Happy Birthday to Everton legend Joe Royle!

The former Blues centre-forward and manager celebrates his 71st birthday today – and 8 April is also a significant date from his playing days.

Everton won the League Championship in 1969/70 but it was only after the final game of the season that the celebrations could be begin in earnest and that was at Roker Park against Sunderland on 8 April 1970, the ending having been brought forward to allow England more time to prepare for the Mexico World Cup.

“It was my 21st birthday that day,” said Joe. “And when the team bus pulled away from the ground after the match all you could hear was the clink of bottles. That team could play, but we also knew how to celebrate!”

Royle famously made his Everton debut at just 16 years old and went on to play in the 1968 FA Cup final, top-score in that title-winning campaign, represent his country and then win the FA Cup as manager in 1995.

Have a great day Joe, from every Evertonian!

Don’t miss our mini-documentary paying tribute to Harry Catterick’s 1969/70 heroes on evertonfc.com from tomorrow.