Ian Atkins

IN 1984, Howard Kendall drafted in Ian Atkins to supplement his squad as they moved towards a historic league and Cup Winners Cup double.

After joining from Sunderland, Atkins became part of one of the most successful Everton dressing rooms of all-time.

“It was a wonderful 18 months in my career,” he said. “When Howard brought me in, I had only been training two days after being out for four months with a cyst on my knee. So it was a difficult period fitness-wise for me but I was just lucky to be a part of that side that won the title. I was also lucky in that they were the most genuine set of players that you could ever wish to work with. There weren’t any big time Charlies - and they were entitled to be because they were all internationals - but they weren’t like that and there was a terrific spirit.”