Everton Football Club is saddened to learn of the passing of our former goalkeeper Geoff Barnett.

Geoff won the FA Youth Cup with the Blues in 1965, alongside John Hurst and Jimmy Husband, but was unable to regularly dislodge Gordon West and Andy Rankin from the First Team.

He kept a clean sheet on his debut against Sunderland at Goodison Park in November 1965 and made eight more appearances between the sticks that season, including the famous game at Blackpool when a 16-year old Joe Royle made his debut at centre-forward in place of Alex Young.

Geoff played one more game for Everton, replacing Gordon West a week before the 1968 FA Cup final, before signing for Arsenal in 1969.

He would later team up again with Alan Ball at Highbury and played for the Gunners when they lost the 1972 FA Cup final at Wembley against Leeds United.

The keeper ended his football career in the USA with Minnesota Kicks, where he subsequently coached.

Geoff, who resided in Florida, passed away on 15 January. The thoughts of everyone at Everton are with his family and friends at this time.