Soccerbase Datafile

In many ways, it made a lot of sense.  Moyes has brought in a number of new transfers, and he is going to pick those ahead of the likes of Southern.  But, in the meantime, Southern and his mate Peter Clarke can get some decent competitive games under their belts playing in the cut and thrust of the Nationwide.

Keith Southern quickly became a firm favourite and it was no surprise when Steve McMahon persuaded him and David Moyes to make the deal a permanent one, despite all indications that the player would be returning to Goodison. 

The deal was brokered for a "nominal fee" (£50k?) but with a substantial sell-on clause (25%?), providing some recompense to Everton if the lad does one day make the grade in senior football.  He leaves Everton having never played for the first team in a senior match.

At Blackpool, he suffered knee ligament damage in March 2003, and was out of action until September 2003.

Fast forward seven years of hard graft beside the seaside... and Keith Southern is named Man of the Match for Blackpool who win their Championship Play-off Final 3-2 at Wembley over Davey Jones's Cardiff City, and Southern gets the chance to finally prove himself in the Premier League where he would finally get to face his old club.

And when it came time for his testimonial at Blackpool, Everton obliged in July 2012 pre-season..