A LABONE RETURNS TO EVERTON

Everton have welcomed another member of the Labone family to the Club.

Everton have officialy welcomed another member of the Labone family to the Club.

Brian Labone was a much loved figure around Goodison before his sad death in 2006, but now his wife Pat has renewed the association with the Blues.

She has become secretary of the Everton Former Players’ Foundation (EFPF), the registered charity that Brian was involved in forming.

Pat said: “It is very emotional for me. There’s no two ways about it.

“But I wanted to do something in Brian’s memory because he was so attached to the club – it was his passion – and this helps me feel a little bit closer to him.

“I have to say that I’m absolutely amazed at the amount of effort and work that goes into running the Foundation.”

The EFPF raises money to help out former Blues who may not be enjoying the best of times.

“(Our daughter) Rachelle and I were given such tremendous support over Brian’s funeral by the Foundation,” Pat added. “Harry Ross, in particular, was an absolute tower of strength to us and I’ve never forgotten that kindness. I just thought if I could help in any way at all – even if it was shuffling papers and putting them in date order or something – I would.”

The Reverend Harry Ross, from St Luke's church on Goodison Road, is a trustee of the EFPF and  was only too pleased to welocome Pat to the foundation.

“We’re delighted to have her on board,” he said.

“Pat’s new role is to bring the expertise that she has – which are organisational abilities, secretarial skills and her own personality, which is well known to the fans – plus the opportunity to have a Labone working with the club once again."