Everton Football Club is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of former player Cliff Marshall.

A forward who was born in Liverpool in November 1955 and grew up an Evertonian, Marshall made his debut when introduced as a substitute in a Division One game against Leicester City at Goodison Park in 1975.

He made his first start seven days later, as Everton won 3-0 at Birmingham City to climb to the top of the league standings under manager Billy Bingham.

Marshall, who would make eight appearances for the Club, joined Everton aged 15 after winning the 1970 England Schools’ Football Association Trophy with Liverpool Boys.

He represented England Schoolboys and rejected interest from Manchester United and Liverpool to sign at Goodison Park.

Marshall left Everton in summer 1976, moving to Miami Toros in the now defunct North American Soccer League, before returning for a season with Southport in the Football League.

The two-footed attacker retired from the sport at the age of 22, settling in Liverpool and forging a career in the licensing trade, notably as owner of multiple snooker halls in the city.

Marshall retained enormous affection for Everton – the team he began supporting after becoming hooked on watching manager Harry Catterick’s expressive 1960s’ league title and FA Cup-winning teams – and rekindled his Goodison association as part of the Club’s Former Players’ Foundation.

His legacy as an Everton trailblazer and pioneering figure in English football is secure, following a debut for the Club three years before Viv Anderson broke new ground as the first black man to represent the England national team.

The thoughts of everybody at Everton are with Cliff’s family and friends.