he was unconsciously breaking an unwritten rule standing for nearly 20 years by moving from the red to the Blue side of Merseyside.

The young Irishman had been at Anfield since signing from Hereford United in 1978 but manager Bob Paisley gave him only two league outings despite admitting to seeing great potential in his play. Paisley was reluctant to sell but after the deal went to a tribunal, Sheedy joined Everton for £100,000.

It proved to be one of the smartest deals Howard Kendall ever made during his time as manager. Sheedy's promise was turned into astounding performances, as he made the role on the left side of midfield his own.

The Republic of Ireland international could pass the ball smoothly and accurately and his tally of a goal almost every three games was testament to his ability to get forward and pressure defences.

Sheedy was an expert at set-pieces, firing in shots from 30 yards with amazing regularity but his career was hampered by injuries which prevented him from reaching the heights he was so capable of achieving.

He scored the third goal against Rapid Vienna in the 1985 Cup Winners' Cup final and was a vital cog in the Everton machine that ran away with the league title in 1986/87.

The man who supporters claimed possessed a magic wand for a left foot was allowed to leave Goodison on a free transfer to Newcastle in February 1992.

Neville Southall MBEGoalkeeper

No player in the history of Everton has made more appearances for the club than Neville Southall.

The undisputed number one at Goodison for the best part of 16 years, Southall played 750 matches and is the only Everton player to have twice won the FA Cup, in 1984 and 1995.

His list of achievements makes impressive reading.

He is the most capped Wales international of all time, with 92, he was the Footballer of the Year in 1985 and he won two League titles and a European Cup Winners' Cup to go with his brace of FA Cups.

He was also awarded the MBE for his services to football.

After plying his trade in non-league football, Southall joined Bury in 1979 and then made his move to Everton two years later.

He took time to establish himself in Howard Kendall's team but a loan spell at Port Vale appeared to do him the world of good.

From there he went on to become regarded as the finest goalkeeper in the world and his legendary status at Everton was confirmed well before his final appearance in November 1997.

Peter ReidCentre Midfield

A World Cup hero with Alf Ramsey's men in 1966, Alan Ball found his way to Everton from Blackpool for a fee of £110,000 shortly after the famous Wembley Peter Reid arrived from Bolton Wanderers for £60,000 in 1982 having already suffered career-threatening knee ligament injuries and a broken leg when on the verge of signing for the Royal Blues in 1980.

Reid's revival in the spring of 1984, along with that of Andy Gray, inspired the Toffees to FA Cup final glory against Watford and the next year Reid managed to string together a series of performances that resulted in his winning the PFA Player of the Year award.

His 50-yard pass to Gary Lineker in the 1986 FA Cup Final was just one example of his ability to distribute the ball, which more than made up for his lack of pace.

He burst on to the England scene just before the 1986 World Cup in Mexico and when England captain Bryan Robson dislocated a shoulder against Morocco, it was Reid who came on as his replacement.

His displays on the international stage were just as impressive as his play at Goodison where his last two years were spent as player-coach under the management of Colin Harvey. He left for Queen's Park Rangers in 1989.

Ray Wilson MBERight Back

By the time Ray Wilson arrived on Merseyside he had already established himself as one of the world's finest full-backs.

In his time at Huddersfield Town his strength in the tackle and blistering pace had already won him over 20 England caps and his calm and collected passing game meant he would fit in well with the Everton set-up.

Wilson signed for Everton in July 1964 for £35,000 plus Mick Meagan, after several attempts to leave Huddersfield. He did not get off to a good start at Goodison, as he suffered an injury to his hip in his first game and was out of the side for four months.

Wilson was an integral part of the England side that won the 1966 World Cup as well as being a stalwart at the back for the Everton team who won the FA Cup that same year.

His career at the top was cut short by a knee injury in July 1968 and though he fought back to fitness he had lost some of his speed and confidence and he was given a free transfer to Oldham in 1969.

Injuries, and the additional years, though were to prevent him playing to his peak again and he retired from the game in 1971.

Trevor StevenRight Wing

Everton manager Howard Kendall coveted Trevor Steven for two years before securing his transfer from Burnley in 1983. The 20-year-old did not come cheap at £300,000, but developed into one of the finest footballers Everton have ever had on their books.

Steven not only influenced games with his sublime football skills and intelligence, but was also prepared to couple these qualities with honest endeavour and battle in midfield, denying space to the opposition and covering for Gary Stevens when the full-back ventured forward.

Blessed with scintillating ball skills, Steven was renowned for his abilities to shimmy past opponents and lacerate defences with a throughpass. He possessed that rare talent of producing the killer ball.

Although regarded as more of a provider than a finisher, this stylish footballer netted important goals against Bayern Munich in the semi-final and against Rapid Vienna in the final of the European Cup Winners' Cup.

In fact, Steven finished top scorer with 14 league goals when Everton regained the title in 1986/87. Acknowledged as the most skilful member of Everton's most successful team, Steven gained his first England call-up in 1984 against Northern Ireland. He claimed 25 caps during his Goodison career before enjoying further success in Scotland and France.