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Reader Comments (9)

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Tony Hill
1 Posted 10/06/2017 at 22:36:42
Thanks for this latest in an excellent series. Mrs Royle comes across very well, like most of the women interviewed and I find her/their words touching.

One of my favourites, Joe. A good, bright, balanced man. It's wonderful that he's still active in the club he loves.

Steve Hogan
2 Posted 10/06/2017 at 23:08:52
A truly warming story from a loving family. I tend not to get nostalgic these days, but I do question the values that go to make up a 'modern' day footballer now, where just two years salary can set you up for life.

The game might be technically better, but it seems light years away from being "the people's game" anymore.

Paul Kossoff
3 Posted 11/06/2017 at 06:57:37
I remember my dad had a sweets and tobacconist unit at the Pier Head, and I as a young lad was serving behind the counter with who serving next to me? Blue boy Tommy Wright! I was awe struck. Colin Harvey and one or two others would drop in now and then, all ordinary young lads, all polite, not like the cash-obsessed footballers today.
John Hughes
4 Posted 11/06/2017 at 07:19:55
I think I'm about 8 years younger than Joe and was brought up very close to where he lived in Norris Green. My mates and I, along with many others would often knock on his door for an autograph; looking back we must have been a real pain in the backside.

Nonetheless, we were always accommodated by Joe and he would usually go about it with a smile on his face. On the odd occasion he didn't his Mum would have a quiet word in his ear! Mrs Royle was a lovely lady.

Over the years have come across Joe at games and although never had the opportunity to converse with him properly, have always been impressed by the way he acknowledges fellow blues with that engaging smile of his.

An absolute gentleman and a genuine Everton legend as far as I'm concerned. Well done, Janet Royle, for an interesting insight in to family life for a footballer back in the seventies.

Chris Williams
5 Posted 11/06/2017 at 09:00:47
Stepping back in time again, reminding us of how things were in the times before Sky reinvented football in its own image as a tawdry money grubbing exercise in neoliberalism.

Having got that off my chest , this is another lovely piece of writing about the human aspects of being a legend by the person who knew him best. An insight into the humility and love and the family values of people who are, well, normal.

Becky needs to get this book republished, maybe updated with what happened next. I doubt such a book could ever be published about today's players and WAGS.

Ray Griffin
6 Posted 12/06/2017 at 23:39:47
What a great article, captures exactly what star football players & their families lives were like back then – still on the same level as the fans & you could bump into them in the street & have a chat.
David Ellis
7 Posted 13/06/2017 at 03:17:30
Brilliant article – that 1973 photo, was it by Paul Yaffe? He is/was a photographer in Southport and was the choice du jour for professional family photos – I have one around the same time (probably 1976) – and he did my sister's wedding in in 1984. The style is the same. Also love the fake copper chimney – we had one of those as well!!
Steve Ferns
8 Posted 13/06/2017 at 17:06:13
It was a nice read.

I wouldn't write off all the modern footballers wives. The new Mrs Schneiderlin is very popular at the moment, even if she is bucking the trend. And I'm pretty sure I saw Idrissa Gueye's wife and family (massive entourage of French speaking Africans) at the game and they seemed very nice.

Paul McGinty
9 Posted 21/06/2017 at 09:58:40
Joe's Dad, Joe Snr, was a piano player..have a carton of the band featuring him and my father, when they were resident at the Melody Inn in Wallasey. Joe Royle a true centre forward not blessed with a lot of pace, but formed a great combination with John Morrisey.

I had heard from my Dad, that Joe Jnr was a well balanced individual, not a big shot... this article reflects that. Thanks for posting it.

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