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Peter Murray
1 Posted 30/03/2017 at 09:07:11
A real lifetime Blue great – always will be... like the Golden Ghost – a player ALWAYS – definitely not a yes-man, hence still on the outside, looking in!!!

COYB

Derek Cowell
2 Posted 30/03/2017 at 10:46:34
Neville won 2 FA Cup winners medals, 1984 and 1995, as far as I'm aware.
Derek Cowell
3 Posted 30/03/2017 at 10:49:36
Also I thought that he had made over 800 club appearances for Everton.
John G Davies
4 Posted 30/03/2017 at 10:52:47
Best keeper I have ever seen... for any club.
Don Alexander
5 Posted 30/03/2017 at 11:03:44
The best ever, anywhere, in my opinion.

That said, in the late '60s Gordon Banks was fantastic but Westy on the 1969 dry-run tour to Mexico (in preparation for the 1970 World Cup) was chosen ahead of him for the game. Only his self-confessed home-sickness prevented him from going to the 1970 tournament.

Cue Peter Bonetti and... well, let's not go there!

Paul Birmingham
6 Posted 30/03/2017 at 19:00:56
Best I've ever seen, and a True Blue and his own man.

Age showing but I'd say Jongblod, Martyn, Buffon, Neur were / are good, but what Neville did was magical and was game-changing on a scale like we will likely not see again.

Let's hope that with Koeman, we can forge a team to make their own lasting legacy at EFC. Saturday would be a good day to start...

Michael Coffey
7 Posted 30/03/2017 at 21:36:59
I saw Neville play for Winsford against Chorley in March 1980. Winsford at the time were 2nd in the Cheshire League, Chorley third. Neville had missed just one in 42 games that season. From memory, he let in four that day, so I didn't exactly have him marked for a future Goodison legend.

I still have the programme, and have just noticed it was 37 years ago yesterday! It was also George Rooney's first game in charge, according to the programme notes.

Tony Byrne
8 Posted 30/03/2017 at 22:05:50
The best goalkeeper I have ever seen in the flesh.

I have just watched the game against Luton town in '85 on YouTube, it always sticks in my mind. Big Nev going down to his left to keep out Ricky Hill at the Witton Lane End.

That's my best save from big Nev. The one against Roberts at White Hart Lane was another right up there.

Match winning saves in huge games was what big Nev was all about.

Ed Curry
9 Posted 30/03/2017 at 22:24:46
Legend. Nuff said.
Dermot Byrne
10 Posted 30/03/2017 at 22:57:56
I love rebels and he was and is one. No idea of the game but I remember he came out early after a team talk at half-time.
Dennis Stevens
11 Posted 30/03/2017 at 23:00:59
Thanks for that, Rob. An interesting read about my favourite player, ever.
Rob Hooton
12 Posted 31/03/2017 at 06:59:44
Thanks for sharing that bit of history – Big Nev was my hero at school where I became the goalie and wanted to be as good as my idol.

Best keeper ever!

Peter Murray
13 Posted 31/03/2017 at 14:31:52
I can still picture Big Nev, sitting against the goal post at Goodison during half-time when totally upset, and not returning for the team talk!!!

Defo his own man – nobody's fool – just cannot remember the game!

Oh for somebody of similar ability & attitude.

COYB

Lev Vellene
14 Posted 31/03/2017 at 14:42:40
Leeds at home, 25 August 1990 according to Google. We lost 2-3.
Tony Byrne
15 Posted 01/04/2017 at 00:53:19
Yeah, Lev... 0-3 down at half time I seem to recall, I was in the Street End.

I'm sure a few days later we played Coventry away, a banner appeared in the Everton end calling Nev a Judas or a binman? My memory is awful so I could have dreamt this!

Eugene Ruane
16 Posted 01/04/2017 at 01:23:10
Love big Nev, absolutely his own man .

No Sharpie, 'Diamond' and 'Snods' toeing the party line' for this lad, none of that 'Say fuck-all, we know what side our bread is buttered on' shite.

Thought Moyes top 10 philosophy was bollocks and said we should be going for the title.

Thinks the S*b shouldn't be allowed anywhere near Goodison/Finch farm and isn't afraid to say so (I agree and think our board shouldn't be allowed to pretend it's not an issue Link).

He was an immense keeper and I've no doubt at all had he avoided injury and he'd been available throughout 86, we'd have done the double and had three titles on the bounce.

He was that good.

Will Mabon
17 Posted 01/04/2017 at 05:08:12
There was a time in the '80s when, without fanfare, he was almost quietly alluded to by some as the world's best. Never small at his slimmest, his agility was staggering at his peak. Like others here, and without bias, the best I've seen.
Eric Myles
18 Posted 03/04/2017 at 14:55:15
Paul (#6), too young to remember Albertosi or Zoff??
Brian Murray
19 Posted 03/04/2017 at 15:42:15
The banner at Coventry said: "Once a binman, always a binman".
Andy Meighan
20 Posted 07/04/2017 at 13:50:34
Best ever... and not just for us.

I mean ever remember the Coventry game at Highfield Road, won 1-0, Cottee scored? He made save after save but three in particular stick out. One from Kilcline, one from Bannister, and a penalty from Downes... unbelievable!

How many points did he win us? And what a lad as well. Soooperbbbbb!!!!

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