Adrian Heath

Everton Giant - Year Inducted: 2018

Heath was a Club record signing when he joined Everton from Stoke City in January 1982 for £700,000.

He quickly became a Toffees favourite. In his first full season at Goodison Park he finished as the Club’s top scorer with 18 goals in all competitions and he continued to provide a source of consistency, netting double figures in every campaign up until 1987/88 despite a couple of serious injuries during period preventing him from playing as many games as he would have liked.

Indeed, his form and goals were about to earn him an England call-up when he was badly injured during the 1984-85 campaign, forcing him to miss out on both on an international call-up but also a playing role in the closing months of the season as the side chased treble glory.

Andy Gray stepped into the side in Heath's absence as the Blues won the league and European Cup Winners' Cup before losing out on the hat-trick with a Cup final defeat to Manchester United.

After returning to fitness, Heath's goals were to prove crucial as Howard Kendall's side secured their second league title success in three season in 1986/87. He scored 11 times during that season.

The attack-minded midfielder who had an eye for goal made 307 appearances, scoring 93 goals.

He eventually left the club and headed for Spain, signing for Espanyol in 1988.

Heath's outstanding Toffees career was recognised in 2018 when he became the latest Club legend to be named an Everton Giant.

Upon receiving the award, Heath said: “I can’t tell you how excited I was when I got the call from Bill Kenwright telling me I was to become an Everton Giant. As you can imagine, I have not won too many awards with the word ‘giant’ in it!

“When I took a look at some of the people who had won this award - Dixie Dean, the Boss Howard Kendall, Alan Ball, Sharpy, Reidy - proper Giants of our football club. So to be mentioned alongside them is truly special for me.

“It was truly a pleasure to play for the Club in a period of our history where we were most successful. I consider myself very lucky to have played for Everton as many times as I did.”