Everton’s wonderful 1984-85 team were reunited at the city’s St George’s Hall on Monday for an exclusive screening of a film charting the Club’s most successful and colourful era.
Everton – Howard’s Way features brilliant footage – some of it hitherto unseen – which brings to life the campaign a Howard Kendall-inspired Everton achieved success at home and abroad.
League champions and European Cup Winners’ Cup winners, Everton were denied an unprecedented treble by Manchester United in an FA Cup final played three days after the Blues beat Rapid Vienna in Rotterdam for continental glory.
Trevor Steven told evertontv that nearly 35 years on he remains staggered at the impact his team had – and continues to have – on supporters, with more than 500 attending this special screening and raising the roof when their mid-80s heroes entered St George's Great Hall to the sound of Z-Cars.
“There is a very strong bond which will always exist among this group,” said Steven, who scored the third goal on Goodison Park’s most famous night, the Cup Winners’ Cup semi-final slaying of Bayern Munich.
Neville Southall confessed he was nervous about viewing Howard's Way for the first time, claiming he’s “embarrassed” watching himself in action.
Seeing Southall outrageously deny Tottenham Hotspur’s Mark Falco and Imre Varadi of Sheffield Wednesday, the best goalkeeper on the planet in his pomp deserved to be glowing with pride as he was reminded of his own unique brilliance.
Paul Bracewell, armed with his medals from that celebrated season, was anticipating a night of reliving stories – those off the field as much as on it – after meeting colleagues who, in some cases, he’d not seen in years.
Winger Steven's goal against Sunderland following a raking volleyed pass from Bracewell – “people who knew me, knew I meant it,” said midfielder Bracewell – was one of countless snippets of Everton majesty across 108 captivating minutes of screentime.
Steven, though, confessed this night at St George’s Hall felt like the “final chapter” of a fabulous story.
“There is every chance we will never all be together again,” said Steven.
Proceeds from the event will be donated to Everton in the Community's People's Place campaign, the Club's official charity's initiative to build and develop a mental health facility close to Goodison Park.
Southall had only one regret.
“The man we all want to be here, who should be here, can’t be here,” he said of Kendall, the man who orchestrated an era so compelling and remarkable producer Rob Sloman decided to make a film about it.
Kendall died in 2015. He lives on in the spirit engendered in the group of players he assembled and propelled to extraordinary heights.
