Derek Mountfield

154 Apps | 25 Goals
Everton Playing Career: 1982-1988

Everton Giant - Year Inducted: 2025

Howard Kendall made a raft of inspired purchases in the early part of the 1980s - but few offered greater value for money than the £30,000 Everton handed over to Tranmere Rovers for Derek Mountfield in June 1982.

In 154 colossal, cultured and combative appearances the towering centre-half won an FA Cup, two league titles and a European Cup winners' Cup.

A commanding, aerially dominant defender with pace and a biting tackle he forged a suffocating defensive partnership with Kevin Ratcliffe.

But despite his undoubted defensive prowess he also proved a potent threat in opposition penalty boxes.

An incredible haul of 14 goals in 1984/85 included a last minute equaliser in an FA Cup quarter-final, a winner in an FA Cup semi-final - and a volley which effectively clinched the league title against QPR.

It was only a prematurely and incorrectly raised linesman's flag in Rotterdam which also denied him setting up the opening goal for Andy Gray.

But don't ask Derek to talk about his goals.

"Whenever I do functions people always want me to talk about the goals I scored," he said "and I always say 'hold on a minute, I was a centre-half, my main job was to stop goals!'

"People tend not to remember that great tackle on a centre-forward, or that last ditch block you made. They always want to talk about the goals."

Derek Mountfield stopped goals as effectively as he scored them and was a key member of the most successful Everton side in history.

He made his debut at Birmingham City late in the 1982/83 season, but kicked off the following pivotal season in the club's history in the starting line up for the first few matches.

The career-ending injury to club captain Mark Higgins gave him his big opportunity - and he never looked back.

For the next two seasons he was virtually ever present.

It was only injury during the 1985/86 season which interrupted a glorious spell.

He made enough appearances in 1986/87 to earn another league title winner's medal and when he left for Aston Villa in June 1988 he left as one of the most decorated footballers in Everton's history. And still one of the most popular.