Season › 2012-13 › News

Michael Branch jailed for selling drugs

Michael Kenrick , 8 November, 31comments  |  Jump to most recent
Former Everton striker Michael Branch has been jailed for seven years for selling drugs. Branch, 34, pleaded guilty to two charges when he appeared at Chester Crown Court.

Quotes or other material sourced from Liverpool Echo

Reader Comments (31)

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James Morgan
1 Posted 08/11/2012 at 15:06:30
Michael Branch is going down for 7 years!
Michael Kenrick
Editorial Team
3 Posted 08/11/2012 at 16:01:24
I just put this rather sad piece in the Media section, thinking there wasn't really much to be said about it... but it seems some do want to comment. So I've moved it here.
Trevor Powell
4 Posted 08/11/2012 at 16:45:20
Sad news .... he was such a young prospect at 18, pace and seemingly brains!
Gerry Quinn
5 Posted 08/11/2012 at 16:58:10
Shocking - such a great prospect - and now a life of abject misery spent reflecting on what might have been! Sad, so sad, but hopefully there is a lesson to be learnt here for all of these young footballing wannabees
Shaun Kinnair
6 Posted 08/11/2012 at 17:01:57
Sad story from a player who had so much talent to give but ended up connected with the wrong crowd.
Kevin Jones
7 Posted 08/11/2012 at 17:13:58
Can't beleive it really shocked to hear this.

The last time I saw Michael, he was working for DHL on the deliveries. He used to come into our place nearly every day, and we'd have a good chat about all things Everton and football. He told me he was training to be a spark so he could try to get a job in Australia. Once in he could then try to get on in footy training over there as he had all his badges. Apparently they don't count football coaching as a trade over there.

Sad

Terry Myers
8 Posted 08/11/2012 at 18:00:29
Gone the same way as Mark Ward.

Chin up, Michael.

Gerry Quinn
9 Posted 08/11/2012 at 18:07:12
Kevin - there are comments that someone could make on here regarding convicts and Australia, but I would certainly NOT make them!
Andy Meighan
10 Posted 08/11/2012 at 18:48:51
Dickhead. No sympathy whatsoever. He played in the Prem era and should have set himself up for life. There's well better amateur and lower league players out there who'll never get the chance to play for a great club like ours.
Lee Courtliff
11 Posted 08/11/2012 at 18:56:53
I'm a bit shocked to read this. I saw his full debut against 'Boro back in '96. He looked fantastic, I really thought he would have a great career. What a bloody waste!
Steve Smith
12 Posted 08/11/2012 at 19:03:33
Sad but....get caught dealing on that scale and you are going down for a long time, he would be aware of the consequences but still chose to do it.
Tony Gee
13 Posted 08/11/2012 at 19:35:58
No sympathy whatsoever... Life is all about choices, and he made his... There are many young people who've never had the benefits/perks in life that he had, and yet they've still walked the right path in life.
Spragg Johnson
14 Posted 08/11/2012 at 20:41:58
I'm 3/4 way through 'Hammered' by Mark Ward which tells a similar story ... it seems that these outcomes are becoming more and more common. Drugs are an easy, cowardly way to make a fast buck though ... so little sympathy really.

While the Mark Ward book is a decent read, he's very good at blaming others and saying he was "naive" rather than greedy.
Denis Richardson
15 Posted 08/11/2012 at 20:48:13
Sad end indeed. Remember him coming on the scene all those years ago, what a complete waste. Guess something like this will happen every now and then. That was a serious amount of drugs though! What a tit.
Dick Fearon
16 Posted 08/11/2012 at 21:05:28
Convicted criminals are not welcome down here so keep your slimy drug 'lords'. We have got more than enough of our own thank you very much.
Gerry Quinn
17 Posted 08/11/2012 at 21:34:26
Shoulda moved to Washington State or Colorado, then he'd a been OK :)
Andy Crooks
18 Posted 08/11/2012 at 21:38:47
Dick, as someone who has concurred with you on many of your posts I find your last post disappointing.
Mike Green
19 Posted 08/11/2012 at 22:32:44
He's not a drug lord Dick, he's training to be a spark to get into Australia. Apparently they're crying out for bright ones! ; )
Barry Stevens
20 Posted 08/11/2012 at 22:44:44
Remember when he burst on the scene. Had broken schoolboys' goal records and made England U21s squad. And the lad wanted to play and be a success for Everton, but sadly all he seemed blessed with was pace.

Now joins the list of ex-player drug dealers with Mark Ward and Tony Thomas. Add to that the habits of Billy Kenny, Shandy Andy plus young Jose's indiscretion makes you wonder who's lurking round Finch Farm or Bellefield as it was back then!

Mark McDonald
21 Posted 08/11/2012 at 22:50:02
So that's Branch and Ward who had done or are about to do time. I wonder how many ex-Everton players have also entered up inside. Duncan Ferguson comes to mind as does Tony Kay, even though it was for match-fixing while playing for Sheffield Wednesday.
Tommy Davis
22 Posted 09/11/2012 at 07:08:17
Mark McDonald's post #724

Surely Bernie (The Bolt) Wright ended up in the slammer at some point?!?!?

I always remember Johnny Morrissey being labelled as a bit of a lad, I absolutely loved the fella meself, possible candidate, based solely on rumours at the time?!?!

I really hope he never did & it was just kopites being jealous of how much he improved when he came to Goodison! I don't think either of them did, trying to keep the thread going!!
Chris Hockenhull
23 Posted 09/11/2012 at 11:04:09
Tommy Davis... yes, you're correct. The great Johnny Morrissey was pulled for having a garage full of contraband cigarettes in the summer of 1971. Not sure how the 'legal process' dealt with it but it was in the news.

I recall we played an Israeli team (cant spell it off the top of my head) in a pre-season friendly at Goodison. Not many there but Johnny comes over to take a corner. There's a delay. Some guy by us the corner shouts.."Johnny... I want to be a left winger"... Johnny looks at him say's "Yeah?"... guy shouts back "Yeah... got any tips?" All including Johnny cracked up.

He was a boss player. Took no prisoners. Face full of blood with a sponge in his hand during the 71 semi at Old Trafford v Liverpool. Wind back 3 years previous for his coolest moment: slotting home the winning penalty in the Stretford End.
Andy Meighan
24 Posted 09/11/2012 at 11:50:14
Barry 723... fuck me! We could have our own lags eleven with the names you've mentioned. Got the makings of a good movie that. Anyone come up with a name for it?
Kevin Day
25 Posted 09/11/2012 at 12:53:17
You live by the sword, you die by the sword, I'm afraid; the main thing is I hope this sorts him out. I for one served at your majesty's pleasure 15 years ago for being a tad stupid handling stolen goods and got 3 years, but I'm now at university doing a BSc in building surveying, life is about choices and learning from mistakes. Just hope he learns his.
Colin Potter
26 Posted 09/11/2012 at 14:31:02
He will have quite a long time to reflect on how many kids lifes he's helped to destroy. I've no sympathy for him
Kevin Day
27 Posted 09/11/2012 at 16:16:16
Can't argue with that statement Colin.
Gareth Hughes
28 Posted 09/11/2012 at 17:44:56
I cannot have any sympathy with someone involved in drug dealing. Just remember the huge misery they bring to people's lives, particularly young people. Who cares that he played for us? He is just another human cockroach, like all the other pushers. Remember, those amphetamines could have ended up being pushed to your teenage son/daughter.
Chris Hockenhull
29 Posted 09/11/2012 at 23:31:27
Andy 774. Love the thought of it. "Blue Bandits"...er thats all I can come up with this time of night. I'll dwell on it
Ernie Baywood
30 Posted 10/11/2012 at 04:33:22
Was his full debut against Boro? I remember watching tear a team apart at Goodison. I think we won 2-0 but he didn't score (may have won a penalty). My dodgy memory claims it was his full debut and that it was Sheff Weds.

Anyone's brain working better than mine?

Ernie Baywood
31 Posted 10/11/2012 at 04:44:51
Just went through the ToffeeWeb Seasons Archive and, yes, he did make his debut against Boro. 56 mins in a 2-1 loss.

2nd game was Sheff Weds.

Andy Meighan
32 Posted 10/11/2012 at 20:57:57
I remember the game against Sheff Weds and on MotD that night Alan Hansen raving about him. The thing is – and can someone please correct me if I'm wrong – but didn't Sheff Wed play in all green that day? I'm sure of it... one of those things that sticks in my mind.

Oh, by the way, he's still a dickhead.

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